There before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. — Revelation 7:9 In our campus ministry we gather at 5:30 on Thursday afternoons for a time of worship, Bible study, and prayer. We also break bread and enjoy fellowship together. On one occasion, we had 16 people gathered from nine different countries. They were from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, and North and South America. Sometimes people say that Christianity is a “Western” religion, but God’s kingdom is made up of people from all over the world! Sadly, in Europe and North America, the church is growing stale. Countless congregations across Canada, the United States, and Western Europe have closed. Many others are struggling to remain open. Weekly attendance at worship services has been decreasing. Yet newcomers from other lands are breathing new life into our worshiping communities. Though many newcomers arrive in the “West” lacking financial resources, they often come with an amazing, infectious passion for Jesus Christ. We do well to embrace and enfold our brothers and sisters in Christ, seeking together to build revitalized worshiping communities. This helps us to glimpse what John describes in Revelation 7. It is hard to find anything more beautiful than worshiping together with people of every nation. Lord, thank you for breathing new life into our churches through newcomers from all nations. Keep growing your kingdom, we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
A great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. . . . Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. — Acts 8:1, 4 History has shown that the church has often grown during times of persecution. While the early church was growing rapidly in Jerusalem, it also began to spread widely as people scattered from persecution and “preached the word wherever they went” in the surrounding territories. At the college where I serve as a campus minister, I often see a similar thing happening. Christian students come to the college from Africa, Asia, and South and Central America. Many of these foreign students have a passion for sharing the good news of Jesus with friends and classmates. It is exciting to see the kingdom of God advancing as Christians from other lands reinvigorate the church here. It is also exciting to see the kingdom welcoming newcomers among students who did not know Jesus before they came to this land. I routinely meet people who are unhappy about the number of immigrants coming to the “West” from around the world. But for those who are kingdom-minded rather than country-minded, those objections pale in comparison to the joy of seeing God’s kingdom growing. Lord God, thank you for Jesus, who bled and died for us and then called us to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, “and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). We rejoice and marvel at the growth of your kingdom! Amen.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. — Acts 2:5 On the day of Pentecost, God-fearing Jews from many nations were staying in Jerusalem. They were gathering to celebrate the Feast of Weeks that God had established for his people Israel some 1,500 years earlier (Deuteronomy 16:9-12). They all converged on the temple on Pentecost (fifty days after the Feast of Passover) to bring offerings of the firstfruits of their harvests. That day people from many nations heard the good news of Jesus for the first time. And about 3,000 believed and were baptized (Acts 2:41). Scholars estimate that the world population was about 300 million people at that time. That is 1/27th of today’s population. It took 1,800 years for the world’s population to grow to a billion. Prior to the 1800s there were few formal immigration laws. But with the world’s population at over 8 billion today, almost every country has decided to regulate immigration. Christians are free to differ and disagree over the details of immigration laws. However, as immigrants, migrants, refugees, and others cross borders today, many hear the gospel for the first time. God’s people have the opportunity and responsibility to share the gospel with them. And as the gospel is shared, many people continue to enter God’s kingdom each day! That of course is a good thing—regardless of our views on immigration. Lord, we pray for every person who has left their homeland to find a new home. Enfold them into your kingdom, we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” — Luke 10:27 Soon after we moved into our house, new neighbors moved into the house next door. Their children were the same ages as ours. We found that we shared many of the same values. They were good neighbors, and our kids played together and even slept over at each other's houses. My neighbor also knows that he can borrow my pickup truck whenever he needs it. Sometimes I smugly think, “I love my neighbor as myself.” A teacher of the law tried to test Jesus by asking the way to eternal life. Jesus answered by summarizing God’s law, saying, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind; and love your neighbor as yourself.” Perhaps the teacher of the law should have left the matter there. But then he also asked, “And who is my neighbor?” He likely expected Jesus to say something like “Your neighbor is someone who has the same faith and values that you have.” But Jesus took the conversation in a much different direction. “Your neighbor,” Jesus said, in effect, “is someone with a different ethnicity and religion, from a people you generally despise. . . . Now go and love him too!” Thank you, Jesus, for pushing us out of our comfort zones. Thank you for reminding us to love people who are different from us—even our enemies—for we are all created in the image of God. Amen.
