Craig Cooper

David is known as a man after God’s heart. He is mentioned more times in the Bible than anyone other than God. Many of us immediately associate his name with his confrontation with the giant, Goliath. However, the Bible records many moments and events from his life. The life of David, like all of ours, was filled with highs and lows. A look at David provides numerous lessons from the life of this ancient king that all of us can apply to our lives today.

Many of you will be familiar with the term, Diamond in the rough. It can be used to describe a person with great potential that cannot be seen from the surface. This idiom comes from a literal diamond in the rough, which is uncut and unpolished. The phrase was adapted because “rough” diamonds look like rocks, so much so that they are often overlooked.

We’re introduced to David as a diamond in the rough of sorts. His rise from shepherd to a king is atypical, and this begins with how he came to be anointed as king. There is a character-defining event from David’s boyhood worth noting. It’s recorded in 1 Samuel 17 that David recounts the time while watching over his father’s sheep when a lion came and took a lamb. David went out after the lion and got the lamb out of the lion’s mouth. The lion rose against him, and he caught the lion by the beard and slew it! This feat seems to have been performed without weapons, but he could have used stones from the field and/or his shepherd’s crook.

We ought not to miss that it was the loss of one helpless lamb that’s the occasion that prompted David’s bravery. Arguably most shepherds would have considered the loss of one lamb far too insignificant to endanger their lives, not David. His love for the lamb and faithfulness to his father’s trust (giving him the duty to tend the sheep) moved him to act. This event demonstrates that although, as we will see in a minute, David is overlooked, he genuinely was a diamond in the rough. We discover that David was faithful in small things and, as a result, later was given bigger responsibilities to perform.

How was David anointed as king? Saul, the first king of Israel, had acted poorly and been rejected by God, so Samuel was sent to anoint a new one (1 Samuel 16:1). He was sent to the house of Jesse. An interesting scene unravels while Samuel searches for the son of Jesse chosen by God (1 Samuel 16:4-13).

Samuel goes to the house of Jesse, and beginning with the oldest, one by one, the sons of Jesse come out before him. Samuel is impressed by Jesse’s oldest son, Eliab’s outward appearance, which he also had done with the current king Saul (1 Sam 10:24). However, God is not choosing by outward appearances but looking much deeper. The prophet must have been troubled because he knew the next king was among Jesse’s sons, but the Lord had chosen none who were present. Then, Samuel asks Jesse if he has more sons, and Jesse mentions David. Jesse doesn’t seem to take note of David’s courage and faithfulness. At least, he didn’t think presenting him to Samuel with his other sons was necessary. In fact, David had been overlooked as a diamond in the rough.

Then David, the youngest of Jesse’s sons, is called from the field where he was shepherding and presented to Samuel. Samuel anoints David as king, and David is filled with the Spirit of God from that day forward. But, interestingly, David doesn’t rule as king for another twenty years. At first, he even continued to help his father with shepherding the sheep.

I can’t imagine being anointed king and returning to shepherding duties. However, in a sense, this is true of all who come to Christ. We find new life in Christ through the grace of God. Peter describes the church as a “royal priesthood” and God’s “holy nation.” As children of the king, we are called to “proclaim the excellencies” of the one who summoned us from “darkness” and ushered us “into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). When we enter into a saving relationship with God through Jesus Christ, we become a child of the King. Yet, we return to our homes, workplaces, schools, and places where we play, albeit as everyday missionaries. Think about it, A believer is a child of the king, proclaiming our Lord’s goodness and salvation to all who receive Christ as Savior and Lord.

David was a servant who became a ruler; he was the faithful shepherd of sheep and became the leader of a nation. So here’s the gospel truth, there is no limit to what God can do in and through the life of all of us diamonds in the rough when we walk with Him.

David was overlooked and became a king. You might have been overlooked. You may be a diamond in the rough. But God sees you, loves you, and has great plans for you. So give yourself over to him. After all, God desires every one of us diamonds in the rough to step into our divine destiny with Him. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

I’m thankful for the home I grew up in as a child. I had the love and support of my Dad and Mom. The Lord used both to craft me into the man I am today. However, I realize that not everyone had such a childhood, and I regret this for them.

I came to Christ when I was five, and my parents received the Lord when I was fifteen. I self-describe myself as a churched kid of unchurched parents. One thing that never ceased to amaze me was how some of my church friends from “Christian” homes were raised in a far less loving and supportive situation than I was, even before my parents came to Christ. I put Christian in quotes not to question whether or not their parents were believers but to draw attention to the inconsistency of parents claiming to be followers of Christ but not imitating His love, especially to their own children. I understand that no one is perfect, but those in Christ ought to be in the process of being perfected. As I often say, I am not what I ought to be, but I thank God I am not what I used to be; I am a work in progress.

Even before my parents were believers, they were good role models in many ways. They became exceptional role models to their grandchildren as Mom and Dad grew in Christ. God’s Word mentions role modeling as a primary role of a parent. “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching” (Proverbs 1:8).

