Assurance/Faith – Page 10 – Just Keith Harris

Good News of Great Joy | December 17 — “Faith, Forgiveness, & Readiness for the Kingdom”

Luke 17 challenges us to live with faith, humility, and readiness for Christ’s return. During Advent, as we await the celebration of Christ’s first coming and look forward to His second, we are reminded to extend forgiveness, grow in faith, and remain steadfast in our service to Him. The healing of the ten lepers encourages us to cultivate gratitude, recognizing that every blessing is a gift from God. Like the Samaritan, let us return to Christ with thankful hearts.

Finally, Jesus’ teaching on the Kingdom of God calls us to examine our priorities and live expectantly for His return. This Advent season, may we keep our eyes fixed on Christ, ready for His Kingdom, and faithful in every good work He has entrusted to us.

"Light Momentary Afflictions, Eternal Weight of Glory" (Refresh & Restore) – Refresh & Restore | A JustKeithHarris.com Podcast

In this Refresh & Restore Bible Study, we look at suffering, weakness, and hope through the lens of Scripture. Life is full of limitations, burdens, and afflictions, but for those who belong to Jesus, suffering is not the end of the story.Hebrews 12:1–2 reminds us that there is a race set before us and that we run by laying aside every weight and looking to Jesus. Philippians 4:10–13 shows us that Christ strengthens us in abundance and need, not by making us self-sufficient but by teaching us to depend on Him. And 2 Corinthians 4:7–18 reminds us that we are jars of clay, weak and breakable, so that the surpassing power would be seen as belonging to God and not to us.Our afflictions may feel heavy now, but in Christ they are light and momentary compared to the eternal weight of glory He has prepared for His people. Jesus is the joy set before us, the strength within us, and the One who keeps us from shattering.If you would like to see a written version of this podcast, complete with Scripture references, you can find it here.

Jesus Teaches on Forgiveness and Faith (17:1-10)^[1]

And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! ²It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. ³Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, ⁴and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

⁵The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” ⁶And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

⁷“Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? ⁸Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? ⁹Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? ¹⁰So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’ ”

Jesus Heals Ten Lepers (17:11-19)^[2]

¹¹On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. ¹²And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance ¹³and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” ¹⁴When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. ¹⁵Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; ¹⁶and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. ¹⁷Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? ¹⁸Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” ¹⁹And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

The Coming of the Kingdom of God (17:20-37)^[3]

²⁰Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, ²¹nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

²²And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. ²³And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. ²⁴For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. ²⁵But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. ²⁶Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. ²⁷They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. ²⁸Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, ²⁹but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— ³⁰so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. ³¹On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. ³²Remember Lot’s wife. ³³Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. ³⁴I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. ³⁵There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.” ³⁷And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”

[1] Jesus warned His disciples about the inevitability of stumbling blocks but emphasized the seriousness of causing others to sin. He taught that forgiveness must be extended even if a person sins against you repeatedly. When the disciples asked for greater faith, Jesus explained that even faith as small as a mustard seed can accomplish great things. Using a parable, He reminded them that obedience to God is their duty, and they should not expect rewards for doing what is required.

[2] As Jesus traveled to Jerusalem, ten lepers called out to Him for mercy. He told them to go and show themselves to the priests, and as they went, they were healed. Only one, a Samaritan, returned to thank Jesus. Jesus commended his faith and declared that it had saved him, highlighting the importance of gratitude and recognition of God’s work in our lives.

[3] When the Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come, He explained that it is not something that can be observed externally because it is already among them. Turning to His disciples, Jesus spoke about the future return of the Son of Man, which will come unexpectedly, like the days of Noah and Lot. He warned them not to cling to worldly things but to be ready for His return. Jesus described a sudden separation that would occur at His coming, emphasizing the urgency of being prepared.

Songs for Sunday, December 8, 2024 @ Christ Community Church

Sunday’s coming, and I’m ready. I need it.

