Luke 9

Day 74 – Matthew 8:18-22; Luke 9:57-62

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Look Before You Leap.

Matthew 8:18-22; Luke 9:57-62

But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” – Matthew 8:20 NLT

So you want to follow Jesus? That’s wonderful. But why? Is it because He can perform miracles, heal the sick, raise the dead, feed thousands of people by replicating bread and fish out of thin air, confound the religious leaders, walk on water, or cast out demons with just a word from His mouth. Or maybe you want to follow Him because He offers eternal life. Not a bad choice, when you consider the alternative is an eternity separated from He and God in hell. People choose to follow Jesus all the time. And they did so in His day as well. He was always attracting crowds, and in those crowds there were those individuals who decided, for whatever reason, that they wanted to become official followers of Jesus. It was a common practice in those days to do so. But normally, a respected rabbi would hand pick his followers, just as Jesus did the twelve disciples. But it would not have been rare for someone to voluntarily offer to become a follower. And usually, when they did, they would have had to meet a certain amount of criteria. They would have had to measure up to the rabbi’s standards. A good rabbi wouldn’t accept just anybody as a follower.

In these two passages, we are given a look into how Jesus handled these occasional “volunteer” disciples. You’ll notice that Jesus doesn’t tell them that they can’t follow Him. He doesn’t turn them away. He doesn’t reject them as unworthy or under-qualified. He simply asks them to think about what it is they’re doing. But He does it in His own inimitable way. When one of the teachers of religious law comes to Him and exclaims, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go,” Jesus doesn’t ridicule his enthusiasm or question his sincerity. He doesn’t ask him for qualifications or require him to take an entrance exam. He just makes a simple statement. “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20 NLT). Luke does not include the fact that this is a teacher of religious law, a Scribe, but I think it is vital to understanding why Jesus says what He does. As a scribe, he would have been an expert in the law of Moses, judicial proceedings, Jewish life, and would have been considered both a teacher and authoritative leader in the community. Their role was vital to keeping the integrity of the Scriptures because they acted as copyists, making sure that the word of God was duplicated accurately. They were men who were well taken care of for their efforts and who lived relatively easy and cushy lived. So when this man tells Jesus that he is willing to follow Him wherever He goes, Jesus knows the truth. This man is used to living in relative luxury. His job is easy and His life is good. He is well-respected and well-compensated for his work. So rather than reject Him, Jesus simply tells him the truth. If he becomes one of Jesus’ followers, he will have to leave behind the comforts of home. He will have to give up his comfy bed, regular paycheck, well-appointed house, and respected position in exchange for a life of uncertainty and anonymity. Following Jesus is about emulating His life. Jesus had no place to call His home. So neither would this man. Jesus didn’t have a regular nine-t0-five job with a paycheck, so neither would this man. Jesus was obligated to follow the will of God each and every day of His life. And the same would be true for this man – if he decided to follow Jesus. But he didn’t. The passage seems to infer that the man’s enthusiasm dwindled when he heard the truth. He lost his zeal when he discovered the reality of what it meant to follow Jesus.

It would seem that Jesus was interested in followers who knew the whole truth regarding discipleship. It was not easy. It was not always comfortable. In fact, it was costly. Perhaps we do too many people a disservice today because we fail to tell them the entire truth regarding a life committed to Christ. We paint too pleasant a picture. We go out of our way to make following Christ look like it is going to be a romp in the park. We accentuate the ease by which one can follow Christ, because is it is based on a gift, offered freely to any and all who will accept it. But we fail to tell them that there is also a cost. While eternal life is the ultimate benefit of following Christ, there is still the fact that we must continue to live our lives here on this earth, complete with the presence of indwelling sin, the reality of an enemy who is out to destroy us (John 10:10) and a world that hates us. When someone follows Christ, they will be required to die to self, put off their sin and put on Christ every day, pursue righteousness, and submit to the Holy Spirit’s rule over their lives. They will have to learn to “seek the Kingdom of Godabove all else, and live righteously” (Matthew 6:33 NLT), and trust God to meet all their needs. Jesus was honest with this man. So shouldn’t we be with those to whom we share the Good News of Jesus Christ. It isn’t that the Good News has bad news attached to it. It is that the Good News requires that we open our eyes to just how bad things are around us. There are temptations galore, trials of all kinds, troubles around every corner, our own sin natures to deal with, and daily decisions that will require us to obey God’s will rather than our own. Our salvation requires our sanctification. We must be transformed into the likeness of Christ, and that is a lifelong, ongoing process that will not end until God calls us home or His Son returns for us. Following Jesus requires a commitment. It is not just about a ticket to heaven. It is a recognition of and dedication to having Jesus Christ take over our lives and transform us into His likeness, through the presence of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Word of God. And it is well worth it – both now and for eternity.

Lord Jesus, thank You that You are always helping me understand the cost of following You. It is not a burden. It is part of the process of dying to my own will and learning to submit to that of our heavenly Father. I am slowly learning that His will is better. His Word is trustworthy. His Spirit is always right and worthy listening to. My way is wrong. My heart is wicked. My desires can be too selfish and my outlook on life, too limited. But You are changing all that, one day at a time – as I continue to follow You. Amen.

Ken Miller

Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

Day 73 – Matthew 19:1; Luke 9:51; John 7:10

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A Determination to Reach His Destination.

