YOU Podcast

Whether it’s on a survey or part of a security question for a personal account, it is not uncommon to be asked about your “favorite” something. Having favorites seems harmless until they become “preferences.” Unfortunately, in our broken world, preferences can become prejudices and biases.

None of us wants to admit to having prejudiced thoughts or behaviors but consider these questions. Have you ever crossed the street to avoid a person who looked like trouble? Are you automatically critical when you see someone wearing clothing or accessories representing a certain political party?

Racism and prejudice are far more common than they should be among those who agree that “all are created equal.”

Racism and prejudice are far more common than they should be among those who agree that “all are created equal.” Whether the distinctions we make are racial, socioeconomic, religious, or political, we often treat people differently because they are different than us or cannot do something for us. James pointed to a better way. He taught that we should treat everyone the same.

Hank Aaron played professional baseball at a time of discrimination and racism, yet he persevered. He was told to “suffer quietly” as fans threw rocks and mocked black players by wearing mops on their heads. In 1973, before breaking Babe Ruth’s home run record, Hank Aaron received over 930,000 pieces of mail that included an abundance of hate mail and death threats requiring FBI investigation.

Hank Aaron’s faith was on display as he proclaimed his dependence on God’s wisdom and strength. When asked about setting the new home run record, he responded that he trusted God’s will. Aaron turned from hatred and violence to embrace the joy of baseball and broke Babe Ruth’s home run record in Atlanta on April 8, 1974.

Hank Aaron turned from hatred and violence to embrace the joy of baseball and broke Babe Ruth’s home run record in Atlanta on April 8, 1974.

It’s difficult even to think of joy in trying moments such as those Hank Aaron experienced, yet James wrote that believers should consider trials joyous. He was not teaching that the trials themselves are joyous, but that we can live with joy even as we go through difficult moments.

For many of us, the initial news of a virus in China was just that—news—and we moved on to the next news item. It didn’t take long for that little news blip to become something far greater. Within a few days, the flurries of news stories became an avalanche. Overnight, everything changed throughout the world. We had to adjust to a whole new way of living.

One bright spot in that season of uncertainty and grief was how people cared for one another. Neighbors checked in on each other. Food banks saw record-breaking donations. Social media friends even helped each other find toilet paper! People felt a sense of responsibility for one another.

The devastating effects of COVID-19 pale in comparison to the desperation of being separated from a right relationship with God.

The devastating effects of COVID-19 pale in comparison to the desperation of being separated from a right relationship with God and the urgency of our mission to reach those lost people with His message of reconciliation. Let’s consider how we can love our neighbors by helping them find their greatest joy and deepest need—the Lord Jesus Christ.

How do you know you have a good doctor? It’s not just tied to his training. A good doctor applies that knowledge well. A good doctor knows what questions to ask, discerns what symptoms mean, and prescribes the right treatment. But we tend to value one more important thing in our medical doctors: they tell us what we need to know with compassion.

Hearing a medical diagnosis can be among the most anxious moments of our lives. Often, we’d rather just avoid hearing it altogether, yet we know a good doctor tactfully tells us what we may not want to hear but need to hear. A good doctor gently explains the problem and gives us the diagnosis so he can prescribe the cure.

Jesus is more than a good doctor; He’s the Great Physician.

Jesus is more than a good doctor; He’s the Great Physician. He sees what makes our hearts sick. And He provides the effective cure: Himself. With this study from Matthew 18, we’ll consider a debilitating ailment of the soul: unforgiveness. Unforgiveness robs us of the life we’re meant to live: a life of joy, peace, and lovefor God and others.

Ethiopian-born, Swedish-American chef Marcus Samuelsson has become a major celebrity chef with several restaurants, including the Red Rooster in Harlem, New York. Marcus has achieved notoriety not only through his restaurants but through appearances on Food Network shows such as Chopped.

Perhaps what has made his popularity so enduring is how he walked along side young chefs. He has taught at culinary institutes in Sweden and mentored chefs in his restaurant. The best teachers are the ones who don’t just tell you what to do; they show you how to do it.

The awe-inspiring mercy of God moves us to present ourselves as living sacrifices, a spiritual act of worship.

In the Book of Romans, Paul did just that. For 11 chapters, he gave us the most complete theology of salvation in Scripture. Then in Romans 12, he showed us how to live out that salvation. The awe-inspiring mercy of God moves us to present ourselves as living sacrifices, a spiritual act of worship. In verses 9-21, we see that life of worship on display when we love and honor others. Today, we’re going to learn the recipe.

