Day 9 - The Guard
April 12, 2020 • Kevin Zeller • Matthew 28:1–10
"This is ridiculous,” I said, adjusting my helmet while keeping my spear crooked in my arm. “Why do we need all of these soldiers here. The man is dead, isn’t he?” . The guard next to me shrugged. “They say he made lots of noise about rising from the dead. So they are worried about his disciples coming back and stealing the body.” . “Well,” I said, glancing back at the crowd of soldiers gathered outside the small garden tomb, “Good luck to them. It’s all sealed up, and they would have to get through all that.” . I shifted on my feet, wishing for my cot. “Nice morning anyway.” . He grunted, signaling the end of the conversation. . Resentful, I stepped a few paces away. I looked up into the night sky, seeing a few stars remaining, even as the sky was brightening. Strange, one of the stars was moving... . A roar filled the garden, and the earth shook with an impact. I was thrown to the ground, my spear clattering on some stones. It took me a moment to regain my breath, and, when I did, I shrank back against a tree. . A bright figure, completely clad in what looked like glowing robes, was stalking toward the tomb. His footprints left the ground smoking. . The other guards were shrieking, stumbling over each other to get away even as he raised his bright hand, placed it on the stone, and pushed. . The last thing I remember before fainting was the sound of stone ripping. • Kevin Zeller . • How would you have reacted if you had been one of the guards at the tomb? . • Read Romans 8:11-24, 2 Corinthians 5, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, and Revelation 21:1-5. How did Jesus’s resurrection begin the new creation breaking into our world? . He [Jesus] said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but three days later he will rise from the dead.” Mark 9:31 (NLT)
Day 4 - Crowns
April 8, 2020 • Melissa Yeagle • Matthew 27:29–37
You’ve probably seen costume crowns made of plastic or cheap metal. But a true king’s crown is usually made of the finest metal and jewels. When it’s not on the king’s head, it is locked up under the highest security. Only the king is allowed to wear it. And kings only become kings by birth or by conquest. . Jesus is God’s only Son. God is the King of Kings, and so His Son should be His rightful heir. Yet, even though He is the rightful King of the universe, Jesus came to this earth as a humble baby, never demanding the riches or wealth He deserved. . Jesus was given a crown while He was here on earth... but it was not fancy at all. As Jesus approached His death on the cross, the authorities mocked Him. They had heard that He claimed to be a king, so they gave Him a crown of thorns. When they pressed it into His head, it caused Him to bleed. . A crown is meant to give a king honor, but this crown was meant to mock the King of the universe. They even made a crude sign that said, “King of the Jews” and put it above His head while He died on the cross to take the punishment for sin. . Yet, even as people mocked Him, King Jesus still sacrificed Himself to provide rescue to a world filled with evil and brokenness. . And here’s the amazing part. The humble King who died to beat sin? He came back to life to beat death. As the risen King, He will return someday to live with His people forever. • Melissa Yeagle . • Jesus could have come to earth and demanded to have a crown, palace, and riches right then. Why do you think He didn’t? . • Read Colossians 2:9-15. How is Jesus King by both birth and conquest? . They twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on his [Jesus’s] head, and placed a staff in his right hand. And they knelt down before him and mocked him: “Hail, King of the Jews!” Matthew 27:29 (CSB)
Christian Politics
December 28, 2019 • Melissa Yeagle • Matthew 5:43–48, Matthew 22:34–40
There is one sure way to start an argument in a room full of people: start talking about politics. Social media feeds are full of opinions about politics and political officers—overflowing with conversations laced with fear and anger. Wherever these conversations take place, we as humans can be very negative and even hateful toward those we disagree with. . But, as Christians, where should we stand as far as politics? There’s no verse in Scripture that says, “You shall be a Republican” or “You shall be a Democrat.” In fact, there are Christians on both sides. . What the Bible is clear about is that we should always stand on the side of love of God and others—we are called to love our neighbors and pray for our enemies. So, even if a certain politician or party that we are against feels like our enemy, we are called to love them and pray for them. As today’s Bible passage says, it’s easy to pray for someone we like and agree with. But we are truly following God when we pray for those who have different opinions about politics than us, thinking the best of them (Philippians 4:2-8). . So, when we find someone who has different political beliefs than we do— instead of responding in hatred and fear—we should treat them with love and respect. As Christians, we are called to show God’s love to others—the same love God showed to us through Christ (Romans 5:8). • Melissa Yeagle . • Are you strongly for or against a certain political party or politician? If so, how do you treat those who have a different opinion than you? . • Why is it important for us to pray for those in political offices (1Timothy2:1-4)? . • Why is it important for us to show God’s love to others even when we do not agree with them? . But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! Matthew 5:44 (NLT)
