Jesus ran for joy, He ran for a reward. His reward was him “being seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” This is where he fixed his eyes. It was the vision of this finish line that carried Him through the suffering and shame. It was His goal! He had told His disciples “That where I am, there you may be also.” What is our goal? It is Jesus Himself. He is our goal.

For Paul and Silas, nothing dished out by angry Pharisees or ignorant Romans or shipwrecks or starvation could take the place of who he saw and what he heard on that Damascus road. Jesus Christ had gone through all Paul had faced in the area of suffering and mistreatment, and far worse – to the point of crucifixion. Jesus had Paul’s heart, and nothing – no fear or anxiety of any kind – would be able to move that.

The story of a girl who has been possessed and exploited but the victory is hers through Christ.

In the strange places into which God may send you, in the small starts that tempt you to disappointment, in every area of life be comforted that your God numbers your days, he counts your tears, and he’s close enough that he numbers every hair on your head. No one can thwart his purpose in the world and nothing can thwart his good purpose for you.

Our primary mission field is our daily life. That’s where we’re sent. Sent into our families. Sent into our schools. Sent into our work, our neighborhood, our clubs, the shops, the restaurants as agents of Christ. We carry his name and his love everywhere we go. This is the point of life. What exactly are you supposed to say and do this week? You can ask the Lord to show you. And when he answers, when he prompts, remember the right reply of Ananias, “Lord, here I am. Send me.”

Men, we have hearts for Jesus. Younger men and boys want to see and share such a heart. They see all around them people who live for revenge, for respect, for taking, for grabbing. They need to see some men who are living a different way. They need to hear us have the courage to name the name of Jesus and give God the glory for what he’s done in our lives. Are you building into a young man? Are you offering to be a father in the faith? Because someone is just waiting for you. Just let someone see your heart for Jesus and his world.

It works like this. We bring that part of us that is pierced or pulverized to Jesus and find a channel opens in his speared side to take us in. Blood to blood. Humiliation to humiliation. Scar to scar. We come and he receives us. 

A trajectory was being set in the early church of the 1st century, and God was protecting his church from hypocrisy because the mission is that important. God takes sin seriously because the world desperately needs a sanctified church. Sin doesn’t have to be dramatic to bring about death. A little bit of poison getting into one’s digestion system over time will bring about the same. Death is death, no matter if it comes about prolonged over time or instantaneously.

Refreshment is such a wonderful word. We love things that are refreshing. It’s life coming back to life. The Greek word connects to both pulse and breath. So, to be refreshed by God means we have a spiritual pulse again. Our heart beats with the joy of being loved. We breathe a sigh of relief that we are forgiven. Our heart leaps to learn how much we are cherished.

Refreshment is such a wonderful word. We love things that are refreshing. It’s life coming back to life. The Greek word connects to both pulse and breath. So, to be refreshed by God means we have a spiritual pulse again. Our heart beats with the joy of being loved. We breathe a sigh of relief that we are forgiven. Our heart leaps to learn how much we are cherished.