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The Upside Down Kingdom of God

Today’s reading is 1 Corinthians 4 where Paul writes about the ministry of the apostles.

Merriam-Webster defines the word apostle as “one sent on a mission: such as one of an authoritative New Testament group sent out to preach the gospel and made up especially of Christ’s 12 original disciples and Paul.”

These are God’s chosen people to deliver the truth of God and the gospel of Jesus to the world and what does Paul tell us about them. In 1 Corinthians 4:9 he says they are “last of all, like men sentenced to death.” He says in 1 Corinthians 4:10 they are “fools for Christ’s sake” and “weak,” as well as in “disrepute.” But it doesn’t stop there, he goes on in 1 Corinthians 4:11 to say they “hunger and thirst,” and they are “poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless.” Lastly, he says in 1 Corinthians 4:13 they are “like the scum of the worlds, the refuse of all things.”

Despite all of this in in 1 Corinthians 4:12-13, “When reviled, we bless: when persecuted, we endure, when slandered, we entreat.” Above all though he begins in 1 Corinthians 4:1 by saying..

  “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.”

What an example these apostles, chosen by God, give us. One would typically think those chosen by God should be put on a pedestal and held in high regard, yet it is exactly the opposite. Remember, there was time where James and John ask Jesus in Mark 10:37 to sit on each side of Him in Heaven. But now, after seeing the pain, the agony, and the suffering that Jesus, the Son of God, did on their behalf on the cross to do what they could not do for themselves to make them right with God through the forgiveness of their sins, their priorities were different. Their perspective is different because they saw firsthand the sacrifice He made and now consider it an honor to suffer in a similar manner so long as they are being used by Him to spread the Gospel so others may be saved like them.

So, what does this mean for us and our everyday life here today? I’m not certain I know, but at a minimum we should respond by being more in tune with what God wants of us in our lives and in certain situations which may differ from what we want or what the world says we should want and get. And above all, we should strive to live in a way to be regarded like the apostles who are viewed as “servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God” as he says in 1 Corinthians 4:1 which he also says in 1 Corinthians 4:2 is because “it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”

Let us start by being faithful….one moment and one day at a time.

Eternal Truth

The cross of Christ stands as the ultimate paradox: a symbol of shame and suffering that reveals the wisdom and power of God. At its center lies a truth that defies human logic—salvation through sacrifice, victory through death, glory through humility. The world esteems power, status, and intellect, yet God chose what is “foolish” in the eyes of the world to shame the wise and the strong (1 Corinthians 1:27). In doing so, He exposes the emptiness of human pride and redirects our hope to what truly matters: Christ crucified.

Worldly thinking prioritizes self—self-reliance, self-glory, and self-promotion. It seeks answers in human achievement and reason, measuring worth by influence, wealth, or success. But the message of the cross calls us to a different standard. It confronts us with our sin, humbles our ambitions, and demands surrender. At the cross, we see that our deepest need cannot be met by human effort, but only by divine grace.

To live by the cross is to live counter-culturally. It means rejecting the temptation to find identity in anything other than Christ. It means embracing weakness so that God’s strength may be made perfect. It means resisting the lure of popular opinion when it conflicts with eternal truth.

In a world that exalts what temporary, the cross anchors us in the eternal. It reminds us that God’s ways are higher than ours, and His wisdom far surpasses our understanding. To stand firm in the gospel is to reject the fleeting wisdom of the age and cling to the cross—the only hope that does not fail.

Lastly, on this Memorial Day, thank you to all the soldiers and veterans that have selfishly given their lives for our freedom.  Your sacrifice, suffering, and even death for a cause, our country, required immeasurable courage and resolve.  Thank you for putting your beliefs and loyalty before your own well-being.

He sees it all, and he still loves us!

When you were a child, do you remember your parents looking after you? Do you have specific memories of places, events, or timelines where you knew someone had a watchful eye on you?

For example, I grew up swimming all the time. Lakes, pools, rivers, hot tubs and so on. During that time I didn’t always look to see where my parents or caregivers were, but there was always someone paying attention. With this there was also to an extent, an amount of freedom to do what I wanted. There were times when I wanted my parents to be watching and then other times I didn’t want to get caught.

At this point in my life, I am longing for the days when I could have a meaningful conversation with my mother and father. There are things I want to tell them about my wife, my life, and their grandchildren. I want to hear their stories again about how they grew up, both the good and the bad.

