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A Word to Husbands from God’s Word

I’ve been married for 35 years. Over those years we have had many struggles, arguments, victories and failures. We have had to work hard on communication, make sacrifices for each other and practice forgiveness. Marriage can be challenging but so rewarding.

My last post was for wives and it dealt with the first part of this passage of Scripture in Ephesians chapter 5. This next section starting in verse 25 is talking to Christian husbands.

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.[a] 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”

Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church.

It seems like a simple command: “Husbands love your wives.” But if you’ve been married for more than five minutes, you realize that it’s a bit harder than it sounds.

The command for the Christian husband to love his wife is not contingent on her fulfilling any particular roles. In other words, it’s to love her even if she is not acting lovely. 

More to the point, it’s an ongoing, everyday type of love. It’s not a love only reserved for wedding days, anniversaries, or Valentine’s Day. This everyday love characterizes the attitude of the Christian husband to his wife.

Furthermore, it has a pattern to follow. The Christian husband reflects Jesus’s love for his church and the unity or oneness found in this relationship. 

The Bible points husbands to the supreme example, Jesus, as the one who is both the model and also the motivation for loving their wives. So being a Christian husband means becoming more like Christ. Making that your top priority in life.

In light of how Jesus loves his church, how then are Christian husbands to love their wives?

Here are ways in which a husband can love his wife like Jesus.

(1) A Sacrificial Love

We start here with the most obvious. The husband’s love for his wife is to be sacrificial, because Jesus’s love for us was sacrificial. Jesus died for his bride, and so the husband must be willing to do the same. 

Many husbands would say they would die for their wives, But the essence of the sacrifice could be pressed home further. Would you live sacrificially for his wife? Will you die to yourself and your self-interest to put your wife first?

Loving her sacrificially means a willingness to give up some things in order to make her more important. Are you willing to sacrifice making more money? Having less man toys? Going hunting or fishing less often? Staying home more? Doing what she wants to do? Taking time to talk to her, listen to her?

(2) A Serving Love

Jesus served the church. This love wore an apron. He served his bride, the church, with his life and death. We read in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Likewise, the husband, the leader, is to serve his wife. He is to, like Jesus, be willing to set aside his interests when presented with the opportunity to serve his wife. Think about it. We could never conceive of Jesus being too busy to hear from us in prayer. He is not distracted. He is not uninterested. No, he loves us and continues to listen and help us. He is always doing us good. 

Jesus is not too busy checking his phone, or scrolling through social media when we are trying to talk to him. He is not drifting off thinking about hobbies or work when we are pouring our hearts out to him in prayer.

He is not daydreaming when we are laying bare our weaknesses before him. No, he is present, faithful, caring, and serving. As husbands we are to likewise with our wives.

He is attentive and sympathetic. The danger for marriages is not that the husband would love another woman more than his wife; it’s that he would love himself more than his wife.

(3) A Faithful Love

Jesus is faithful to his church, his bride. Likewise, the husband, if reflecting Jesus, must be faithful to his wife. We read in verse 31, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

This one-flesh union is a life of commitment and faithfulness. It means she comes before your family, or her family or even your kids. You are committed to her through sickness and health, rich or poor, better or worse.

In Paul’s time, just as in our own, people changed partners without a second thought. The Christian marriage, and the love the husband offers his wife, is to be a committed and faithful love. 

(4) An Understanding Love

Jesus knows us and understands us. He knows what makes us tick. He knows our weaknesses. Peter reminds husbands in 1 Peter 3:7 to “live with your wives in an understanding way showing honor” (to her). 

This word “understanding” refers to knowledgable love. The husband should be well-acquainted with his wife. He should be working hard to know and understand her. The husband must be forever studying and learning about his wife. 

I’m a lifetime student at the University of Vikki my wife. I’ll never graduate or get a diploma; I’m a lifetime learner. I’m always trying to learn how to best love and serve her. Become curious about what makes your wife happy, what she loves, what she struggles with, what her fears are and how she likes to communicate.

(5) A Caring Love 

Paul writes, “In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.” 

The husband’s love for his wife should reflect his care for his own body. 

Paul offers two keywords to describe this: nourish and cherish. A husband cares for his wife by nourishing her heart, much like a gardener nourishes his plants. Do you even know what nourishes her heart? If not start paying attention, ask her questions that can help answer that question.

This requires you to pay attention to her, to talk with her, to know what her hopes and fears are, what dreams she has for the future, where she feels vulnerable or ugly, and what makes her anxious or gives her joy.  A husband cherishes his wife in the way he spends time with her and speaks about her, so that she feels safe and loved in his presence. 

Richard Phillips in his commentary on this passage of Scripture in Ephesians says “In my experience, a husband’s caring love is one of the greatest needs in most marriages. [A] wife’s heart is dried up by a husband who pays her little attention, takes no interest in her emotional life, and does not connect with her heart.”

You connect with her heart by opening up your own heart to her. When you open up and talk about the struggles, the hurts, the dreams you have she feels closer to you. Then listening to her and asking her to share her heart.

Another way this happens is by praying together and sharing prayer requests with each other.

(6) A Sanctifying Love

You’ll notice that much of what Paul refers to here involves Jesus’s care for us spiritually. I don’t think this means that the husband is the only one responsible for seeing his wife grow in godliness.

But, The husband is given the privilege and charge to see his wife grow in godliness. There are other means God has provided like the local church, but it is the husband’s responsibility to ensure that it happens in his home. He is to be concerned with his wife’s spiritual growth. He is to share Jesus’s burden for his wife’s holiness. 

He directs his love toward her godliness. This love then will show itself in your conversations, in family devotions, in prayer, in church attendance, in church participation, in serving, and the overall tone of the home. 

Christian husbands can excel in many areas of love but drop the ball at this point and, as a result, not fulfill their charge from the Lord. 

Husbands, are you taking the lead in pointing your family, and especially your wife, to the Word of God and the God of the Word?