Matthew 19:1; Luke 9:51; John 7:10

“As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” – Luke 9:51 NLT

These three simple verses paint a vivid picture that records an important turning point or transition in the life of Jesus. It is here that we see Jesus earthly ministry begin to come to a close as He begins to focus on the true nature of His coming. He had one final assignment to complete for His time on earth to be truly successful and for Him to completely and perfectly fulfill His role as Messiah. The miracles and wonders He performed were simply proofs of who He was. What was to come next would be the reason for which He had come. Luke tells us that Jesus “resolutely set out for Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51 NLT). Jesus knew what was waiting for Him in Jerusalem. He had already told the disciples what fate awaited Him there. He had begun “to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day, he would be raised from the dead” (Matthew 16:21 NLT). Peter rebuked Him when he heard this news. He told Jesus, “This will never happen to you!” (Matthew 16:22 NLT). But Jesus knew better. Not only would it happen, it had to happen. It was essential that it happen and in just the way Jesus had described it. It was all part of God’s grand redemptive plan. And while Jesus knew exactly what was going to take place in the days ahead, He determined to set His sights and His attention on getting to Jerusalem. He would let nothing and no one stand in His way.

The Greek word Luke uses could be translated, “he set his face.” It is a Semitic idiom that speaks of a firm, unshakable resolve to do something. It is very similar to the thought found in the Old Testament book of Isaiah, where the prophet records the words of the Messiah, hundreds of years before Jesus arrived on the scene. This prophetic passage envisions the future Messiah, the Lord’s Servant, and it is a vivid picture of Jesus. In it, the Messiah is recorded as saying, “The Sovereign LORD has spoken to me, and I have listened. I have not rebelled or turned away. I offered my back to those who beat me and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard. I did not hide my face from mockery and spittly. Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. There, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame” (Isaiah 50:5-7 NLT). Written hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus, this passage provides a remarkably accurate glimpse into the final days of Jesus’ life on earth. And it tells us that the future Messiah would be determined to do the will of God, refusing to be distracted or deterred from His God-ordained responsibility.

I can’t help but read these words and think about how often I refuse to do those things that I find distasteful or not enjoyable. Even when I know the task at hand is important or even essential, if it is not something I particularly want to do, I will find every excuse in the world NOT to do it. But here was Jesus, facing the most repulsive tasks any man could ever face, and He was determined to do it and do it well. He knew that He was going to be beaten, mocked, spit on, whipped, slapped, ridiculed, betrayed, deserted, and ultimately nailed to a cross where He would be left to die in horrific agony. And yet, He “set His face” to go to Jerusalem. For Jesus, it was all about doing the will of His Father who had sent Him. It was about obedience and faithfulness. It was about the trust He had in His Father because He knew His Father was trustworthy and faithful. “Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced” (Isaiah 50:7 NLT). Isaiah also records these words from the future Messiah and they are a wonderful encouragement to us when we face difficulties or times when the task at hand seems to much for us to handle. “Who among you fears the LORD and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the LORD and rely on your God” (Isaiah 50:10 NLT). Jesus was headed toward Jerusalem. The days ahead would be filled with a gathering gloom as the religious leaders increased their attacks on Him. Satan Himself would be seeking ways to destroy Him. One of Jesus’ own disciples would betray Him. All the rest would end up deserting Him. But He knew He could trust in the LORD and rely on His God. So He set His face like a stone and headed to Jerusalem, determined to finish what He had begun.

Lord Jesus, I have no earthly idea what You were feeling as You made your way to Jerusalem in those days. I don’t know what was going through Your heart and mind. I only know how I would have felt if I had been in Your place. Everything in me would have been scheming and rationalizing ways in which to put off what lay ahead. I would have wanted to avoid the future at all costs. I would have begged my heavenly Father to come up with another plan, another way. I would have had a pity party and become sullen and angry. But yet, You continued to minister, teach, heal, encourage, disciple and love those very same people who would end up rejecting You in the end. You faced Your future with determination and placed Your life in the trustworthy hands of Your Father. Oh, that I might learn to do the same. Amen.

Ken Miller

Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

Day 71 – Luke 9:46-62; John 7:2-9

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Wrong Priorities.

Luke 9:46-62; John 7:2-9

“And Jesus’ brothers said to him, ‘Leave here and to to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You  can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!’” – John 7:3-4 NLT

Jesus had all kinds of followers – from faithful to flaky. There were the curious and the committed, the miracle seekers and the down-and-outers. He had those who wanted Him to start a rebellion, others who were looking for a free meal, and some who were like rubber-neckers at a car wreck, just attracted by the excitement of it all. But as Jesus’ time on earth began to draw to a close, the call to commitment for His followers was going to increase dramatically. Things would begin to heat up and, as a result, many of His followers would choose to drop out. Even the twelve who Jesus chose could prove to be a challenge and a disappointment at times. One minute they’re healing the sick and casting out demons in the power and authority of Jesus, then they suddenly find themselves unable to do so, and instead of turning to God in prayer, they simply turn the person away. When they see someone who isn’t part of their entourage casting out demons in Jesus’ name, instead of rejoicing, they get jealous and demand that he stop. When they are passing through a Samaritan village with Jesus and the citizens refuse to welcome them, they ask Jesus for permission to call down fire from heaven to destroy them. These men could be exasperating at times. They spent more time worrying and arguing about who was the greatest than listening to what Jesus was saying about His upcoming death, burial and resurrection.

Jesus’ own family members offer us another insight into the kinds of “followers” He had. John makes it clear that Jesus’ brothers didn’t believe in Him, but they were all for Him becoming famous. They simply saw Jesus as their ticket out of the obscurity of Nazareth. So they pushed Him to take His miracle show on the road and head to the big time in Judea. They wanted Him to go where the crowds were. “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles!” (John 7:3 NLT). These guys were more like PR consultants than true followers. They didn’t actually believe Jesus was the Messiah, but they couldn’t deny that He could do miracles. They had known it since the day He turned water into wine at the wedding in Cana, an event they probably attended. For them, it was all about the miracles and making a name for Himself. In essence, they told Jesus, “if you’re going to perform signs to authenticate yourself as Messiah, you should do them at Jerusalem” (NET Bible notes). The Greek word they used actually means: the deportment by which one becomes conspicuous or secures publicity. They wanted Jesus to make a name for Himself and as far as they were concerned, the best way to do that was to head for Jerusalem. “You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” (John 7:4 NLT). And Jesus’ family members were not alone. There were others, including the disciples themselves, who wanted Jesus to become famous. They wanted Him to set up His kingdom and establish His authority, with them serving alongside Him, sharing in His power and prominence.

