“Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.” — Proverbs 1:5 Watching my dad hang wallpaper was a beautiful sight to behold. First, he would enter the bedroom to change clothes and return suited up: old Florsheim shoes—black, white socks, work pants—rolled cuffs, t-shirt—white, Camel cigarette—behind the ear. He was now ready to do battle...
“Let us run with endurance the race set before us.” — Hebrews 12:1 Endurance in a disciple’s life is the quiet decision to keep walking with Jesus when quitting would be easier. It looks like showing up again after a challenging conversation, a missed week, or a personal failure—getting back up, dusting yourself off, and stepping back onto the path instead of staying down in...
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” — Matthew 20:26 Humble service is about serving because Christ served. It’s about putting others’ needs ahead of your own. It’s about forming a leadership role to encourage others to join in. It’s about acting without expecting recognition. It’s about letting God shape your heart through ordinary...
“You will be My witnesses…” — Acts 1:8 We can all be called faithful witnesses. We may be called to the courtroom to describe a crime that occurred. Some of us have likely witnessed a car accident and were asked by law enforcement to tell the truth about what we saw. Local new media rushes to the scene of a weather event, looking for eyewitnesses who can explain what happened. When I was a small...
“Apart from Me you can do nothing.” — John 15:5 We depend on things each morning as we begin our day: the alarm to wake us, the coffee pot to start brewing, hot water from the shower head, and our car to start. How is it that, for many of us, the God that determines our next breath is an afterthought? Each morning, we stand at the trailhead of our day. Will we rely on God’s direction or opt...
“If you love Me, keep My commands.” — John 14:15 Walking life’s trails eventually reveals what kind of walker you are. Your own determination, strength, and persistence do not guarantee you’ll reach the trail’s end safely. Some trails are wide and forgiving. Others narrow quickly and demand attention. In the same way, a disciple discovers early that hearing God’s Word is...
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” — Proverbs 27:17 As Boy Scouts, we learned several lessons while hiking together. We kept an eye on the slower hikers, learned leadership by taking the point, learned accountability by keeping everyone on the trail, learned brotherhood by sharing stories of the experiences, and learned communication skills that kept everyone safe. When men...