They plotted against Jesus and were resistant to the gospel at every turn. But what did these villains actually look and act like?

According to the first-century historian Josephus, “the Pharisees were the group most influential with the people, were noted for their accurate and therefore authoritative interpretations of Jewish law, and had their own traditions and way of life to which they were faithful. They had a simple standard of living and cultivated harmonious relations with others.” (Harper’s Bible dictionary, 783)

Honestly, when I look at the Pharisees, I think: “They seem to be a lot holier than me…” But in today’s devotional verse, Jesus says something pretty surprising:

For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:20 ESV

The Greek word for righteous here also means “religious observances” and “charity.”

So is Jesus really saying: “Unless your lifestyle of religious observance and tithing outshines the scribes and Pharisees, you’ll never enter the kingdom of heaven…”

…or is there something else at work here?

The Pharisees spent their lives clawing and scratching for the praise and applause of people (Matthew 6:2).

They may have been beautiful on the outside, but their insides were rotten (Matthew 23:27).

Jesus said he came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets… Which is what the Pharisees thought they were doing. You see, Jesus lived in complete harmony with God’s Law. He fulfilled it, down to every detail. And through the cross, Jesus’ righteousness becomes ours.

His perfect life becomes our perfect life. His death to sin becomes our death to sin. And his resurrection becomes our resurrection.

Let that sink in for a moment.

Now answer these questions: “Does your life reflect the reality that Jesus’ righteousness has become yours? Or do you spend your life trying to impress people and show off your ‘righteousness’?”

Because Jesus perfectly fulfilled the Law—we stand blameless before God.

Is There Still A Place For Holy Living?

Don’t hear what I’m not saying, however. We are called to holiness. We’re called to righteousness because we’re being made into the image of the Holy One himself, Jesus (Romans 8:29).

Jesus wasn’t telling us to live in sin and not worry about God’s word. He said just the opposite.

Instead, he shows us that fulfilling God’s law goes beyond external adherence. It’s more than “looking the part.”

To follow Jesus is to seek God, rather than man’s approval. To be more righteous than a Pharisee means being in Christ. And to be in Christ means that you’re being made like him by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Who are you living for?

Train up a child in the way he should go;
    even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6 ESV

Family devotions are such an important part of a godly household. So many of us know it—but it can be pretty tough to do it.

Growing up, my Mom and Dad did family devotions with my little brother and I each morning. Without fail, we’d be around the breakfast table, taking turns reading through the Psalms or another book of the Bible.

Now, as a teenager, I probably looked like a zombie most mornings. Sitting like a sleepy lump, barely showing signs of life! But you know what? Those mornings have had an impact on me.

I learned the power of consistency.

Now that I have kiddos of my own, I realize how much work it is to be consistent. But in our relationship with the Lord, it’s so important to be consistent in our time with him. (My wife and I LOVE reading the Jesus Storybook Bible or The Action Bible with our kids.)

We’re encouraged to meditate on his Law day and night. And just like a tree that grows steadily over time, we flourish into an oak whose branches never wither (Psalm 1).

Today’s Proverb teaches us to train our kids in the way they should go.

There is a major difference between “should” and “want to.” The verse isn’t that children should be trained in the way they want to go—but in the way they should.

Training is hard work. It requires repetition, discipline, and commitment. But do you know where this starts?

Not with our kids—but with us parents!

In my life, I can pinpoint much fruit from consistent family devotions. Many mornings, I certainly didn’t want to spend time in the Bible and prayer as a family.

But my parents made it non-negotiable. I saw their commitment to the Word and to my brother and I. This is part of how they’ve passed down their legacy of faith to us.

The Fruit of Family Devotions

Consistency is so much work, but it yields much fruit. And we’ll do well to remember that saplings become trees because they’re fed by sun, rain, and soil.

Do you have consistent family devotions with your kids? If not, start today! Maybe you can start a Bible reading plan? Or even something as simple as reading a short Psalm and then praying for one of their friends or a neighbor.

No matter how big or small, the point is that you start. And parents, this one is on you 🙂

How are you nurturing a consistent devotional life in your children?

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:1–2

If you broke your arm, you’d go to a doctor. A broken arm almost always needs a doctor to check it and make sure the bone is lined up right (set) so it can heal properly and you don’t lose movement or strength.

That’s what the word “restore” means in today’s verses.

When someone sins, there’s a break. This means there’s a need to gently restore that break—and that’s everyone’s job who lives “by the Spirit.”

Now, we all sin. So what kind of sin is Paul talking about?

Just the really “big” ones like adultery or stealing? Or even the “small” ones like gossip or lying?

Here’s the deal: there is no distinction between “large” and “small.” Sin is sin.

Instead, Paul is talking about those “caught in a sin,” which means sin that surprisingly overtakes them. It means we’re called to help those who genuinely want to follow Jesus… and to do so gently.

