Christmas greetings! What makes this a wonderful time of year, when so many are hurting and struggling in this difficult time? 

Simply this: our problems are not the complete picture. Our Lord Jesus entered a world in turmoil, too. His coming gives us the hope to deal with our present challenges, and the glorious eternity that awaits!

God sent His angels to announce Jesus’ arrival to a select group of individuals. First to Zechariah, a temple priest and the father of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-25). Then to Mary, the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:26-38), and to Joseph, Mary’s husband (Matthew 1:18-25). Then to a select group of shepherds (Luke 2:8-20), to Simeon at Jesus’ circumcision at 8 days old (Luke 2:21-35), and to those present at Jesus’ baptism by God Himself (Luke 3:21-22). But this Good News is for all of us! As recorded in John 1:12, “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.”

I’d like to share some insights I have gleaned during my pastoral studies of the announcement to the shepherds. I think you’ll find the information compelling. 

Why Tell Lowly Shepherds?

Many ask, “Why did God announce His coming to lowly shepherds and not others we would consider more likely candidates to receive the news of the long awaited Messiah?” 

Let’s start with examining our perspective of “lowly” shepherds. Some suggest that these shepherds were temple priests. The Bible doesn’t confirm this. But even if they were not, these shepherds, watching over their flocks outside of Bethlehem, were likely tasked with caring for and protecting sheep ear-marked for sacrificial offerings. By Jewish law, year-old male sheep used for temple sacrifices could have no blemish or defect, which means the shepherds would have been vigilant in their daily care of them.

Our traditional Christmas telling, in which angels appear to simple shepherds, glosses over a fact that make the story of Jesus’ arrival really compelling!

Luke 2:12 tells us that an angel of the Lord said to the shepherds, “This shall be a sign unto you, you shall find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” We have read this statement for years, but have we wondered about this “sign?” What was it?

Swaddling newborn babies wasn’t unique; was the manger more so? On first glance, nope. It was an item any shepherd would have used and been quite familiar with. Though they were probably quite surprised to hear that a newly birthed, cleaned, and swaddled baby had been placed in one!  

Often an indented rock, a manger is basically a feeding trough for livestock. Did Mary place Jesus in a manger to cradle Him because she was too tired to hold Him — or, perhaps, to make a point? The angel had been specific about this detail.

Notes Reverend Michael A. Van Sloun, “Jesus was not laid in a manger by accident. It is a major spiritual symbol. Animals go to the manager for physical food, but with Jesus lying on the hay, we can go to the manger for spiritual food.” Adds Christian author John Piper, “This is the sign. No other king anywhere in the world was lying in a feeding trough. Find Him, and you find the King of kings. And you will know something. Something utterly crucial about His kingship.”

Jesus, birthed in a smelly stable, came to serve. He humbled Himself so low that He willingly endured a criminal’s death on the cross for you and me. 

Of significance: the altar upon which animals were sacrificed in the temple were typically made from rock. And bodies prepared for burial were swaddled or bound with strips of cloth. This gives us another picture of Jesus. In shedding His blood, Jesus poured out His life as payment in full for humanity’s sin. In rising, He proved His deity.

“This is how the Savior saves. This is how the Messiah fulfills all the promises. This is how the Lord reigns: from infinite deity, to feeding trough, to final torments on the cross.” ~ John Piper.

In this world, we face many hard, even seemingly impossible problems. But our God specializes in the impossible! In coming to the world in human form, He willingly took the full impact of the demands for justice, making a way for us to live a righteous life through our faith in Him.

Jesus, alone, is the reason for the season. Merry CHRISTmas!

Guest blogger Vernon Ball, a retired pastor, is 76 years young. In his 50 years of preaching, Vernon pastored five churches and served as interim pastor of four others. He is the author of the book, The Mystery of Faith. A great-grandfather of 12, Vernon is currently involved in international ministries in Eastern Asia.

Our Creator’s plan to reveal Himself to humanity seems an odd choice.

If you and I were the event planners for heaven, I doubt we would have coordinated God’s entry into humanity in the humble way it played out. Our plans would probably be more along the lines of a triumphant entry in honor, esteem, and the glory due a king. Likely with His angels escorting Him from heaven in a flurry of fire and thunder. Social media would have lit up!

But as a human baby, whose royal palace was a smelly stable with a trough for a bed, and whose royal entourage included shepherds and farm animals? Ridiculous!

