Tag: Salvation

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Your Impact Reaches Beyond What You See

Echoes through eternity, leaving a legacy that transcends time. Your Impact Reaches Beyond What You See. I have had an amazing journey through mountaintops and the deepest valleys. Through it all, God kept investing in me in ways I didn’t always understand, and for a purpose I couldn’t always see. I wanted to share that journey with you.

We are each incredible creatures, designed by a God who loves us unconditionally, each with unique talents and purpose. In our own way, each of us can change the world around us. That may sound like an overstatement, but it is true. Not just the world around us, but the world that has yet to be. A future we will never experience.

You may never know how much your life mattered to someone else.

A conversation you barely remember. Encouragement you offered when someone was ready to quit. A moment when you paused, listened, and helped someone feel less alone. We must acknowledge not the life we planned, but the life we received. We plan in straight lines, but we live in detours.

“The Life I Received” – Chapter 3

What if those moments reach further than you will ever see?

Each Life Has a Sound

However, every life makes a sound.

The sound may not be loud. You may not recognize it at the time. It may be nothing more than a sentence spoken to a discouraged person, a meal shared with someone who felt invisible, a lesson passed to a student, a business skill taught to someone trying to survive, or a stubborn decision to keep loving after loss.

But that sound moves outward. It touches people. Those people touch others. An ordinary action becomes a seed. A seed becomes a tree. A tree drops fruit. Fruit carries more seeds. Long after the original act is forgotten, the echo continues.” – Introduction

That question is at the heart of my book, Echoes Through Eternity: Lessons from an Ordinary Life, now available through Amazon.

Many of you have walked alongside me on this blog. This book brings together years of those reflections into a broader conversation about faith, purpose, grief, courage, and the influence we have on other people’s lives.

“A Tree Does not Hear Its Own Growth” – Chapter 6

Inside, I share lessons from business, service in developing countries, personal loss, and the everyday work of following Christ. Stories of people whose determination reshaped my understanding of purpose, and encounters that taught me how easily we can walk past an opportunity to make a difference.

That Sound Has an Echo

If you have ever wondered whether your work matters, how to move forward after loss, or what God might still have for you in this season of life, I wrote these pages with you in mind.

“Whose Life Are You Going to Change?” – Chapter 12

My hope is that you will recognize your story here—and find encouragement to love well, act courageously, and use what God has placed in your hands today. God lives in the moments. Dramatic moments don’t change lives; the steady drumbeat of a life well lived does.

What echo will your life leave behind?

I invite you to explore Echoes Through Eternity: Lessons from an Ordinary Life. Read the description, try a sample if available, and see whether these pages speak to the questions you carry.

My goal in life, and yours, should be to enrich the life of those we touch. Not through money, power, and fame, but through compassion, love, and grace.

“Echo Through Eternity” – Chapter 20

Find it on Amazon  – for a limited time the Kindle version is free.

Amazon

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Can I Be Trusted With Much?

Can You be Trusted With MuchToday, I’m asking myself whether I can be trusted with much. Do I look at a subset of gifts God has given me and determine that they are the only ones God cares about, or do I include all of the blessings and attributes of my existence to serve God? I think I have a tendency to pick and choose.

Luke 16:10: “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”

This Bible verse has been set before me for some time. It reminds me that God has given me many things, not just skills. He has given me relationships, experiences, knowledge, wealth, power, privilege, and authority. None of these are world-beaters. My sphere of influence is limited. Still, they are gifts from God to be used for God.

Trust

It brings to mind the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14–30). Each servant did not receive the same amount, but each according to their ability. My gifts are shaped by what God has in store for me. Everyone is different. Each of us has a different basket of goods. Yet each of us is charged with using what we are given to advance God’s kingdom on Earth.

We will all have to stand before Christ and give an account of how we used what we were given. That occasion will not be about wealth or position; it will be about how we gained and used influence.

Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Some years ago, I had an epiphany about purpose. I always valued purpose as a calling, a job, a task, or perhaps a position. It was, more or less, tangible, with a clear objective or endpoint. The activity shifted as the season of my life changed, but the core objective stayed the same. Then it dawned on me: purpose was about influence. As I developed, my sphere of influence grew.

Gaining Influence

It didn’t matter which tasks or authority I was trusted with; the goal was the same, to increase my sphere of influence. what it wasn’t about using a job or position to expand God’s Kingdom. It was about using the influence I had gained from that job or position to expand His Kingdom.

