Remember the first time you were at the top of a ski hill? Maybe you’re about to get off the lift for the first time. When you’re on a lift, you have less of an ability to wait. You are looking down and wondering if going down is a good idea. This also happens when you reach the top and now getting ready to go downhill. You have to prepare for what’s coming next. This same feeling of perhaps fear and thrill also happens once you’re on a diving board or when you’re about to bungee jump. Once you’re on the top, you begin to wonder if it was a good idea.  But once you’ve done what you’re afraid of, the joy you experience gets you past the fear the next time. Until the first jump, all that you know is what you are so scared of. This fear gets in the way of actually doing something.  There are so many ways that we get in the way of experiencing the life God wants for us. Such as in sharing compassion—in the sense of letting go of our fears and expectations to just be used by God and be used in the moment. Sometimes, it's our expectations or assumptions about others that get in the way. Our perspective colors our expectations and our judgments. We already have a story in our minds even before the actual encounter.  Getting in the Way of Compassion  There are two ways most of us get in the way of compassion. The first one is assuming or expecting the worst—fear. As humans, we make assumptions about almost everything. Sometimes we listen to those, and sometimes we don't. Sometimes when we meet people, we already have these assumptions in place and think of it as the truth.  In 2 Kings 5, we meet Naaman. He was a commander of the army of Syria who had leprosy. Desiring to be healed, he went to Israel with a letter to the king. Not knowing what to do, the Prophet Elisha sent a message to the king asking Naaman to meet with him instead. Elisha commanded Naaman to dip himself in the Jordan river seven times to be cleansed and healed. Bewildered perhaps by this seemingly strange instruction, he refused and almost left. However, his servant urged him to try it, and he was healed as he had done what the prophet commanded.  Let's look at this first from the perspective of Israel's king. He had an enemy army's commander asking him for favor despite winning campaigns against his kingdom. In this case, it seems reasonable to side with assumptions and assume that maybe the “guest” was trying to pick a fight. Even worse, he was a leper, someone who was considered ritually unclean. Therefore, anyone who interacts with such a person will also be ritually unclean.  What assumptions do you make that can stand in the way of being part of God's compassion through you to other people? Sometimes these assumptions can hinder us from seeing some of the amazing things He is doing. Many times, we think that when a person asks for help, they are already asking for our time and money, which is why we are so quick to put up our walls and excuses as to why we can’t help. And in the end, we miss an opportunity to help.  The second way that we get in the way of compassion is expecting the best in terms of what we think is the best. Since we live with our thoughts 24/7, we believe in our own expectations. We believe that it is what it should be, which is why we can reject compassion in other forms. In Naaman's story, he must have already thought about a different way he might be healed without dipping in the river. Perhaps like Naaman, we have a narrative in our mind as to how things should go and ways they shouldn't. When things happen not according to our plans, we justify our own anger. This caused him to almost miss out on his healing. He was humbled as he followed the prophet’s instructions.  Facing the Unexpected In the New Testament, Jesus wasn't the one the crowd was expecting. When Jesus returned to Nazareth in Luke 4:14-30, He stood up to read the Scriptures and introduced himself through the words of the Prophet Isaiah in verses 18 and 19: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,     for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,     that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free,      and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”  God has already revealed His Son to the people, and yet Jesus wasn't who they were expecting. Though they saw His gracious speech and got a glimpse of His power, they were furious at Him. Their expectations hindered them from knowing the Son of God.  What assumptions and expectations can stand in the way of you giving and receiving compassion from others? From Jesus?  Many of us would say, “I trust Jesus, I believe in Him," but we tend to be comfortable where we are in what we know of Him. Sometimes, we have expectations on how He should act on our behalf even though we know that He is God. There are even times that we doubt that He will move in our lives. So as we set aside our assumptions and expectations, let us allow Jesus to help us in big and small ways.  Embrace Compassion  If we’ve missed out on giving and receiving compassion, there’s forgiveness for us.  Jesus did everything right for us so that our holiness is not based on how we fulfill the law but on how well he did for us. He took the place of sinners who might have hurt him and who might have laughed at him. He even asked His Father to forgive those who put Him to death. Jesus said, “Father forgive them for they don't know what they're doing (Luke 23:34)”. By what He did on the cross, there is now forgiveness for all of us.   Our Lord Jesus allows us to receive and show compassion freely. He gives us more and more chances to see what he is capable of when we just let go of what we're afraid of or what we think we can or can't do.  Revive us, Lord, to share with those around us compassion. To share when we see others in need. To share, no matter what it looks like. Revive us to experience this joy. Lead us to let go of our expectations and assumptions. Father, help us to stop in the moment when we're tempted to continue what we're doing when we create a story before we talk to anyone. Allow us to give it to You and see what You can do. You are leading, and You are showing compassion through us. Revive us as You restore our joy to show Your compassion to the world. Amen. 

