Category: Love of God

  • Peculiar People: A Christ-like Walk of Love

    Peculiar People: A Christ-like Walk of Love

    Our greatest achievement as Christians is not merely obeying verses, but “living a life that most reflects the way he would live if he were you”. This means transforming our hearts to “become lovers of others,” rather than simply conforming to information.

    As followers of Jesus, we are called to be a “peculiar people”. This “peculiar” walk often means that our faith and life choices may appear “foolish” when viewed through the lens of popular culture. Our walk is not merely about adhering to a static set of rules, but about believing what Jesus says about who we are, who He is, and about others, profoundly shaping how we interact with the world.

    There is a distinction between living a “biblical life” and a “Christ-like life”. A biblical life, as exemplified by the Pharisees, often focuses on obeying rules and preserving identity through “boundary markers of purity and law”. They were deeply committed and biblically literate, believing their unwavering pursuit of obedience to the Torah would trigger God’s promised resurrection and restoration. However, their interpretation of scripture (Deuteronomy 21:22-23) led them to believe Jesus was cursed by God because he was hung on a tree, and his followers were seen as idolatrous sinners preventing God from saving the nation. This outlook, based on Scriptural reasoning, sometimes led to coercive power and even violence.

    The Apostle Paul, then known as Saul, was once a Pharisee deeply convinced he was serving God’s will by persecuting early Christians, even giving permission for the stoning of Stephen. He believed that the presence of “sinners” among God’s people was the main obstacle to salvation. This demonstrates how a deep understanding of scripture, when applied as a “static text without its broader context,” can lead to actions contrary to God’s ultimate will.

    Paul’s life took a radical turn when he had an intimate encounter with God’s presence on the road to Damascus. This encounter transformed him from a man living a “biblical life” to one pursuing a “Christ-like life,” motivated by love rather than the perfect preservation of biblical law. The irony is that Paul, who once despised foreign cultures and sought to purify Israel, was now sent by God to preach salvation to those very nations.

    It was this transformed Paul who later wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:1-6, declaring that even if one possesses spiritual gifts, knowledge, or performs great deeds, “but do not have love, I am nothing” and “I gain nothing”. This reveals that “all actions and beliefs are secondary to the command to love sacrificially”. Paul understood that “Jesus had become the ultimate revelation of all truth in the bible through the life he lived,” and following Him meant being “driven by love,” not just pursuing perfect obedience to law.

    Jesus Himself lived out this peculiar love, often appearing “peculiar and even improper” to those focused on the law. He didn’t let “theological problems in the lives of others become more important than a person to love”. Where the law condemned, Jesus showed grace: healing on the Sabbath, dining with prostitutes and tax collectors, and protecting a woman caught in adultery from stoning, while the Pharisees cited the law. He also ministered to a Samaritan woman, breaking traditional lines of separation.

    C.S. Lewis stated, “It is Christ Himself, not the Bible, who is the true word of God,” and that the Bible should not be used “as a sort of encyclopaedia out of which texts can be taken for use as weapons”. Our greatest achievement as Christians is not merely obeying verses, but “living a life that most reflects the way he would live if he were you”. This means transforming our hearts to “become lovers of others,” rather than simply conforming to information. The most important thing is “who you become,” as Dallas Willard believed. When we respond with love like Jesus, seeking to understand instead of judging like the Pharisees, we begin to “heal the root, not just the reaction”.

    Reflective Questions:

    1. Does my faith walk appear peculiar to popular culture?
    2. Where might my focus on rules hinder loving others?
    3. Am I pursuing a “biblical life” or a “Christ-like life”?
    4. How can I prioritize people over their theological problems or behaviors?
    5. What next step can I take to treat people as though Jesus died for them?

    What personal next step can you take?

    Closing Prayer:

    Heavenly Father, thank you for calling us to be a peculiar people, transformed by Your love. Forgive us for the times we have prioritized law over love, and judgment over grace. Just as You transformed Paul, we pray for transformed hearts, that we may truly become lovers of others, not just conform to Your word. Help us to filter all scripture through the life of Jesus and to walk as He walked, demonstrating His love and grace to everyone we encounter. May our lives reflect the way Jesus would live if He were us, seeing hearts, healing roots, and extending Your unfailing love. Amen.