Why would the Creator of all choose to come to the world in such incredibly normal, even mundane conditions?

For 50+ years, Josh McDowell Ministry has been leading seekers into a deeper knowledge of God’s truth and power. We offer you our accumulated knowledge and research to help you find truth and encouragement to live a healthy and whole life in Christ.

God came to us in the most approachable way — as a helpless baby to an ordinary family. Philippians tell us that God emptied Himself of divine attributes so that He could — wait for it — be one of us.

It’s easy to read those words and not realize the magnitude of that concept. Can we even imagine what it meant for our Creator to become a lowly human?

I have 56 Christmases under my belt. It’s easy for me to become numb to the story’s significance; occasionally my sense of wonder needs to be refreshed. I try to focus on different characters in the Christmas story to gain their perspective. One group that often gets blended into the background is the angels.

We see them filling the night sky, joyfully proclaiming to the shepherds that God had become man. But I wonder what was going through their minds as they did so. They were continually in the presence of God Almighty, yet 1 Peter 1:10-12 tells they had no prior knowledge of God’s plan. It was as much a surprise to them as it was the shepherds!

When the angels learned that their Creator was to become a mere man, did they, like King David, wonder, “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:3-4)

One of my favorite Christmas songs is “Born to Die” by Bebo Norman. Its chorus spells this out wonderfully:

The angels filled the sky,
All of heaven wondered why,
Why a king would choose to be,
Be a baby born to die.

When Jesus died for the sins of man, triumphantly resurrecting and proving His power over life and death, the angels clearly understood why God had come to us in human form. And they, like us, expectantly wait for Christ’s return — in all His glory! — to call His followers home. On that day, we shall join the angels in their worship of our Redeemer and King!
As we focus on the birth of Jesus this Christmas season, may you be filled with a new sense of wonder as you ponder the magnitude of your Creator’s love for you. Merry Christmas from all of us here at the Josh McDowell Ministry!

Learn More About God

• Want to know more about God’s character? Read about the attributes of God here.
• Do you want to know Jesus? Josh’s book, More Than a Carpenter, offers a comprehensive introduction.
• Want to learn about the historical facts about Jesus’ birth, ministry, death, and resurrection? Catch up on our Resurrection and Apologetics blog posts!

Dave Bottorff is the U.S. Publishing & Resource Coordinator for Josh McDowell Ministry.

In a handful of days we can finally say, “See ya!” to 2020. Yay! Let’s finish strong, trusting God, as we look ahead with hope to the new year.

As 2020 finally winds down and we close out our Bridging the Gap blog series, let’s remember to thank God for being with us through every up and down of this incredibly difficult year. He continually connected with us, helping us to move from hurting to healed to whole, just as His Word promises. God is our very good father, especially in bad circumstances. This truth gives us peace, regardless of what is happening around us. #HurtHealedWhole

For 50+ years, Josh McDowell Ministry has been leading seekers into a deeper knowledge of God’s truth and power. We offer you our accumulated knowledge and research to help you find truth and encouragement to live a healthy and whole life in Christ.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Lean on God

During this blog series, as you’ve invested your time and heart in developing a closer relationship with Him, you’ve come to realize that God is completely trustworthy — even during a global pandemic. He knows and cares about what you are going through!
You’ve discovered that trusting in His love for you enables you to be confident in your purpose, in your relationships, and in working through tough life issues such as depression, loneliness, anxiety, and addiction. He’s there when you feel trapped with nowhere to go. You’ve also grown in your desire and ability to love like Jesus, and share your relationship with Him with others. The whole world needs to hear the Good News!

We find peace in embracing how deeply God loves us! He came as a helpless baby, to then show us how much. He died for our sins AND to help us to daily walk in peace and confidence. He is for us!

