Two weeks before Easter

As we approach Easter, it's worth asking a simple but powerful question: what was Jesus doing in the days leading up to it all? When we look at the Gospels, especially Matthew 20, we see something striking. Jesus wasn't slowing down or shifting focus—He was doing what He had always done. He was teaching, healing, and seeking. These weren't random acts; they defined His mission. Even with the cross just ahead, Jesus stayed fully engaged in transforming lives.

Jesus was constantly teaching. Whether in synagogues, homes, or the streets, He spoke truth with authority and clarity. But He didn't just want people to hear His words—He wanted them to believe and live them. There's a difference between hearing truth and building your life on it. Jesus made that clear when He asked, "Why do you call me 'Lord' and do not do what I say?" His teaching wasn't meant to inform us—it was meant to transform us.

At the same time, Jesus was always healing. Not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. He met people in their brokenness with compassion and power. The message is still the same today: whatever is hurting, whatever is broken, whatever feels beyond repair—bring it to Him. Jesus doesn't just point out what's wrong; He restores what's been lost. He is still in the business of making people whole.

And finally, Jesus was always seeking. He pursued the lost, the overlooked, the wandering, and the resistant. He didn't wait for people to come to Him—He went after them. That same pursuit continues today. The question isn't whether Jesus is seeking—it's whether we are willing to respond.

As we move closer to Easter, take an honest look at your response to Jesus. Are you truly listening to His teaching—or just hearing it? Are you bringing your brokenness to Him for healing? And if He is seeking you, are you willing to respond today—not later, not someday, but now?

Some Thoughts Again

Someone asked recently whether we participate in Lent. Lent is traditionally a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, sacrifice, and reflection leading up to Easter. But perhaps the deeper question isn't whether we "observe" Lent — it's whether we allow God to use seasons like this to draw us closer to Him. Lent isn't merely about giving something up; it's about giving ourselves more fully to God. It's about returning to the core of our faith: salvation, obedience, and sanctification — the ongoing transformation of our lives into the likeness of Christ.

In 1 Peter 1:1–2, Peter writes to ordinary believers scattered across Asia Minor. These were everyday people — workers, families, rich and poor, Jews and Gentiles — learning how to follow Jesus in a complicated world. Peter himself was complicated. He walked on water and denied Christ. He preached boldly and stumbled publicly. Yet he was radically transformed by Jesus. And from that transformed life, he reminds us of three foundational truths: we are saved by God's grace, called to obey Jesus, and set apart by the sanctifying work of the Spirit.

At the center of Christianity is salvation. Jesus came to save sinners. He came so that we could be forgiven, freed from the penalty and power of sin, and restored into relationship with the Father. But salvation is not the finish line — it is the starting point. From there, we are called into obedience. "Follow Me," Jesus said. Obedience means reading His Word, listening to His voice, walking with His people, and choosing His will over our own. It is building our lives on the rock rather than the sand.

And as we obey, something begins to change within us. Peter uses the word sanctification — being set apart, made holy, transformed over time. Just as a career shapes a person's language and mindset, walking with Christ shapes our hearts and lives. We begin to think differently, speak differently, live differently. We are healed from the deeper disease of sin, set apart for God's purposes, and committed to follow Him fully. That is the heart of Lent — and really, the heart of discipleship itself.

Challenge:
What would it look like this week not just to give something up, but to give yourself more fully to Christ — in salvation renewed, obedience practiced, and sanctification pursued?

Authentic Discipleship

We live in a world of filters, edits, and carefully curated images. From social media to advertising, we're constantly presented with polished versions of reality. Long before digital editing existed, artists like Sir Peter Lely became famous for "improving" the appearance of their subjects. But when Oliver Cromwell commissioned his portrait, he demanded something different: paint me as I truly am—"warts and all." That phrase has endured because it captures a timeless truth: real transformation doesn't begin with pretending, but with honesty. The Gospel of Mark carries this same spirit. Mark doesn't airbrush the disciples into spiritual superheroes. He shows them as ordinary people—flawed, confused, ambitious, and still deeply loved by Jesus.

In Mark 10:35–45, James and John approach Jesus with a bold, self-focused request: they want the best seats in His coming kingdom. They imagine glory, power, and influence, but they completely miss the nature of Jesus' mission. Rather than rebuking them harshly, Jesus gently redirects their understanding. Following Him is not about climbing ladders or securing status; it is about drinking the cup of sacrifice and walking the path of surrender. Jesus reminds them that true greatness in God's kingdom looks nothing like greatness in the world.

Jesus Himself models this upside-down greatness. Though He possessed all authority, He spent thirty quiet years in ordinary obedience—working, learning, and waiting for the Father's timing. When His public ministry finally began, it unfolded not as a quest for power, but as a life poured out for others. Isaiah describes Him as the Suffering Servant, and Jesus summarizes His own mission plainly: "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." There were no shortcuts to glory for Jesus—only the road of the cross.

That same road defines discipleship today. Following Jesus means dying to self, surrendering our agendas, and choosing the way of humble service. It means letting go of the need to be first and embracing the call to love, serve, and invest in others. The good news is this: Jesus does not require perfection—He calls ordinary people, "warts and all," and transforms them by His grace. The question is not whether we are flawless, but whether we are willing. Are we ready to trade our desire for recognition for a life of sacrifice and service? Because in God's kingdom, that's where true greatness is found.

This week, ask God to show you one concrete way to serve someone with no expectation of recognition. Then do it—quietly, joyfully, and in Jesus' name.

Authentic Faith or Religious Routine?

It is possible to spend a lifetime around church and still miss the life-changing relationship that Jesus offers. Scripture reminds us that there is a real danger in confusing observation with participation. Church involvement—attending services, volunteering, giving, and knowing the language of faith—can slowly become routine rather than relational. When faith becomes something we inherit, assume, or check off rather than personally experience, complacency can quietly replace genuine discipleship.

The New Testament makes clear that while gathering with the church is vital and commanded, church attendance alone does not save. Salvation is not earned through consistency, heritage, or good behavior—it comes through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Authentic faith is not an on-again, off-again experience, nor is it merely intellectual. As the apostle John writes, real faith involves having personally encountered Christ—heard Him, seen Him, touched Him—and continuing to walk with Him daily. God has no grandchildren; every believer must personally respond to the grace offered through Jesus' death and resurrection.

True faith also produces real transformation. John is blunt: claiming fellowship with God while continuing to live in spiritual darkness is self-deception. When Jesus truly touches a life, change follows—not perfection, but direction. Forgiveness leads to freedom. Confession leads to cleansing. The Holy Spirit begins reshaping desires, attitudes, and actions, producing the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control. Faith that never changes a life is faith that needs to be examined.

Finally, authentic faith overflows into testimony. Those who have encountered Jesus cannot help but speak about what they have seen, heard, and experienced. The gospel was never meant to be hoarded or hidden behind church walls. Sharing our story does not require having all the answers—it simply requires honesty about how Jesus has brought forgiveness, hope, and transformation into our lives. Eternity is at stake, and the call of Scripture is clear: real faith is personal, transforming, and meant to be shared.

Take time this week to honestly reflect and respond. Ask yourself: Is my relationship with Jesus current and personal—or comfortable and routine? Spend intentional time in prayer and Scripture, specifically 1 John 1:5–9, inviting the Holy Spirit to search your heart. If confession is needed, trust God's promise to forgive and cleanse. Then, take one step outward—share your story with someone, re-engage in a meaningful Christian community, or commit to walking daily with Christ. Don't settle for proximity to faith when Jesus invites you into life with Him.