2 Corinthians 5:20, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

I can gain influence through almost any activity. Let’s say I’m an introverted programmer in my industry. I love solitude, head down, writing code. I don’t want advancement or authority. That is God’s gifting to me. But if I become an exceptionally skilled programmer, other programmers might seek me out for advice; I have influence. That influence might start with advising on code, but it eventually extends to other non-work activities. Do I then use that influence to expand God’s Kingdom? That is the critical question. Not: Did I become the best programmer around? But: Did I use the platform given to me to advance God’s Kingdom?

Dishonesty

The second part of that verse is chilling. If I do not use the influence God has given me, am I being dishonest with God? I’m afraid the answer is yes. My influence may wane, and I may fall short of what God intended. I do not get to live the robust life God planned for me.

Everything God has given you can be used to expand your influence, which, in turn, should be used to expand His Kingdom.

Romans 10:14-15, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? How can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”

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The Legacy of Hanson Gregory

Heaven by C.S. LewisFew people know the name Hanson Gregory. Hanson Gregory (1832–1921) was an American sailor credited with inventing the ring-shaped doughnut by adding a hole to its center.

We eat donuts at a surprising rate, but almost no one knows who first thought of the idea. This illustrates the core concept of the eternal echo. One person’s effort influences millions, maybe billions, of people, yet hardly anyone knows who he is.

Legacy Effort

Gregory is not unique. History is full of people like him. Konrad Zuse built the first programmable computer. Hedy Lamarr helped enable modern wireless communication. Granville Woods, Willem Kolff, Garrett Morgan, and Mary Anderson created systems we depend on daily—from railways to medicine to traffic safety.

There is an endless parade of people who made significant contributions to our current happiness, yet few people remember them. These are people who created things that we take for granted, but whose names are mostly unknown to us.

Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

What do these people have in common? They develop infrastructure ideas, not just products. Their work often becomes invisible once adopted, and their impact is multiplicative (echo effect)—one idea enabling thousands of others.

What is Our Infrastructure Idea?

Psalm 78:4, “We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.”

Our goal in life isn’t to make our name immortal, but to make our impact last. Our God-given purpose isn’t to create one unforgettable moment, but to help others create lasting change across generations. Our foundation is Christ. Our eternal influence is not from an invention or discovery, but from the ongoing impact of a concept that has changed the very fabric of the world.

Before Christ’s death on the cross, we had to continually offer sacrifices to atone for our sins—a never-ending process that didn’t guarantee our place in eternity. Christ fulfilled what repeated sacrifices could never complete, offering a final and sufficient path to reconciliation with God. Our Hanson Gregory moment isn’t as common as the donut; it’s a promise of everlasting peace.

Psalm 145:4, “One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.”

Our Call to Action

Every day, we meet people in need of hope and salvation. Although our name might not echo through eternity, our actions will. We can choose to take on the challenge of reaching out to the lost or leave it to someone else, passing up the chance to make an impact. It’s our choice. We live with the consequences of our decisions. God’s will cannot be diverted or halted; it will go forward through other means if we refuse to participate. Ultimately, it is we who bear the burden.

We may speak about a place where there are no tears, no death, no fear, no night, but those are just the benefits of heaven. The beauty of heaven is seeing God. – Max Lucado

1 Peter 1:4, “To an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.”

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The Good Son, A Warning

The Good SonThe good son—do you even know who I am talking about? Luke 15:11-32 is a parable Jesus taught about a lost, wayward son who finds redemption through a good father. The story is often taught in Sunday school and is the subject of many sermons and commentaries. The focus of most of these teachings is on how the prodigal son squandered his inheritance, was redeemed by a loving father, and was restored to his family. It exemplifies the act of Christ redeeming us back into His family after we have turned our backs on Him.

This is a great story in itself. But, like many of Jesus’ teachings, this one carries a warning.

The Good Son

The part of one verse that caught my attention is in verse 28: “So his father went out and pleaded with him.” This statement describes the good son, the rule follower, who is filled with righteous indignation over the lost son’s treatment. We sometimes hear or read a commentary about this son. We hear how he, like Jonah, followed all the rules, did what was right, believed he had earned God’s blessing, and did not want to see the unworthy rewarded above himself.

