Crosswalk.com--The Devotional

[Judy Harder]

Of Fish and Faith
by John UpChurch, Senior Editor, BibleStudyTools.com

"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him." Romans 12:1 (MSG)

My stint manning the meat counter at the Fresh Market lasted half a day. I needed a job; they needed someone to wrap up fish. Seemed like a good match.

It wasn't.

By way of an interview, the manager glanced at my résumé and then scowled at me. I could weigh meat and smile. That got me in the apron and behind the salmon. Still, it was a job, and I was hyped. For about an hour.

My training consisted of a fellow worker—a kid a few years younger than me at the time—pointing out the scales and the paper and telling me when breaks were. Needless to say, I floundered with the flounder, my chuck looked chucked, and my meat wrapping wasn't so meaty.

By lunch, I'd completely lost my appetite thanks to the ground beef, snarling manager, and disgusted looks from customers. I didn't let the door hit me on the way out.

Sometimes, I live my faith like that as well, minus the fish smell, of course. I get pumped at the start—on Sunday—and even during the week by diving into the action-movie known as Mark's gospel or Luke's adventure stories. I'm ready to kung-fu chop the world with some gospel awesomeness.

But when the meat hits the scales, when my everyday life comes crowding in, my gospel skills suddenly get messy. Not literally. I simply fail to speak when someone talks about a general faith in something; I don't bother to help everyone who really needs help; I don't show love because I'm too caught up in my own not-enough-sleep-Monday blah.

I just don't live what I believe all the time. It's hard, so I too often let it go.

Intersecting Faith and Life: It's easy to think of people in the Bible as "heroes" with a life filled with derring-do, but that's only somewhat true. They had flashes of awesome, when God showed up and broke armies, smashed walls, and shoved back the waves. But we mainly just see the highlights in Scripture, the big moments when monumental things happened. It's God's story, after all. And He does big stuff.

But those "heroes" also had moments of normal—lots of them. Moments when they wondered why they were stuck herding sheep, moments when they wondered if God cared about their same-ol'-same-ol' routine, moments when they wondered if God even heard their prayers, moments when they just wanted something to happen.

You see, normal moments—those times when we're not charged up and ready to march around our office building like Jericho—are the very moments that our faith is being shaped. When we're excited about a sermon, that's great, and fire seems to be flattening all resistance. But when we're faced with monotony, that's when our faith life really comes out, our true nature. We have to live our faith in those moments most of all because those are the times when it's hardest to shine.

For Further Reading

Romans 12

The Power of Position: Rising Above the Frustrations of Life

[Judy Harder]

Shine
by Ryan Duncan, Crosswalk.com Entertainment Editor

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." – Matthew 5:16

It was a year after I had graduated college and I had just moved into my first apartment. The whole process of leaving home had been surreal for me. For the first time in my life I was on my own, making my own meals, working my own job, the sense of independence was almost overwhelming. On top of it all, I was no longer living under the umbrella of the Church. Ever since I was a child there had always been some kind of Christian influence in my life, now it was all left up to me.

I suppose I could say this is when I started having wild parties and committing unspeakable sins, but the truth is I'm not that interesting. In fact, nothing about my life really changed except for one small detail: I stopped telling people I was a Christian. I didn't seem like that big of a deal, and a small part of me had always chaffed at being the "good Christian boy," so I kept my faith quiet as I went out into my new life. I didn't realize what a stupid mistake I'd made until much later, with a little help from the following verse,         

"Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light. 'For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.' And His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd. And it was reported to Him, 'Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You.' But He answered and said to them, 'My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it." – Luke 8:16-21

I understand how life is getting more and more difficult for young Christians. We are demonized in the media, called "outdated" by society, and often caught in the crossfire of politics. In this environment it is so tempting to just shut our beliefs behind a door and keep it all to ourselves, but that is not what God has commanded us to do. Like it says in Luke 8, our faith was not meant to be kept secret, but to be held high proudly so that the world may see it. We have a family in Christ, one we should never deny.