Today’s reading: Psalm 33

13 The Lord looks down from heaven;
    he sees all the children of man;
14 from where he sits enthroned he looks out
    on all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 he who fashions the hearts of them all
    and observes all their deeds. (Psalm 33:13-15)

These verses should remind us that no matter the presence or relationship with our Earthly parents, our Father God is always watching us. He loves us more than we can fathom, and he wants us to call on him in the good and bad times.

What thoughts come to mind when thinking about the fact that God is always watching? Probably some mix of fear (like I shared about not wanting to get caught), and hopefully some sense of warmth and love because of the extent God took to purchase our salvation.

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

If there are feelings of dread or fear, it is usually because of some hidden or unconfessed sin. This week, I took an inventory of my life as to the things that are hindering my relationship with God. I asked him to reveal my sins to me so that I may confess and ask for forgiveness. The many thoughts that came to mind were daunting, but there is so much freedom when we come clean and admit our wrongs to the one who already knows what we did.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” (Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT))

Let us remember that God’s watchful eye is not one of mere surveillance, but of love. Regardless of our memories of those who nurtured us, we can always come to our Heavenly Father for forgiveness, wisdom, grace, mercy, love, a warm embrace, and much more.

Seek the Lord Amidst Suffering

Psalm 31

This psalm is very applicable to every single person who calls earth their home. You may ask, why are you wording it this way… Well, we live in a fallen world that was cursed back in Genesis 3:17, and not only was the ground cursed then, but sin has abounded in our world. Cancer, greed, heartbreak, covetousness, and every evil (or imperfect) thing is a result of the sin that Adam committed. So let’s study this Psalm and see how one of the greatest earthly kings of Israel handled his anguish.

Just by means of breaking this Psalm into chunks, we see in the first 5 verses David is requesting protection from the LORD. He exclaims truths that God is his rock, his fortress, and that God is faithful. The next three verses, (6-8) David is portraying his trust and faith in God as his protector. God listens and hears the cry of David.
Now, in verses 9-13 David starts to explain some of the symptoms of his life. He explains:
1. His body and soul are withering away
2. Sin has drained his strength
3. He is wasting away from within
4. His enemies are conspiring against him, plotting to take his life.

Through these verses, David explains both internal and external suffering and anguish. He mentions that his sin has drained his strength. In Psalm 51, David asks the Lord to restore to him the joy of his salvation. There are two truths here. The first being that our own sin can cause us suffering and internal anguish. The second truth is that our sin steals the joy that we once had… But God is faithful to forgive you when you come to Him and He is faithful to restore that joy to you.

The external suffering David faced, and that we face today, is often a result of other people sinning against us. We must remember that sin is simply missing the mark of God’s righteousness and holiness.
Now let’s apply this to our own lives.
1. When we sin and face internal anguish, we must keep short accounts with God (James 5:16, 1 John 1:9, Ps. 32:1-5).
2. We must forgive others so we can also be forgiven (Matthew 6:14-15).
3. We must continuously praise God and seek Him as our refuge and rock (Ps. 31:3,21)

Joy Comes in the Morning

Today’s Reading: Psalm 30 

David’s Psalm is a song of praise about joy coming after sorrow. I’m sure we can all think of times when Jesus lifted us out of a situation or circumstance that, at the moment, seemed to knock us down. There are so many that come to mind. If I choose to, I can think of a few things going on right now that without God, I would be floundering and trying to handle daily circumstances on my own, with guaranteed not good results (moving, marriage, parenting, time with God, job 1, job 2, looking for job 3 for family, did I say parenting, being a brother, husband, son, role model).  

Thankfully, spending intentional time daily leaning into the Lord and trusting in Him changes my perception, attitude, and, ultimately, my experience with every circumstance.  

God Rescues from Trouble (vv. 1–3)

“I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths…”

David recalls how God delivered him from a dire situation—possibly illness or near death—and restored him. The image is of being pulled up from Sheol (the grave), a metaphor for being rescued from death or despair.

God’s Anger Is Temporary, His Favor Is Lasting (v. 5)

“Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

This famous verse emphasizes God’s mercy. His anger (often disciplinary in the Old Testament context) is brief, while His favor and love endure. Suffering is real but temporary—joy returns.

The Danger of Self-Reliance (vv. 6–7)

“When I felt secure, I said, ‘I will never be shaken.'”