There was hardly a day that someone didn’t come up to Jesus and offer to follow Him. That was a common occurrence for all rabbis. Luke records three such incidents. As Jesus and the disciples were walking along one day, an individual approached Jesus and said, “I will follow you wherever you go” (Luke 7:57 NLT). But Jesus made it clear that following Him would be costly. The life of a disciple would not be easy. Jesus then invites another person to follow Him. This man initially agreed, but then said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father” (Luke 7:59 NLT). That sounds like a valid and reasonable excuse, but it would appear that the man’s dad was not dead, but that the man was asking for a leave of absence from following Jesus until some time in the future when his dad actually would die. Jesus tells him his priorities are out of whack. He says, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead” (Luke 7:60 NLT). This man’s father was not physically dead, but he WAS spiritually dead. The greater priority was telling him and everyone else about the Kingdom of God. Finally, a third individual approached Jesus and said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family” (Luke 7:61 NLT). Again, sounds like a reasonable request, but Jesus knew that this man would never come back if he went home. The pull of family, the pressure of other commitments, and the distractions of every day life would keep him from following Jesus. Following Him required all-out commitment. You couldn’t be half-hearted and there was nothing part-time about it.

The day was coming when all of His followers, including His own disciples would flake out on Him. He would later tell them, “All of you will desert me, For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’” (Mark 14:27 NLT). Peter would vehemently deny it, claiming, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will!” (Mark 14:29 NLT). When Jesus would break the news to Peter that he would not only desert Him, but deny Him three times, Peter would angrily respond, “No! Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” (Mark 14:31 NLT). And Peter was not alone. Mark tells us that all the others agreed with him. And we all know how that story worked out. Following Jesus is costly. And the closer Jesus got to the cross, the more costly it would become. He would become famous, but not in the way His brothers were thinking. He would provide one last miraculous sign, but it would be His own death and resurrection. He would bring judgment on all those who rejected Him, but that is reserved for a future time, yet to come. Following Jesus requires that we set our priorities aside and embrace His instead. He was and still is focused on the spread of the message concerning His Kingdom. “Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God” (Luke 9:60 NLT). That task takes precedence over all else. It will require commitment, dedication, determination, perseverance, focus, faith, and the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit. He alone can help us put our hands on the plow and not look back.

Father, there are so many things that distract us from following Your Son. The cares of this world can overwhelm us and pull us away from the task at hand. We can get so busy building our own little kingdoms that we lose sight of the fact that we are to be spreading the news regarding the Kingdom of Your Son. Help us remain faithful. Keep us from looking back or longing for something other than Him. Make us faithful, persevering followers of Jesus. Amen.

Ken Miller

Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

Day 69 – Matthew 17:22-23; Mark 9:30-32; Luke 9:43-45

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So What’s the Good News?

Matthew 17:22-23; Mark 9:30-32; Luke 9:43-45

“The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hand of his enemies. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” – Matthew 17:22-23 NLT

For the second time, Jesus reveals some very disheartening and confusing news to His disciples. He gets them alone and tells them that He is going to be betrayed and killed, but then He will be raised from the dead on the third day. Mark tells us that the disciples didn’t understand what Jesus was saying, but they were afraid to ask Him to explain Himself. Probably because they didn’t really want to know. Jesus had talked about this before, and they didn’t like it any better now than they had then. Luke tells us that the significance of Jesus’ statement was hidden from them. It would not make any sense until after Jesus had actually died and been raised from the dead. The significance of it all would never really hit them until they received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. But that comes later in the story.

At this point, they were simply confused and saddened. They didn’t like what they were hearing. They didn’t want to think about it. It didn’t fit into their understanding of how things were supposed to work out. They were still thinking that Jesus was going to set up His kingdom on earth and that they would be ruling alongside Him as His faithful assistants. All this talk of betrayal and death was not what they wanted to hear. They didn’t even hear the part about Jesus being raised from the dead. Their attention turned off at the word “killed.” The reality was that God’s plan for Jesus didn’t mesh with their plan for Jesus. Their view of the Kingdom didn’t coincide with God’s view of the Kingdom. They were thinking temporal and earthly. Jesus was thinking eternal and spiritual. He came to set them free from the rule and tyranny of sin. They simply wanted Him to set them free from the rule and tyranny of Rome. God’s plan was so much bigger, grander, and comprehensive. But they couldn’t see it. They were blind to it. They were stuck in temporal mode. And the truth is, we can find ourselves in the exact same spot. Even though we live on the other side of the resurrection. We know it happened and we know why it had to happen. And yet we can still find ourselves struggling with God’s plan. It may be that we don’t particularly like this process called sanctification. We struggle with having to grow in Christ-likeness. It takes dedication, effort, obedience, trust, faith, and a total dependence on the mercy and grace of God. It is a slow and sometimes difficult process. It tends to reveal our weaknesses and exposes our sins. Which none of us like to see. Submitting to the Spirit’s authority in our lives is difficult for all of us. We have to daily die to our will and submit to His. We have to let go of our agendas and willingly follow His. Sometimes it seems that God requires of us things more than is fair. His plan for us seems uncomfortable and unattractive. We don’t like all the talk about taking up our crosses and dying to self. But that is part of the plan. It is God’s will. We have to learn to trust Him that He knows what is best for us. The disciples were learning the same thing. The idea of the death of Jesus was distasteful to them. They didn’t want to think about it. But it was essential if God’s redemptive plan was going to be fulfilled. Without His death, there would be no payment for sin and therefore, no forgiveness for sin. Without His death there would be no need for a resurrection, and without His resurrection, we would have no hope. We would still be in our sins and separated from God for eternity. God’s plan is not always easy to understand. It’s sometimes even harder to submit to. But we have to trust that He knows what He is going. He is not done yet. But He is always faithful and He is always right. No matter how it may appear to us.

