Each day there are choices. For instance: Did you eat breakfast, or did you skip? Did you turn the TV on, or leave it off? Did you drink a cup of coffee or choose to have a glass of juice instead? Choices are all around us.

On a much larger scale than coffee or juice…in the context Joshua 24:15, who will you serve today? Yourself? Your family? Your sinful nature? Your Heavenly Father? Again, all day long, there are choices to be made. Paul echo’s the words of Joshua when in verse 1-2 of our reading he says, (Vs. 1-2) “So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”

Today, remember that you are a servant, even if you are “the lead leader” in your business. While we might have subordinates below us…every one of us is a subordinate of Christ. Paul says, “men ought to regard us as servants of Christ…”

Of all the words that Paul could have picked, the fact that “servant” was selected means that service is significant. We also can see significance in service in that Christ himself served, ultimately serving all of humanity by dying in our place.

While significant…service also means sacrifice. Service cost Jesus his life. Paul also knew the pains of service (vs. 9). As with Paul and Christ, so with us. Service will cost you something. It might mean swallowing pride. It might mean acting or speaking in humility vs. haughtiness. It might mean rolling up your sleeves and working vs. waiting for someone else to do the job.

As far as what a Christian servant looks like, Paul paints a great picture in vs. 12-13 of our reading. He says, “We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.”

Cursed…persecuted…slandered…scum…refuse…who among us would say, “I’d like more of that please.” Serving will always cost the servant something. That being said, as we benefited from what Christ did for us at the cross…why not seek to bless someone else? Rather than “about us” it could “be about them”.

I once heard someone say, “We are never more like God, than when we serve”.

Today, why not take the risk – “Choose this day whom you will serve…” What I don’t know what that will mean for your life, I’m sure at the end of today, you’ll be glad you acted as you did.

What a great foundational truth for this day, that Christ “brings you to God”, through your faith in Him.  He died for our sin, so that we could be forgiven of it.  Christ is victorious.   In Him, as a result, so are we.

What is a faith challenge for us in living out this exciting reality?

1 Peter 4 has some great insight for us.  Vs. 2-3a says, “As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do.” (vs. 2-3a)

“Living, to live out the will of God”.  That sounds like a word of truth to guide our steps.  1 Peter 7-10 even gives insight into at least what part of God’s Will for us to walk in looks like.  God says:

“Be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” (vs. 7b-10)

Today, as God’s loved and lovely child, we can focus our future on doing a few core experiences:

1. “Reach Up” in prayer. (vs. 7b)

2. “Reach In” and deepen God-honoring relationships. (vs. 8-9)

3. “Reach Out” in service to others, sharing the news of God’s grace. (vs. 10)

Why not begin today?  A great place to start would be your home, and your workplace.   In the days and weeks to come, you might even think about doing these core life activities with a few friends.

Today, Mark 7 describes another battle, one played out on a much larger scale and one that involves every single individual, verses a small percentage of people with everyone else watching.  Victory in this battle is not for a trophy or title, or trinket of man, but for the crown of life, eternity in heaven.

Three insights stand out to me from our reading:

1. Despite many predictions, no one knows when that day will come (vs. 32-33).

2. While we don’t know the day, we can watch for the signs of the return of Christ (vs.27-27) drawing near (vs. 28-30).

And most important of all…

3.  Jesus calls you and I to stand firm to the end. (Mark 13:13b)

As we look at the world – disaster, war, evil and cause for despair are all around us.  In some instances they are at our doorsteps, or under our roof.

While Jesus encourages us to look and watch and be aware, He does not want us to make watching our sole objective.

Jesus says, “stand firm to the end”.   More than watching the signs for the end, he calls us to pay attention to our faith, standing firm in Him.   The encouragement Jesus offers reminds me of Ephesians 6:13 that says, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

Armed with God’s Word, holding firmly to the shield of faith along with the other armor that is given to us – victory is ours.  Today we can be encouraged in that we stand with the one who comes on that day as Victor, Jesus Christ.  Through your faith and trust in Christ you are on His team, a part of God’s family as his beloved child.