This is the first entry in an ongoing series that celebrates how families from the Church are living out their calling as Household Wells.   Andrea Conrad doesn’t like cats. That wouldn’t be noteworthy – many people don’t – except for one thing: For the better part of two years, the Conrad family has been fostering felines. “Do you think God’s doing anything through this? I sure hope so,” Andrea laughed. “There’s a lot of cats in our home for this not to be doing anything.” Throughout 2022 at the Church, we’re learning how to revive our pandemic-weary spirits and household wells. January’s emphasis is compassion, and the Conrads have it in spades. “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn,” Romans 12:15 implores us. Heartache, though, tinges compassionate souls. “Those animals would just be in pounds or, honestly, euthanized,” James said. “It’s nice to feel like you’re doing something for someone else.” Andrea added, “They didn’t choose to be born into a world where nobody wants them.” Back in 2020, the Conrads just wanted a pet. Andrea preferred dogs, but James and their boys, Brennan and Soren, overruled her. So they compromised: “Yes” to a cat. “No” to adoption. They’d foster instead. And then they adopted the first cat they fostered. Roni arrived with a (mis)diagnosis of feline cancer, a fatal disease. So when nobody else wanted him after five months, the Conrads kept him on permanently. “So often with the adult cats, we get the rejects,” James said. Last September, the family welcomed three little foster kittens. But by the time the third one was adopted in January, 7-year-old Soren was smitten. “Soren was just beside himself (saying goodbye). Tears,” Andrea said. “He and that little black and white kitty really connected, so that was really hard for him.” “We’ve had our share of great fosters, and we’ve had not-great fosters,” James said. “I still have the scars from one of them.” That story, in fact, is Andrea’s favorite. James: “It was a brown and black adult tabby, and we were trying to give her a bath. I had to coax her out from behind the toilet. She climbed the towel on the wall and then she hopped and was hanging off the shower bar, like the ‘Hang In There’ cat! And then I picked her up, and she was like (clawing motion), and just destroyed my arm.” Andrea: “She stayed hidden in our basement for three weeks. We finally had adopters who were interested in her, and we were so honest with them! We showed her to them, and we were, like, ‘This is the cat. She does not come out. She does not want people.’ They said, ‘She’s perfect.’” The turning point came shortly after the tabby went to her new home. “They decided to get a kitten,” Andrea said. “And as soon as they got the kitten, she was a completely different cat. So they send us pictures now. She lays in their bed. She loves the (other) cat. They play. She’s just a happy cat.” “That is why we foster,” Andrea said, then laughed. “For me, it’s not about the cats. I really love seeing how much joy it brings to the adopters.” Compassion flows when we allow God to use us in surprising ways. “God’s compassion always moves Him to act,” Pastor Jeff said in a recent sermon. “Is it possible this year that we could be known, our households could be known … as a household that is lavish and extravagant with sharing love and compassion and grace? And if we were to do that, could our compassion embolden our neighbors to come home when they’re in need?” James and the boys dote on cats who need care and a loving home. Yet Andrea’s willingness to acquiesce is equally important. “So, I don’t like cats, (but) by expanding myself to allow myself to try this, we’ve now opened ourselves up to this community of people that otherwise we wouldn’t have had access to,” Andrea said. “So I feel like that’s another route where we could potentially be a household well, I guess. I just see it as another point of touching a community that otherwise I wouldn’t.” For Brennan and Soren, James said, it’s a lesson in stewardship,“how to treat things with respect and gain respect for animals.” Andrea added, “I think that’s how God works through this, to show that even these tiny little kittens, who probably in the grand scheme of things mean nothing, mean so much because you’ve touched a person (and) the cat has a new life.”