Look Ahead in Peace

We’re all praying that 2021 brings an end to the pandemic, as well as the other evils and woes that plague our nation and world. But however the new year plays out, one thing is clear: we desperately need God. We must continue to draw near to Him, to avoid hopelessness and despair. Remember God’s promise:

‘Because [you] love me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue [you];
    I will protect [you], for [you] acknowledge my name.
[You] will call on me, and I will answer [you];
    I will be with [you] in trouble…’
             Psalm 91:14-15 (NIV)

So let’s continue to daily unplug from the world to spend one-on-one time with God to hear His words of comfort and power. And let’s meditate on Ecclesiastes 3:11, which tells us that “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens — a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.
Despite what culture tells us, our life goal should not be to seek constant happiness. God grows us in our moments of difficulty, so that we don’t remain self-absorbed, immature toddlers. So rise up and seek God’s help as you face life’s challenges.
How have you honored God by worshipping Him in your moments of worry and fear? As you prepare for Christmas, reflect on where and how God met you in your fears and hurts during 2020. And look forward to 2021 with expectation, assured that God is in control and working all things out for you because you love and follow Him.
Merry Christmas from all of us at Josh McDowell Ministry. As we look ahead, let’s continue to walk together in the new year!

Get ready: We’re launching our NEW blog series, Why God?, in January! As we focus on who God is and the relationship He wants to have with us, we’ll see how He connects with us in the defining and difficult moments of our busy, complex lives.

GUEST BLOGGER CHRISTINA GORDON ENJOYS INSPIRING AUDIENCES TO LIVE THEIR BEST LIFE. 

Love like Jesus. So hard to do … or is it?

Have you walked into church and, as you made your way down the hall, warmly greeted some but totally ignored others? I’ve done this. Many times. For a variety of reasons.

But what does Scripture tell us about how we are to interact with others? Well, 1 John 4:20 says, “… the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.” And Jesus told us to “… love your neighbor as yourself.’”

So who are my “brother” and my “neighbor”? And what does Jesus mean by “love?”

Can We Really Love Like Jesus?

By “brother” and “neighbor” Jesus doesn’t just mean our family or the people who happen to live in our same neighborhood. He literally means everyone — our family, neighbors, strangers, even our enemies. Which means we have our work cut out for us.

I’m still struggling to love my brothers and sisters in Christ. But I’m supposed to love everyone? Why would Jesus give such a hard assignment? Because He knows we’re capable of doing so, with His help.

Is my casual friendliness “love?” Or is it just a warm and fuzzy feeling because I happen to know and like these people? How can I make sure I offer real love — His love — to all people?

In a very practical way, Mother Teresa provided a great example of how to love like Jesus.

In her work with the poor, the Nobel Peace Prize recipient followed Christ’s call to feed the hungry and clothe the naked, to visit the imprisoned, to care for the homeless and the sick. In doing so, she met their deeper need for love and dignity:

>> The hungry “hunger not only for bread, but for love. For the tender concern of someone who cares.”
>> Clothe the naked, “and not only with a piece of cloth, but with that beautiful dignity of a child of God. Dignity for someone who has been created to be loved and to love.”
>> Tend to the sick who are sick “not only in body, but sick at heart.”
>> The imprisoned are trapped “not only with a lack of freedom, but are limited in life. Bound by fear, by the mind, by the imagination.”

Can you imagine Jesus walking past you or me with just a nod or casual wave? No way! Jesus would look straight into our soul and pierce our heart with His love. We would have no doubt that He really saw us — and that in His eyes, we have immeasurable worth.

Jesus was continually moved by compassion … we should see what Jesus sees, so we can do what Jesus does. ~ Christine Caine, global activist

God Believes We Can!

So how can you and I be intentional in sharing His amazing love with others?

We can start by being attentive. We can really look at the people He places around us and see them. Like Mother Teresa, we can take the time to notice their need, to then tangibly share His love through our actions. This might be just sharing an encouraging smile or a compliment. Or offering someone our seat. Or even more of our investment; perhaps buying a bag of groceries or giving away our favorite coat.

Look around. Is someone hungering for connection with others? Is someone struggling with fear, uncertainty, or doubt? If so, can you be their safe haven? We often hide our inmost trials from others, but in doing so, we miss out on the joy of serving those that God places in our daily path.

Break through the emotional boundaries that separate you from others. If you’re shy, you can bet that there are shy people around you that are hoping that you’ll greet them first. If you’re preoccupied with your own problems, take your thoughts off yourself and invite God to use you to pour His love on others.

It’s not easy making the effort, I know. Lately I’ve been trying to be super friendly at the grocery store. I smile and say hello to anyone I pass, if I can get their attention. Most people ignore me. Others give me weird looks. I get it. But isn’t this the good kind of weird that God wants in His followers? 