Jesus is Fully God (Part 2)
December 25, 2019 • Taylor Eising • Matthew 2:1–12, Psalm 145:10
Three wise men, three kings, three magi—who were these people? The truth is, we don’t know a lot about them. But the Bible and history together do tell us a few things. . To begin with, the Bible never says there were three. The only reason we say “three wise men” is because they gave three gifts, so historically, Christians have talked about three people. And what are they called, anyway? The technical term is magi, which is a Greek word referring to a certain group, possibly from Persia, who studied the stars. When they traveled, they tended to do so in big groups, so maybe a better title for the song “We Three Kings” would be “We Caravan of Magi.” . God showed these magi a star that predicted the coming of a great King. As they traveled, probably for months or even years, He led them to Jesus, who was about two years old at the time. They recognized Jesus as the King whose birth had long been foretold. God opened their eyes to show them that this toddler was their Savior, and they bowed down and worshiped. These travelers from afar recognized Jesus as God before most of Israel, Jesus’ own people, did! . This incredible part of the story of Christ’s birth shows that Jesus is fully God. The very stars proclaim who He is. Jesus is God, and because of His goodness and holiness, His handiwork cannot help but praise Him. His Name and His divinity are written all throughout creation, and if we earnestly seek Him, He will reveal Himself to us, so that we may join in that chorus of praise (Psalm 19:1-3; Romans 1:20). • Taylor Eising . • Why is it important that Jesus is fully God? Could His sacrifice on the cross have saved us if He wasn’t fully God? (2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5-11) . • Has God revealed Himself to you in any unexpected ways? What are some ways that you catch glimpses of God in creation? . • It can be really hard to wrap your mind around the fact that Jesus is both completely God and completely human. It’s a divine mystery that can only be understood through faith. What questions do you have about it? Bring them to God! Who is a trusted Christian in your life you can also ask about these questions? . All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, and Your saints shall bless You. Psalm 145:10 (NKJV)
Christmas: Truth Stranger Than Fiction?
December 21, 2019 • Christiana Cudworth • Matthew 1:18—2:6, Luke 4:21
What a fairy tale! Angels, a virgin birth, a manger, shepherds, magi... it's a great story to make us all fuzzy and warm at Christmas. But can we seriously believe the story of Jesus’ birth is true? . God knew the Christmas story was going to be wildly unique. In fact, He made it that way on purpose. Why? So we could know that it really is truth. . How? He told us about it beforehand. The Old Testament prophecies aren’t just Christmas poetry; they’re solid, compelling evidence that the baby in the manger was God. Take a look! . “Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; one will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin is from antiquity, from ancient times.” That’s Micah 5:2. The Messiah would be from lowly Bethlehem...written about seven hundred years before Christ came! . “Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.” This one is Isaiah 7:14, also about seven hundred years before Christmas. Immanuel, we know, means “God with us”; Isaiah is saying God will come to be with us, born of a virgin. . “Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—a Spirit of wisdom and understanding... His delight will be in the fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:1-3). Jesse was King David’s father: Jesus’ direct ancestor. And Jesus—discussing theology with the religious leaders at age twelve and blessed by the Holy Spirit at his baptism—fits the prophecy entirely (Matthew 3:13-16; Luke 2:41-52). . Those three verses are just a tiny taste of the prophecies that the miracle called Christmas fulfilled. Truth stranger than fiction? Sometimes it’s meant to be, so that we know it’s no coincidence. “Jesus is Truth” is the only explanation (John 14:6). • Christiana Cudworth . • How does Jesus fulfill the promises of Scripture (Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:39; Acts 10:43; 2 Corinthians 1:20; 2 Timothy 3:15)? . He [Jesus] began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.” Luke 4:21 (CSB)
Look Up
December 17, 2019 • Cara Campbell • Isaiah 26:3, Matthew 14:22–23, John 1:12, Hebrews 12:2
