Jeremiah tells the exiled Israelites they would live in Babylon for at least 70 years. Therefore, they should settle down, build houses, marry and even pray for the peace and prosperity of the city in which they now found themselves (Jeremiah 29:4-10).

The words of Jeremiah 29:11 were spoken to people in the midst of hardship and suffering; people who were likely desiring an immediate rescue. However, God’s response is not to provide immediate escape from the difficult situation. Rather, God promises that He has a plan to prosper them in the midst of their current situation.

Christians facing difficult situations today can take comfort in the Good News of Jeremiah 29:11 knowing that it is not a promise to immediately rescue us from hardship or suffering, but rather a promise that God has a plan for our lives and regardless of our current situation, He can work through it to prosper us and give us a hope and a future.

On July 4, 2022, Americans will celebrate 246 years of independence as a nation. Countless lives have been sacrificed to gain and ensure our national and personal freedoms. However, Jesus Christ offered His life as an atoning sacrifice freeing us from the bondage of sin and death. Paul distinguishes between freedom to sin and freedom to serve. Freedom or license to sin is no freedom at all, because it enslaves you to Satan, others, and your own sinful nature. As Christians, we should not be slaves to sin, because we have been freed to do what is right and to glorify God through loving service to others. In Christ, you have been called to freedom.

While the disciples argue over who is the greatest, Jesus tells them to take interest in the most vulnerable who can do nothing for them. When He says that whoever receives a child receives Him, He is saying that He—God—arranges such circumstances as opportunities for us to act in faith and obedience. Jesus reveals the secret of true greatness in the Kingdom of God. It is not the person with the most power, the most skill, the most achievements, or the most money or possessions who is greatest, rather the one who is a humble servant of others is the greatest among you.

Following Jesus to the top of a mountain where they experienced the Transfiguration of Jesus, Peter, James, and John have to come back down the mountain the next day to encounter an ugly, frightening crisis in the valley. Jesus calls us to the spiritual mountain tops to experience the glory and presence of God as we worship Him, but also to return to the valley to carry out our God-given purpose and mission.

Luke has been gradually revealing to us the identity of Jesus Christ. People had different views—He is John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets come back to life. But by the revelation of God, Peter proclaimed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God (Luke 9:20; Matt. 16:17). Immediately after Peter’s confession, Jesus told the disciples of His impending death and resurrection, which shocked them and they did not understand what He was talking about, in spite of His repeated references to it. They understood Christ as King, but they did not yet understand that He first must suffer and then enter into His glory.
Jesus also has made it plain that those who follow Him must follow in the way of the cross (Luke 9:23-26). Jesus did not come to please Himself, but to do the will of the Father, which ultimately included the cross. Those who are His disciples must also deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Him, even if it means persecution or death. In today's text, Jesus takes three of His closest disciples (Peter, James, and John) with Him up the mountain for prayer and have an experience of a lifetime.

Jesus calls us to "follow Him," however, the Christian life is not an easy one as it requires us to deny ourselves and carry our cross daily and devote our loyalty to Him. In today's message, we will notice the difference between the modern demands for becoming a follower of Christ and Jesus' commands. Are you a nominal Christian or a committed follower of Christ?

Happy New Year! 2021 is gone and 2022 is here!
David wrote Psalm 31 during a distressing time in his life when he was being unjustly troubled by family, friends, neighbors, and enemies, and he turned to God to ask for help from his distress. In today's message, we will look at David's prayer and see how we can get through the distress in our lives through God's help.