There’s a lot to unpack in Luke 15 and many miss the context of what’s going on before Jesus told the parables. In verses 1-2, Jesus was seen by the Pharisees and teachers of religious law while He was eating with sinners and notorious people. This led Jesus to share the parables of the Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and the Lost Son. But, for many of us, the Parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15:11-32) seems to be the most memorable.    The Lost Son  This parable describes the younger son as prodigal—wasteful, excessive, and reckless. While his father was still alive, he already asked for his inheritance, which led the father to divide his wealth between his two sons. The younger son then went away and wasted his money in wild living (verses 12-13). He was lavish, extravagant, lush, and abundant as he misused his inheritance and lived a life away from his father.  When his inheritance had run out and a famine swept the land, he found work feeding the pigs. In his hunger, even the pods the pigs ate looked appealing because no one gave him anything (verses 13-16).  When he recognizes his desperate need and remembers the provision of his father to his entire household, he remembers the compassion of his father. It motivates him to come back. “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’ —Luke 15: 17-19 The younger son's realization is a turning point. From being proud, he was humbled. After what he had done, he thought he had no place in his father's house. He deserved to be treated lower than a servant after what he did. Still, the humbled son decided to come home.    More Than One “Prodigal” in the Story  “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.” –Luke 15:20 Most people who would hear, read, or study this parable would initially focus on the son. But the father could also be treated like a prodigal character. Though he knew what his son could do once he got his inheritance, he gave it away anyway. The father was also prodigal about expressing his love and how much he gave his sons.   Despite everything that the younger son had done, he hoped that maybe the son would come home one day. He spent days longing, waiting, looking, and watching. He was yearning to see his son when he saw him from a distance—and ran to meet him! Back in Jesus’ day, a person’s status in the family was seen by the pace at which they walked. The higher the status, the slower the gait. It was undignified to run to anyone if you were the father of the household. You can take your time walking, and everyone knows that they should wait. Sometimes, we want to wait for the right moment in our relationships. Parents wait for their children to say the right apology. In marriage, spouses wait for the other to show that they are truly sorry. But in this parable, the father doesn’t even wait for the son to say his rehearsed speech. Instead, he runs to him and embraces him.  The father is the prodigal in the story. Since a parable is a story that aims to show a spiritual lesson, we can say that the Father—our Heavenly Father—is the subject of all three stories. He will search and go out to get that one missing sheep home. He will search high and low to find that precious coin. And He would run to meet His son. That's why it hurts people so deeply when Jesus-followers who claim to know this kind of love are not extravagant with theirs.    A Lesson on Neighboring  There's another son in the story--the older son who has been around the whole time, doing the right things.  “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’” – Luke 15:28-30 We're introduced to the biggest problem of neighboring and compassion—judgment and envy. If you're part of a household with more than one child, do you ever get jealous or upset if a sibling gets what you didn't get? Do you ever start to compare? Where do you relate?  In the story, the other brother wouldn't even go in. The father himself went outside and begged him to come in. The father invited the older son to celebrate as his family reunited. The older son might not realize it, but the father also showed him grace and compassion. He was already given what he needed before he could even ask for it.  While the older son showed judgment and envy, the father showed grace and compassion. Jesus is our example of grace and compassion.  Who do you relate with in the story? If you relate to the young son, remember, even as the church has not shown you God's grace, God sent His son Jesus to die for your sins and redeem you. You can start your way home.    If it’s the older son, it's time to put the judgment and envy aside. Recognize your own need for compassion, your own sin, and brokenness. Come indoors and join the celebration. There’s a place for you.  If you feel like the father, greet somebody. Hug them and welcome them home. Then, invite them to the celebration.  Like the people Jesus was dining with and the subjects of the parable, we are all recipients of God's compassion. His compassion always moves Him to act. It has acted on our behalf. God will always be moved to meet you right where you're at, wherever you may be in your journey.    This kind of compassion is not something that we must keep to ourselves. Let us ask the Lord to move in us to receive His compassion. Let us allow Him to embrace us and lead us to be compassionate towards others.  

