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Be the One

In Luke 17, Jesus healed ten men who were suffering from leprosy. What stands out to me is that the healing did not happen immediately. Jesus told them to go, and the Bible says that as they went, they were healed. It took faith for them to start walking before they saw the miracle.

Can you imagine being one of those men? After years of isolation, pain, and rejection, suddenly your skin is restored. Your life is given back to you. Your family, your future, and your freedom are all restored.

Yet out of the ten who were healed, only one came back.

When he realized what Jesus had done, he turned around, ran back, fell at Jesus’ feet, and thanked Him. Jesus noticed. “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?” (Luke 17:17).

As I read this passage, I found myself asking a simple question. Which one am I?

I want to be the one.

I want to be the one who notices God’s blessings and takes time to thank Him for them. I want to be the one who chooses gratitude instead of complaining. I want to be the one who sees the good in people instead of focusing on their faults. I want to be the one who speaks life, encourages others, and looks for reasons to be thankful.

Our world is full of criticism, negativity, and complaints. It is easy to join the crowd. It is easy to become one of the nine who simply move on to the next thing. But gratitude sets us apart. It changes our perspective and reminds us that every good thing we have is a gift from God.

Today, let’s be the one.

The one who says thank you.

The one who chooses kindness.

The one who sees the good.

The one who gives God the glory.

Because while ten received the miracle, only one returned to worship the Miracle Giver.

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Directed, Not Distracted

I was reading this morning in the book of Mark, chapter 1, verses 35 through 39. This is toward the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.

It says, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed, ‘Everyone is looking for you!’ Jesus replied, ‘Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.’ So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.”

Jesus went off to be by Himself to pray, as He often did. The disciples found Him and said, “Everyone is looking for you.” There were expectations. People needed Him. People wanted Him. There were things to do.

But before He responded to people, He met with God.

The disciples had expectations of what Jesus should be doing and how He should be moving. But Jesus didn’t let the expectations of others determine His direction. He got His instructions from the Father first.

And because of that, when they came to Him, He already had clarity. He told them they needed to move on. That wasn’t random. That came from time spent with God.

For me, this is why having a morning routine with the Lord is so important.

And when I say morning routine, I’m not talking about skincare, workouts, or getting everything ready for the day. I’m talking about time with Jesus.

As believers, our lives should be in line with the Word of God. Ephesians 5:1 says to be imitators of God. That means we follow the example of Jesus.And Jesus got up early. He spent time with His Father. He received instructions for the day.

But a lot of times, we wake up and immediately start receiving instructions from everyone else.

We check our phones. We look at our schedules. We think about what we need to do, who needs us, what’s expected of us.

And before we know it, our day is already being directed by everything and everyone around us.

But what if we stopped first?

What if we took time to ask God, “What do You want me to do today?”

Because the truth is, I don’t know what I need for the day.

But He does.

No matter how busy the day is, I make time for this every morning. Because I don’t want to move based on pressure, expectations, or habit.

I want to move based on His instruction.

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When Stillness Feels Hard

Just a few minutes ago, I finished one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

In 2021, I ran my first, and possibly only, marathon. If you don’t know, a marathon is 26.2 miles, and it was very hard. In 2024, I released a book that I worked on for three years. For half of that time, I didn’t even have a laptop and had to write on my phone. That was hard too.

But the hard thing I just did was something that has always been difficult for me, and still is. I sat in silence for five minutes.

Silence is really hard for me. I like to talk. I like noise. I’m one of those people who has the TV on all day, even if it’s just a screensaver. Most of the time I’m listening to something, a podcast, a teaching message, or music. I just don’t really like silence.

But I’m working on incorporating times of silence with the Lord every day.

I have no problem spending time in His Word. I have no problem watching encouraging messages. I have no problem singing worship, writing, or journaling. But to just sit still, be quiet, and do nothing is so hard for me.

And yet, we see so many examples in Scripture where Jesus went off to a solitary place, an isolated place, to be alone. To sit with God.

That’s what I’m learning right now. To sit with Him. Not always asking Him for things, or telling Him about my day, or processing all my thoughts out loud. But just sitting and listening, being open to anything He might want to say.