Jonah ran from God to try to stop God’s salvation plan for the Ninevites. The good son simply refused to join the celebration. The good son, like Jonah, felt there was an admission price tied to redemption.

But the father went out to him and pleaded with him.

Today’s Church

Galatians 2:21, “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”

I am a visual learner. If I can see something with my eyes or imagine it in my mind, I will remember it longer. So, when I read verse 28, the image that appeared in my mind was my church—actually, any church. Jesus was at the pulpit, and the wayward sons were in the congregation. They are like the thief on the cross or the Ninevites who desperately wanted grace, but Christ had to go out into the parking lot to gather all of the good sons into the church. These are the parishioners who regularly attend church, tithe, participate in community groups and Bible studies, and pray. They are working toward crowns and jewels as a reward for their service.

The people standing outside are earning their redemption by following all the rules. They see themselves as justified because they are trying. Biblically, they understand they can’t balance the scales, but at least they are making an effort. The problem is that they love God’s stuff—redemption and grace—without truly loving God.

Romans 9:30-32, “What then shall we say? That the Gentiles who did not strive for righteousness have achieved it, that is, righteousness based on faith, but that Israel, who did strive for righteousness based on the Law, did not succeed in attaining it? Why did this happen? Because they did not pursue it by faith but on the basis of works. They tripped over the stone that causes one to stumble,”

The good son is the Pharisees of biblical times. But he is also the overly righteous of our day.

The Idea of Heaven

“The critical question for our generation—and for every generation— is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ were not there? ” ― John Piper, God Is the Gospel: Meditations on God’s Love as the Gift of Himself

They love the idea of heaven, the idea of not being sick, no pain, no sin, seeing loved ones again in an ideal environment, rather than spending eternity at the feet of Christ.

There is a song “What a God” that has lyrics that say:

If the highest place I reached is at your feet. Then I’ve done it all.

If the best thing that I’ve seen is your glory. Then I’ve seen it all,

If one word is the only thing you speak. Then I’ve heard it all,

If I feel your heart and never see your hand. I still have it all,

This is the definition of heaven. It’s not about inheriting streets of gold and rooms in a mansion: it’s not the result of a transactional relationship. It’s about receiving what we don’t deserve and basking in the glory of that gift.

At judgment, I don’t want to be caught standing in the parking lot. Jesus will come out and call me home, but it’s not the homecoming I want. I want to remember to love Christ for who He is, not what He offers. I want to be the person He made me to be, not as repayment, but out of genuine awe of who He is and what He has done for me.

Titus 2:11, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.”

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He Saved You So You Can Experience All These Promises

Saved for small things of great valueHe saved you so you could do all these things. Mathew said it to Mary in an episode of The Chosen. He reminded her that, regardless of her iniquities, she mattered to God and others. It reminded me of a story from my own life. The idea that my voice could echo through eternity haunts me. I’m captivated by the thought that I might say something so meaningful that at least one person would pass it on. I don’t believe I possess that much wisdom; luckily for me, Christ does.

Deuteronomy 7:9, “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of loving devotion for a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.”

The First Things

It made me reflect on one of the pivotal moments in my life and gave me hope. In the early nineteen-eighties, I was a gym rat. The way I handled my anxiety was by pushing myself to my physical limit so that my brain would quiet down. The pain and exhaustion would overpower my anxiety, and for a while, I would feel normal. I wasn’t a Christian then, I was an insecure, driven, hot mess. My expectations was set too high, and I was failing myself.

As God would have it, He intervened. I developed myopia while running, I would get tunnel vision that caused me to stop until it went away, then I would start running again. I mentioned this to a cardiologist I played racquetball with. He suggested I see him. I did. That visit led me through a maze of tests over nine months, culminating in a trip to the emergency room. Charles, my cardiologist, got out of bed at two in the morning to check on me. While we were talking, my heart stopped. The next thing I remember is Charles in a white mask telling me it was going to be OK.

Isaiah 65:23, “They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them.”

The Next Thing

“Wherever Jesus has been proclaimed, we see lives change for the good, nations change for the better, thieves become honest, alcoholics become sober, hateful individuals become channels of love, and unjust persons embrace justice.” – Josh McDowell.