    Watch the sermon on YouTube

  • Mary – A Faith for the Real World

    Mary – A Faith for the Real World

    Our lives are a puzzle, and down here, we only see “imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror”. Faith is trusting that the pieces we cannot fit together now will one day form a beautiful, complete picture.

    The life of Mary was filled with “once off” circumstances we can never imitate. A virgin birth, angelic visitations, shepherds and Magi at her doorstep, and the profound mystery of raising a child who would never sin—these events set her apart. It’s easy to place her on a pedestal, seeing her as inaccessible. Yet, the core question her story poses is, “How does it relate to us?”. The answer lies not in her unique circumstances, but in her deeply human and relatable faith as she navigated a life of unimaginable divine purpose. Her journey is a profound example of real, unwavering trust in the face of the unknown.

    At the very heart of her story is a simple, yet world-changing “yes.” The angel Gabriel appeared to a girl of perhaps only thirteen or fourteen with a message that defied all logic. She was betrothed, a legally binding arrangement, meaning a pregnancy outside of her union with Joseph would be considered adultery—a crime punishable by stoning. She was “greatly troubled” and afraid, yet her response was immediate and resolute: “I am the Lord’s servant… May your word to me be fulfilled”. This was not a blind leap but an act of profound trust in the character of God, a choice to embrace His disruptive plan despite the immense personal risk and the certainty of scandal.

    Her journey immediately shows us that God does not leave us alone in our obedience. God’s kindness: “God knew Mary’s going to need a friend now”. Because who would believe her story? So the angel pointed her to her relative, Elizabeth. The moment Mary walked in the door, Elizabeth shouted in confirmation, “How privileged I am that the mother of my Lord has come to visit me!”. In that moment, God provided the comfort, confirmation, and community she desperately needed. This pattern of provision continued, as the Magi’s gifts of gold would later fund her family’s flight to Egypt, fulfilling scripture and keeping her son safe.

    However, faith does not exempt us from confusion or pain. Mary had to learn that while she was Jesus’ mother, she also had to become his disciple, a “big transition to make”. Imagine the panic of losing the twelve-year-old Son of God for three days, only to find Him in the temple. Her worried cry, “Didn’t you know we were worried about you?” was met with his perplexing response about being in his “Father’s business.” The scripture says she “did not understand,” but she “treasured everything in her heart”. This treasuring of mysteries would culminate in the ultimate pain, a pain foretold thirty-three years earlier when Simeon prophesied that “a sword would pierce her soul”. This prophecy became her reality as she stood at the cross, watching her son become a “bloody pulp, unrecognizable”.

    This is where her story intersects most powerfully with our own: the reality of suffering. It is often “totally inexplicable” and not something we deserve. When we suffer, it is not because “God is mad at you”. Rather, God uses it.

    “When he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold”.

    Job 23:10

    Suffering has a purifying effect. In a stunning paradox, the Bible says that even Jesus, who was perfect, “learned obedience through the things that he suffered”. If He did, how much more do we? Our lives are a puzzle, and down here, we only see “imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror”. Faith is trusting that the pieces we cannot fit together now will one day form a beautiful, complete picture.

    Ultimately, Mary is not a model we are called to imitate in detail, but an “example of a real person who trusted God as an individual”. The challenge is to ask, “What can I learn from Mary about living in faith in my real world?”. If she were here, she would tell us: “You can trust Him, even though life doesn’t turn out as expected. He is good and faithful, and He keeps His promises”. He knows your name, He holds you in His hands, and He will bring you safely home.

    Reflect:

    1. Mary said “yes” to God despite knowing the potential consequences. When have you felt God asking you to do something that felt frightening or uncertain? What can you learn from Mary’s immediate trust?
    2. God provided Mary with a supportive friend and confirmation in Elizabeth just when she needed it. Who has God placed in your life to encourage and support your faith during a difficult season? Take a moment to thank God for them.
    3. Mary experienced the deep pain of watching her son suffer, a pain foretold as a “sword” piercing her soul. Reflect on a time of suffering in your own life. How does the idea that suffering can have a “purifying effect” change your perspective on that experience?
    4. The sermon uses the analogy of life being a puzzle where we only see some pieces now. What parts of your life feel like confusing “puzzle pieces” right now? How can you practice trusting that “one day all those puzzle pieces are going to be filled in”?
    5. The final challenge is not to ask “How can I be like Mary?” but “What can I learn from Mary about living in faith in my real world?”. What is one practical lesson from her trust in God that you can apply to your own unique life this week?

