Reflective Bible Study

As we come near the point in Jesus’ ministry that He is crucified, it seems like many of the gospels slow down their narrative and focus on all the details they can about what happened. If we look at each gospel, it would seem – at least to me – that the gospel writers focused heavily on the last week, and even the 24-hour period prior to Jesus’ crucifixion.

The time of year that this happened was during the annual Passover celebration, and this commemorated the last plague in Egypt where the angel of death passed over the homes that had a lamb’s blood spread on parts of the doorway. It was this last plague that marked the Israelites being kicked out of Egypt, and as a result, they celebrated this event each year as a reminder of what God did for them, and as a memorial of the blood that was put on their doorposts, the Israelites sacrificed a lamb to remind them that their lives had been spared.

Leading up to the weekend Jesus was crucified, we read in the gospel of Luke about a special task Jesus gives to two of His closest disciples. This event can be found in the gospel of Luke, chapter 22, and we will be reading from the New International Reader’s Version of the Bible. Starting in verse 7, Luke tells us:

⁷ Then the day of Unleavened Bread came. That was the time the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. ⁸ Jesus sent Peter and John on ahead. “Go,” he told them. “Prepare for us to eat the Passover meal.”

⁹ “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.

¹⁰ Jesus replied, “When you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house he enters. ¹¹ Then say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, “Where is the guest room? Where can I eat the Passover meal with my disciples?” ’ ¹² He will show you a large upstairs room with furniture already in it. Prepare for us to eat there.”

¹³ Peter and John left. They found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover meal.

When I read about this event, I am amazed at a couple of things. The most obvious thing to be amazed at is Jesus’ exact knowledge of what Peter and John would find when they entered the city. When Luke tells us that a man carrying a water jug would meet them at the entrance to the city, I am curious if Luke describes a man giving these two disciples a friendly greeting, or if as they enter the city, they would simply see a man carrying a large jar of water.

If we wanted to get a better understanding of this exact portion of the event, we could look in one or both of the other gospels that include this event. But regardless of exactly how the disciples knew which person to follow, the fact Jesus knows what happens in detail is amazing, but it isn’t the most amazing thing in my mind when I read about this event.

One of the other things that stand out in my mind relates to the owner of this mysterious home. Jesus describes the man carrying the jar of water as one of the servants of this homeowner. Either that, or the man carrying the water may have simply been an angel that only these two disciples could see. But when we look at the details surrounding this home, it would appear like this owner was a secret follower of Jesus, or at the very least, someone who didn’t fully support the Jewish leader’s campaign to arrest Him.

When we stop and look a little closer at this event, it seems amazing in my mind that a homeowner would open his home to a group of wanted men so that they could share a meal together. This is essentially what was going on, because at this point in Passover week, the religious leaders had put the word out calling for information from those living in and around Jerusalem so they could arrest Jesus. What this homeowner did by letting Jesus and His disciples enter his home would have made him an enemy of the religious system.

The only way this makes sense is that either this man was already opposed to the religious system currently in place, or He had dedicated His home to God and was willing to let God use this location whenever and however God saw fit.

What this homeowner essentially did was side with Jesus during some of the tensest points in spiritual history, and this too is a powerful thought we should remember: When we are faced with spiritual tension, we should always side with Jesus!

Another perplexing angle on this event is that the disciples are simply instructed to refer to Jesus as “the Teacher”. Whether this was because not everyone in the household was friendly or sympathetic to Jesus, or whether this was a key undercover phrase that this homeowner would recognize, what matters is that this phrase was the key to unlocking access to this upper room.

While we can dig into and marvel at the details surrounding this homeowner, and speculate over the details surrounding how the upper room was opened to Jesus and His disciples, we should not overlook the role of the disciples. I wonder if they just went along with whatever Jesus said at this point in His ministry. When we read how this passage concludes, we don’t see any questioning, any doubt, or any hesitation written. Luke tells us in verse 13 that “Peter and John left. They found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover meal.”

