Author: Rick Henderson

Re:Verse passage – John 9: 1-3 (day seven)

True Story: My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 37. A preacher showed up on her doorstep and told her that she needed to repent of her sin if she wanted to be healed. He made her feel like it was her sin that caused the cancer.

To be fair, sin did create it. Cancer is a product of the broken world we live in due to the fall. Cancer exists because sin exists. Yet, it is not the individual diagnosed with cancer who invited the sickness into their life due to poor choices. If that were the case, shouldn’t we all have cancer? Jesus plainly tells us here, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

My mother was healed. It was not due to her repentance (which I am sure she did and does often), but it was to display the works of God. Two years later, I was born. I exist because God exists. As do every one of us. We exist so that the works of God might be displayed.

Re:Verse passage – Revelation 5:9-10 (day seven) 

and they will reign upon the earth. Revelation 5:10b

Modern atheism would be defined as a a belief that there is no god, but the practice of modern atheism would point to a belief that you are your own god. This is the belief that each person is in charge of their own destiny and thus, their own god. Modern culture, even those who do not claim atheism, would encourage such behavior as well. Culture would tell you that you are the definer of your own truth, the maker of your own path, and the ruler of your own world.

The irony in all this is that through God, you are promised to rule the world. Despite our constant striving to be God, we find ourselves missing the very thing we have been working so hard to attain. We were in fact created to rule in this world, but we cannot rule without recognizing that we were first created to worship. When our priorities are correct, and we follow our Lord Jesus Christ, He will instill in us the desire and ability to lead others into joyful life with Him. This is our dominion.

Re:Verse passage – Romans 8:28-30 (day seven)

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son. Romans 8:29 

We tend to not like tension. It makes us uncomfortable. We view it as two opposites that are rubbing against one another, so we often try to avoid tension at all costs. In reality, or at least scientifically speaking, what we are attributing to tension is actually friction. Tension is two forces pulling against one another removing the slack that once lay between them. Tension straightens the line. When we feel tension in scripture, we should not run from it or glance over it because we are uncomfortable, rather, we should look at the the things which are causing the tension to figure out what it is that is being straightened out.

Here, many people will read the word predestined and attribute it to a certain line of thought. This may cause them to skip over the passage or jump to conclusions on what that word might mean, but if we let the tension pull us a little, we will look to see what is pulling on the other end. That would be a choice. That choice is to be conformed daily to renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2). Conformity and foreknowledge are creating a tension that we may not fully understand, but we recognize that the presence of both are essential to our sanctification. That is a tension we can live in.

Re:Verse passage – 1 John 4:19–21 (day seven) 

One of the things I have noticed in our time here in Europe with the First Youth Worship, is that America is not the only country that is polarized. The tension that we are feeling and the issues we are facing in the United State are prevalent around the globe also. Why is that? Why are we so divided? You may be able to draw some conclusions that may attribute to the tension such as social media or cable news, but the short answer is that we are more divided than ever because the devil wants us to be.

We as christians need to be the peacemakers in the world to fight against the enemy’s division. We need unity. I get that it can be difficult in a time where a tribe may cancel you if you do not agree with their particular set of beliefs, but this passage sets the standard for us and sets the example for which we Christians should be striving: to love our brother. We cannot say we love God if we hold hatred or disdain for those who do not think the way that we think. We are called to love. Love your brother (love your neighbor) even when you don’t agree!

Re:Verse passage – Jeremiah 29:10–14 (day seven)

This passage contains another “coffee cup verse” or as I like to call them “tattoo verses.” These are verses that nominal Christians will know by heart, but it is obvious that they don’t recognize the context surrounding them. I saw many teammates in football who would have tattoos of Bible verses, but that ink was the only thing that told me they had ever opened a Bible.

People want to believe that God has a plan for them, plans that “give [them] a future and a hope.” Yet, they aren’t willing to go past that verse to see how God defines and modifies that promise. The future hope is only becomes fully recognized through personal prayer and sincere seeking. If you truly want to know the future that God has laid out for you, you have to be seeking Him, and in order to find him, you have to be seeking Him “with all your heart.” 

Do you feel like you are seeking God with all your heart? What do you think might happen if you put more effort into your seeking? Don’t you want to know what God might show you if you sought Him with all your heart!?

Re:Verse passage – John 10:10 (day seven) 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. 

“Living your best life” is a phrase our household has adopted to describe someone who is living carefree and thoroughly enjoying themself. For instance in the picture below, we would say “Brock is living his best life!”

Jesus came so that we can live our best life.  Through Christ we are provided an opportunity to have a life that we never could on our own: a life of encouragement, not shame. A life of comfort, not worry. A life of peace, not fear. He can provide all those things and so much more.

This week I will be living my best life. I will have 120 teenagers from our church at Impact Youth Camp. Will you pray with me for them? Will you pray that God will bring them encouragement, comfort, and peace? Will you pray that students will walk away from the things that are stealing their life and walk with Jesus? Will you pray that our students will see that living their best life is to realize that we are made in the Image of God?

Re:Verse passage – Genesis 1:26–27 (day seven)

male and female He created them. vs 27b

God created both male and female in His image. The complexity of our God could not be contained in one human life form, which is the most complex life form in the universe, so He created two similar albeit different life forms that would function cohesively in order to give a more accurate representation to who He is. God created male and female each uniquely different so that we realize we are better together (throwback to Summer of 2022).

It is not by some accident or evolution that male and female are so different from each other. God created us for relationships. Not just on the physical or romantic level, but in all areas of our life. We were not designed to live this life alone.  Being created in the Image of God, Imago Dei, means that we were created to know God more intimately through being together. Marriage, friendships, and community all show us that our unique differences are what truly makes us more like God.

Re:Verse passage – John 14:6 (day seven)

Isn’t it amazing how much Jesus speaks to us today? Two thousand years ago, Jesus spoke words that we need to hear in 2024. I AM The Truth. In an era when truth has been deemed relative, Jesus tells us that truth is in fact absolute. It is absolutely Him.

Truth may seem like something we are constantly searching for (especially in an election year). Each person has a version of the truth that is different and may even seem different from yours, but Jesus tells us that if we come to Him, not only will He tell us the truth, but He will give us the Truth to always be with us. This Truth will help us filter out what is false so we see the Truth more clearly.

 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth. John 14:16-17