As I was out running one day, I realized how often I look down. I found myself watching my shoes, somewhat to keep my footing but mostly because I didn’t want to make eye contact with anyone who might see me. . Sometimes we bury ourselves in distractions to avoid the uncomfortable, the insecurities. Or we focus on our circumstances, looking for some thing or some one to fix what’s wrong in our lives. The answer to all of it? Jesus. . So, LOOK UP: . From your feet... in Christ, you are a child of the King, delighted in, chosen, free. Stand tall because you are His. . From your distractions... the device in your hand, the social media scrolling, the texting... look up at the beautiful people He has surrounded you with. Look them in the eyes, show them Christ’s love, and be in regular community with other believers. Look to Jesus to fill your desires, bring peace to your anxious heart, and give you strength for each day. . From your circumstances... like Peter walking on the water to Jesus, when we focus on the wind and waves—the impossible, the struggles—we lose sight of Him. We begin to sink in fear. But, when we take our eyes off of Him, He reaches out His hand to catch us. Even when we fail, He loves us enough to reach for us, not abandon us. . Keep your eyes on Jesus. Look to Him. He is faithful. He is able. And He is worthy. • Cara Campbell . • What causes you to look down? Fear? Insecurities? . • Why is it important to fix our eyes on Jesus in every situation? . • How does belonging to Jesus allow us to love others—free from fear of what they’ll think of us (1 John 4:18-19)? . Keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith. Hebrews 12:2 (CSB)
The Talk
December 11, 2019 • Taylor Eising • Matthew 19:4–6, Ephesians 5:25–33, Hebrews 13:4–5, Genesis 1:31
Christians are notoriously bad at talking about sex. We gloss over it, give incomplete information, and usually end the conversation with, “Sex is bad. Don’t do it.” So, on behalf of Christians everywhere, I want to apologize. Sometimes we struggle with awkward subjects. We make the mistake of believing that sex has nothing to do with the gospel. But God’s Word says otherwise. . The Bible is overwhelmingly clear: creation is good, and that means sex is good when it is used as it was created, in its God-given context of marriage (Genesis 1:27, 31; 2:23-25). God created us male and female, and He did that on purpose. Males in their male-ness and females in their female-ness—brought together in the one-man-one-woman-one-lifetime covenant of marriage before God— reflect His image in a unique way that, according to Scripture, points to God’s relationship with us, His church. . You see, sex is a reminder of a covenant that has already been made. It physically acts out the fact that, in marriage, spouses have given their whole selves over to that other person, just like Jesus has given His whole Self over to us. Sex is an act of loving completely, faithfully, and freely, mirroring the way Jesus loves us completely, faithfully, and freely. Sex says, “I give everything I am to you. I will never leave or abandon you. I have made a covenant with you, and I will never break that covenant.” Has Jesus ever said things like that? . Here’s the hard part for you, as people who, I assume, are not yet married: we cannot act out a covenant that we have not made (and that covenant must be made publicly, before God and the church). If we do, we are lying with our bodies. Sex is a good gift from God, and when we misuse this good gift, it is a sin just like any other sin. But, my friends, there is abounding grace in Jesus. Rest in the One who loves you more than anyone, including a future spouse (if that’s what He has planned for you), ever could. • Taylor Eising . • How does the fact that we bear God’s image affect sexuality (lust, pornography, etc.)? . • Who is a trusted Christian in your life you can talk to about questions you have about sex? . God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day. Genesis 1:31 (CSB)
The Bread of Life
November 27, 2019 • Cheryl Elton • Deuteronomy 8:1–3, Matthew 4:1–4, John 6:47–48
When your stomach growls, nothing satisfies like good food. But what about spiritual hunger? Jesus said if we go to Him, we would not go hungry, for He is the “bread of life” (John 6:35). . It’s easy to feel spiritually full after a great church retreat, an awesome Christian concert, or an exciting time of helping others. But often, when we feel spiritually empty, our default is to go shopping, go to the gym, or eat some chocolate. While these things all have merit on their own, none can replace our daily need for Jesus, the true Bread of Life. . In the Old Testament, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years on their way to the Promised Land. During that time, God was teaching them to humble themselves, to trust Him, and to hear His voice. Each day He rained down manna (bread) from heaven to feed them. If they tried to save bread for the next day, it would go bad. This was so they could learn to rely on God’s provision one day