If it were me, I might have wanted to know a little more what the man who was carrying the water jug looked like, just in case there was more than one man at the entrance to the city that fit this description. I might have wondered or asked for a secondary phrase to say if the homeowner wanted more details regarding who the vague “teacher” referred to.

But this is me, and this might show that I have a more doubtful or skeptical mind than these two disciples. The biggest things I see in this passage that are powerful thoughts are the duel ideas that Peter and John obeyed Jesus’ instructions, even if Jesus’ instructions didn’t make any sense, and the homeowner was willing to open his home when God had called Him to do so.

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

When faced with spiritual tension or a spiritual challenge, always side with Jesus, and with the God of love. When in doubt, this is the best direction to lean towards. Continue intentionally seeking God first and be sure to intentionally place Him first in your life at the beginning of each day.

Also, continue praying and studying the Bible for yourself, because no pastor or podcaster is going to have 100% of the message God wants to share with you, and even if you are able to learn from someone else, nothing can take the place of personal study and learning from the Bible personally!

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or deviate away from where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!

If you have ever wondered what criteria is used for Jesus bringing people into His Kingdom, you don’t have to search the Bible for very long before coming to our passage for this episode. For many Christians living today, despite what the media likes to portray, our passage for this episode has been a banner challenging Christians to love and help others ever since it was written. After we read it together, if you are not already familiar with this passage, I’m sure you will be able to see why.

As we said in the intro, our passage is found in the gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, and we will be reading out of the Holman Christian Standard Bible translation. Starting in verse 31, Matthew writes Jesus’ challenge to His followers, saying:

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. ³² All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on the left. ³⁴ Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

³⁵ For I was hungry
and you gave Me something to eat;
I was thirsty
and you gave Me something to drink;
I was a stranger and you took Me in;
³⁶ I was naked and you clothed Me;
I was sick and you took care of Me;
I was in prison and you visited Me.’

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or without clothes and clothe You? ³⁹ When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?’

⁴⁰ “And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’ ⁴¹ Then He will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels!

⁴² For I was hungry
and you gave Me nothing to eat;
I was thirsty
and you gave Me nothing to drink;
⁴³ I was a stranger
and you didn’t take Me in;
I was naked
and you didn’t clothe Me,
sick and in prison
and you didn’t take care of Me.’

⁴⁴ “Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help You?’

⁴⁵ “Then He will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me either.’

⁴⁶ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

This passage marks the last parable Jesus shares with His disciples before meeting with the disciples to eat the last supper, and as I commented leading up to reading this passage, it is easy to see how it calls followers of Jesus to help others.

However, it is worth paying attention to the detail that this passage doesn’t focus us on just helping others; this passage challenges us to help the “least of these”.

Too often, we think of help as being generous towards others, and this is one aspect of it. Being generous towards others is one aspect that we could understand within Jesus’ praise for those who are welcomed into His kingdom.

However, in this passage, Jesus is calling us to help the lowest of the low in society: The hungry, thirsty, naked, stranger who is sick and in prison. While I don’t think this list is describing a single person, what it is describing is someone who does not have the means to repay you. In many ways, this is a much more specific type of help than we might naturally think.

Someone who is hungry, thirsty, or naked and who has money simply has to stop by grocery or clothing store and their problem is solved. Also, sickness is often helped by doctors who appreciate being paid as well.

However, “the least of these” in Jesus’ words seem to describe a person who is clearly in need of help, but who cannot repay the help they need in any way. Jesus’ challenge in this passage is a call to help those who cannot help you back. It is surprising, at least in my mind, that both groups of people in Jesus’ illustration share a common characteristic:

Both groups of people did not recognize Jesus in those they chose to help or not help.

Before continuing further, I want to point out that I don’t believe Jesus or angels are going to sneak down to earth to let us help them, especially when there are so many real people who need help at the lowest ends of society. Instead, Jesus draws the point that by helping those who cannot help us back, we are representing God well and it is like we are helping Him.