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

I’m in a season where I’m coming out of a lot of movement and a lot of activity. And now, that movement is intentionally slowing down.

There’s a line from the Sound of Music where a character says that “activity suggests a life filled with purpose.” And I think that’s how I’ve lived for a long time, always moving, always doing, always filling the space.

But I’m learning something new.

I’m learning that stillness is not wasted. That quiet is not empty. That stepping back does not mean losing purpose.

Sometimes, the most faithful thing you can do is stop.

There are situations and seasons you cannot plan your way out of. No matter how much you think, organize, or prepare, it won’t be enough.

And in those moments, the invitation is simple.

Be still.
And know that He is God.

Be still, and wait for His instruction.

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Don’t Let the Crowd Silence You

I was reading in Matthew 20 about the two blind men sitting on the side of the road as Jesus was passing by.

They couldn’t see Him, but they heard that He was coming. And they knew, this is my moment. This is my chance. This is the One who can actually help me.

So they started crying out, “Lord, have mercy on us.”

And the crowd immediately tried to shut them down.

Be quiet. Stop yelling. Don’t bother Him.

But I love what the Bible says next. It says they only shouted louder.

They didn’t let the crowd silence them. They didn’t let the opinions around them quiet their need. They knew what they needed, and they knew who could meet that need.

And then it says something powerful.

When Jesus heard them, He stopped.

When they cried out, Jesus stopped.

Sometimes we can feel like we’re in such a great need, and nobody around us can help. No solution, no person, no resource can fix what we’re dealing with. That’s where these men were. The crowd couldn’t help them. The people around them couldn’t change their situation.

Only Jesus could.

And when He calls them over, He asks a simple but deep question:

“What do you want Me to do for you?”

I think about that sometimes. If Jesus asked me that today, what would I say? What would you say?

It’s easy to throw out surface-level answers, but when you really stop and think about it, what is the real need?

These men didn’t hesitate.

“Lord, we want to see.”

They knew exactly what they needed from Him.

And Jesus, full of compassion, touched their eyes, and instantly they could see.

But what stands out to me most in this story is not just the miracle, it’s their persistence.

They refused to be silenced.

There are times in life where it’s appropriate to be quiet. But there are also moments where you cannot afford to stay silent. Moments where you have to go against the noise, against the pressure, even against what people around you are saying, and cry out to Jesus anyway.

Because the crowd isn’t your answer.

The crowd can’t heal you.

The crowd doesn’t carry what Jesus carries.

So don’t let the crowd silence you.

If you’re in a place of need, cry out to Him.

If you’re desperate, cry out louder.

If everything around you is telling you to be quiet, that may be the very moment you need to speak up.

Because when you cry out to Jesus, He hears you.

And He still stops.

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A Different Kind of Clean

I was reading Matthew 23, where Jesus is speaking to the religious leaders, the Pharisees and others who were interpreting the law of Moses. He doesn’t hold back. He calls out how everything they do is for show, how they elevate themselves above others, and then He reminds them of what really matters.

“The greatest among you must be a servant.” (Matthew 23:11)

“Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12)

He goes on to say that while they are careful to follow the law, they are neglecting what matters most: “justice, mercy, and faith.” (Matthew 23:23)

But what really stood out to me was this:

“You are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy, full of greed and self-indulgence… First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean too.”

Matthew 23:25–26

“Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matthew 23:28)

As I read this, it made me think about something very practical. I am in a season of spring cleaning right now, going room by room, getting rid of things that no longer serve us, donating what I can, throwing things away, and reorganizing what’s left.

And it hit me, how easy it is to do that in our homes, but not in our hearts.

It is easy to let things build up inside. Pride, greed, bitterness. Just like clutter in a room, those things do not just disappear. They sit there until we deal with them.

So while I am spring cleaning my home, I am also asking God to help me spring clean my heart.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart… See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23–24)

We live in a culture that puts so much emphasis on the outside. Looking put together. Wearing the right things. Presenting ourselves well. And while those things are not wrong, they can easily become the focus.

But God looks deeper.

“People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

And the truth is, when we look honestly at our hearts, we need Him.

“The heart is deceitful above all things.” (Jeremiah 17:9)

“All our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” (Isaiah 64:6)

We cannot clean our hearts on our own. Real cleansing only comes through Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit in us.