Fast forward several years and a few pacemakers later, Charles retired from medicine. The note I wrote to him was about his echo. At that time, the idea of having an echo hadn’t taken hold. But if Charles had never gotten out of bed at two in the morning, I might not be alive. I am sure I am one of the many lives he has saved. Each one has a purpose and a mission to expand God’s kingdom. Some answer the call, others ignore it. But those who do are part of Charles’s echo. People he will never see, conversions he will never know, on this side of heaven.

Psalm 103:17-18, “But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of the Lord extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children’s children—to those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.”

I chose to embrace Christianity. Surprisingly, not because of my near-death experience, which should have been enough, but because of my anxiety. I have been involved in multiple ministries, sharing the gospel with many different people. Every one of these is credited to Charles. It is his echo. Without him, they may never have happened. God saved Charles so he could do these things, and He saved me so I could do them too. He also saved you so you might do the things He has for you.

Your Thing

God has forgiven our sins. He is glorified whenever we do anything in His name. We are alive in this moment because He has a plan for us. The plan He has for us involves the plans He has for others. That is our echo. We each have that potential. Doing the little things right creates the big events of the future. Matthew was right; we exist to glorify Christ, and if He woke you up today, He is not done with you. Shout into the abyss and start an echo.

Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

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He Said ‘Come’—So He Did, and Everything Changed

The man in the middleBecause the man on the middle cross said I could come, that is what the thief might have said when standing before God. He didn’t mention Bible studies or mission trips. Acceptance wasn’t guaranteed by theology or learning; it was guaranteed because one man said he could come. That man was the representation of our living God. He was part of the Trinity, and He died so that we may live.

Romans 11:33-34, Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has become His counselor?

We complicate salvation. It becomes a mystical and complex mix of rules and actions. We shape it into something we should do or say, fitting what Christ did on the cross into a set of beliefs and standards that reflect our understanding of human behavior. Christians cannot escape cause and effect. Everything has a cost we must pay, even when we know it’s not nearly enough.

Greatest Generation

My dad taught me early on that anything worth having is worth working for. He believed that the value we assign to what we own is directly related to the sacrifice it takes to get it. He was part of the “Greatest Generation” that gave everything for our freedom during World War II. They knowingly and intentionally stormed the beaches of Normandy. Forty-four thousand twenty-seven soldiers died that day taking that beach. Sacrifice was a core part of who he was.

Isaiah 55:8-9, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

We attach a human cost to every action and reaction. Humans are not capable of thinking outside of their experiences. Even our fantasies are grounded in experience.  Our imagination is a composite of various sights and sounds from our past. How can we be expected to understand true grace as demonstrated on the cross?

The Thief

Luke 23:41, “We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

The thief didn’t have time to consider theology. His sin overwhelmed him and led him to hang beside Jesus. Nailed to a cross, he was unable to do good deeds or show kindness. It was too late to read or debate God’s word. All the efforts we made to secure our place among the believers who have gone before us were beyond his reach. He stored no crowns or jewels up in heaven waiting for him. Yet, Christ saved him.

Ephesians 2:8-9: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

We struggle to understand that we are saved by grace so that no one can boast. We avoid this truth by claiming that our good works are a sign of God’s grace. Unlike the thief, we use our time and opportunities to show ourselves and others that we are saved.

Entrance Into Heaven

Luke 23:43, “Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’”

The thief was lucky that it was God and not us who admitted him into heaven. For God, it was enough that Christ invited the thief and the thief accepted the gift of that invitation. We would have wondered how he got there. He didn’t have the pedigree; no church membership, no experience of giving to the poor, no sacrifice of tithing, not even a single attendance to Bible study. How could he possibly qualify? Everything has a price, even if that price is beyond our ability to repay.

“God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, “I love you.” – Billy Graham.

Christ paid that price in full. Nothing we can do will ever take away that gift willingly given by Christ. Don’t focus on performance. Like the thief, be always thankful that the King of Kings invited you. Stay humble in His presence.

Micah 6:8, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

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Victims of the Enemy: A Christian Perspective on Non-Believers

Grace means undeserved kindnessNon-believers are not my enemies; they are victims of my enemy. That statement shed new light on how I engage with those who haven’t had the privilege of meeting my Savior. Non-believers are victims of ignorance and misinformation. We can’t reasonably expect non-Christians to act like anything other than non-believers.

Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness.”

