Author: BJ Armstrong

2 Timothy 4:2 (NLT)
Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

What would make it good timing to preach the word? I can think of 1,000 reasons why it’s not a good time—and probably never will be.

• • Sorry, I’m in a hurry, let’s talk later.
  • Sorry, I’ve got these reports to go over.
  • Oh hey, yeah, not now, I’ve got a meeting coming up.
  • Oh man, can it wait? I just walked into a meeting.

Jesus didn’t do it that way, he preached – always –  even when his good friend, Lazarus, was dying. Instead of dropping everything as we expect, he stayed where he was for the next two days (John 11:6, NLT). Talk about bad timing.

Do you know what he was doing for those two days? I have to assume that he was teaching, preaching, and healing, just like he always was. Truth is, it’s always a good time to preach Jesus. Always.

Hold up. Maybe you are ready to exclaim that you are not a preacher. That may be true in the sense that you do not deliver sermons. Fine. But what about your neighbor? What about that coffee group or book club that you see all the time?

Timothy Keller calls that “Level 1 preaching.” Every Christian has the responsibility to understand the message of the Bible well enough to explain and apply it to other Christians and to his neighbors in informal and personal settings.  If we are to do that, we must “be prepared,” as Paul exhorts.

If you were prepared to preach today, what would you say?

That means that yes, we must have some idea of what we will say, but it also means that we must be willing. Being willing is kind of like budgeting: if I don’t decide beforehand where my money will go, it will decide for itself, and I usually regret it.

That’s why, once we are willing, we want to be prepared.  Here is a simple formula: start with the Gospel and finish with the Gospel.  Once again, Tim Keller gets it right. He says that “telling listeners only how they should live without putting that standard into the context of the gospel gives them the impression that they might be complete enough to pull themselves together if they really try hard.”  So this isn’t about having the perfect thing to say; it’s about sharing Jesus.

1 Timothy 6:11 (ESV) But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love steadfastness, gentleness – 1 Timothy 6:11 (ESV)

Pursue righteousness
Flee compromise, even though it feels easier.

Pursue Godliness
Flee old habits when they hum their familiar song.

Pursue faith
Flee doubt when it offers simple answers.

Pursue love
Flee self-protection when it builds thicker walls.

Pursue steadfastness
Flee quitting when it feels like relief.

Pursue gentleness
Flee anger when it promises power.

“What comes into your mind when you think about God is the most important thing about you.” ~ A.W. Tozer

Psalm 94 serves as a reminder for me about who God is. Sometimes we forget. Maybe you’ve been shunned or put down. Maybe “good people” have treated you unfairly, or you were left out — not invited to the table, not included in the group.

In those moments, we might assume it’s discipline. We think, “I deserve this because of what I’ve done.” But statements like that reveal a lot about what we actually believe about God. If we see Him as only just, then we might interpret hardship as punishment, it’s His justice being served. If we believe we must be good to earn His favor, then we assume our suffering is somehow keeping us in His grace.

But Psalm 94 paints a different picture. It reveals several encouraging truths, even in hardship, about God: His steadfast love (v.18), His active consolation (v.19), and His role as our stronghold and rock of refuge (v.22). The psalmist doesn’t describe a God who punishes His children, but rather One who holds them steady when they’re about to slip.

Today, we also remember another expression of God’s character, the ultimate gift of Jesus. Because justice demands a price, God sent His Son to pay it in full.

“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 (ESV)

Through Jesus, justice was satisfied and mercy was magnified.

Psalm 87

When I hear the word Zion, I shudder. Internally, I translate it to Zionists and Zionism. Those words, in the context of modern world affairs, stir images of rage, hate, bigotry, and nationalism. That’s part of what’s broken in our culture. We take good and pure things and turn them rotten. I think that’s exactly how Satan works. He trades truth for lies (Romans 1:25) and light for darkness (Isaiah 5:20).

This becomes clear to me when I read Psalm 87.

On the holy mount stands the city he founded;
the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God. — Psalm 87:1–3 (ESV)

I don’t get past verse 2 without feeling it. That word Zion catches in my throat. Is this how it all started?