As I say this, it makes sense that when we help others in God’s name, we are helping God because at the very least, we give God a good name and a good reputation. Giving God a good reputation, when most people are inclined to think he is mean, vengeful, and looking for opportunities to punish them, is truly helping Him.

It is also worth mentioning that all throughout the gospels, Jesus modeled this type of love. Jesus loved helping people who could not help themselves, and most, if not all of the healing miracles Jesus did helped in a way that truly could never be repaid. Through Jesus’ example, we can understand that God helps those who cannot help themselves – and Jesus challenges us to follow His example in this passage.

However, what about the reward included within this parable?

In this parable, God promises a reward, but it is only after this final separating. It is worth paying attention to the detail that those who are righteous on the King’s right hand side do not receive their reward early. Instead, those who are separated on the King’s right hand side are promised it. In contrast, those who are wicked on the King’s left hand side do not receive their punishment early either, but they are promised it as well. While some might say this understanding is taking the details of this parable too far, I still find it interesting that this parable has all nations and humanity being rewarded and judged at the same time, as opposed to the time of their death, which is different for everyone.

The parable Jesus shares is a parable we can trust, because Jesus is trustworthy. We can trust what Jesus says. We can also fully know that He has given us the simple choice of which side we want to be on. If we intentionally work into our character and lives the opportunity to help those who are in need who cannot help us back, we are acting like those who Jesus calls blessed by His Father – and we can look forward to receiving the kingdom He has promised us.

Before closing out this podcast episode, I want to point out that I don’t believe helping others is a replacement for developing a relationship with God, or for putting our faith in Jesus. I also don’t believe that one can be saved who is against Jesus but who helps those who are helpless. Instead, I believe that faith in Jesus is how we live, work, and love God in the spiritual area of our lives, and helping the helpless is how we truly show our faith in God in the world around us.

Helping others with no strings attached is the best way we can truly be like Jesus. He came to take our place, and when Jesus died in our place, this was a gift given without any conditions.

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always challenge you to do, intentionally seek God first in your life and focus on growing your relationship with Him. While growing your relationship with God, continue helping those who are in need who cannot help themselves. This is one great way we can model Jesus’ life and ministry, as well as following the challenge Jesus shared with us in our passage for this episode.

Also, as I always challenge you to do, continue praying and studying the Bible, for yourself, because regular prayer and Bible study help you grow your personal relationship with God. While pastors, podcasters, or other people can give you ideas to think about, never let your personal relationship with God depend on someone else. Choose to grow personally closer to God today while also being a blessing to others.

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or ignore where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!

In one of the last parables Jesus shared before facing the cross, He describes a set of ten bridesmaids and how only half of these bridesmaids gain entrance into the wedding reception. While this is one of Jesus’ more well known parables, what I find fascinating about it is that most of the time I hear it discussed, it seems as though it is only looked at on a shallow, surface level. After drawing the conclusion that the oil in this parable represents the Holy Spirit, most people seem to discard the rest of the parable with the belief that it simply describes how we must always keep a reserve of Holy Spirit with us.

Or at least that is what the implication is when we too quickly jump to the oil in this parable being associated with the Holy Spirit. When we jump to this conclusion prematurely, we miss some profound truths I believe Jesus wanted us to learn from this sobering illustration.

Let’s read this parable, and as we do so, let me challenge you to ignore the thought that the oil represents the Holy Spirit, at least temporarily, and instead, let’s look for ways the two groups of bridesmaids are similar as well as different. When I challenged myself to read this parable looking for similarities and differences, an amazing set of truths appeared that I had never seen before.

This parable is found in Matthew’s gospel, chapter 25, and let’s read it using the New International Reader’s Version of the Bible. Starting in verse 1, Jesus tells those present:

¹ “Here is what the kingdom of heaven will be like at that time. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. ² Five of them were foolish. Five were wise. ³ The foolish ones took their lamps but didn’t take any olive oil with them. ⁴ The wise ones took oil in jars along with their lamps. ⁵ The groom did not come for a long time. So the bridesmaids all grew tired and fell asleep.

