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During this last week Bruce and I were traveling across Alabama, from Albertville to Tuscaloosa to Birmingham and then home again. Many of you know we work with Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, a mission training course and I am an instructor. Perspectives isn’t a course solely about world missions. It’s a study program rooted in scripture, clarifying each believer’s opportunity to join God in His global purpose. Last week, I was teaching a Perspective class, lesson 10, the cultural lesson, “How Shall They Hear?” in four different classes in Alabama. This particular class refers to the sensitivity that is required to convey the message of the gospel across cultural barriers. The gospel spreads powerfully within a culture, but does not jump easily across cultural boundaries. In this lesson students explore what culture is, and how they can better jump across cultural barriers that have long obstructed the advancement of the gospel. They also explore how to communicate the culture at the deep level, the heart level, and why it’s important to look for keys or unique ways to bridge and communicate God’s truth.

         Paul often ministered cross-culturally. In fact, he said that “It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ has not already been named” or known. (Rom 15:20).  I heard one theologian describe Paul as a sort of Hudson Taylor meets Jim Elliot with a dash of Indiana Jones adventurer, heading off to the Black Hole of Calcutta to be tortured regularly for preaching the gospel. However, honestly, I don’t think being beaten and ship-wrecked was part of Paul’s ministry strategy. Certainly, those were things he didn’t choose but he endured on behalf of the gospel. He was also willing to step into challenging areas of cross-cultural ministry.

         In one of the few episodes in which Paul is seen traveling alone, the apostle chooses to engage with philosophers in Athens (Acts 17:16-34). He observes the city’s many idols and distressed by them, he first joins a theological discussion at the synagogue. Afterward a group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with Paul. “Others took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean” . (Acts 17:19-20). Having piqued their interest, Paul stands up to address the Athenians at the Areopagus (or Mars Hill), the center of Greek religiosity. Notably, Paul takes a positive approach. In his opening remarks Paul reminded his audience of how religious they were and how he had noticed a statue with the inscription, agnosto theo, “to the unknown God” (Acts 17:23). This opened the way for Paul to declare the true God. Wisely he did not denounce Athenian idolatry which would only have closed the minds of his hearers to his message. Strategically, he used commendation rather than condemnation. Then later, in God’s timing, he would provide the powerful story of the gospel, that it may cleanse and reform the society. Paul intentionally opts not to begin his address by pushing his own beliefs (scripture) or attacking the Athenians’ views (idolatry). Instead, he seeks common ground. Paul neither attacks the Athenians nor condescends because he knows he has knowledge to which they are not yet privy. He didn’t describe them as bad people. Rather, he states that because of their ignorance  about the “unknown god”, they simply are unaware of the good news of the true God as yet.

         Paul began his speech by identifying what was missing in their Greek religious worldview. The fact that the Athenians had built an altar to “an unknown god” (Acts 17:23) indicated that there was a sense of inadequacy. They could not give a name to this “unknown god” because they did not know who he was. This provided Paul opportunity to address “the unknown god” with the positive content of the gospel. (Acts 17:27-29). Paul showed great sensitivity in quoting, not the Old Testament, as he always did when speaking to Jews, but he used quotes from Greek poets who were familiar in the Greek culture in order to bridge with them. Notice that without compromising the gospel, Paul determined a way to bridge with non-Christian sources typical of the Greek culture to establish some common ground.

         The Athenians had taken the first step toward knowing God in that they were supernaturalists (belief in an invisible higher power) (Acts 17:22). Their unusual respect for deities is indicated by the fact that “the unknown God” was also worshipped. This worship assumes that they have at least a knowledge of a greater god, the existence of one. Paul makes use of this: “Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. ²⁵ And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. “(Acts 17:23-25). Paul bridges with the Greek audience by way of “the unknown god”; but his point of contact is their ignorance. It would have been impossible for them had they denied God’s existence to ever know Him, since “he who comes to God must believe that He is” (Hebrews 11:6). No one will search for a path to a destination they believe does not exist. And they must have believed there was a god (among all their deities) whom they did not know yet.

