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Taking a Break: Come Away
Scripture: Mark 6:30–32 “Come by yourselves to a secluded place and rest for a while.”—Mark 6:31 There are seasons when faithfulness means continuing—showing up, doing the work, keeping the promises we have made, and trusting that God will give us the strength we need. But there are also seasons when faithfulness means stepping back, becoming…
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Leaving the Pecking Order
Scripture “Don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought to think.”—Romans 12:3a Reflection Human beings have a remarkable ability to turn almost any gathering into a pecking order. We notice who receives attention, whose opinion carries weight, who appears successful, and where we seem to fit. Sometimes the comparison makes us feel superior. At…
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Learning Contentment
Scripture “I have learned how to be content in any circumstance.”—Philippians 4:11b Reflection Paul’s use of the word “learned” matters. Contentment was not a personality trait he happened to possess, nor was it a spiritual gift that arrived fully formed. Paul learned contentment through experiences he would not have chosen. He knew abundance and scarcity,…
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Contentment Doesn’t Mean Silence
Scripture “Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.”—2 Corinthians 8:13 Reflection The language of contentment can be misused. A comfortable person can tell someone who is suffering to “be content” when what is really meant is, “Do not ask me to notice…
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Remembering 9/11 25 Years Later
Remembering the 25th Anniversary of September 11 Scripture “God is our refuge and strength,a very present help in trouble.Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea.”—Psalm 46:1–2 Reflection Twenty-five years ago today, images of airplanes, burning buildings, collapsing towers, and frightened people became part…
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When Money Promises Salvation
Scripture “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God.”—1 Timothy 6:17 Reflection Money can solve real problems. It can pay an overdue bill, repair a broken vehicle, provide medical treatment, or move…
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The Question of Enough
Scripture “Give us today our daily bread.”—Matthew 6:11 Reflection When Jesus teaches us to pray for daily bread, he does not teach us to despise material things. Bread matters. People need food, shelter, medicine, clothing, and security. Christianity does not ask us to pretend physical needs are unimportant. But Jesus teaches us to receive bread…
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Contentment is Learned
Scripture “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”—Philippians 4:11 Reflection We often speak about contentment as though some people naturally possess it and others do not. Some people seem relaxed and grateful, while others are restless, anxious, and continually reaching for something more. We may assume that contentment is simply part of a…
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Pray in the Spirit
Scripture “…and praying in the Holy Spirit…” — Jude 20 Reflection Prayer can easily become a list of requests. We tell God what is wrong, what needs to change, who needs help, and how we hope things will turn out. There is nothing wrong with bringing those things to God. Jesus himself taught us to…
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Remember What You Know
Scripture “But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.” — Jude 17 Reflection Jude begins his final instructions with a remarkably simple word: remember. When life becomes confusing, our instinct is often to search frantically for something new—new information, new answers, new explanations, some insight that will suddenly make everything…
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