"Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God" - Romans 12:2 Let’s just say it plain, living for Jesus will not make sense to most people. It never has, and it never will. Following Christ means standing out, not blending in. It means refusing to be shaped by the patterns of this world ...  Read More

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" - 1 Peter 2:9 Following Jesus is not supposed to blend in. It’s meant to stand out. The more broken and self-focused the world becomes, the more our lives should cause people to ask questions. Not becaus...  Read More

"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven" - Matthew 5:16 Life is full of surprises. Some bring joy. Others bring stress. You find a twenty-dollar bill in an old jacket and smile. You open an unexpected bill, and your stomach sinks. Surprise is just part of life. But have you ever thought about how your life might surprise som...  Read More

"Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. “I am he,” Jesus told them... When Jesus told them, “I am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground." - John 18:5–6 In John 18, a group of men came looking for Jesus. Judas was with them. They carried lanterns, torches, and swords. They were looking for the right person. But they came in the power of the world. They came in the strength of darkness, not the ...  Read More

"Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples" - John 18:2 There’s something unsettling about how familiar Judas was with Jesus. He knew where Jesus would be. He had walked with Him, eaten with Him, watched Him perform miracles, and listened to Him teach. He was close enough to know Jesus’ patterns. So when the time came to betray Him, he knew exac...  Read More

"Then Jesus, knowing everything that was about to happen to him, went out and said to them, 'Who is it that you’re seeking?'" - John 18:4 It is a simple question on the surface. But when Jesus asked, “Who is it that you’re seeking?” He wasn’t just addressing the soldiers and officials in front of Him. That question still speaks to every heart today. Because whether we realize it or not, all of us ...  Read More

"Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful" - Luke 6:36 There is a big difference between noticing something and doing something about it. In Luke 10, Jesus tells a story where three men saw the same wounded man lying on the road. The priest saw him. The Levite saw him. The Samaritan saw him too. But only one of them acted. Only one responded with mercy. That word matters. Mercy is not jus...  Read More

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you" - Matthew 6:33 Your priorities shape your life more than anything else. What you put first sets the tone for everything that follows. Jesus made that clear when He said to seek first the kingdom of God. Not second. Not when it’s convenient. First. In Luke 10, Jesus tells a story where two relig...  Read More

"When he saw the man, he had compassion" - Luke 10:33 One of the most powerful prayers you can pray today is not for blessing or direction, but for vision. Lord, open my eyes. Help me see who You want me to see. That is where the work of being a neighbor really begins. Not with our hands, but with our hearts turned toward God, asking Him to make us aware. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesu...  Read More

"But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion" - Luke 10:33 Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan to answer a simple question, “Who is my neighbor?” But by the end of the story, it becomes clear He was getting at something deeper. He wasn’t just helping us define who our neighbor is. He was showing us how to be one. And He finished it with a direct...  Read More

"Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" - Luke 10:36 If you’re a follower of Jesus, then at some point, you’ve got to ask yourself a real question. Not just who is my neighbor, but what kind of neighbor am I? What are you known for when people think of you? Are you someone who brings peace, or someone who passes by? In Luke 10,...  Read More

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself" - Matthew 22:39 TV has a way of making neighbors unforgettable. Whether it's Mr. Wilson's fence wisdom or Kramer’s wild entrances, most shows have at least one neighbor you can’t help but remember. They’re funny, weird, wise, annoying, helpful, or just plain nosy. But here’s something we don’t think about nearly as much. We’re all somebody’s neighbor, too...  Read More