Colossians 3:13 NLT

“Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”

We all have somebody who gets on our last nerve: a coworker, a family member, maybe even somebody at church. It's easy to love people in general. It's a lot harder to love that one person who keeps rubbing you the wrong way or who hurt you somewhere along the line. And if we're honest, most of us have a list in our heads of people we've quietly given up on.

The Greek word Paul uses for "make allowance" simply means to patiently put up with someone. It means I don't walk away from you because of your faults. It means you get on my nerves, and I stick with you anyway. Jesus used that same word when He said to His disciples, "How long must I put up with you?" And He kept putting up with them. He puts up with you and me every single day. When you remember how patient Jesus has been with you, it gets a lot harder to give up on somebody else.

So, here's your challenge this week. Think of one person you've been keeping at arm's length. Don't just think nice thoughts about them. Do something. Send a text, make a call, say a kind word, or pray for them by name every day this week. Making allowance isn't calling wrong right. It's choosing not to give up on somebody God hasn't given up on. When Jesus changes your life, He changes how you see people.

Just a thought,

PSS

2 Corinthians 4:5 NLT

"You see, we don't go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus' sake."

Priscilla and Aquila never had a book of the Bible named after them. They were tentmakers. They had to leave Rome when the emperor kicked them out and start over in a new city. But everywhere they went, they pointed people to Jesus. They worked beside Paul. They quietly took a gifted preacher named Apollos aside and helped him understand the truth. They opened their home so the Church could meet there. They weren't trying to make themselves known. They were laboring to make Jesus known.

Here's the question I want you to carry this week, “What does your life point to?” Everybody's life points toward something — our success, our career, our opinions, our stuff. None of that can save anybody. Jesus said, "When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself." He was talking about the cross. Our job is to lift Him up. His job is to draw people in, and He has never failed at His part.

So, this week, pick one person and point them to Jesus. Pray for them by name every day. Send them an encouraging text. Invite them to church on Sunday. You don't have to be famous to be faithful. You just have to be willing. A life devoted to Jesus points people to Jesus.

Just a thought,

PSS

Acts 16:14 NLT

"One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying."

Lydia was a successful businesswoman who was spiritually hungry but didn't know Jesus yet. Paul sat down by a river and told her about Him, and Luke says the Lord opened her heart. Paul couldn't do that part, and neither can you. You can't argue somebody into the kingdom or talk them into a changed heart. Your job is to point people to Jesus and keep praying. Opening hearts is God's job, and He's really good at it.

Look at what Lydia does the moment her heart is opened. She gets baptized, her whole household follows, and then she tells Paul, "Come stay at my house." She didn't quit her business or try to become somebody else. She just took the life she already had and made it available to Jesus. That's what lordship looks like. Jesus doesn't want one hour of your Sunday or one compartment of your life. He wants you, and when He has you, your home, your money, your work, and your relationships all come with it.

By the end of Acts 16, the believers in Philippi are gathering at Lydia's house. The same house she had before she knew Jesus is now being used for His purposes. So, what part of your life still has a "keep out" sign on the door?

This week, pick one thing already in your hands, like your home, your truck, your table, or your paycheck, and use it to bless somebody else. Never underestimate what Jesus can do with an ordinary life that is completely open to Him.

Just a thought,

PSS

Luke 19:10 NLT
"For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost."

A lot of people live as if life is one big game of hide-and-seek. Somewhere out there, God is hiding, and if they pray the right prayer, find the right church, or get spiritual enough, maybe one day they'll finally find Him. But that isn't the story of the Bible. In the garden, Adam and Eve were the ones hiding, and God came walking in asking, "Where are you?" He has been coming after people ever since. In Acts 10, Cornelius thought he was searching for God, but God had already heard his prayers, already spoken to Peter, and already sent a man to his door. God isn't hiding. He came to us, and His name is Jesus.

Think about what it took for Peter to walk into that Roman officer's house. His whole life he'd been taught a faithful Jew didn't go through a Gentile's door. But God told him not to call anyone unclean that He had made clean, and Peter walked right in. When he did, the gospel crossed a line it was always meant to cross. Nobody is too far gone for God. Not your background, not your past, not your failures. You don't have to make yourself special enough for God to notice you. You need Jesus, and He already knows exactly where you live.

So, here's my challenge. If God came after you, then somebody walked through a door for you. Somebody crossed a line to tell you about Jesus. Now it's your turn. This week, name one person. Pray for them by name. Then go knock on their door. And if you've never opened your own life to Jesus, He's standing at the door and knocking right now. You don't have to keep searching. Just open the door.

Just a thought,

PSS

Faith in God is a profound and unyielding trust in the divine will and the unfathomable design of the universe. It's the belief that despite the challenges and uncertainties life presents, there is a higher power orchestrating the larger tapestry of existence. This kind of faith is not just about believing in God's existence but trusting in His wisdom, timing, and purpose. It is about surrendering to the idea that even when things seem insurmountable, God has a plan and His intentions are always for our ultimate good.

The teachings of Mark 11:22 call on believers to have unwavering faith, especially in times of adversity. When faced with doubts, fears, or seemingly insurmountable obstacles, believers are encouraged to lean on their faith, recognizing that with God, all things are possible. This is not a call for passive resignation, but rather an active trust that invites believers to partner with the divine, acknowledge the vastness of God's power, and understand that our human perspective is limited. In doing so, believers can find strength, resilience, and hope, knowing that they are held within the comforting embrace of a loving God.

Having faith in God also shapes how we interact with the world around us. It provides a foundation of hope, guiding us to act with kindness, compassion, and love. It instills a sense of purpose, anchoring us during times of tumult and ensuring that we remain grounded in our convictions. Through faith, we learn to see challenges not as deterrents but as opportunities for growth and deeper understanding. We learn that every trial has a purpose, and through unwavering trust in God, we can navigate life's complexities with grace, wisdom, and an enduring spirit.

Just a thought,

PSS