Our actions indeed speak louder than our words. This is never truer than in the home. Children learn values, morals, and priorities by observing how their parents act and react daily. For instance, if parents exhibit a deep reverence for and dependence on God, their children will most often catch these attitudes.

As I mentioned, I am a churched kid of unchurched parents, at least for the first 15 years of my life. However, the Lord brought people who served as spiritual parents into my path. I am so grateful for each of them. I can’t imagine not having them to help me develop as a follower of Christ. Of course, my biological parents were moral, and I learned much from them. But, having spiritual parents was crucial in my growth in Christ. For this reason, I believe every adult believer is responsible for being a role model of sorts for those around us, especially children.

When we do child dedication at Crosswinds, the parents commit to the Lord to be God-honoring role models for their children. But there is more. The church family also commits to being role models to this same child. We all want to be used by God to point others to Him. We want to be a help and never be a hindrance in seeing people come and grow in Christ.

I’m genuinely thankful for my Mom and Dad and each of my spiritual parents. The home and churches I grew up in were places where I saw good role models and was allowed the space and grace to grow. It encourages me to be the Dad, Granddad, and spiritual parent the Lord has empowered me to be for others. It is not always easy, but it’s worth it. I do not always feel like enough, but the Spirit of Christ always gives me what I need.

Nelson Mandela said, “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It’s what difference we’ve made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” I can attest to the wonderful impact others have made in my life. They modeled for me what it means to walk rightly before God and others. They modeled the importance of living such a life of significance not just for self but for others and God’s glory. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

When Christ returns, He will do so as conquering King. Luke records the immediate scene after Jesus had spoken His last words to His disciples and ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-11). Immediately after Christ’s ascension, “two men stood by them in white robes.” The pair of “men” were angels in human form, as their “white robes” attest. What these angels say to the disciples is worth our attention, “Jesus will come in the same way as you saw Him go.” Jesus’ return, like His ascension, will be bodily and visible. Since Christ’s ascension, His followers have been anticipating His return. It makes sense that believers anticipate the return of Jesus. After all, the second coming of Jesus Christ is the hope of believers that God is in control of all things and is faithful to the promises and prophesies in His Word.

In His first coming, Jesus came as a baby. He fulfilled all the prophesies relating to His birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection. The prophecies that remain of Him speak of His second coming. In Jesus’ first coming, He was a suffering Servant; in His second coming, He will be the conquering King. He arrived in humble circumstances in His first coming, but in His second coming, He will arrive with the armies of heaven at His side.

The second coming of Jesus is spoken in detail in Revelation 19:11-16. What is being described in this passage is the last battle between Christ and the forces of evil, resulting in their defeat and Christ’s victory. This passage shows the single greatest promise of history: the return of Christ. Jesus is described as armed for battle. Jesus is also depicted as the Messiah who will “rule” the nations “with a rod of iron,” judging justly and striking down the wicked. Further, as the Divine Warrior who treads the “winepress” of God’s “wrath,” His robe is dipped in His foes’ blood (cf. Isa 63:1-6). This is quite a description! In short, Revelation 19:11-16 presents us with a spectacular picture of Jesus, the conquering King.

Scripture teaches that Christ’s return is imminent. In other words, His return could occur at any moment. We, like Paul, are “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). Knowing that the Lord could come back today, some are tempted to stop what they are doing and just wait for Him. I want to suggest there is a better response.

How shall we live while we await the second coming of Jesus? First, we need to be prepared. We have an account in Matthew 24 where the disciples ask Jesus when He would come in power and what they could expect. Jesus’ reply emphasized the events that would take place prior to His return. However, He pointed out that His followers should be less concerned with knowing the exact date and more concerned with being prepared.

Second, while we wait, we need to be cautious. We must be aware of the signs of Christ’s return while realizing these signs are often misread. The disciples in Matthew 24 ask Jesus for the sign of His return, and Jesus’ first response was, “Don’t let anyone fool you.” The fact is that whenever we look for signs, we become highly susceptible to being deceived and distracted from our mission. There are false prophets with counterfeit signs of spiritual power and authority and well-intended speculative theologians who unintentionally lead fellow believers astray. By the way, if you need to be told that the Messiah has come, He hasn’t. Christ’s coming will be evident to everyone. The only way to keep from being deceived is to focus on Jesus and His words (keep the main thing the main thing).

Lastly, we need to be diligent. If we knew the precise date of Christ’s return, we might be tempted to be lazy in our daily living for Jesus. I remember growing up and Dad telling me to get the lawn mowed before he came home from work. I would ask, “When are you going to be home.” When I was smart, I would complete it as soon as possible. When I wasn’t, I would put it off, do what I preferred, then frantically try to get it done before he got home. I can still see his face on those occasions when I was still mowing as he pulled into the driveway. Knowing that Christ’s return can occur anytime should motivate us to actively be about the Lord’s work. We should not live irresponsibly, sitting and waiting, doing nothing. We’re not to use Christ’s patience in returning as an excuse to be lazy with our faith and not join the Lord in building His kingdom.