Father, thank You for Your perfect plan. Forgive me for the many times I doubt it, fight it, reject it, or attempt to replace it with my own. You have always proven Yourself faithful and Your plan perfect. Help me trust You more. Amen.

Ken Miller

Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

Day 68 – Matthew 17:14-21; Mark 9:14-29; Luke 9:37-42

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The Sin of Unbelief.

Matthew 17:14-21; Mark 9:14-29; Luke 9:37-42

“Jesus said, to them, ‘You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.’” – Mark 9:19 NLT

After witnessing the miracle of Jesus’ transfiguration up on the mountain, Peter, James and John returned with Jesus to find the remaining disciples caught up in a heated argument with some of the religious leaders. There was a huge crowd gathered around them. It seems that these religious leaders had come in an attempt to test Jesus’ authority yet one more time. They had brought a young boy who was possessed of a demon and were going to see if Jesus would be able to cast it out. It was yet another test. This was evidently a particularly difficult case because the demon robbed the boy of the ability to speak and would cause him to have violent convulsions that would make him foam at the mouth. In these fits, the boy would throw himself into fires or even the water. This had been happening since he was a little boy. The boy’s father cried out to Jesus, “Have mercy on us and help us, if you can” (Mark 9:22 NLT).

It seems that the disciples who had been left behind had tried to cast out the demon, but had failed. This must have been a shock to them, because earlier, Jesus had given the twelve power and authority to heal and cast out demons (Matthew 10). They had come back from that experience amazed and a bit prideful that they had been able to heal people and rebuke demons just like Jesus. But now they found themselves unsuccessful. Evidently, in Jesus’ absence, the disciples had attempted to cast out the demon, but they had been unable to do so. Which is what must have started the heated argument. The father of the boy was disappointed. The crowd was frustrated, because they had come to see Jesus and were looking to see a miracle. And the religious leaders were excited because they thought they had found a chink in Jesus’ armor. I’m sure part of the argument that was taking place was between the disillusioned disciples and the religious leaders as they argued over whether Jesus really was the Messiah. The disciples probably felt like they had let Jesus down, and the religious leaders were whipping up the doubts of the crowd.

Jesus stepped into this mess and immediately wanted to know what was going on. His response was less than flattering. “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me” (Mark 9:19 NLT). This was addressed to the religious leaders and the crowd, who had come demanding and expecting a sign. They wanted further proof from Jesus that He was who He claimed to be. All that He had done up until this point had not been enough. They wanted more. They would not believe until they were convinced, to their own satisfaction, that Jesus was truly the Messiah. Jesus refers to them as “apistos” in the Greek. It means non-believing. This was all about belief or, in their case, unbelief. They refused to believe in Jesus. And at the core of all sin is unbelief. The problem was NOT that they needed more proof. It was that they refused to believe. The reality is, most of them would refuse to believe even after Jesus resurrected from the dead. It’s interesting that when Jesus talked to the demon-possessed boy’s father, He said, “Anything is possible if a person believes” (Mark 9:23 NLT). I don’t think Jesus is saying that anything is possible if you believe in the outcome. Jesus is not espousing a name-it-claim-it theology. He is saying that anything is possible if you believe in Him. Jesus is to be the object of our belief. The father, desperate for a cure for his son, cries out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24 NLT). This man believed Jesus was who He claimed to be, but he was still wrestling with doubts. His son was still possessed. The disciples had failed to help him. The Pharisees and religious leaders were feeding his doubt with lies and false propaganda regarding Jesus. So he asks Jesus to take his struggling belief and strengthen it. As a result, Jesus healed his son. This man, even in his doubt, had come to Jesus and placed himself at His mercy. Jesus responded to this man’s faith with compassion and power. He restored his son to health.

Then later on, when they were alone, Jesus turned His attention to the disciples.When they inquired as to why they had been unable to cast out the demon, Jesus told them, “You don’t have enough faith. I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible’” (Matthew 17:20 NLT). Mark records another statement from Jesus. “This kind can be cast out only by prayer” (Mark 9:29 NLT). So it was a lack of faith and an absence of prayer. Jesus seems to be telling the disciples that their faith was less than that of the man who had brought his demon-possessed son. His plea to Jesus was a form of prayer. He cried, “Have mercy on us and help us, if you can” (Mark 9:22 NLT). He called out to Jesus in his time of need. The disciples didn’t. When they were unable to cast out the demon, it left them confused and questioning what was wrong. They had been able to cast out demons before, but why were they not able to do so now. But what Jesus seems to be exposing is they panicked rather than call out to Him for help. They let doubt set in. Rather than turn to God the Father for help, they did nothing. Their cry should have been the same as that of the father, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” When they hit a roadblock, they gave in, when they should have looked up. They had placed their faith in the outcome instead of in Jesus. They had fully expected to cast out the demon, and when they couldn’t they lost faith. They began to disbelieve. It’s interesting that the very first person to call out to Jesus when He arrived on the scene was the father, not the disciples. They didn’t run up to Jesus asking for His help. They didn’t acknowledge their unbelief and ask for assistance. The father did. And as a result, his prayer was answered. His son was healed. He called out to Jesus with his meager belief and his mountain was moved.

