In ancient times, when a disciple followed a teacher as they walked from one place to the next, they would say, “May I be clothed with the dust of the rabbi’s feet.” They wanted the teacher's way of life to become their own. Jesus invites us to leave behind the weariness and burden’s of the ‘yoke’ of slavery and live a life with rest and peace, closer to Him.

Friends, I invite you to not let your fears distract you from being faithful to God and what God wants you to do today. Don’t let fear paralyze you from pursuing God’s calling for you. Fearlessly praise God. Sing like never before, and by God’s grace, your fears will slowly but surely turn to faith.

While our excuses sound valid, I think if we’re honest with ourselves, there is always space if we truly value the thing we’re making space for. If we worship Jesus above all, then we need to take a look at how our calendars reflect that.

Baptism does not make us new, but it does symbolize that we are new in Christ Jesus. Baptism does not save us, but it does outwardly profess the inward transformation that took place in us when we gave our life to Jesus Christ.

With an honest awareness of your own failings and mistakes, why not stand against the crowd's quick judgement and pray for the one who has fallen and remind the crowd that Jesus is present with Grace for every mistake, for every sin.

It is when life gets tough that our true character is revealed. It is not only doing the right thing when no one else does, but doing the right thing in every circumstance. It is our consistency that causes others to respect and trust us.

As we make plans, we should do so with an absolute dependence on Jesus. The focus of our plans should include loving God and others well.

If today, you're working a job you do not like… or working for an employer you like even less… try Paul's approach. Make the decision to do the best job that you can do… not for your boss, but for Jesus. Chances are, the people who work around you will start wondering what in the world is up with you… and they will get a healthy glimpse of the Jesus you follow.

God looks at the dirtiest parts of David, and of you and me, and picks us to be part of His plan for mankind. So often, our shame and insecurity lie to us. We doubt that God could use us, we scoff at the thought that there is anything left for us. We assume that our past, our sin, our struggle disqualify us from making an eternal impact. But God doesn’t make mistakes.

We have such a great opportunity to positively influence the lives of others, encouraging them and building them up, helping them to embrace how valued and loved they are. The Apostle Paul exhorts us to encourage one another and build each other up, but how are we to do that when we don’t really know one another?