Developing a false sense of security based on precise calculations of events or letting our curiosity about the end times divert us from doing God’s work hurts us and others. We are to be everyday missionaries in the everyday mission fields where we live, work, go to school, and play. Jesus said that before He returned, the Gospel would be preached worldwide. This is the mission of all believers.

Jesus shared about the end times to show His followers the urgency of spreading the Good News of salvation to everyone. Now, believers have nothing to fear about the Lord’s return; we should eagerly anticipate it. Those yet to receive Christ don’t have to fear it either; they can receive Him today. But, knowledge of the return of Christ ought to motivate the believer to share the Gospel and those yet to receive Christ to receive Him as Savior and Lord because when Christ returns, we will not be given another chance to do either.

The apostles lived and served knowing that Jesus could return in their lifetime, but they did not stop and wait. There is no indication that they invested any significant amount of time trying to speculate when He would return. Instead, they focused on lovingly and obediently fulfilling Christ’s call and command to “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15). As the apostles lived to the fullest as if every day was their last, we, too, need to view every day as a gift and use it to know God and make Him known. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

One of the earliest “titles” of Christianity is “the Way” (Acts 9:2). The word translated “way” from Greek refers to “way of life.” It speaks of those who follow the teachings of Jesus (the New Testament had yet to be written), understanding it to be the true way of life in relation to God and the only right way to walk as one finds salvation in Christ.

A way can be understood as a line leading to a place or a point. It can also mean the path leading to the attainment of something desired. Both present an accurate picture of the Christian life. It reminds me of Paul’s words, “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own” (Philippians 3:12). Paul does not claim perfection. He is still involved in the struggles of life in a fallen world. He understands that the full glory of the resurrection, his completion in Christ, remains in the future. Still, he walks “the Way,” pressing on. There is a balance between faith and works. The believer does not work their way to salvation but does good works because they are saved. It’s “the Way.”

In the excellent book, In Search of the Warrior Spirit by Richard Strozzi Heckler, he writes, “The path of the warrior is lifelong, and mastery is often simply staying on the path.” Paul, in particular, likes using military and sports metaphors when describing the Christian life – “the Way.” Why? I believe it’s because it takes focus and discipline.

One may ask, “Is it possible to never stray from the path?” I would assume so, but I must admit neither I nor anyone I’ve ever met has successfully done so. Perhaps, it’s best then to understand that the call is to never stop growing in Christ, to never give up, or, as Paul writes, “press on.” Don’t stop engaging in the spiritual disciplines, allowing one’s faith to be stretched, learning from the successes and failures of life, and following the Lord’s leading in the knowledge that He will never give up on you. As the psalmist declares, “You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Psalm 86:15). Paul writes to his young protégé Timothy, “if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for He cannot deny himself” (2 Timothy 2:13). Paul is not providing Timothy an excuse to fall short. Still, he declares that we’ll discover in any failure, other than denying Christ, that God will always help us get back on the right path.

I like that the early Christians were called “the Way.” They were not part of “a” way. Some believe there are many ways to God. Jesus makes it clear that this is simply no so, when He proclaims, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). There is one true way to salvation, only one right way to live and both are found in Jesus Christ and in Him alone.

When we come to Jesus, receiving Him for who He genuinely is, Savior and Lord, we must follow Him, walking “the Way.” He empowers us to do so by His very Spirit. Like Paul, I don’t walk it perfectly, but I still walk it and will never give up doing so, even after over four decades of walking with Christ. After all, it’s the path providing abundant life. It is “the Way.” Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

Because of the finished work of Christ on the cross, we, who receive Jesus as Savior and Lord, are restored. For most of us, I would guess the word “restoration” brings to mind the process of repairing a crumbling, ruined building to its former glory. Restoration in a spiritual sense is similar, only on a much broader scale. Due to The Fall, our enemy, Satan, as well as our flesh (old self) and the world (its harmful systems and culture), do their best to damage and destroy the things valuable to us. The good news is that they don’t have the last word, and when we give our hurts, habits, and hang-ups to the Lord, He restores everything stolen from us due to sin.

As a result of The Fall, sin, through the world, the flesh, and the devil destroys God’s original design and replaces what God intended for us, joy and peace, with sorrow and discontentment. However, we don’t have to continue down this hopeless path. Jesus came to restore.

Our restoration is made possible because Christ has redeemed us. Redemption is a legal term that was often used in the Roman slave trade and describes Jesus’ trading His life on the cross for ours. Paul writes about this in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Those who remain apart from Christ, in sin, will die both physically and eternally, whereas those who receive Christ, believers, are assured eternal life. “Wages” implies that the punishment for sin is what one has earned and what one deserves. “Free gift” is the opposite of something one deserves and speaks to the loving work of Christ on the cross, dying in our stead. As we place our faith in Him, we’re redeemed. Jesus purchased our deliverance from bondage on the cross; He has redeemed us; and, as a result, restores us.