Jesus, I can be so guilty of unbelief. I say I believe and trust in You, but then when I face a difficult circumstance, I start to have second thoughts. I begin to waver and doubt. And rather than call out to You, I do nothing. And then, as a result, I fail to enjoy Your powerful presence in my life. You told us we didn’t need a great deal of faith, we just needed a little. But that little faith needed to be direct at You, not at the outcome. We need to believe You are who You say You are. We need to come to You in our time of need. We need to bring out little bit of faith and trust You to do what only You can do. Amen.

Ken Miller

Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

Day 67 – Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36

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The Law. The Prophets. The Messiah.

Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36

“Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them.” – Mark 9:8 NLT

What an amazing event this must have been to witness. Only Peter, James and John were privileged to see this incredible scene as Jesus was transfigured or transformed into what was apparently His heavenly form. We are told in the Gospels that His face glowed and His clothes became “dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them” (Mark 9:3 NLT). Matthew describes His face as being as white as the sun. This was a supernatural transformation, and it was capped off by the appearance of Moses and Elijah, two great icons of Jewish history.

This was obviously what Jesus had been referring to when He had earlier told the disciples, “And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom” (Matthew 16:28 NLT). Peter, James and John were the ones who were fortunate to see Jesus in all His heavenly glory. What they saw was Jesus, the Messiah, in His future kingly form. It is very similar to what John would see in his vision many years later while exiled on the isle of Patmos. In his vision, John was given a glimpse of the future and he was privileged yet again to see Jesus in all His glory, coming to set up His Kingdom on earth. “Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dripped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: ‘King of all kings and Lord of all lord’” (Revelations 19:11-16 NLT).

What Peter, James and John were witnessing was highly significant. They were watching as Moses, representing the Law of God, and Elijah, representing all the prophets of the Old Testament, were meeting with Jesus, the Messiah. If they still harbored any doubts about Jesus’ identity, this should have erased them. They were able to listen as Moses and Elijah discussed with Jesus His upcoming ascension back into heaven. And then, to top it all off, they heard the very voice of God telling them, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him” (Luke 9:35 NLT). And then suddenly, Moses and Elijah were gone, and only Jesus was left standing before them. I think every part of this event was orchestrated by God and had a message just for the disciples. The appearance of Moses and Elijah was significant because they represented the Law and the Prophets. Moses also represented the old covenant, and as a prophet himself, Moses had predicted the coming of the great prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15-19). Elijah and the other Old Testament prophets had foretold about the coming of the Messiah and the future blessing of God on the people of Israel. Jesus was the fulfillment of all that had been written in the Law and the prophets (the Old Testament). Later on, after His resurrection, Jesus would tell the disciples, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44 NLT). Jesus was the focal point of it all. He was the culmination and the climax of all that had been written about in the Old Testament. It had all been leading up to Him. And it is significant that when Moses and Elijah suddenly disappeared, Jesus alone was left. He was God’s “Chosen One,” the Messiah. He was the answer to man’s sin problem and He had full power and authority from God to act as His representative. So God told the disciples to listen to Him. He knew what He was doing. He was not only the Messiah, but He was the future King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He was the very same individual who was going to return the earth in power and glory and set up His Kingdom and destroy the armies of hell. This was the Son of God, not just some roaming rabbi. He was the King of Heaven. He was the Chosen One of God and He was fulfilling the will of God. So listen!

Father, sometimes we lose sight of just how significant Jesus really is. Sure, we recognize Him as our Savior. But we fail to realize just how powerful, majestic and important Jesus Christ really is. He is the one who is going to return to the earth some day and return Your creation back to its original perfect state. He is going to defeat the armies of hell and Satan himself. He is going to judge the unrighteous. He is going to rule and reign from a literal throne in Jerusalem. His death, burial and resurrection were not the end of His job. He has more to do. His work in not yet complete. Help us to recognize and respect just how holy, righteous, powerful and important Jesus Christ really is and, as a result, to listen to Him intently. Amen.

Ken Miller

Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

Day 65 – Matthew 16:21-26; Mark 8:31-37; Luke 9:22-25

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Not As Advertised.

Matthew 16:21-26; Mark 8:31-37; Luke 9:22-25

“‘Heaven forbid, Lord,’ he said. ‘This will never happen to you!’” – Matthew 16:22 NLT

We all had expectations of Jesus when we accepted Him as our Savior. Some of us had been promised a certain list of attractive options if we would just place our faith in Him. It may have been a well-meaning or a fervent pastor who told us that salvation in Christ would bring us a happier marriage, an improved life, increased joy, and an assortment of other favorable benefits. But then when we came to Christ, we found that our life actually got a bit harder. Living the Christian life proved to be far more difficult and demanding than we expected. We still found our lives plagued by illness, heartache, financial setbacks, relational meltdowns and the ever-present reality of sin in our lives. As a result, some of us became disillusioned and disheartened. This was NOT what we had signed up for. It may have even felt like a bait and switch.

I think the disciples felt the same way. When they made the decision to follow Jesus, they were under the impression that He was the long-awaited Messiah, and as good Jews, they had certain expectations and understandings of what the Messiah would do when He showed up on the scene. They had been raised on images of the conquering hero, the great emancipator, the powerful political leader, and a king over Israel, much like David had been. By this time in His ministry, Jesus had already begun to mess with their preconceived ideas of what the Messiah was going to do when He showed up. Jesus appeared as a peasant. He had no royal retinue or powerful army to back Him up. He had no wealth. He wielded no political influence. Even the religious leaders of the day refused to accept Him as the Messiah. So when Jesus starts dropping hints that He is going to Jerusalem, where He will suffer at the hands of the elders of Israel and be tried and killed, they are blown away. This was NOT what they were expecting. In their grand scheme of things, the Messiah was supposed to be a conquering king, not a suffering saint. He was to reign and rule from a throne in Jerusalem, not die on a cross. Jesus’ announcement was a total disconnect for these men. And Peter refused to accept it. “Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things” (Mark 8:32 NLT). What’s fascinating is that Peter actually told Jesus, the Son of God, “Heaven forbid, Lord. This will never happen to you!” (Matthew 16:22 NLT). Because Jesus’ announcement didn’t meet Peter’s expectations, Peter rebuked Jesus and basically told Him that he would not allow any of it to happen. Peter didn’t like what he was hearing, and so he swore that he would do all that he could to prevent it from happening. This would not be the last time that Peter made such a statement. Later on, Jesus told the disciples that they would desert Him in His time of need. Jesus said that when His actual arrest took place, they would run out on Him. But Peter responded, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you!” (Matthew 26:33 NLT). Jesus makes it clear that Peter will not only desert Him, he will deny Him. “‘No!’ Peter insisted. ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!’ And all the other disciples vowed the same.” (Matthew 26:35 NLT).

