This Road

Why did Jesus come to earth? Because of God’s love for His creation.

In a world that often falls short of giving love to others, God found the perfect moment to fulfill his love to the earth. Through Jesus’ advent, not only can we know the love of God, but we can share the love of God with others.

Notes:

Daily Readings

Advent Spotify Playlist

Ancient-Future Time, by Robert E. Webber

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Silent Night by Moments and Emorie

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The theologian, Karl Barth, says, "Joy is the rarest and most infrequent thing in the world." It's true, isn't it? We love it when people make us happy. We will watch TV shows for a laugh, so much so that the actors will make millions of dollars, bringing a smile to our faces. But that isn't joy, is it? Happiness is a fleeting feeling, but joy is so much more. For people of the Christian faith, the season of Advent is when we can find joy through a baby in a manger. Just as hope and peace come through Christ, we find joy in the Savior.

Notes:

Daily Readings

Advent Spotify Playlist

Ancient-Future Time, by Robert E. Webber

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This Road is a production of Worthwhile.Media

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A Beginning by Hill

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As we continue to celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ into our world and lives, may we realize that he came to bring us peace. Although the world is in turmoil, we can know that the Kingdom of God is one that is built upon a foundation of peace. As we realize that peace has come through a baby, we should also look ahead to the final peace that will come with Jesus’ return. As this hope builds inside of us, may we be like John the Baptist and prepare the way for the peace that is to come.

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This Road is a production of Worthwhile.Media

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A reading from Jeremiah 33:14-16 (ESV):

"Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time, I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days, Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: 'The Lord is our righteousness.'

Notes:

Daily Readings

Advent Spotify Playlist

Ancient-Future Time, by Robert E. Webber

This Road is a production of Worthwhile.Media

Music:

Heart Eyes by Marie

O Come O Come Emmanuel by Markus Huber

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Hey everyone, it’s Jayson, and I wanted to take a minute to let you know that This Road is returning next week! That’s right, after a few months away, the show is returning with a new episode every week.

After long consideration of the direction I wanted the podcast to move in, I am continually drawn to the Christian calendar. This ancient understanding of walking through the life of Christ in our daily devotional life is something that I have been learning and using in my own formation for the last few years. As we approach Advent's season, I felt it was an opportunity to share my own understandings of how the Christian calendar can shape us spiritually and draw us into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

Theologian Robert Webber says, “The Christian year orders our formation with Christ incarnate in his ministry, death, burial, resurrection, and coming again through Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, and Pentecost.”

So, for at least the next year, we will try to walk down this road together. If you are unfamiliar with the concept of the Christian year, don’t worry, we will take a look at its meaning each week. Through short devotionals, prayers, and readings, we will understand how walking with Christ can truly transform our lives.

It all begins next week as we begin the expectation of Advent.

This Road is a production of Worthwhile.Media

Ancient-Future Time, by Robert E. Webber

Music:

Heart Eyes by Marie

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Can you tell it’s an election year in America? As if a world pandemic and racial tensions weren’t enough, we also have to hear the clamoring of the political elite. I was talking to my mother a few days ago and mentioned how frustrated I am that every statement tends to somehow become a political statement. It’s exhausting for me to deal with.

As I read the Daily Lectionary this morning, Paul’s words of encouragement to the believers in Rome caught my attention. Truly, I feel like it was a subtle reminder from the Lord that even in seasons like this, believers are expected to live in a way that is different from the rest of society. In Romans chapter 12, Paul, states:

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

– Romans 12:9-18 (ESV)

Maybe, just maybe, we can learn to love our fellow believers and strangers in the same way that Jesus Christ loves us.

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O’ Brother by Wastelander

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Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been trying to address the habits I have formed. Truthfully, in the past four months, I have drastically changed my daily routine, beginning with how I spend my mornings. My mornings were hectic. They focused on trying to wake up, eat, workout, and hopefully, I’ll remember to read my Bible and pray a little.

Since March, I have done my best to alter my routine to one where I am not in a hurry. I spend time reading scripture. I have a set prayer I pray each morning, along with supplications and meditation. I eat a balanced breakfast, and I go for a thirty-minute walk. It’s not much, but it has become my new routine, and I like it. It keeps me emotionally balanced and allows me to focus my heart and mind at the beginning of each day.

