Josh Benner

Tag: devotional

  • Never think you’re too young to make a difference

    Some of the most significant people in the Bible did great things at very young ages. David was just a young man when he defeated Goliath. It was a young woman who was chosen to be the mother of Jesus. Even the twelve disciples would have all been pretty young. They were following a Rabbi. In that culture, they were probably as young as 15 years old (though Peter seems to have been a bit older). And there are many more examples we could find in the Scriptures.

    I think teens have a tendency to look at faith as something for older people.

    But the reality is that you’re never too young to start developing a relationship with God and making that your own. You’re never too young to serve God. You’re never too young to share the love of Jesus. You’re never too young to stand up for your faith.

    That last one can be a hard thing to do. It can be easy to be influenced by our friends. Influenced by kids we perceive as cool. Influenced by the culture. Influenced by people we follow on Instagram and Snap Chat. (more…)

  • Christians too often settle for less

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    In Numbers 32, the Israelites are pursuing the Promised Land when some of the tribes decide that they would prefer to stay outside the land.

    The chapter begins with: “Now the people of Reuben and the people of Gad had a very great number of livestock. And they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, and behold, the place was a place for livestock (Numbers 32:1).” The passage goes to their request to stay in the land: “And they said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession. Do not take us across the Jordan (Numbers 32:5).”

    They didn’t want to go to the Promised Land!

    What they wanted was unwise.  What they wanted was settling for less than God’s best, settling for a land that wasn’t the Promised Land.

    It’s an interesting situation.

    They do offer to support the other tribes in the pursuit of the land. So it’s not that they’re totally abandoning their brothers and sisters. But this is still them making a decision that undermines the wisdom and goodness of God. (more…)

  • The gospel in Les Miserables

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    Originally published as “Jesus in Les Miserables” on December 24, 2012

    Caught.

    Jean Valjean had stolen silver from the Bishop and the local authorities had caught him red handed. On his own merits, there was nothing Valjean could do to rectify the situation. He didn’t have the money to pay for it. He was guilty. But then something amazing happened. The Bishop tells the officers that the silver was a gift. He reminds Valjean that the ex-convict had even forgotten to take two silver candlesticks with him. The sacrifice for Valjean was not made by himself but by the Bishop .

    He let him go. (more…)

  • I hope your wedding day is the day you love each other the least

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    I hope your wedding day is the day when you love each other the least.

    I hope the love is there.

    But I hope a week, a month, a year, 10 years, 50 years later, that you love each other more than you did on your wedding day. I hope it’s a deeper, richer, fuller love.

    Marriage and life together is a good picture of sanctification.

    When you come to faith, you are saved. For the rest of your life, and eternity, the blood of Jesus washes away your sins. But the work isn’t done. It’s a lifelong process of growing and maturing in the faith which you believe.

    How long does it take to be a Christian? A moment. And a lifetime. (more…)

  • Jesus didn’t die to keep you the same

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    Jesus died to save sinners.

    It is out of the love that he has for that he died. But it is also because he loves us that he didn’t die to keep us the same. When the gospel takes root in someone’s heart, part of the evidence for a sincere faith is a life that has been changed by the gospel.

    Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).

    It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

    20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
    -Ephesians 4:20-24

    I used to enjoy watching a show as a kid called Rescue 911 which was a show that had reenactments of emergencies. But the reenactments often included portions of 911 calls (and later testimonies from the 911 operators). Often times, you’d see a reunion with the person and their rescuers at the end of a clip. I’m sure it’s natural for a person to want to thank the people who saved them. With the gospel, Jesus saved us from our sins, and it wasn’t just so we could say “thanks a lot,” and get back to our lives.

    Jesus saves us from death but the relationship he invites us into in knowing him is an invitation to life.

    Jesus didn’t die to keep us the same. That wouldn’t even make sense. Since our sin was so bad that our only way to God was through a savior, then why would he want us to stay the same? He rescued from the penalty of sin. And to realize that, how far off from God we were, and that Jesus has forgiven us, that should result in a transformed life.

    James said: You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone (James 2:24). The point James is making is not to preach another gospel. But to claim to have faith and not live a life that reflects an inward faith might be an indication of a faith that isn’t real. The gospel changes lives. Faith without works works to show faith that doesn’t work.

    That’s not to say we never struggle. We do. We’re sinful people. We might have several areas where we’re struggling when we come to faith. And that doesn’t all go away overnight. But more and more, there should be evidence of faith. You will know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:16).

    2 Corinthians 3:18 is part of the reason why we know that faith necessarily leads to a transformed life. Because it’s the Holy Spirit who is working in us. Beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).

    Jesus didn’t die to keep you the same. He loves you too much for that. If you have faith, and you’re struggling in an area, know that it doesn’t always have to be this way. There is hope. Walk with God, love for God, love God.

    Josh Benner is the associate pastor at Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church in Fergus Falls, Minnesota and has a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He enjoys writing about faith and culture. He lives with his wife Kari in Minnesota.

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