John 3:27-30 9/29/2026

“John replied, “A person can receive not even one thing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’  He who has the bride is the groom; but the friend of the groom, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the groom’s voice. So, this joy of mine has been made full.  He must increase, but I must decrease.”

This passage gives context to a well-known verse. John the Baptist was “the man”… He had been a top “influencer” for a long time.  The Jewish historian Josephus wrote about John drawing massive crowds out to the wilderness.  Herod Antipas feared John’s influence, and religious leaders sent delegations to him, thinking perhaps he was the Messiah. 

Then Jesus comes on the scene, and everything changes. John is targeted by one of the enemy’s favorite weapons (envy) as his followers start following Christ.  But John gives us a template on how to  respond to this temptation... Keep your eye on the prize … John knows his mission has been assigned by God, and his desire is to be effective within God’s plan.  Knowing the Messiah had arrived… John says something profound that we sometimes miss.  He doesn’t just tolerate Jesus increasing, and him decreasing… this transition fills John with happiness. Like the best man at a wedding, he is overjoyed for the groom.

Is that how you respond when the spotlight leaves your ministry and goes toward others? When God brings a new talented person to increase growth in His Kingdom does it make you joyful? Or do you instead tear down others when you’re in their shadow?  God calls us to be encouragers. And like John, we should be filled with joy when others build the Kingdom for which we fight.  

Pride is the original sin, and its self-centeredness is poisonous. I am a servant of the King, and my aim is to exalt Him. Whether I am elevated or serve as a steppingstone does not matter, so long as He is glorified. Live your life helping others succeed, and when it happens, be their biggest fan.

“The true measure of your own success is found in how loudly you cheer for the achievements of others without feeling a single shred of envy.”
- anonymous

PSALM 75:3 9/22/2026

“The earth and all who inhabit it are unsteady…”

What a powerful statement from the mouth of God.  God is the only reliable foundation available to us. Anyone, or anything I turn to for stability will prove to be unsteady.  If I desire my life to be on firm ground… if I desire strength,  steadiness, and contentment, there is only one foundation that will stand. I must depend solely on God.  All earthly anchors will be weak and unsure.

My Dad’s career was in commercial construction, and he was well known for his insistence on strong pier and beam foundations. He oversaw the building of First Baptist Church Houston back in the 1970’s when they moved from downtown, out to the west loop. Years later, at Dad’s funeral, I learned that the church’s foundation had been built strong enough to allow multiple stories to be added if it became necessary.

Few people nowadays build in that way. Most spend the minimum on the foundation, which is unseen, and pour the money into the above ground amenities that are visible…. Which is fine, until it’s not. Until the rain and wind, followed by the heat begins to move the ground you built on and cracks start to appear. This happens in buildings, marriages, careers, relationships, etc. And when the cracks appear it threatens everything that has been built upon the faulty foundation. 

Like a wise contractor you must be patient in building your life. This morning’s verse must be an undeniable part of your theology and lead you to patiently invest in a strong, immovable foundation on which to build your life.  The nine words in this passage should greet you every morning. They should be an integral part of your belief system. The time and resources you will waste by forgetting those words are immeasurable.

Are you looking for security in your bank account? Do you think your “followers” and social media clicks assure your significance? Do you expect your political party to deliver you from the threats this world poses?… God says all of that is shifting sand…what the world offers may look good in the sunshine, but when the rain comes, it will all fall apart. Take your time, insist on quality footings and build your life on the Rock.

“On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand: all other ground is sinking sand”
- Edward Mote

PSALM 39:1 9/15/2026

“I said, “I will guard my ways That I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle...” 

This is our pet sin; we make no attempt to guard our mouths. We are quick to speak, slow to listen, and quick to become angry, which is exactly backwards of biblical instruction. When triggered, we are just a keyboard away from exposing the vitriol we carry in our hearts.

When I read this verse, I thought of how I should instruct you all to respond to God, instead of reacting in anger… I wanted to warn you to be careful before hitting the send button… But not a single thought about myself.  No remorse for hurtful words that slip out because I don’t guard my mouth…. No repentance for a heart that hides arrogance behind religious phrases. Why do I so clearly see your problems but am blind to my own? It seems we’re better at critiquing other people’s statements than muzzling our own mouths.  When my heart gets polluted, my tongue is the thermometer that quickly reveals how controlled I am by sin. 