Intersecting Faith and Life: Do not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ. For it is by his sacrifice that we are saved.

Further Reading

John 14:4

[Judy Harder]

A Mouth That Got Washed Out
by Laura MacCorkle

Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.
Psalm 141:3, NIV

Have you ever had your mouth washed out? I have. Not recently, thankfully. But when I was still a child.

It happened while my mother and I were talking at the dinner table. In fact, my whole family was on hand as we were finishing up our evening meal. I remember disagreeing with something she had said or maybe just not liking whatever instruction she had given to me. And before I knew it, out came the dreaded words.

I knew that I shouldn't say them.

They were forbidden in my household.

I knew that they were disrespectful.

They were so very far from honoring my mother.

And yet, I wasn't deterred.

So out they came ...

"Shut up!" Gulp. Before I knew it, my mother took me by the collar and marched me down the hallway to the bathroom. On went the faucet. Whether it was hot or cold water, I can't remember.

Next, the bar of soap was quickly lathered into a frenzy. And then the unthinkable: my mother washed out my mouth. Suds and all. For what seemed like HOURS.

I know that I gagged, and I'm sure I played it up for dramatic effect as I cried with giant tears and struggled against the cleansing agents (my mom and the soap). But you know what? It worked. Never again did I say "shut up" to my mother. I had learned that lesson. And my mouth was a little less full of bacteria to boot!

At this point in my life, I'd like to share with you that this act of getting my mouth washed out has translated into all of my speech patterns and conversations going forward. But alas, as someone who is afflicted with chronic foot-in-mouth disease and having a mind that thinks and reacts quickly combined with a tongue that is happy to join forces and play along, I routinely find myself feeling sorrowful for things that I have just said.

While the tongue may be one of the smallest parts of the human anatomy, could it not be one of the most dangerous? In all of our cases, a thousand times yes! (James 3:6).

Like David, in Psalm 141, I know that there is one side of me that really does want to please the Lord with my speech and make sure that it is right and pure. But then there's that other side that really wants to appear witty and funny and, yes, truthful. But what may seem witty and funny and "truthful" to me can very quickly become that which kills a relationship, crushes a spirit, pollutes a mind, spreads hurtful information or divides a family or a group of friends.

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths," says Ephesians 4:29. "But only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

So today, I'm going to do a virtual cleansing of my mouth. And then I'll take a thorough mental inventory and do some soul-searching to see what other unkind or sinful words I'm being convicted of saying.

Will join with me? Let's ask the Lord to help us be wiser and more edifying in our conversations (Proverbs 15:4). Let's think before we speak (Proverbs 13:3). Let's say less and listen more (Proverbs 21:23). And then let's see what happens in our interactions with others (Proverbs 16:24) and in our walk with the Lord (Psalm 51:15).

Intersecting Faith & Life: Write or print out Ephesians 4:29 and affix it to your bathroom mirror, your rearview mirror in your car, somewhere on your desk or at your kitchen sink, or wherever you will see it the best. I've already done so, and I hope that we will both be able to hide these words in our hearts over the coming week and think about them as we speak.

Further Reading:

Psalm 19:14, NIV

Psalm 37:30, NIV

Proverbs 16:21, NIV

[Judy Harder]

What, Jesus?
by Ryan Duncan, Crosswalk.com Entertainment Editor

After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." – Matthew 3:16-17

It was Sunday morning, and I was making my way to my seat at church, when I happened to glance at the program. The title of the day's sermon was short and to the point, "Jesus". What happened next embarrassed me more than I can say. I looked at the title again and said to myself,

"Jesus? Why are we talking about that?"

C.S. Lewis once cautioned readers about how easy it is to start using Christianity as a convenience. The center of our faith can easily slip from Jesus sacrifice to preserving marriage, social justice, tithing, or a hundred other things Satan can use to distract us from God. The truth is that everything written down in the Bible, everything we believe as Christians, can be summed up in John 14.           