    What personal next step can you take?

    Closing Prayer

    Father, we thank you for the example of Mary—for her courage, her trust, and her faithfulness in a life that did not turn out as she might have expected. Help us to trust you as she did.

    Now unto You, who is able to keep us from falling and to present us faultless before the presence of Your glory with exceeding joy. To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.

    Watch the sermon on Youtube.

  • Faith in the Who, Not the Why

    Faith in the Who, Not the Why

    The truth is, we may never know the “why” behind our suffering this side of eternity. God’s ways are not our ways. But what we can know, with absolute certainty, is the “who.”

    Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

    — Proverbs 3:5 (NLT)

    In seasons of crisis, loss, or deep unfairness, the question that echoes in the chambers of our hearts is often a single, agonizing word: “Why?” We see others being blessed, prayers being answered, and miracles unfolding, while we remain in our own prison of pain, feeling overlooked and forgotten. It is in these moments that the foundation of our faith is truly tested. Is our belief in God based on what He does for us, or on who He is?

    Jesus encountered this very challenge. He told the people, “You people will never believe unless you see signs and wonders” (John 4:48 NIVR). He was calling them, and us, to a deeper faith—a faith that entrusts our entire lives to Him, not just one that is validated by a steady stream of blessings and miraculous interventions. The enemy loves a sign-based faith because when life inevitably takes a wrong turn, our perception of God shatters, and we risk abandoning the very One who is our salvation.

    Consider John the Baptist. He was the forerunner, the one who declared, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” He faithfully rebuked evil, standing for righteousness, and for his trouble, he was thrown into prison by Herod. From his cell, he heard reports of the Messiah performing miracles for others—the blind see, the lame walk, the dead are raised. Yet, John remained locked away. The lack of a sign for his own situation led him to send his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is supposed to come?Or should wel ook for someone else?” (Matthew 11:3 NIVR).

    Perhaps you can relate to John. You feel trapped, and your prayers for release seem to go unanswered. You’re wrestling with the question, “Jesus, are you really who you say you are for me?”

    The truth is, we may never know the “why” behind our suffering this side of eternity. God’s ways are not our ways. But what we can know, with absolute certainty, is the “who.”

    • No matter what happens, He loves you.
    • No matter how unfair it seems, He is merciful and gracious.
    • No matter how untimely the loss, He is your good shepherd.
    • No matter how unexpected the outcome, He will never leave you or forsake you.

    When we can anchor our faith in the unchanging character of God, the “why” loses its power over us. John the Baptist’s struggle wasn’t truly about his belief in who Jesus was; it was a wrestle with his unmet expectations of what Jesus should do. He, like many Jews of his time, likely expected a political King who would overthrow Roman oppressors, not a humble servant.

    How much of our own wrestling with God is born from unmet expectations? “God, I thought you would heal me.” “I thought you would provide that job.” “I thought you would save this relationship.” Faith trusts, but expectation assumes. As the apostle James warns, we should not say we wi l do this or that, but rather, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:15 NIV). This is a posture of trust, not assumption.

    Jesus’ response to John was profound. He pointed to the signs He was performing, affirming His identity. But then He added a crucial word of encouragement: “Blessed is anyone who does not give up their faith because of me” (Luke 7:23 NIVR). Jesus was saying, “John, there is a blessing for you if you can trust who I am even when you don’t understand what I am doing (or not doing) in your personal situation.”

    The story of John the Baptist ends, from a human perspective, in tragedy. He is beheaded on a whim to satisfy a drunken promise at a party. There was no miraculous escape. Yet, Jesus Himself said of John, “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11 ESV). John’s greatness was not defined by the length of his ministry or a triumphant end, but by his steadfast faith while wrestling in the dark. His suffering became his witness.

    Your greatest testimony may not be a story of miraculous escape, but one of unwavering faith in the midst of the fire. It’s about finding peace in the prison cell, not just freedom from it. When you let go of your expectations and cling to the “Who,” you will experience, as Paul wrote, “God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand” (Philippians 4:7 NLT). Your faith in who God is, even without answers to “why,” becomes a powerful story seen by others, a testimony of greatness that echoes from your life into eternity.

