“For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” – Luke 18:4-5

Jesus told this parable, about a corrupt, unjust judge to make a clear, emphatic point… keep praying! Don’t give up when your prayers aren’t answered the way you want in a day or a week or a month. If something is important, keep praying for it for as long as it takes. The point of the parable is that if this fictional judge who didn’t care about God or people would eventually give justice to a poor widow because of her persistence in asking him, then obviously God will hear and respond in the best possible way to the earnest, persistent prayers of His beloved children.

Why would Jesus want His followers to understood the importance of praying persistently? Because God’s timing is perfect and often considerably different than ours. He knows when the exact right time is to fulfill a prayer request. Because persistent prayer re-shapes us, deepens our heart for who or what we’re praying about, fosters deeper fellowship with God, and increasingly aligns us to His will. Because persistent prayer reveals what’s truly important to us and what’s just a passing whim.

If something is important, especially someone’s salvation, keep praying day-after-day. Be persistent. God IS listening and He is a perfect, merciful, and gracious judge. #FollowJesus

“Then Jesus told them plainly, ‘Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.'” – John 11:14-15

Think about these words for a moment, because they may well challenge your notions about Jesus and His purpose. Jesus and His disciples had been told that their friend Lazarus was sick. In His perfect divine knowledge, Jesus knew that Lazarus had actually died. Indeed, Jesus intentionally stayed where He was for two extra days to make sure Lazarus would be long-dead when they finally reached Bethany.

Then Jesus, Who could have easily and instantly healed Lazarus from where He was, told His disciples He was glad He wasn’t there to heal their friend. What?!? Why??? So that they would believe in Him, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Resurrection and the Life.

Jesus permitted sorrow and grief. He permitted death to take His friend. Why? It certainly wasn’t because Jesus didn’t love Lazarus and his sisters. Jesus wept for Lazarus’ death. He loved this family. But also He understood His mission and its eternal stakes. Earthly life only lasts for so long. If Jesus had healed Lazarus, he would still eventually die of old age. On the other hand, eternal life, which comes as a gift of grace through faith in Jesus Christ, will never end. Eternal life is of infinitely greater value than earthly life and comfort. The salvation of many is well worth the temporary sorrow of a few.

The greater good – for the disciples, for Lazarus’ family, and for Lazarus himself – was for Jesus to let His friend die and then raise him back to life. By this unprecedented sign, countless people across countless generations have come to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

We won’t always understand the ways of Jesus. We won’t always understand why He does or doesn’t appear to answer our prayer requests in the manner we’d prefer. We won’t always understand His timing. But it’s always perfect! Jesus does everything out of love and mercy and a desire for deeper fellowship with people, including those times when His answer feels late or wrong to our limited understanding.

Will you trust Jesus? Will you trust the Resurrection and the Life? Even when He doesn’t operate in ways you can understand? #FollowJesus

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. “ – Luke 16:10

This simple biblical principle is good wisdom for life. How a person handles the little details and day-to-day responsibilities in their life demonstrates whether or not they can, or should, be trusted with bigger things. If you encounter someone who is unreliable in small matters, that isn’t the person to trust with major leadership responsibilities. If someone is dishonest about little things, that will only get worse under the stress of larger responsibilities. When you’re assessing someone’s trustworthiness, don’t focus on the big things on their resume, talk to people who’ve seen them in smaller settings or who knew them in years past.

While this is a important principle to apply to everything from job hiring to church leadership to voting in elections, the first application should always be to yourself. Would God consider you to be faithful in little things? Should He trust you with small jobs or responsibilities in His Kingdom? Will you show up on time? Will you follow through with excellence? Would God consider your personal integrity worthy of entrusting with bigger Kingdom matters? Do you cut corners when people aren’t looking or stretch the truth about day-to-day questions? Do you follow through on small commitments or dump them whenever you feel like it or discover something better or more interesting?

Unreliability and dishonesty are not appropriate qualities for followers of Jesus. Our honesty, honor, consistency, reliability, and integrity should be like that of Jesus. If yours isn’t, that’s something to repent of and to ask God to transform in Christ. It’s also probably holding you back from serving the Lord in bigger ways. Develop Christ-like integrity in every situation and circumstance. Then see what God invites you to do for Him. #FollowJesus

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” – Luke 14:11

Jesus the Christ, the exalted eternal Son of God, humbled Himself, stepping down out of eternal glory and into our fallen world to save us from our sins. After dwelling among us, He gave His life for our sins. Through the humiliation and torture of the cross, Jesus was exalted in His Resurrection. Jesus lived the truth of this verse to a greater extent than anyone else ever has or ever will. You can trust this promise!

The exaltation of yourself is like cotton candy – it may seem like a good idea at the time, but it dissolves to nothing in seconds. Those who make much of themselves here on earth will be humbled by the Lord. Those who insist on being held high will discover that won’t last beyond this lifetime.

On the other hand, those who think more about others than themselves will be exalted. Those who don’t mind humble situations and don’t need the spotlight or adoration of others on themselves will be exalted in eternity.

Don’t fret about your earthly status or lack thereof. Don’t be jealous about anyone else’s status, no matter how undeserved. Follow your Savior Who humbled Himself. Serve Him regardless of whether or not anyone else sees you. God sees all, God knows all, and His judgement is perfect in justice. Humbly #FollowJesus and you will be exalted!

“Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!” – Luke 12:24

Do you tend to worry? Many people do in our anxious modern age. However, that isn’t Jesus’ desire for you. He knows how easily our minds can be swept away by fear, anxiety, and worry. But His heart is for the minds of His beloved followers to be filled with shalom peace, no matter what’s going on.

So, Jesus offered frequent reminders of God’s goodness in caring for His creation. God looks after the flowers of the field and the birds of the air. God sustains life and makes things beautiful. He knows how to tend His creation. And you, a human being made in His image, are the crown jewel of God’s creation. You are!

So, of course, God is concerned about you. Of course, God wants the best for you. Of course, God is on your side. Which means that many of your worries are unnecessary and unhelpful. This doesn’t mean there aren’t legitimate things to concern yourself with. But the odds are good that a certain percentage of your dailies worries focus on things outside of your control and solidly in God’s good control. Those are the things Jesus doesn’t want you worrying about.

So, what are you worried about today? Right now? Which of them can you actually do anything about? If you can do something, what’s your plan to address that worry? If you can’t, then turn that worry over to God in prayer. Be clear and specific in your prayer. Then stop worrying about it and trust your Father in Heaven! #FollowJesus