"If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him." Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father '? "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves." Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. – John 14:7-13

Jesus wasn't just a great teacher, He wasn't some vague Jewish mystic, He was God. Through His life and death, we are finally reconciled with our Creator. Nothing else, no politics or policy, is more important than that. As long as we remember that, we will remember Jesus.       

Intersecting Faith and Life: Have you allowed something minor to take your attention away from Christ? Take a moment to examine where the priorities of your faith lay.   

Further Reading

John 14

[Judy Harder]

Living in a Dream World
by Stephen Sanders, Audio/Video Editor for Salem Web Network

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalms 23:1

A life with no challenges would be awesome, wouldn't it? Always making the right decision, never running out of money, your kids always doing what they are supposed to do, never biting off more than you can chew... circumstances just magically falling into place so that we can effortlessly waltz through life in a state of constant enjoyment. Man, that sure would be nice...

Let's just close our eyes for a few seconds and imagine what that would be like...

I'm 32, and I have 3 daughters. One of them just turned 13. The other is 7. The youngest is 2. They are all very, very different. I cannot begin to tell you how overwhelming this can be sometimes.

The baby is absolutely the cutest little thing ever. However, she has turned out to be the "stubborn child." She writes on everything no matter how many times we tell her to stop. She refuses to use the potty. She will do a halfway-pee in her diaper, hold it and wait for you to change it, then pee in the fresh one immediately. It's not like we don't discipline her because we do!

But she's cute, and she's little and can only really get into so much trouble, so she doesn't stress me out too much...

The middle child is fairly drama free these days. She recently got 1st and 2nd semester honor roll and citizenship awards at school with pretty much zero supervision. But a couple years ago she was the bane of her K4 teacher's existence. I got called to the office, seriously, almost every single day that school year for her bad behavior. The principal felt like our daughter might have psychological problems. The teacher broke down in tears in the middle of multiple conversations. We had no answers.

The very next year my daughter was the teacher's pet. But, at the time, we blamed ourselves for these issues because we were her parents. Now we don't feel like such failures.

My oldest is actually my stepdaughter, and this relationship comes with obvious trials. She's also a very attractive 13-year old; this poses even more issues. And if that wasn't enough already, there are the unexpected things that happen. They are like dreams you hoped would never happen but did. Then they rear their ugly heads and taunt you like a nightmare you swear you've had before...

...they cause you to wake earlier than you want to type a devotional at 4am...

I remember living in a dream world when I was her age. I knew everything. Everyone else was wrong and stupid. I know that will change. What I don't know is what scares me. Will she get involved in the wrong crowd at school? Will she make one bad decision and end up pregnant before she graduates? Will she grow up and want to live a life that is pleasing to God or pleasing to her? These are new questions that have started popping into my head recently.

I try so hard. I desire more than anything for her to grow up and have a perfect life; a life where she always makes the right decisions. A life where she never runs out of money. A life where... yeah...

I begin to realize that my expectations for her life are unrealistic. She is going to make bad decisions. I just need to be here to listen, to guide and to comfort her. Let her fail. In those things, listen to her worries and hurts and remind her why we need Jesus in the first place.

He isn't our God for our benefit... even though our relationship with Him does benefit us. He isn't our God because He will make us rich and healthy and free from the pain and difficulties of this world we live in. But He is here with us through these trials.

Intersecting Faith and Life: I recently started studying the Book of Psalms; a part of the Bible I've always neglected to see the true value in. I suppose God must have inspired them for times when His people were having times like I'm having right now. It's only by God's grace that I am as content as I am these days. I honestly don't stress too much about the things that are going on in my life. Even when I do begin to stress, God brings others to my attention, like homeless people, and I realize things could be so much worse. Or maybe the material things I deem so important actually cause me more stress... who knows.

All I know is that God continues to teach me how to be more like Him. My kids will be OK. My family will grow and become everything they are supposed to be. I just have to have faith in God and know that He has a plan that is so much greater than I could ever predict -- that this crazy world I live in isn't going to change. I will probably have a few more sleepless nights because of it; some nightmares may actually come true, but He is with me to provide peace and restoration and comfort.