Most men struggle with this, and a big reason why, is that they don’t think they know enough or are mature enough in their faith. Let me just say here that one of the best ways that you can love your wife is by loving Jesus, by taking that relationship seriously and making it a priority. As you grow, so does your family.

(7) A Leading Love

Jesus left us a pattern to follow. If we want to be Christlike, then we must reflect his leadership:

And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45)

The Christian husband’s love for his wife is not to look like a Roman occupation. It’s not a page out of the popular business handbook. It’s not about self-fulfillment but self-sacrifice.

Practically speaking, this means that husbands and wives are not allowed to delay obeying God’s commands until their spouses fulfill their God-given roles perfectly. No, both the husband and the wife each individually have to choose to follow and obey Jesus’ ways.

(8) An Enduring Love

Jesus doesn’t quit on his bride. Isn’t that good news? Too many Christian marriages tap out when things get hard. We mustn’t do this. We are to stay on the field and work it out, continuing to press on and go to the end. Jesus motivates us to endure amid and through hardship.

If you are in a difficult time in your marriage don’t give up. Do what you can, and let God have what you can’t control.

Get help, counseling, a mentor, trusted christians to pray with you. Now I also know that this does not always work. Sometimes marriages come to an end. It takes two people to truly reconcile and if one chooses not to do that, you sometimes have to have an ending.

However even after an ending there can still be room for forgiveness and reconciliation. That’s why it’s so important to take care of yourself after this. Have good boundaries in place and surround yourself with godly people that will love and support you.

Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church.

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A Word to Wives from God’s Word

The Apostle Paul writes about marriage here in the letter to the Ephesian church. Paul knows that we need constant reminders on how to follow Jesus, and how to treat each other, especially in the marriage relationship.

Paul is reminding the Ephesians and us today that our marriages should be different from the world. Let’s take a look at some keywords that Paul uses when it comes to wives and marriage. In my next post I will share what husbands are to do.

Ephesians 5: 22-33 ESV 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

  1. Wives submit to your husbands.

This word submission does not sit well with most people these days.

The meaning of this word comes from a military word meaning to arrange under or to be under and to lift up and support.

Submission is a big part of being a follower of Jesus, we submit to Jesus, we come under his leadership and serve Him, both men and women.

Paul is saying to wives to have this same mindset when it comes to your husband.

  • Submission Does not mean that a wife is unequal – Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 

We are all equal in value, significance, acceptance under God.

  • Submission Does not mean a wife must always agree with her husband – Acts 5:29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

There will be many times you will not agree. It’s clear you should obey God rather than your husband if he is asking you to do something against God’s word. 

Just be cautious how you disagree and push back. You can disagree and still show respect. You can set boundaries and still love.

  • Submission Does not mean a wife has no influence over her husband. 1 Peter 3:1 “Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives”

Wives, you can have a huge influence in your husband’s life by how you live your life. If he is a non believer your submission to him and respect for him will have spiritual influence in his life.

  • Submission Does not mean a wife should ever live in fear of her husband. 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

What does it mean to submit to your husbands?

“Submission is the divine calling of a wife to honor and affirm her husband’s leadership and help carry it through according to her gifts.” John Piper

It’s the disposition to follow a husband’s authority and an inclination to yield to his leadership. It is an attitude that says, ‘I delight for you to take the initiative in our family. I am glad when you take responsibility for things and lead with love.

This also means that there may be times where you do have to lead the family when he is not around, or he is struggling, sick. You are a team and work together in all things.

The first part of that definition is to honor and affirm. Another word I like here and that Paul uses at the end of this section on marriage is respect.

There are many ways to honor and affirm your husband. To show him respect. Believe it or not most men would much rather be respected than loved. 

But how do you actively respect your husband?

  1. Watch what you say.

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. – Colossians 4:6

A wife’s words of affirmation have more weight and power than anyone else in their world. Especially when you are around other people. You should always speak kindly and positively about your husband to others. 

If you are having problems at home be careful who you share that with. It needs to be trusted Christian friends, a counselor, pastor or mentor. It needs to be in the right setting.

Wives, you need to watch the words you say to and about your husbands. Think before you speak. Your words need to edify him and build him up. For most men your positive encouraging words are fuel for their souls.

He wants you to be proud of him, believe in him, trust him. He wants to know you are in his corner and have his back, because he will do that for you.

  1. Let him know when he has done something well.

Your husband needs to hear when he has done something well. He needs to know that you notice him and the steps he’s taking. Most wives are very good at seeing when he doesn’t do something right. It’s OK to point that out if done in the right way. But not if you are not also cheering him on and thanking him when he does something well. Even multiple times.

The point is don’t always be negative. That will shut him down and cause him to withdraw almost every time. Try to say more positive things than negative things.

3. Recognize that he isn’t perfect.

There may be times that you don’t agree with a decision or direction…and there will be times that you were right. Don’t rub this in his face. Choose grace and humility. 

Respect means calling him to step up to his potential

This doesn’t mean being your husband’s Holy Spirit, but it does mean encouraging him to step up into the man that God has called him to be. Respect means caring enough to have difficult conversations that call him to draw closer to Christ. It means believing in who he is and who he can become.

Again don’t criticize but encourage. If you are critical of his leadership it will push him further away and he will just start deferring to you.

This is where understanding his giftings, talents and abilities is important and how your gifts, talents and abilities can compliment him and help him. 

Talk as a couple about what you are good at and not good at. That can help define who does what in the household. Finances, Cleaning, Cooking, Yardwork, 

That also means that he is not the perfect hallmark husband and never will be. Give him a break, give him grace. Believe the best about him and trust him. 

When he does something that hurts you, pray before you confront. Get in the right frame of mind and try not to let your emotions lead, but lead with submission and respect. Most men appreciate when you are direct and clear with what the problem is, but not when you are emotional or out of control.

Men can’t read your mind, so help him out. Not just hinting, but clearly say what the problem is or what happened that hurt you.

