“And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?'” – Mark 4:41

This brief story began in verse 35 with a routine crossing of the Sea of Galilee that went awry. While Jesus was napping, a powerful storm struck their small boat. Even the seasoned fishermen among the disciples were convinced they were going to die. In their terror, they sharply questioned the goodness and care of Jesus for sleeping while their death loomed large.

Of course, they were way off the mark… Jesus was able to rest because they weren’t going to die. They couldn’t die. Not while He was physically with them. When Jesus rose and rebuked the wind and waves, silencing them instantly, that sparked an entirely new kind of terror for His followers…

Who was this Jesus, they wondered? How could He control the primal forces of nature that terrified them? Their fear was far greater now, because they were beginning to suspect the truth… God, Himself, was in their boat.

That’s Who Jesus truly is, God the Son, the eternal Second Person of the Godhead. If you have entrusted your life to Him and He is your Lord Savior, then He isn’t just in your boat. He’s in you! Jesus has united Himself with you. His Holy Spirit seals and indwells you. How much more overwhelming is that reality than what even those first disciples were beginning to realize? That’s the power of faith in Christ. #FollowJesus

“And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.” – Luke 8:14

Of the four soils described in Jesus’ Parable of the Sower, this is probably the one that’s most tricky for professing Christians to avoid or escape in our busy modern world. Many who attend churches are in this situation. They believe something about Jesus. They like Him. Admire Him. Enjoy church. And yet…

The busyness of their lives precludes them from genuinely following and obeying Jesus… The plenty they enjoy or dream about enjoying one day keeps them so focused on career advancement, hustles and side hustles, and keeping up with the lifestyles they see on social media that they can’t and won’t take up their cross daily to follow Jesus… The stressful, exhausting delights of houses, cars, hobbies, entertainment, or experiences drives their hopes and dreams rather than a deeper walk with Jesus.

Many Christians in our country are living in thorny soil. They treat Jesus as one good thing among many. He is NOT the Lord of their lives. Jesus is often the first thing to get cut when kids have activities, when work calls, or when money runs short. Worship is viewed as enjoyable but optional. There just never seems to be enough time to read the Bible or pray. Meanwhile, studying the Bible with other believers is perpetually something to be done “some day”.

If any of this sounds familiar in your own life, stop living in thorny soil! Stop trying to go on your own way or in the way of the world. Stop living a life in Christ that is choked off by the stresses, cares, delights, and ambitions of the world. Radically change your priorities. Make sacrifices to go deeper in Christ. #FollowJesus

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” – Luke 11:13

Sometimes, we overthink prayer. Yes, we do! We can spend too much time wondering, debating, worrying, questioning, theologizing, and strategizing about what and how to pray. We just need to pray and trust the goodness of the God to Whom we pray.

Jesus puts it so simply and beautifully. If you instinctively want and try to give good things to children, no matter how messed up you may be otherwise, consider what your perfect, loving, all-knowing, all-wise, all-powerful, kind Father in Heaven will do. He gives the VERY BEST to His children when we ask! And the very best is Himself. Fellowship with Him. His presence living in us – the Holy Spirit.

Just talk to God – that’s what prayer boils down to. Don’t overthink it. Don’t be afraid of it. Trust that God is your perfect heavenly Father. Trust that what He loves and plans to give you is something even better than you might think to ask for. So ask and trust. Enjoy the privilege of fellowship with God. Delight in God! #FollowJesus

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.” – Matthew 11:21

Jesus understood the limitations of miracles. They can be useful for drawing a crowd but they’re very limited for producing genuine, lasting faith. Here Jesus decries the faithlessness of the places that had seen Him perform countless miracles. These towns in Galilee had seen Jesus heal the sick, give sight to the blind, and get the paralyzed walking and jumping. They’d seen Jesus cast out demons. They’d followed Jesus out into the countryside and eaten the bread He produced miraculously. Nonetheless, the overwhelming majority of those people had put no faith or trust in Jesus.

They certainly appreciated the miracles. They thought Jesus was great entertainment. But they weren’t about to turn their life over to Him as Lord. They didn’t want to change anything. They just wanted a show. And that is the limited impact of miracles. They stir interest but seldom produce life change. They can draw a crowd to hear the Gospel preached, but don’t cause most people to believe. Rather, building faith involves the difficult daily work of making disciples: sharing the Gospel, baptizing those who believe, and teaching them to obey Jesus.

We sometimes wonder why we see so few miracles like those in the 1st century. Did God change His mode of operation? Is He less powerful? Is there something defective with our faith? No. The difference between then and now is that today, in this part of the world, there are many who are able to bear witness to Jesus. Many who are making disciples. There is little need for the dramatic but limited impact of miracles like these. Instead, there are men and women, boys and girls, who are being salt and light in their everyday lives. And that is more world-changing than any miracle! #FollowJesus

“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.” – Luke 6:32-35

These words of Jesus can’t be repeated often enough, especially in these divided and hateful times. The mark of a heart transformed by Christ isn’t that you’re nice to people who are nice to you, agree with you, or are like you. The presence of God’s amazing grace is marked by a heart of grace toward others who absolutely don’t deserve it. Why? Because you don’t deserve grace either!

The love of Jesus isn’t transactional. It isn’t based on what you’ve done for Him lately. It isn’t earned. It isn’t based on what you’ve done to love Him. His loves flows out of His loving, gracious, and merciful nature. The same should be true of your love for others, especially those you find difficult to love.

If you’ve truly been raised to new spiritual life in Christ, His nature now lives in you through the Holy Spirit. Which means that love, grace, and mercy should be coming out of your heart, mouth, and actions. Love for neighbors AND love for enemies. Generosity toward those in need, regardless of their ability to repay.

If you’re a Christian but this teaching doesn’t sit well with you, that isn’t because Jesus is wrong, naive, or no longer relevant. Something is defective in your faith! If you want to argue with Jesus or make excuses why His words don’t apply to you, that isn’t because Jesus is wrong. Something is defective in your faith! So what are your thoughts, words, and actions toward those you’ve come to consider enemies, unworthy, or less than? #FollowJesus