I usually start off with “Sunday’s coming, and I’m excited”, but I’m not always excited. I don’t want to be disingenuous or depressing. The reality of that phrase “Sunday’s coming” is rooted in Jesus’s resurrection and His return. The reality of this fallen world is that there is sorrow and terror and unspeakable things; so I look to the hope that comes from Jesus’s resurrection, the expectation of peace that comes with His return, and echo my earlier sentiment: I’m ready. I need it.

This week’s Advent theme is peace.

If there was ever a week that I longed for peace, it has been this one. It seems that there are more pieces and shambles than peace. My heart has cried out, “Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20), more in the past few days than in some time. I have prayed and pleaded with Him, seeking to intercede for folks I love, asking Him to pick up the broken pieces and mend mournful and sorrowful hearts giving His indescribable peace numerous times (1 Timothy 2:1, Psalm 147:3, Isaiah 61:1, Philippians 4:7, John 14:27). I pray it even now.

Peace is in short supply here on Earth, but it is in overflowing abundance in heaven where Christ is!

Look at the way Colossians 1:19-20 describes the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ:

For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.

Read that last part again: “making peace by the blood of His cross”.

Isaiah gave us a picture of this centuries before Jesus’s life, His crucifixion:

But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5

Read the part about peace again: “upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace”.

Jesus makes peace. Jesus bears the sin, shame, and sorrows that we have a brings peace instead. Jesus is the Prince of Peace and gives peace to His people (Isaiah 9:6-7, Luke 2:14).

This is the reason I have been pleading with Him on behalf of hurting people (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Philippians 4:6-7). This is the reason I come to Him in prayer. Peace is His (John 14:27). It is in short supply in our broken, sinful, fallen world — in this world of death and destruction (Romans 8:22), but in Jesus is Light (John 8:12), in Jesus is Love (1 John 4:9-10), in Jesus is Salvation (Acts 4:12, John 14:6), in Jesus there is peace (John 16:33). He manufactures it. He holds the trademark and copyright. Peace belongs to Him. Peace comes from Him. Peace is part of who He is (Ephesians 2:14, Isaiah 9:6).

When I think about how people desire peace in the world today, I am reminded of the reason that comic books were so great a draw for me as a kid. There was nothing like seeing someone in their most desperate moment have the hero swoop down in between them and danger. Superman was always my favorite. You could have a train bearing down on you, and he could fly down, take the impact of the train, and never even slide toward you. He could catch bullets with his hands. He could do, well, whatever danger and come out unscathed and unhurt. But Superman isn’t real. Comic book rescues are make believe, barely a genre away from fairy tales and nursery stories.

There is danger in this world. There is destruction. There is death. There is no caped crusader swooping in to save the day, and even if there was, he or she can only save some. They are limited. Regardless, the fact that they are fictional limits them altogether.

Jesus, however, is real. He did not swoop in and come out unscathed. He came and lived the life we couldn’t live — remaining sinless through it all (Hebrews 4:15, 2 Corinthians 5:21). God put on flesh and lived here on the earth with us (John 1:14) and then bore our sin and shame on the cross (1 Peter 2:24, Isaiah 53:5-6), taking the full brunt of God’s wrath due our sin, and paying the ultimate price for the wages of our sin (Romans 3:23-25, 6:23). We deserve death, and Jesus did that for us (Romans 5:8, 1 Peter 3:18).

In comic books, like in soap operas, death is just a momentary hindrance. A few strokes of the pen can come up with some cavalier and clever explanation for why the hero wasn’t really dead. Not Jesus, though. He really died (John 19:30, 34; Mark 15:37). He was buried (Mark 15:46). But, praise be to God, He rose from the dead (Matthew 28:5-6, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4)! We have looked at passages above that show how He made our peace and brings us peace by His chastisement and cross (Isaiah 53:5, Colossians 1:19-20, Romans 5:1), but He keeps that peace because He is alive (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25, Revelation 1:18).