But have you noticed gentleness can be a lost art today?

I’ve seen Christians be exceptionally harsh to one another, especially on social media. Remember, our goal isn’t to point fingers and feel self-righteous because we’re not as “bad” as someone else (Galatians 6:4). It’s to help carry their burden of sin into restoration in God’s family.

Do you know what Paul says that does?

It fulfills “the law of Christ.” Which means two things in our context.

Fulfilling the law of Christ means:

1. Submission to Jesus’s teachings
2. Life in the Spirit

When we live like that, we’re not motivated by finger pointing and mud slinging. We’re motivated by Jesus’s heart and the Spirit’s leading toward restoration.

How do you react to opportunities to restore a brother or sister?

Here are 3 ways to have faith in God when life gets hard.

Faith In God Through Prayer

First things first: pray.

Talk to God like you would a friend. Tell Him what’s going on and how you’re feeling. Ask for his help and guidance.

Prayer will connect us with God even when we’re feeling lost or alone.

He is a God who hears us.

Study Scripture, Increase Your Faith

Another thing that has helped me maintain my faith is studying Scripture. There are so many verses in the Bible that offer comfort and hope in times of trouble.

When I’m struggling, I often turn to passages like Psalm 46:1-3:

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam and the mountains tremble with its tumult.”

This verse reminds me that no matter what happens, God is always with me and he will never leave me alone.

Get Serving

Finally, we build our faith by serving others.

When I’m focused on helping others, it helps me zoom out. My fears become dim. My troubles become small.

When we partner with the Holy Spirit, we see just how big our God is.

Jesus Didn’t Promise Easy

In John 16:33b, Jesus said:

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Life will be hard—but in the end, Jesus wins. And so do we.

By praying, studying Scripture, and serving others, we can stay connected to God even when we feel lost or alone.

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 5:3–5 ESV

Christians are peculiar people.

• Who rejoices in their suffering for the gospel?
• Who gets excited about being beaten for sharing Jesus (Acts 5:41)?
• Who is content with their calamities like being shipwrecked, bitten by a snake, or thrown in jail (2 Corinthians 12:10)?

Disciples of Jesus, that’s who!

Today’s devotional verses challenge me. The Bible is a mirror that lets you see what’s really in you. And as I read Paul’s words to the church in Rome, that we should rejoice in suffering, I see a tainted reflection.

One of the primary idols I battle—and I think most of the Western Church battles—is comfort.

I like to be comfortable, so much that I have sacrificed obedience to Jesus to stay safe, warm, and fuzzy in my cocoon of comfort. However, Paul shows us what embracing suffering for Jesus’ sake leads to.

What Suffering Is Paul Talking About?

First, understand Paul is talking about productive suffering. It means an “oppressive state of physical, mental, social, or economic adversity” for advancing the gospel.

It’s about embracing the discomfort that comes to living faithfully to Jesus, no matter how mild or extreme. Paul explains in Philippians 1:12–14 that our suffering actually advances the gospel!

What Does This Suffering Produce?

Why is this suffering productive? Because it leads to a chain reaction of spiritual depth and growth.

Check it out. Paul tells us:

1. Suffering leads to endurance…
2. Endurance leads to character…
3. Character leads to hope…

Christians are different ducks because we see physical, mental, social, or economic persecution as proof that we’re making headway against hell. Satan doesn’t want people to have eternal life in Jesus, so he wages war against us through the world’s systems (1 John 2).

Our radically different mindset on suffering and discomfort creates a gritty endurance. Like an ultra-marathoner running across arid deserts, we gain the strength to keep moving.

This endurance then produces character that is battle-tested, showing us that yes, we are in fact becoming more like Jesus! We will grow in the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23).

…and this Christ-likeness creates a hope that Jesus is who he said he is… will do what he’s promised… and we have eternal life hidden in him (Colossians 3:3).

Friends, let’s renew our minds and embrace the discomfort that comes with following Jesus. That’s the refining fire.

Will you chase comfort or Christ, today?

“for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”

1 Corinthians 16:9 ESV

When is an organism most vulnerable?

When it’s just a baby or a sprout.

In today’s verse, Paul was in the city of Ephesus and hide a wide-open door for the Gospel. But there were also adversaries.

The Church was young—just a baby, by analogy. So the enemy was attacking it with everything he had.

But does Paul sound surprised? Not at all.

In fact, his writing is actually quite enthusiastic. There is no tone of defeat… No complaints about fighting to advance the Kingdom… No worry of getting wiped out by the evil powers of darkness…

Remember Paul’s description of them in his letter to the Ephesian church he was working with at this time?