David admits he grew complacent in times of prosperity, forgetting that his stability came from God. When that favor seemed withdrawn, he was quickly shaken, revealing his dependence on God’s grace.

Transformation of Mourning into Joy (vv. 11–12)

“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.”

The Psalm ends with a vivid image of transformation: despair becomes joy, sorrow turns into dancing. David commits to praising God forever.

So today, lean in, listen, and trust in what God has planned. Joy and hope are central to the life of faith

Strength of the Spirit of God 

 

Today’s Reading: Psalm 29

“Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.”‭‭Psalm‬ ‭29‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Ascribe literally translates to : Write this down.

Write this down …. Write this down…. Write this down.

This is only stated when something important is happening.  This is the call to attention that needs to remembered and transmitted to everyone.

How important is it to write things down?  During the last year of college, while taking a graduate level mathematics course; I learned how to pay attention and write things down. The class consisted of only five people. The professor walks in and starts to write on the board. Everyone around me starts to write in their notebook. I was listening to him and paying attention.  The professor filled the entire board in less than five minutes. He spoke to the class for two minutes. He turned around and erased everything that he wrote. He then he began to start writing again. I did not get the memo that I needed to write everything down, so I started to feverishly write all the notes that he was giving me. It taught me not take for granted anything that was told to me, it may not be repeated. Now,  I am a prolific note taker.

In this psalm , David is telling everyone the magnitude in the magnificent of the spirit of God. He even references the first part of Genesis in this psalm…

“The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over many waters.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭29‬:‭3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

David also tell the power and gentleness of God the Spirit

“The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, “Glory!””

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭29‬:‭4‬-‭7‬, ‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

With this might and power of the Spirit, David shows the true mission of the Spirit…

“May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

It’s not just trying to tell us what and how the spirit of God works, but he also is telling us that when we allowed to Spirit to work and move in us that he is given us peace and strength and all the things that we do. This is the true mission of the Spirit is to show God‘s awesomeness in everyday life. This shows how the love that God gives provides strength and peace to us to overcome all things.

Be blessed

God, My Rock

Psalm 28

When I call on God, what do I call Him? Sometimes it’s “Father,” sometimes “Savior.” But I realize that if I have ever called Him “Rock,” it’s because I learned it right here in Psalm 28. David prayed that way, and if it was good enough for David, it’s good enough for me.

But what does it really mean for God to be my Rock? Rocks don’t move. They don’t crack under pressure. They aren’t bothered by storms, by rain, by heavy winds. If God is truly my Rock, then nothing can shake Him — not my relationship problems, not my health issues, not my financial fears, not even death itself.

The truth is, I often want to be a rock myself. I pray for courage, for strength, sometimes even for money, hoping to become strong and immovable. Yet, after the prayer ends, I often feel like a hypocrite — nothing changes. I am still fragile, still anxious, still me. I haven’t become the rock I asked to be.

And maybe that’s exactly the point.

God didn’t promise to make me the Rock. He promised to be the Rock. It’s an important distinction. My strength is not in becoming unbreakable; it’s in leaning on the One who already is. He is unmovable, unshakable, dependable — not me.

So what do I need a Rock for? I need a Rock to stand on when the storms rage. I need a Rock to cling to when my own strength fails. I need a Rock to remind me that though I may falter, He never will.

Psalm 28 teaches me that it’s not about being strong enough. It’s about trusting the One who already is.

No Fear

Today’s reading is Psalm 27.

I grew up in the Lutheran Church attending Confirmation classes in junior high which ends the Spring of your 8th grade year with taking your first Communion. As a part of this we picked our own personal Confirmation verse. By the time the sheet with possible options and a sort of “greatest hits” of Bible verses reached me, the ones I mostly knew at the time were gone.

Psalm 27:1 is what I ultimately selected…

The Lord is my light and salvation;

Whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life;

of whom shall I be afraid?

Many of us in born in the early to mid-80s probably remember the many “No Fear” shirts and stickers. While I didn’t have any myself, they were very popular, and I think is the reason I picked this verse. I had a great Aunt Naomi who was very close to our family being that she had no children of her own. When my Confirmation day came, I remember her telling me this was also her Confirmation verse, so I always think of her when I hear it again.

I read in the past few days something which said to the effect of that God did not keep Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from being thrown into the fire, but it was the fact that He put Jesus in their with them to protect them that mattered. God doesn’t promise us in this chapter that trials and bad things won’t happen.