One of the coolest, most awe-inspiring hero scenes in a movie comes at the end of The Passion of the Christ. This is just a movie’s representation, but it points to the awesome reality and real life event of Jesus’s resurrection. Check it out here:

Whatever troubles and sorrows plague you now have an expiration date. Jesus is alive. Jesus is coming. Jesus has made a way for us to have peace in Him and is the only One who can give it.

Won’t you look to Him in your time of need?

That’s why we are singing about how we are in awe of Him tomorrow. We don’t sing to and praise Him out of some religious obligation; no, we have just never seen anything like Him. We have never experienced anything like Him. This world has troubles and tribulations, but He has already overcome this world (John 16:33).

So, tomorrow, we at Christ Community invite you to come and seek the Prince of Peace with us. We invite you to come and read from His Word. We invite you to come and hear His Word sung — and to lift your own voice to sing as well. We invite you to sit under the preaching of His Word. We invite you, more than anything, to come to Him. His is worthy. He is willing to save. And what’s better news than that?

Here are our Scriptures and songs:

Advent Reading | Peace —

As the second candle of peace shines, consider the profound peace brought by Jesus, the Prince of Peace, mentioned in Isaiah 9:6-7 and Luke 2:14. His birth signifies reconciliation between God and humanity, offering a deep, lasting peace found only in a personal relationship with Christ. His teachings guide us towards peace with God, ourselves, and others. Let this candle inspire a desire for reconciliation and peacemaking in a divided world.

This portion of Advent also draws attention to Bethlehem. Reflecting on Bethlehem’s seemingly insignificant setting reminds us of God’s penchant for using ordinary places for extraordinary purposes. In this portion of Advent, amidst feelings of insignificance, remember that God loves you dearly. Take a moment to pause, acknowledging how God specializes in using the small and insignificant for His glory. Pray that God uses you for His purpose—to bring peace and reconciliation to those around you, to bring people to Him.

Scripture | Philippians 2:5-11 —

⁵Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ⁹Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Song | O Come All Ye Faithful —
Scripture Inspiration: Luke 1:26-38, Luke 2:13-14, Psalm 8:5, Hebrews 2:7-9, Matthew 26:53, Matthew 2:11, Luke 2:17, 1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 19:16, Job 38:7, John 1:1, John 1:14

Song | Adore Him —
Scripture Inspiration: Matthew 2:1-11, Micah 5:2, Luke 2:7-17, Isaiah 9:6, Psalm 95:6, Philippians 2:10-11, Isaiah 55:8-9, 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, Isaiah 53:2-3, Luke 1:48

Scripture | Psalm 145:1-3 —

¹I will extol You, my God and King, and bless Your name forever and ever. ²Every day I will bless You and praise Your name forever and ever. ³Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable.

Song | Adore —
Scripture Inspiration: Psalm 98, Malachi 3:1-2, Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 11:10, John 12:15, 1 Timothy 6:13-16, Revelation 17:14, Revelation 19:11-16, Matthew 25:1-13, Genesis 3:14-24, Galatians 3:13, Revelation 21:1-7, John 14:6, Exodus 33:19, Psalm 103:8, Isaiah 60:1-22

Song | In Christ Alone —
Scripture Inspiration: John 14:6, Ephesians 5:8, Psalm 28:7-8, Psalm 40:3, Ephesians 2:19-22, Matthew 7:24-27, Romans 5:1-8, Joshua 1:9, 2 Timothy 1:7, 2 Corinthians 5:15, Galatians 2:20, 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, 1 Corinthians 15:28, Philippians 2:16, John 19:38-42, John 8:12, John 3:19-20, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:33, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Romans 6:15-23, 1 Corinthians 15:54-57, Galatians 3:13, Revelation 21:3, Ephesians 1:7, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Romans 8:1-2, Romans 1:16, Deuteronomy 4:39, Psalm 115:3, Isaiah 43:13, Daniel 4:35, Ephesians 1:11, Matthew 16:17-19, Romans 8:35-39, John 10:28-30, Psalm 115:18, Revelation 5:9-13, Luke 9:23-26, Philippians 2:5-11