4. Watch your non-verbal language.

Did you know that non-verbal language makes up about 93% of our communication? Our tone of voice and body language are huge indicators of our respect level. Do you roll your eyes? Do you cross your arms? Do you look away when he is trying to talk with you?

This is one we have to constantly work on and need to keep reminding ourselves of. It’s hard to get right, but it’s so important that we do.

5. Seek to understand.

Don’t assume the worst. Assume the best and seek to understand his heart. Rather than seeking to be understood, you need to truly hear where he is coming from. It’s often a much better spot than you think.

Ask clarifying questions, don’t drill him with questions and make sure it’s not accusations. That will shut him down. Ask questions that will give him a chance to explain what happened or what he meant. 

This may be difficult, but ask a question and wait. You may even need to give him time to get back with you if he’s not in the right frame of mind. Giving permission for that can help him take time to answer right.

6. Be trustworthy.

While this needs to be in all areas, one example is in finances. Some wives that I have talked to hide purchases and packages from their husbands. This is dangerous. How can your husband feel respected (or even trust you) if you are deceptive in this (or any) area? When this happens, trust begins to erode. 

Men, if this happens it might mean that she is afraid of you and that’s a problem. Openly discuss your finances so there are no secrets and she knows where you are with the finances. 

As I said before, most men like when you are direct and to the point. Being trustworthy means you are not hiding things from each other. That you can talk about anything. If that is not your relationship, you can start to build trust slowly by being truthful in the little things. Admitting when you make a mistake, before being caught. Doing what you say you will do. 

When you show a man respect, he will trust you more.

7. Pray for your husband.

Pray for his heart and for his mind. Pray that God would protect him and cultivate a man who loves the Lord and is obedient to Him. Pray for his work and the place that he works, pray for him to have godly wisdom as he leads at work and home, pray for God to protect him from temptations and give him courage to follow Jesus everywhere he goes.

If he is not a believer, pray for his salvation. If he is a believer, pray for his relationship with Jesus to grow, for God to bring other godly men into his life, for God to speak to his heart.

God is the only one who can transform our hearts and we need to trust that God is in control. 

8. Have a gentle spirit.

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 1 Peter 3:3-4

Cloak yourselves with gentleness, grace, and humility. This is what will speak to your husband’s heart. “Gentle spirit” doesn’t mean being weak, but it does mean a spirit filled with humility and love.

Pray that you would be able to show respect, even when it’s difficult.

There will be times where showing respect isn’t easy. In these times you need to make sure that you are walking hand in hand with the Holy Spirit, having him guide your tongue, your thoughts, your actions, and your heart.

Just like with love, respect is a verb. It’s an active choice.

Wives, you have the ability to build your husbands up or tear them down. When you choose respect, you set a gracious tone to your home and your marriage.

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Five Vital Qualities of a Spiritual Leader

Leadership matters, whether it is in the workplace, the home, at school, in government, in sports, nonprofits or churches. It matters, it makes a difference either good or bad. There are many styles of leadership, and many different kinds of leaders. As a Christian, I see leadership from that perspective. I’ve learned from many leaders over the years, but Jesus Christ continues to be the best example I can find.

No leader is perfect like Jesus was. We will fall short of that, but we can get better and become more like him as we grow. Leaders are learners, but the great leaders also put into practice what they are learning. Often times as leaders we make mistakes and fail, and those are the moments, and times that we learn and grow the most.

The Bible emphasizes strong healthy leadership. Jesus, Paul and other disciples of Jesus taught about the right way to lead and the qualities of a strong healthy leader. These five qualities continue to rise to the top for me. These qualities are ones that I believe a strong, healthy spiritual leader should exhibit and embrace.

  1. Love – I started with love because this is the root and motivation for a spiritual leader. To have a deep love for God and other people is our calling. When you lead with love it changes how you approach people, problems and opportunities. Love drives you to serve the people you are leading. To care for them, and listen to them. Love for God helps a leader have a much bigger perspective on life, the world around us, and the people around us. Love for God transforms our hearts and minds, and keeps us centered and focused on the right things. As we grow in love, we grow in leadership.
  2. Integrity – For me integrity encompasses a lot. It’s being a person that walks the talk. To be a leader with integrity means that you are honest and trustworthy. Paul uses the word blameless, and above reproach in the Bible. A leader with integrity is willing to make difficult decisions, and do what is best for the people and organization and not just himself or herself. A person of integrity does what is right and good even when no one is watching. It’s the mindset of working for God and not man.
  3. Humility – This is also vital to be a strong healthy spiritual leader. Humility is having a right view of yourself, understanding your weaknesses and flaws, but also understanding and embracing your strengths and talents. It’s a selflessness kind of attitude, where you are thinking more about other people than yourself. It’s battling against pride, power and control. Humility is always looking for the best ideas and the best ways to do things, not just the way you think it should be done. It’s the ability to quickly admit when you are wrong, and move to make things right when you make a mistake. Leaders with humility have a strong sense of their true identity in Christ, and can lead from that identity with humility.
  4. Generosity – A generous leader wants to bless other people. Being generous with your time, your talent and your treasure. Strong healthy spiritual leaders are not afraid to share their knowledge and skills to help others. They love to see other people thrive and do well, and help those that are struggling to turn things around. It’s an attitude of giving without expecting anything in return. This also means being a good steward of everything God has entrusted to you. It’s the mindset of God being the owner and we are the manager.
  5. Boldness – This last quality might seem a bit unusual for a list like this. I think it’s important to be bold, because Jesus was bold. He was not afraid to speak the truth, but he always did it with love. He was passionate about what he believed, and cared deeply that others heard the truth. Being bold for a cause means a leader is willing to make sacrifices in order to get there. Being bold means the willingness to take risks, get out of your comfort zone and make hard decisions. Boldness comes from a mindset that because of my identity in Christ I can have courage to be bold for Christ.