Samuel Butler popularizes an old English proverb in his 1664 satirical poem Hudibras that says, “A man convinced against his will is of the opinion still.” If we view non-believers as stubborn, contrarian believers, we overlook the context of their lives. Most are living a life they believe aligns with what they know. Our enemy has indoctrinated them into believing they are normal and that Christians are abnormal.

2 Timothy 2:24, “The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone. Able to teach, not resentful.”

What We Present versus What We Say

“How you live your life is a testimony of what you believe about God.” – Henry Blackaby

We have all sinned and continue to sin. If we, who understand Christ’s love for us, keep sinning, what can we expect from non-believers? Non-believers don’t share our sense of right and wrong, and even with all our knowledge, we still struggle to stop sinning. Isn’t it hypocritical for us to judge non-believers based on their sin?

“Our world does not need to hear more people talk about God or even about Jesus if those people do not have a lifestyle that reinforces every word they utter. The interesting thing is that the closer we walk in intimacy with God, the less we have to say. Our very lives become a bold and beautiful testimony to the purity, the freedom, and the beauty of the Lord Jesus.” – Dennis F. Kinlaw

If we interact with a non-believer from the perspective of their sin versus my sin, we have set up a confrontation. Confrontations often lead to defensive behavior, which ultimately results in closed minds.

Christian Humility

Luke 14:11, “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Humility is the ability to see all people the way God does. Part of that understanding is recognizing that we are all uniquely and wonderfully made for the purpose God has for each of us. In God’s eyes, none of us is better or worse; we are all equally valuable.

Just because non-believers’ hearts have been captured by our shared enemy doesn’t make them less valuable. Misguided and misinformed, but no less valuable.

Humility is the key to opening doors. Approaching each person with the intent of understanding them first, then guiding them with the love and compassion of Christ, will bring benefits to their lives. Knowing that you accept them as a person first and foremost creates trust. That trust is the currency of meaningful dialogue.

Christian Pride

As Christians, we know how it all ends. We know we are on the winning side. Christians can feel self-righteous, taking pride in the fact that our sins are forgiven and that we will be with Christ.

Proverbs 11:2, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

This pride over something we had no control over. We did not save ourselves. The same God who saved us can and will save those we see as sinners. We should approach this immeasurable gift with humility. Jonah did not want God to save the people of Nineveh because, in his eyes, the Ninevites were not worthy of salvation. Many Christians do not see non-believers who are living in sin as worthy of salvation. Yet we still struggle with our sin.

Evangelism is an act of love and compassion. It is creating a safe place for discussion.

“Your life as a Christian should make non-believers question their disbelief in God” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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Last Day on Earth

Take care of your life, and the Lord will take care of your deathIf today were your last day on earth, how would you live it? Reflect on life’s meaning, priorities, and what truly matters most. Most of us don’t get that kind of warning. But if we did, would we choose differently? I don’t mean to sound morbid—but it’s a powerful question worth asking.

James 4:14, “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”

“You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense.” — Rick Warren

The Accident

I passed a horrific accident on the interstate after visiting family. Metal twisted like paper. Debris littered the highway. Both cars had rolled at high speed. Their roofs lay shredded and torn off completely. The wreckage screamed devastation. No one could have survived.

My first thought: Were they ready to die this morning when they woke up?

Psalm 39:4, “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.”

Today probably started like any other day for them, except for the excitement of a trip. Plans were made, all the essential things needed for the trip were gathered and stored, and life moved forward. Most of us begin each day expecting it to continue normally.

We rarely think: This is the day I stand before God. We assume today will unfold like yesterday. But sometimes, it doesn’t.

The Conversation

I remember a conversation from years ago with an inmate on death row. I was curious about how it feels to know the exact time and date of your death. To me, it seemed frightening and unsettling. He became a Christian in prison; his response was that it was comforting. He then asked, “Do you know if you will live to make it home? Were you prepared?” Life has a way of disrupting our plans. That really stayed with me.

Proverbs 16:9, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

Seeing this accident reminded me of his statement. Did I wake up this morning with the intent to live today as if it were my last? Do I live that way every day? Sadly, my answer is “No.” Somehow, I expect to keep living, pretty much the same way I always do. I make a few adjustments along the way, but that is about it.

The Realization

Tomorrow is not guaranteed. There are apologies we’ve postponed. People who need to hear the Gospel. Loved ones we haven’t embraced. Invisible neighbors who crave recognition. It’s easy to let the urgent override the essential. Easy to say, “I’ll get to that later.”