I don’t say all this to brag. I hate that it has taken me so long to realize how unfruitful my previous morning routine had been. No, I say all this to challenge you to analyze the kinds of habits you have developed.

Are they helpful? Are they mentally and physically healthy?

The habits we breed will lead us to live lives we are in control of or lives that control us. I know this sounds self-help like, but please understand, God wants us to live with healthy habits as well. You know that whole “out of the heart the mouth speaks” thing? Jesus is trying to help us understand that the habits we have will ultimately dictate what kind of life we live.

May we take care of ourselves emotionally and physically. May we spend time allowing God to nurture us spiritually. May we choose to live lives with healthy habits.

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Music:

Timeless by Soul Shifters

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In Matthew 14, we read of the encounter the Disciples have with Jesus while he was walking on water.

It reads: And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

This has always been an interesting teaching moment for me. The part that still sticks in my mind is when Jesus admonished Peter for having little faith. I mean, the man did have enough faith to step out of the boat, right? The other disciples lacked that courage. When I was younger, I always felt bad for Peter. I felt like maybe Jesus was a little hard on him.

But as I’ve read this passage over time, I realize a couple of things. First of all, Jesus didn’t rebuke Peter until he had rescued him. It was after Jesus took hold of Peter’s hand. This should bring us a sense of courage in and of itself. Jesus won’t let us drown, even if our faith falters.

The second thing I have come to learn is that Jesus wasn’t admonishing Peter’s lack of faith, it was actually the fact that Peter’s faith was so fleeting. Remember last week when we discussed Jesus’ miracle of feeding the multitudes? Peter was there for that. This encounter on the sea is mere hours after this incredible miracle that they were a part of!

Perhaps Jesus wasn’t admonishing Peter for needing more faith. He was just reminding Peter that the same faith that allows us to see Jesus perform one miracle is all we need to see him perform the next.

We don’t need to read this passage and ask for more faith. No, I believe we can read this passage and ask Jesus to allow us to remember how he has proven our faith again and again. Then, in moments of doubt, amidst the crashing waves, we know that our faith is strong enough to stand.

After all, Peter did walk with Jesus back to the boat.

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Music:

Timeless by Soul Shifters

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Do you ever feel insignificant?

In times like this, it might be easy for us to feel like nothing we do matters. How could we make a difference? In these moments, I tend to think about the way Jesus led his disciples. In Matthew 14, we see where Jesus feeds the five thousand. In the encounter, the disciples ask Jesus to send the crowd home so they may eat. Jesus simply replies by telling the disciples to feed the crowd.

“We only have five loaves and two fish,” they exclaimed. How insignificant the amount of food must have felt.

But Jesus, as he often does, had a different perspective. He asked them to bring the sack lunch, he prayed over the meal and had the disciples distributed the portions.

You probably know the rest; there was more than enough food for everyone in attendance.

When we feel like we have little to offer, Jesus reminds us that he can turn a little into a lot. All we have to do is bring what little, insignificant things we have to the feet of Jesus. Then, we can see how Jesus can make a difference.

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Music:

Timeless by Soul Shifters

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Matthew 13:31-32 states, “He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

This parable is one of my favorite teachings of Jesus when it comes to the unstoppable force that is the Church. To any first-century  Jewish farmer, they realize the picture Jesus is painting when talking about the mustard seed. Indeed, it is one of the smaller seeds to be planted, but the fruit it yields is powerful.

As Jesus discusses the seed growing into a great tree, or shrub, in which the birds can make nests, he is showing us how the Kingdom of God truly works. The Kingdom of God is a small seed planted in each of us, but as our relationship with Jesus grows, the inward work of the Kingdom will become an outward expression for all to see.

It is no accident that Jesus mentions the birds making nests in the Mustard tree. We can probably recognize that mustard is often a spice. Yet, it is when the seed is bruised, that the vigor and flavor of the mustard seed is found. So, when a bird is perched on a branch, it is not only finding rest, but it is also finding food and nourishment.

Oh, that we might recognize that as the Kingdom of God grows in our lives, we are in the perfect place to bring rest and nourishment to our neighbor. Then, perhaps they would see the Kingdom of God as well.

This Road is a production of Worthwhile.Media

Music:

Timeless by Soul Shifters

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