I hope these qualities are evident in your leadership. I encourage you to rate yourself on all five. Is that a strength or an area to grow? For me I try to think about ways that I can grow in each of these qualities. What can I do to love better, be a man of integrity, stay humble, be more generous and lead with boldness?

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Generosity and Discipleship

As we grow in our relationship with God one of the things that should grow in us, is generosity.

Generosity is a willingness to give, share, or contribute freely without expecting anything in return. It involves acts of kindness, compassion, and selflessness directed towards others. 

Generosity goes beyond material possessions and can include giving one’s time, attention, support, or even emotional understanding. 

Being generous is not solely about the quantity or value of what is given but rather about the spirit and intention behind the giving.

The genius of generosity is in the way God created it to work. Acts 20:35 sums it up in this simple but powerful phrase, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” 

God designed generosity to bring joy, fulfillment, and a sense of purpose to both the giver and the recipient. 

However, because God wants us to be generous, He made giving more rewarding than receiving.

The best model of generosity is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who embodied the essence of generosity during His time here on earth. 

His life and teachings provide an extraordinary model of selflessness, compassion, and sacrificial giving. Through His actions and words, Jesus demonstrated the depth of God’s love and the transformative power of true generosity.

How Jesus modeled generosity

  • Compassion for the Needy: Jesus displayed immense compassion for the marginalized and suffering throughout His ministry. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and embraced the outcasts, showing that generosity extends to meeting both physical and spiritual needs. 

Let’s be compassionate to the needy like Jesus

  • Forgiveness and Grace: Jesus exemplified radical generosity by extending forgiveness and grace to those who didn’t deserve it, including sinners and even His own executioners. 

Lets forgive and extend grace like Jesus

  • Sharing Spiritual Truths: Jesus freely shared His wisdom, teachings, and spiritual insights with His disciples and the crowds. His generosity in sharing divine truths continues to bless and guide believers today.

Let’s share the truth of the Gospel like Jesus.

  • Teaching on Giving: Jesus taught about the importance of generosity and selfless giving. He commended the widow who gave her meager offering, emphasizing that true generosity is measured by the heart’s willingness to sacrifice. He also encouraged His disciples to give to those in need without seeking recognition or reward.

Let’s give like Jesus taught us to give.

  • The Gift of Salvation: Jesus’ ultimate act of generosity was offering Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. By willingly laying down His life on the cross, Jesus provided the greatest gift of all—salvation and eternal life—for anyone who believes in Him.

Let’s live our lives for Jesus and show his love and generosity to others.

Since Jesus is the perfect model, we should be doing what he did. By imitating Jesus’ model of generosity, we can reflect His character and bring His transformative love to a world in need. 

No, we aren’t Jesus, and we’re not always going to get it right all the time, but by aspiring to live generously by His example, we can make a difference in those around us and the world.

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5 Benefits of Volunteering

With most of us leading super busy lives, the idea of volunteering – giving your time and energy to a cause without financial reward – may seem an impossible task. I mean, how can we fit anything else into our already jam-packed schedules? However, volunteering is important for many reasons and doesn’t have to take up too much time. And, in fact, the benefits of volunteering are vast for the volunteer – not just the church, community, individual or organization receiving their assistance.

It was surprising to me to find out that only about 25% of people in America volunteer on a regular basis. For many people the idea of adding one more thing can be overwhelming, but the value it can add to our world and to your own wellbeing is immense.

Jesus said that he did not come to be served but to serve others. Volunteering is important as it offers essential help to worthwhile causes, people in need, and the wider community. It’s a way that we can follow the example of Jesus, and add value to the world around us.

So, what are the benefits of volunteering?

  1. Volunteering helps to give you a sense of purpose. There are many good causes in this world. I am a Christian so volunteering for organizations that have this same belief is important to me. If you are a believer, your local church is a great place to volunteer, because you can help them make a difference in peoples lives by joining what they are doing. There are many faith based organizations that are doing amazing work. When you serve it brings a sense of meaning and purpose, knowing that you are helping to make a positive impact in the lives of other people.
  2. Volunteering is important for physical and mental health. Interestingly, volunteering has distinct health benefits that can boost your mental and – perhaps more surprisingly – physical health. Indeed, a growing body of evidence suggests that people who give their time to others might benefit from lower blood pressure and a longer lifespan. A research study project from Carnegie Mellon University found that adults over 50 who volunteered regularly were less likely to develop high blood pressure (hypertension) compare to non-volunteers. Hypertension is an important indicator of health as it contributes to stroke, heart disease and premature death. Volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others and helps you develop a solid support system, which in turn combats against feelings of loneliness and depression. Human beings are hard-wired to give to others, and by measuring so-called brain activity and happiness hormones, researchers have found that being helpful to others can deliver great pleasure. 
  3. Volunteering connects you with others. If you’re feeling lonely, isolated, or simply want to widen your social circle, volunteering in your local community is an important – and often fun – way to meet new people. In fact, one of the best ways to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships is to commit to a shared activity together, and volunteering lets you do just that. Furthermore, it connects you to people who have common interests and passions and who could go on to become great friends. 
  4. Volunteering allows you to use your gifts and abilities for others. We all have gifts, abilities and talent that God has given us. Using that to help others is so rewarding. It feeds back into that idea of purpose. We are here for a reason, and a big part of that reason is to love and serve other people.
  5. Volunteering helps you forget your own problems. One other benefit of volunteering is that focusing on others can give us a deeper sense of perspective and help distract us from negative thoughts and help stop rumination (focused negative thinking). Volunteering often involves helping those in need and can be useful in showing us that, in fact, our own lives are not as bad as we thought they were. It also reminds us that we are not alone in this world and that all of us can make a difference by simply choosing to volunteer.