As Paul’s strategy continues, he quotes two other key scriptures to his Greek audience., 

1) “in Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28) Interestingly, philosophers seem to always be discussing topics like “man’s existence” and his “state of being”. Paul, with the Holy Spirit’s leading, strategically chose that particular scripture to bridge and connect with his Greek audience. Then Paul continued with….

2) “for we are indeed His offspring.” (Acts 17:28) Here Paul is stating that if we live and have our being in this “unknown God” then we cannot possibly be offspring of lesser gods for we could only be offsprings of the superior God, this “unknown God” that Paul was proclaiming to them.

         At the Areopagus the “unknown God” speech of Paul remains before us as a perfect example of witnessing the Gospel in a cross-cultural setting. Paul reminds us that the cultural sensitivity in preaching to people from different backgrounds is a must in our missionary endeavors. He takes a respectful and humble approach; he does not simply conform to their worldview and beliefs, rather he seeks to correct and transform the Athenian’s understanding of God. Sharing the gospel is not a matter of a packaged 

step 1, step 2 and so forth. Steps are merely guidelines for witnessing, but ultimately, it is the Holy Spirit’s guiding wisdom upon which we must be dependent. Paul’s approach teaches us that cross-cultural ministry and discipleship must be alert to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and ready to adapt quickly to unexpected situations.

Let’s pray:

1) “And I will ask the Father, and he will give our children another advocate to help them and be with them forever.” (John 14:16)

2) “May the God of hope fill our children with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit they may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13)

3) “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26) May our children depend on the Holy Spirit and lean into His teachings in all that they do.

4) “Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever.” (1 Peter 4:11) May it be true for our children.

5) “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) May our children be follow hard fast after Jesus all of their lives. 

In Luke 15:11–32 (please take a moment and read these verses) the parable of the prodigal son, or one might say, the parable of the prodigal sons (plural) is a famous story about a father — a blameless father — and his two sons, who are anything but blameless. Each of the sons are entrapped by their own sin in very different ways. For parents of prodigal sons and daughters, and for the lost, in general, this story resonates deeply in offering hope and encouragement. I know it does for me. This story has so many layers of encouragement in it. I don’t think anybody has ever discovered them all. The Prodigal is an amazing portrait of the gracious, encouraging heart of God. Jesus is the great Encourager! Let’s take a closer look at the parable of the Prodigal. What do we learn about our heavenly Father? 

1) God pursues sinners– The father in the parable is a picture of God acting in Christ to save prodigals and lost people. We need to think of Him that way. He’s pursuing sinners!

2) God is glad to have prodigals come home– There’s this jubilant celebration over a single sinner who repents, prodigal or not. “I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7). Notice in The Prodigal, the father says, “Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him. . . Let us eat and celebrate (Luke 15:22–23). So, God’s heart in this parable is thrilled to have prodigals come home. He’s not begrudging; he’s glad!

3) God can use our suffering to awaken us to His revelation. The prodigal son experiences a change of heart at the lowest point of his miserable life. He’s even ready to share food with the pigs. And finally, during the most dreadful season of his life, “he came to himself” (Luke 15:17), which means he came to his senses. The encouraging thing is that just when it appeared absolutely hopeless is when he experienced his greatest awakening! 

4) God’s heart runs toward his children. Perhaps the most tender and powerful moment in the parable is the moment when the father sees the boy a long way off and runs to greet  him, not walks. He runs to greet him. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). The father saw, he felt, he ran, he embraced, he kissed! Wow… I want that to be me and my heart for the lost who come home.  Let us keep that picture in our minds, not only as a picture of God’s heart, but to make our own hearts tender and eager that way.

5) God can raise the dead– The father describes the change in the boy’s life as a change from death to life. “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found” (Luke 15:24) This is encouraging because the father did not minimize the dreadfulness of his young son’s condition. The young son was dead. From a merely human standpoint, he was hopeless. Yet, we should never look upon the hardness, the indifference, even the bitterness or the cynicism of a person and think, “That can’t change. This is never going to change.” (Ugh! I’m talking to myself right now!) But, my friends, we can’t think that way! People can change! He who was dead lives!

