BY JORDAN MAYER

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved..."
(Ephesians 2:4-5)

During this season of Thanksgiving, it’s no surprise that it’s a time marked by giving thanks. We often think about family and friends, the food on our table, the house over our heads, and our Good Father who blesses us with all these things. It’s common to think about and be grateful for what we’ve been given. But how often do we find ourselves being grateful for the things we haven’t received? in the context of the Gospel, we see God's mercy and grace on full display, revealing that what we deserve is not what we find.

Let’s begin with God’s mercy. Simply put, His mercy can be described as God not giving us what we truly deserve. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that we have all fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). We have not and cannot meet His holy and righteous standard, and because of this, we stand condemned. Our sin has racked up a debt that we can’t possibly hope to repay. We stand before the court guilty as charged. And, as Romans 6 tells us, the wages for our sin is death. It’s a startling and devastating reality for each and every one of us.

But let’s return to the Ephesians 2 passage. The chapter begins with the same bleak reality. We were dead in our trespasses. By our nature we were called children of wrath. “But God!”, how sweet these words are! In the very depths of our misery, God extends His mercy. Though we stand condemned in the Law, Christ came in fulfillment of the Law to satisfy its requirement. He is our great advocate who enters the courtroom and willingly pays our debt (Colossians 2:13-14). At the Cross, God lavishly pours out the riches of His mercy through the sacrifice of His own Son on our behalf.

If we did not deserve His mercy, neither do we deserve His grace. But not only does God not give us what we deserve, He also gives us what we don’t deserve. This is His grace, His unmerited favor. In canceling our debt, Christ also provided the means for relationship with God. We deserve death, we are given life. We deserve condemnation, we are given justification. We are redeemed, renewed, and restored. The dividing curtain that separated us from God was torn in two by Christ’s work on the Cross. So then, we don’t sheepishly enter into the presence of God. Rather, we draw near to this throne of grace with confidence and boldness to receive His grace and mercy (Hebrews 4:16).

As we approach this Thanksgiving holiday, let us all thank God that He gives out of the abundance of His mercy and grace. We thank Him that “He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him…” (Psalm 103:10-11).

BY DONNA CHURCHILL

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.”
(Psalm 32: 8, 9)
 
I have walked with the Lord for many years and I am still amazed and appreciative at how He gives us just the right rebuke or counsel from His Word when we need it.
 
About 2 weeks ago, I experienced a pretty bad day. Not bad in the sense that things were going badly, but bad in the sense that I did not respond to the Lord in the way I should have; in the way that would have marked me as His.
 
It was a day when I was experiencing a great deal of pain in my body, but I had errands to do and needed to push through the pain to get them done. I was at the grocery store and to make a long story short, I was quite snappy with the cashier. Right away, the Holy Spirit convicted me, but my stubborn flesh decided it was more satisfying to hang on to my anger than release it, as if I had a right to it. As a result, I walked out of the store angry, stubborn and fighting with the Holy Spirit.
 
Thankfully, that was my last stop of the day. As I drove home, I wrestled in my spirit all the way. There was a scowl on my face and I knew it. I was making excuse after excuse to the Holy Spirit, none of which could hold water. I was in pain; the cashier was no help; Lord, if you would just heal me, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah! I do not confess any of this proudly, but truthfully, to show how faithfully, lovingly and mercifully God dealt with me through this.
 
I had left my house that morning for an early appointment and errands and had not had my quiet time with the Lord. Maybe if I had, I would have acted differently? Anyway, I arrived home, put away my groceries and knew I had to face my Father for my very ungodly actions.  As I sat before the Lord, I started sharing my anger and frustration at the pain I was dealing with. I was prompted to go to my daily devotional book and here is some of what I read,
 

• “Asking for forgiveness is so hard because of what it says about life and what it says about me.” 
• “You cannot make honest, humble confession without acknowledging that there are more important things in life than getting your own way and being happy.”
• “You see, it’s our sturdy allegiance to our own kingdom that makes us unwilling to confess that we have gotten in the way of God’s kingdom on earth.”
• “Asking for forgiveness is hard because you have to admit to why you need it so frequently.”

 
Then through the devotional, I was led to Psalm 32. In His love and mercy, God directed me to the very thing I needed: confession and forgiveness.
 