Invitation | O Come, All Ye Unfaithful —
Scripture Inspiration: John 1:38-39, Luke 2:8-20, Isaiah 53:7, John 1:29, 1 Peter 1:19, Revelation 5:6-13, Revelation 7:9-17, Revelation 12:11, Hebrews 9:22, 1 John 4:16-19, Hebrews 4:15-16, Matthew 11:28-30

Offertory | Go Tell It on the Mountain —
Scripture Inspiration: Isaiah 52:7, Matthew 28:19-20, Romans 10:15, Luke 2:7-11, John 1:9, Philippians 2:6-7, John 3:16, Titus 2:11

Join us in our Good News of Great Joy advent readings:

"Light Momentary Afflictions, Eternal Weight of Glory" (Refresh & Restore) – Refresh & Restore | A JustKeithHarris.com Podcast

Good News of Great Joy | December 8 — “Faith Comes by Hearing”

Luke 8 highlights the transformative power of God’s Word and the necessity of faith. Jesus shows His authority over nature, demons, sickness, and death, calling us to trust Him in all circumstances. As Advent draws near, let us cultivate hearts like good soil—ready to receive God’s Word, bear fruit, and live by faith. May this season remind us that Jesus brings hope, healing, and new life to all who believe.

"Light Momentary Afflictions, Eternal Weight of Glory" (Refresh & Restore) – Refresh & Restore | A JustKeithHarris.com Podcast

The Parable of the Sower and the Lamp (8:1-21)^[1]

¹Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, ²and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, ³and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.

⁴And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, ⁵“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. ⁶And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. ⁷And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. ⁸And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

⁹And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, ¹⁰he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ ¹¹Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. ¹²The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. ¹³And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. ¹⁴And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. ¹⁵As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

¹⁶“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. ¹⁷For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. ¹⁸Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”

¹⁹Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. ²⁰And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” ²¹But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

Jesus Calms the Storm (8:22-25)^[2]

²²One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, ²³and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. ²⁴And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. ²⁵He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”

The Healing of the Demoniac (8:26-39)^[3]

²⁶Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. ²⁷When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. ²⁸When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” ²⁹For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) ³⁰Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. ³¹And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. ³²Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. ³³Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.

³⁴When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. ³⁵Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. ³⁶And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. ³⁷Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. ³⁸The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, ³⁹“Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.

The Healing of the Woman and Raising of Jairus’s Daughter (8:40-56)^[4]

⁴⁰Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. ⁴¹And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house, ⁴²for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.

As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. ⁴³And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. ⁴⁴She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. ⁴⁵And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” ⁴⁶But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” ⁴⁷And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. ⁴⁸And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

⁴⁹While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” ⁵⁰But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” ⁵¹And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. ⁵²And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” ⁵³And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. ⁵⁴But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” ⁵⁵And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. ⁵⁶And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

[1] Jesus teaches about the varied responses to God’s Word through the parable of the sower. The seed symbolizes God’s Word, and the soils represent different hearts: some reject it, others fall away under trials, and some are distracted by life’s worries. Only good soil—those who hear, retain, and obey the Word—bears fruit (v. 15). Jesus also compares His Word to a lamp, meant to shine and transform lives. He concludes that His true family are those who hear and obey the Word.

[2] While crossing the Sea of Galilee with His disciples, Jesus calms a fierce storm with a simple command, revealing His authority over nature. The disciples, amazed and fearful, ask, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” (v. 25). This miracle shows Jesus as God, the Lord of Creation, as even the weather obeys Him.