⁶ “At midnight someone cried out, ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him!’

⁷ “Then all the bridesmaids woke up and got their lamps ready. ⁸ The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil. Our lamps are going out.’

⁹ “ ‘No,’ they replied. ‘There may not be enough for all of us. Instead, go to those who sell oil. Buy some for yourselves.’

¹⁰ “So they went to buy the oil. But while they were on their way, the groom arrived. The bridesmaids who were ready went in with him to the wedding dinner. Then the door was shut.

¹¹ “Later, the other bridesmaids also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’

¹² “But he replied, ‘What I’m about to tell you is true. I don’t know you.’

¹³ “So keep watch. You do not know the day or the hour that the groom will come.

This is one of Jesus’ more challenging and harsh parables. Not only was half of the intended wedding party shut out, it seems as though the groom was entirely too quick to simply forget who they were. Well, actually it wasn’t the groom Himself who forgot, but the servant tasked with watching the door who did not know these other bridesmaids.

However, let’s take a moment and look in this parable for similarities and differences between the two groups of bridesmaids. One of these groups is identified as being wise, while the other group is identified as being foolish.

As I read through this parable, in the first section, it appears as though there is no visible difference between these two groups. All ten bridesmaids have lamps that are burning and shining brightly. The only difference we see described is that those in the wise group had a backup plan in place, just in case the groom did not arrive on time. This key difference tells me that in order to be wise according to this parable, we must hope for the best but plan for the worst – to use a tired cliché. The wise bridesmaids would be happy if the extra oil they packed with them was not needed, but they knew that having oil saved at home would not benefit them if they happened to need it while they were posted to light the entrance into the wedding reception.

In contrast, the foolish group did not anticipate a delay, and because of this, they only brought exactly the amount of oil they believed necessary for the evening.

During the second phase of the parable, all ten bridesmaids fall asleep, and all ten lamps go out. When I read this part of the parable, I am surprised because there are no differences between the wise bridesmaids and the foolish ones. They all became tired and fell asleep.

When hearing this parable talked about by others, most people miss this similarity. While everyone would love to say they were the one bridesmaid who stayed awake, this parable does not leave room for this case. When hearing this parable talked about, too often the theme that gets concluded is that we are to stay awake and not fall asleep – but this conclusion misses the truth that all five wise bridesmaids did fall asleep. Instead, there must be something more that we should pay attention to, and it comes after the bridesmaids are woken up.

The third portion of this parable happens after the bridesmaids are woken up. This is where we see the clearest differences between the wise and foolish groups. The wise bridesmaids quickly begin trimming and relighting their lamps in preparation for the groom’s arrival, but the foolish bridesmaids run into the realization that they don’t have any oil left to relight their lamps.

Probably the biggest difference between the wise and the foolish happens in this last portion of the parable. The wise bridesmaids tell the foolish that they don’t have enough oil to share, and the foolish bridesmaids leave their post in the middle of the night to go and try to find someone selling oil. This was not the era of the 24-hour supermarket, so purchasing oil in the middle of the night would likely involve knowing a merchant and waking them up.

Regardless of the amount of time that it took the foolish bridesmaids to acquire their oil, when they return they find that it is too late.

Looking at this parable, I see the powerful truth that we should plan in advance for a time (or times) when we will fall asleep. Sleeping is inevitable, but it can be prepared for. Also in this parable is the truth that what we do after we have been woken up is just as important. While not having oil would have been a disgrace for a bridesmaid in that time period, leaving and being absent from one’s post would have been even worse.

If I analyze what happened in this parable, I think that the wisest thing for one of the foolish bridesmaids would have been to stay nearby and simply ask to enter the reception with the guests. At the very least, this bridesmaid would have been present before the door to the wedding celebration was shut.

