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REVISITED: SON OF GOD: Good Friday

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Read John 19

ALSO IN SCRIPTURE
When the Roman officer who stood facing Him [heard His cry and] saw how He had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39 NLT)

Image: AI-generated using Adobe Firefly and customized by the author. Used with the devotional “SON OF GOD: Good Friday” at Life-Giving Water Devotions.

Up until now, it might not be clear why I entitled this series of Holy Week devotions, “Son of God.” I mean, sure, I am writing about Jesus of Nazareth who is known by billions of Christians to be the “Son of God.” That much is self-evident; and sure, I am writing about the activities, suffering and death of “the Son of God” because it is Holy Week and that is when billions of Christians celebrate the last days of Christ. But, other than that, why entitle this SON OF GOD?

What most people don’t realize is that the title, “Son of God”, was not held exclusively by Jesus during his lifetime. There was another person who was known to the world at the time as son of god and his name was Tiberius Caesar, just as Augustus Caesar was before him. Because Julius Caesar was divinized following his assassination, Augustus (whose birth name was Octavian) took on the title divi filius, aka son of the divine one, aka son of god. When Tiberius succeeded Augustus, he took on the same title, as did the Caesars that followed him. And, honestly, who was going to argue with them. They were truly the most powerful men in the known world and to argue their divinity with them was to order your own death.

When Jesus’ followers, and later the Gospel writers, started hailing the peasant carpenter from Nazareth as “the Son of God,” this instantly put him in immediate competition with Caesar, who did not take kindly to such competition. What’s more, Jesus wasn’t being called the equivalent of divi filius; rather, he was being called the equivalent of Dei Filius, which put him above the son of a deified mortal and made him the Son of the immortal God. Also, this Jesus claimed that being the Son of God meant conquering people with love and truth, as opposed to Caesar’s way of conquering people with fear and force. It was on this day, nearly 2,000 years ago, that this peasant Nazarene came face to face with the Roman Empire. It was on this day, nearly 2,000 years ago, that the Son of God challenged another son of god. It was on this day, nearly 2,000 years ago, that LOVE and brute force crossed paths in such a dramatic way that the world would never forget it. While brute force may have won the battle, three days later it totally lost the war!

On this Good Friday, we are being called by the Son of God to reflect on the ways we oppose walking the path of LOVE. How often have we tried to force our way on others? How often have we put ourselves above the Son of God through our thoughts and through our actions? Christ is calling us to search our hearts and our souls. The Son of God is calling us to acknowledge his Sonship, his divinity, and his Lordship over our lives. The Son of God is calling us to abandon our ways for his ways, and he is calling us, at all costs, to return to the pathway of LOVE. While this is not always easy, it is what the Son of God calls us to do and his death on the cross is a reminder to us all of the extent to which he was willing to go in order to see that pathway through. The Christ on the cross is waiting for us to join him in his mission.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.” – Jesus of Nazareth (Mark 10:45 NLT)

PRAYER
Lord, precious Son of God, thank you for your sacrifice. Stir up in me a sacrificial love that reaches far and wide to those in need around me. Amen.

Devotional, Holy Week Series, Previous Post

REVISITED: SON OF GOD: Holy Wednesday

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Read Luke 20:41-21:4

ALSO IN SCRIPTURE
Every day Jesus went to the Temple to teach, and each evening He returned to spend the night on the Mount of Olives. The crowds gathered at the Temple early each morning to hear Him. (Luke 21:37-38 NLT)

Image: AI-generated by ChatGPT (OpenAI) and customized by the author in Photoshop. Used with the devotional “SON OF GOD: Holy Tuesday” at Life-Giving Water Devotions.

When looking at Holy Week and trying to match what Jesus did according to the Gospels and trying to match it with each day of that week is a not as easy as one would think. We know that on Palm Sunday, a week before his resurrection, Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem on a donkey, surrounded by an energized crowd. We know that on that same day he went into the Temple. We know that the next day he went into the Temple as well. Depending on which Gospel you read, he either “cleansed the Temple” on Palm Sunday or on Holy Monday. We can guess that either Monday night or Tuesday night Jesus’ feet were anointed with expensive perfume.