    Reflect

    1. In what area of your life are you currently asking “Why?” How can you shift your focus from the “why” of your circumstances to the “who” of God’s character this week?
    2. Think about a time when an unmet expectation of God caused you to worry or doubt. How does the distinction between “faith trusts” and “expectation assumes” change your perspective on that situation?
    3. John the Baptist felt overlooked in his prison cell while others received miracles. Can you identify with this feeling? How does Jesus’ statement, “Blessedisanyonewhodoesnotgiveuptheirfaithbecauseofme” (Luke 7:23), speak to you in that feeling?
    4. The devotional states, “Your faith in God through suffering is a form of witness.” Who might be watching your response to your current challenges? What message is your faith sending?
    5. If you were to honestly write the final chapter of your current story of suffering, what would it say? How can you, like John, trust that even a tragic ending in human eyes can be a testimony of greatness in God’s eyes?

    Closing Prayer

    Father God,

    Thank you that your love for me is not dependent on my circumstances. Forgive me for the times I have based my faith on signs and wonders, and for the times my unmet expectations have led to doubt and anxiety. Today, I choose to let go of my need to understand “why.” Instead, I choose to trust in “Who” You are: my loving Father, my good Shepherd, my merciful and gracious God who will never leave me. Even in this prison of pain, help me find Your peace that surpasses all understanding. May my faith, even while wrestling, be a powerful testimony to Your greatness.

    In Jesus’ name, Amen.

  • Payment or Present

    Payment or Present

    Your relationship with God is not a contract you must painstakingly fulfill, but a covenant He graciously initiates.

    The saying, “You get what you pay for,” resonates deeply with us, often feeling like an undeniable truth. It’s woven into the fabric of our society, shaping our expectations of fairness and merit. We strive for a world where effort equals reward, where good actions yield good outcomes, and where anything less feels inherently unjust. This perspective, born from our earthly experiences, often spills over into our spiritual lives, leading us to believe that our relationship with God is a transaction—a contract where we perform certain deeds in exchange for His favor.

    The story of Ashton and the R50 smart watch from Temu illustrates this human tendency. The allure of a seemingly incredible deal, only to be met with disappointment, leads to the resigned sigh, “You get what you pay for.” This sentiment, while practical in the marketplace, becomes a significant stumbling block when applied to our walk with God. We wonder if we have to earn God’s love, if our good deeds create a debt He must repay with blessings and eternal life. We may even feel frustrated when our efforts don’t seem to yield the expected results, questioning God’s fairness when He doesn’t hold up “His end of the bargain.”

    The Rich Young Ruler: A Quest for Payment

    In Matthew 19:16-22, we encounter a rich young man who embodies this very question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” His inquiry reveals a contractual mindset, a belief that eternal life is a commodity to be purchased through good works. Jesus, in His wisdom, challenges this notion by listing the commandments, seemingly setting a price for entry into the kingdom. The young man, confident in his outward adherence to the law, proudly declares, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?”

    His response highlights a fundamental misunderstanding, a common human error. He believed he had fulfilled his part of the contract, that he had “paid” enough. Yet, Jesus’ ultimate instruction to sell all his possessions and follow Him exposed the true obstacle: his reliance on his own efforts and wealth, rather than on God’s grace. The young man’s sorrowful departure reveals the painful truth—he wasn’t willing to release his grip on what he believed he had earned.

    The disciples, too, struggled with this transactional thinking. Peter, ever the spokesman, voices their implicit contract: “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” (Matthew 19:27). Their question, while understandable from a human perspective, underscores the deeply ingrained belief that there must be an equivalent return for their sacrifices.

    The Vineyard Parable: A Gift, Not a Wage

    Jesus then reframes the entire discussion with the parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16). This powerful story shatters the illusion of a merit-based relationship with God. The vineyard owner hires workers at different times of the day, yet at the end, pays them all the same wage—a denarius. The workers who bore the burden of the day and the scorching heat are furious, feeling cheated by the owner’s “unfair” generosity to those who worked for only an hour.