For Further Study

Psalms 1:1

"in the house of god, forever" by jon foreman

[Judy Harder]

The How of the Christian Life
Alex Crain, Editor, Christianity.com

"...be it unto me according to Your word."
Luke 1:38

"How It's Made," the Science Channel's hit show, regularly makes the most of people's curiosity about how household items like gummie candy, aluminum cans, and flavored bacon actually go from raw materials to finished product. It's easy to become mesmerized when cameras are leading you behind the scenes into the inner workings of factories making a few of your favorite things. By the end of each segment, the mists of your own vague ideas about process and production have been utterly dispersed.

This week's reading in chapter four of Francis Schaeffer's True Spirituality is a bit like "How It's Made" in that he delves into the secret of how the Christian life is effectively lived. While many of us know this secret in theory, the daily mist of our own residual fallen nature makes it necessary to review the blazing truth so that we might see ourselves (and God) accurately and live out our faith practically.

Moving forward from last week's teaching in chapter four about the normality of believing in unseen things, Schaeffer issues the biblical call this week to engage in what he terms "active passivity" when living the life of faith.

Schaeffer points out that belief in the Holy Spirit is one thing. Now what do we do with that belief? 2 Corinthians 2:14 says that "the communion of the Holy Spirit" is to be with all true believers. We are to rely fully and constantly on Christ's promise to send us the Holy Spirit. He is the agent of the power and Person of the glorified Christ.

"There is not enough strength in ourselves, but placed before us is the power and work of the glorified Christ through the agency of the Holy Spirit. Surely this is exactly what Christ meant when he said, 'I will not leave you as orphans.'"
(John 14:18)

"As we look at the book of Acts, we find in the early church not a group of strong men laboring together, but the work of the Holy Spirit bringing to them the power of the crucified and glorified Christ. It must be so for us also."

"As with Mary in the virgin birth when she gave herself with her body to God in response to His promise, so we are in the same situation in [a certain sense] that we have these great and thrilling promises we have been considering, and we are neither to think of ourselves as totally passive, as though we had no part in this; nor are we to think we can do it ourselves."

"If we are to bring forth this fruit through us by the agency of the Holy Spirit, there must be a constant act of faith, of thinking: 'Upon the basis of Your promises I am looking for You to fulfill them... bring forth Your fruit through me into this poor world.'"

"We do not have to beat ourselves or be dejected, [but simply say]"Be it unto me according to Thy Word." This is what I mean by active passivity. This is the how, and there is no other."

Finally, as if to say "this is really how it's done!" Schaeffer reemphasizes that this is not just theoretical access to the power of the crucified, risen, glorified Christ. This is access that we have in reality—in the here and now.

Intersecting Faith & Life: 
Are you depending on your own energy, cleverness, persistence, charisma and talents to present the Christian life as attractive to your lost friends and family members? By faith (Hebrews 11:6), gaze upon Christ—His atonement, perfections and promises. Respond with active passivity: "Be it unto me according to Thy Word." 

For Further Study:
Romans 6:1
the wind of the holy ghost blowing upon the dry bones in the valley of vision, by Ebenezer Erskine
john owen on the spirit in the life of christ, Dr. Sinclair Ferguson

[Judy Harder]

Bravery
by Ryan Duncan, Crosswalk.com Entertainment Editor

When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me? – Psalms 56:3-4

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about what it means to be brave. The Bible certainly doesn't lack for courageous leaders like Moses or fearless warriors like David, but what about those people who showed simple bravery? Esther never led anyone into battle, and as a woman in the ancient world her ability to lead was limited, but when you take the time to study her life you realize how much inner strength she must have had. As a young woman she was taken from her home and thrust into an unfamiliar environment. Later, she was forced to intercede in a murder plot at the risk of her life and the life of her cousin.

Her greatest challenge, however, was when the King's advisor Haman sought to massacre the Jewish people. Their only hope of survival lay with Esther's ability to confront the King, an action that could easily get her killed. After all, this was a man who had deposed his old wife on a whim, what would he do to a woman who openly challenged his authority? Reading the verses in chapter 4, I can only imagin how shaken Esther must have been.           

Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, "Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish." – Esther 4:15-16

We all know how the story ends, the King receives Esther and the Jews are saved from death, but the story of Esther's courage has remained relevant after all these years. I believe God calls Christians to simple acts of bravery every day of our lives. Whether it's standing up for someone else, or having the courage to speak out for what we believe, these simple acts have the power to change the world. Don't be afraid, and don't be downcast, for God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but one of courage.

Intersecting Faith and Life:  "Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means at the point of highest reality." – C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

Further Reading   

2 Timothy 1:7

[Judy Harder]

Father's Day: Gone Fishing
by Ryan Duncan, Crosswalk.com Entertainment Editor

Hear, my son, your father's instruction (Prov. 1:.

The first time my father took me fishing I was twelve years old. I suppose this statement could sound misleading, since before that we had certainly played at fishing together. Normally he would take me to a small stream or pond filled with minnows and the occasional catfish, then smile as I reeled one in with my toy fishing pole. This was different; this time he took me north to the boundary waters of Minnesota, to a place called Basswood Lake. The moment I set eyes on that vast track of wilderness, a small part of me knew I was about to grow up.



Basswood itself looked endless, a maze of islands covered in far-reaching green forests. Even by motorboat it took us over an hour to reach our campsite, and once we settled in I became aware of a deep, resounding silence. For several days all we did was fish on that deep blue lake. We made shore lunch out of whatever we caught that day and at night ate s'mores while watching for shooting stars. I hated every minute of it.

What can I say? I was a doughy, twelve-year-old boy who wanted a warm bed and his Super Nintendo. I had never particularly liked fishing anyway, and sitting in a boat for hours was pure agony for me. With my attitude, I'm a little surprised my dad didn't chuck me overboard and be done with it. Instead, he bore it all patiently, and taught me things he'd learned about fishing, cooking, camping, and God.               

It's not easy teaching a boy how to become a man, but somehow my dad found a way. It may take gentle coaxing, it may involve some kicking and screaming, but in the end, I believe teaching a son how to grow is both the greatest blessing and challenge God can give a father. My dad taught me so much during those times at Basswood, and looking back on it now I realize how much of it I took for granted. In these ways, and so many more, my dad helped me understand my Heavenly Father.

With Father's Day almost upon us, I wanted to take a moment to write down all things for which I was grateful to my own dad, but God isn't one to pass up a teaching opportunity. The more I reflected on how great a father my dad has been to me, the more I began to understand how great a God our Heavenly Father is to us. Because even when we take him for granted, even when we make terrible mistakes, God's love never changes, just like my dad's love and patience didn't change for the grumpy kid in the boat. He will always be there, firm but with arms open to say, "I love you. I will always love you. Learn from this."

Intersecting Faith & Life: May this Father's Day bring you many blessings and remind you of the many you already possess.

For Further Reading

Fathers Leave Lasting Impressions

Crosswalk.com's Humorous Tribute to Dads

What Does It Mean to be a Christian Father?

[Judy Harder]

My Conversation with a Hedge
by Shawn McEvoy, Crosswalk.com Managing Editor

He who neglects discipline despises himself, But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.
The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility.
Proverbs 15:32

Some years during summer, my wife and kids leave me for two-to-three weeks to visit all of her relatives in Texas while I stay home and work. For the first day or two that they're gone, I enjoy my freedom from some of my responsibilities. After that, though, I tend to go a little crazy. I find myself wandering around the house, or doing "improvement" projects I have no business tackling. Making up song lyrics. Or having conversations with inanimate objects.

A couple years ago, in the middle of their trip, I was trimming the bushes beneath our front windows. The three on the right side of the stoop grow more uniformly than the three on the left. On the left, the one closest to the stairs is healthiest, while the other two, thanks to heavier afternoon shade, don't do as well. Oh, it's hard to tell, because I keep them pruned so that they "grow together" in the middle and stay squared off on the tops and corners. But obviously, the two weaker bushes suffer the pruning less frequently, because I let them grow out to fill in the gaps.