We know that on Thursday night Jesus sat down with his disciples for the Passover Meal. We know that on that same very night he was betrayed and brought to the high priest’s house. We know that by Friday morning he had been found guilty of blasphemy and brought to Pontius Pilate to be tried for treason. It was on Friday that Jesus was eventually nailed to the cross and crucified. It was on Friday that Jesus died. From Friday afternoon to Saturday, Jesus was laid to rest in the tomb, and we all know what happens on Easter Sunday.

But what about Holy Wednesday? What happened on that day? The Scripture isn’t real clear. According to Luke, Jesus went to the Temple every day during Holy Week, to worship, to pray, and to teach. Every day, Jesus came to the Temple in order that he could speak truth to power and stand up for the people that the power was crushing. Every day, Jesus brought truth to those who did not want to hear it, for it meant that they would have to change their ways and start living according to the plan of God rather than their own plan. They would not have it. Every day Jesus came to them temple, he met opposition, derision, and people trying to trap him at every turn.

While we cannot know exactly what the Son of God did on Holy Wednesday, we have every reason to believe that Jesus was in that Temple speaking truth to power. We Christians believe, in light of Christian Scripture, that our very bodies are Temples that are meant to be kept holy and pure. We are meant to act as living sanctuaries, bringing hope, healing, and wholeness to those in desperate need of it. The Son of God is within that Temple, this very Holy Wednesday, speaking truth to power. Will you listen to his cry for justice, mercy and humility? Will you align your plan with God’s plan? Or will you oppose, deride and ignore Jesus’ cry? Sit in silence and reflect on the Son of God’s call for change upon your life and allow Holy Wednesday be the day you begin to rebuild your Temple in God’s image.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
“Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.“ – The Apostle Paul of Tarsus (1 Corinthians 3:16-17 NLT)

PRAYER
Lord, I realize that I am to be a pure and holy Temple, and that I am called to bear witness to the hope, healing and wholeness of God. Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, and renew a right spirit within me. Amen.

Devotional

REVISITED: SON OF GOD: Holy Tuesday

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Read Matthew 26:6-13

ALSO IN SCRIPTURE
Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” (John 12:7-8 NRSV)

Image: AI-generated using Adobe Firefly and customized by the author. Used with the devotional “SON OF GOD: Holy Tuesday” at Life-Giving Water Devotions.

People who are caregivers do so because they are compassionate people who want to help others. They provide the care out of love. Jesus was a caregiver on so many different levels, and he brought that care to others because of his profound love and compassion for them. I can only imagine, at the end of the day, how exhausted Jesus was. In his caring, he also was compelled to speak out against injustices and woes of society. So, when Jesus finally left Jerusalem after a long day of healing the sick and the paralyzed, after preaching in the Temple and cleansing it of it’s impurity, I can only imagine how drained and exhausted Jesus must have been. Then to top it off, he was carrying around the weight of his imminent torture, humiliation, and excruciating death. Jesus was spent emotionally, physically, psychologically, and even spiritually.

In Bethany, after having performed miracles and after teaching, Jesus sat down to relax. It was then that a woman came into him and broke open an alabaster jar and began to anoint Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume. The disciples were incensed because that could have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor; however, Jesus welcomed it and scolded his disciples. The woman, Jesus revealed to them, was caring for Jesus in his moment of great need. The Son of God, who had cared for so many, was being cared for by someone who saw his need and had compassion for him.

We often reflect the attitude of the disciple, do we not? We are often to busy caring or to busy being cared for to notice the needs that lay right by us. We look to our caregivers for their guidance and support, we look to them for their care, and for their example in caring. In the process of that we often forget that they, too, need to be cared for. They are, after all, human like the rest of us. On the flip-side, we caregivers are often so busy that we don’t ever take the time to stop and assess the kind of care we need. Caregivers are notorious for constantly going as if we are the furry pink bunny in the Energizer commercials…you know, the one who keeps on going, and going, and going, and…well you get the drift. In the process, we fail to give others the opportunity to care for us.