[3] Jesus heals a man possessed by a legion of demons in the region of the Gerasenes (or Gadarenes). The demons recognize Jesus as “Son of the Most High God” (v. 28) and beg not to be sent into the abyss and instead enter a herd of pigs, which rush into the sea and drown. The man, now healed and in his right mind, becomes a witness to Jesus’ power and grace. Despite this miracle, the townspeople, frightened by what has happened, ask Jesus to leave their region.

[4] A desperate father, Jairus, pleads with Jesus to heal his dying daughter. On the way, a woman suffering from a long-term illness touches the fringe of Jesus’ garment and is healed instantly. Jesus tells her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace” (v. 48). Shortly after, Jairus’s daughter dies, but Jesus tells him, “Do not fear; only believe” (v. 50). His healing of the woman and raising of Jairus’s daughter demonstrates His power over both disease and death.

Good News of Great Joy | December 6 — “Jesus Teaches About True Discipleship”

As we meditate on Luke 6 during Advent, we see Jesus calling us to a discipleship marked by love, humility, and obedience to God’s will. He challenges us to embrace the values of God’s Kingdom rather than the world’s. The Pharisees’ legalism contrasts sharply with Jesus’ message of grace and compassion. This Advent season, may we embrace the call to follow Jesus, not as a moral teacher, but as the Lord who fulfills the law with love.

"Light Momentary Afflictions, Eternal Weight of Glory" (Refresh & Restore) – Refresh & Restore | A JustKeithHarris.com Podcast

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath (vv. 1-5)^[1]

¹On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. ²But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” ³And Jesus answered them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: ⁴how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” ⁵And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

Healing on the Sabbath (vv. 6-11)^[2]

⁶On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. ⁷And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. ⁸But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. ⁹And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” ¹⁰And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. ¹¹But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Jesus Chooses the Twelve Apostles (vv. 12-16)^[3]

¹²In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. ¹³And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: ¹⁴Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, ¹⁵and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, ¹⁶and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

The Sermon on the Plain (vv. 17-49)^[4]

¹⁷And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, ¹⁸who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. ¹⁹And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.

²⁰And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

²¹“Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

²²“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! ²³Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

²⁴“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.

²⁵“Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.

“Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.

²⁶“Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

²⁷“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. ²⁹To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. ³⁰Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. ³¹And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

³²“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. ³³And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. ³⁴And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. ³⁵But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. ³⁶Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

³⁷^j“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; ³⁸give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

³⁹He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? ⁴⁰A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. ⁴¹Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? ⁴²How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

⁴³“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, ⁴⁴for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. ⁴⁵The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

⁴⁶“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? ⁴⁷Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: ⁴⁸he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. ⁴⁹But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

[1] When the Pharisees accuse Jesus’ disciples of breaking the Sabbath by picking grain, Jesus reminds them of David eating consecrated bread and declares, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath” (v. 5). Jesus makes it clear that the Sabbath was made for human benefit, not as a burdensome law to follow rigidly. The question is not, “Is it lawful?” but “Is it loving?” (1 Samuel 21:1-6; Micah 6:8). Jesus’s authority over the Sabbath reveals His intent in the Sabbath as well as His authority as the One who gave and fulfills the Law.

[2] In another confrontation, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, exposing the Pharisees’ hypocrisy. Jesus restores the man openly demonstrating that honoring God involves compassion, even on the Sabbath. The Pharisees respond with anger, rejecting His authority.

[3] Before making an important decision, Jesus spends the night in prayer. The next day, He selects twelve disciples from a larger group, designating them as His apostles. This moment marks the beginning of a special commission for the twelve, who will carry forward His mission.

[4] Jesus delivers a teaching that contrasts the values of the Kingdom of God with the ways of the world. He pronounces blessings on the poor, hungry, and persecuted, and woes on the rich, satisfied, and popular (vv. 20-26). These blessings and woes reflect Jesus’s concern for spiritual poverty and a call to discipleship. He calls for love of enemies, forgiveness, and humility, challenging His followers to live out their faith. He concludes with the parable of the wise and foolish builders, urging obedience to His words as the foundation for a faithful life.

