Pathways Press.com

Written by Greg Laurie, a contemporary pastor and founder of Harvest churches..

The Bible gives us several different examples of well-lived lives. One is found in Acts 6, in the story of Stephen, the first known Christian martyr. Though he did not live long, Stephen demonstrated several qualities that are necessary for a well-lived life—qualities that allowed him to be used powerfully by God. First, he had a good reputation… Stephen was selected to lead a ministry because he was “well respected.” He had personal integrity…A well-lived life is marked by a good reputation. Second, he was “full of faith and the Holy Spirit. Stephen lived a Spirit-controlled life. He yielded to the working of the Holy Spirit every day. A well-lived life is one that faithfully follows the Holy Spirit’s leading. Third, he was filled with wisdom… We see his wisdom on display as he quotes from Scripture in presenting the gospel to the Jewish Sanhedrin, the Jewish high council. Keep in mind that it’s possible to have knowledge and not wisdom. There are many very learned people who lack wisdom. They are unable to translate their knowledge into God-honoring application. A well-lived life is one that prioritizes wisdom. Fourth, he was faithful in the little things. He diligently performed the tasks that were set before him without considering whether the jobs were “beneath him.” He was willing to humble himself and do whatever was necessary to accomplish God’s work. You can never be too small for God to use. Only too big. If you say, “I’m willing to do whatever you want me to do, Lord, and I will be faithful in that,” you’ll be amazed at what God will accomplish through you. A well-lived life starts at the bottom, from a human perspective. Fifth, he looked for opportunities and seized them. Stephen was arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin. He was accused of blasphemy, but his real crime was serving the Lord faithfully. He surely understood that his life hung in the balance. But Stephen saw an opportunity to speak the gospel truth to people who needed to hear it. So, he seized the moment and delivered one of the most powerful sermons recorded in Scripture. The consequences didn’t matter to him; what mattered was the opportunity to serve Christ and share His message. A well-lived life is one in which opportunities are recognized and seized upon. Luke, the author of Acts, described Stephen as being “full of God’s grace and power.” That is also the ideal description of a well-lived life.

Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people. [Acts 6:8]

Written by Megan Conner, a contemporary author and speaker.

As believers, we are called to intentionally turn our eyes away from worthless things. We are exhorted to remind ourselves of all He has done for us. He formed us each individually in our mother’s wombs. He meets ALL of our needs. And, He sent his only Son to pay the penalty for our sins so that we might be reconciled to the Father. In response to His endless love, mercy, and grace, we should wake in the morning with praise upon our lips. We should declare His deeds among the people, for He has done marvelous things. We should be shouting, and dancing, and celebrating God’s goodness and presence in our lives, yet our vision has become dulled, and we are lulled to sleep by the “security” of this world. Our memories are short, just like those of the Israelites of old when they wandered in the desert. Though God had performed the most incredible miracles before their very eyes (the parting of the Red Sea, manna from heaven to satisfy their hunger, and water bursting forth from a rock to satiate their thirst). However, they struggled to recall these divine interventions as they continually fixated on their fleshly desires. And we succumb to the same, repetitious temptations. But just like the Israelites and countless other biblical characters who knowingly, or unknowingly, lost sight of the majestic works of our God, we have a choice. We can choose to open our hearts and eyes to the evidence of the Creator all around us. We can choose to recognize all of the individual blessings God has bestowed upon us. 

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They tell of the power of your awesome works— and I will proclaim your great deeds. They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness… All your works praise you, LORD; your faithful people extol you. [Psalm 145:3-10]

Written by Catherine Parks, a contemporary author.

Sometimes our kids feel pressure to define themselves in ways that will cause others to love and accept them. In fact, it’s not just kids who feel that pressure—we all do! But if we can instill in them the hope and peace that comes from knowing they are loved and accepted already, then we can encourage them to be true to who God has created them to be. In a world that is constantly changing, our kids need to know that some things never change, and at the top of that list is God’s love for them. Their tastes will change and their friends will change, but if they are in Christ, then their deepest identity—chosen, holy, and dearly loved—will never change. And that’s the best news ever.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. [Colossians 3:12]

Written by Joyce Borger, a contemporary minister and teacher.