“I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.” Vs 5
 
I was also faced with the fact that I acted like a mule before the Lord!  I didn’t act out of pain. I was being ruled by my pain because I had broken fellowship with the Lord. When I decided to give in to the sinful desires of my flesh, I left Him behind.
 
I was amazed and thankful in that moment, as I always am, with how long-suffering and merciful God was with me as I experienced my very childish temper tantrum; how, with grace He spoke just the most perfect and timely word to me; how He loves me and reigns me in to teach me the hardships of going my own way; how He continues to lovingly and graciously deal with the things He knows will lead me away from Him; how much He is involved and invested in all the little and big details of my life and behavior.
 
I was also thankful for His forgiveness as I had to admit that I so desperately needed it.
 
The final quote from my devotional –
 
“When you seek forgiveness, you are confessing that you still forget why you were put on earth and granted the amazing gift of God’s grace. You are admitting that you forget that every gift you have been given is to be invested in his kingdom.”

BY JORDAN MAYER

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”
(Habakkuk 3:17-18)

We have all experienced those days where it seems like nothing is going right. Maybe something unexpected happens in the morning that alters the trajectory of your day. Maybe it’s something from yesterday or the week prior that continues to fester unresolved. It could be a heated exchange with a friend or loved one. It might be a major disappointment or a series of small, but agonizing annoyances.

This past week I had "a week" at work. Beginning first thing Monday morning, I was hit with one crisis or disappointment after another. After a few days of this, I found myself burned out, depressed, and discouraged. It’s days like this that you feel like shutting the curtains, pulling up the covers, and going back to bed.

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I often go for a noontime walk on the trails next to work. On Wednesday, being particularly buried in the day’s to-do’s, I contemplated skipping the walk and continuing to work. Yet, knowing my current state of mind, I decided (or was prompted) to step away and take a walk. As I walked the meandering path, I began to pray and unload my burdens before the Lord. All the built up frustrations, disappointments, and unhappiness flowed out like the breaking of a dam.

It was in that very moment that I realized I had a decision to make. When everything seemed to be going wrong that week, was I still going to trust God? Was I still going to believe that He is good and is working good in my life?

How easy it is to rejoice when the work week is smooth, or the checking account is full, or the family is all getting along. But when all this is stripped away, it quickly becomes evident where we have placed our hope. When life is supremely bad, will we still trust and believe that He is still supremely good? This is the moment we decide that despite all the disappointments of this broken, sinful world, yet we will rejoice in the Lord. Yet, we will take joy in the God of our salvation. 

Rejoicing is in the Lord. Joy is in the God of our salvation. 

Habakkuk came to this realization in his day, at a time when life for the people of Israel was most certainly not good. He was in great turmoil in his heart over the devastating judgment from Israel’s enemies. He begins by questioning, but ends by trusting. He resolves to rejoice and find joy, not in circumstances, but in the God of his salvation.

As I walked back into the office, my heart rejoiced and my joy was restored. Though my circumstances had not changed, I was reminded that my hope lies in my good and great God.

Whatever burdens lie on your heart or disappointments fill up your mind, choose today to rejoice in the Lord and take joy in the God of your salvation. Taste and see that the Lord is good! (Psalm 34:8)

BY JORDAN MAYER

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
(1 Corinthians 10:13)

This past weekend, my brothers and I helped move a refrigerator for a friend. We slid the old fridge out, tipped it over, and proceeded to lift and carry it out the door, down the walkway, and into the driveway. For reference, the fridge was a couple hundred pounds and difficult to navigate through the tight doorways. By the time we lowered the unit to the ground, my arms and hands were ready for a rest! As taxing as it was and despite any pain or soreness I experienced, this task was still within my ability to perform and manage.

In life, we face a whole host of temptations that, in the moment, feel too difficult to endure. Like an unbearable weight on our shoulders, we can feel like we have little choice but to give in. It is in these moments of deepest despair and hopelessness that we must return to the truth of God’s Word. For the way we may feel about the temptations we face is neither the truth nor the reality.

We are reminded, encouraged, and promised that whatever temptations we may face are always within our ability to endure. God never allows temptations into our lives that we are not equipped to handle. This is not to say that it won’t be hard, it may be the hardest task we’ve faced. But we have also been equipped for the battle. God has both empowered us for the battle and provided the strategy.