I’m Thankful to Jesus for Being My Advocate — Gratitude & Hope Challenge | November 22

I’m thankful to Jesus for being my Advocate!

I touched on the subject of Jesus as our Advocate in the last entry in the #DailyWisdomChallenge, so I guess this has been on my mind and heart for a few weeks now.

Sin brings guilt, shame, and condemnation. our enemy, Satan, is quick to accuse us, pointing out our failures and declaring us unworthy before God (Revelation 12:10). But in 1 John 2:1-2, we are reminded of the incredible hope we have in Jesus as our Advocate. An advocate is someone who pleads on behalf of another, and Jesus does this perfectly for us. When we sin, He intercedes for us before the Father — not by minimizing our sin but by pointing to His finished work on the cross!

Jesus is described as “the righteous”, the One who lived a sinless life and was perfectly obedient to the Father. Because of His righteousness, He could offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. John tells us that Jesus is the “propitiation for our sins” — a wrath-bearing atonement. On the cross, Jesus took upon Himself the punish our sins deserved, fully satisfying God’s justice and turning away His righteous wrath (Romans 3:25-26). His blood covers us, and through Him, we are forgiven and cleansed (1 John 1:7).

Now, when God looks at us, He sees us through the righteousness of His Son. Jesus speaks on our behalf, declaring that our debt has been paid in full and that we belong to Him. Because of Jesus, God does not deal with us according to our sin but according to His grace and mercy (Psalm 103:10-12).

Today, I am thankful that I don’t have to stand before God in my own strength or righteousness. When I fail, Jesus is my Advocate, reminding me that my sin has been dealt with once and for all.

If you are in Christ, this is true for you, too. Let this truth silence the voice of guilt and shame — the voice of our accuser, and fill your heart with gratitude to the Savior who stood in our place.

If you are not in Christ, understand that you stand before God as judge and represent yourself. There’s more than enough evidence of our sin to convict. Turn your life over to Jesus, confess Him as Lord and put your trust in Him. He will save all who call on Him (Romans 10:9-10, 13)!

That’s good news!

All through the month of November, our Christ Community Church family is focusing on what we are thankful for and expressing our thanks to our “great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us” (Titus 2:13-14).

This, like the #DailyWisdomChallenge we went through in October, is a challenge from our pastor John Goldwater — the #GRATITUDEandHOPEchallenge — where we have the opportunity to post Bible passages that move us to thanksgiving or in which we find hope. May this lead you to be grateful and find your hope in Jesus!

I’m Thankful Evil Meant Against Me Can Be Turned for Good — Gratitude & Hope Challenge | November 21

I’m thankful evil meant against me can be turned for good!

Joseph’s story is one of God’s sovereign grace working through even the darkest circumstances. As a young man, Joseph was betrayed by his brothers who sold him into slavery out of jealousy (Genesis 37:28). He was taken to Egypt where he endured years of hardship, including false accusations and imprisonment (Genesis 39:20). Yet, through it all, God was with him, blessing him with favor and wisdom.

This is not a health, wealth, prosperity gospel sort of story. Joseph was a slave and a prisoner through all of this blessing. No, this is God blessing Joseph despite the circumstances his brothers and Potiphar’s wife put him in. Over time, because of God blessing, Joseph rose to a position of great power in Egypt, ultimately saving countless lives — including his own family — by preparing for a severe famine (Genesis 41:39-41, 45:5-7).

When Joseph’s brothers feared his vengeance after their father’s death, Joseph responded with mercy and a profound trust in God’s purposes. He acknowledged the evil intent behind their actions but pointed to God’s greater plan: “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” What his brothers intended for harm, God used to save lives and fulfill His promises.

This truth reminds us that God is sovereign over every situation. Even when others act with malice, God can take what is meant for evil and use it to accomplish His good purposes (Romans 8:28). Joseph’s story points us to the ultimate example of this: Jesus. The cross, intended as a tool of destruction, death, and shame, was the means of salvation for all who trust in Him (Acts 2:23-24).