The Most Important Commandment One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”   Parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.  “By chance, a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” —Luke 10:25-37   Who is our neighbor?  In Luke 10, Jesus was having a conversation with a religious lawyer. Unlike other encounters with His listeners, the lawyer’s inquiry was not just an honest question. The religious lawyer was testing Jesus in hopes that He would fail the test to prove that the Son of God was a fraud. However, Jesus brought the man back to the Law of Moses, reminding the man and those who are to hear this story what God commands us. To live, we must love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. And on top of this, we must also love our neighbor as ourselves. However, the man asks an important question: Who is our neighbor?  Back in Jesus' day, people believed that they were to take care of those in the same tribe and ignore those outside of their circle. Samaritans and Jews have no business interacting with each other. The two groups of people were enemies. Jesus telling the Good Samaritan story shows us who our neighbor is and what we can do for those people.  In many instances, we find it hard to be a good neighbor. We come up with different excuses, we see the lack in our own selves, and sometimes just the thought can stress us out. One act of “neighboring” can lead to countless others, and we might not be able to sustain it, as it can require too much from us. But Jesus, after telling the story of the Samaritan, encourages the religious lawyer and all the people who will hear His words to do the same.    A different perspective on the word “neighbor” The religious man correctly identified a “neighbor” as someone who shows mercy. But perhaps we’ll have a deeper understanding of the word if we think of it not as a noun but as a verb—an action word. So what does it mean to neighbor?  That Samaritan shows us how to neighbor. He must have the same belief as the person who was beaten up. He must have heard and known that the foreigner has nothing to do with him and deserves no care. But instead of looking for excuses for neglecting the sufferer, he gives his heart over, shows compassion, and claims the man as his own brother in his distress. He gets off his donkey, pours into his wounds oil and wine, bandages them up, keeps down inflammation, carefully puts him on his donkey, and brings him to the nearest place where he can rest and heal. He provides everything he needs to be cared for. This is neighboring.  The parable is shared with us to move us to neighbor—to move—but not without Jesus. Jesus is not only the author and perfector of our faith but also of our neighboring.  In Greek, they described the Samaritan man as the one who showed eleos—mercy, compassion, and goodwill, along with the desire to relieve another. The neighbor was focused on action, not just showing his kindness through words or even embracing a concept. He was the one who responded with compassion to do something about his affliction.  When it comes to us, why do we look for excuses? Why do we try to justify our lack of neighboring and compassion? Perhaps we can attribute this to the so-called compassion fatigue. Those who have been serving and working for others are getting exhausted, especially in our current situation. To be exhausted is part of being human. There is a lot of obligation and work that is before us and we are confronted with our shortcomings, especially when we do the work without Jesus. We will surely get tired when we try to "save" or help others on our own strength.    Find compassion and comfort in Jesus  Once we start solving the problems on our own and remove our Savior from the equation, we will surely burn out faster. We won't find relief when we start neglecting our time to sit and wait before the Lord. Without Him, we won't have enough for ourselves and those who need mercy and compassion. Jesus offers inexhaustible eleos that is always available for us.  Sometimes it's just that we need a break, space, and time to breathe. It feels good to just stop and breathe and then do it again. You can take a break and spend time with Jesus. Let Him show you compassion and love the way you need to. We carry so much obligation on our backs for the welfare of others. We carry so much on our spirits because we feel the burden of others.  What would happen in our neighboring if we understood God's compassion for us? What would happen in our neighboring and serving if we really understood how deeply God loves us? He visited us in the flesh and took our sin to the cross, and He is with us to give us relief. May His work in our lives lead us to understand His compassion for us and encourage us to do the same. Neighboring would be less of a burden and more of a response to what God has done for us.  The compassion this world needs, Jesus has done for us. And then in us. And then through us.  Let us reflect: Who will need your help today? Who will you be in the story? Where has Jesus given you relief today? 