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 6:12 NIV

1 Corinthians 16:9 and the Gospel Today

There will always be opposition to the Gospel's advance. However, as Jesus said, there is also a plentiful harvest just waiting for workers to gather it (Matthew 9:35–38).
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We can draw three encouragements from 1 Corinthians 16:9.

1. There are wide-open doors for the Gospel today.
   Paul spent his life on the lookout for the doors swung wide open. For the chances to share the Gospel—and then KEEP SHARING IT! We see open doors when we look (and pray) for them. Once we find them, we can follow Paul’s lead and keep pressing through them. For example, when a new believer comes to Christ, did you know their circle of friends and family are ripe for the harvest, too? Help them become instant evangelists.
2. Be a ready worker for the harvest.
   Jesus said the problem isn’t opportunity—it’s people power. Imagine a starving city surrounded by grain fields of all kinds. What if you and your church family were the ones who could harvest that grain and feed your city? Would you do it? Of course! Did you know our cities are starving right now—and ready for the harvest? Are you a willing worker? If so, it’s time to embrace the discomfort of opposition, ditch your pride and fears at what people think, and bang the Jesus drum. (This is an exciting/challenging word for me, too!)
3. Take spiritual opposition as a positive sign.
   Often times we get discouraged when ministry is hard. When it seems like we’re attacked on all sides. Guess what? That’s a good sign! The Devil fights against the wide-open doors… The fruit-bearing trees… And the good works God has prepared for us to walk in (Ephesians 2:10). The harvest comes with a fight. So smile on the frontlines and see the opposition as a confirmation. God be glorified!

What challenge or encouragement can you take from 1 Corinthians 16:9 today?

I also believed this anger was justified, even righteous. Because the offending person was a fellow believer who was knowingly sinning.

But soon after, the Holy Spirit revealed something to me: my anger had decayed into the sin of unforgiveness.

And in today’s verse, Jesus was clear: unforgiveness is most definitely a sin. And a grievous one at that.

“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

Mark 11:25 (NIV)

4 Wounds From the Sin of Unforgiveness

One: Unforgiveness denies the cross.

When we don’t forgive, we forget that Jesus died on the cross to forgive all our sins. Disciples are “grace extenders,” sharing the same forgiveness God’s given us.

Two: Unforgiveness turns into bitterness.

Holding onto anger for a long time can make us feel bitter. It’s like carrying a heavy backpack that gets heavier every day. And this bitterness toxifies into more sin.

Three: Unforgiveness keeps a record of wrongs.

In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul tells us that godly love keeps no record of wrongs. We don’t live to ruminate on transgressions, but to dwell on what is noble, just, and good. We each have a call to the ministry of reconciliation, not revenge.

Four: Unforgiveness hurts us.

As the saying goes, unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping the other person gets sick. But really, we’re the ones who end up in the spiritual ER. It can make us stressed, angry, and even sick.

Studies even show it creates higher levels of PTSD symptoms, worsens depression, hurts relationships, lowers marital satisfaction, harms our ability to parent, and more.

4 Ways to Let Go of Unforgiveness

1. Pray for help: Ask God to help you forgive, just as he’s forgiven you. He understands how hard it can be.
2. Choose to forgive: Forgiveness is a choice we make, even when we don’t feel like it. It’s not forgetting, but it is letting go of our drive for personal revenge.
3. Let go of the hurt: This doesn’t mean what happened was okay. It means you’re not letting it control you anymore.
4. Pray for the person who hurt you: As Jesus said in Matthew 5:44, “…pray for those who persecute you…” This is hard, but it will soften your heart and set you free.

Whom do you need to forgive today?

When you think about it — that’s quite a thing to say.

Paul’s making both a command and a claim:

1. A command for the Corinthian church to follow (or imitate) him.
2. A claim that he’s following Christ in a way that’s worth imitating.

It makes me queazy to think about saying that to anyone else…

So what is Paul talking about here?

Is it a humble thing to say—or prideful? Is it a safe thing to say—or dangerous? And how can we learn from it?

The Context of “Follow me as I follow Christ”

First, it’s helpful to have some context about the verse itself plus the city of Corinth. Let’s tackle the city.

Theologian Gordon Fee wrote, “Paul’s Corinth was at once the New York, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas of the ancient world.”

Corinth was a wildly influential city. It had tons of money, sat on key trade routes, and even had tourists lining up on every street.

It was a cultural hub filled with all the stuff today’s big cities are. That meant the new believers came from a wide array of cultural, religious, and moral backgrounds, too.

The next bit of context is the verse itself.

Paul wrote, “Follow me as I follow Christ” just after 1 Corinthians 10:31–33, which reads:

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

Paul’s helping the church understand that, in their city, they have a bunch of different cultures all smushed together. (Today, we call it a melting pot.)

This meant that even eating or drinking customs might unnecessarily offend people and make them dismissive of the Gospel.