Go love like Jesus! Just don’t be too weird about it … or too shy, either. He’ll be so be proud of you. As Christine Caine reminds us, “Doing good is very hard work. But we can do hard things. We were born for such a time as this.”

God wants a relationship with you! Click here to learn about His holy nature!

Written by guest blogger Dan Muenchau, a retired engineer who now works to help bring the love of God to others.

As we worship with songs based in Scripture, we grow in our knowledge of who God really is. We are changed by our worship.

As a high school junior attending a youth group gathering filled with bright lights, loud music, and excited students, I distinctly remember taking a step back to consider what we were singing. Throughout my high school years, I began to realize that while so many of my favorite Christian songs contained some small ounce of biblical truth, they were void of depth. 

I would suggest that worship isn’t primarily about how we feel, but about who God is. 

In his book, A Heart for God, Dr. Sinclair Ferguson states, “The foundation of worship in the heart is not emotional … it is theological.” Ferguson is right; while worship should certainly engage our emotions, our emotions are not the foundation of our worship. Yet, somehow we’ve begun to care more about how the words make us feel than what they say about Him.

When we worship, we are acknowledging God’s greatness and our sinfulness. When we choose to sing songs with deep, rich lyrics, we are led to a greater understanding of and love for God. We are changed by our worship.

3 Ways We Are Changed By Our Worship

Too often, we come to church and sing in worship to feel as if God is present … without listening to the words we are singing. When we do this, we may feel good in the moment, but we leave and enter the rest of our week unchanged.
When we listen to what the worship lyrics say about who God is, however, we can carry those truths with us throughout the week. We are changed by our worship when it leads us to love God for who He is. 

Worship Informs Our View of God

“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment” (Philippians 1:9).

As we express praise to God and declare truths about His character, we grow in our knowledge of who He is. Just as sermons and books teach us, song lyrics are lessons that stick in our head. Our view of God is undoubtedly shaped by the words we sing about Him.

As we sing songs rooted in Scripture, our minds gain a more accurate idea of who God is: the loving and incredible Creator of the universe.

Why would we sing songs that give us a shallow view of God, rather than this rich truth? 

Worship Grows Our Affection

If, like me, you grew up going to church camp, or you’ve been on a short-term mission trip, you know that the “spiritual high” quickly fades. But songs can have a lasting effect on us, as we continue to revisit the lyrics. 
In one of his sermons, noted pastor John Piper put it bluntly when he said, “Where feelings for God are dead, worship is dead.”

Our affection for God is motivated by our knowledge of God. We can’t worship Him rightly without knowing Him. This is why we should sing songs that remind us of what God’s Word teaches. As you grow in your understanding of who God is and how His people are to love one another, your love for God will deepen and grow.

Often, we sacrifice doctrinal integrity for an emotional experience. Worship should stir feelings within us, but the feeling is not primarily what we’re after. We’re after God. God is the goal.

Bob Kaufilin, in his popular 2008 book, Worship Matters, wrote: “Singing glorifies God by expressing the unity we enjoy through the Gospel.” When believers of different socioeconomic classes, generations, and backgrounds come together to sing the truths of Scripture, they are united around the historic faith they share.

The next time you sing along to your favorite worship song, stop and consider the lyrics. Do the words point you toward an accurate picture of God, as presented in Scripture? Our aim should be to exalt and adore God, who created everything and everyone. The One who has forgiven us despite our sin, through the sacrifice of the Son He sent to die for us.

Be changed by your worship!

Worship the Lord

• Do you have a relationship with God? If not, start here!
• Want to receive daily devotions to spend time with God? Sign up today to get them in your inbox.
• We invite you to read Josh’s book, More Than a Carpenter. This short apologetics classic examines the historical evidence about Jesus, God in the flesh, who is our anchor of joy and peace in this crazy world.

Written by guest blogger Cole Shiflet. Cole is a Junior at Samford University studying Journalism and Mass Communication. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Cole serves as the executive director of Anchored Passion. 

Perhaps you need to unplug and take a walk.

I suggested this to a friend earlier this week. Throughout recent weeks while our country has been so divided, he has been riddled with anxiety, fear, even anger. I looked at him and asked, “When was the last time you took 24 hours to turn it all off and disconnect? Unplug? No cell phone. No computer. No TV. When was the last time you woke up in the middle of the night, anxious, and didn’t automatically reach for your phone? When was the last time you stepped away from the noise of this world and took a long walk with the Lord?”