“Now restore us again, O God of our salvation.     Put aside your anger against us once more. Will you be angry with us always?     Will you prolong your wrath to all generations? Won’t you revive us again,     so your people can rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, O Lord,     and grant us your salvation.”  –Psalm 85:4-7 For many of us, the start of the year has become associated with resolutions and goals. We look back on the past year and think about what we want to change, especially in our own lives. But if year after year we fail to keep these resolutions, then why do we keep doing it? Is it because of peer pressure or tradition? Is it because we know that some things need to change deep in our hearts?  Many are experiencing goal fatigue and change fatigue. People have stopped making goals because something goes wrong along the way. Even if they still believe something could be different. Even when they still want to try something different. Deep down, they know that things are good but could be better.  This year’s theme is revival. And in this current season, witnessing a revival feels strange. People are mentally and emotionally not ready for this to happen. Some might even be defensive. Some might even ask, “What needs to be changed? Why can't we be okay with how things are?”    The goal: To be a household well  Having a yearly goal or theme helps some focus on what is most important. It can also help narrow the focus to the most crucial things that need one's attention and God's intervention. Instead of being overwhelmed by so many things, this one goal can keep a person on track.  This year, our goal is to make our homes into household wells. We hope that our homes and community will become places with life-giving water that only Jesus provides. To achieve this, we must be able to see how a household well behaves. We must be able to live those characteristics out. And this is where we need to ask God for revival. We cannot be a household well unless He brings change and grants us His favor.  We have evidence of God's revival breaking through for His people throughout the Scriptures. There are many examples of this in the Old and New Testament where people witnessed God’s power change their situation. And if we believe God is who He says He is, we can also experience this revival for ourselves.  Where do you see yourself in need of revival? Believe that the best is yet to come. Believe that no matter how you might feel about things, there are always good things yet to come that you couldn't have imagined.   In need of a revival  Compassion fatigue is a reality in our society today. It is a compounding problem that threatens to build up and not just for those on the frontlines helping others. It might also affect ordinary people trying to make sense of what’s happening around them, people who are sick, and those who can't be there to help. It might even affect those who have become so accustomed to helping others that they no longer feel the joy and the purpose behind what they do. These days, we are all suffering from extra stress and having less margin, overwhelmed with our own problems.  Many of us are dealing with loneliness. The problem with this is that it turns the focus back to the self, leading one to think, "But God loves me. I can't be lonely. I can just call or reach out to somebody." Despite the truth that God loves us, this feeling can still be something many of us grapple with. We also need to receive compassion as much as we need to give it.  For all of us who need change and revival amidst all the weariness, we can turn to Psalm 85:8-13:  “I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying,     for he speaks peace to his faithful people.     But let them not return to their foolish ways. Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,     so our land will be filled with his glory. Unfailing love and truth have met together.     Righteousness and peace have kissed! Truth springs up from the earth,     and righteousness smiles down from heaven. Yes, the Lord pours down his blessings.     Our land will yield its bountiful harvest. Righteousness goes as a herald before him,     preparing the way for his steps.” As we listen to what God is saying, we must choose compassion as a blueprint for our response. God responds to us with compassion and mercy. And if we can't seem to share this with ourselves and the people around us, let us recall God's mercies and what He has done in our own lives. Ask yourself: What has God done for me?  As we are reminded of the goodness we have seen in our lives, let us respond to the mercies and righteousness God pours out on us. We can look out for ourselves and others by providing encouragement and help. We can also make time for self-care. We can take time to connect with others free from distractions. Let us remind ourselves that we are connected and that our purpose is to look out for our brethren as we take care of ourselves.  Above all, we must prioritize our relationship with God. Being connected with Him daily reminds us that He cares for us and has a purpose for us.  Through Jesus, since His birth, we see the revival of compassion in our midst. He is the purest and most complete form of compassion. Through His life, ministry, death, and resurrection, He has done for us that which we couldn’t do for ourselves. May the example of goodness He has shown us move us to show compassion to others.    Praying for revival  To “revive” means to activate, set in motion, or take up again, to make operative, to quicken, or renew in mind, to reanimate or cheer. In humility and confidence, let us ask our powerful and gracious Lord and Master to revive our faith—to activate it and set it in motion. This bold act of praying and asking for revival is one of the essential habits of a household well. Let us join together with our brothers and sisters in Christ this year to pray for our revival.