Next week I’m leaving to go love and serve with Eight Days Of Hope in Buffalo NY. This is the fifth year of serving in that city. Every year 8DOH goes to a new district within the city and does home repairs on 100 homes. New roofs, porches, windows and doors, painting the exterior, landscaping or small household repairs. They also will revitalize a park or school that is part of that community. This year I’m going with a team of 7 people from my church. We will serve alongside 1,600 other people from all over the country. We will not only work on homes, but we will pray with the homeowners and neighbors. We will share the good news about Jesus with people we come into contact with. We will bring hope and help to an entire community, and we will make new friends and connect with old friends.

I hope you will consider volunteering somewhere on a regular basis. When you make time for that it’s so rewarding, and it helps you to grow, stretch and even get healthier. Take the step of volunteering today.

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Six Characteristics of a Servant Leader

When it comes to leadership, a lot has been written and said. Our world needs more leaders. Not just leaders but servant leaders. People that are willing to give themselves to an important cause. People that are willing to sacrifice and make this world a better place. Leaders that see their role as serving, building up and developing the team around them. Leaders with a different mindset, one focused more on others, rather than on self.

Of course every successful leader has to have a vision of where they are going or what they are trying to accomplish, but how they lead that vision can vary widely.

Servant leadership is characterized by a belief that leadership development is an on-going, life-long learning process. Having a growth mindset of continuous development of self and others. Once a servant leader has a vision or embraces a vision, they can pursue that vision in many ways. Building a team is a huge part of the success of any organization, and then how to develop that team to accomplish the vision.

So what do I mean by servant leader? There are many characteristics that I have observed in great servant leaders over the years. No leader is perfect, and all leaders have areas of strength and weakness. Every leader also has a voice and a style they use in leading the people around them. Here are a six characteristics that I think are vital to be an effective servant leader.

  1. Calling – Do people believe that you are willing to sacrifice self- interest for the good of the group? Servant leaders have a natural desire to serve others. This notion of having a calling to serve is deeply rooted and value-based. Servant leaders have a desire to make a difference for other people and will pursue opportunities to impact others’ lives — never for their own gain. A servant leader is willing to sacrifice self-interests for the sake of others. This characteristic cannot be taught, so unless a person has a natural calling to serve, servant leadership is not a realistic or compatible style.
  2. Growth – Do people believe that you are committed to helping them develop and grow? Servant leaders have a strong commitment to the growth of people. They believe that all people have something to offer beyond their tangible contributions. Servant leaders work hard to help people in a number of ways — spiritually, professionally, personally. Those who want to be great servant leaders need to connect to others’ developmental needs and actively find ways to meet these needs.
  3. Stewardship – Do others believe you are preparing the organization to make a positive difference in the world? Servant leaders often are characterized by a strong sense of stewardship. Stewardship stems from medieval times when a steward would be assigned to hone the skills and development of the young prince to prepare him for his reign. The kingdom relied on the steward to teach and hold the prince in trust so that he would be a successful king. Today the term stewardship involves many of the same things. A steward in an organization is responsible for preparing it for its destiny, usually for the betterment of society. When we describe a leader as having a strong sense of stewardship, we refer to a desire to prepare the organization to contribute to the greater good of society — not unlike preparing the prince to serve the greater good of the kingdom. Making a positive difference in the future is characteristic of the stewardship mentality. Those who desire to be excellent servant leaders need to have a natural sense of stewardship. If you don’t naturally have a stewardship perspective, it is unlikely that the servant leadership style will come naturally to you.
  4. Empathy – Do people believe that you will understand what is happening in their lives and how it affects them? Servant leaders can “walk in others’ shoes.” They understand and empathize with others’ circumstances and problems. Leaders who are empathetic have earned confidence from others by understanding whatever situation is being faced. This characteristic is a skill that comes more naturally to some people than others, but it is pertinent for all who aspire to be a servant leader.
  5. Listening – Do people believe that you want to hear their ideas and will value them? Servant leaders are excellent listeners. They are receptive and genuinely interested in the views and input of others. People instinctively understand that servant leaders want them to share their ideas and that these ideas will be valued. Listening is a skill that can be learned and is essential for those who desire to be a servant leader. Without good listening skills, many of the other characteristics cannot be achieved.
  6. Healing – Do people come to you when the chips are down or when something traumatic has happened in their lives? Servant leaders are people who others want to approach when something traumatic has happened. They have developed a remarkable appreciation for the emotional health and spirit of others. They are good at facilitating the healing process and others gravitate toward them when emotional needs arise. The ability to create an environment that encourages emotional mending is crucial for those who want to become great servant leaders.
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Navigating Life’s Storms

Every human being faces heartache, trouble, difficulty. Life Storms so to speak. All of us have either been in a storm, are in a storm or are headed into a storm.

Look at Job 5:7 “Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.”

Jesus said it this way In Matthew 5:45 “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

Though everyone experiences trouble, we as believers have a very unique kind of trouble. If you are following Jesus, you have an enemy who passionately hates Jesus, therefore you as well.

Three Biblical Principles about Storms

  1. Storms change our comfort.

Acts 27:13-15 NIV When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 14 Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. 15 The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along.”

Storms change our comfort, that’s why we hate them and fear them. We like things just the way they are. Most people love their comfort zone.

But storms always take us out of our comfort zone. Storms bring difficulty, conflict, danger, headwind, it can slow us down and change our direction.

Even though Paul was in the will of God there was still difficulty, danger and a strong headwind.

This is definitely a dangerous, difficult situation that Paul is in but it was needed. Sometimes you and I need to get our comfort challenged.

A physical example is if you don’t exercise and move much you get flabbier and weaker. You might be comfortable but if you don’t add some resistance to challenge your muscles your body changes for the worse.

Sometimes we call this getting into a rut – It can be Physically, Mentally or Spiritually.

When we move and exercise and eat right we feel better, have more energy and are stronger. When you read books and listen to podcasts and messages you exercise your brain, you learn and stretch your thinking and expand your knowledge.

When you exercise spiritually like Praying, reading and studying God’s Word, using your spiritual gifts, listening to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. You grow and deepen your faith.

A rut is when we are used to the things being a certain way and when a storm or a person comes along and disrupts that, when it changes our comfort we freak out.