“He has made it clear to you, mortal man, what is good and what the LORD is requiring from you — to act with justice, to treasure the LORD’s gracious love, and to walk humbly in the company of your God.” Micah 6:8

Unplug. Take a Walk.

The answer my friend gave me was vague. Perhaps he doesn’t feel it necessary to disconnect from technology. Or, like so many, he thinks it necessary to hear the words of man. But I realized that I probably shouldn’t be making this suggestion if I wasn’t taking my own advice. It was time to unplug and take a very long walk.

Isaiah 30:15 nails it: “Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me. The very thing you have been unwilling to do.”

So I did so … after two days of procrastinating.

The truth is that once I turned the mirror on myself and decided to disconnect, unplug, and take that walk, it was harder than I thought. I needed to start dinner, I needed to pay that bill, I needed to head to that meeting at church. And what was I missing on Facebook?

We cannot text while we are praying. We cannot scroll through Facebook while we are worshipping. We can’t seek dependence on God, if our eyes, hands, and heart are continually focused on images other than Him.

But I finally listened to that sweet, convicting voice that is like none other. The voice pulling me by the hand to walk with Him. I turned off my phone and let the important people in my life know that if they wanted to reach me, they would have to wait.

Invite God to Speak.

A few minutes into my walk, I passed by a neighbor. For a moment I considered asking her to walk with me. But God laid a word picture on my heart so fast: that of my neighbor agreeing to walk with me, but she set out in the opposite direction. We tried to talk, to share and listen, but the more our paths widened, the less I could hear her voice. And so it is with God’s voice.

I thanked Him for that fleeting image, and humbly prayed, “Lord, God. Allow me to walk alongside you. Please speak to me. I am listening.” These are words that God honors, just the way a father does when his child snuggles up beside him and says, “Daddy, let’s talk.”

When I checked my phone a day later, I found that nothing had happened in that 24 hours that needed my immediate direct attention. Unplugging for a day hadn’t crashed my world, after all. In fact, just the opposite. I found that when I stepped away from all my distractions, I felt comforted. I found profound peace, a mysterious reassurance that all was well, and a deep, profound love for others. His love.

The language God uses in our ears is different for each of us, but we need to unplug from the noise of the world to clearly hear His voice. Disconnect. Take a walk. Invite Him to join you, and invite Him to speak.

Do you know what makes God amazing? Click here to learn about the many attributes of His holy nature. God is waiting to speak with you!

Many thanks to our guest blogger, Vicki Hill, who cherishes her long walks and chats with God.

I love hearing the sound of waves on the shoreline of a beach. Whether the wind brings them crashing in, or calmer weather causes them to gently lap the sand, there is a consistency, a repetition to waves that fascinates me. I find myself listening for their rhythm and discernible pattern.

“Crash!” The waves impact the shore and are drawn back out to sea. “Crash!” The white foam of the waves crests, then diminishes as the sand absorbs the blow.   

To me, the sound of waves is a ministry to my mind. I deal with tinnitus, which is a loud ringing in my ears. At its worst, tinnitus can bring on a panic attack. But it’s best managed when I am able to focus my brain on something other than the annoying ringing. Listening to waves helps me do that. Truly, their sound is a ministry to my soul and mind.

I think discerning God’s voice works this way for me, as well. Read on.

Discerning God’s Voice Like Waves

I was recently asked by a friend how I discern God’s voice. I shared that it’s like a wave; that a thought hits the shore of my mind. I’m aware of it, but it ebbs away as I move about my day. But sometimes the thought revisits the shore of my mind. It could be a scripture, or a person’s name, an idea, a situation, or a sin that I need to address. As the thought ebbs and revisits, I become aware of its consistent repetition. Sometimes the thought crashes; other times it’s a gentle, persistent lapping.

Praying, looking to God’s Word, listening for the Holy Spirit, and seeking wise counsel are part of discerning God’s voice. But when a thought keeps nudging me, experience has taught me that it’s often God trying to get my attention about something He wants me to do, either for myself or another person. Oh, I wish I could tell you that I always acknowledge and act on what I hear, but I don’t. Only God knows the blessings I have missed out on by ignoring His voice.

You might be asking, “How do you know that it’s God’s voice and not your own thoughts?”