6) God invites both sons to come home– Remember that this father in the parable had two prodigals, not just one. When Jesus was eating with the tax collectors and sinners, there were two groups of lost people he had to deal with. One was the tax collectors and sinners, and the other was the scribes and Pharisees. The tax collectors and sinners are represented in the parable by the prodigal son, and the scribes and Pharisees are represented by the older son who was angry and legalistic. He was angry that the father was celebrating the return of the younger son. It’s as if he was angry about his brother embracing new life and salvation. Was he not glad that his younger brother was alive again? This older brother, like the Pharisees, saw his relationship with the father in terms of earning privileges rather than enjoying a relationship. And how did the father respond to this wayward thinking of the second prodigal son? “… his father went out and pleaded with him” (Luke 15:28). Surprisingly, I’ve always had a compassionate heart for the Pharisees. They wanted to be so right with God that they went overboard and created over 6000 laws to try to help the Hebrew people remain in right standing with God. They became legalistic and lost sight of their true purpose before God. Sometimes people think that Jesus never cared or pursued the Pharisees. They think that Jesus only had negative things to say about them and that he never invited them to believe. And yet, isn’t that what’s going on right here with the older son in the Prodigal parable? In verse 28, the older son was angry, and he refused to go in and be a part of his younger brother’s celebration of life and salvation. Yet, his father, just like he did with the younger son, came out and pleaded with him. He was not angry. Not only did the father come out to meet the younger son, he came out and pleaded with the legalistic older son. The word says (Rom.2:11) “For there is no partiality with God.” All are welcome at the cross who come running home, repent and believe… That includes prodigals, any lost people, and yes, even a Pharisee.” Jesus pursues them all.

         Throughout the Bible Jesus stands with us. He picks us up, wipes our noses and sends us forward. In Acts 23:1-11, we read that Jesus stands by the side of Paul in his prison cell and says, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.” Wow!  Jesus was and is the great ENCOURAGER. The Lord who is always beside us encouraging says: “Take courage!”

1) To a paralytic, lying on his bed, Jesus said, “Take courage, my son, your sins are forgiven” (Matt. 9:2).

2) To the woman with the hemorrhage who touched the fringe of Jesus’ coat, He said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has saved you” (Matt. 9:22, lit.).

3) To the disciples, who thought that Jesus walking on the water was a ghost, He said, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matt. 14:27; parallel, Mark 6:50).

4) To the disciples on the night He was betrayed, Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).         

Truly, Jesus is the Lord who encourages those who are discouraged and without hope!  He commands us to “Take courage.”  Do you realize that this is a command? It’s a gentle and gracious command, but it is a command. We are accountable for our part as we partner with our Father. Let’s look at 1 Sam. 30:6, “David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. My friends let us take heart and remember Jesus’ encouragement to us and may we, in turn, spread that encouraging courage to others for His glory, in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

     The last prayer in the Bible, which is also one of the shortest was written by John the apostle. He simply said, “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20)

Three words, and yet, so much is inferred within that simple prayer.  John’s prayer is layered with heartache and anticipation, with distress and hope, with agony and joy. Can you imagine the apostle John, the disciple whom Jesus loved (John 13:23), savoring these three words, “Come, Lord Jesus!”, while abandoned among criminals on the island of Patmos? The promise that Christ will come again feels even sweeter when life on earth feels cruel and unyielding. It’s as if John is making a desperate attempt to literally draw the risen Jesus out of heaven, as he is fervently praying with all his might. The rocky ground beneath his knees was more than a prison; it was a model of the curse, twenty square miles overrun with the consequences of earthly sins. Suffering does that. It opens our eyes wider to all that sin has ruined. It lends an insight into just how much pain and devastation sin has brought to the world. And yet, in a strange way, suffering often awakens in us the promise of Jesus’ coming.

     Weakness and illness make us long all the more for new bodies. Prolonged relational conflicts make us long all the more for peace. Wars, earthquakes, and hurricanes (quite familiar to us in Florida) make us long all the more for a secure life, a secure ground to stand upon. The sin across this fallen world makes us long all the more for sinlessness. “Come, Lord Jesus!” is the cry of someone who really expects a better world to come — and soon. Suffering only intensifies our longing and anticipation. The prayer “Come, Lord Jesus!” is really many prayers in one. What will happen when Christ finally returns? The opening verses of Revelation 21 tell us just how many of our prayers will be answered on that day.