In Psalm 27:2, “When evildoers assail me,.…”

In Psalm 27:3, “Though an army encamp against me,..”

In Psalm 27:5 it discusses, “in the day of trouble..”

The chapter indicates bad things will happen, but the Psalmist has peace in who will be with him and where his focus will be.

In Psalm 27:4, he seeks after being able to “dwell in the house of the Lord” and to “gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple.”

In Psalm 27:8, he says, “’Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

In Psalm 27:11 he asks God to “Teach me your way O Lord.”

Lastly, in Psalm 27:13, “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!”

As we reflect on current troubles, let us ask ourselves where our focus is…is it on our problems or Him?

Maybe we don’t have many troubles at this very moment but let us pray for wisdom that when we do, because Psalm 27 and John 16:33 says we will have them, our focus will be on Jesus. Let us pray that we will seek Him and His face and presence in these times.

Psalm 27:3 tells us when we do so we can live with confidence.

Though an army encamp against me,

My hear shall not fear;

Though ware rise against me,

yet I can be confident.”

Four Questions – Pass or Fail

After reading Psalm 26, I have a few questions I asked myself…..

1. Have I led a blameless life?

2. Have I trusted in the Lord without wavering?

3. Do I associate with hypocrites?

4. Do I always refuse to sit with the wicked?

Here are my answers in that order.  No.  No.  Yes.  No.   Just another reminder that I am so far from perfect, not that I had forgotten.

These aren’t written as questions in this Psalm but that is the way I read it back to myself.  I already know my answers before I can finish the question.

Blameless Life – If it isn’t my fault then whose is it?  Where do I point the finger?  In reality, I do often find myself pointing that finger in the mirror.  I find myself saying, “I could have handled that better”, or “I didn’t need it to escalate it that high”.

Trust the Lord without Wavering – I do trust the Lord.  This one I definitely tend to be more self-conscious of.  I know there are times that I certainly waver, but I am quick to take a step back, talk to God for a moment, and understand when I must give up the controls to Him.  That makes it a lot easier than ever thinking I have all the answers when we know that isn’t true!

Associating with Hypocrites – GUILTY!  I probably do it every day. Shoot, I can be that hypocrite.  It makes me feel even worse when I type it out load.  This one is difficult.  My good Christian credibility takes a hit here.

Refusing to Sitting with the Wicked – This one is interesting and the way I view it isn’t the right way.  I never sit with the wicked(figuratively or literally) because I also want to become wicked.  Instead, I am probably trying to gain something from them.  Maybe it is to learn what not to do or how not to be.  Maybe selfishly it is to use it against them someday. I know, I know,  that isn’t the right answer…..

The point of all this remains the same.  None of us are perfect.  Yes, we already know this.  The point is to think about it more, think about these questions.  Try and get through a day while asking yourself these.  How did you do?  Isn’t it impossible to go 24 hours with a passing grade.  If you can, good on you.  I am not sure I could, but it certainly makes me want to try a little harder each day.  Just like no sin is greater than another in God’s eyes, neither are these questions.  When in doubt take a moment, acknowledge whatever the situation and put your faith and trust in Jesus.  I promise you will feel better!

Paul’s Call for Unity and Harmony

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.” – Romans 15:5 (NIV)

Romans 15 calls us to something deeper than personal growth—it calls us to collective strength. Paul reminds us that those who are strong in faith should support those who are weak, just as Christ bore our burdens. This is not merely about tolerance; it’s about active love, patience, and selflessness.

Christ is our ultimate example. He didn’t come to please Himself, but to serve and to save. As believers, we’re invited to mirror His humility and grace. When we live with His mindset, our communities become places of healing, hope, and unity.

Paul also emphasizes the power of Scripture—it sustains us with encouragement and gives us hope. Whether we’re tired, confused, or discouraged, God’s Word is a steady foundation.

Finally, the chapter expands our view to the global church. Christ came for both Jews and Gentiles, and His acceptance compels us to welcome others with open hearts. We’re not just individuals following Jesus—we are a people joined together for God’s glory.

Prayer:
Lord, help me to live selflessly, just as Christ did. Teach me to support and uplift others in their journey. Fill me with endurance and encouragement, and give me a heart that seeks unity over division. May my life reflect Your grace and welcome others into Your love. Amen.

Live with Christlike patience, build up others, and embrace the unity God desires for His people.

Written with the assistance of ChatGPT