What a year 2021 has been. As a new year is upon us, many of us wonder, will 2022 be different? Will things get back to normal? And what will "normal" look like? Even with all the questions we have, regardless of the circumstances surrounding us today, God is with us.  “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!     She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel,     which means ‘God is with us.’” --Matthew 1:23 When Jesus first arrived on earth during the first Christmas, the Word became flesh and made His home among us. When God speaks, His Word creates that reality. Jesus is the incarnation of God, also the incarnation of God's promise that He is with us.  Jesus is among us. He's not far off. He has come near. He came near in the flesh. He came near through the gift of the Spirit. We get His insight through His Word. We experience His goodness through His presence in our lives. God is with us in our weakness, in our trouble, in our grief, in our joy, in all that life brings. Now that we are welcoming a new year, let us look back at the I AM statements of Jesus that signify He is with us in many ways. In 2021, we learned as a church many characteristics of our Lord that made us realize our need for Him. He is our all in all. He is our everything. Whatever we need, He provides for us at just the right time and in just the right way.

When you think of faithfulness, what image does it paint in your mind? How have you witnessed it in your life? Some common examples can be seen in our loyal pets that we've taken care of through the years. No matter what we do, they will remain affectionate and trusting towards us even after a long time of being apart. It can also be seen in the people who have been with us for a long time.  Whether these are our friends, family, or spouse, they choose to stand by us through the highs and lows.  They are there to hold space for us when we need it the most.  Hopefully, we are also able to do the same for them. There is a popular artwork called "Christ at Heart's Door" by Warner Sallman that many might have seen or heard about.  In this image, Jesus is knocking at a door, representing a person's heart.  The painting looks as if He is knocking and waiting to enter. The artwork inspires us to think about how we would react to seeing Jesus faithfully waiting outside our door. Jesus is there for us all the time, whatever we’re going through or however we receive Him.  Even if we send Him away, refuse to let Him in, or forget that He is waiting, He remains faithful.   A Story of Unconditional Love and Faithfulness “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go and love your wife again, even though she commits adultery with another lover. This will illustrate that the Lord still loves Israel, even though the people have turned to other gods and love to worship them.’” -- Hosea 3:1 Israel is God's chosen people. Despite being chosen, they have shown their unfaithfulness to God countless times in the Bible. God makes His point through the prophet Isaiah who married Gomer, a prostitute. Yet, even with unfaithfulness, God has shown His love for Israel even if they have turned to other gods. Unrequited love can be heartbreaking, especially the kind where you’ve done everything you can to prove your love to the other person. It’s one thing when someone isn’t the right match or if the person you love hasn’t been faithful. But God is God—He is holy and perfect. He is love. It is incredible when we realize that He continues to love us even when we don’t reciprocate. Despite everything, His love for us still stands. Think about traditional wedding vows. They say, "to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy law, in the presence of God I make this vow.” The promise to love your spouse goes beyond condition. The pledge of faithfulness stands for whatever happens to the husband and wife. In the Old Testament, God makes a promise to Abram Himself: “I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” – Genesis 12:2-3 It was not an "if." God was telling Abram what He was going to do. But as the generations pass, God's people have become more stubborn to the point where He said in Isaiah 48:8, “Yes, I will tell you of things that are entirely new,     things you never heard of before. For I know so well what traitors you are.     You have been rebels from birth.” Despite the continuous rebellion and disobedience, Yahweh's unconditional promise is the only basis for hope. If the fulfillment of God's promises depended on us, there would be no hope nor salvation. If it were up to us, our unfaithfulness would render all these void. In Isaiah 54:9, God makes a promise to unruly Israel that He will keep His promise to Noah—that He will never punish His people by letting a flood cover the earth. He also kept His promise to David, who will have a descendant on the throne forever - (2 Samuel 7:12-13). All of these promises are fulfilled in Jesus. In Matthew 1, we see a record of Jesus’ ancestors—the descendants of David and Abraham. Despite everything that has happened in the past, God’s people are established. Their lineage continues. God's people then and now--the Church-- have no other spouse, no other union. Jesus is our First and Last. In Him, we see God's unqualified love manifest. The righteousness He has given to us will never be exhausted and it will never end. Jesus Christ is our First and Last, the only one we ever have and will ever need. He is always faithful. Even when our actions are worth condemning. Even when we are distracted. Even when we chase things that don’t have eternal value.   