Just as in the story about the woman with the alabaster jar, the Son of God is calling us to be his disciples and to start taking note of the needs around us. Don’t turn a blind eye, or be apathetic to the needs of those around you. Also, take note that those who provide you care are, themselves, in need of care too! As a community, God is calling us to be mutual caregivers. Just as in the aforementioned story, Jesus is also calling those of us who are caregivers (doctors, nurses, CNAs, first responders, educators, community leaders/organizers, and spiritual caregivers) to take a break and allow others to care for us once in a while. We aren’t superhuman, we aren’t omnipotent or omnipresent; rather, we are human beings. Remember that caring for others also means giving them the opportunity to care for you. In doing so, you will live into the example hat Jesus, in his humility and in his humanity, set for all of us.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
“Many of us follow the commandment ‘Love One Another.’ When it relates to caregiving, we must love one another with boundaries. We must acknowledge that we are included in the ‘Love One Another.’” – Peggi Spears

PRAYER
Lord, you have called me to be a caregiver in my own unique way, and you have gifted me with the talents and gifts to carry that caregiving out. Please give me the discernment to know that I, too, need care and that I need to be willing to allow for others to care for me. Amen.

Devotional

REVISITED: SON OF GOD: Holy Monday

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Read Mark 11:12-14, 20-22

ALSO IN SCRIPTURE
“He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’” (Matthew 13:31-32 NRSV)

Image: AI-generated using Adobe Firefly and customized by the author. Used with the devotional “SON OF GOD: Holy Monday” at Life-Giving Water Devotions.

Have you ever been in an apple orchard, or in a strawberry field, or in a garden and really desire to eat the food you come upon? One of my favorite things to do is to eat the fruit fresh from the tree. I get hungry walking through the orchards and the fields and, for whatever reason, the fruit tastes so much more fresh and desirable when freshly picked. There is nothing like it.

I can only imagine that Jesus, heading in to Jerusalem on that Monday morning nearly 2,000 years ago would have felt the same way as he passed that fig tree. The only difference is that, as he was passing, the fig tree was not in season to grow fruit. It only had leaves on it. Jesus surely knew this and understood it, yet when he arrived at the tree he cursed it upon the sight of it not having fruit. Odd, right? His disciples must have thought so.

Then this Jesus headed into Jerusalem, and went straight to the Temple. It is there that he began teaching against the religious establishment of his time period. You see, Jesus felt that they had become more focused on upholding their power and status, rather than being servants of the people. Rather than leading the people closer to God, Jesus felt the establishment was crushing the very people it was meant to serve. Jesus did not parse words as he levied the indictment of those who stood to gain from the establishment. On the way out of Jerusalem on the morning after that long and tense day, the disciples had noticed that the tree had withered and they remembered the curse Jesus had pronounced against the tree.

The tree is a symbol, a metaphor, and it represents the religious establishment and all of those who would claim to be God’s. When God comes, when God shows looking for fruit, we had better be bearing some. There are no excuses that will fly. We cannot claim to be out of season, or unaware of the coming of the Lord. Rather, we are called to ALWAYS be bearing fruit and we are not only called to bear fruit for some…but for ALL!

The question for us, as it was for those in Jesus’ day, is this: are we bearing fruit, or are we just a tall trunk with leaves? Are our branches far reaching, do they reach out to all who are in need of the fruit they bear, or are short and sparce? Are we like the great tree that grew from the mustard seed that shelters all of the birds of the air in its shade? Or are we a tree that shelters only the few and privileged? The Son of God wants us to bear fruit. The Son of God is calling us to recognize that all are children of God and all are chosen to receive the fruit of God’s love…the fruit of God’s hope, healing and wholeness. All we need to do is to root ourselves in God’s unfailing love and grow.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
“A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” – Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew 7:18-19 NRSV)

PRAYER
Lord, produce in me a clean heart. Prune away the dead branches and nurture me into a strong tree that produces much fruit for your Kingdom of hope, healing, wholeness, love, peace, justice, compassion, mercy, and humility. Amen.

Devotional, Holy Week Series, Previous Post

REVISITED: SON OF GOD: Palm Sunday

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Read Mark 1:1-11

ALSO IN SCRIPTURE
“The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.” Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a den of robbers.” The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them.” (Matthew 21:11-14 NRSV)

Image: AI-generated using Adobe Firefly and customized by the author. Used with the devotional “SON OF GOD: Palm Sunday” at Life-Giving Water Devotions.

