March 11 - God Knows and Cares

Read: Matthew 10:26-33

But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. (Matthew 10:30 ESV)

God cares about you deeply. Jesus implicitly expressed this as he prepared to send out his followers to minister to the Jews. The message was multi-faceted, yet clear. The disciples and other followers of Jesus would face persecution, but God would help them. God cared for them. God valued them.

Depending on where you live you may face actual physical persecution for your faith. It is something that is far more prevalent than many in the American Church realize. This kind of persecution always has a variety of outcomes. Sometimes the person is miraculously delivered. Often someone gives their life for their faith.

Jesus reassured his followers that hard times were to come. Following him meant something. It was historic. It was monumental in the shaping of the destiny of creation. And basically all of Jesus' disciples died martyr's deaths. John, the youngest of the disciples, was the only one not killed for his faith. But it wasn't for a lack of trying.

John was dipped in boiling oil, he was set on fire, and he was poisoned. None of it worked. What was so special about John? I'm not entirely sure. However, I know that Jesus expressed value in all of his followers. A value that extends to those who authentically follow him today. In truth, Jesus knows us better than we even know ourselves. I'll admit, that thought gives me a great deal of comfort.

March 10 - Teach and Learn

Read: Matthew 10:16-25

A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. (Matthew 10:24 ESV)

I love living life with my fellow Christians. I have the wonderful privilege of working and serving in a close knit community of believers. We're in a season of rapid change as God brings in more and more people. We are experiencing a ton of growth. This has created a lot of really amazing opportunities for discipleship.

It is an awesome experience to have a hand in the spiritual development of a young adult. It also comes with the hefty weight of responsibility. Being given that kind of degree of authority places people under your care. When you're discipling someone you begin to care for them deeply as both parties begin to understand their unique roles in the relationship.

A mentor is burdened with the wonderful task of guiding someone toward a greater level of understanding and obedience in their faith. The one being mentored, the disciple, has the appointed opportunity to absorb and obey as they share in life and ministry with their teacher. This is probably my favorite aspect of ministry.

This was Jesus' model for growing the Kingdom. Take twelve guys, pour everything into them, and turn it over to them. Incredible. Along the way he offered up this little reminder. We all have a teacher to follow. We all have a master to serve. Sometimes that means we just need to pause and consider: How might I learn better? How and who can I serve better?

I love teaching and I love sharing. Sometimes I can learn just as much from those God has placed under my authority. They often teach me a great deal about dreaming big, about sharing faith, and about walking in transparency.

March 9 - At Hand

Read: Matthew 10:5-15

And proclaim as you go, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 10:7 ESV)

For hundreds of years the Jews had been waiting for the Messiah. He had arrived. Jesus was on the scene. As he selected, trained, and sent his disciples he granted them authority to do miracles, to proclaim the good news of the Gospel, and to invite people into the Kingdom of God.

They spread out across the region sharing the Gospel. The message; the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. It was at hand. It was near. It was now. It was attainable. It was within reach.

This incredible spiritual happening was happening in the here and now for them. It continues today. No longer was a relationship with God something to be gained through ritual, rules, and religious regulation. God could be known simply by reaching out to know Him. Jesus personified this. He made it possible.

Jesus is the door to the Kingdom. To know God is to know Christ. To know Christ is to know God. Want relationship with the Father? Get to know the Son. Need the restoration of the Father? Seek the hand of the Son.

Even today God longs to reconcile us to Himself. It is the work of salvation. It is the mission of the Incarnate Christ. It is at hand.

March 8 - Authority

Read: Matthew 10:1-4

And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. (Matthew 10:1 ESV)

Authority is generally pretty easy to recognize. We recognize the authority of police by their uniforms, badges, or vehicles. Firemen are recognized by their uniforms and equipment. First responders by their sirens and ambulance.

All of these things are not authority. They are only the tools that allow the ones who wield them to utilize and represent their authority by completing their jobs. Police use those tools to enforce the law, firemen to aid civilians and stop fires, and first responders to rescue people of provide emergency medical assistance. Each of these people are operating under a type of authority given to them by a larger governing power.

Jesus was the disciples' larger governing power. As he was the face of God before the Twelve he represented the interest and authority of God. He passed this authority on to his disciples.

The Apostle Paul later wrote that all Christians were Christ's ambassadors. Each of us carry an official mark of authority that recognizes us as official representatives of the Kingdom of God. In some way, on some level, that bestows upon us an inherent authority. The disciples were granted authority to cast out demons and to heal people. What does that kind of authority mean for you and I?

