There is no one more influential in your life than you because no one else talks to you more than you do. As self-talkers, we have an incredible ability to talk ourselves up or down depending on how we feel at the moment. But what is that talk based on? It can be based on our own evaluation and measurement of a situation. We value and evaluate everything we do, everything we experience, and everything that happens. We measure our value and identity by our best moments. We do the same with our worst moment. “I am good,” or, “I am bad.” “I am successful,” or, “I am a failure.” These are the conversations we have internally. It the inner dialogue we are constantly having. No one talks to you more than you do.

There is another voice speaking life and breath into your hearts. It is the voice of our Father who says, “You are loved! You are loved apart from what you do and experience in your life.” It is the voice of our Savior who says, “You are loved! I gave myself for you that you might live with me for eternally. You are dearly and deeply loved.” It is the voice of his Spirit who whispers in your heart, “You are loved and sent. I have shaped you for service and have sent you into the world. Now, go!” The voice of our God rings out at our baptisms telling us that despite what our own inner dialogue says, we are loved. 2 Corinthians 3:4-5

There is another lie that threatens our confidence and causes our identity to sink: “I am what people think or say about me.” We can assign so much value to the opinions and words to the people that their words cause us to rise or sink. We can even begin identify ourselves by their words. Solomon is right, however, when he says, “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe” (Prov 29:25). When we assign so much value to the opinions of people, we will only be caught in a trap. But trusting in the Lord and in his opinion of us only keeps us safe. This is God’s opinion of us in Christ: “You are my beloved child. I love you. And you are simply awesome. My masterpiece. Created in Christ Jesus to do good works that I have prepared in advance for you to do.” Yet, believing this and living by it is harder than we can imagine.

How can we live for an audience of One, who simple thinks that we’re awesome? We can live this way by entering places of vulnerability.

By opening ourselves up to our closest friends, what some call their “3 am friends,” and, by being truly transparent and vulnerable. As we enter these places of vulnerability, we will let our friends see all the way to the bottom of us (which isn’t always so beautiful). By being transparent and authentic with them, we can break through the idea that we have to put forward a façade that people will validate. But it’s not just that. The best friends will confront us with our sins to break us of any pride remaining. But more than that, our best friends will preach Christ to us, truly consoling and comforting us with the promises of our Savior God. Romans 1:1-13

The Devil lies to us about our identity. We can even begin to believe him and start to think, “I am what I do.” The measure of my worth and my identity is tied up to my work, what I do and how well I do it. This is especially true in a consumer world where we are taught that a person is meaningful because of what they can produce. In fact, a person only matters if they can produce. The Israelites were only valuable to Egypt because of what they could do and Pharaoh worked them to the bone; his brick-making quota never ended. But, “I am not what I do.” Instead, “I am what Jesus has done for me.”

Even after they left Egypt, Israel was left with the mindset of work matters. God gave his people the Sabbath as a protest against Pharaoh’s never-ending brick-making quota. He taught them trust in the Lord for provision. He taught them to remember God’s care for them. That’s what the intentional times of Sabbath are for us too. They are a protest against Pharaoh’s never-ending brick-making quota. Hebrews 4:1-11

There is a tendency, even and maybe especially for us, that we would start to find confidence in what we do or how things are going for us. We’re Christians; that’s why! God knew that this tendency and temptation existed for his people, the Israelites too. He knew that they might (even would) become self-confident. So, God reminded them: “Its not because of you! Its not because of your righteousness, or your size, or anything about you. Its because of me! I loved you. I am doing and giving this to you. And I have set you here so that you might live as my people in this world.”

Here are the two words for Christian life: Loved and Sent. Notice the passive. This is not something we do. It is something done to us and for us. God chooses to love us. God, then, in mercy sends us as his loved children into the world. Deuteronomy 7:7-11

A sermon on Mark 2:23 - 3:6 by Seminarian Benjamin Hahm.

“Armor up” urges us to take up the full armor of God, to put it on and be ready for the spiritual battle that Satan and his forces bring to our door day after day. We will consider carefully the words of Paul who says, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Eph 6:11). Today, we’ll consider the “helmet of salvation.” In our battle against the Evil One, we are protected. We hope in him for salvation from all trouble and an eternity with him.

“Armor up” urges us to take up the full armor of God, to put it on and be ready for the spiritual battle that Satan and his forces bring to our door day after day. We will consider carefully the words of Paul who says, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Eph 6:11). Today, we’ll consider the “shield of faith.” The Devil will throw his fiery darts at us; yet they will not hit their mark because we are shielded by “the faith” handed down to us in the Scriptures.

As we make our way through our lives, many questions arise. Why? What? When? How? Questions come and then doubts creep into our thoughts. We can begin to doubt God’s goodness, his love, even his promises. Peter and the other disciples certainly did. They wondered if Jesus even cared for them. Yet, Jesus answered their every doubt. And he does and will do the same for us, every time.  Matthew 14:22-33