Jacqui Bishop

When Jesus came, He wasn’t simply offering people a better life. He was inviting them into an eternal kingdom with an invitation to build our lives on truth, grace, and the unchanging love of God. Every day we live for Jesus, we participate in something that will outlast us. Heaven measures legacy by generosity, words of encouragement, boldness to share Jesus, and acts of service. This is so different from how the world often measures legacy by things that fade so quickly after a funeral: accomplishments, possessions, and recognition.

The beauty of the Church is that we are all called to both, independent of gifting or personality. Love does not require full understanding, advice, or explanations. All we have to do is show up and respond to need by being present. God who invites us into relationship with Him and with one another.

The truth is, the call to sacrifice is never just about what you’re giving up, rather it’s about what God is growing in you: trust, faith, obedience, love. Sacrifice for the call of God is about becoming more like Jesus, who made the ultimate sacrifice for us. So, when God calls you to sacrifice, don’t run from it. Lean in. Let go. Trust that He’s doing something bigger than you can see. Because every act of obedience plants a seed of resurrection life. On the other side of sacrifice, there’s always more of Him.

You don’t have to be perfect before you start using your gifts. Growth happens through practice. Paul encouraged Timothy not to neglect his gift but to keep fanning it into flame. That’s a good word for us too. If you have the gift of teaching, your first lesson might feel awkward—but that’s how we grow.

We live in a world that often fuels our fears. From breaking news headlines to personal struggles, fear can creep into our minds and hearts, whispering worst-case scenarios and drowning out peace. But as believers, we’re invited into a different way of living in the tension that is marked by faith. God doesn’t ask us to pretend we’re not afraid, He invites us to respond to fear with faith.

It’s one thing to believe about Jesus—it’s something to live with the risen Jesus. Maybe today you needed a reminder, or maybe this is the first time it’s really sinking in. But let me tell you this: Jesus is alive, He sees you, He knows your story, and He’s offering you resurrection life—not just one day, but today. He is risen… and because of that, everything changes.

It is true that once you have caught the truth of God’s love for you, you will naturally want to give it away. Jesus told us that our love for each other would be a sign to all that we belong to Him. This is a supernatural thing; it’s not a guilt trip. A lack of love is a sign that we need to get back to the source: God. We will come to the end of our own capacity to love, but the love we have to give comes from He who loves us no matter what we ever did or will ever do. Take some time to let that truth wash over you today.

In the first week of Advent, let us consider the purple candle: The Hope Candle. The purple color of the candle represents repentance, and also royalty. What better way to enter this time of year than turning from our sins and towards Jesus, our King of Kings and the one who has the authority to forgive us. Hope comes from seeing the light, even when that light shines on the things that we try to hide: our guilt and shame. Let’s not confuse hope with wishful thinking. When Jesus – who is the Light of the World – shines upon us, we can have hope because we know Him. We know that He has already come and is yet to come again. What a hope we have that we can see how these prophecies were fulfilled once in Jesus’ life on earth, they are fulfilled through our lives in Him and they will be fulfilled ultimately when we see Him again.

Have you ever been given a second chance? What a gift! A second chance could be as simple as an eraser at the end of your pencil, or it could be as complex as restoration within a broken relationship. I can think of many opportunities that the grace of a second chance has been offered to me, even some when I didn’t really deserve it. There’s a clear and present question that’s as human as the reality that we all make mistakes: how many chances do I get? How many chances do I have to give? Thankfully, Peter asked Jesus this exact question.

The words to help you find your way are found in God’s Word – the Bible. You must be familiar enough with it to recognize when something is leading astray. Even if something makes you feel good or makes sense – the ultimate test is if it agrees with the Bible. It’s important to let the Bible filter things, not the other way around.