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. — Romans 13:1 I have never met a president or a prime minister. (I did see Queen Elizabeth II of England from a distance on two occasions, though!) As a regular citizen, I have little influence over the laws and policies of my country. My vote is just one among millions, and attending policy meetings does little to set the nation’s direction. This is true for immigration laws and policies as well as for most other laws. But just because I do not write my country’s laws and policies, I do not have the right to ignore them or to rebel against them. Even when I think the laws are horrible and destructive, I do not have the right to break them. Thankfully, however, in many countries like mine, people have the right to protest unfair policies. And if a government’s demand is in direct conflict with God’s commands, we must choose God’s way (Acts 5:29). Still, Jesus taught his followers to give to Caesar what was due him (Mark 12:17), even though Caesar may have used taxes for unethical purposes. Even when we are disillusioned with our government and its policies, we cannot use that as an excuse to treat other people poorly. Whether we are pro-immigration or anti-immigration, for example, the God who told Israel to love the foreigner among them also calls us to do the same, loving our neighbors as ourselves. Lord Jesus, help us to obey our governing authorities as you did, and to love all our neighbors as ourselves. For your sake, Amen.
“The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself. . . .” — Leviticus 19:34 The Bible includes a number of stories about God’s people fleeing their homes to find refuge elsewhere. Abram and Sarai took refuge in Egypt because of a famine (Genesis 12:10). So did Jacob and his whole clan (Genesis 46). Elimelek and Naomi did something similar (Ruth 1:1-2). Jacob had also fled for his life after stealing his brother’s birthright (Genesis 27:41-44). And Joseph and Mary fled with baby Jesus when King Herod sent soldiers to kill him (Matthew 2). As we read these stories, we are relieved to find God’s people welcomed into foreign lands! The Bible also instructs God’s people on how to treat foreigners. Leviticus 19:34 makes clear that the foreigner was to have the same legal protection as the native-born Israelite. Like a neighbor, the foreigner was also to be loved as oneself! Our world remains a place where countless people flee from one place to another. Escaping from war, famine, persecution, and poverty, millions of people are on the move. Is there any reason to think that God would have his people treat foreigners differently today than long ago? In what ways can we show God’s love and care for the foreigners among us? Lord, help us to love foreigners as we love ourselves. Please help us to see each person we meet as your imagebearer, and to love everyone as you love us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. — 1 Corinthians 3:14 My wife is an accomplished pianist. On occasion we attend a local symphony. When possible, she arranges for us to sit in a location that gives a clear view of the pianist’s hands and feet. She watches the pianist’s movements with intensity and amazement. While I thoroughly enjoy listening to the symphony, my level of enjoyment pales in comparison to hers! In a similar way, it seems, God’s children will enjoy varying levels of reward when they enter his kingdom in all its glory. Though everyone in God’s presence will be filled with wonder and joy, apparently some will be rewarded with more blessing and joy than others, based on the life they have lived here and now. The important thing, though, as Paul points out, is to “build with care,” striving to base our lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ. As God’s children, welcomed into God’s family through the finished work of Christ, we are called to live like Jesus, following his example in all we think, say, and do. And we are called to do this in line with the gifts and resources we are given. In our daily living, we are called to love God first in our lives and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40; see also 25:14-46). God grants salvation by grace alone and not through works (Ephesians 2:8-10), but God also rewards his servants for their faithful service. What an amazing God we serve! Lord, we marvel at your grace and mercy! You add blessings upon blessings, and we praise your holy name! Amen.
“Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” — Luke 16:9 The parable of the shrewd manager is one of Jesus’ most puzzling teachings. It can seem confusing because the dishonest manager is commended for acting shrewdly. But this does not mean Jesus approves of theft and dishonesty. In this parable Jesus is challenging us to be resourceful with an eye to the future. With a shocking illustration that grabs people’s attention, Jesus teaches a practical way of storing up treasures in heaven. Rather than simply gathering our earthly wealth for ourselves, he is saying, we should use our earthly wealth to make an impact for the kingdom of God. This parable is sometimes called a crisis parable with an end-time meaning. In that way it is similar to Jesus’ parables in Matthew 25 about being watchful and ready at all times to use our resources for God’s kingdom and to show his love to our neighbors. There are hints in this parable about building relationships too. Could it be that the friendships we make on earth will stretch on into eternity? Could it be that making friends with homeless and hungry people will lead to fruitful fellowship with them in the new heaven and earth? We may need to grow in our understanding of what eternal life will bring. The way we live today will follow us into eternity. Lord, we have many questions about eternal life. Help us to see that it will be better than anything we can imagine! Amen.
“Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” — Matthew 6:20 Some people have called this the greatest investment tip of all time. Jesus tells his followers to store up treasures in heaven rather than on earth. Life on earth, as we know it, is temporary, and so are its treasures. Moths eat holes in clothes. Rats and mice chew up and ruin things we have set aside for safekeeping. Metals corrode and discolor over time. Storing up treasures on earth might be a little more sophisticated today than it was in Jesus’ day, about 2,000 years ago. We might invest in stocks and bonds, real estate, and other things. But none of that really changes the truth of Jesus’ teaching. Markets crash. Inflation guts the value of our currency. It can happen slowly—or overnight. In Alberta a fire destroyed a garage filled with dozens of vintage cars. Natural disasters bring enormous damage and destruction for millions of people every year. Earthly treasures will never be secure. And, to top it all off, death quickly separates us from any earthly treasure we might accumulate. But not all is lost! Jesus promises that when we invest our time, efforts, and resources into God’s kingdom here on earth, we will reap dividends for eternity. Lord, please give us your wisdom for living. All things belong to you. Help us to use the time, gifts, and resources that you give us to serve in your kingdom. Amen.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who . . . correctly handles the word of truth. — 2 Timothy 2:15 A woman from a local church volunteers three hours each Wednesday with our campus ministry. She gives grandmotherly advice, prays with students, and provides a lot of them with food. She is also a good storyteller! She tells students that, years ago, she inherited a wolfdog. As a pup, he was content to live a dog’s life, but when she moved north, where wolves still roam (and howl), the dog became restless and wanted to roam also. Then one day he ran off to follow the call of the wild and was seen no more. In some ways a similar thing can happen in our life as followers of Jesus. Our old sinful nature still clings to us—and as the world calls out to us with alluring temptations, that old nature can stir within. Selfish and sinful tendencies can try to come back to life. Social media and every other form of media make their impact. The people around us influence us greatly. We can also be “dragged away by [our] own evil desire and enticed” (James 1:14). We do well to take time as individuals, as families, and as groups of believers to practice accountability, discussing some questions like these: “Is my life and what I believe in line with godly living and the kingdom of God? Or is it bending toward my old sinful nature and the values of the world? Holy God, remind us each day to examine our hearts, our minds, and our lives. Help us to stay faithful to your Word and your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” — Matthew 6:9-10 When we pray, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” we are asking God to help us follow the example of the angels and other creatures who serve God faithfully in the heavenly realms (see Revelation 4-5). We are praying that we may have the strength and the guidance to do God’s will as we live here on earth, as citizens of God’s kingdom—here and now. As God’s children, we want to serve him willingly and cheerfully. But as anyone who has been tempted knows, there are also powerful forces, led by Satan, that try to lure God’s people away to join them in rebellion. Paul writes in Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” All who have been redeemed through Christ are given new, eternal life. Yet we continue to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit of Christ living in us to live faithfully each day for the glory of God and his kingdom. That is why we pray, “Your will be done. . . .” In what ways are you doing God’s will today? Heavenly Father, help me to do your will today. May my every thought, word, and deed be fitting for a citizen of your kingdom! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
“This . . . is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. . . .’” — Matthew 6:9-10 Most of us face many, many choices each day. What clothes will I wear? What will I have for breakfast? What route will I take to work? What do I need at the store? Which tasks will I focus on? There is one choice, however, that is far more important than all the others: Which kingdom will I serve? Where will I spend my best efforts—in the kingdom of God or in the kingdom or domain or country or community or family that I am dwelling in? Jesus teaches us to pray, “Father . . . your kingdom come.” As we pray these words, we are making a commitment to living God’s way. “Your kingdom come” means, first of all, “Rule over me! Master my soul. Make me a loyal citizen of your kingdom.” It means, “Lord, rule in my life and master me in such a way that my deepest desire is to walk with you. May your principles and ways be the air that I breathe.” “Your kingdom come” also means, “Help me to see your kingdom advance in the people around me—my family, friends, classmates, coworkers, and neighbors. Help me to foster a love for kingdom living in them as well.” This also means seeing institutions and organizations align with the principles of God’s kingdom. And as the Lord’s kingdom comes, any forces that revolt against him will be overwhelmed and shattered. Lord, in all that I think, say, and do, may I serve to advance your kingdom in my life and in the world around me. Lord, I pray today, ‘Your kingdom come!’ In Jesus’ name, Amen.