So he drops this challenging statement: “For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.”

Like Jesus, his entire life was about seeing people get saved.

The Call of “Follow me as I Follow Christ”

Like Jesus, Paul set aside what he wanted for the good of others.

As Jesus said in Mark 10:45, “For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Paul sought the advantage of other people before his own.
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Paul wanted to lead followers of Jesus, not build a following of his own.
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Paul’s heartbeat was for people to meet Jesus. He wasn’t in the business of building a huge fan club.

This verse is an incredible challenge for me today. It might be for you, too. Here are some questions to consider…

• Does my life imitate Jesus’ so closely that I’m comfortable telling people to “Follow me as I follow Christ”?
• Am I willing to set aside my own preferences for the chance to show people Jesus?
• Do I understand my culture enough to constantly share Jesus with them where they’re at?

The people next to me grumbled impatiently. Ahead, one customer at the counter shouted curse words into his phone while his company credit card kept declining. No one was having a good time!

Finally, a manager came out of the back room and the line started moving. When it was my turn, all I wanted to do was swipe my card, grab the keys, and get our team to the hotel.

When it was my turn, the manager asked me a few quick questions and then said, “Thanks for waiting. I can do this rental for cheaper…”

It was amazing, because the number he gave me was one-fourth of what I expected to pay. I smiled, swiped my card, and we were off.

…but here’s what that guy left out: the rental car service had already charged my card the full amount, and he was just selling me the daily-rate insurance, making it sound like it was the full transaction amount. And this was after I explicitly declined the insurance in his initial questions.

Sure, I should have slowed down, read the receipts, asked questions, and done my due diligence. So that’s on me. However, the manager was definitely dishonest and took advantage of the situation.

Because my brain works like this, this story reminds me of Joseph from Genesis.

From Prisoner To Prince

Joseph’s brothers had gotten jealous of him and sold him into slavery. The slavers then took him to Egypt where, eventually, he was wrongfully imprisoned.

In time, Joseph became the second most powerful man in all of Egypt, where God used him to save millions of people from a devastating famine.

Joseph went from slave to prisoner to prince. Years later, when his brothers showed up begging for food, they realized they were meeting with that very brother they’d betrayed.

They were terrified, thinking this now-powerful man was going to hurt them. But here’s what Joseph said:

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Genesis 50:20 ESV

Through no fault or sin of his own, Joseph had awful experiences in his life. Yet, he could still look back and see God’s hand at work, setting him up for an incredible purpose.

What The Enemy Meant For Evil

Now, the wrong done against me at the rental car place obviously pales in comparison to what happened to Joseph. I’m definitely not claiming that level of suffering!

But guess what happened?

The second night we were there, I backed our rental van into a sign, messing up the rear bumper!

Sure, that manager had taken me advantage of me — but God used it to save us thousands of dollars.

This is a small example. But remember, our great God can turn what the enemy meant for evil into good. And not just for us, but for others, as well.

But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:20-21 ESV

Imagine that you’re assigned to pick who Jesus’ earthly father would be.

• What kind of man would you pick?
• What criteria would you use to decide?
• What characteristics would you look for?

That’d be a big job. Who should raise the Savior of the world?!

Let’s look at Joseph to discern what God was looking for.

Joseph Was a Descendant of King David

First, Jesus’ earthly dad would have to be a descendant of King David.

God promised David that his throne would be “established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16).

This was a signpost pointing to who God’s promised Messiah would be. And Joseph fulfilled this prophecy.

Joseph Was Obedient

Second, Joseph obeyed God—we see this in today’s devotional verses.

Mary turned up pregnant while they were engaged. Meaning they had never slept together.

So of course Joseph would think she was unfaithful! But an angel appeared to Joseph and said: “Marry her and trust she didn’t cheat on you. God is doing something big. Name the child Jesus, he will save Israel from sin.”

Immediately, Joseph obeys. And we’ll see him do this three more times.

“Get Up!”

In Matthew 2:13-15, an angel tells Joseph to “Get up!” and flee to Egypt to protect Jesus from Herod.

In Matthew 2:19-21, an angel says to “Get up!” and go back to Israel because team Herod is dead.

In Matthew 2:22-23, he’s again warned in a dream to flee to Galilee for Jesus’ safety.

Joseph’s qualifications were simple: he was a descendant of David and an obedient, God-fearing man.

Trust and Obey

God still chooses people like this.

Did you know God has prepared good works in advance specifically for you, just like he did for Joseph?

As disciples of Jesus, obedience is our greatest superpower. God knows what we need and when we need it.

Are you resisting the Holy Spirit in an area he’s calling you to obey? Are you overcomplicating what it takes for God to use you?

It’s simple. Trust and obey.

If that was enough for Jesus’ earthly father, it’s enough for you and me, too.