To engage in this age, to obey our Commander’s assignment, we must soberly reckon with this age. We must soberly reckon with the Man and Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. And we must soberly reckon with the cost. Only cowards take their hands off the plow and turn around. We cannot be cowards. We must count the cost without cowardice.
Read MoreHere’s a quick breakdown of what the Lord is doing in places where public expressions of Christianity result in persecution, excommunication, and death: Jesus is saving people. Many of those people are part of a disciple making group. Each person in a group is leading another group. Each of those people are being discipled and are obediently reproducing other groups of disciples that do likewise. And most of those people are women.
Read MoreWe’re here to bear one another’s burdens. To help shoulder the messy, weighty responsibility of restoring the person who sinned and coming alongside any other persons affected or involved. If the exposure of another person’s sin makes us feel superior because it’s not something we struggle with, we’re in deception, and we’re being of no use to the brother or sister in sin. We’re just playing into the slanderous symphony composed by the Accuser of the Brethren.
Read MoreThe intensity of the dynamics present on the earth leading up to the return of Jesus can often result in people feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. The magnitude of the disruption coming to planet earth is only going to increase in the years to come. We want to respond to Jesus with wholeheartedness to what He is saying and doing, but what do we do when we feel weak and disqualify ourselves from wholehearted pursuit?
Read MoreDo you know that God numbers your tears? He is touched by what touches us. May we be touched by what touches His heart. Let us implore Him to come to us. Let us cry day and night. May our tears be as incense rising to the throne. Cry out your tears in this fallen world, and let them have great intercessory meaning. When you are past words, intercede with your tears.
Read MoreI love the life of David. There is nothing like it. I have enjoyed decades of musings over the man after God’s own heart in books, music, and movies to ignite my holy imagination. Apart from Jesus, no one is featured more prominently in the Scriptures than David. Like so many, one of the reasons I value the life of David so much is because we discover how to be a person after God’s heart when we fall flat on our face in sin and failure.
Read MoreJesus said to a doubting Thomas, “blessed are those who have not seen yet still believe.” He said to a doubting John the Baptist, “blessed is the one who is not offended by Me.” We want to see God with our own eyes, we want to see Him move on our behalf, we want to be delivered of what plagues us, we want miracles, we want proof. None of which are bad— and yet, God honors the faith of the one who doesn’t see these things, and chooses anyway to place their trust in Him. The peace of your life starts the day you look at God and say, “You are allowed to give or take anything from me. You owe me nothing. It is I who owe you my life.”
Read MoreEverywhere around us, people are telling us that the easy way is God's way, that He will give you rest and peace and an overall spa experience, but that is not what Jesus or any of the true prophets teach or experience for themselves. Which proves they must be wrong. Right?
Read MoreThe Lord invites us in and washes us clean. All too quickly our pride tells us we know better and we set out on our own. But He is relentless in His love, pursuit, and commitment to us, even when we have forgotten our commitment to Him. “Grace Abounding” is a beautiful exploration through these truths. Read this stunning poem by Andrew Cowart, first published in our PILGRIM VOL. III 2020 Field Journal.
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