Due to Christ’s death and resurrection, those who receive Him are restored to the position of God’s original intent in creation (Romans 4:25). As we look at what it means to be restored, it’s helpful to look at Colossians 1:13-14, “Jesus has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” In Christ, we, believers, have been delivered “from the domain of darkness,” from the realm of Satan and the powers of evil, into “the kingdom of His beloved Son.” This is the same kingdom as the “kingdom of God” or the “kingdom of heaven,” as mentioned by Jesus in the Gospels and elsewhere in Scripture.

The full manifestation of God’s kingdom will be established when Christ returns. When Christ returns, God will restore everything. I don’t think any of us would argue that it would take a pretty wild, astonishing, and breathtaking hope to overcome the agony and trauma in the world. However, we can have such hope because God will restore and make everything right.

The climax of the entire Bible takes place with these words, “Behold, I am making all things new” (Revelation 21:5). Jesus is in heaven until the promised day when God will “restore everything” or “until the time for the final restoration of all things.” Understanding this is a game-changer. When Christ returns, God will restore the earth, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more” (Revelation 21:1).

This verse speaks of eliminating the fatal infection of evil in the cosmic order and gives way to God’s creation of a new cosmic order where sin, suffering, and death are forever banished. Think about it. Christ has brought about our redemption and restoration that begins here and now and will be fully experienced in the unforeseeable future.

There are three truths we all need to know about restoration. First, restoration is a gift of God. God’s capacity to restore a life is beyond our understanding, but because of Christ, not our reach. Secondly, restoration is part of God’s healing process for us. God’s healing in our lives from hurts, habits, and hang-ups begins when we come to Jesus and will be fully realized when we see Christ face-to-face. Thirdly, restoration is the work of God’s family in cooperation with Him. As God’s family, who have been redeemed and restored, we are given the power and privilege of reflecting Christ’s love and sharing His message with others in the hope that they, too, will be restored as they receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. These three truths are worth remembering.

The reality of Christ’s restorative work in our lives today and the complete restoration of all things in the future should profoundly impact how we live and think. How we think and talk about our future profoundly affects our everyday experiences. When we know God is restoring us and will completely restore all things, knowing great and glorious goodness is coming to us, we gain a hope that will see us through any and everything today.

The world is aching for hope. We, believers, have the most breathtaking hope to offer – Jesus Christ, the Restorer of all things (Hebrews 6:19). Jesus, our Restorer, broke the barrier between God and each of us when He died, atoning for our sins and repairing our relationship with God that had been broken by sin. The restorative work of God in a believer’s life results from Christ’s loving sacrifice. I pray that if you have never understood or accepted this, you will do so today. I pray for each of us that this truth penetrates our hearts and draws us to Jesus Christ, where we find acceptance, forgiveness, wholeness, and restoration. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

The birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus mark the fulfillment of prophecy dating back to The Fall when Adam and Eve were cast out of Eden. This redemptive work of Christ offers all of us salvation in Him today, where its full effect will be experienced by all who receive Christ, the Lord when in the unforeseen future, we spend eternity with Him in paradise. We, Christ’s church, invest much time in Jesus as Savior, and rightly so. But, we invest far less time in exploring what it means that Jesus is Lord and what impact that ought to make in each of our lives. After all, Jesus is Lord!

In Jesus’ day, “lord” was commonly used as a title of respect toward earthly authorities. This occurred when the leper called Jesus “lord,” showing respect to Him as healer and teacher (Matthew 8:2, 25; 15:25). However, something changed with the title “lord” as applied to Jesus after the resurrection. When we speak of Jesus as Lord, it’s more than a title of honor or respect; it’s also a way of declaring Jesus as God. When Jesus appears to the disciples after the resurrection, Thomas sees Christ (nail holes in His hands and a hole from the spear thrust in His side), and Thomas cries out, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). From this point forward, when the disciples – the apostles shared the message of Christ, they declared Jesus is Lord, meaning “Jesus is God.”

We read in Romans 10:9, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” The word Paul uses for “Lord” (kyrios) is Greek for “lord” or “master” but is used throughout the Greek Old Testament, the Septuagint, for the Hebrew words Yahweh and Adonai (God). The declaration, “Jesus is Lord,” offers far more than respect to Jesus but actually acknowledges that He is God and, therefore, has all authority and is indeed Lord of all.

Since Jesus is Lord of all, including you and me, what ought to be our response to Jesus as Lord? First, let’s look at Christ’s own words, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Jesus, in one short statement, describes what it looks like to follow Him as Lord. Then, He explains what we ought to do in response to His Lordship. Let’s look at three responses from this verse.

Since Jesus is Lord, we ought to deny ourselves in following Him. People are willing to pay a high price for something they value. So then, is it surprising that Jesus would require this much commitment from His followers? The ultimate purpose of denying self is to glorify God. Jesus is talking about denying self in the essential battle of life. In the struggle of who will be the lord of our hearts, we need to surrender that position to God and Him alone. As Christ occupies the throne of our hearts, He’s able to lead us through His Spirit. To what end? Only through Christ’s power and leading can we genuinely glorify Him, be blessed, and bless others.