And last evening, this was no ordinary “boom”.  It was a loud, building rattling, knock the pictures off the mantle, set off the car alarm, make you jump out of your seat… “BOOM!!!” The thunder, thumped with a wallop. Wow was it loud!

As I was visiting with some people up on Concordia’s campus (after we finished jumping in our seats), we were amazed at what had just occurred.  The power we had just witnessed…was amazing.  And then to think that the source of this power is our Heavenly Father.  What a great example of why we can address Him as Almighty God.  Our God is filled with might and power!

Mark 10 reminds us of God’s ability.  Vs. 27 says:

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

God can help with anything you are facing.

He parted the Red Sea.  He talked through a burning bush.  He caused a virgin to conceive.  He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind and raised the dead.

Today…as it rains in South Texas, remember that God is Bigger…God is Almighty…God can help.

Why not take a few moments and talk with God about an impossibility that is before you, asking Him to provide a way through.

As we were preparing for a new day this morning, Jen and I visited about getting to an allergist so that what we are (suffering with sniffles and snorts and sneezing) is not what we will be (hopefully) in the near future.

Life transformation, we need it all the time, in a variety of different ways.

Something I appreciate about 1 Peter 2 is the reminder of how our faith in Jesus Christ has transformed us.  God’s Word says:

”Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (Verse 10)

What we were, is not what we are.  Today, be reminded that you are a new creation in Jesus Christ.  You are God’s child.  Rather than God’s wrath, through your faith in Jesus, God shows you unmerited mercy.

What I also appreciate about 1 Peter 2 is that what God has done for us serves a purpose.   Rather than “the hot-tub approach to our Christian faith”, where we simply sit and soak in all of God’s blessings…God calls us to action.  He calls us to live as the children of God that we are.  God calls us to:

1. Worship, out of gratitude for what God has done. (vs. 9b)
2. Freely and openly share with all we know that with Jesus Christ new beginnings, and hope, and forgiveness are His specialty. (vs. 9b)
3. Offer who we are, and what we have, in service to others. (vs. 5b; 16)
4. Live a new way, different from the ways of the world. (vs. 24; 1)

As we walk into a new day, why not take a few moments and talk with God about an area He could help you grow in.  As His beloved child, I know He will delight in visiting with you.

God’s blessings this new day!

If not, have you heard the news headlines?

This past Saturday, the Dallas Cowboys won their first playoff game since 1996.   The Eagles, as they were getting crushed by wave after wave of offensive advance and defensive destruction, had to be thinking to themselves, “Isn’t this the team that has crumbled like a cracker the last few years when the playoffs began?”

While there are multiple story lines with any team, one of the things we can take from this NFL season is that “assumptions do not equal truth”.

Jesus knows all about people making false assumptions. Mark 6:2-3 say,

When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.  “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn’t this the carpenter?  Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

“Isn’t this the…”

In our reading we come across something that has happened in each generation throughout history, people do not believe Jesus to be who He is, based on assumptions they have made.  The result?  Rather than place their faith in Jesus, our reading says people, “take offense at him.”

What about you, are you making assumptions about who Jesus is, and what He is capable of doing in your life, or in the world?  Whatever we might think to be true…we see in Mark 6 that Jesus can do some amazing things (vs. 30-56).

Today…rather than assume that Jesus is not interested in your life, or that a matter you are facing is too insignificant, or even too complicated and sizable to pray about…be encouraged by the Cowboys…and more importantly by God’s Word.

When it comes your daily life, God can do things that we would never expect, and yet hope for and need. There is grace, and peace, and courage, and hope available to you for this day.  God can bring the victory that you long for.

Why not take a moment and talk with God about any false assumptions you’ve made, and then ask Him to lead you toward truth.  Your Heavenly Father loves you, and He is waiting to visit.

(vs. 1-2) “They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.  When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him…”

(vs. 22-23) “Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, ‘My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live…’”

(vs. 25-26) “And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years.  She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse…”

Is there a part of your life that seems out of your control?

Are you facing something that is trying to push you into a tailspin of despair?