First, by considering the thought. I compare it to what I know about God’s character, and whether it is contrary or in direct defiance to the truth of who God is and what He expects of His people. I then go to the Bible. And I pray. I ask God to confirm what I believe I hear Him telling me.

Would God ever tell me to get even? No! (Romans 12:19) Would God tell me to sin? No! (Matthew 5:48) If my thinking doesn’t align with God’s Word, I can be sure I need to reject it. We know who originates that kind of thinking, right? Satan. And we know what God tells us to do with the thoughts he suggests: reject them!

As God’s Word teaches us in Galatians 5:16, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” If our thoughts are not of God, we are called to confess any sin around our thoughts and walk in the forgiveness that Jesus Christ has secured for us.

We may never fully understand the mystery of God’s voice in our life, but we can listen for evidence of it. Today, consider your own persistent thoughts.

Is God trying to get your attention so that you take action? How is God prompting you to look to His Word for guidance, to pray, or to rely on the empowerment of His Spirit before you make a decision?

Be encouraged that God is speaking to you, in waves both crashing and lapping. He desires that all of His children hear His voice. But we have to listen, pay attention, and be willing to take action.

Do you wonder what God is like? Click here to learn about the many attributes of His holy nature!

Written by guest blogger Elizabeth Mahusay. Elizabeth is the author of two Bible study guides, Transform My Thinking, God and Mirror Image. She is passionate about God’s Word. Whether in church or the marketplace, Elizabeth desires to teach and encourage others to follow the Lord closely, to listen to His voice intently, and to obey Him fully, to serve wholeheartedly. Her website: elizabethmahusay.com.

I was with a bunch of Christians recently, who were in agreement that the point of Christianity is to get people saved — so they don’t go to hell.

I agree that our choosing to accept Christ as Lord and Savior is the most important decision we’ll ever make, because of its eternal implications. But to my mind, getting people into this redemptive relationship with Jesus is just the start of what the Church is called to do.

Absolutely, Jesus saves us from our sins. Unfortunately, stepping into relationship with Him doesn’t instantly rewire our sinful nature. Nor does it instantly clean up the “junk in our trunk.” The junk that continues to have influence on how we think and act and respond to life. We have new habits to learn, and new thought patterns to develop. We have work to do.

Work that starts with our allowing Jesus to “take the wheel,” in the words of Christian songwriter/singer TobyMac. We have to be willing to slide over to the passenger seat, so that Jesus can drive us where He knows we need to go. Let’s discuss!

For 50+ years, Josh McDowell Ministry has been leading seekers into a deeper knowledge of God’s truth and power. We offer you our accumulated knowledge and research to help you find truth and encouragement to live a healthy and whole life in Christ.

Work, Not Legalism

There is only ONE way to God, and that’s through Jesus. There’s nothing we can do to earn or merit our salvation — it’s His FREE gift to us.

But then comes the work: the daily, life-long process of removing our junk so we can live in freedom. In Christian lingo, we call this process “sanctification.” This junk might be our lack of self-control. Our negative thinking. Our partying. Our sleeping around. Our cheating on our taxes. Our withholding forgiveness.

Addicted to porn? Jesus wants to help you work on that.

Anger issues? Jesus wants to help you work on that.

Always trying to control people and your relationships? Jesus wants to help you work on that.

Every Christian wrestles daily with sin. Even the apostle Paul admitted, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” We have work to do, as we ask Jesus to help us to become like Him.

Tossing Our Junk

I truly do wish that accepting Christ instantly changed us into our best selves. Made us perfect. Made us immune from the pull of sin. But it doesn’t. We have to do the work of being transformed, knowing that Christ’s strength now fuels us.

Jesus doesn’t force us to take action, but He also doesn’t wait to issue invitations. He wants us to steadily move us into wholeness.

“Ready to pop the trunk?” Jesus asks gently, as He parks us beside the large landfill pit already holding many boxes — some labeled addiction, pride, and narcissism.

We cringe at the boxes of our own sins. But as each box hurtles through the air, relief washes over us. Jesus isn’t here to rub our noses in our crud. He’s here, with infinite grace and patience, to lovingly help clean us up.

In the video series that accompanies pastor Rich Wilkerson, Jr.’s book Friend of Sinners: Why Jesus Cares More About Relationship Than Perfection, Wilkerson notes that “Jesus doesn’t look at your past performance. He doesn’t look at your present condition. No, Jesus, the friend of sinners, always looks forward to your potential; what you can become. Who you will become when you’re in relationship with Him.”