David is clearly depressed at the writing of the psalm, but he doesn’t lash out and blame someone else. He owns it .  Which is something we seem to have lost the ability to do.  Some call David inconsistent and moody…but the truth is he is transparent.  He, like us, has days that he is ready to take on the world with a slingshot, and other days when he doesn’t want to get out of bed because he feels defeated and exhausted.

The instructional part is that though he argues, he complains, he pleads, he confesses …all of that is directed toward His Father… Psalms is a book of prayers to God, not posts to followers.  God is always the answer to his questions. He never hides from the Lord or gathers a group of friends together to complain to…  he consistently turns to the Father for comfort and leans on advice found in scripture. 

Surround yourself with friends who love you and will help carry your burdens… but guard your mouth. Save your most intimate heartfelt words for your Father in praise and supplication, and intentionally eliminate statements that produce depression, despair, and anxiety. 

“God is always ready to listen anytime you are ready to talk.”
- Anonymous

2 Corinthians 4:17 9/8/2026

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."

When I was in elementary school, I received a rock tumbler as a gift. I was amazed when I first used it and saw that what had once been dull average looking rocks had become shining jewels.  This led to what I am sure was my Mom’s and sisters most memorable Christmas as they received exquisite rings and necklaces  that I had handcrafted from the rocks I had tumbled for weeks.  Strangely, I don’t remember anyone but my mom actually wearing them.

Looking back, that little machine was a great illustration. The friction caused by the constant motion slowly wore off the dull outside of the rocks and revealed a beauty that, without the abrasiveness, would have never been seen.  Paul says that the troubles of this world do the same thing.  They are not only endurable, but they actually serve the purpose of achieving eternal glory for us.  The constant tumbling and rubbing and bumping into the trouble found in this world removes rough edges.  The abrasion reveals beauty buried deep inside. 

The key to the process is the grit.  The stones themselves do  not do  the work… it is the small, almost imperceivable grit that does the work of shining.  The other indispensable ingredient is time. There are no shortcuts and there is no way to speed up the process. 

As people chasing after God’s own heart, we must be tumbled around a bit ourselves. The friction generated by the irritants of this world reveals what is beneath the surface of your life. If you have been redeemed, grinding and scuffing will begin to reveal the beauty of the Spirit of God as the rough edges are smoothed away. 

There is no doubt that we will all enter the tumbler today, surrounded by enough grit to wear away the carefully crafted façade we show our friends and followers. Make sure the beauty of God is at your core, so when the trials of this world remove the outer layers, people are drawn to what lies beneath. Though your heart may at times appear to be common and dull, allow the constant pressure created by the trials of this world to reveal it as a priceless gem.

“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.” - Helen Keller

PSALM 85:10 9/1/2026

”Graciousness and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”

Commentators describe the phrase, “met together” as a term depicting those who should be friends, but whom circumstances have separated. That is an accurate description of our relationship with God…. He is our Father, Creator, and King… we should be family, but our sin has divided us. Our communion with God has been disrupted and we no longer live in the relationship for which we were created.

However, because of His great love for us,  God has remedied this condition. “Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other”… that occurred on the Cross where Jesus horrifically suffered and died to pay my debt. God’s glorious grace, and the shame of my wickedness encountered each other, and God’s righteousness has been satisfied. His grace has given me the kiss of peace, and our relationship has been restored. 

What possible response, other than gratitude can I have to this miracle? Is there any room for boasting? Would it not be insanity to claim that I have done anything that merits such a gift? Yet we “church goers” entertain such madness on a regular basis. We think our quiet times, offerings, or kindness somehow makes us more deserving of salvation than our neighbors. 

Ironically, few attitudes are more repulsive to God than believing we can earn His grace. It nauseates Him… and understandably so. If you sacrificed a loved one to save me, and I offered you money or trinkets in return, it would do nothing but offend you. Multiply that by infinity and you will begin to understand God’s opinion of you “working” for your salvation. 

We hear “Amazing Grace” so often that the phrase loses its power to astonish us.  It is utterly unimaginable that God would do what He did. That He would sacrifice His Son to redeem us even while we were pushing Him away…. And it is inexcusable for us to believe we have anything to offer as reimbursement. 

When counting your blessings, place first the fact that His love and your sin came face to face, and His grace bestowed on you Christ’s righteousness, and the kiss of eternal peace with your heavenly Father… In comparison, everything else is just details. 

“We are justified, not by giving anything to God, but by receiving from God, what Christ hath done for us.”  – William Gurnall