     “Come, Lord Jesus”, and dry our tears. Followers of Jesus are not spared sorrow in this life. In fact, following him often means more tears. Jesus himself warned us it would be so: “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). And yet, Jesus promises to never leave us or forsake us. He promises to guide us and protect us. He is with us always even through the storms of this life. But one day, “He will wipe away every tear from our eyes” (Rev. 21:4). In that world, we will not have tribulation, or sorrow, or distress, or persecution, or danger. When he returns, we’ll never have another reason to cry.

     “Come, Lord Jesus”, and put an end to our pain. Some long for the end of heartache; others feel the consequences of sin in their bodies. For some, pain has followed them like a shadow. Revelation 21:4 continues, “. . . neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore.” Can you imagine someone who has battled chronic pain for decades waking up one morning and feeling no more pain? The absence of pain will free our senses to enjoy the world like never before.

     “Come, Lord Jesus”, and put death to death. Jesus came on the earth that we may have eternal life defeating the power of death. Yes, death lost its sting when the Son of God died. But one day, death itself will die. When the author of life comes, “death shall be no more” (Revelation 21:4).

     “Come, Lord Jesus”, and rid us of sin. John wrote in verse 3, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.” Through that verse, John knew that God would not dwell with sin. For God to come and dwell with us, he will have to first completely destroy the sin that remains in us and in the earth— and that’s exactly what Jesus promises to do. The sin that hides in every shadow and behind every corner will be suddenly extinct. “Jesus will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil”. (Matthew 13:41). “When he appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).

     “Come, Lord Jesus”, and make it all new. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth” (Rev.21:1).  Whatever fears have plagued you, whatever trials have surprised you, whatever clouds have followed you, they will all be transformed, in the twinkling of an eye, and stripped of their threats. In the world to come, we will have nothing to fear, nothing to mourn, nothing to endure, nothing to confess. Can you imagine?

     More than a prayer for relief, or safety, or healing, or even sinlessness, though, “Come, Lord Jesus!” is a prayer for Him, Jesus, our Savior and Lord. The burning heart of John’s three-word plea is not for what Jesus does, but for who He is. This is clear throughout the book of Revelation. The world to come is a world we want because Jesus lives there. His presence is paradise. John’s prayer, after all, “Come, Lord Jesus!”, is a response to Jesus promising three times in the previous verses, “Behold, I am coming soon. . .  Behold, I am coming soon. . .  Surely, I am coming soon.” (Rev. 22:7,12,20). The world to come is a world to want because Jesus lives there.

     While the apostle wasted away in prison, he could see the Bridegroom on the horizon (Rev. 1:12-16). His hair white, like snow. His eyes filled with fire. His feet, like burnished bronze. His face, like the sun shining in full strength. The man he had walked with, talked with, laughed with, and surely cried with, now fully glorified and ready to receive and rescue his bride, the church. The Treasure was no longer hidden in a field, but riding on the clouds. Even the vision of the new heavens and new earth in Revelation 21 makes God himself the greatest prize of the world to come: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God” (Rev. 21:3). Yes, we want a world without grief, without pain, without fear, without death. But better to have a world like ours with God, than to have any other world without Him. His presence defines paradise. Nothing less can satisfy us. . . 

       As Randy Alcorn in his book Heaven wrote, “We think that what we want is a new job, a raise, a doctorate, a spouse, sex, drugs, alcohol, a large-screen television, a new car, a cabin in the woods, a condo in Hawaii. When what we really want is the person we were made for, Jesus, and the place we were made for, Heaven. We may imagine we want a thousand different things, but God is the one we really long for. His presence brings satisfaction; his absence brings thirst and longing. Our longing for Heaven is a longing for God.”

     When Jesus comes again, we will eat, drink and rejoice without end. Hunger and thirst will become distant memories. If worries have robbed you of sleep, if pain has made even normal days hard, if loved ones have been taken from this earth, if life has sometimes seemed stacked against you, if you can’t shake a restless aching from within, then come away to a quiet place and bask in the presence of Jesus. Take time to rest in Him a while. Seek His face. Seek Him with all your heart. Share His Word with others. Worship Him. Abide in Him. He is your all in all. This world may be the only world we’ve known, but a better world is coming…  and there’s still room at His table.