What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. — Micah 6:8 The prophet Micah spoke out for the Lord against the unjust practices of his day. He pictured people asking how they might please God with offerings in order to pay for their sins: “What is it that God wants from us? How much must we sacrifice before God will be happy with us?” The answer is simple and yet profoundly life-changing: As long as you practice injustice, it doesn’t matter how much you sacrifice to God. The Lord calls you to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with him! Then you may bring your offerings and find favor with God. Get rid of your rigged scales. Stop your price gouging. End the practice of driving people into poverty so that you can buy them as servants and slaves. Practice justice. And even more than that—love mercy. Give freely to your poor neighbor rather than scheming up ways to make them your slaves. Find ways to relieve poverty rather than profiting from it. At the college where I serve as a campus minister, foreign students often struggle financially. But many of them have been embraced by local churches. On Monday mornings when they come to school, they often tell me with beaming faces how their church communities have blessed them on Sunday. God smiles along with these students as he sees his people showing love and mercy. We love you, merciful God. Teach us to love by showing mercy to others. Guide us to act with justice each day for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
“When will . . . the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?”—skimping on the measure, boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales. . . . — Amos 8:5 Many of Israel’s rich and powerful merchants and other leaders despised God’s rest and justice. For them, the Sabbath was not a day for observing physical and spiritual rest in honor of God’s promises to his people. Instead the Sabbath was an unwelcome intrusion into their crooked, unjust business practices. It was as if they said, “When will this Sabbath be over so that we can overcharge for wheat, and use faulty scales to cheat the people? We will drive them into poverty so that we can buy them as our servants and slaves for the price of a pair of shoes! And in the meantime we will pretend we are good, God-fearing, law-abiding citizens.” Their sin was a violation of nearly every law that God had given to the people before they entered the promised land. Israel was intended to be a nation of truth and justice, but the ruling class generally despised those important values. God’s verdict: “I will expel you from my kingdom. Not because I want to, but because you want to live unjust, unforgiven, and God-forsaking lives.” Let’s examine our own hearts and minds to see if we are living in the way God calls us to. Lord Jesus, send your Spirit into our hearts and minds today. Guide us into living by the values of your kingdom rather than by the ways of this world. Amen.
Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience. — Hebrews 4:11 Justice requires that debts be paid. God created us to love him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. He also instructs us to love our neighbors as ourselves. But every day we fall short of God’s requirements, adding to our debt. Jesus, the eternal Son of God, came from heaven to become human and live among us. He kept God’s law of love perfectly. Then, although he was innocent, he gave up his life on a cross for us, paying the debt of sin for all who would believe in him. This is the good news that we are called to believe so that we can enter God’s rest. In the Old Testament, some of God’s people disobeyed and would not accept the good news that God would give them the promised land. They would not trust in God to bring them into his rest (Numbers 14). And today, as the book of Hebrews explains it, the situation is similar: we need to trust in the good news of God’s salvation through Jesus so that we can enter into his rest—enjoying the full, eternal life that God has in store for us. This is also called the “Sabbath-rest for the people of God,” and the Sabbath day is a weekly reminder pointing to that rest. Repenting of sin and placing our faith in the crucified and risen Lord Jesus brings us into his rest. So we do well to ask, “Have I entered his rest, or am I still struggling in my own strength to find peace with God?” Lord, thank you for the gift of true rest through faith in Jesus. Amen.
Ahab said to Naboth, “Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden. . . .” But Naboth replied, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors.” — 1 Kings 21:2- 3 When God gave Israel the land he had promised them, each clan received a tract of land as their inheritance. God also made clear that this inheritance was to remain in each family throughout the generations. When times were hard, some families in debt had to sell their land, but in those cases the sale was never meant to be permanent. (See Leviticus 25; Joshua 13-21.) However, King Ahab of Israel was wicked and did not want to live in line with God’s way. Near the king’s palace was a vineyard owned by a man named Naboth. Ahab offered to buy the land from Naboth, but Naboth refused to sell because God had said the land should remain in the family to whom it was given. That made Ahab angry, so, with the help of his wife, Jezebel, he came up with a plan. They plotted to have Naboth put to death by having him accused of cursing both God and the king. Ahab then stole the dead man’s land. As the king of Israel, Ahab was responsible to be a representative of God, the true King. But this abuse of justice was intolerable, and Ahab and Jezebel would pay a heavy price. (See 1 Kings 21:17-29; 2 Kings 9:30-37.) Perhaps our blood boils as we read of Ahab and Jezebel’s actions, but are we outraged when we see injustice today? Father, thank you for being a God of justice. Make us a people of justice too! In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
“Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. . . .” — Isaiah 1:16-17 Justice is an important attribute of God. Justice lies at the heart of God’s character. Because God is just, justice is a hallmark of his kingdom. In the Old Testament, God’s people Israel were meant to serve as a physical, earthly representation of God’s kingdom that would one day fill the whole earth. As a result, we find countless calls for Israel to be a just nation because God is just. Judges were to rule impartially. Neighbors were to treat each other justly. Foreigners were to be treated justly and fairly always (Exodus 22:21; Deuteronomy 24:17-18). But Israel failed again and again to exercise justice. That brought God’s discipline on them, and he sent them into exile. However, leading up to and during their exile, God spoke through the prophet Isaiah to urge the people to change their ways. Isaiah also delivered songs of hope and praise describing what the kingdom would look like if the children of God would truly embrace justice in the land. (See Isaiah 2:1-5; 4:2-6; 9:2-7; 11:1-12:6.) The God of the kingdom of heaven is the same God who led Old Testament Israel. His name remains synonymous with justice. And as citizens of God’s kingdom, we too are called not only to act justly but also to love justice. We bow before you, Lord and King, to praise you for your justice. Empower us by your Spirit to truly love justice and to live by doing justice in this world. Amen.