Epiphany marks the conclusion of the Christmas season, but many Christmas themes carry over into the season of Epiphany. Traditionally, this is the day when we remember the Magi, who followed the star that announced Christ’s birth. It is the day where we recall that Christ’s birth was not only for the Jews, but that Christ came to save all people. While many people around the baby Jesus went about their lives, these Magi knew that something important had happened, that a king had been born. The Spirit was at work in their hearts and minds, guiding them to Bethlehem where they worshiped their young savior. Oh, what good news is found on Epiphany when we declare that we too are grafted into Christ the root—the source of all life! … The prophecy from Isaiah talks of the light in the darkness, of kings and nations coming to that light, bringing gifts of frankincense and gold. The gospel text from Matthew 2 is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, for indeed kings or magi from distant nations came and worshiped their Savior, Christ, who is the light of the world, and they brought with them gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Although foretold in the Old Testament, it is still a startling act of God’s generous love and mercy that non-Jews came and worshiped the Messiah and that the promise of salvation extends to them directly. These likely were people of a different race, language, and culture. They were the “other,” the “outsider,” the one “to be feared.” Yet, in Romans 11, Paul reminds us that as non-Jews we are blessed to be grafted into the shoot of the living tree, the root of Jesse. We are blessed to receive spiritual nourishment just as if we were a natural part of the shoot. In fact, scripture clearly teaches that all people are to be included in his kingdom and that there is a special place for those who are considered “less than”.   Epiphany celebrates the gift of the gospel that has gone out to all people. It celebrates the fact that we have been grafted into the shoot and calls us to acknowledge that those we often consider “the other” or “less than” are equally welcomed. In fact, we ought to go out of our way to make sure that the most vulnerable know that they belong through our care of them. After all, Christ came so that all may belong. 

Lift up your eyes and look around;  they all gather together; they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried in their nurses’ arms. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you; the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord. [Isaiah 60:4-6]

Written by Kyle Norman, a contemporary Canadian pastor, writer, speaker, and retreat leader.

In God’s economy, endings are not failures—they’re invitations to something new. We may prefer predictability, comfort, and familiarity. But God’s Spirit is always calling us forward—to growth, transformation, and deeper trust. When we cling too tightly to what was, we risk missing what God is doing now. Ask yourself: What season might be coming to a close in my life? Whether it’s a role, a ministry, or a mindset, you can release it with gratitude, knowing the God of yesterday is also the God of tomorrow. 

The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. [Ecclesiastes 7:8]

Written by Chelsea Logan, a contemporary content and production lead at the Fuller De Pree Center.

“Peace of the Lord be with you.” In my church tradition, these words are commonplace. Each week, we utter this phrase as we “pass the peace” to each other. We look into each other’s eyes, grab hands, and sometimes even embrace one another. To the outsider, this can seem like nothing more than a brief moment to socialize mid-service (which sometimes, it kind of is!). However, its place in the service reminds us of its profound significance. Before we pass the peace, we are invited to confess and ask for forgiveness for “the things we’ve done and the things we’ve left undone.” It’s only after confession that we are invited to restore peace with others, especially where it’s been damaged…We are reminded that confession always precedes peacemaking—in all areas of life. It reminds us to ask the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and then confess where and against whom we’ve sinned…This moment illuminates that making peace is an act of worship. We are called to restore peace where we are responsible…As Christians, we are worshiping God when we live as people of and for peace—working with Jesus to make straight those paths that are crooked.

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”  [Luke 24:36]

Written by the Pray.com team.