March 7 - Fishermen

Read: Matthew 4:18-22 & Mark 1:16-20

And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19 ESV)

I am a pretty poor fisherman. My dad tried really hard to teach me, but it just never took. I am pitifully unskilled at it. Others in my family are pretty good at it. My mom, brother, wife, and dad are all better at it than I am.

There are a lot of reasons why I am not a good at fishing, but the biggest one comes back to me not being very teachable concerning the subject. Fishing is one of those kinds of things that you can gain some proficiency at on your own, but if you want to be truly skilled you have to learn from a master. You have to learn the tricks for the different kinds of fish, the way to use different bait, how you change techniques depending on water depth and flow. Fishing is a complicated and yet simple activity.

Sharing the story of Jesus is much the same. Jesus told his disciples that by following him he would "make them become fishers of men." The gospel is easy to share, and at the same time it can seem complicated. It can seem overwhelming. It's a beautiful paradox.

Jesus developed his followers. He took a handful of men and women and entrusted Christianity to them. Every Christian on the planet can trace their faith back to one of those original twelve followers. In 2000 years the model for reaching people is still the same. His will is shape people over time into people who can reach out and lead and shape other people. So, how are you letting him shape you?

March 6 - Casting Nets

Read: Luke 5:1-11

And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." (Luke 5:5 ESV)

Everything we know about Simon Peter suggests that he was a successful fisherman. He made a career out of it. He had multiple boats and even several partners. When Jesus climbed into his boat one day he had already fished unsuccessfully for the entire night. So, why then did he obey the advice of a carpenter and cast his nets?

Sometimes the person with the most talent, best intentions, or superior intellect can miss the mark. There is always grace in those situations. There is always opportunity for improvement. There is always a chance to let Jesus show you how that you might do it better.

Peter had already seen Jesus at work. He was no stranger to Capernaum. He had even healed Peter's mother-in-law at an earlier date. No, Simon Peter knew who Jesus was, and what he was about. He didn't completely grasp the full implications of it all, but he believed. He believed in Jesus. So when Jesus, a trained carpenter and traveling preacher, asked him to cast his nets at the end of a long and fruitless night, it wasn't a man Peter was listening to. It was faith.

Unfortunately, we often wait until we have weathered a fruitless night before casting our net with Jesus. When all along we could have started with him. All along we could have followed him into a life of fruitfulness. Casting nets is work; and pulling in full nets is even harder work. Still Jesus compels us to come and throw out our nets. I for one am anxious to see the catch.

March 5 - Leave Everything

Read: Matthew 9:9; Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27-32

And leaving everything, he rose and followed him. (Luke 5:28 ESV)

Matthew the tax collector (also called Levi) was probably wealthy compared to the people around him. He was essentially a government sponsored swindler. An employee of the Roman's, it was Matthew's job to get the needed taxes from his countrymen. Anything collected above the needed amount was kept as payment. It was a system that set Matthew up as an apparent traitor to his fellow Jews. That all changed for Matthew the day Jesus walked into his life.

Matthew left everything. The tax booth, the pay check, his assignment by the Roman conquerors. He left it all and started following a homeless traveling preacher. Why? Because Matthew recognized that there was nothing he had that was better than anything Jesus was offering. To him that was worth leaving everything.

How does the story translate to us today? Are you and I willing to leave behind everything? What would that even look like? Those are pretty tough questions to consider. They are made even tougher if you are someone sitting high atop the ladder of financial success. Still, Matthew did it. So can we. He even went on to write the Gospel that bears his name.

Our pursuits and passions are often varied and frivolous. Sometimes our careers can be as well. A life lived in full pursuit of Jesus is never frivolous. It is measured. It is costly. It is worth leaving everything.

March 4 - Rabbi, Son, & King

Read: John 1:46-51

Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" (John 1:49 ESV)

Jesus' prophetic display convinced Nathan to follow him. He exclaimed his astonishment by attributing three very Jewish titles to Jesus. He called him a rabbi, the Son of God, and King of the Jews.

Rabbi was a title. It was and still is a Jewish word for teacher. It was used frequently when speaking of Jesus. For good reason too. He was teaching the people of his day the truth of the kingdom of God in a way that baffled, angered, and shamed the religious elite, while encouraging and empowering the destitute and ignored. Jesus taught about a lot of things, but he demonstrated all of his instruction very pointedly by becoming the sacrifice to fulfill all of his earthly promises.

Son of God seems to be a really straight forward thing to call someone, and basically it is. It is a figure of speech that goes all the way back to the creation story when Adam is called the son of God. It is a theme that runs through the entire Old Testament, spinning out of the promise God made to Abraham that he would be an exalted father. Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of those three words. He is the Son of God. He is God the Son. Essentially, all Old Testament themes speaking of sonship and family point ahead to Jesus. He is the fulfillment of that and so much more. And you and I can also be sons of God as we are adopted into the family of God through Jesus' sacrifice.