But what if later never comes?

“Your life as a Christian should make non-believers question their disbelief in God.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I want you to be prepared. Take a moment every morning to think about it and respond accordingly.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” –

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Do You Love Me?

,Love is a verbDo you love me? That was the question Jesus asked Peter.

John 21:15-17, “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’
‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you.’
Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’
Again, Jesus said, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’
He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’
Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’
The third time he said to him, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’
Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.’”

We often talk about our “favorite” Bible verses or choose a “verse of the day,” but the Bible is much more than just inspirational quotes. It’s a collection of love letters—some written by specific people to certain recipients and some anonymous—all pointing to God’s deep affection for us and how we should respond with affection for Him.

God’s Love for Us

Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for us—not because we deserved it, but because His compassion is so great that He wants us with Him forever. Our salvation is a priceless gift that we could never earn or repay. There’s nothing we can do to make God love us more, and nothing we can do to make Him love us less.

Our Love for God

So, how do we show our love for God?

God gives us the ingredients for our daily bread, but he expects us to do the baking!  – Chip Ingram

It’s not enough just to say we love Him or even to pray for others. We must show our love through how we live—by obeying God’s Word and ensuring our actions reflect our faith. Without actions that demonstrate our love, we can fool ourselves into thinking we believe in something we don’t truly believe.

James 2:18-20, “But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe in one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?”

It isn’t about working in a soup kitchen or going on mission trips, it is about the daily display of compassion, patience, and understanding. It is about living your life as God would have you live it. Glorifying yourself through grand gestures so people think you are a good person isn’t it.

This self-deception is dangerous.

Titus 1:16, “They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.”

This is a danger we might not even see until it’s too late.

A Warning

God warns us clearly: We must demonstrate our faith and trust in Christ through good deeds. However, good deeds alone, without love for Christ, are meaningless. Our faith should inspire us to care for others, but doing so without loving Christ is also empty of meaning.

We must recognize God as the source of our love and life, giving thanks to Him in all we do.

Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

You can’t be saved just by caring for others — anyone can do that. But you need to demonstrate that you are saved by caring for others.

1 Corinthians 10:31, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

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Silence is Rarely Silent

Sound of SilenceThe Sound of Silence

Silence is rarely silent. Often, it is louder than the surrounding voices. When we sit back and allow contrary and even destructive voices to drown out the voices of compassion, our silence becomes a statement. It reflects who we are and who we choose to be: apathetic.

Zechariah 7:9: “Show kindness and compassion to one another.”

When we turn away from someone in need and ignore those struggling to survive or be recognized, our inaction resonates louder than words. It suggests that their lives are less significant than ours. We proclaim that our chaotic, confusing, and busy existence is more valuable than compassion or grace, as if their stories matter less than ours.

“Sometimes loneliness makes the loudest noise.” ― Aaron Ben-Ze’ev

The Sound of Apathy

Silence is rarely silent. Not offering a kind word or an act of compassion often does more harm than harsh words. It leaves the other person feeling invisible and without value. Some argue that anger is better than apathy because at least anger still involves feeling. Apathy, however, is a void; it’s the absence of love, empathy, and connection.

Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

The powerful aspect of compassion is that it transforms us. When we choose to see others and enter their lives, we begin to perceive a richer, more understanding world. We come alive by helping others feel alive. That’s not a burden—it’s a gift. Silence eats away at the core of who God made us. It degrades the essence of who we are, created in His image.

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” – Leo Buscaglia.

The Sound of God’s Whisper

Silence drowns out the whisper of God’s love calling us to action. God doesn’t force us to care; He doesn’t demand action. He gently whispers through love, inviting us to respond not out of obligation but out of gratitude. Loving others isn’t a requirement for earning God’s love—it’s a result of receiving it.

Proverbs 11:17. “Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.”

Yes, life is demanding. We have schedules to keep, responsibilities to manage, and our wounds to heal. But the challenge isn’t whether we’ll face obstacles; it’s whether we’ll rise above them. Whether we’ll choose the path of love, even when it’s inconvenient. Life will offer you the rationalization needed to move on in silence. But is that God’s nature? God never chose silence when we were in need. He gave His son that we may live. And if we want to reflect His heart, neither can we.

Galatians 6:2, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

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