Jesus, the friend of sinners! Never forget — not even when you or someone else shames you for your sin — that Jesus hung out with sinners because He was FOR them. Their freedom is why He came!

Working Toward Freedom

Jesus modeled supportive community for us, that we might remind each other to lean into His power and grace as we journey through our growth. Our remaining static is not an option.

Notes Paula Jauch in her YouVersion devotional Letting Go: Family Trauma And Addiction, we can’t avoid going through the healing process to get better. We can’t change, if we don’t grow. Baby steps, just like toddlers. Do we not help our babies to walk? Do we shame them when they fall down? Not if we want them to keep trying!

“Most of us have suffered years of abuse and trauma,” says Jauch, “and if we don’t deal with the root of the issue it will always come back.” Jauch admits she had to do the “hard work” of showing up, even when she didn’t think she was seeing progress. But she took God at His word, trusting that He is for her, and always working for her good. Jauch healed with the help of those who lovingly accepted her.

As our trust in God grows, so does our desire to live in ways that honor Him. Even as we recognize that perfection is always beyond our grasp because of our inherent bent toward sin. We have to be willing to be authentic and “comfortably uncomfortable,” as Wilkerson puts it, as we do life with Jesus.

Tell Satan to take a hike; his condemnation doesn’t matter. Let’s keep our eyes on Christ, to remember who we are in Him, even in our most sinful moments. “Our faith is not some little thing in our life,” notes Wilkerson. “Jesus is everything in our life.” When we live this way, Jesus becomes not only the way to God, but to our wholeness, freedom, and purpose.

We desperately need Jesus! And we need to do the work of partnering with Him to become the people He wants us to be.

Next Steps

> We’d love to pray for you! Submit a prayer request to us here. 
> Do you want to have a relationship with Jesus? Start here.
> Do you have junk you want Jesus to help you unload? Check out our Resolution Movement.

Sheri Bell writes and edits for Josh McDowell Ministry.

A mental health epidemic exists today among young people. Gen Z is more lonely and depressed than any previous generation. Their hurt presents an incredible opportunity for Christ-followers to share the restorative gospel of Jesus.

I don’t mean the “positivity gospel” that has seeped into the Church, but the authentic gospel that Jesus Himself taught. Much like the prosperity gospel, the positivity gospel promises that accepting Jesus guarantees a life exempt from pain and hurt. That a “good” God can be counted on to ensure that we enjoy a happy, thriving, successful life.
But this false doctrine shortchanges who Jesus is — and can keep us from experiencing the personal, trusting relationship He freely offers. To ignore your sin and human condition is to the cheapen the amazing grace of His gospel.

For 50+ years, Josh McDowell Ministry has been leading seekers into a deeper knowledge of God’s truth and power. We offer you our accumulated knowledge and research to help you find truth and encouragement to live a healthy and whole life in Christ.

Healing Your Hurt Through Relationship 

God is not primarily concerned with our being “happy” or “comfortable.” Rather, as the great Christian writer C.S. Lewis once stated, pain is God’s megaphone to a deaf world. Our loneliness and hurt is a symptom of the problem we’d rather ignore: our sin and the broken world it causes. 
I know Jesus heals. With His help I have overcome the porn addiction, shame, and woundedness of my past. I have found true freedom. But I don’t now thrive because Christ healed me from that hurt. I thrive because while I was once dead in my sin, I am now alive in the grace and love of Jesus, my Savior. 
Jesus heals our anxiety, loneliness, depression, and other hurts as we live a relationally intimate life with Him and the people He places in our life to help us.

How to Enter Into a Relationship With Jesus?

Admit that you are broken, and the root cause is your sin.

The Bible tells us that Jesus taught that our issues and hurts start with our heart. In Matthew 12:34-35, Jesus says, “For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” At the root of our actions and behavior is our broken, sinful nature. Our sin separates us from the Holy God who created and unconditionally loves us. In choosing Jesus as Savior, we are restored in right relationship to God. Our sins are completely covered by Jesus. Goodbye, guilt, failure, and fear! We get to begin again!

Accept that Christ has unlimited power, but sometimes allows hurt for His purposes.