Today, I’m thankful for a God who is always at work, even in the most painful and unjust situations. He is faithful to bring good from what seems hopeless. How might God be using the challenges in your life to accomplish His purposes, both for your good and His glory?

Trust Him. He’s got a plan for your life (and your troubles)!

Lord, thank you for taking care of us even when others mean us harm. Thank you for the example of Your working in Joseph’s life and the reminder You gave us in Your Word of Your faithfulness. Help us to see that this is not a story of how to get blessed but a means for us to give You glory with our lives. Help us to be like Joseph and look to You in times of hardship and then respond to those who did us wrong like Joseph did — like You did on the cross when You asked the Father to forgive them. Amen.

I’m Thankful for the Father of Mercies and the God of All Comfort — Gratitude & Hope Challenge | November 20

I’m thankful for the Father of Mercies and the God of All Comfort!

In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Paul invited the church at Corinth (and us today) to praise God for who He is — the source of mercy and comfort. God, in His great love, shows compassion to us in our pain and suffering. He doesn’t stand far off or push us away but instead draws near, meeting us in our affliction with His presence, peace, and sustaining grace. Whether we face sorrow or loss, trials or tribulations, we can cling to the promise that the “God of all comfort” is with us, strengthening and reminding us that we are never alone.

But God’s comfort doesn’t end with only Him comforting us. Paul emphasized here that as we receive mercy and comfort from the Lord, we are called to extend it to others. God often works through His people, the Church, to show His love and care to those in need. When we have experienced God’s mercy, we are uniquely equipped to share it with others and minister to them. Our struggles and the comfort we received become tools in His hands, allowing us to walk alongside those who are hurting, offering hope and encouragement.

As His Church, we are His hands and feet, bringing His comfort and gospel to a broken and lost world. This is a beautiful picture of God’s redemption, even in the midst of our suffering. He uses the suffering and trials we experience to shape us, sanctify us, draw us closer to Him, and equip us to serve others for His glory.

Today, I am thankful for the mercy and comfort God has shown me, and I’m challenged to share that same mercy and comfort with those around me.

How can you reflect the heart of the “Father of Mercies” in someone’s life today? Consider those around you who are hurting and mourning as we enter the holiday season. Not everyone is ready or willing to be holly and jolly because or real hurts and hangups in their lives. Think of how Jesus has brought you through your own hurts and hangups and extend His love to others in the midst of theirs.

Lord, I thank you for being the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. Thank You for never leaving me alone when all the world has and adopting me into your family. There is nothing like the comfort of a loving Father, and I thank You for allowing your people to reflect that love and comfort to others. Help us to notice those who need to be comforted by You. Amen.

I’m Thankful for Salvation in Christ Alone by Grace Alone through Faith Alone — Gratitude & Hope Challenge | November 19

I’m thankful for salvation in Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone!

What makes grace so amazing? It’s that God saves us not because of who we are or what we’ve done but because of who He is. In our sin, we are spiritually dead, unable to save ourselves. But God, rich in His mercy and overflowing with His love, makes us alive through Jesus. Salvation is not something we can earn; it is a gift of God’s grace that must be received through faith in Jesus (alone).

This means that our works, our goodness, or even our religious or church activities cannot save us. No one can ever be good enough to meet God’s perfect standard (Romans 3:10, 23) but Jesus (1 John 2:1-2). He lived the sinless life we couldn’t live, died the death we deserved on the cross, and rose again to offer us new life. When we trust in Jesus — put our faith in Him believing that He is enough and that He died and rose again, we are forgiven, made alive, and welcomed into God’s family through adoption (John 1:12, Romans 10:9-10).

Faith is not about trying harder to fix ourselves but about turning to Jesus and trusting Him fully.

Grace means that God does what we cannot do. Jesus makes the dead alive, the lost found, and the broken whole. That’s good news!