at a time. . This true story of the Israelites points to Jesus, who was tempted in the wilderness for forty days. During this time, He too trusted God, quoting from Deuteronomy: “Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). . Just as the Israelites and the Son of God trusted God for daily sustenance, we trust God to provide our spiritual nourishment, like the manna, every day. It’s important that we daily feast on Jesus by studying and dwelling on the truths found in His Word, the Bible—both individually and with other believers at church. . Whenever we find ourselves spiritually malnourished, we need only call upon Jesus. He is the Bread we need, and in His presence, we will never go hungry. • Cheryl Elton . • When you feel spiritually depleted, what do you usually do? . • How is Jesus the bread we need (John 6:4-15, 25-40)? Why is it important to make Jesus—and all He has done—central to our lives? . • What are ways you can feast on Jesus by digging into God’s Word regularly? . “Truly I [Jesus] tell you, anyone who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life.” John 6:47-48 (CSB)
Back to Life
November 26, 2019 • Deb Gardner Allard • 1 Corinthians 15:20–28, Romans 10:9, Matthew 27:45–54
"Look at all the zombies coming out of the ground!” said Spencer, tossing a handful of popcorn in his mouth while watching the final minutes of his new favorite show, "Living Zombies." . He tossed a pillow at his sixteen-year-old sister who sat curled up with a book on the sofa. “Man, this show is fantastic, Izzy. You should watch it. There’s this Gleaner who can bring zombies back to life.” . “He might raise zombies, but I know someone who will raise us from the dead.” . As you probably guessed, Izzy meant Jesus, who died on the cross for our sins. Three days later, He came back to life again, proving He’s God. Five hundred people saw Him after He rose from the grave. He told His followers He was going to heaven to prepare a place for us so that we’ll be with Him there when we die (John 14:1-3). And, one day, when He returns to make all things new, He will raise us back to life. . But how can we get this forever (or eternal) life? . Eternal life comes from God, the source of life. Death is caused by sin because sin separates us from God—and we all sin (Isaiah 59:2; John 14:6; Romans 3:23). The Bible, God’s Word, tells us that we must trust Jesus alone as our Savior from sin and death. He offers salvation as a gift to us by the power of His resurrection (Romans 10:9; Acts 17:30-31). Many times, when we’re given something, we have to give something back in return, but this gift of life is free (Romans 6:23). . So, the good news is this: if we trust Jesus, He will always be with us, and when we die, it won’t be permanent. We will live with Him forever with resurrected bodies made new by Him. • Deb Gardner Allard . • Because of Jesus, death isn’t permanent. How does this truth affect your view of the future? . • What questions do you have about today’s reading? Who is a trusted Christian in your life you could bring those questions to? . • Have more questions about eternal life? Learn more on our "Know Jesus" page. . If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 (CSB)
Heart Transplants
November 19, 2019 • Rosemarie Pagano • Jeremiah 17:9–10, Ezekiel 11:19–20, Matthew 15:19
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Just follow your heart!” or “Listen to your heart!” These seem like cheerful, loving sentiments, don’t they? The only problem is, apart from Jesus, our hearts are sinful, and they are definitely not worth following or listening to. . In Jeremiah 17:9, the human heart is described as “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” Later, Jesus said that it isn’t what goes into a man that defiles him, but what comes out of a man (Matthew 15:11). And these are not the only verses in the Bible that refer to the heart! Ultimately, some of the meanest and most evil things in the world come out of the human heart. That means we all have a kind of heart trouble because our personalities come from the heart, the center of our being. . Similar to how cardiac surgeons can remove a failing physical heart and replace it with a healthier donor heart, our Lord can give us new hearts through the Holy Spirit. When we come to Him through faith, He gives us new life. We are born again and given a new nature—a heart transplant (2 Corinthians 5:17). The Great Physician replaces our sinful and stony heart with a heart of flesh. He has been performing spiritual heart transplants for a long time, so no case is too complicated for Him! What good news! • Rosemarie Pagano . • What surprised you in today’s reading? . • If you have questions about what it means to have a new heart through Jesus, check out our "Know Jesus" page. . Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 11:19 (NKJV)
Powerful Prayer
November 14, 2019 • Cara Campbell • Exodus 32:7–14, Matthew 6:5–13, John 5:14