But could it be that God has something so much better than what you’re experiencing right now? That may be why the storm is coming.

  1. Storms also change your Values.

 Acts 27:16-20 NIV 

“As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure, 17 so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor[b] and let the ship be driven along. 18 We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19 On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.”

Here we see them preparing the ship for this storm, battening down the hatches so to speak. Because of the storm they didn’t know exactly where they were at, or where they were heading. Storms can disorient us and send us on a wild ride.

Fear began to grip them and fear causes us to not think clearly and make quick or rash decisions.

Here they can’t run and hide from the storm so they try to face it but it’s too powerful, they start throwing everything they can overboard to lighten the load.

Their values and priorities changed. All the things on board were less important than surviving. They threw everything they could overboard.

In a storm we should toss out what won’t help us survive. When a storm hits you hard suddenly that paycheck is not as important as you thought it was. 

In a storm we suddenly realize what’s really most important in our lives, and its not stuff, it’s not money and possession, it’s people and our relationship with God.

Granger Smith Story – Country Music Superstar – in 2019 his son River drowned in the family pool. Plunging them into a deep storm. During this storm Granger and his wife Amber find redemption and purpose, they battle through the tragic loss and turn to God – to Jesus for Faith, Hope and Peace.

Granger left his career in Country music and has dedicated the rest of his life to sharing his story and the good news of Jesus Christ in transforming our lives.

Proverbs 11:4 “Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.”

  1. Storms will bring out the best in you or they will bring out the worst in you.

Acts 27:21-25 NIV

“After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”

Paul tells them here I told you so, not to rub it in, but to urge them to listen to him this time. Paul was taking charge, going from a prisoner on the ship to in essence the captain of the ship.

A good point to make here is that we should all listen to wise godly counsel.

In times of storms we need strong christian leaders to lead. When there is a difficulty and everyone is burned out, paralyzed by fear or panicking a leader arises.

The storm brought out the best in Paul. He shares that the Lord had appeared to him through a messenger and he shares what was told to him.

The metal of a man or a woman is tested in difficulty. If you want to find out who a person is, listen to them, watch them observe them in a trial or difficult time. That’s when a person’s true character is revealed.

Why was Paul able to stay so calm and lead so confidently in the midst of this devastating storm?

Three Anchors that help us through the storms:

  1. The Anchor of our Identity.

“Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong”

Do you belong to Him? Have you given your life to Jesus Christ? If you do belong to God then you have a new identity, you are a child of God, fully adopted into HIs family with full benefits of being a son or daughter of the most high God.

That identity of being in Christ gives you a completely different perspective in trials, difficulties and danger.

If we belong to the Lord God, then we are His responsibility. 

  1. The Anchor of our Service.  Another word we could put there is Worship.

“and whom I serve stood beside me”

Paul is on a mission from God. He knows who he belongs to and he knows why he is still alive. His life is about serving God, Worshiping God with his whole life. Everything Paul did went through the filter of serving and worshiping God.

Paul believed, and we should as well that if we are on my mission from God that he will protect you until you are done with that mission. Paul knew God was calling him to Rome and that he would get there.

Only God knows when our time is up. So keep serving Him, Keep Worshiping Him until that day comes.

  1. The Anchor of our Faith. Or Trust.

“So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me”

Paul trusted God’s Word – Do you completely trust God’s Word?

Our Faith in God is a strong anchor in a time of trouble. God is a promise keeper and we can hold onto the many promises he gives us in His Word.

Abraham Lincoln – President during the most terrible time in our country the Civil War. Bible on his Desk. After he died they looked through and they noticed under one of the Psalms a smudge mark that looked like a place he would have put his finger to read the Psalm.

Psalm 34:4 “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”

That’s a great Word from God for a leader during a difficult, painful, dangerous time.

The enemy also has some anchors he wants to use to weigh us down: Lies, Doubt, Fear. So understand and embrace your true identity, Serve and worship the Lord daily and Trust God completely.

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Four Things God Does to Encourage us

If you are like me it’s so easy to become discouraged and disappointed when things don’t go as you had planned. Life can be difficult and painful at times and most people become weary and tired as well.

In the book of Acts Paul faced many challenges, disappointments, rejections and dangerous situations on his missionary journey’s that started the early church and Christian movement. I’m sure he was weary, tired and discouraged. There are some consistent things that God did to encourage and help Paul for his mission and journey.

God does these same things in our lives. The key is being aware and acknowledging these things when they happen. I don’t believe things just happen by chance, God is always at work in our lives if we pay attention.

  1. God sends helpers and encouragers. God always works through people. People that are obedient to His ways and looking for ways to love and serve those around them. When you are discouraged, feeling alone or struggling with issues of life. Pray and ask God to bring the right people into your life. It’s in times like this that God sends people to encourage us and help us. 

Remember, we also have an enemy that does not want that to happen and will try to get you to isolate yourself even more and to avoid people. Battle against that. As you connect with God he will give you the discernment to know who is from Him and who is not from Him. That’s important because some people are not good for our faith and walk with God. Some people will give counsel that does not line up with Scripture and can deceive us. That is why we must be in God’s Word ourselves and work on the most important relationship in your life and that is the relationship with Jesus Christ.

The big question is who are those people that God has brought into your life to be an encourager, helper or mentor. But even more than that, who are you doing that for. Who are you encouraging, helping or mentoring?

2. God does the unexpected. So many times in Scripture and in our own lives God does something unexpected or miraculous. It’s usually at the most unexpected times as well. It’s those only God moments, where you can’t explain it other than only God.

For Paul there are so many times that God does the miraculous. Whether it’s a person believing that he does not think will, or God healing someone or delivering someone from evil. When we are down and discouraged look for God to do the unexpected to bring us encouragement.

3. God spoke to him directly.

In Acts 18:9-10 it says this: 9 “One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”

This is what God said to Paul and I believe this applies to us today as well. God uses these words to encourage and help us. Today we have all of the Bible to hear from God. That is the primary way God speaks to us today.