Have you ever not known what to do next to make a situation better?

Jesus Christ is the answer.

While “no one had the strength to subdue” evil that had taken control of a man’s life, Jesus had the strength.  When a father and a woman were desperate for a miracle, Jesus did the impossible.

Today, join me in following the words of Jesus when he said, “Do not fear, only believe.” (vs. 36) The one who shows himself powerful and compassionate and able to help, Jesus Christ, is the same one who loves you and is keenly interested in your life.

After you’re done reading this, why not take a few moments and pray, asking Jesus to do the impossible in your life.  As He works on your heart, your attitude, and even your actual circumstance, don’t forget to thank Him and then worship Him in response.

It might be a conversation with an employer or employee at work.

It might be with your spouse over a household decision.

It might be advice coming to you from a trusted person you turn to for guidance.

For us hearing and accepting has seemed difficult for our 2yr. old son.  “I don’t want to brush my teeth…I don’t want to sit on the potty…I don’t want to go to bed” have been frequent phrases around our house this past week.

For me, I have had to hear and accept what my Heavenly Father has been saying to me, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21)

While never easy to do, hearing and accepting is close to God’s heart when it comes to our lives.  Vs. 20 of our reading says, “Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.”

Today, when you are faced with a decision on how to think or speak or act, listen for the voice of God’s Spirit.   As He reveals a proper course of action, or how your attitude or thinking should be shaped, gladly receive the direction He gives.  That direction coming from a moment spent in prayer, an example from the life of Jesus, or a prompting to a Bible verse you’ve read that applies to what is faced.

In Mark 3 Jesus understands what a crazy calendar can look like.

One moment Jesus has people watching his every move, wanting to accuse him of doing something wrong.  Later on, Jesus has his disciples get a boat ready to keep people from crowding to close as He taught.   From there, Jesus leaves the water front and entered a house to get some food, but again a crowd gathered with Jesus and His disciples not even able to eat.  To round out what was already a full timeframe, others were accusing Jesus of being possessed by an evil spirit.   Certainly a moment that could wreck anyone’s week.

What I love about Mark 3 is that Jesus endured all of the crazy calendar moments because of his main mission – helping people.

Jesus said to a man in need, “stretch out your hand”.  The bible says, “He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.”

Today, be refreshed by the news that Jesus is not to busy.

Whatever is not functioning as it should, Jesus can help with that.

Take a few moments and bring a need that is nagging you to Jesus, and then watch for his work.  Your heart, your attitude, your perspective, your temperament, your actual circumstance might begin to change before your eyes.  As it does, remember to thank God for His work in your life.

Isn’t it easy for old habits to creep into new endeavors?  You can eat healthy all day, and then splurge on left over Christmas cookies late in the evening.  You can be faithful the first few days of a workout routine, and then have something come up, or a TV series begin, that threatens to derail the positive pattern you’ve begun.

As our life experience confirms, mixing the old with the new, will not work.  Five hours of TV each day will not work with the goal of spending more time with family or friends.   Bags of potato chips, cans of soda, second helpings of deserts and a sedentary life will not work with the goal of a healthier “more fit” self.

In our reading today we are reminded of this reality.  Vs. 21-22 of our reading says, “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins.”

Putting a new routine, a new attitude, a new discipline into our old broken and flawed ruts will not end at the goal we’d like to reach.  As our reading promises, things “will be ruined”, if anything becoming “worse” than before.

Thankfully, the newness we need God provides.  2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

You are a new creation in Jesus Christ.  You are a new patch of cloth.  You are a new wineskin.  Today, when tempted to slip into old sinful behaviors…pray, asking God to give you the willpower to not mix what is old, with the new creation that you are.    It is a new year, it is a new day, and with God’s mercies new every morning (Lamentations 3:23)…you are a new you.

And what might be most encouraging of all, the desire for a new life and new way in line with God’s Way and God’s Word all come as the result of God’s work in your life.   All good desires and deeds have God as the source.

Philippians 2:13 says, “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”

The coming of the new means the going of the old.

Ask God this new day to give you what you need to faithfully follow where he leads.