Yet, we should notice that the strategy we are to employ is not one of standing and fighting, but turning and fleeing. God always provides a way of escape; that is how we endure temptation. We see a similar theme in James 4:7 where we are called to resist and flee. But there we find an equally important piece of the puzzle. Enduring temptation is not merely about saying no to sin, but saying yes to God. As we turn away from sin and temptation, we must simultaneously turn toward God. We are to submit ourselves to God and draw near to Him. And as we draw near to Him, He promises to draw near to us.

The battle against temptation has often been described as a tug of war. We feel the pull of temptation toward sin like a tug upon the rope. If you look at the marks in the ground, you may see some ground has been given up and some ground has been won. We are all prone to stumble and give in to sin. But there was one man who felt the full weight of temptation and yet never gave an inch. This man was Jesus, fully God and fully man, who was tempted in every way, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Not only can He sympathize in our hour of need, but He actively intercedes on our behalf (Romans 8:34). He provided the perfect sacrifice so that even in our failures, we can still stand justified before God. This is supremely good news!

So when you feel the strong pull of temptation, remind yourself that you are not fighting a losing battle. That is precisely what the enemy and our own sinful flesh wants you to think. Rather, remember that we have been given a winning strategy. Turn and flee temptation, submit and draw near to God. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)

BY JORDAN MAYER
​
​“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”
(Isaiah 40:8)

Next to where I work, there is a network of walking and biking trails. Over the past year, I’ve made it a habit to get out of the office for a bit and take a walk through the woods. Besides being a nice mid-day retreat, I’ve found it to be an interesting way to experience the changing seasons.

I started walking the trails in early spring. At this point, the trees are bare, the air is cool, and the ground is peppered with patches of brown and white. But soon the seemingly lifeless wood springs forth into life. First a few green buds appear on the trees as flowers begin to poke through the ground. Day by day, the green begins to take back the forest. By the time summer arrives, the once desolate landscape is lush with life, the birds chirp happily overhead, and the air is warm on your skin. But in a few short months, the woods are transformed yet again. A chill is present in the air, the canopy of trees transition into a dazzling array of red, yellow, and orange. After a of couple weeks, the path I walk is littered with leaves and the trees overhead are bare. Soon the woods as I had known it before will take on a new character as it becomes covered in a blanket of white.

They say the only constant in life is change. Nature is an apt reminder of this idea in its predictable cycles and seasons. We know this intuitively from our daily life as well. Often we mark our lives by the significant changes and transitions that occur.

So when we read Isaiah 40:8, we are meant to see a stark contrast. Though the seasons change, or a new politician takes office, or a pandemic strikes, God's Word does not change. His Word does not change because God, himself, does not change. In Hebrews, we are reminded that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Why is this significant?

This is significant because His promises still stand. The Gospel is still the Good News for all the world. Ever since the beginning of creation, God has had a plan of redemption for His people. In His loving mercy He sent His Son into the world to die on our behalf, to pay the debt that we could never afford to pay. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). This gift of eternal life is still freely offered, the invitation is still open. Will you accept it?

And for us who are in Christ, we live in the confidence and assurance of these promises, waiting for their ultimate fulfillment when our Lord and Savior returns. When God made His promise to Abraham, to bless and multiply him, he swore an oath by Himself. "So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us" (Hebrews 6:17-18).

Praise God for His unchanging nature and His unfailing promises!

BY JOYCE PELLETIER

It’s the night of the last supper. The disciples gathered around the table, reclining having what they thought was just the end of the traveling day and it’s time for supper. The meal is spread before them.

Jesus takes the cup and shares it with them. They partake, somewhat questioning after Jesus just said in John 16:16, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”

Those at the table question silently in their hearts what was meant by what he just said? None of them speak a word. Yet all wondering in the silence of their hearts. What does this mean? Where is Jesus going next? He’s always going from one place to another.

In John 16:19 – 22, he says, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘in a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you still see me?” I know I’d be questioning this if I were sitting there.

Soon after the meal is done, in John 17:1 He goes out to the garden to pray. Calling out, “Father the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.” A little further, He prays, “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your Word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. I gave them the words you gave me, and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them! I am not praying for the world but for those you have given me, for they are yours.”

This is one of my favorite prayers ever. When I read this, it’s so amazing to think that Jesus actually prayed for me. He personally, at his most grievous hour prayed not for himself, but for me, for you. This is a mind-boggling thought.