And Peter would deny Him – three times. And they all would desert Him. Jesus knew what was going to happen. And He also knew that the events of which He had told them had to happen. They were part of God’s divine plan for the redemption of mankind. And for Peter to swear that he would do everything in his power to prevent it solicited a harsh rebuke from Jesus. “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” (Matthew 26:23 NLT). Peter was letting his expectations of the Messiah to stand in the way of God’s plan for the Messiah. He was stuck on his own agenda, not God’s, and that made him an enemy of God. That’s a sobering thought. When we disagree with Jesus’ plans for our lives or attempt to demand that He meet our expectations, we are placing ourselves in direct opposition to Him and to God the Father. The disciples had no need for a suffering servant Messiah. What good was a crushed Christ or a dead savior to them? They had an agenda for Jesus and they weren’t really interested in God’s agenda for Jesus or themselves. That’s a dangerous place to be.

So what about you? Have your expectations of Jesus been met? Has He been the Savior you were looking for or do you find yourself a bit disappointed in how this whole Christian “thing” has turned out?

Were you expecting happiness and not holiness?

Where you hoping for prosperity, but got financial difficulty instead?

Were you looking for a trouble-free life, but find yourself with trials and setbacks?

Have you been waiting for your place of honor, only to be mired in obscurity?

Has Jesus turned out to be who you were looking for?

Has He disappointed you, let you down, or failed to measure up?

Maybe you’ve been looking for the wrong thing. Maybe your expectations of Him were wrong. Why not recognize that God’s agenda for Jesus is different than yours? Place your trust in His plan. Let you go of your will, and rest in His perfect will instead.

Father, You had a plan for Jesus that did not fit that of the disciples. But it had to happen according to Your terms. Jesus had to die. If not, we would not have eternal life. He had to suffer on our behalf. And while Jesus did not bring the kind of kingdom the disciples were looking for, what they received from Him was far greater than anything they could have expected. And the same is true for us today. Amen.

Ken Miller

Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

Day 64 – Matthew 16:13-20; Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-21

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The Ultimate Question.

Matthew 16:13-20; Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-21

“But who do you say I am?” – Matthew 16:15 NLT

It had been a long day, and Luke tells us that Jesus left the crowds behind and was on His way to find a place to pray. The disciples were walking along with Him and so He took advantage of the moment and asked them a question. I don’t think this was in order for Jesus to get information He was lacking, because I think He already knew the answer. He was simply engaging His disciples in a conversation that was directed at revealing what their true perception was of Him. They had been with Him for years now and had seen Him do some remarkable things. He had made it clear to them who He was. They had even heard demons call Him the Messiah, the Son of God. But Jesus knew there were still doubts in the minds of the disciples. While they hoped and prayed that he truly was the Messiah, so much of what He said and did was so unlike what they expected from the Messiah. He was not the conquering hero they had long anticipated. He was not regal, kingly, or a warrior like David had been. He was obviously as wise as Solomon, but He had no royal retinue and lacked Solomon’s vast wealth.

So Jesus asks them a simple question: “Who do people say I am?”

The disciples immediately share all the various opinions that were floating out there. “Some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other ancient prophets risen from the dead” (Luke 9:18-19 NLT). In Matthew’s account, they throw in the name of Jeremiah. Obviously, the people were having a hard time coming to grips with Jesus being the actual Messiah, so they had come up with a series of viable options to explain who He was and how He was able to do the things He did. Interestingly enough, all of their options involved someone having to be raised from the dead. John the Baptist had been killed by Herod. Elijah and Jeremiah, both Old Testament prophets had been long gone. So the people didn’t seem to have a problem with Jesus being miraculously sent from God. They just had a difficult time believing He was the Messiah.

But Jesus cuts to the chase and asks the disciples the more revealing and important question: “But who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15 NLT). They had each been personally chosen by Jesus. They had walked with, learned from and lived alongside Him for over three years at this point. They had had intimate communication with Him and heard things from Him that the others were not allowed to hear. He had explained His parables to them. He had given them power and authority to cast out demons and heal the sick. They had seen Him raise the dead and walk on water. They had watched Him calm the storm and feed the multitudes. They had listened as He condemned the religious leaders and easily handled their attempts to discredit Him as a fraud and a lunatic.

Now Jesus was asking them the most important question of their lives. It isn’t surprising that Peter was the first one to speak up. He was the always the first to open His mouth. Most of the time, that habit got him in hot water. But this time, He said the right thing. “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God” (Matthew 16:16 NLT). Jesus blesses Peter for His answer, but before Peter can get a big head, Jesus lets him know that he didn’t come up with this on his own and he didn’t learn it from anyone else. It was revealed to him by God. In other words, this awareness of Jesus’ true identity was divinely inspired. God had made it known to Peter and the other disciples. If left to their own devices, they would have come to the same conclusions as the people had. They would have rationalized away any thoughts that Jesus was the Messiah. But God had made it possible for Peter and the others to perceive and accept Jesus’ claim to be who He said He was – in spite of any misgivings they may have had.