The classic 1985 movie, The Karate Kid, contains a scene so memorable, it’s become a pop culture reference. In this scene, the teenage protagonist, Daniel LaRusso, vented his frustration toward his mentor, Mr. Miyagi, for assigning him seemingly irrelevant tasks— painting a fence, sanding a floor, and waxing a car. Daniel wanted training in martial arts, but instead he heard, “Wax on, wax off.”

Then suddenly it all came together and made sense. Daniel realized all those tedious hours of work were part of his training. What seemed like meaningless chores had been cultivating the skill and building the strength he needed. Mr. Miyagi wasn’t ignoring or even delaying Daniel’s request to learn karate. He was fulfilling it in an unexpected way.

One of the primary ways the Holy Spirit shapes us is through prayer.

If we are to carry out the Lord’s commandment to love others as ourselves, we must be trained by the Holy Spirit. One of the primary ways the Holy Spirit shapes us is through prayer. When we pray for others, we are building a spiritual skill and strength to love like Jesus loves.

Bank tellers have a rather thankless job. All that monotonous counting, handling germy dollar bills, and dealing all day with people who are likely in a hurry. But of all the skills they need to have, one is eminently important: the ability to identify a counterfeit dollar bill. Bank tellers must look at a bill and, in a matter of seconds, observe minute details that signal whether it’s real or a forgery.

To gain this skill, bank tellers don’t study forgeries; they study the real thing. By thoroughly knowing the details of the original, they can readily pick up on anything that doesn’t match it.

Bank tellers don’t study forgeries; they study the real thing. By thoroughly knowing the details of the original, they can readily pick up on anything that doesn’t match it.

If we are to be people who live in the love of God, we must know what His love truly is. And since God Himself is love, we must know His character. But counterfeits abound: people who may look and sound genuine, but they neither come from nor represent God. A genuine believer is one who has been transformed by the love of God and loves as He loves. God takes the real thing seriously—and so should we.

Love. It’s the fulfillment of all God’s laws. It’s greater than any spiritual gift you could have. It’s part of why you are on earth. It’s even what Jesus said would confirm that we are His disciples.

Let’s be honest. It’s not always easy to love those around us. We live in an “age of rage,” a time when social media controversies are part of life and people regularly spew harsh and hateful words to one another. Yet, the follower of Christ is to be different. Scripture’s command to love one another sets Jesus’ followers apart from those who don’t know Him.

Let’s be honest. It’s not always easy to love those around us.

Join me for this six-session study that builds on the great commandment to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Prepare to ask yourself the tough questions. Prepare to practically serve and love others in your family, your church, and your community. Prepare to grow in God’s love.

In a scene from the 2002 film, “Drumline,” new band recruits stood on the football field facing the Dr. Lee, the band director. A group of recruits arrived late, and Dr. Lee asked one of them who was his roommate. After locating this student’s roommate named Devon Miles, the band director asked him why he failed to wake his fellow band member. Devon responded by saying that he was not his friend’s momma.

Hearing this Dr. Lee asked the band section leaders, “What is our concept?” With purpose and in unison, they replied, “One Band, One Sound.” Lee went on to remind all the band members that when one is late, they are all late, and when one sounds bad, they all sound bad. This scene presents a very important truth.

The Church may have different parts, but it is still one body, and what unifies the members together is the Holy Spirit.

Paul sent the same message to believers. He told the Ephesian saints that they must“endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit” because the church’s concept is, “One Body, One Spirit” (Eph. 4:4). The body may have different parts, but it is still one body, and what unifies the members together is the Holy Spirit.

It is easy to do! I know I have done it! You may be asking, “Done what?” You may have gone walking at the park, without trusting Him. The older I get my body reminds me that I need Him. Sometimes my feet may hurt, at other times it is one of my knees, and every now and then my back aches. It is at those times I remember that I need the Lord to walk with me!

Maybe you grew up in church listening to the older saints sing, “Walk with me, Lord! Walk with me, Lord! While I’m on Lord, this tedious journey, I need Jesus, to walk with me!” From the simple to the complex, from the easy to the hard, from the mundane to the important, I need the Lord to walk with me! Why? Outside the physical limitations all of us will eventually experience, spiritually we need someone to help us overcome the flesh, the world, and the devil.

“Walk with me, Lord! Walk with me, Lord! While I’m on Lord, this tedious journey, I need Jesus, to walk with me!”

As we study Paul’s instructions to the churches in Galatia, remember it is easy to think you can do it by yourself or seek to prove to others that you can do it. As saints, let’s not forget our walking partner because it is easy to do.