King of Israel was a curious thing to call Jesus. After all, the nation already had a king. This title declares two things. First, the man who sat on the throne at the time of Jesus was not the true king of Israel. He was not a descendant of David. No, Herod was a puppet king put in place by the Romans. Second, the title attributed to Jesus recognition of his lawful right to the throne, something he did not pursue at that time, as well as his role as an eternal king of God's people.

Ultimately Jesus is the supreme teacher, son, and ruler. In him we have revealed to us absolute truth. In him we find restoration into the original family. In him we gain citizenship to a sovereign eternal kingdom.

March 3 - A Personal Connection

Read: John 1:43-45

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." (John 1:43 ESV)

According to the Bible, in terms of human attraction, Jesus was nothing spectacular to look upon. He was well regarded by people. He was admired for his teaching, compassion, and miracles. Was that alone enough to cause the large numbers of people who gathered around him to follow him?

Philip is counted among the original twelve. He was one chosen by Christ to steward Christianity in its infancy. Philip gave his life to fulfill the role Jesus had called him into. Philip probably already knew a lot about Jesus by the time Christ found him and stated those two words that changed his eternal destiny. Jesus was extremely well known in the region. Still, it took an experience with Jesus. It took personal connection for Philip to engage.

There are many we interact with on a regular basis that are similar to Philip. They need only experience a personal connection with Jesus to start their life of following. We are their best chance at a personal connection. After all, we are the representatives for Christ and his kingdom in this world.

How well are you representing? How are you representing? Are you connecting? Can you connect better?

March 2 - Finding Jesus

Read: John 1:41-42

He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ). (John 1:41 ESV)

I can not even begin to imagine the euphoria experienced by Andrew and Peter when they realized that they had found the Messiah. The title Messiah was such an important word in Old Testament Jewish tradition. For them to conclude that Jesus fulfilled that role was monumental. It was historic. It was life changing.

"Have you found Jesus, Gump?" "I didn't know I was supposed to be looking for him."

Those classic lines from Forrest Gump used to replay in my mind all of the time. I came from a church culture and family tradition where I definitely did have to go searching or looking for Jesus. There was nowhere for him to hide in my life. We were in church every time the doors were open for the vast majority of my childhood. I never had to find Jesus because I never felt like he was lost.

In truth, I was the lost one. Actually that is all of our condition before beginning our relationship with Jesus. The sweet beauty of it all is that he finds us in our lostness. Jesus finds us.

March 1 - Follower

Read: John 1:37-40

One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. (John 1:40 ESV)

Following is a big deal. When you follow someone you go where they go. Following someone with the intention of learning from them means you begin to follow them not only in terms of locale, but also in behavior. It means adapting behavior of thought, behavior of speech, and behavior of heart.

John and Andrew became followers of Jesus. They began a life of living for him and with him. And eventually both of them would die for him.

Following Jesus is not something you just say, or claim, it is something you do. It is initiated and maintained by faith that is more than merely contemplative. It is active. It is believing, saying, and doing.

Sometimes it is easy. Often it is incredibly hard. Always it takes everything, requires everything, and offers everything. We follow Jesus. We live for Jesus. Possibly, we may even die for Jesus.

February 28 - Jesus’ Tours

Read: Matthew 11

When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. (Matthew 11:1 ESV)

Jesus went on several large tours of the region around Galilee. He preached and taught about the kingdom of God everywhere he went. Traveling, preaching, and teaching were the practical means by which he communicated the purpose of God.

Jesus recruited men from all over Galilee. Men of all different backgrounds, probably from cities and villages of all different backgrounds, and then he travelled to their various cities preaching the kingdom of God. In some way I believe he was strategically modeling for them how to reach their own people.

Several instant images that come to mind when I think of the word tour. There is the kind of tour you need a guide for. It means stepping into unfamiliar territory and having someone explain your surroundings. For some of the disciples that's exactly what Jesus did.

There is also the kind of tour where you travel a previously determined route. Musicians, authors, and many other creative outlets use is kind of tour in order to help maximize the amount of people connecting with their work. I believe that's why Jesus went on his various preaching tours. He was going to strategic places of maximum impact. He was influencing in a way that would forever change the course of history, and it did.

February 27 - Say and Bring

Read: Luke 8:1-3

Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, (Luke 8:1 ESV)

Jesus preached a lot about the kingdom of God. He was always proclaiming his radically correct ideas through spoken words. But he also brought the good news with him. It was more than a simple theological proclamation. It was also a practical demonstration. Jesus talked about the kingdom of God, and then he showed people the kingdom of God.