Since Jesus is Lord, we ought to imitate Him. Christians are called Christ-followers because they follow their Lord by imitating His life and obeying His commands. What is meant by “taking up one’s cross?” To take up the cross meant to carry your own cross to the place where you would be killed. Many Jews had been killed that way by the Romans. Applied to Christ’s disciples, it means identifying entirely with Christ’s message, even if it means death. We must deny our selfish desires to use our time, talent, treasure, and testimony for our own gain and choose to use them to advance Christ’s kingdom. Carrying one’s cross is giving our very lives to Christ no matter where He leads. We are called to imitate Jesus by sharing His character, love, and mission. This occurs as we deny ourselves and, by His transforming power and leading, imitate Him.

Since Jesus is Lord, we ought to invest our lives in His service. If this present life is most important to you, you will do everything you can to protect it. You will not want to do anything that might endanger your safety, health, or comfort. If Christ is most important to you, you will do anything to glorify Him. You will do anything, no matter how uncomfortable or safe, to know Him and make Him known and to share the love and message of Christ with others. Jesus’ disciples, His followers, Christians, are not to live for their own pleasure but in service to the Lord.

Being a disciple of Christ, acknowledging Him as Lord requires more than denying certain things, but denying personal control of our lives to Him. It’s taking up our cross and being willing to do whatever and go wherever the Lord leads, trusting Him, no matter what lies ahead, for His glory. It’s following Him in our actions, being on mission with Him by being everyday missionaries in the everyday mission fields of where we live, work, go to school, and play.

Jesus is Lord. This is true, whether or not people acknowledge the fact. Someday, all will submit to the truth (Philippians 2:9-11). Jesus’ humiliation, His humbling Himself by taking upon His divinity humanity, being born in such modest means, living a perfect life, dying on the cross for our sins, and being resurrected for our salvation became the grounds for His exaltation. By humbling Himself on the cross out of love, He demonstrated that He truly shares God’s divine nature, who is love. Therefore, Jesus is God, Lord (kyrios), and as God, has divine status and authority.

When Christ returns, all will acknowledge Him as Lord. We can either do so now by choosing and receiving the salvation that comes from placing our trust in Him or later when we’re no longer presented with the ability to choose salvation. Today, the Lord lovingly calls out to all of us to receive Him as Lord and Savior. Today, He offers us the resources of heaven in this life and confident hope that we will spend eternity with Him. Come to Jesus, the Lord. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

What does it mean that Jesus is the Savior, the Messiah, which is at the heart of the gospel message? The Apostle Paul preached the gospel throughout his world, and this is what he wrote, “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). This is the heart of the gospel. It’s important for all of us to implant this deeply into our hearts and minds. Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He was raised again on the third day. That is the cornerstone, the foundation of our faith.

But why? To answer this, we must go back to the beginning. When we look back to our origin story, we discover that we have been made in the image of God (Genesis 1:17). Humans reflect God’s divine nature in their ability to achieve the unique characteristics with which they have been endowed. As believers, we understand that we, through God’s Spirit, can be transformed in an ever-increasing measure into the image of Christ by growing in our ability to share His love, have His character, and join with Him in His mission. We have life because God created us and literally has breathed life into us (Genesis 2:7). I share this to emphasize that God created us with such intimacy because we exist to live in relationship with Him, which is good news.

In fact, we were even given a perfect place to live, Eden. The Hebrew word translated as “Eden” is taken to mean “pleasure” or “delight.” Eden was planned and planted by God Himself. It was mankind’s first home. Eden was a place where Adam and Eve could meet God. The Creator “was walking in the garden in the cool of the day” (Genesis 3:8), and Adam and Eve could be with Him and converse with Him. In the middle of the garden was “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:9), the fruit of which God had said Adam could not eat: “You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die” (Genesis 2:17). It was the one prohibition in the Garden of Eden. God had created Adam and Eve to be free, with a moral sense and the ability to make decisions and choose for themselves. The presence of a forbidden tree provided the opportunity for Adam and Eve to make a real, necessary choice to either obey or disobey. Unfortunately, Adam failed the test. The serpent in the garden, Satan, tempted Eve with a false promise of blessing, and the woman ate the forbidden fruit. She, in turn, gave the fruit to her husband, who also partook. Both were disobedient to the word of God, and the consequences of their sin were disastrous for them and all their descendants (Genesis 3:1-19), including you and me. They lost their fellowship with God, they lost their home, they were cast out of Eden, they lost their innocence, and this is bad news for all of us.