Even our ability to believe in Jesus comes from God. He must soften our hard hearts and breathe life into our dead souls in order for us to recognize and respond to the priceless gift being offered to us – His Son. Like the crowds, if left to the whims of our own intelligence, we would come up with all kinds of explanations or rationalizations to account for the Jesus as He is revealed in the Bible. We would conclude that He was a good man, a great teacher, a moral icon, and a worthy example to follow, but we would never conclude that He was the Son of God. Only God can reveal that to us. Living with Jesus for over three years was not enough. The disciples still needed God to open their eyes. Going to church your whole life is not enough. You still need God to open your eyes. Jesus made this perfectly clear when He said, “For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up” (John 6:44 NLT).

God calls. We respond. Jesus saves. God opens our eyes so that we can see His Son standing right in front of us, and He opens our ears so we can understand the offer He makes to us – and along with Peter we say, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” We have nothing to boast about. It is all the work of God.

Father, You made it all possible. You sent Your Son. He died in my place. Then you open my eyes and ears so that I can hear the message and respond. Otherwise, I would never hear. I would never choose Him. But through Your Spirit, You revealed Your Son to me. You did for me what I could not have done on my own. And Jesus paid a debt for me I could never have paid on my own. Thank You. Amen.

Ken Miller

Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

Day 52 – Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29; Luke 9:7-9

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Bad News and Good News.

Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29; Luke 9:7-9

“As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone.” – Matthew 14:13 NLT

Over the centuries, the spread of the Good News has not been without its share of difficulties, setbacks and even tragic losses. From the very beginning there have been costs involved in following Christ and spreading His message of salvation through faith in Him alone. Once Christ rose again and returned to heaven, even the disciples suffered greatly as they took over the responsibility of disseminating the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world. In fact, Jesus had just warned them of this reality right before He had sent them out on their first official missionary journey. “But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues” (Matthew 10:17 NLT). He had told them that they would be arrested and tried for being His followers. There would be those who would want to kill them. And many of the disciples would end up dying as martyrs at the hands of those who stood opposed to Jesus. The Gospel is costly. Living for Christ in the midst of a world that despised and hates us is dangerous. And it has been that way from the beginning.

John the Baptist was the first martyr for the cause when he was beheaded by Herod. John had had the audacity to stand up to this powerful leader and call him to account regarding his immoral relationship with Herodias. She was actually his brother’s wife and Herod had stolen her from him. John had warned him against marrying her because it was in violation of God’s law. John’s message was not received well, and it ended up costing him his life. This faithful servant of God was brutally murdered by a corrupt political figure whose life provided a vivid and stark contrast to that of John. It seems so unfair. It doesn’t make sense. Why should someone so gifted and obviously called by God, be snuffed out in the prime of his life. Yet Herod would continue to live a life of luxury and moral license. But this pattern has been painfully repeated over the centuries with the deaths of men like Steven recorded in the early chapters of the book of Acts. And there have been countless others who have suffered and died as a result of their faithfulness to the call of Christ – men like David Brainerd, William Tyndale, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Jim Elliot. Even the apostle Paul would eventually die a martyrs death, having spent most of his ministry life imprisoned and persecuted for his faith. And it was a reality he willingly, if not eagerly, embraced. “As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful” (1 Timothy 4:6-7 NLT).

When Jesus received word that John the Baptist had been executed by Herod, He had to get away by Himself, so He went by boat to a remote area. We’re not told what He did there, but I have to believe that Jesus spent time in mourning over the death of His cousin and ministry partner, but also in prayer, asking His Father for wisdom, strength, and perseverance to finish the race strong, just as Paul had desired. It is interesting to note that Jesus would have been without the disciples at this point, having just sent them all out on mission. So He would have been entirely alone when the news of John’s death arrived. Jesus would not have taken the news lightly. I am sure His heart was saddened, but He also would have been fully at peace with His Father’s plan and the timing of it all. I am sure when the disciples returned and heard the news, they were probably just as upset, but also confused by the events surrounding John’s death. They would have had questions and concerns, and raised issues regarding the fairness of it all – just as we would do today. They would have had no idea that a similar fate was awaiting many of them in the not-too-distant future. This was just the opening salvo of a deadly and dangerous spiritual war that is still going on today. Around the world, there are those who are still dying for their faith in Christ. The enemy is still attempting to stop the cause of Christ by attacking the followers of Christ. As Jesus Himself told us, his objective is “to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10 NLT). He is vicious and relentless. He is obsessed with the thwarting of God’s purposes and the destruction of God’s people. But we have a Savior, and He has a plan. His redemptive work is not yet complete. His victory is assured, but the battle still wages on. We must remain steadfast and faithful. We must trust in His purposes and rest in His plan for us. It will not always make sense. It will not always appear fair. But God is faithful. He knows what He is doing. We can trust Him. And we can rest in this timeless truth given to us by John: “But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world” (1 John 4:4 NLT).

Father, keep our eyes focused on You. Don’t let us lose hope in the midst of the seeming victories of the enemy. When we see a brother suffer or fall, keep us trusting in Your perfect plan. You never take Your eyes off of us. Your never stop loving us. You are faithful, true, and completely trustworthy. There will be bad news as we continue to spread the Good News. There will be martyr. There will be sufferers. But the battle is won. The victory is assured. The end is already determined. Help me to rest in that reality. Amen.

Ken Miller

Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

Day 51 – Matthew 9:35-11:1; Mark 6:6-13; Luke 9:1-6

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Not Your Typical Pep Talk.