This month our church has been in the midst of fasting and praying for 21 days as we begin the New Year 2024. A fast is a way of expressing a greater need beyond ourselves, our need of God and greater intimacy with Him. There is so much more I could say on the subject, but essentially, it’s a surrender, a renewal, a relinquishing of self, and a pressing in to the very heart of God. During a fast there comes a moment when you have to come clean with God…A moment when you need to unveil your secrets, struggles, and sins… 

A moment when you need to fall full weight on the grace of God.

During my prayer time, I’ve asked the lord repeatedly what is an attribute of God that he would like to have me focus on and grow in this year? Matthew 11:28-29 says: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you will find rest for your soul”. I want so much to learn of Him. So, in response, I began to notice Him speaking to me each day of His bountiful “Grace.” Praise God for abundant grace! I have so many questions that I’m asking Him and little by little answers are unfolding.

Sunday at church our pastor spoke on the familiar story of David and Goliath. Even though it’s a well-known story, I’m always amazed by the layers of treasure-filled wisdom hidden in God’s holy word, layers upon layers. I’ve always thought of David as such a strong, mighty, powerful man of God. Yes, I know he sinned greatly with Bathsheba, it’s true. However, as believers why do we sometimes believe or act as though our sin disqualifies us or others from the grace of God? According to Romans 5:15:

 “If many died through one man’s trespass, how much more did God’s grace and the free gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many.” 

So, therefore, grace is that quality in God that produces free gifts for guilty sinners. 

And according to Romans 11:5-6, you can’t work to earn grace. It is free and undeserved. 

“At the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.”

None of us would be saved if grace was not undeserved favor.

So back to David’s story…Over the years, I’ve grown to really appreciate David. I know that he has his clear failures, and yet he is such a compelling and genuinely good king and man. I think of him as the shepherd who became king and “the sweet psalmist of Israel”. 

(2 Samuel 23:1). I think of him as a young warrior, who fought, lions, bears and a 

9-foot 6-inch giant. And this young boy was even strong enough to draw Goliath’s massive sword from its sheath and cut through his giant neck to take off his head! That seems unfathomable! 

In 2 Samuel 17, we see David’s son Absalom rebel against his father, march on Jerusalem, and send David retreating. David’s loyal friend Hushai characterizes David to Absalom:

“You know that your father and his men are mighty men, and that they are enraged, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. Besides, your father is expert in war.” (2 Sam. 17:8) 

Not just his men, but David himself is mighty — and David in particular is expert in war.

In fact, the first time Scripture speaks of David, even before the Goliath account, he is introduced by one of Saul’s servants not only as “skillful in playing” but as “a man of valor, a man of war” and “a man of good presence.”

“Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him.” (1 Samuel 16:18)

Eventually, in celebration of David’s many feats we read of women dancing in the streets, singing of the strength they see in David: “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands”. David grows up to be a fierce warrior and Saul sets David over the men of war. Then in order to win Saul’s daughter as his bride, David brings the king two hundred Philistine foreskins. Even later we hear of David leading thirty thousand warriors in battle and being victorious wherever he goes (2 Sam. 8:6). At the end of his life, the reason God gives as to why David will not be the one to build the temple is that he is “a man of war.” The Bible further describes him in 2 Samuel 22 He “can run against a troop,” and “leap over a wall” (verse 29).

He writes that God “equipped me with strength” (verse 32) and “made my feet like the feet of a deer” (verse 33). God “trained my hands for war,” he adds, making his arms strong enough to “bend a bow of bronze” (verse 34). To be sure, an amazing physical specimen, a fierce warrior, an all-around mighty man is king David!

Yet, as David celebrates God’s good provision of physical, prowess, David makes a striking claim in verse 35. To me this takes David’s manhood to a brand-new level, and surpasses the glory of slaying a giant in his youth. He says to God in 2 Sam..22:36, “Your gentleness made me great. Did you hear that? He’s telling God, “Your gentleness made me great.”