This left humanity east of Eden, unable to return but longing for intimacy with God and the home for which we have been created. Unfortunately, we no longer live in a place that can be described wholly as “pleasurable” or “delightful” due to sickness, wars, loneliness, strife, and loss. But, there is hope, even in the curse of the fall: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15). Genesis 3:15 points to the serpent’s defeat (Satan) by the future descendant of the woman (Jesus). The defeat is inspired by the serpent’s being bruised in the head, which is more serious than the offspring of Eve being bruised in the heel. For this reason, v. 15 has been labeled the “protoevangelium,” the first pronouncement of the gospel, which means good news (Col 2:6-15).

For thousands of years, God began to weave a sacred thread throughout history by creating a people, the chosen people, Israel, to be a light unto the nations. Unfortunately, just like Adam and Eden, they failed to be pure light. Time and time again, they strayed from God. God sent prophet after prophet to call them back to Him, and share prophesies of the coming Messiah. The Messiah or Christ, which means “anointed one,” is the promised deliverer mentioned in Genesis 3:15 and throughout all the Old Testament prophesies. Thousands of years came and went, then something happened, the Messiah came. Jesus came. God’s Son humbled Himself and took upon His divinity human flesh (John 1:14). The word incarnation means “the act of being made flesh.” It comes from the Latin version of John 1:14.

Jesus came with a mission: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). Jesus came to seek and save those far from God, from Him, but so close to His heart. Our problem is our sin: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Due to sin, we deserve death. This is a debt we can’t pay. Only a perfect sacrifice, like those mentioned in the prophesies and foreshadowed through the sacrificial system recorded in the Old Testament, could pay the price of our sin.

The Promised One, the Messiah, the Anointed One is Jesus Christ, who demonstrated the most profound act of love of all time. We discover in Scripture: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God did not just say He loved us but showed it by coming and dying on the cross. Jesus declared about Himself: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). In Christianity, the cross is the intersection of God’s love and His justice. Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Because of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice on the cross, those who place their faith and trust in Him alone for salvation are guaranteed eternal life (John 3:16), which is good news offering us a choice to receive Christ and salvation.

However, if Jesus had just died for us, it would have been a profound act of love, but we would still be lost in our sins and not have eternal life. Therefore, something more needed to and did occur. Remember what Paul wrote about the heart of the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Jesus died on the cross. He lay dead and buried. I believe Satan believed he had won. The Disciples thought they had lost. But light pierced through in the darkest moment, and Christ was alive. This, of course, speaks of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25), and in that statement, claimed to be the source of both. We have no hope of resurrection apart from Christ, no eternal life. Jesus does more than give life; He is life, and that’s why death has no power over Him. Jesus confers His life on those who trust in Him so that we can share His triumph over death (1 John 5:11-12). We who believe in Jesus Christ will personally experience resurrection because, having the life Jesus gives, we have overcome death. Death can’t win (1 Corinthians 15:53-57). The resurrection is the triumphant and glorious victory for every believer and good news to all who receive Christ as Savior and Lord. To receive this new life, salvation, and eternal hope, we must choose Him.

Way back in Eden, Adam made a fateful choice. But, like Adam, we all have made choices that reflect the same lack of trust in God. We all have fallen short and deserve death, but our debt has been paid in full through Christ’s loving and salvific act of dying in our stead on the cross. We have no need to live in our regrets or be consumed by fears, for as the grave could not keep Christ down, through His resurrection, He offers new life to each of us. Salvation is offered to all of us today, and its full effect will be experienced by all who come to Christ when in the unforeseen future, we spend eternity with Him in paradise. God offers to turn our lost lives around and experience His goodness. No one has ever found complete rest apart from Christ. Do you want rest, joy, peace, security, and abundant life? Come to Jesus and receive Him as Savior and Lord; surrender your life and heart to Jesus, the Messiah. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

On Palm Sunday, we remember Christ’s Triumphal Entry. Jesus enters Jerusalem while a crowd celebrates Him and lays palm branches down before Him. Palm Sunday kicks off Passion week, leading to Jesus’ crucifixion and His resurrection a week later. We discover that the crowd wanted Jesus for all the wrong reasons, and we often struggle with the same temptations.

I want us to ponder an important question. What kind of Jesus do you want Him to be? You may ask, “What do you mean?” We can fall into the trap of wanting a Jesus of our own making. Let me give you some examples. There is Ibuprofen Jesus, where He just covers up my pain. There is shopping spree Jesus, where He just gives me what I want. There is therapist Jesus, where He just tells me what I want to hear, and many other attempts to make a Jesus of our own making.

We all must admit that sometimes, even in the lives of believers, we would rather have a messiah of our own making than the one true Messiah. We want Him to do our will rather than Him leading us to do His. We want Him to help us build our kingdom rather than desiring to build His.

In Mark 11, we discover a large gathering of people. It would be easy to get wrapped up in the celebration. But I want to look at it more closely. I want to get beyond the emotions represented in the account. I want to look at who they were actually seeking.

As we look at this account along with the other reports of this event found in Scripture, we can surmise that at least four groups are probably present at this moment. The first group is the crowd. The excitement of many of the crowds that surrounded Jesus in His earthly ministry was not there to celebrate the true Messiah, Lord Jesus. When Jesus taught what being part of His kingdom meant, they often thought it too difficult and walked away. They sought the miracle worker and food provider. They invited friends to experience the miracles and free lunch with them. It’s very possible they were not celebrating the real Jesus.