I genuinely believe that we can show people the kingdom of God, but we need to bring it to them. All to often our mentality is to bring people to the kingdom, when in reality Jesus demonstrated a model that was all about taking the kingdom to the people. Truthfully many people won't come to your kingdom, but of you take them THE kingdom they will be more receptive.

It's not a guaranteed way to reach everyone. I'm not convinced anything like that actually exists. But it will be fruitful. Not everyone will see, comprehend, or embrace the kingdom of God through a saving knowledge of Jesus, but not taking it to them greatly lessens the potential that they will.

To be in the kingdom we have to bring the kingdom. To be in light we have to be sharers of light. The gospel is the best news. People need and want to know it. Take it to them.

February 26 - The Compassion of Christ

Read: Matthew 9:35-38

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:36 ESV)

Jesus was compassionate. He was sincere in approach, specific in affection, and direct in the administration of humanitarian consideration toward those in need. If you were sick, he was a healer. If you were blind, he made you to see. If you were marginalized, he sought justice. If you were dead to your sin, he brought you to life. His compassion seemed to come without boundaries, borders, or prerequisites. However, Jesus especially, and lovingly, reached out to the poor and neglected.

Crowds followed Jesus. He did the miraculous regularly. Often these were comprised primarily of those deeply marginalized by the corrupted religious establishment. They gathered en masse as a leaderless people looking for a leader, protector, and provider. Jesus came to be exactly that. He was and is the good shepherd. Whether physically or spiritually blind, he can still help you see. If you are arrested by fear he can set you free. If you are walking in the death of darkness he can lead you to the light of life. He still has great compassion.

What about you? I've been personally reevaluating this for some time. How compassionate are you? Sometimes people are just naturally compassionate. Some of us have to work at it. How do we do that? By reaching out with the authentic love of Jesus to someone that just needs to know him. Jesus showed compassion to show his caring nature, desire to serve, and to glorify God. Should our motivation be any different?

February 25 - Famous

Read: Matthew 4:23-25; Mark 1:35-39; Luke 4:42-44

So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. (Matthew 4:24 ESV)

If you could pray for someone with pretty much any ailment in existence and they were miraculously healed do you think it would make you famous? Never mind your particular personal stance on the possibility of miracles. If you could instantly heal people you would get attention of all kinds. You would be famous.

Jesus had begun to travel quite a bit in his ministry. He was basing his work out of Capernaum, but was spending a lot of time in the overall geographical region of Galilee. He healed a lot of people, and huge crowds began to follow him.

What merits fame? Sometimes it seems like people become famous over the most frivolously silly things. When is the last time you remember someone becoming famous for the good they were doing?

Jesus worked with his fame. A couple of his miracles actually involved feeding the humongous crowds that had begun to follow him. He used his platform to great affect. He used his influence. Each of us have our own sphere of influence. We have our own platform. We may not be famous or have large crowds following us, but we still must daily choose how to use that influence to shape the world around us.

February 24 - Authority

Read: Luke 4:31-37

...and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. (Luke 4:32 ESV)

We all know and recognize authority. Even if we don't like that authority or feel like it is being abused we know authority when we see it. Official representatives of our government carry authority. Officers of the law, firemen, first responders, and other emergency personnel carry authority. Even the IRS has authority.

Authority is power. It is a voice of order. When authority speaks, those of us within the sound of the message have to choose how that we will respond. Compliance or rebellion? The trick I think sometimes comes in recognizing and validating authority. It's fairly easy if a policeman pulls up behind you with their lights flashing and siren going to recognize the authority they should have over you. Sometimes in the world of Christian faith this seems to get a little unclear for people.

As Christians our ultimate authority is Jesus. The demons he cast out recognized his absolute authority. As such, we should filter life's big decisions, personal victories, and private troubles with Jesus. He already knows them, but his authority works in our favor. In fact, in some ways it actually extends to us. Jesus cast out demons because of his authority, and for nearly two millennia his followers have done the same thing while operating as heavenly representatives of his authority.

Also, chances are pretty good that God has placed us under the authority of a fellow believer. Timothy was under Paul, even as Paul had submitted himself to the authority of the disciples and other Christian leaders such as Peter and James. Rare indeed is the occasion that God places us in a position to love and serve Him without living under authority. It's unhealthy and dangerous. Who is your authority? How are you submitting to them?