Matthew 9:35-11:1; Mark 6:6-13; Luke 9:1-6

“If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.” – Matthew 10:38-39 NLT

We tend to read the Scriptures from a been-there-done-that perspective. In other words, we know how the story ends, so we allow our knowledge of the ultimate outcome to influence how we read certain passages. The one for today is a perfect case in point. Here is Jesus getting ready to send out the twelve disciples on their first official short-term mission trip. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all three record this event, but Matthew includes quite a bit more detail. It all comes across as kind of a dry run, an attempt to prepare the disciples for what is going to be coming later in their lives after Jesus has returned to heaven. He sends them out to do ministry on their own, but Luke tells us He “gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases” (Luke 9:1 NLT). This is significant, because the Holy Spirit had not been given yet. That would not happen until after Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension. So Jesus gave them temporary filling of power to make their ministry trip possible.

But back to our tendency to allow hindsight to influence our reading of Scripture. Imagine the fear the disciples must have felt as Jesus informed them that they were going to be doing ministry on their own for a while. Up until this point, they had been silent spectators, watching Jesus preach, teach, heal and cast out demons. They had seen the growing animosity of the religious leaders and knew that not everyone liked Jesus or agreed with His message. So there had to be some real apprehension in their hearts as Jesus sent them out two by two. And then Matthew adds the little pep talk that Jesus gave them right before they left. This is where we need to put aside our knowledge of how things are going to turn out and get into the minds of the disciples for a minute. How would they have received this little talk from Jesus? How would His words have come across to them? They didn’t know how the story would end. All of them were still expecting Jesus, as the Messiah, to set up His kingdom on earth just like they had always been taught. They are not even remotely thinking about Jesus having to die. Having to watch Him be crucified is not something they would even remotely consider. So when Jesus drops this bombshell on them, it had to have left them shaken.

It starts out fairly easy, with Jesus giving them marching instructions as to where and how they were to minister. He gave them specific details and told them they were to “go and announce the kingdom to them that the Kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons” (Matthew 10:7-8 NLT). Pretty heady stuff. Scary, but exciting too. Then Jesus gives them some news that had to have been sobering and a bit shocking. He tells them to beware! They are going to be arrested, flogged and stand trial for being one of His followers. What? Really? Are you kidding me? I can see the disciples looking around at each other as Jesus dropped this news on them. Their eyes are wide. Their mouths are slack-jawed. Their hearts are pounding in their chests. But Jesus is not done. He tells them that brothers will betray brothers and children will rebel against their parents, resulting in the death of their parents. All as a result of their relationship with Jesus. On top of that, every nation will hate the disciples because of their belief in Jesus. He talks of persecution. He mentions those who will want to kill their bodies. Then Jesus tells them that those who choose to deny Him on earth, He will deny before His Father in heaven. Finally, Jesus wraps it all up with the statement that we have all grown so familiar with that it doesn’t have much impact on us anymore. But it had to have hit the disciples like a bag of bricks that day. Jesus tells them, “If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it” (Matthew 10:38-39 NLT). Remember, the cross is not on their radar screen at this point. They are thinking kingdom, not crucifixion. They are thinking glory, not Golgotha. They are dreaming of Jesus as a king with a crown, not dying like a criminal on a cruel Roman cross. So when they hear Jesus tell them that they are to take up their own cross and follow Him, it had to have sent ripples of confusion and fear through their hearts. When Jesus finished, it had to have been extremely difficult for them to take that first step on their new assignment. They had to have been expecting any and all of what Jesus had said to happen at any moment. They were probably thinking arrests and floggings awaited them around every corner. Sure, Jesus had told them to see all of this as an “opportunity” to tell the rulers and unbelievers about Him. He had told them they would receive just the right words to say at just the right time – straight from God Himself. He had told them not to fear because God valued them greatly. But their hearts had to be filled with fear as they walked away from Jesus that day and entered into the unknown.

But what do we know? We know that Jesus was telling them about future events. All that He said would eventually happen, but it would only be after He had died and been raised again. These events would take place after Jesus returned to heaven and the Holy Spirit had come to permanently indwell His followers. What the disciples would experience in the days immediately following this “pep talk” from Jesus would leave them excited, pumped and relieved that none of the negative things Jesus had warned them about had happened. They would cast out demons and heal the sick. They would display incredible power and become celebrities in their own rights. But Jesus is trying to tell them that the real test will come when He is gone. The real battle will begin when He leaves and the Holy Spirit comes. The real work will begin when He has returned to His place at the right hand of His Father in heaven. We know the rest of the story. They didn’t. But even though we know how the story ends, we still have a hard time reading this passage and understanding that much of it applies to us as well. He expects us to take up our cross daily as well. He demands us to stop clinging to our lives as we want them to be and give up our lives for Him. We are to acknowledge Him publicly here in earth. We are to tell “rulers and other unbelievers” about Him. We are to fear God only, and not men. We are to rely on the Holy Spirit to give us the words to say. We are to be shrewd and snakes and harmless as doves, knowing that we are like sheep among wolves, living in a hostile environment, where every nation hates us because of our relationship with Jesus Christ. When the disciples heard this news from Jesus, they went out. Fearful, but faithful. We have heard the same message. But what has our response been? Do we even think it applies to us. “So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God” (Mark 6:12 NLT). What will you do?

Father, I still struggle with taking up my cross daily and following You, and I know how the story ends. I want to cling to my life and live it on my own terms. I want to live in safety, easy, and comfort. I don’t want to be hated, disliked, persecuted, or despised for my faith. I tend to fear men more than I fear You. I doubt Your power even though I know I have it available to me 24/7 in the form of the Holy Spirit. I know what the disciples ended up doing. I am fully aware that they experienced all the things Jesus warned them about, and yet they remained faithful. I want to do the same. Give me the strength to go out and tell, in spite of my fears. Strengthen my faith Father. Amen.

Ken Miller

Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org