When I think of the times when a loved one has died and I attend their funeral and realized He prayed for them, too. Yet, at that moment, I am comforted. Why? Because of Jesus, my grief does not go unnoticed, but He stands in the middle of any situation that grieves me and give purpose and reason to what I am going through. He knows my pain, and somehow, I knew His.

Before my last spine surgery, as I went through a bone scan, I had to hold my arms above my head for 40 minutes. My tendons cried out; the bones wanted to be held up by someone so they didn’t move. I laid there in agony, gritting my teeth, yet I was not allowed to move. I started to pray, as there was nothing else I could do. Suddenly, in those difficult moments, as I prayed, I realized that He knew my pain (on the cross) and moments later, I knew His pain. That solidified my prayer and not long after they released my arms and put them by my side, until the final moments of the test was done. I felt relief beyond relief. Joy was restored and the test was done. All because Jesus prayed for me and I survived this test.

BY JORDAN MAYER

“But the word of God increased and multiplied.”
(Acts 12:24)

If you want to be reminded of the transformative and supernatural work of the Gospel, the book of Acts is a great place to go. We see the birth of the early church, the Good News preached with boldness and abandon, and multitudes of people professing Christ as their Savior. The excitement and energy ripples through these pages of Scripture.

In finance, there’s something known as compounding interest. Once an initial investment has been made, it begins to earn interest. This interest then compounds on itself, meaning it earns interest on the interest. As a result, the initial amount invested grows at an exponential rate.

Where God’s Word is being preached, we see this compounding effect at work. Notice the language of the verse. Not only does the Message grow, it multiplies!

I am not much better equipped to explain the "magic" of internal combustion than our pastor was, but I understand the basic idea. Upon the initial light of the spark, a chain reaction is created. Far from a slow and controlled release of energy, a series of mini explosions are unleashed inside the engine. Once it has started, there’s nothing stopping it. This is the effect that the Gospel has as it takes root in people’s hearts. One person hears and believes, and then tells their friends and family. They hear and believe, and then tell others. On and on it goes as the Word, living and active, spreads further and farther than before.

It is no surprise that opposition soon arises. It was present in the apostles’ day. But though some are killed and others placed in chains, the Gospel cannot be contained. Acts 12:24 comes directly after Peter’s miraculous rescue from prison. In the unfolding of events, Herod falls dead on the spot for failing to give glory to God (Acts 12:23) and what is the end result?

“But the word of God increased and multiplied.” (Acts 12:24)

As much as we see this play out in Scripture, we witness this in real time. Just as I was writing this post, Lance and Kim Ahn’s missions update landed in my inbox. It is a reminder that the power of God’s Word is still in full effect. The Gospel is being preached and people are responding in faith. Praise God!

You see, we are not peddlers of some ancient, religious teaching. Rather, we are messengers of the life-giving truth of the Gospel that has the power to change lives for eternity. The same Message preached to the people in the apostles’ day is the same Message which we proclaim. And it is not mere words, for the Gospel is the very power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16).

What a mind boggling reality to think of the work we join in as laborers of the harvest. We join in a high and noble cause, one passed down through the centuries, impacting millions of lives for this life and the life to come.

Just as we have heard the Truth and been sealed with the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13), let this initial down payment in our own lives continue to bear interest in the lives of those around us. Let the Truth be known, let the Gospel be preached, and by God’s grace and power let it increase and multiply!

BY JORDAN MAYER

"It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes."
(Psalm 119:71)

A few years back, I had a goal to learn how to ride a motorcycle. Having never been on a bike before, I signed up for a three-day safety course. The first day was devoted to classroom instruction with the second two days spent out in the parking lot practicing drills. The drills were meant to emulate the different situations you might encounter out on the road in the real world.

One of the drills involved a long straightaway followed by a sharp left-hand turn. The goal was to get the bike up into second gear (around 15-20 MPH) and then slow down before entering the turn. Given my conservative nature, I intentionally kept my speed down so I could cruise comfortably into the turn. My instructor, on the other hand, had me repeat the drill several times, pressing me to go a little bit faster. Finally, after repeated reminders, I gave the throttle a good twist. It was on this attempt that I knew my lack of speed would not be an issue! Before I knew it, I had reached the end of the straightaway and was already into the turn going way too fast.