  • God’s Courage – “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.” 

Embrace perseverance: Courage often requires perseverance through trials and difficulties. Endure with faith, knowing that God is refining your character and strengthening your courage. James 1:12 encourages us, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

Pray for courage daily: Bring your fears, anxieties, and concerns to God in prayer. Ask Him to grant you courage to face challenges and to trust in His power. Psalm 31:24 says, “Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!”

Trust that God will equip and empower you for the task. Isaiah 41:10 assures us, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

  • God’s Presence – “For I am with you”

How do we stay aware of God’s presence?

Become more aware of God’s presence by creating space.You cannot become more aware of His presence without quieting your soul. Dallas Willard said, “Hurry is the great enemy of the spiritual life.”  You need time and space to hear God clearly. When we are always on the go, moving from task to task with the earbuds in, email open, television blasting, and social media buzzing, God is left in the background.  Listen to what Jesus did according to Mark 1:35, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Why was it solitary? Simply, he was removing the distractions so that He could focus on God. You and I should do the same at least once a day if not more. And then we need to do it for extended times. It is during these times when we can hear and sense God more clearly.

Become more aware of God’s presence by obeying His Word. A key spiritual principle is that God makes Himself known and reveals His presence to those who choose to obey His word. Jesus explained it this way, “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” (John 14:21)  The word “reveal” means to appear in person! How cool is that? God shows Himself to those who are willing to obey because their obedience reveals their love for Him. In this sense, God is just like you and me. He is drawn to those who love Him.

Become more aware of God’s presence by talking to Him. Paul encouraged all believers in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “…pray without ceasing.” When we turn our inner conversation into a conversation with God, it brings Him into our lives like nothing else can.  You can literally talk to Him about everything that is going on all the time. As you get better and better at this, you begin to hear Him speak back to you. And this, my friends, is what you were created for.

  • God’s Protection – “and no one is going to attack and harm you”

God’s protection is not the absence of trials but the confidence that He is with His people, providing strength, guidance, and shelter in every circumstance.

When it comes to God’s protection:

Pray for Protection: It’s appropriate to pray for God’s protection in specific situations or for loved ones. Philippians 4:6 encourages believers to “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Put on the Armor of God: Ephesians 6:11-13 encourages believers to “put on the whole armor of God” to stand against spiritual forces of evil. This spiritual armor includes truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, and the Word of God.

Stay Connected to the Church: Being part of a Christian community is a way God protects us. We all need the strength of companionship and support in times of adversity. Brothers and sisters in Christ, praying for each other, listening to each other, caring for each other, guiding each other, and even challenging each other.

  • God’s reveals part of His Plan – “because I have many people in this city.”

Why is God reminding him to not be afraid, keep on speaking, reminding him that God is with him and that he will protect him. It’s because God knows there are a lot of people in this city that will believe in Jesus and be saved. He wants Paul to stay there and deeply invest in the people of this city. 

God is all knowing and His plan needs to be our plan. Our obedience is key in this. That means sometimes doing things that don’t make complete sense to us.

God’s ultimate plan is always for people to believe in Jesus and have eternal life – Salvation. Our part is planting the seeds, watering those seeds that have been planted and being a Christ like example to the people around us.

God reveals His plan to us in small doses. Here He is telling Paul to stay, to invest deeply into these people and develop disciples. 

However, if we are not spending time with God, not praying much, not opening our Bibles, not going to church or in community with other believers it’s very difficult to hear from God and his plan for us.

4. God Guides us to what was next.

That vision from God gave Paul a peace about continuing to stay there and preach the Word. Paul was able to teach, coach and disciple many people because of the people around him, the courage he got from knowing that God was with Him always and that He would be protected on this journey. He also knew that many would come to faith which spurred him on to share about Jesus.

Because Paul was regularly practicing the presence of God and deepening that relationship with God he was guided by God through the Holy Spirit. He could sense when he was released to pursue something else or go to a new place.

Throughout the book of Acts on this journey that Paul is on we see him walking with the Spirit. God’s Spirit guiding Paul to stay or go, speak or be silent, even who to talk to and what to say.

Today we too are guided by the Holy Spirit. When we walk in tune with the Spirit we get the guidance to what is next. We get the courage to take that step and we are often protected along the way.

Ask God to guide you to what is next in your life. It starts with prayer and asking God for help and direction. Then look for the people God will send your way and dig into God’s word to hear directly from him, and of course expect the unexpected.

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The Seven Statements of Jesus on the Cross

John 20:1-10 NIV 

The Empty Tomb

20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

You can sense the level of confusion and the fear as they ran to the tomb. Even though Jesus had told them what would happen they still struggled to believe it actually could. The tomb was empty, he was not there! He has Risen!

This is the most significant time for the Christian Faith. When Jesus comes back from the dead.

Yet I want to take you back to Friday, to the Cross. Without the resurrection we would have all missed what happened on the cross. When Jesus came back and interacted with people after his death and burial he solidified the faith of those early disciples.

On Friday morning around 9am Jesus was nailed to the cross. While he was hanging on the cross He said some very powerful and important things that are recorded for us today.

He made 7 statements – A person’s last words before they die are usually very significant. It’s honest, raw and real. We know these are not His final words before going to heaven, but these are the final words before he died and was resurrected.

As I mentioned this is the most significant time in the history of our world and yet most people did not know it was even happening or what was actually happening.

Even Satan and the demons did not know what was happening. They thought they had won, finally defeating the Son of God. A major victory in this spiritual war.

Jesus was doing His greatest work on earth and He was uttering His greatest words on earth.

I believe this was his greatest sermon, these 7 statements. I wish I had time to unpack deeply every statement. These statements come from all 4 Gospels as none of them have all 7. That is the beauty of the Gospels, each has a slightly different emphasis as they describe the same event.

The first 3 hours He gave 3 statements. All of them were about other people, not about himself.