Then, we have the second, the Pharisees. They wanted a Jesus that would not in any way disrupt their religiosity, their external legalistic religion. They certainly did not want Jesus to cause them any trouble that could take away their power or societal position by causing problems with their Roman overlords. In fact, they were hanging around Jesus to trip Him up and get rid of Him.

The third group is the zealots. They wanted a Jesus who would overthrow Rome once and for all. They wanted Jesus to establish an earthly kingdom free of Rome and restore Israel to a position of power and prestige.

The fourth and final group is the disciples. They wanted a Jesus who would advance their desire to rule alongside Him. They wanted power and prominence. They, at this point, seem of little interest in the true mission of Jesus, at least, as much as they understood it. When Jesus would speak of His suffering and the true nature of the kingdom of God, the disciples would change the subject and ask about themselves and their role in the kingdom. This would obviously change later, after Christ’s resurrection. But, at this moment, on this Palm Sunday, the disciples reveled in the Jesus whom they were associated with and more than likely thought this was the beginning of a more prestigious life for them.

It’s easy to blame these four groups for their shortsightedness and selfishness, but let’s be honest. We’re not always excited about who Jesus truly is, either. So at these moments, we try to make Jesus less than what He is and more what we want Him to be.

We look at this passage on two levels, as Mark records it. One level is what God is doing at this moment. Then, the other level is the understanding of the people who are part of the scene. God is specifically fulfilling the prophecy through the life of His Son and, in so doing, demonstrating that He is the God of the ages, and His Son is the Savior of the world. What a beautiful picture of God’s power and purpose.

It’s clear that the prophecy in Zachariah 9 is fulfilled at this moment as Christ enters Jerusalem. We discover in the prophecy and on this day of its fulfillment that the king comes, riding on a colt, and the people’s reception, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!” These prophecies are all there in Zachariah and completely fulfilled at this moment at the gate of Jerusalem.

Mark confronts us with the inescapable truth that Jesus is King Jesus – Savior, and Lord. When we reduce Christ to something less, we damage the gospel of Jesus Christ in our own lives. We are called to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord ad nothing less.

Salvation is not in our own understanding. Lasting joy does not come in making Christ in our image. Instead, our hope, salvation, and genuine joy are found in the real Messiah, Jesus our Lord! So, I ask us to consider again, “What kind of Jesus do you want Him to be?” Ultimately, it doesn’t matter; salvation is only found when we come to Him as He is Messiah, Savior, and Lord. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

It can be challenging to distinguish between faith and mere positive thinking. I believe in being positive but doing so while grounded in Christ and His Word. It’s easy to allow phrases like, “If you can see it, you can be it.” And, “If you can name it, you can claim it” become like Scripture to us. These phrases sound good. They are positive. But are they genuinely grounded in Christ and His Word?

I remember years ago visiting a student ministry that was claiming cars for every student old enough to drive. I don’t mean any old cars. The students brought in pictures of the vehicles they were claiming in prayer for themselves. Now, there is nothing wrong with praying for a car. Especially if you need one to get to work or school. But, these were vehicles made for far more than meeting a student’s transportation needs. I saw pictures of cars like Ferraris. A Ferrari, although pretty cool, is not very practical. The Student Pastor told me they used it as an evangelism strategy. They trusted God to provide the cars, and in return, they would use them to be a witness of what you can get when you come to Jesus.

I certainly believe God blesses His people to be a blessing to others. However, we ought to realize that God is more concerned with our character than comfort. Further, we should come to Christ for salvation, not mere stuff.

In one way or another, the name-it-and-claim-it camp of positive thinking has seeped into our churches and been accepted by far too many as part of the gospel. When we approach God’s Word with a particular slant, it’s easy to see it fit our way of thinking. Besides not being biblical, it causes great disappointment in the least and for some to walk away from the church when it doesn’t pan out.

A verse often taken out of context but provides a profound truth is Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” We could wrongly approach this verse with a particular slant and think, “All I need to do is love Jesus, and I can get what I desire (like a Ferrari). First, this verse literally says God will give you what your heart desires. This is accurate and true. However, it’s to be understood that those who delight themselves in the Lord will be transformed by Him, and their hearts will desire the right things. Charles Spurgeon, an English preacher of the 19th century, explained, “When your will is God’s will, you will have your will.” Now that will change a person’s life for the better, and such a person will be a faithful witness for the Lord. Won’t you take time today to ponder what it looks like for you to delight in the Lord and partner with His Spirit to make His will your will, which is always something to claim and a witness to others? Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

Stewardship is managing what the Lord has given us in use for His good purposes. One area believers are called to steward is money. Few topics bring such anxious thoughts than money. In the gospels, this must be why Jesus taught on money second only to the Kingdom of God. The righteousness of the kingdom of heaven works out in the details of one’s personal life. This includes our finances (Matthew 16:19-20).