David is saying physical manifestations are not what made him great. He is saying it was God’s gentleness that made David great. What does it mean that God’s gentleness made him great? We might understand this in two ways. One, God had been gentle with David. David had flaws, many failures and sins. God could have rejected him and cut him off from the throne at any point. Yet God was gentle with him; he was gracious with him. And what’s more, David recognized the fact. Ladies, I’m talking “Grace” of God. Gentleness is graciousness. Gentleness is “Grace.” David did not deserve it, but God was gentle with him. Actually, I think David is saying even more here. Not only had the omnipotent God been gentle with David, but God’s own gentleness with David had changed David. God’s own grace had come to take root in David’s heart and characterize his own life and leadership. I’m suggesting that when David grew in His relationship with God and came to the throne and wielded kingdom power, he did so with gentleness. He did so with “Grace.” In humility and gentleness, David chooses to let Saul go free, even though he could have seized the kingdom from Saul. Even after Saul’s death, David takes initiative to show kindness and gentleness to make provision for the house of Saul. In fact, there are many more instances where David demonstrated gentleness and grace.

The greatness of David is not that he slew the giant Goliath. 

The greatness of David is that as a man he slew the giants in his own warrior’s heart: arrogance and pride, selfishness, unrighteous anger, petty disputes, personal offenses, and luxuries. David was a great king, and the type of the Anointed One to come. He was a man who was not weak, but strong, brave, kind, patient, and gentle. David, having learned from God’s own gentleness with him, learned how and when to be gentle with others. Rooted in grace is greatness!

1.”For by grace our children and grandchildren have been saved through faith. And this is not their own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8–9

2.”But he said to our children, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9–10

3.”For sin will have no dominion over our children, since they are not under law but under grace.”Rom.6:14 

Today, “In The Middle” is a phrase I’ve been pondering in John 19:16. There’s so much in those 3 words: “Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (Golgotha). There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus “in the middle”.

When Jesus was crucified on the cross, we know that there were two criminals that were crucified with Him. At the cross, Jesus was “numbered with the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12), one at his right side and one at his left. We would not be amiss in reasoning that the one criminal might represent unbelieving humanity who chooses to reject Christ, while the other represents believing humanity who sees the necessity of repentance and extends His hand to Jesus.

Moreover, both criminals insulted Jesus (Matt 27:44). However, after a time, one of the criminals had a change of heart and repented: “We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:41-43) Although both men were in Jesus’ presence, only one man, even though a criminal, chose to receive Jesus and the unconditional love and eternal life He offered him.. “In the Middle” was such a key position for Jesus and it is also for us, as His image-bearers.

In another story “…when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, ‘Are you for us or for our enemies?’ “NEITHER,’ he replied, ‘but as commander of the army of the Lord, I have now come.’ Then Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence, and asked him, ‘What message does my Lord have for his servant?’ The commander of the Lord’s army replied, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.’ And Joshua obeyed” (Joshua 5:13-15).

“NEITHER?” “Did He say neither?” What a startling response? “No choosing of sides?”… just focusing on a Holy God, on Holy ground, submitting in prayer, and obedient to God’s direction.

Today we see so much division and infighting among both believers and unbelievers. There is so much pressure to take sides and cancel out those who don’t follow suit. Today, I was imagining Jesus hanging on the cross” In the Middle” and thinking about all He represents: truth, unconditional love, faithfulness, peace, intercession and more. By the grace of God, may we choose to stand “In the Middle” surrendered to Jesus, and as He did on that cross: forgive our enemies, love the unlovable, share the truth of His Word with others, and cry out for the lost and those who persecute us. Lord may we not breed hatred and division through gossip, judgment of others, condemnation and self-righteousness. Father, persecution has escalated and the Great Accuser is trying with all His might to divide, tear down and destroy the churches, the believers, our witness and our ministries. May we not be entangled in taking sides, but rather position ourselves “In the Middle” with Jesus. By no means is this a weakened, inactive position. If we believe that, then perhaps we do not understand the fullness of the power that resides within us. May the Holy Spirit strengthen us to take an active position “In the Middle “with Jesus. After all, the One “In the Middle” arose, and in that one single, power-filled moment, mankind was changed forever !

Blessings to you,

Karen