Today, if you’ve not experienced this grace, I invite you to put your faith and trust in Jesus. if you’ve already trusted in Christ, let your heart overflow with thankfulness for the gift that you did not earn but He gave freely — salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone!

This is why I’m thankful, and this is why I have hope. What about you?

I’m Thankful for the Blessed Hope of My Redeemer — Gratitude & Hope Challenge | November 18

I’m thankful for the blessed hope of my Redeemer.

I love that phrase that Paul uses to describe the second coming of Christ in Titus 2:13: “blessed hope”. It is unique and very clearly and carefully describes what those who are in Christ have in Him and how they are able to live in this world with the expectation of Him coming again.

First, to see why I am so thankful, we need to know what Paul meant by “hope”. That word in the original language meant being able to desire something good and expect to obtain it. This is different from the way the word “hope” is used in modern English where it operates closer to a wish. My school kiddos might say something like, “I hope I make a good grade on this test”, but if they stay up until the middle of the night on their phone, fall asleep in the middle of the test, and/or zone out while reading passages, their will fail it. They hoped or wished, maybe merely even wanted, to make a good grade, but there was no real expectation or reason to expect doing well.

Biblical hope is different from that, and primarily because it is not left up to us but left up to Jesus. We can desire His coming and expect to experience it because He has already come, meaning we can trust He will again. We can desire His coming and expect to experience it because He is “our great God and Savior” with the strength and wherewithal to make anything happen. In fact, everything that exists has happened because of Him. His track record is proven and proof.

Second, that word “blessed” adds a whole other level to “hope”. The word translated “blessed” here is the same word that we see in the beatitudes at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3-12). People have been tempted to translate that word as happy, but happy in English has the connotation of good luck because hap- refers to circumstances. Think about the difference between happy and joyful. Happiness is fleeting and changes based on, well, circumstances. This word “blessed” is not circumstantial but Christ-produced. It is marked by God’s favor and that fullness/satisfaction that comes His Spirit within us.

Blessed hope, then, is the expectation of Jesus, our Redeemer, coming again that has been produced in our heart by God Himself. Blessed hope is saturated in the favor of God because it is a grace-gift to know that the One who redeemed us, purchased us by paying our sin debt with His blood on the cross, is coming to take possession of us. Blessed hope satisfies even in the not yet of life now because God’s very Spirit is already with us now, giving us more than a hypothetical happenstance because of His sure ever-presence.

I know that is a long and nerdy way of saying this, but “blessed hope” is really something else and only exists through Jesus. This world is constantly changing and getting worse the farther we get from the Fall, and if we’re not careful, we can fall into despondency and despair. We need the Holy Spirit reminder that this world is not all there is. We need to be able to trust in something and know that everything will be good eventually. But looking at the world gives us none of that, and the hypothetical hopes fail and hurt us.

We need something better than this world. We need something out of this world. We need Jesus. He’s coming. Our “blessed hope” is coming. And we are waiting for His appearance.

Lord, thank You for being our blessed hope and giving us reason to hope for the future. Thank You for being the God we can trust and know that Your promises will come to pass. Help us to be the people You are redeeming us to be. Help us to live as Your people. Help us to live in the expectation that Your coming will be soon. Amen.

I’m Thankful for Weakness — Gratitude & Hope Challenge | November 16

I’m thankful for weakness.

There’s no way I can think of saying this that doesn’t make this sound as if I have some strength or worthiness. I am weak and cannot save myself, nor do I have the strength or fortitude to walk with Christ under my own power.

Paul’s words to the church at Corinth are enough to clarify why I am thankful — and why I am learning to be content with my weaknesses.

Lord, thank You for being strong. Thank You for reminding me that my weakness does not inhibit or hinder You — that You did not choose me because I am worthy, strong, capable, or talented by, rather, You saved me because I was lost and You love me. That’s enough for me. Amen.