In a car, a miscalculation in a turn can be easily remedied by a firm press of the brake pedal. You don't have to worry about things like "lean angle" and "gyroscopic forces" like you do on a vehicle with only two wheels. In the middle of the turn, I gave the front brake lever a hard squeeze and before I even had time to process, the bike and I were sliding across the pavement. Apart from a wounded pride as the rest of the class looked on, I came away with only a few minor scratches and some torn gloves and shirt sleeves.

If someone had asked me if I wanted a literal crash course in motorcycle braking and speed control, I would have said, "No thank you". If someone had asked me if it was a fun experience, I would question their definition of fun. And yet, the experience was immensely valuable because of the lessons it taught me.

I think the same is true with the trials we face in life.

I would love to say that the periods of rest and ease were also the times of greatest growth and development in my faith and trust in God. Sadly, that is not often the case. My tendency in these times is to think I need God less, that I seem to be managing pretty well on my own. But how quickly we come back to earth when hard times come. It is in these moments that we see how the trials we face can be the catalyst for learning and growth. 

Wisdom would teach us that it's best to learn from the mistakes of others. While that is certainly true, we know by our nature that that is not often the reality. The reality is that our pride often prevents us from accepting truths at face value. Sometimes we need to learn the hard lessons. Sometimes we need to come to the end of ourselves to reach a new beginning with God. Sometimes we need trials. But can we honestly call them good?

Trials are not good by nature, they are good by design. This is what the Psalmist is getting at when he says it is good to be afflicted. It's uncomfortable, it hurts, but there is purpose in the pain. Before the trial, he strayed. But now that he's gone through it, he keeps God's Word (Psalm 119:67). It has drawn him closer to God and helped him better understand His Word. It is good because its purpose is good.

Romans 8:28 tells us, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose".

Likewise in James, we are reminded of the faith-building properties of trials. It is the testing of our faith that produces steadfastness (James 1:3) and it is those who remain steadfast that are called "happy" or blessed (James 1:12).

While it's true that we won't often choose the trials we encounter, we can choose to trust in the God who allows them. We can trust that He is good and that He works all things for our good. We can thank Him for the lessons learned from bumps and bruises.

BY JORDAN MAYER

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."
(Psalm 103:2)

Do you ever have trouble remembering? Maybe it’s someone’s name, or that appointment you scheduled weeks ago, or what you ate for breakfast yesterday. How about the things you don't even realize you've forgotten or that nagging feeling that something has slipped your mind? I think we would all agree that we are prone to forget.

Think of all the consequences that result from our forgetfulness. Some may be rather trivial while others may be quite severe. How much greater than are the consequences of spiritual forgetfulness?

We see this play out again and again with the people of Israel. Look back at the time of judges. The people cried out to God for deliverance, God raised up a judge to save them from their enemies, and then the land had rest for a time. Then what? The people forgot about God! After Gideon's death, Israel's fifth judge, it says, "And the people of Israel did not remember [emphasis added] the LORD their God, who had delivered them from the hand of all their enemies on every side." (Judges 8:34).

What happens when we forget about God?

When we forget to worship Him, we worship other things. When we forget the truth of God's Word, we define the truth for ourselves. When we forget what God has done, we begin to fear and doubt. When we forget to rely on God, we start to rely on ourselves.

So how do we make sure we don't forget God? We need reminders, soul reminders!

We need reminders in our spiritual life just like we need them in our daily life. I think we often shy away from this, thinking that we should just remember. But there is no shame in reminders, for they are a wonderful tool for remembering and one frequently employed by the writers of the Psalms.

Psalm 103 is one such soul reminder. “Listen up, soul, remember to bless the Lord!” Don’t forget His benefits, don’t lose sight of what He’s done. It is He who forgives you, the merciful and gracious God who casts away your sins as far as the east is from the west. The faithful One who lifts you up out of the pit, crowns you with His love and mercy, and satisfies you with His good. Your Heavenly Father who is slow to anger, but abounding in steadfast love. So with all that is within me, bless His holy name!

Brothers and sisters, it is good to remind ourselves of God and to remember to bless His name!

Though we are prone to forget, we must also remember that God, in His kindness and grace, did not leave us to our own forgetful devices. He gave us a Helper, One who works in us, to will and to work for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).

Jesus had these words of encouragement to his disciples, those who would have the momentous task of recording His words. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." (John 14:26).

Whatever is going on in your life, whatever may be on your mind, pause a moment. Remind yourself of who God is, recall what God has done, and with all that is within you, bless His holy name!