The answer is both no and yes. No, because the Zion I hear about on the news is not the Zion of Scripture. But yes, because the original Zion, the place where God chose to dwell, is where the story begins. To understand it, we need a full picture of what Zion truly is.

Zion is a hill in Jerusalem, not just any hill, but the one where God established His dwelling. There, His people gathered to worship. Yet Psalm 87 reveals something remarkable. The city’s register includes names from far beyond Israel: Rahab (Egypt), Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Cush (v. 4). Nations once known for slavery, pride, and sin are written as if they were born there. Even Babylon, later described in Revelation 17:5 as “the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth,” is named among those who belong.

How can that be? Because Zion isn’t about who controls the ground; it’s about who is welcomed home. It isn’t about who has sinned and who has not. We all have. Zion points higher to God’s presence among His people and His desire to gather the nations to Himself.

Zion is a picture of Jesus. Through Him, we are purified and made worthy to live in God’s presence. He writes our names in His book, making us citizens of His eternal city, permanent residents in His household, together on that holy hill where God dwells with His people.

1 Thessalonians 1

“When you think of me, what comes to mind?”

Maybe you’ve seen that question floating around social media. Believe it or not, it’s often used in sales training. It serves two purposes: discovery—realizing the impact you’ve had—and encouragement—being reminded that your life matters and inspires others. Most people are surprised by the responses, discovering they’ve made a bigger difference than they realized.

Now imagine asking that as a Christian. What would people say?

The believers in Thessalonica didn’t ask that question, but Paul offered his answer freely in 1 Thessalonians 1:3: “We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Despite persecution, their faith had become an example throughout Macedonia and Achaia (v.7).

So what about you?
– Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to work through you faithfully?
– Is He empowering you with loving deeds and enduring hope?

The evidence lives in your fruit. And one more thing: Who do you know that is faithfully living this way and might appreciate your encouragement today?

Colossians 2

There is no shortage of advice in this world.  If you are not getting it on TikTok, YouTube or your favorite social media, just ask Google.  My quick search returned simple tips for happiness.  they include diet, exercise, better sleep and gratitude journals.  Sound familiar?

we are inundated, everyday with this advice.  They might even have “the appearance of wisdom,” as Paul says in Colossians 2:23.  In fact, diet, exercise and the like, easily turn into a “self-made religion” (v23).  I bet you know that person, I do.  But, there is a problem.  Paradoxically, they may lead to pride and self-indulgence.

These results are far more subtle than other sins Paul highlights. Consider sexual immorality or drunkenness.  These are overt and hard to conceal.  Spiritual-pride and self-righteousness, however, are much more covert.  In the end, they lead us down the same path.  As Paul puts it, “they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh” (v23).

While Paul addressed religious legalism, I believe our cultural obsession with self-improvement follows the same pattern. Our culture tends to take these good things and turn them into the things.  herein lies the mistake.  There is only One, Jesus Christ.  It is his death and resurrection that give us life.  Accepting that means that “you died to the elemental spirits of the world” (v20)  No, that doesn’t mean to stop exercising or eating healthy.  It does mean remembering that they are merely contributors to glorifying and serving Jesus Christ.

What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us ~ AW Tozer

The pessimist believes God is against them. He’s punishing us.  The world is unraveling. Tomorrow will look no better than today. Since everything is destined to fall apart, why even try?

The optimist looks at failure and insists, “God is using this to teach me.” They search for silver linings, hoping to turn setbacks into springboards. There’s some wisdom in that, but it often leaves God out of the story. Instead of God’s plan, life is about what happens to me, leading to the mantra: “Anything is possible if I just try harder.”  Scripture offers a better way.  In Philippians 4, Paul provides a solution that transcends both extremes.

The faithful see God differently. They trust His plan and His methods.  It’s not about winning or losing, it is about God Himself. Learning to distinguish between what they want and what God wants, leads to living for His glory. Paul said it plainly: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11). His confidence wasn’t in outcomes, it was in God alone.  How about you?

If you find yourself asking “Can God?”, or “Will God?” You may be stuck in either pessimism or optimism. Shifting to faith requires a different response to life’s circumstances.  Simply consider, “He is. He always was. and always will be enough.”

