Destination Church Spokane Podcast Destination Church Spokane

Are we called to mature in Christ? Absolutely. Are we called to do it in our own strength and ability? No. God Himself is at work in us both to will and to work in us, helping us to outwork His purpose in the earth. We are a people who shine like stars, and God is committed to helping us shine brightly and effectively. Together, we can rejoice in the ways He is maturing each of us; we can celebrate one another's sacrifice, service, and faith exploits. All of life, even our hardship, is an opportunity to shine.

Who is this Jesus that we worship? Is He so full of His own reputation that He's hard to be around? Is He always focused only on His own advancement? Paul's description of the attitude of Jesus reflects something different altogether. Embracing humility, even unto death. And not just any death, but death on a cross. Because Jesus was secure in the Father, He didn't need to grasp for authority, and neither do we. We don't have to compete with one another, and that wouldn't reflect Jesus at all. We can have the same humble attitude that Jesus did, serving our Father and one another with complete trust that the Father will take excellent care of us. And then one day, we will ultimately join with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ together, across the globe and across generations, bowing our knees and exalting Jesus. His name is the name above every other name!

After Jesus rises from the dead, He reveals himself to many of His disciples. For whatever reason, Thomas is not present for these first encounters, and for a full week he is hearing the claims of Jesus' resurrection, but does not believe. Thankfully, Jesus includes skeptics like Thomas! He invites Thomas to look and to touch and to believe. Jesus is still helping and influencing our faith today, coming to us and revealing Himself in various ways. He often reveals himself through His Spirit working through others. He also reveals Himself through the Holy Spirit-inspired story of Scripture. Just as Jesus came intentionally to help a disciple like Thomas to believe,  He also knows just how to reveal Himself to us.

In Philippians 2 Paul makes the statement, "If there is any encouragement in Christ, consolation of love, fellowship with the Spirit, or affection and mercy then make my joy complete by being like minded, having the same love, being one in Spirit and one mind." The great thing about this is these things are true! In Christ we really do have everything we need, and this frees us to focus on others rather than ourselves.

Who are we? Are we living out of our true identity as citizens of heaven? Embracing that identity together helps us to reflect Christ and His kingdom as we take on the challenges of life. Together we can courageously stand firm in one spirit, united in the gospel, and contending for the good news of Jesus Christ. In Him, our lives become a far-reaching testimony to those around us through both faith and suffering. Our stories will strengthen the faith of others in the same way that the stories of Jesus, Paul, and others strengthen us.

The news of Christ truly is the best news in the world! It's something to get excited about. The gospel frees us and leads our hearts towards honoring Christ, into fruitful living, and stirs eagerness to know Him more. From this flows more eagerness to move forward together in Christ, trusting our good and sovereign God. There is so much to be joyful about in Him!