In Matthew 10, Jesus sends his disciples "as sheep among wolves" and tells them to be "wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” 

But what does this actually mean?

Being "wise as serpents" means:

✓ Having "street smarts" and understanding how the world really works

✓ Recognizing the cruelty and dangers of a broken world

✓ Knowing when to speak up and when to remain silent

✓ Being prepared for persecution when you stand for your faith

But Jesus balances this with "innocent as doves," which means:

☑️ Maintaining your integrity even in difficult situations

☑️ Acting with kindness, gentleness, and vulnerability

☑️ Remembering your identity in Christ first and foremost

☑️ Not becoming the very thing you're fighting against

This isn't permission to lie or manipulate others "for a good cause." Instead, it's wisdom to navigate a fallen world while holding onto who you truly are in Christ.

In practice, this might mean:

→ Speaking truth with kindness rather than harshness

→ Waiting for the right moment to address difficult situations

→ Putting the best construction on others' words and actions (8th Commandment)

→ Being self-aware of both your surroundings and your own sinful tendencies

Remember: The world can be harsh and unfair, but you don't have to play by its rules. 

In Christ, we have the wisdom to see clearly and the grace to remain gentle in a world that often rewards neither.

Your baptismal identity is stronger than the world's games of power, money, and status. 

 You're forgiven. You're in Christ. You have the truth.

Contributor Matt Richard is Pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Minot, ND.

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Executive Director of Missions and Theology.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #newtestament

Life issues in Genesis 15

When Genesis 15 opens, Abram faces a moment of deep uncertainty. 

God promised him descendants, land, and a savior — yet none have materialized. 

Sarah remains unable to conceive, and Abram's inheritance seems destined for his servant Eleazar. 

His heart cries out: "God, what are you doing? You've given me no offspring!"

But notice something beautiful here — Abram's doubt doesn't reflect weak faith, but rather a faith strong enough to wrestle honestly with God. 

Doubt isn't the absence of faith; it's being "double-minded" — believing God's promise while simultaneously seeing a reality that doesn't match.

We can feel like this, too — when illness lingers, when brokenness remains — we believe God's promises, yet our pain speaks a different story.

God meets Abram's doubt not with rebuke but with a profound act of grace and reassurance. 

He takes him outside to look at the stars, promising descendants too numerous to count. 

But God does more—He provides something tangible. 

Through an ancient covenant ceremony, where normally both parties would walk between cut up animals, only God passes through as a smoking fire pot and flaming torch. 

God essentially says: "These promises rest entirely on My shoulders. I will carry this or this is what will happen to me."

God still uses tangible means to bring his promises to us — through His Word joined to physical elements in the sacraments — at the communion rail and in the waters of baptism. 

Like Abram, we can trust that God is working, your story can only end one way—the way He promised.

Contributor Michelle Bauman is the Director of Y4Life.

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Executive Director of Missions and Theology.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #genesis

In Genesis 14, we find a story about war ⚔️ and rescue 🛡️.

Several kings 👑 attack other kingdoms because they didn't pay their taxes.

During this conflict, Lot (Abram's nephew) and his family are captured ⛓️.

When Abram hears about this, he gathers 318 of his men and launches a rescue mission 🏹.

They surround the enemy camp at night and free all the captives 🎉.

Though war isn't life-affirming and causes death, sometimes it's necessary to protect life.

Being a soldier isn’t a sin, but if you struggle with the weight of it, remember: Jesus came to rescue you, too ✝️.

After the battle, Abram meets a mysterious king and priest named Melchizedek 🤴.

He brings out bread 🍞 and wine 🍷 and blesses Abram.

Melchizedek’s name means “king of righteousness,” and he rules in Salem, which means peace ☮️. (Salem later becomes Jerusalem 🏰.)

Jesus is the true King of Righteousness, the Prince of Peace, who gives us bread and wine in communion — His body and blood — for the forgiveness of sins.

Your hope, even in the mess of life, is knowing that Christ holds you because the greatest battle was already fought — and won — on the cross ✝️for you.

And just like Abram met Melchizedek after his battle, you meet Jesus, your true King, who gives you everything you need — forgiveness, peace, and eternal life 🌟.

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Executive Director of Missions and Theology.

Contributor Michelle Bauman is the Director of Y4Life.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #genesis

In John 10:10, Jesus says, "I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly." ✨ But what does that actually mean? 🤔

If life is supposed to be abundant, why does it sometimes feel so hard? 😔

Jesus doesn’t ignore the fact that there’s evil in the world. 💔 In the same verse, He warns about thieves who come to steal, kill, and destroy. 🏴‍☠️

But He also promises that He is the Good Shepherd, 🐑💖 the one who lays down His life for His sheep — that’s you and me. 🙌

So what does abundant life look like? 🤷‍♂️ It’s not about having an easy, problem-free existence. 🚫 Jesus never promised that.