So this has become my prayer in this season: that I would not just focus on the outside, but that I would take time to sit before God with an open heart, willing to receive His correction and His refining.

To let Him deal with what is inside first.

Because when He cleans the inside, the outside follows.

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Make it Enough

There’s a popular movie from the 90s, the best decade ever, with a scene where the main character’s mom sends him to the store. He looks at the money she gave him and complains that it isn’t enough for what she asked him to buy. She looks at him and simply says, “Make it enough.”

Have you ever felt like what you have just isn’t enough?

I was reading in Matthew 14:13 about when Jesus feeds the five thousand, and it led me to a simple but honest question.

I am not even talking about finances necessarily. Maybe you feel like you do not have enough time in the day to do the things you would like to do. Maybe you feel like you do not have enough energy to do the things you need to do. Or maybe you feel like you do not have the capacity to serve the way you want to serve. You are doing the best you can, you are doing what you can, but it still feels like it is not enough.

As I was reading this story, it really encouraged me. There were large crowds that had come out to see Jesus, and they were hungry. The disciples even encouraged Jesus to send the people away so they could go into the villages and find food for themselves. But Jesus responded in Matthew 14:16, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

This story is told in all four Gospels. In one account, a disciple finds a little boy with a small lunch. In Matthew, when Jesus tells them to feed the people, they respond in Matthew 14:17, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”

They were stating a fact. What they had was not enough.

And that is often where we stop. We see the facts, and we feel defeated.

But Jesus did not stop at the facts. He gave them instructions.

First, He said to bring what they had to Him. When we feel like we do not have enough, what we do have needs to be placed in Jesus’ hands. I think about waking up in the morning and saying, “Lord, I have things I want to do today. Maybe I did not sleep well, maybe I feel tired, but I give this day to You.”

Then Jesus had the people sit down on the grass. He created order. He made a plan.

If you feel like you do not have enough, that may be true, but it is not the end of the story. Look at what you do have and give it to the Lord, then take a moment to organize. What actually needs to be done today? Maybe instead of trying to do twenty things, you only need to focus on three. Jesus paused and brought structure before the miracle.

Finally, Jesus took the loaves and the fish, looked up to heaven, and blessed them. He gave thanks for what was already in His hands.

That is a reminder for us to thank God for what we do have and trust Him to make it enough.

Matthew 14:20 says, “They all ate and were satisfied, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.”

Because the disciples were obedient in giving what they had to Jesus, it became more than enough.

If you are in a season where you feel like what you have is not enough, I want to encourage you to give it to Jesus.

He will make it enough.

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Take It Off: Criticism and Hypocrisy That Cover the Gospel (Week 5)

Scripture references: Galatians 5:14–15, 24–26; Matthew 7:3–5; Titus 1:16; Ephesians 4:22–24; Romans 12:2

I ended the message with a picture that has stayed on my mind:

We get saved.
We take off the old self.
We put on the new.

But over time, we start layering things over the gospel until it becomes hard to see.

This week is about two layers that can quietly become part of our “Christian outfit” if we aren’t careful:

  • criticism
  • hypocrisy

Criticism: when we lead with correction instead of Christ

Correction has a place. Truth has a place. Discernment has a place.

But criticism is different.

Criticism is when our default posture becomes:

  • picking at flaws
  • highlighting what’s wrong
  • speaking judgment faster than mercy
  • tearing down more than building up

Paul warned the Galatians:

“If you bite and devour each other, watch out… you will be destroyed by each other” (see Galatians 5:14–15).

That’s not just about arguments. That’s about a culture of criticism.

And Jesus addressed it directly:

Why focus on a speck in someone else’s eye when you have a log in your own? (see Matthew 7:3–5)

Jesus wasn’t saying “never help people.”
He was saying we can’t become blind to our own hearts while being obsessed with everyone else’s.

Because a critical spirit doesn’t just hurt others; it slowly makes love feel optional.

Hypocrisy: when we say “Jesus” but live like we don’t know Him

Hypocrisy isn’t “imperfect Christians.” We all grow. We all repent. We all stumble.

