“Jesus replied to them, ‘It is not those who are healthy who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’” – Luke 5:31-32 Sometimes obedience to God will confuse people. It did when Jesus walked the earth, and it still does now. His way of reaching people didn’t fit inside the boxes religious leaders had built. He healed at the wrong tim...  Read More

"But the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, 'This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.'" – Luke 15:2 Jesus had a habit of doing things that didn’t make sense to the religious crowd. He healed on the Sabbath. He touched lepers. He ate with tax collectors. He welcomed children. He told stories instead of giving lectures. Time after time, His methods were questioned. And they still are. If y...  Read More

"Then Mary took a pound of perfume, pure and expensive nard, anointed Jesus’s feet, and wiped his feet with her hair." – John 12:3 When Mary poured out that expensive perfume on Jesus in John 12, she wasn't trying to be impressive. She wasn’t calculating the cost or concerned about what others would say. She was simply expressing her love for Him in the purest way she knew how. And yet, the moment...  Read More

"This sickness will not end in death but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." – John 11:4 Sometimes God’s plan doesn’t make sense in real time. We pray, we wait, and we watch as the situation gets worse instead of better. Just like Mary and Martha, we wonder why Jesus doesn’t show up when we think He should. Their brother Lazarus was sick, and they believed...  Read More

"Jesus wept. So the Jews said, 'See how he loved him!' But some of them said, 'Couldn’t he who opened the blind man’s eyes also have kept this man from dying?'" – John 11:35-37 Have you ever done something with the right heart, only to have someone question why you really did it? That stings. Maybe you helped someone, and people assumed you had an angle. Maybe you gave generously, and someone thou...  Read More

"The one who says he remains in him should walk just as he walked" – 1 John 2:6 When you really study the life of Jesus, it becomes clear pretty quickly that He didn’t live in a way that made sense to most people. He confused the religious elite, frustrated the powerful, and shocked the crowds. And yet, He lived with purpose, clarity, and compassion every step of the way. The truth is, Jesus lived...  Read More

"Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God" - Romans 12:2 Let’s just say it plain, living for Jesus will not make sense to most people. It never has, and it never will. Following Christ means standing out, not blending in. It means refusing to be shaped by the patterns of this world ...  Read More

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" - 1 Peter 2:9 Following Jesus is not supposed to blend in. It’s meant to stand out. The more broken and self-focused the world becomes, the more our lives should cause people to ask questions. Not becaus...  Read More

"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven" - Matthew 5:16 Life is full of surprises. Some bring joy. Others bring stress. You find a twenty-dollar bill in an old jacket and smile. You open an unexpected bill, and your stomach sinks. Surprise is just part of life. But have you ever thought about how your life might surprise som...  Read More

"Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. “I am he,” Jesus told them... When Jesus told them, “I am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground." - John 18:5–6 In John 18, a group of men came looking for Jesus. Judas was with them. They carried lanterns, torches, and swords. They were looking for the right person. But they came in the power of the world. They came in the strength of darkness, not the ...  Read More

"Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples" - John 18:2 There’s something unsettling about how familiar Judas was with Jesus. He knew where Jesus would be. He had walked with Him, eaten with Him, watched Him perform miracles, and listened to Him teach. He was close enough to know Jesus’ patterns. So when the time came to betray Him, he knew exac...  Read More

"Then Jesus, knowing everything that was about to happen to him, went out and said to them, 'Who is it that you’re seeking?'" - John 18:4 It is a simple question on the surface. But when Jesus asked, “Who is it that you’re seeking?” He wasn’t just addressing the soldiers and officials in front of Him. That question still speaks to every heart today. Because whether we realize it or not, all of us ...  Read More