His first statement, His first words on the cross were “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” He is fully displaying his love and mercy for all people. Emphasizing how important forgiveness is for all of us.

His second statement was to a man who was dying on the cross next to him. “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” By simply believing in Jesus this man was saved.

His third statement was to His mother “Woman, behold your son!” and then to John “Behold, your mother!” Jesus is expressing how important it is to care for our families, to love them to the end and make sure they are provided for.

Then at noon Mathew, Mark & Luke record that there was darkness over the whole land, it went dark, Jesus was silent, Luke also tells us that the curtain in the temple between the Holy of Holies and the rest of the temple was torn in two and Mark tells us it was torn from top to bottom.

This went on for 3 hours, then suddenly, Jesus breaks the silence with His 4th statement:

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Why did Jesus say this?

This comes from prophecy in Psalm 22 and it’s the moment that God turns away from Jesus because the sins of the world have been laid upon him. The agony, the feelings of abandonment, the isolation all came upon Jesus.

That statement got a lot of people’s attention. Some thought he was calling on Elijiah to come and there was this sense of anticipation like something was about to happen. That’s when someone went to get the spong and the sour wine.

These last three statements come one after the other fairly quickly. The 5th statement is simply “I am thirsty”

Look at verse John 19:28-29 “ Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. ”.

So after he cries out to Father God, it says Jesus knows it’s finished but he first says I am thirsty. Why not just say it is finished and give up his spirit.

What does that mean so that Scripture would be fulfilled?

Jesus was thinking about Psalm 69:21 another prophecy about the coming of the Messiah which says “and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.”

So yes, he would have been thirsty, he had gone for a very long time without food or water. He had lost a lot of blood and fluids, but he was also sending us a message that He is the Messiah, He is fulfilling what the old testament said about him. Even in a small detail like that.

Another interesting thing that happened was that they used a Hyssop branch to extend the sour wine to him. Those same hyssop branches would have been used to spread the blood of the lamb on the doorposts and also to sprinkle the blood of sacrifices on the altar happening right at that moment in the temple as they prepared lambs for the passover meals that evening.

Another symbol, to show us that Jesus is the final sacrifice.

So Jesus knew that was the final prophecy to be fulfilled. He knew he had completed the work by taking on the sin of the world and that is why he said the next statement.

“It is Finished”

John 19:30 “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

Think about what Jesus had done on that cross. He went into darkness, he was separated from God “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?” and he experienced a burning thirst. 

To me that sounds a lot like Hell. Darkness, separation from God, burning thirst. Jesus took Hell so that you and I could have Heaven! Jesus Endured Thirst so that you and I could be satisfied for eternity.

On the cross God the Father treated Jesus Christ as if he had committed every sin committed by every person who ever lived.

Look at 2 Corinthians 5:21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

In other words God the Father treated Jesus like you and I deserve to be treated, so that God could then treat you and I like Jesus deserves to be treated.

So when Jesus cries out It is Finished, He wasn’t saying He was finished or done. No, He was saying the work is finished, the sacrifice is finished, the prophecy is finished, the sins of the world are now covered and paid for.

It was a cry of victory, not of defeat. 

Which leads to the final statement Jesus made on the cross. This statement we find in Luke, Again in a loud voice Jesus says “Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit.”

In John it says With that statement “It is FInished” He bows his head – He rests His head and He chooses to commit His spirit to God. At that moment he breathed his last breath.

This lets us know that it was Jesus’ decision to die, not man. He gave His life, it was not taken. He loved us to the end, and with that end came eternal life for all who believe in Him.

So back to today. To Sunday, to the Resurrection! Now that Jesus has come back again all that happened before makes so much more sense. All the things he said came true, all the things from the Old Testament came true.

Jesus fulfilled all that was said about him, Jesus fulfilled all that He said would happen. And Do you know what else Jesus said?

In the last book of the Bible, the last chapter of that Book, three times Jesus tells John the writer of Revelation and us today “Behold, I am coming soon.” The third time he says Surely I am coming soon!

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What Jesus Said

I love good quotes. If you follow me on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn, you will notice that I post a lot of quotes, mostly other peoples quotes, but some of my own.

When I think about the greatest quotes of all time I immediately think about Jesus!

In all of history, no one’s words have had as much of a profound impact as that of Jesus Christ. Most of Jesus’ quotes are found in the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, which record the life, teachings, and actions of Jesus. 

Jesus’s love for humanity is evident in everything He did, said, and revealed to us. 

Jesus stands alone as the only person to have walked this Earth, and was completely sinless. 

His incredible influence has forever altered the course of history. His sacrificial death on a cross, his burial and then his amazing resurrection are what makes Jesus unique, and distinct from any other religions.

No other God became man, lived among us, taught, healed, discipled and challenged a group of followers that would go on and change the world forever.

His actions and words continue to inspire us daily, urging us to embrace our own challenges, confident that He will walk alongside us, drawing us nearer to Him. 

Listen to these quotes by Jesus.

Jesus’ Quotes on Love and Compassion for Others

Matthew 25:40: “‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'”

Luke 6:31: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Matthew 22:37: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.”

John 13:34-35: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”

John 15:13: “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Jesus’ Quotes On Faith

Matthew 6:33: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 19:26: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 6:19-22: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

Jesus Quotes on Forgiveness and Repentance

Luke 5:31-32: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Matthew 18:21-22: “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

Mathew 6:14-15: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Luke 15:7: “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

Matthew 7:1: “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.”

Jesus Quotes on Salvation and Eternal Life

John 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Mark 8:34: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

John 16:33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Mark 1:15: “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Matthew 18:3: “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

John 19:30: “It is finished.”

Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 5:3-10:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

Son of God “I AM” Statements

John 14:6: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 10:11: I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

John 6:35: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

John 8:32: “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 11:25: “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.”

John 15:5” “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Revelation 22:30: “Surely I am coming quickly.”

Read through those again and ask God to speak to you. What is He saying to you today?