Instead, abundant life means that even when you face struggles, pain, and doubts, ⛰️ you are never alone. 🤝 You belong to Him. 💙

Your life is so secure in Jesus that nothing — not sin, not suffering, not even death — can take it away. ✝️🔒

The church isn’t perfect; it’s full of sinners, hypocrites, and yes, even thieves and robbers. 😬⛪ But that doesn’t mean Jesus has abandoned it.

In fact, the presence of opposition only confirms that we are in the right place. 🎯🔥

The Good Shepherd is still here, speaking to us, 📖 carrying us when we fall, 🤗 and feeding us with His grace. 🍞

Abundant life isn’t about worldly success. 💰🚗🏡 It’s about knowing that Jesus died and rose for you. ✝️🌅

It’s about hope that can’t be stolen and a love that never runs out. 💛✨

No matter how dark things seem, 🌑 the Good Shepherd hasn’t left. ❤️ 

He’s right here, offering you life that even death can’t take away. 🎉

That’s real abundance. 🙌💖

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Executive Director of Missions and Theology.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #jesus

Let's talk about self-hatred. 😔💭

It’s something we all deal with at some point.

When battling self-hatred, it’s easy to get caught in an endless cycle of thinking about ourselves. 🔄 (The same goes with too much self-love.)

We know our mistakes and secrets better than anyone, and we assume if others knew everything, they'd hate us, too. 💔

But here's the truth: some people know us better than you realize, and they still love us. ❤️

More importantly, God knows everything about us — even things we haven't done yet — and chooses to love us anyway. ✝️💖

Remember C.S. Lewis's wisdom: "True humility isn't thinking less of yourself. It's thinking of yourself less." 🧠✨

Both excessive self-love and self-hatred keep us focused on ourselves rather than on God and others. 🙏

When self-hatred flares up, here are some things that might help:

✔️ Recognize your identity comes from outside yourself.

God calls you His beloved child. 👑💙

✔️ You're not allowed to hate what God loves, and He says you're worthy of love because Jesus paid for that love with His precious blood. 💞🩸

✔️ Talk to someone.

Don't hide your feelings. Talk to friends, parents, or pastors who can remind you of God's grace. 🗣️🤝

✔️ Seek confession and absolution.

There's a comfort in hearing someone say, "Jesus died for that. You're still loved." ✝️🤍

✔️ Look for the good God works through you.

 God not only loves you, calls you worthy of love, but then He does things worth loving through you. 🌱✨

Self-hatred is a daily battle because we sin daily, but remember this truth daily — God says you’re worthy of love and you are worth more than gold and silver. 💰💖 You are worth the precious blood He shed for you. 🩸🙏

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Executive Director of Missions and Theology.

Contributor Amelia is a college student and HT’s assistant webmaster.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #selfhatred

How Do We Bring Unity to the Church? 🤔

We might think unity comes from what we do – our efforts, programs, or activities. 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

True unity isn't something we create — it's something we receive as a gift from God. 🎁 It comes through His Word and through Jesus. ✝️

Think about Pentecost: The Holy Spirit brought thousands together not through team-building exercises, but through a simple message: 🕊️

"You're sinners. Jesus died for you. Get baptized for the forgiveness of your sins." 🌊

Fellowship also isn't about something we're doing. It points to something Jesus gives us through His Spirit, Word, and Sacraments. 🍞🍷

But if unity comes from God, why are there so many denominations? 🤷‍♀️

➡️While Jesus unites, false teachings divide. ⚔️

Unity isn't ignoring differences — it's standing together in truth. 🧩

It's like a fire drill at school. Everyone needs the same belief about what to do when the alarm rings (or it will be chaos). 🚨

Similarly, when someone faces sin and death, we need one clear message of hope through Jesus. ✝️

You might not always feel united with other Christians, just like you might not always feel close to family members. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Real unity doesn't depend on feelings. It's based on what God has already done by connecting us to Jesus when we became his children. 👶

When we're tied to Jesus as your head, you're automatically tied together with other Christians to His body - AKA, other Christians. 👐

True unity flows from receiving God's gifts together: one Lord, one faith, one baptism. 1️⃣

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Executive Director of Missions and Theology.

Contributor Marsh Shamburger is Pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Rocklin, CA.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #churchunity

🤔 Ever wonder what forgiveness really means? It's not just something you create from your own heart — it comes from Jesus 

🙏 When you pray "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us," that "as" is key. It means "in the same way."

💫 Your forgiveness and the forgiveness you extend to others both come from the same source — Jesus on the cross ✝️

💭 Think about it: Jesus died for everyone's sins — yours and the person who hurt you. When God forgives, it's complete.

🧹 Your sins don't just get reduced — they're erased entirely, "separated as far as east is from west." 🌎↔️🌏

❤️‍🩹 This matters because if you think forgiveness has to come from your heart, you'll always struggle.

🤷 How can you truly erase someone's debt to you when you're still hurting? You can't — but Jesus can! ✨

👀 When you look at the cross, you see two things:

1️⃣ Your sins are forgiven ✅

2️⃣ Your enemy's sins are forgiven too ✅

⚖️ The justice you're looking for already happened on the cross. Jesus took the punishment for everyone.