February 23 - Hometown

Read: Isaiah 61 & Luke 4:14-30

And he said, "Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown." (Luke 4:24 ESV)

Jesus grew up in Nazareth. It was his earthly home. A small town with probably around one hundred inhabitants, the chances are pretty good that Jesus pretty much knew everyone by name. What would you think if someone you've known for a long time came and told you they were God? I think I would probably respond a lot like the crowd in Nazareth.

Sometimes its hard to go home and be taken seriously. The people who have known you the longest can sometimes be your harshest critics. They still see that little kid they watched grow up. When faced with that actuality we have to confront it as Jesus did— by lovingly stating our purpose, vision, and calling.

We might not be given an actual platform to vocalize our entire directive in a single setting. This is where relationships become so important. Relationships give us context and platform to share what God is calling us to do in a way that is natural. You may still catch flak like Jesus did, but go with your heart and your gut.

Jesus declared his intentions and mission in very specific terms by reading from Isaiah 61 that day. It was a prophetic kind of declaration. It was his mission statement. It still is today. How has Jesus fulfilled the claims of Isaiah 61 in your life? Do you know anyone that needs to hear these promises from Jesus? Do the people who are close to you believe what you have to say about Jesus? Sometimes sharing life's big moments with people from our past, even people close to us, can be really hard to do. The difficulty doesn't release us from the obligation of doing it.

February 22 - Jesus Preached

Read: Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 4:14-15

And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. (Luke 4:15 ESV)

I can't speak for you, but most of the time when I think about the life and ministry of Jesus I wind up dwelling on his miracles. There were so many, and they are awesome stories of the restorative nature of his redemptive love for mankind. If I'm not meditating on or studying about one of his many miracles I am usually thinking about the final moments of his ministry that led up to his torture and murder, or of course the act of his execution itself. Then there is always that intriguing time after his resurrection where he lived among his followers before eventually ascending into Heaven.

To be honest, I find myself spending the least amount of time dwelling on what may have very well been the aspect of Christ's ministry that occupied the largest amount of his time. Jesus was first and foremost a traveling preacher. In today's lingo, he was essentially a missionary. All of the awesome stories we read about his life and works exist within the context of a man who regularly traveled across very rugged terrain to share the redemption story of the Kingdom of Heaven.

He went from town to town speaking in their synagogues. If there wasn't a nearby synagogue he looked for something else to speak from like a hill, or boat. Luke's gospel captures this wonderfully. Luke the physician recorded more of Jesus' words than any other gospel.

We live in an age when words seem to carry little weight sometimes. Actions are held to a higher level of credibility. Indeed Jesus' incredible acts of mercy were miraculous displays of kindness. However, they were made even more impactful by the accompaniment of his message. He preached that God's Kingdom had returned to man through mercy, grace, and repentance. He spoke and he acted on it. He didn't do either alone. He preached repentance and then became the sacrifice to pave the way.

February 21 - Love People

Read: John 4:1-42

The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?" ( For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) (John 4:9 ESV)

Cultural, racial, and spiritual differences have existed for thousands of years, rooted in the inherent wickedness of men. Jesus ignored all of that the day he sat at Jacob's Well and chatted with the Samaritan woman. His willingness to ignore social taboos and ridiculous cultural differences gave him a platform by which he ministered to many people during his earthy ministry.

We should love people. All people. Regardless of ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or even religion. If we are to follow in the steps of Jesus we have to love that way. He did.

Sometimes that means crossing literal physical boundaries. Other times it may mean crossing cultural or social boundaries. The end result is always the same. It creates an opportunity to show the love of Christ to someone that is in some way different than we are. We have no right to judge the value of person simply based on their difference to us. Just thinking that way lends itself to incredulous arrogance.

Love people and love God. Let Him work out any changing on their part that might need to happen. Our job is just to help thirsty people discover the well of eternal living water that exists in Jesus Christ.

February 20 - Decrease

Read: John 3:22-36

He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30 ESV)

John the Baptizer had already explained numerous times over that he was not the messiah. He had been baptizing people in droves when someone pointed out to him that Jesus had also begun to baptize people nearby. John was not jealous. He was ecstatic. The final fruit of his ministry was drawing near. Jesus was taking the forefront even as John was diminishing. Jesus was increasing in fame, following, and favor as John was decreasing.

John had the right of it. Even aside from his part in God's redemption story for mankind he knew that in order for his life to achieve its full potential he must decrease as Christ increased. The same thing is true for us today.

If you and I are to find fullness in Christ we must relinquish control of our lives. We must take the humbly reverent approach that looks first to Jesus for answers. This brings a unique sense of joy to life as we learn to lean on God. Over time we replace our selfish wants with selfless wants. We reject arrogance for humility, and insecurity for steadfastness. We decrease. Jesus increases.