A Faithful, Promise-Keeping God   “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” –2 Peter 3:9 For those of us who experienced God’s unconditional faithfulness, we respond by loving Him with all our being, above all. We also respond by blessing others even if there’s nothing in it for us. In the example of Israel and Hosea, we are taught that the past is past. We must not let our sin become our absolute end. Through Jesus, we are redeemed and set free. His righteousness makes us eligible to experience His Presence and the fulfillment of His plan for our lives. “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.” –Hebrews 10:23 God keeps His promises.  He has kept all of His promises and will continue to fulfill His promises to His people forever. Even if we, His people, don’t keep the promises we’ve made before Him and fail to follow His instruction, He continues to be faithful to His promises and also to us. No matter where you stand, there's nothing that can cover up what Jesus has done. He is faithful to His promises. It doesn’t depend on how good you are or how well you’re doing, God will always keep His promise and be your God, and you will always be His beloved child.

What does it feel like to be chosen? It seems that it's easier for many of us to remember the times when we weren't chosen.  There are many emotions that swirl around not being chosen and worrying about not being chosen. When we are overlooked or neglected, we feel unworthy, guilty, and jealous that sometimes this might lead us to depression or self-loathing. But, on the other hand, not being chosen can cause some of us to feel bitter or vengeful, promising to prove to people that we are worth of their approval.   When the Bible talks about God's chosen people, sometimes it's easy to think of this in a collective sense. When we hear the word "chosen" concerning our faith, we think of the heroes in the Bible, the Israelites, the disciples, those who are in authority, or our fellow believers. To be chosen as a believer can make the term feel collective and impersonal. There are times that even when you know you’re a part of this group, you can feel as if you're the weakest link or the baggage that brings everyone down. Even when you're not feeling low, you can be led to think that being chosen doesn't make you unique—others are just like you. Even if you hear your name or see someone pointing at you, it doesn't feel like it's meant for you.  “As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him. Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” —Matthew 9:9-11 God wants us to know that He has chosen us personally. Like the Apostle Matthew who was a tax collector. Due to the nature of his job, he was despised and mistrusted. He must have felt alone, unloved, and might have thought that the others with him in ministry might not have accepted him at first. But just like us, he was also chosen. Jesus called Him by name.  Who, me?  But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.     O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.     I have called you by name; you are mine.” –Isaiah 43:1 Sometimes when we hear God’s call in our lives, we misunderstand it as a general invitation He has sent out probably to thousands of others. Instead, his call for us to follow Him is a personal request. When Jesus calls us, it can be easy to doubt if we truly hear His voice. When He summons us, we might be led to look at how we are and what we’ve done. Some might have even asked our Lord, “Do you know what I’ve done?” “Do you even know me?”  Despite everything we’ve said and done, we have been handpicked by God to carry out His purpose. God calls His family by name. He also calls you by your name. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners (see Romans 5:8). God refers to you with the approval that Jesus won for you through His sacrifice on the cross. What if I failed?  It’s human nature to feel unworthy or disqualified when we hear God calling us. Our actions in the past or our condition in the present make us realize that we might not be equipped to follow Jesus. But in Isaiah 43:25, through His words to the prophet, God is telling us,  ““I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.”  In the book of Isaiah, we see that the Israelites turned their backs on God. But despite all their disobedience, the Lord’s promise still stands. Israel failed God. They were to be His people, servants, and witnesses but they followed the gods of the peoples around them, just like us.  