But what if the oil that was missing does represent the Holy Spirit? If this is the case, and the groom represents Jesus, then the only true Source for receiving more Holy Spirit would be coming with the groom. In case you are wondering, God the Father is the only true Source for the Holy Spirit, and I would be very surprised if God the Father was not traveling with His Son the groom during the events in this parable. By leaving and going to a merchant to find oil, the foolish bridesmaids doubly miss out because they miss the true Source of oil in favor of leaving and looking for something inferior.

Running with the thought that the oil represents the Holy Spirit, if one of the foolish bridesmaids was wise enough to have stayed, it is likely that Jesus, the groom, would have been happy to give some Holy Spirit oil to a bridesmaid in need. Giving is a part of Jesus’ nature, and helping those who need help is a part of who He is.

So as I learned while studying this parable, it is wise for us to plan for a time when we will fall spiritually asleep. Falling asleep is inevitable. But what ultimately matters is our planning on the front end, and the choices we make after we have been woken up. Never leave your post, because only when you are living for Jesus will He give you the Holy Spirit and let your life shine for others to see.

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

Continue seeking God first in your life and choose to stay with Him regardless of the temptations you face that try to trick you into leaving your post. Whether you began your walk with Jesus as a wise person or as a fool, your decision to stay or go after being woken up matters more than your preparation beforehand. Choose to stay, even if you don’t have the oil you feel you need, because the best Source of oil is coming your way.

Also, continue praying and studying the Bible for yourself to learn more about God, about Jesus, and about the Holy Spirit. When we prayerfully read and study the Bible, we grow our relationship with God and He will help us become spiritually wiser and able to discern truth from error. It is a mistake to solely trust a pastor or a podcaster for truth. While we may be sharing as much truth as we know, eternity is too important to leave the details to someone else – that is, someone other than Jesus.

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or simply walk away from where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!

During the week leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion, one evening, several of Jesus’ disciples approach Him wanting to know more detail surrounding His return. While Jesus shared several chapters worth of material about this event, including several parables, one piece of Jesus’ description has stood out to me as being more fascinating than most of the other details.

With that said, let’s look at how Jesus describes His return from the gospel of Mark, chapter 13, starting in verse 24, and we will be reading from the New International Version:

²⁴ “But in those days, following that distress,

“‘the sun will be darkened,
    and the moon will not give its light;
²⁵ the stars will fall from the sky,
    and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’

²⁶ “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. ²⁷ And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.

²⁸ “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. ²⁹ Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. ³⁰ Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. ³¹ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

While it would be very tempting to focus in on how Jesus finished this portion of His teaching, the portion of Jesus’ message that is most fascinating is the description Jesus shares in the second portion of verse 24 and in verse 25:

^24b “the sun will be darkened,
    and the moon will not give its light;
²⁵ the stars will fall from the sky,
    and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.”

This is how Jesus describes His return. In Luke’s gospel, Jesus says in chapter 21, verse 26 that, “People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.” (Luke 21:26)

Ever since Jesus spoke these words, Bible scholars have wondered and speculated over the event Jesus describes. Those familiar with the Old Testament would have recognized similarities between Jesus’ description to these disciples and God’s words to/through the prophet Isaiah when He describes the sun darkening, the moon not shining, stars falling, and the heavenly bodies being shaken. Isaiah’s description is of the great day when God brings punishment onto the sinners of the world. I wouldn’t be surprised if Jesus took Isaiah’s imagery about the day of judgment and applied it to His return.

It is also interesting that scholars have speculated over whether Jesus’ words in His description describe separate events that will happen close to when He returns, or whether the four things Jesus describes will happen together at the exact time of His return.

I’ll be the first to say that I haven’t studied this passage out as well as other people have. Since I don’t know Greek and cannot pick up on the nuances of the language, I am left with the various English translations present today. Most of these translations, if not all, seem to describe a quick sequence of events that happen following the end of the distress of God’s people. If I were to choose the most likely timing for understanding this description, I would presume that it happens at the exact time of Jesus’ return – like the rolling out the carpet before the limo’s door opens to reveal who is inside. While there might be a slight delay following these events before Jesus appears, I would suspect that they are part of one continuous process and not broken into separate distinct events.

