Good Morning Friends,
Today we reflect on the plans and people God places in our lives, and how both our investments—and God’s investment in us—during the time in which we live, shape who we are becoming individually and collectively. When we step back and look at it all, it can overwhelm us enough to ask about the relevance and truth of some of what society has taught us and what feels right when it comes to a belief in God. So, Are We Seeing Our Lives Through God’s Larger Story and Thinking As A Whole? ?
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:26–31,Matthew 25:14–30,Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12–13,Matthew 5:1–12a, andRevelation 7:2–4, 9–14.
Message: We are on a journey toward holiness, and the saints cheer us on. But we live in a time when people deny the culture of Christ even when they benefit from it and swim in the waters of Christianity while denying its existence. Yet the road is not easy for those who have been blessed to believe. Scripture does not hide the reality of suffering, and neither should we. As Stephen Meyers reminds us, God’s call is not primarily to comfort but to conformity to Christ—to become holy, set apart for His purposes. We are not called to be admired, successful, or even simply “nice.” We are called to be holy.Alvin Plantinga helps us name the tension: we live in a world where evil and sorrow are real, yet they do not have the final word. God can bring good out of suffering without being its author, and our hope in Christ becomes a “defeater-defeater”—a truth strong enough to overcome despair. So we hold to the promise that a day is coming when God will wipe away every tear. Until then, we live with courage, drawing strength from the future God has already secured. Our trials are not random or meaningless. They may even be part of God’s wise and perfect plan to make us strong through weakness. Let love shape our attitudes, our choices, and our trust. Take the next step with Jesus. We do not need to fear. Through faith in Christ, we can endure the tensions of life and grow in holiness—even in suffering, even in the face of death.
And So, imagine the saints across all ages praying with us today—joining our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer in longing for a new heaven and a new earth. Their lives remind us that holiness is possible, even in hardship. Miracles are not only possible but to be expected. So today we do not mourn those who have come before; we celebrate the life we share in Christ. As we come to communion, we acknowledge that fear can steal our joy, yet it can also prepare us for the battles ahead. Divine love transcends all time, even this moment, and points us toward a future without tears.
Pray for the coming of God’s new creation not out of nothing but out of love that has meaning we can feel even though we may not be able to express it. Pray that we become new creatures in Christ our King. Pray for serenity in what we cannot change, courage in what we must change, and wisdom for the path ahead. Pray for peace that surpasses understanding. Pray that we trust, obey, and grow in holiness. Pray for unity with the saints across all time. Pray that in a topsy‑turvy world, we keep trusting God. Pray that we are equipped for sanctified living and rooted in a love that lasts.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 