We’ve all heard stories of miraculous things happening when people pray. We know from God’s Word that prayer “is powerfully effective” (James 5:16). But perhaps your experience with prayer feels silent. Or maybe God has answered your prayers differently than you expected. So how do we pray in a way that really is “powerfully effective”? . In today’s reading, Moses approached God to plead for his people to be spared after they had sinned against God by building an idol to worship instead of worshiping the one true God. But here’s the interesting part: Moses’ prayer was not just asking for mercy for the people. His prayer was not even for himself, for his reputation as a leader, or for the sake of comfort. . His powerful plea and prayer was for God’s honor and glory to be known. Moses prayed, focusing on God’s faithfulness to the people. He prayed, remembering God’s promises to them. And he prayed his people would be spared from God’s just wrath so that the nations could look on and see God’s powerful hand and marvel at all He had done in and through His people. . What would happen if our prayers were focused on God’s glory rather than our own comfort? What if we prayed with this expectation: “God, I cannot wait to see what You’re going to do here, even if it’s not the answer I want. Show Your strength through me”? . Praying this way takes our eyes off of ourselves and brings them to the One who works mightily on our behalf, even when the outcome isn’t what we hope for. He works in all things and His glory shines, even in our darkest days (Romans 8:28). . So, we can remember what He’s done for us in the past, His faithfulness walking beside us now, and the wonderful hope of His coming kingdom in the future. We can pray expectantly about what He’ll do to show His faithfulness— and His glory—to all who see. • Cara Campbell . • What things are you praying about right now? . • How could you pray for these requests differently by focusing on God’s glory and promises? . This is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us. 1 John 5:14 (WEB)
Unhealthy Healthiness
November 6, 2019 • David Shorts • Colossians 3:2–4, Matthew 6:19–33
I don’t mean to brag, but I’ve had a six-pack (abs, not sodas) on and off for about twenty years. Exercise has become part of my lifestyle. But something I realized about ten years ago was that my weight training had become an obsession. It slowly moved from low priority, to medium priority, to high priority, and finally to, “Life, get out of the way, because I’m working out no matter what!” . This is called an obsession. Even if you don’t work out, I’m still talking to you because obsessions come in many forms. . My obsession may have been about health, but it wasn’t healthy. You see, an obsession is when something takes God’s place as the decision-maker for all other areas of your life—rather than Christ being at the center of all of your decisions. Obsessions can be about anything: appearances, video games, sports, clothes, relationships, etc. Schoolwork can even become an obsession. (No, you don’t get to skip homework tonight.) . The bottom line is this: What do you place your identity in—Christ or something else? Is belonging to Jesus and His kingdom the central reason behind everything you do? If Christ is not your identity, then your life is built on sand (Matthew 7:21-29). . Sure, your obsession may not be about an evil thing, but it can become evil when you believe the lie that it can ultimately satisfy you. Hope, identity, and satisfaction are only found in the Person and work of Jesus Christ (Psalm 107:9; John 14:6; 1 Peter 1:3). • David Shorts . • What obsessions have taken the place of Jesus and His kingdom in your decision-making? . • How can you honor Christ in the activities you enjoy without placing your identity in them? . But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)
Get Some Rest
November 5, 2019 • Alexis Wohler • Matthew 11:28, Genesis 2:2, 1 Kings 19:1–8
"There will be a test over the material later this week,” Ashley heard the professor say as her class ended. "Will I even have time to study for that test?" she wondered. . She was taking college classes while in high school and working part-time to pay for them. Just as she felt the stress close in on her, her friend Ryan caught up with her in the hallway. “Ashley, wait up. I’ll walk you to your next class,” he offered. . Ashley tried not to show how stressed she was, but Ryan figured it out. “You’re working all week. You don’t think you’ll have time to study for this test, do you?” . When Ashley nodded, Ryan asked, “How about we get coffee after school and quiz each other on the material?” . “Count me in,” said Ashley. . Later that afternoon, Ryan quizzed Ashley at the coffee shop. But her eyes kept closing. . “History records dictate that... Ashley is asleep from exhaustion,” Ryan said, laughing lightly as he touched her arm to wake her up. . “Huh... What? Did I seriously fall asleep? Sorry about that.” . Ryan finally asked her what was wrong. Ashley admitted she was having trouble keeping up with the demands of classes and said she had no one to lean on. . “You’ve got me, Ash. I’m always here for you. If you really need rest, go