There is nothing that God can’t do. Yet He doesn’t always heal our hurt in the way or timing we think He should. The Bible promises us that God’s plans are always best, and work for our good. God does not like that we live in hurt and pain. He wants us to walk in joy and freedom. When we choose to believe that He loves us unconditionally, we can decide to daily trust Him, our hearts and hands open to His will and His timing. God is for us!

Recognize that Christ has an eternity mindset; we should, too. 

Our earthly lives are short and temporary. As I read the apostle Paul’s letters in the New Testament, I am awed by his eternal mindset. Paul clearly grasped the truth of the gospel message and his sinful nature. He understood that his relationship with Christ will last for eternity, so he made it his priority. Jesus should be our primary focus, too. Jesus, alone, can heal the loneliness and hurt we experience from a life crippled by our broken souls in this broken world. Let’s seek Him to know Him, and to watch Him work through the hurt in our lives to produce good!

Jesus saves. Jesus comforts. Jesus restores. Jesus brings us to life!

Next Steps:

• May we pray for you? Click here.
• Want to start a personal relationship with Jesus? Click here.
• Check out Josh’s book, More Than a Carpenter, to learn about the historical evidence of Jesus. He lives!
• Want to a thriving life to deal with your hurts? Check out our Resolution Movement.

Austin serves as a speaker with the Josh McDowell Ministry. A recent graduate of Talbot School of Theology, Austin and his wife Hannah seek to reach a wounded and broken generation in relevant ways with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

For 50+ years, Josh McDowell Ministry has been leading seekers into a deeper knowledge of God’s truth and power. We offer you our accumulated knowledge and research to help you find truth and encouragement to live a healthy and whole life in Christ.

God Doesn’t Shame Us

Satan plants seeds in our mind and heart, waters them, and watches to see if they take root as shame. If they do, it’s because we make this simple mistake: we choose to listen to him, rather than keeping our ears tuned to God’s promises. 

Jesus repeatedly tells us to rebuke the lies of the devil, because He knows that shame will stall EVERYTHING good in our life: stall our accepting God’s forgiveness, stall our forgiving ourselves, and stall us from walking in freedom. 

Listen up! Jesus did NOT tell people how rotten they were.

Rather, He spoke encouragement over them to show them God’s perspective. What did Jesus tell the despised tax collector watching Him from the sycamore tree? “Dude, come down! I want to have dinner with YOU at your place!” What did He say to social outcasts …. the woman caught in adultery … the woman who publicly wiped the dirt from His feet with her tears? Not a SINGLE word of judgment or shame.

God “gets” our junk. He hates the pain we experience because of our junk. He wants to take our junk so we live free of the handcuffs of shame. We just have to CHOOSE to take that first step.

Freedom From Shame

Friend, TRUST God’s goodness and love enough to hand Him your junk.

Note that’s GOD’s goodness; not YOUR goodness. Your “goodness” won’t get you very far. But that’s the point: we can let go of trying to be clean and “good” and spotless before we humbly approach God. He knows we’ll never be perfect — and He’s okay with that.

Guess what? God promises to not only LOVINGLY FORGIVE the junk we turn over to Him, but to also instantly FORGET it was ever there. Wow!

It’s like putting our trash in the bins at the curb and watching the trash collectors haul it away. We don’t run after that bagged trash, right? We are HAPPY that the collectors haul the stinky bags out of our space. Imagine holding on to your trash and trying to live amid the smells and rodents you’d attract.

Let’s likewise be quick to unload our shame. It may FEEL like our shame is bigger than God’s grace, but that’s because we attempt to measure God’s infinite love against the NARROW spectrum of human love. But that’s like comparing an ant’s body size to your much bigger one.

Think on that: a love so deep and wide and vast that we can’t mentally grasp it. Especially the part about Him FREELY offering it to us with NO strings attached. God doesn’t demand groveling. Or works. Or bribes. Only our confession and trust.

God’s arms are ALREADY open wide to embrace and comfort you, just like the father in the Bible story of the Prodigal Son. Shame is NOT who you are. So don’t let shame keep you from racing into His loving arms.

CLAIM the freedom you are PROMISED because Christ willingly died FOR YOU on the cross to forgive all your sins.

Next Steps

> We’d love to pray for you! Submit a prayer request to us here. 
> Do you want to have a relationship with Jesus? Start here.
> Do you have heart wounds that keep getting triggered? Check out our Resolution Movement. Healing is possible!