My Father and My God, please help to renew my spirit and keep my eyes fixed on you today. Please help me to fight against any adversity and opposition so that I can remain confident in You. I will undoubtedly face many obstacles and lose my focus. Please help divert my attention back to You when these circumstances arise. Fill my mind and body with Your power so that I can fight against any negative feelings that try to deter me away from You. Allow my words to speak Your truth despite the situations unfolding around me, so that I may walk in victorious peace. Amen.

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. [Psalm 16:8]

Written by Ken Boa, a contemporary author and founder of Reflections Ministry.

Jesus emphasized that the most important priority in life, regardless of life stage or situation, is indeed relationships; every other command ultimately falls under this larger umbrella… If you talk to people approaching the end of their lives (or those who interact with such people, like hospice and palliative care workers), it is almost without exception that some people’s primary end-of-life regrets are in the area of relationships. A high percentage wish they had: spent less time working and more time with family, especially their kids when they were young;  done more for other people; and been a better spouse or parent.  When we recalibrate, we do well to pay close attention to the relationships in our lives so we will avoid such regrets.  If our plans and goals center on ourselves—on grabbing instead of giving, on finding comfort and pleasure for ourselves rather than showing compassion to others—then we’ve missed the heart of the Christian life. This doesn’t mean we ignore our own needs at the expense of others (we’re to love others as we love ourselves, Jesus reinforced), but neither should we become so focused on ourselves that we neglect those around us. Prioritizing people will look different in everyone’s life. God is not concerned with appearances or quantity; He looks at our hearts. Serving others quietly without anyone’s knowledge is just as laudable as loving and serving in more visible ways.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets. [Matthew 22:37-40]

Written by Billy Graham (1918-2018), an American evangelist, minister, and civil rights activist.

No thoughtful person can approach New Year’s Day without some introspection. We are reminded of the brevity of time. We also look back over our failures, mistakes, and missed opportunities, and vow that we will make better use of our time during the coming year. We should take time to be pleasant, to smile, to extend the small courtesies we often omit – to show love to our family. Psychiatrists tell us that most people are starved for love. Take time for the goodbye kiss; we shall go to work with a sweeter spirit. Let us take time to get acquainted with our families. We are not machines. We are not robots. The secret of a happy home is that members of the family learn to give and receive love. Let us take time to express our love in a thousand ways.

Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should. [Psalm 90:12]

Written by Dennis Lee, a contemporary pastor and author.

Today, we’re entering a brand-new year, and many of us are making resolutions about those things we know we have to do, like losing weight, exercising, eating healthier, and taking our vitamins. We also begin to list out what we need to do spiritually, like reading the Bible and praying every day, using our gifts and talents in God’s service, to be more loving, Christ-like, and obedient to God’s word. The only problem is that while we resolve to do these things, our resolve soon fades because we really don’t have the power to keep them. And it doesn’t have to do with our will power, but rather because circumstances beyond our control happened. And so, as we enter this New Year, we need a new beginning, which starts with a new heart and new spirit…What we need is the type of heart the Lord wants us to have…Today, with all that is happening in our world, our hearts are becoming hardened. But God can give us a heart transplant, where He’ll remove our stony heart and give us a heart of flesh, that is, a heart that is open to all God has…God also gives us the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of power. In the Old Testament that word for Spirit is “ruach,” which means wind or breath. The Holy Spirit, therefore, is the breath of God…God gives us a new spirit, a new breath of life to assist us in our time of need… We can change! But we cannot change on our own. Change comes from within. That’s what transformation is all about, it’s a change that takes place on the inside. And that’s the beauty of the promise given by God through Ezekiel is that we’ve been given a new heart and a new spirit, that is, God’s word written on our hearts, and the Holy Spirit being placed within us. And so, as we look to start this New Year, let’s do so by asking God to give to us a heart that is new, a heart that has been cleansed through confession and forgiveness, and then ask the Lord for a renewed spirit through a genuine Holy Spirit revival in our lives and in the life of the church.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. [Ezekiel 36:26-27]