Paul’s warning in Galatians 1 cuts straight to the heart: there are those who would distort the gospel, turning it into something it was never meant to be. And that raises a haunting question—have I fallen into that trap?

My first instinct is to deflect.
“Yeah, but I’m not listening to those people. My sources are solid.”
Right. Whatever.

When I take an honest look at the voices shaping my thinking—podcasts, YouTube channels, influencers—the picture gets uncomfortable. Take Ed Mylett, for example. If I’m really honest, I don’t listen to him because he brings me closer to Jesus. I listen because he gets me closer to that billion-dollar dream.

Now, maybe Ed’s a bad example—he’s a Christian and talks openly about his faith—but even there, I feel the tension: God versus money. Kingdom versus platform.

Or Steven Bartlett. Despite his Jewish heritage, he calls himself a “devout and practicing agnostic”—believing God is unknowable.

Now, I love Steven’s podcast. He brings curiosity and wisdom in truckloads. But… should I trust it?

Is this what Paul is talking about when he says,

“You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all.”
— Galatians 1:6–7 (NLT)

Why Would We Distort the Gospel?

When I stop to think about it, the motivations become clearer.

Sometimes it’s about pleasing people—offering a message that’s more palatable, more powerful. A gospel that promotes me, where Jesus becomes a means to an end.

Other times, it’s just easier.

Going back to Bartlett—saying that “God is unknowable” is way easier than surrendering to the gospel. I can acknowledge God exists and still wash my hands of any responsibility to know Him. Engage Him. Surrender to Him.

I don’t think most teachers start out saying, “God’s word is wrong; let me rewrite it.”
They just… manage it. So it becomes more immediately rewarding.

That’s the danger: truth rebranded as something easier to swallow.

The Spiritual War We’re In

This is war. Lies, confusion, and temptation don’t just come from the outside—they build strongholds inside us.

And if I’m being real? Fighting them feels impossible most days.

So what’s the alternative? Sanctification.
Being set apart for Jesus.

But that road is costly. Holiness demands everything.

And if I’m not careful, I gravitate toward the blended message—a little Jesus, a little self-help, a little prosperity. The mix goes down easier.

But Paul’s warning in Galatians pulls no punches: there is no other gospel.
Anything we add to it, subtracts from it.

The uncomfortable truth is that I’m drawn to these half-truths because they offer transformation without the cross. Success without surrender.

But that’s not the gospel Paul lived and died for.
That’s not the message that changes everything.
That’s not Jesus.

2 Corinthians 11

I was recently asked to write my own eulogy. No, nothing is wrong. It was simply an exercise, one meant to sharpen focus. Envisioning the end of our lives, complete and accomplished, has a way of helping us prioritize what truly matters today.

Have you ever thought about your own? What would it say? What will you be remembered for?

At first, I was tempted to list all of my accomplishments—beautiful homes I’ve built, my incredible wife, or the amazing kids I’ve raised. But today, as I read Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 11:22–28, I’m rethinking that impulse.

Paul’s version of a eulogy might read like this:

• A Hebrew

• An Israelite

• A descendant of Abraham

• A servant of Christ

• Imprisoned, beaten, often near death

• Whipped, stoned, beaten with rods

• In danger everywhere he went

• Hungry, cold, and exposed

• Sleepless and burdened

That list doesn’t exactly fill you with warm fuzzies. And yet—Paul says it’s the part he’s most proud of. Why? Because those were the moments of his greatest weakness, when he was most dependent on Christ. In that dependence, he was at his strongest.

Ironically, we’re taught the opposite. We’re told to find our strengths and exploit them. But Paul warns against this mindset. In verse 3, he says:

“I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.” (NLT)

He calls these success-driven philosophies different gospels—ones that may sound good but ultimately lead us away from Christ. And in verse 15, Paul gives a sober reminder:

“It is no surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.”

So if you were to die today—what would your eulogy say?

God willing, we all have years ahead of us. But every day, we get to choose:
Will our legacy be a record of worldly achievements?
Or will it be a story of ridiculous love and dangerous witness?