    This parable powerfully illustrates that God’s kingdom operates on a different economy—one of grace, not merit. The owner, representing God, asserts his right to be generous with what is his. He declares, “Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?” (Matthew 20:15).

    Our natural instinct screams, “More work equals more pay!” But in God’s kingdom, our “wage”—what we are truly owed—is not eternal life through our good deeds, but spiritual death due to our sin. Romans 3:23 reminds us, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” and Romans 6:23 unequivocally states, “For the wages of sin is death.” Even our most righteous deeds, as Isaiah 64:6 vividly describes, are “like a polluted garment”—unclean and insufficient to earn God’s favor.

    The Gospel: A Present, Not a Payment

    The good news, the Gospel, is that God does not offer us a payment based on our works, but a present based on His boundless grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 beautifully articulates this truth: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

    Your relationship with God is not a contract you must painstakingly fulfill, but a covenant He graciously initiates. A contract says, “If you do this, I’ll do this.” A covenant says, “I will.” God’s covenant with us, established through Jesus, is a promise to forgive our sins and restore our relationship with Him.

    This means you don’t have to work to earn God’s approval; in fact, you cannot earn it. God loves you right now, just as you are, as much as He ever has and as much as He ever will. Nothing you do or don’t do can make Him love you more or less. He is not a distant, unapproving father waiting for you to perform; He is a loving Father who runs towards you, full of mercy and compassion. As Romans 9:15 reminds us, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

    Living from God’s Approval, Not For It

    The challenge then becomes, how do we stop “trying so hard” to earn something that has already been freely given? It’s a journey of actively dismantling the contractual mindset and embracing the covenantal truth. We are called to shift from working for God’s approval to working from God’s approval.

    This shift takes time and intentionality. It means recognizing the areas in your life where you still believe you need to “perform” for God’s love or favor. Perhaps it’s in a struggle with sin, where you feel you need a “holy week” before you can approach Him again. Or maybe it’s in your service, where you feel God owes you something for your efforts.

    The invitation is to identify these areas, acknowledge the underlying belief that you need to earn His love, and then intentionally offer those feelings back to God. Ask Him to help you truly grasp His unconditional acceptance and approval because of Jesus. Pray for the faith to believe that today, right now, you are loved and accepted.

    God has extended the ultimate gift: an eternal relationship with Him, not as a payment for your works, but as a present of His grace. Will you accept it?

    Reflect:

    1. Reflecting on “You Get What You Pay For”: In what areas of your life (relationships, work, personal goals) do you most strongly feel the pull of the “you get what you pay for” mentality? How does this mindset influence your expectations and actions?
    2. Examining Your Relationship with God: Can you identify any instances or ongoing patterns where you find yourself “working for God’s approval” rather than “working from God’s approval”? What specific thoughts or feelings arise when you consider this distinction?
    3. Understanding God’s Grace: The parable of the vineyard owner highlights God’s sovereignty and generosity. How does the idea that God chooses to be merciful and compassionate, regardless of our perceived “worth” or “work,” challenge your inherent sense of fairness?
    4. Accepting the Present: The devotional emphasizes that our relationship with God is a present, not a payment. What does it truly mean for you to “accept this present”? What might be preventing you from fully embracing this truth?
    5. Shifting Your Perspective: The devotional encourages us to identify areas where we are working for God’s approval and offer them back to Him. What is one specific area in your life right now where you can intentionally practice this shift, trusting in God’s already-given acceptance?

    Closing Prayer:

    Heavenly Father, we come before You acknowledging our human tendency to strive, to earn, and to believe that Your favor is something we must pay for. Forgive us for often approaching You with a contract in hand, rather than with open hearts ready to receive Your boundless grace. Help us, Lord, to truly grasp the profound truth that our relationship with You is a glorious present, freely given through Jesus. Unpack in our hearts the meaning of Your covenant, a promise of forgiveness and restoration that requires only our acceptance. Holy Spirit, reveal the areas in our lives where we are still working for Your approval, and empower us to instead work from the deep well of Your already-given love and acceptance. May we rest in the knowledge that nothing we do can make You love us more, and nothing we’ve done can make You love us less. Thank You for Your incredible generosity, for choosing to have mercy on us, and for the gift of eternal life through Christ. Amen.