to sleep early tonight. God can give you rest too, like it says in Matthew 11:28.” . As Ashley studied later that night, Ryan’s kind words and the verse he had mentioned kept coming back to her: “Come to me, all of you who are weary... and I will give you rest.” . She let the words sink in, praying, "Lord, if I’m going to pass this test, I need rest. Please fill me with Your peace." As she finished praying, she felt calmer. She closed her books and finally got some sleep. • Alexis Wohler . • Sometimes it feels like everything in the world depends on us. How does it bring you peace knowing that your life depends on Jesus, not you? . • God created us to need rest, which is why He gave us the Sabbath. What are some ways you can practice intentional rest in your own life? . • Who can you talk to when you feel overwhelmed and exhausted? . Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NLT)
He Gone
November 3, 2019 • Heather Risher • 1 John 4:10, Exodus 26:31–33, Matthew 27:35–37, Romans 8:39
We are all human and we all sin, so, until we see Jesus face-to-face, there will be times when we mess up (Romans 3:23; 2 Corinthians 3:18). . When we stumble, slip, and fall, sometimes it seems impossible to find our way back. We let our failures keep us from going back to our forgiving, loving God, giving them far too much influence in our lives. . Have you ever thought any of the following? . • God could never love me after everything I’ve done. . • He’ll never take me back now. . • He’s probably looking down on me now, thinking, “Well, he gone.” . • What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I just get it right? . My friend, let me tell you some truth: you are never too far gone. There is nothing you can do to separate yourself from God’s love in Christ. . We have sinned and will continue to sin; there is no avoiding it. But the good news is that Jesus Christ, who is God, came to live here as a human and die for our sins. When He died on the cross, He took all our sin with Him. He paid the price for our sins so we don’t have to. . Jesus loves us so much that He died for us and will never leave us. Because of what He did, we find our new identity in Him, not in our sinfulness. He will go to the ends of the earth to find us and love us with all His being. . Jesus tore the veil (our sin) that separated us from God (Isaiah 59:2). He rose from the grave and gave us a way to live with Him eternally. . Think about it. We can look at our sin and at that empty tomb and gladly say, “He gone.” • Heather Risher . • What has made you feel like you are too far gone? . • When have you felt this way? Is there anything connecting these times? . • What can you do to remember how loved you are in Christ? . Nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39 (CSB)
Family Matters
November 2, 2019 • Hope Bolinger • Matthew 12:46–50
If anyone understands messed up families, it’s Jesus. . Imagine the ridicule He received growing up when His neighbors and friends assumed His mother had Him out of wedlock. People at school probably muttered about how neither Jesus nor Mary deserved to live. Their cruel words could have rivaled some of the insults I received from bullies in middle school. . Add to that, His father likely died before He began His ministry. With few occupations available for widows back then, taking care of Mary became Jesus’ responsibility as the firstborn (John 19:25-27). No pressure there, especially on top of the whole Messiah gig. . Not to mention His mother and siblings stormed one of His sermons, likely to tell Him to keep quiet. Even James, Jesus’ brother, doubted Jesus’ true identity as the Messiah until long after His death and resurrection. You heard that right: His own brother didn’t believe in Him. . Growing up, when confronted with constant sibling fights and my parents’ divorce, I hated the meaning of family. To me, family meant slamming doors and shouting matches. I would forget that I have a family bigger than the one in my house. Even though my biological mother and brothers may cause disappointment, my family in Christ gives me hope because, in Him, I always have a family—one that lasts forever, rooted in His promises. . Sure, we mess up. Our Christ-family still slams doors and causes deep hurts. But we all take part in a restoration process. Messed up? Sure. Storming Jesus’ kingdom to tell Him He’s not doing a good job? Guilty as charged. . But Jesus calls us family, walking with us and restoring our broken selves through His death and resurrection. If anyone can turn a messy family into something beautiful, it’s Him. • Hope Bolinger . • Everybody has some brokenness in their family. What kinds of brokenness do you see in your family? Pray for Jesus to restore your family and heal your hurts. . • Maybe your family is also part of your Christ-family. Wonderful! Praise God for that here. But maybe your family doesn’t believe in Jesus. Take time here to pray for them and to ask God to show you how to tell them about Jesus. . For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother. Matthew 12:50 (CSB)