With all that we know about the universe, I wonder if the descriptions Jesus shares regarding the sun, the moon, the stars, and the heavenly bodies are to be understood from our perspective. The universe is huge, and while God could sweep it aside with His little finger, I wonder if the description in our passage is really describing what will happen from earth’s perspective as Jesus returns.

Describing Jesus’ return, Revelation, chapter 1 verse 7 tells us that “every eye will see Him”. While it seems obvious to say, everything I have witnessed tells me that our earth is round, specifically a large sphere orbiting our sun in space. Under normal circumstances, at most half of the earth is visible at any point in time. This is evident that half of the earth is visible to the sun and experiencing day, while the opposite half of the earth is invisible to the sun’s light and experiencing night.

However, Jesus’ return is described in Revelation, chapter 1 verse 7, saying that “every eye will see Him”. Just like the sun cannot see all parts of the earth at the same time, with the earth the way it is right now, Jesus would have to fly through the sky to all parts of the earth for every eye to see Him. Or Jesus would have to be present in multiple places at once for every eye to see Him. Or God would have to do something drastic and miraculous to allow for every eye to see Him.

Some people today might say that every eye seeing Jesus’ return would be easy with how the world is connected with technology and cameras being present everywhere. I won’t deny this possibility, but my thought regarding this angle of understanding Jesus’ return places this interpretation as being more likely something an impostor would use to imitate Jesus appearing rather than something Jesus would actually need to use. Our understanding of Revelation’s description of Jesus’ return should not depend on technology because none of Jesus’ other miracles depended on anything our world today would consider as technology.

Instead, I wonder if the description Jesus shares in this verse about the sun, moon, stars, and heavenly bodies going dark, moving, and being shaken, is really a description of God unwrapping the earth’s crust from its core. God, being all powerful, could keep our atmosphere intact and gravity in place throughout this process, and once the world has been unwrapped, it will face away from our sun, block the moon from receiving light and be faced towards Jesus’ return, so that every eye will be able to see His return.

For those alive on earth, a process this extreme would feel like an earthquake of epic proportions, and as the earth moved, stars would streak across the sky, and the heavenly bodies would appear to move as well. The sun would end up somewhere behind the earth’s surface, and the moon, if visible in the sky, would be blocked from getting any sunlight similar to what happens during an eclipse. During this process, every star and planet will be streaking across the sky, and as the earth reshapes, our atmosphere will collide with satellites and other orbiting debris causing plenty of shooting stars, or as some people call them “falling stars”.

I will be the first to say that this is pure speculation, and one way of interpreting the details that Jesus describes. While Jesus’ return may be completely different than this, the way I described this as far as I can tell fits all the facts that Jesus described surrounding His return.

The most important detail for us to take away from this discussion is not that anything I described is to be understood as exactly how Jesus’ return will happen. Instead, the most important detail for us to take away from this is that Jesus will return, that He will keep us safe for eternity, and that He will never forget about us.

More than we can imagine, God wants to take us home with Him, and regardless of how the details Jesus described actually happen, what comes after Jesus appears is more important. After Jesus returns in the clouds, He sends out His angels to gather His people, and we return home to be with Him!

As we come to the end of our podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always challenge you to do, intentionally seek God first in your life. Don’t wait for disaster to happen before deciding to turn to God. While it might sound morbid or cliché, it is true that we have no guarantee that we will live to see the time of His return instead of being resurrected on the day Jesus returns. Because of this, today is the most important day for making your decision for God.

Also, as I always challenge you to do, continue to pray and study the Bible for yourself in order to learn and grow closer to God. While authors, bloggers, speakers, pastors, or even podcasters have ideas that they share, never let your relationship with God depend on another person. Instead, study the Bible for yourself and grow personally closer to God each and every day!

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or abandon where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!