As I was working, their healthier sibling, I imagined, began to speak to me. Or to whine is more like it...

Hey! What gives?

Nothing, my good man. Just time for your monthly trimming.

But why? I'm not doing anything wrong. Just sitting here minding my own business. Doing good, doing what I'm supposed to do. And here you come...

Well, just sit still, please. Trust me, I have a purpose here.

Really? Well forgive me for asking, but why doesn't that purpose seem to apply to my lazy, stunted brethren here? All this time and barely a scratch. Maybe a nip, a cut. Nothing lost, no pain.

You're not happy with how you look? Where you're situated?

I'm fine. But that's just it. I don't deserve this cutting and trimming.

You think you planted yourself in this primo spot?

Never really thought about it. I just want to know why you're taking so much away from me and nothing from them.

I told you I have a purpose. You can't see what I can see. In fact, you can't see much at all. You're completely rooted in place. But I've seen all around you and through you, and have since you were planted.

But it hurts. I don't like losing things.

Never having them in the first place, and never really growing, that's not much good either. I have to give extra care and attention to those others. I can only hope it brings them up to the same level of maturity as you...

Hmmph.

I finished trimming up the hedges, and went my way, unsure I had gotten through. But when I stood back, I beheld something beautiful. I could only hope those under my care understood, had not despised their discipline, and opted to forsake impractical, joyless comparison.

Intersecting Faith & Life: The next time you feel like others aren't being as challenged as you are, or like the Lord is picking on you unfairly, consider that you can't see all the perspectives or purposes of the Lord, not in your life and especially not in the lives of others. The Lord loves you enough to discipline you, and he knows you're healthy and with enough green growth to handle His pruning.

Further Reading

John 15:1
Pruning Your Vineyard

[Judy Harder]

Stuck with Paul
by John UpChurch, Senior Editor, BibleStudyTools.com

"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?" Romans 10:14

You can't escape Paul forever. At some point, every Christian must set aside self-righteousness and drink Paul's writing, which can be akin to slurping down pickle juice. The sharp bitterness sends shivers through the whole body—and yet hydrates from the inside out (which is really what pickle juice does).

The bitterness, however, isn't from what Paul says exactly; it's from our reaction. Each word hurts because it's true. Sometimes he hits our recklessness, and sometimes he hits our legalism, helping us to clean the glass so that we can see clearly.

Far worse, in my mind, is Paul's refusal to let us gloat or raise ourselves up. There's no place for that, no room for a trophy case. Being isolated by my own sense of holiness would be easier; I'd love to slip away into my happy world of playing Christian.

Paul doesn't even let me close the door.

"Look 'out there,'" he says. "You see those people? That's you—each one is just like you. They need the gospel. They need grace. You know all about it. You've met the same Jesus I did. They're not coming in here, bub. So, get out there and do something."

It's an uncomfortable feeling, trying to understand how to be like Christ, how to shine through pitch. I want to pursue Him with all I am, but He keeps going out where the tax collectors and sinners are—people like me. The only difference is that I realized how much I needed Him; they haven't yet. And perhaps the very reason they haven't is because I'm not out there telling them.

Or as Paul might put it (at least, in my head), "They ain't gonna hear if you don't speak up. And they ain't gonna fall on their knees if you're too chicken."

Jesus went to the synagogue—and then took the synagogue to the people who needed it most. He did most of His miracles out in the thoroughfares, tombs, fields, and corners of the world. His loudest messages echoed from hills and street corners. In fact, I didn't meet Him in a church—or a Bible study or a church event. I met Him where Matthew did: in the middle of my sin.

Some sinners come running to steeples. Some sinners come running to Jesus in the streets.

Intersecting Faith and Life: We all need Paul to smack us around on occasion. He keeps us from digging a bunker to hide from the messy world outside. He reminds us that Jesus picked us off the ground, not to look down at those still trying to stand, but to show them the One who can make it happen.

For Further Reading

Romans 1-2

Matthew 9