Jesus calls His followers to choose our master, either God or wealth. Francis Bacon professed, “Money is a great servant but a bad master.” Money is not bad; it’s helpful but is often the biggest obstacle to being all in with the Lord. Therefore, God has instituted the principle of First Fruits to teach us to rely entirely on Him – to be all in with Him.

What is the principle of First Fruits? The principle of First Fruits is giving God the first and best of what we have. Giving back to God has been practiced since the second generation of humans. Immediately in Genesis, after we are told of The Fall, we discover examples and teaching on returning first fruits to God. Since the sin of selfishness had entered the world through The Fall, God introduced a practice of giving to counter greed. We need to give back to God to maintain spiritual health. The principle of First Fruits teaches that giving the Lord our first fruits is for our benefit.

When we give back to God a portion of what He has given us, our first fruits, it acknowledges that God owns everything. This principle is found throughout the whole of the Bible. This was so important that Jesus stated plainly, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Here is the simple truth, Jesus taught that your giving will reveal your heart and that your heart will follow your treasure. Therefore, Jesus urges His disciples to trust God. What we work for shows us what or whom we have set our hearts on.

People have tried for generations to measure spirituality. But, truth be told, there are not many tangible ways to do so. Giving can be an actual measure. However, you can give back to God and not love Him. But you cannot truly love God and not give back to Him. The principle of First Fruits teaches that giving our first fruits to God acknowledges God owns everything and can provide evidence that our heart is His.

In Paul’s second letter to believers in Corinth, we are presented with an example of a right First Fruits mentality. He writes to the Corinthians about the extravagant love and generosity of Macedonian believers (2 Corinthians 8:2-5). God’s extravagant love was manifest in the Macedonians, giving even though they had little. What surprised Paul was that the Macedonians also gave themselves first to the Lord and then to Paul and his companions. This giving was not just in money; it was a true gift of their time, talent, treasure, and testimony in service to the Lord first, then to others. The Macedonians had little but gave much out of love and for the Lord’s glory and the benefit of others.

This kind of life is only exemplified in those who understand and practice that God must increase and I must decrease. When God has increased in believer’s life, allowing the Spirit a growing influence in the way they think, feel, and live, the seed of First Fruits giving begins to take root. Such a life only comes when, in partnership with the Holy Spirit, the Christian has evidenced in his or her life – an undivided devotion to the Lord. Such Christians who realize that God owns everything understand that they are only giving back to God what He already owns, leading to a First Fruits mindset. The principle of First Fruits teaches that a First Fruit mindset is born from giving yourself to God first.

A spiritual discipline, which has existed since the calling out of God’s people in the Old Testament, that God has used to transform our thinking and actions from a scarcity mindset to a First Fruits mindset is the giving of the tithe. The purpose of tithing is to teach us to always put God first in our lives. What is a tithe? The word tithe means a tenth part or 10%. In the Bible, God tells us that we are to give back to Him the first 10% of all we earn. Where should I give my tithe? The Bible makes it clear that God expects the tithe to be given back to Him as an act of worship at the place where you worship (Malachi 3:10). The Bible also makes it clear this should be a plan and consistent act of worship (1 Corinthians 16:2).

In the days of the Old Testament and New Testament, the tithe or “First Fruits” came from the best while not knowing how the rest would hold up – their crops, animals, and financial dealing. This is as true today. God calls us to give the tithe (10%) of what we earn to God, trusting that God will not only provide what we need but provide in such a way that we can be generous.

Now, I know money is a touchy subject. But, how we handle our money gives insight into where our heart or faith lies. Tithing displays a trust in God and a desire to transform our minds so we can live in Christ, like Christ. Tithing is a spiritual discipline used by God to transform lives of scarcity into lives that express trust in God and His wonderful provisions.

Let me share with you some practical steps to help you take your next step in developing a First Fruits lifestyle. Decide to participate in a small group or a one-on-one discipleship relationship or participate in Financial Peace University (a class that offers financial education that helps create biblical behaviors that let you master your finances). You can discover more about any of these opportunities at Crosswinds’ Info Central, online, or in our coffee shop lobby on our Canandaigua campus. Finally, take the 90-Day Tithing Challenge (tithe for 90 days and see if the Lord is faithful to His promise to care for you).

Wherever you find yourself in this journey of living a first fruits lifestyle or being all in with God by giving the Lord your first fruits, remember, our giving to the Lord is not because the Lord needs it. After all, it’s already His. Really, we don’t give but return to the Lord the first fruits of what He has given us. Our returning to the Lord a portion of what He has given us – our first fruits is for us. Giving the Lord our first fruits is for our benefit. Giving our first fruits to God acknowledges God owns everything and can provide evidence that our heart is His. A First Fruits mindset is born out of giving yourself to God first. Giving the Lord our first fruits, along with our time, talent, and testimony produces an “all in” life blessed with heavenly treasure, divine rest, and fulfillment as we know God and make Him known. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!