Since . . . you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above. . . . — Colossians 3:1 In my work as a campus minister I spend a lot of time with international students. Each year hundreds of students come to our community college from around the world. While some of these students simply come for a Canadian education, many have their hearts set on obtaining Canadian citizenship. The cost for most students is high. Many leave family and friends behind—in some cases for years. And along with having a rigorous academic schedule, many of these students work two or even three part-time jobs. Tired and hungry, they press on, for their hearts are set on graduation, work permits, permanent residency, and eventually citizenship! To set one's heart on something means to desire it more than anything else, regardless of the costs. At the center of setting our hearts “on things above” is desiring a relationship with the triune God and knowing his friendship and favor. Counting ourselves as citizens of God’s kingdom moves us to live God’s way rather than by the way of the world. And dreaming of the day when we will see Jesus face to face and be able to live in perfect joy for eternity—that is what God calls us to set our hearts on. Heavenly Father, may our hearts burn with a desire to know you better and love you deeper. Claim our deepest affections and cause an ever-deepening homesickness within us until the day you bring us into your kingdom in all its glory. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. — Colossians 3:2 Being born again to live in the kingdom of God calls for a dramatic shift in our thought patterns. God comes to us and says, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” But we may wonder, “If we ignore earthly things that need to be taken care of, won’t our lives just become more chaotic? Is God really telling us to quit focusing on the day-to-day matters all around us?” Setting our minds “on things above” has to do with leaving our old sinful lives behind so that we can put on the new life we are called to live in Christ. Instead of living in “immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed,” we are called to show “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience,” and more. We are to live as the people of God’s kingdom. This means we regularly spend time with God, reading and studying the Bible, praying, worshiping, enjoying fellowship with other believers, learning from Christian thinkers and artists, and more. In this way our earthly lives become increasingly focused on the greater purposes and good that God has in store for us while we live for him in this world. If, however, we spend each day immersed in our old, selfish ways and in the false promises of the world, we will find ourselves drifting away from the full life God wants for us. Jesus, draw our minds to focus on living for you. Starve out our sinful earthly desires, and bring us to flourish as joy-filled citizens of your eternal kingdom. Amen.
Our old self was crucified with him so that . . . we should no longer be slaves to sin. . . . — Romans 6:6 Obtaining my Canadian citizenship was easy—well, for me, at least. (It took more effort on my mother’s part!) Being born in Canada qualified me for Canadian citizenship. However, becoming a citizen in the kingdom of heaven is more complicated. To be a citizen in God’s kingdom, we must die and be born again. In Romans 6 and in other passages, the apostle Paul speaks of being crucified with Christ, dying with Christ, being buried with Christ, and rising with Christ. Jesus teaches that unless we are born again, we will not see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). As Paul explains in Ephesians, we are “to put off [our] old self”—our old sinful nature—and “to be made new . . . to put on the new self, created to be like God in righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24). Dying and being born again calls for a radical change in how we think and act. But this is not a transformation we can manage on our own. As Paul puts it, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). God gives us new life through the Spirit, putting the old sinful nature to death. And even before that, the Spirit of God moves us to recognize our sin and our need for new life. So we pray in repentance and ask God for forgiveness, trusting in his power to save us through the finished work of Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit, put to death every part of our sinful nature, and bring us to live all of life for the glory of God. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.