Hypocrisy is choosing a double life:

  • singing worship but refusing forgiveness
  • talking grace but withholding mercy
  • claiming surrender but living in secret rebellion
  • presenting holiness publicly while excusing sin privately

Titus says, “They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him” (see Titus 1:16).

That is sobering.

The call: take it off

Ephesians says to “put off your old self… and put on the new self” (see Ephesians 4:22–24). Romans says we’re transformed by the renewing of our minds (see Romans 12:2).

And Galatians tells us what this looks like in real life:

Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (see Galatians 5:24–26).

This is not about perfection.
This is about direction.

It’s about refusing to let anything cover up Jesus in our lives.

The simplest closing question of the whole series

If someone watched your life for one week, without hearing your words, would they still be able to tell:

Jesus came.
He lived.
He died.
He rose.
And He’s coming back.

Because church, the world needs to see the one gospel.

Not Jesus plus opinions.
Not Jesus plus traditions.
Not Jesus plus division.
Not Jesus plus criticism.
Not Jesus plus hypocrisy.

Just Jesus.

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Division: When the Church Fights, the Gospel Gets Muffled (Week 4)

Scripture references: Galatians 3:26–29; Galatians 4:17; Mark 3:25; Romans 16:17–18; John 17:20–23

Division doesn’t always start as hatred.

Often it starts as preference.

Then preference becomes position.
Position becomes pride.
Pride becomes separation.

And separation becomes a witness to the world that says:

“Jesus can save you… but He can’t unite us.”

Paul directly confronts the unity issue in Galatians:

“There is no longer Jew or Gentile… for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (see Galatians 3:26–29).

The gospel creates a new family. A new identity. A new belonging.

So when division takes center stage, it’s not just relational damage, it’s a gospel distraction.

Division is a strategy

Jesus said, “If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand” (see Mark 3:25).

That’s true in homes. It’s true in marriages. It’s true in churches.

And division doesn’t have to be loud to be effective. Sometimes it’s whispered:

  • “Don’t trust them.”
  • “That church is off.”
  • “Those believers aren’t serious.”
  • “We’re the only ones doing it right.”

Paul even warned that some teachers try to “shut you off” from healthy influence so you’ll pay attention only to them (see Galatians 4:17). That’s a control tactic and it fractures the body.

What division looks like in real life

Division can look like:

  • arguing over nonessential doctrines
  • splitting over preferences instead of truth
  • making secondary issues primary issues
  • speaking against other churches and leaders
  • creating “us vs. them” inside the body of Christ

Romans warns believers to watch out for those who cause divisions contrary to the teaching they’ve learned (see Romans 16:17–18).

Not everyone who divides is bold and obvious. Some divide by constant suggestion, constant suspicion, constant critique.

Jesus prayed for our unity

This matters so much that Jesus prayed for it (see John 17:20–23). He connected unity to witness so the world would know the Father sent the Son.

That means division is not just a church “problem.”

Division is a mission problem.

When the church is busy fighting, we stop reaching.

Next week we’re going to land this series where it gets very personal: criticism and hypocrisy. Because sometimes the gospel isn’t hidden by what we believe, but by how we live.

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Traditions: When “We’ve Always Done It This Way” Becomes the Rule (Week 3)

Scripture references: Galatians 1:13–14; Matthew 15:3–9; Colossians 2:8; Acts 15:1–11

Tradition is not automatically bad.

Some traditions are beautiful. They keep us anchored. They create rhythm. They help families and churches remember what matters.

But traditions become dangerous when they start carrying the weight of God’s command, instead of staying in the place of human practice.

Paul admitted he once was zealous for the traditions of his ancestors (see Galatians 1:13–14). That’s the part many of us can relate to. Tradition can feel like faithfulness.

But tradition is not the same thing as truth.

Jesus’ warning about tradition

Jesus confronted religious leaders because they elevated tradition above the Word of God (see Matthew 15:3–9). His point was clear:

When tradition replaces obedience, the heart drifts, even while the mouth keeps singing.

That’s what makes tradition tricky. It can look holy while quietly pushing Jesus out of focus.