Thankfully, Jesus came. Our Heavenly Father sent His only Son so that the promise can be fulfilled, so that He can pour out His Spirit on your descendants, and His blessing on your children (see Isaiah 44:3).  Jesus is the One who blots out the sins of the Church.  He gave Himself up for us so that we will no longer doubt whether we are worthy, wanted, and chosen. Jesus is the Groom of the Church. He is our Messiah, Savior, the First and the Last. Jesus Christ, our Groom, has pledged Himself to us His Church. He calls us His own and He is ours. There's no other, and you are His. You bear the Name of the Triune God, belonging to Him forever. Revelation 22:4 says, “And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads.”  You have been chosen “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.”  --John 15:16 Even before you decided to follow Jesus, you have already been chosen. God wants you to follow Him.  He knows everything you've done and He loves you.  He made you clean.  He made you His.  He made us His victorious Church. Now and forever.  When the devil wants to steal your joy, do not give in to the quick response by having us look at ourselves and wonder if we're worthy, if God really meant it when He called you.  Let God remind you that He has called each one of us by name, that He sees you and knows you.  Remember that He has done everything so that your relationship with Him can be restored. You can have joy and peace knowing that God calls you His and that you can call Him yours. 

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” --Isaiah 41:10 Many of us have this tendency to fix things. But sometimes, the best thing to do is to keep quiet, avoid giving advice and just hold the person in front of you. When all the explanation and involvement fall short, it's best just to hold the other person. Even when emotions and anxiety run high, sometimes the best way to take the edge off a person is to hug them. In our culture, especially among men, we've been taught never to admit our need to be held. Yet, a good hug can often be just what the doctor ordered. Whether you're a man, a woman, a child, or an adult, there are times when you need to be held. When you're tired of carrying all the weight and feel all the pressure to perform, remember that the only One that matters when everything has been said and done is Jesus. It's His performance that counts. He has made us right, holy, and perfect. He has brought us forgiveness and faith. The First and the Last “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.” --Revelation 1:8 Upon reading the first chapter of Revelation, you might get lost in all the symbols and prophecies given to the churches. But if you read deeper into the text, our Lord gives encouragement to the exiled John that we can also apply in our lives. The One who is the beginning and the end—Jesus Christ—is coming soon. And as we wait, we can be at peace because he holds us. In Revelation 1:17, the Lord tells John, "Don't be afraid! I am the First and the Last." He reveals His eternal character in a personal way. He also makes known His presence, showing the apostle that He is with Him. Going back to the Old Testament, God has spoken the exact words to the prophet Isaiah, "It is I, the Lord, the First and the Last. I alone am He" (see Isaiah 41:4). Through His messenger, God is bringing consolation and assurance to Israel, telling them that their long captivity is about to end. For a nation that has gone through so much, God's words are a guarantee of His promise. He showed them that they are seen and heard, even if there are times when their hearts were far from Him. An Assurance for Us Where do you need to hear God say that He is the First and the Last? Where do you need Jesus to put His hand on you and tell you not to be afraid? Like what He did during the time of Isaiah, John, and other heroes of the faith, we can move on with courage and joy because of His Presence. That's how Jesus holds us. He’s got our world in His hands. The problem is we're so busy working, striving, acting, and trying harder that we don't take time just to stop and rest and hear Him say to us, "I got you. I'll hold you." Stop. Breathe. Speak His Name—JESUS. The First and the Last. Take another deep breath. It feels good to breathe—to have God’s peace that assures it will all be made right for you, your family, your community, and even the people you've hurt—that it's all going to be made right. Whatever you need to make right in your life, Jesus is the First and the Last. He is yours as much as you are His. He is the only One that matters. In your pain, loss, disappointment, and discouragement, let the Lord Jesus remind you that He makes all things new. Ask Him to help you remember when you’re struggling and wrestling with yourself while feeling defeated to breathe and speak His Name. Let Jesus hold you when you're struggling. Allow Him to restore your rest.