When your heart 💔 struggles to forgive, don't beat yourself up. Instead, look to the cross again. Remember that all forgiveness — both what you receive and what you share — comes from Jesus. ✝️

👭👬 This transforms people from enemies into brothers and sisters. We're joined together by the same gift of forgiveness. 💝

💪 So when you're finding it hard to forgive someone, remember: you don't have to create forgiveness from nothing. ⚫

Go to the cross ✝️, receive more forgiveness for yourself, and let that same forgiveness flow through you to others. 🌊

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Executive Director of Missions and Theology.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #forgiveness

❓Are kids allowed to date if they're Christian? 🤔✝️

For Christians, dating isn't just a recreational activity — it has purpose. 🎯 You're exploring whether this person could be a potential life partner in marriage. 💍

This means having real conversations about faith, values, and future goals. 🙏💭

Unlike what society often portrays, love isn't just a feeling — it's an action. ❤️🚶‍♂️

Real love means being willing to sacrifice for someone else. 🤲

In dating, you're discovering if this is someone you're willing to commit to, build a life with, and sacrifice yourself for. 🏗️🏠

Some practical wisdom:

▶️ Set clear boundaries. Physical affection easily crosses into territory that you might regret later. 🛑⚠️

▶️ Practice chastity — this means making choices now that lead to a healthy marriage in the future. 👑🔒

Remember that physical intimacy connects souls, not just bodies. Like fire, sex is wonderful in the right place (marriage) but destructive outside of it. 🔥

You will make mistakes. Everyone does. The good news is that Jesus offers forgiveness and grace for every sin, including against the sixth commandment. 🙌

When you mess up, don't run from God — run to Him through confession and absolution. 🏃‍♀️🙏

Confession and forgiveness are also key ingredients in a healthy marriage. 💯

One thing to look for when dating is if you will be able to forgive the person when he or she betrays you? It will happen. 🤝

Just as Christ forgives the church, so husbands and wives forgive each other. ✝️

It all builds on the forgiveness we receive in Jesus. 💖

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Executive Director of Missions and Theology.

Contributor Chris Brademeyer is Pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Oakes, ND.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #christiandating

❓What is Redemption? 

🛍️ Think of redemption like purchase – but in this case, it's the most important purchase ever made.

🎫 Just as you might redeem a coupon at a store, Jesus redeemed you, but not with money.

❤️ Instead, He purchased you with something far more precious: His own holy and precious blood and His innocent suffering and death.

✨ Here's what makes this so incredible: your value isn't determined by what you can do or who you are.

💎 In life, things are worth what someone is willing to pay for them. (If someone is willing to pay $10K for a diamond, that's what it's worth.)

💫 By this measure, you are priceless because Jesus paid the ultimate price for you.

🤗 He saw everything about you — even the parts you might be ashamed of — and still chose to pay that enormous price.

👶 Through this redemption, God pays the price for you to become His child.

🌱 While we want to be independent, we are "owned" by God, and He gives us our identity.

🏡 We are owned by someone who cares for us, and we don't have to earn our worth.

💝 You're a precious possession that's been bought at an enormous price.

🎁 Unlike those impulse purchases we sometimes make and forget about, God cherishes you and continues to care for you.

⚓ This identity as one of God's redeemed children can't be taken away from you, even in difficult times.

🌅 While you might have painful moments, they don't change your worth or who you are.

✝️ You're someone Christ has bought with a price, someone Jesus saves. That's your permanent identity, and it's a tremendous source of comfort.

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Content Executive.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #redemption

Here's what you need to know about Jesus ✝️ and the Old Testament 📖

When you look at what Jesus says about the Old Testament, it's actually quite simple — it's all about Him. 👑

Christ isn't just the center of scripture — He's actually the author of all of it, both Old and New Testaments. ✍️

You can see this connection clearly when comparing biblical events. 🔍

Take the story where Jesus calms the storm — the winds and waves recognize His voice because it's the same voice that spoke at creation in Genesis. 🌊

Or consider the cloud that appears at Jesus's transfiguration — it's the same divine presence that led the Israelites in Exodus. ☁️

If you've ever found the Old Testament puzzling (like those ancient battles or ceremonial laws), here's the key: they make sense when you see Jesus in them. 🗝️

Take David and Goliath — it's not a lesson in how to be brave. It's about God protecting the lineage that would lead to Jesus, with David's victory over Goliath echoing the promise that the Messiah would crush evil. ⚔️

Sometimes people think the Old Testament (with its wars and laws) contradicts the New Testament's message of love. But that's only if you remove Jesus from the picture. ❤️

When you keep Him at the center, you'll see remarkable consistency throughout the entire Bible. It's one unified story of salvation. 🌟

The Apostle Paul understood this. When he went to synagogues to teach about Jesus, he used the Old Testament to make his case. Why? Because all of scripture - starting with Genesis funnels into Christ. 📜

So when you read the Old Testament, Jesus invites you to look for Him in its pages. 👀

If you haven't found Jesus in an Old Testament story, you might want to take another look - because He's there, weaving together God's story of salvation for you. 🫶

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Content Executive.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #oldtestament