What traditions can look like today

Traditions can show up as:

  • how communion must be served
  • what “real worship” sounds like
  • what “proper church” looks like
  • what people should wear
  • what programs are “necessary”
  • what time Sunday services should be

None of those are automatically wrong.

But when we act like someone can’t belong, can’t be saved, or can’t be “right” unless they adopt our way, we’ve turned tradition into a gatekeeper.

And the gospel does not need gatekeepers.
The gospel needs witnesses.

Galatia’s issue was tradition as requirement

The Judaizers weren’t just offering cultural preferences. They were making traditions a condition of acceptance (see Acts 15:1–11 for the broader early-church conflict).

Paul’s response throughout Galatians is essentially:

Don’t put a yoke on people that Jesus didn’t put there.

The cross is enough.

A simple test for tradition

Here’s a helpful question:

Is this tradition helping people see Jesus or helping people see us?

If a tradition:

  • produces pride
  • produces exclusion
  • produces control
  • produces shame
  • produces distraction from Christ

…it’s time to hold it up to the light of Scripture.

Colossians warns about being taken captive by human tradition instead of Christ (see Colossians 2:8). That’s not just a warning for ancient believers. That’s for us too.

Next week we’ll talk about division, because when believers fight each other, the world stops listening to the message we’re called to carry.

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Opinions: When “I Think” Starts Sounding Like “Thus Says the Lord” (Week 2)

Scripture references: Galatians 1:11–12; Proverbs 18:2; Romans 14:1–4; 1 Corinthians 8:9; Colossians 2:20–23

Opinions aren’t automatically sinful.

We all have preferences, perspectives, convictions, and experiences. But one of the easiest ways to accidentally cover up the gospel is to elevate opinions to the level of truth and then present them with the weight of God’s authority.

Paul said the message he preached was not from “mere human origin” or “human reasoning” (see Galatians 1:11–12). In other words:

“This gospel isn’t my take. It’s God’s truth.”

That matters because the moment we confuse truth with take, we begin leading people to ourselves instead of leading them to Christ.

How opinions become gospel add-ons

This is what it can sound like:

  • “A real Christian would never…”
  • “If you truly loved God, you would…”
  • “Well, Christians should vote like…”
  • “That church isn’t a real church because…”
  • “If you were mature, you’d do it my way…”

And now the message becomes:

Jesus + my opinion

Even if we don’t intend it, it can turn discipleship into pressure, and freedom into fear.

Convictions are real, but convictions aren’t universal commands

I shared in this message with the ladies at my church that I personally don’t drink. For me, that’s a conviction God has spoken clearly into. And convictions can be a gift from God. They can be for our protection, direction, and clarity.

But the Bible also warns us not to turn personal convictions into a standard of righteousness for everyone else (see Romans 14:1–4).

Convictions are about obedience.
The gospel is about salvation.

When we blur those two, we end up measuring people by our personal lines instead of by Christ’s finished work.

The Bible’s warning about “airing opinions”

Proverbs says, “Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions” (see Proverbs 18:2).

That verse convicts me because it reminds me:

Not every thought needs a microphone.
Not every preference needs a platform.
Not every conviction needs to become a rule.

Sometimes maturity looks like this:

  • “I’m listening.”
  • “I’m learning.”
  • “I’m praying.”
  • “I’m not making my preference your burden.”

When opinions become obstacles

Paul warns elsewhere about using our freedom without love, because we can harm others and distract from Jesus (see 1 Corinthians 8:9).

That’s the key: love.

If my opinion is louder than love, I’m not representing Christ well.

If my preference is heavier than grace, I’m not presenting the gospel clearly.

If my “I think” becomes someone else’s shame, I’ve stepped out of my lane.

A gospel-centered way to speak

Here’s a question that helps me:

Is this a gospel issue, a discipleship issue, or a preference issue?

  • Gospel issue: salvation, the cross, Jesus as Lord
  • Discipleship issue: holiness, wisdom, spiritual growth
  • Preference issue: my style, my comfort, my background

When we put things in the right category, we stop demanding agreement where the Bible doesn’t demand it.

And we leave room for the Holy Spirit to do what only He can do: transform hearts from the inside out.

Next week we’ll talk about traditions. Because sometimes what we call “spiritual” is just what we’re used to.