The mob rules, does it not? We all know about “mob mentality” and how it is really a force to be reckoned with. We have seen on the news how people in mobs can do some crazy, scary and unimaginable things. I instantly think of Beauty and the Beast, when Belle magically shows her fellow villagers the beast through her enchanted mirror. Once the villagers see him, once they lay eyes on him, terror over comes them. Seizing the moment, Gaston pulls out his sword and begins to sway the crowd to follow him in killing the beast. Of course, Gaston is successful and they do, indeed, take up arms and follow him.

When we think of Palm Sunday, we see such a fickle crowd. They were looking for a hero, for anyone, to come along and claim the role of Messiah. So, when Jesus comes (intentionally and prophetically) riding in on a donkey, the crowd was there and ready to hail him as king. “Hosanna, hosanna!” The crowd roared with excitement, “Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna, hosanna!” But was it the Lord they were praising, or was it their idea of the Lord? Without being too critical or judgmental, they had good reason to hope for their idea of the Lord. After centuries of subjugation and oppression, they were longing for God to come and liberate them.

This “king”, however, was not going to live up to their hopes and expectations; rather, this “king” was going to ride into the city, head to the Temple and start turning stuff, quite literally, upside down. Jesus’ first move as the crowd-proclaimed “king” was to go into the heart of Jewish worship and call out the religious leaders of his day and age. This is a far cry from the anti-Roman Messiah that everyone was hoping for. That’s not to say Jesus was pro-Roman. No, not at all. He was pro-Jewish without a shadow of a doubt and it was from that passion for his people, and his God, that Jesus acted out in anger toward a temple and its leadership. As a result, the fickle mob changed its opinion of this Jesus and went from proclaiming him “king” to handing him over to Pontius Pilate as a criminal and a traitor.

We too, like the Temple, get corrupted by the surrounding world and its influences. We may be the church, we may be Christ’s community of faith, we may be proclaiming Jesus to be the Son of God; however, does Jesus meet up to our hopes and expectations? Will Jesus come in and champion our “Christian” cause, will he love our theology, and uphold our rigorous doctrines? Or, like he did in the temple, will Christ come and start turning stuff upside down in a fit of cleansing anger? This holy week, let us be challenged to not be a part of the fickle crowd; rather, let us begin to reflect on who we are and what Christ is calling us to be. Let the things that need cleansing be purged from us, and let the Christ who would be king reign in our hearts forever.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
“A [person] who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd.” – Max Lucado

PRAYER
Lord, give me the strength to turn my heart over to you regardless of what the “crowd” is shouting. Turn the tables in my temple so that I may see the need to change and so that I may act accordingly. Amen.

Devotional, Previous Post

REVISITED: What Do You Fear?

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Read Luke 12:1-7

ALSO IN SCRIPTURE
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear expects punishment. The person who is afraid has not been made perfect in love.” (1 John‬ ‭4:18‬ ‭CEB‬‬)‬‬‬‬

 My youngest daughter and I have gotten into the show, Supergirl, which airs on Monday nights on CBS. In one of the episodes, Cara Zor-El (aka Supergirl) ends up joining forces with Maxwell Lord who, up until this point, has been one of her enemies. Family members from Cara’s home planet of Krypton, have decided that they are going to take over the earth to save it from human destruction. Their method for doing so is by using some device called the “Myriad” which allows them to have control of all human minds that are within the range of the device.

Using satalites, the myriad literally enslaves the minds of everyone within National City and Supergirl must find away to stop her fellow Kryptonians from doing that to the people of her city. This is where Maxwell Lord comes in. Maxwell is a rich entrepenuer, scientist, and inventor who has invested his life in trying to prevent “aliens” from taking over the world. He fears no aliens can be trusted and that they are all out own the planet. This is, ultimately, what has set him against Supergirl, who herself is an alien. But, you know how the phrase goes, “The enemy of your enemy is your is your friend”. Thus, Maxwell Lord reaches out to Cara in order to ally himself with her and offer his services to her in order to stop the Kryponians from mind-controlling everyone.

While this all sounds good on the surface, Maxwell’s plan is pretty dark and twisted, He plans on making a bomb that contains a significant amount of Kryptonite in it. The idea is that when the bomb explodes, the Kryptonite will be vaporized and in the air, effectively killing off the evil Kryptonians that are turning humans into mindless drones. The only drawback is that, in order to do that, at least 8% of the human population will be killed by the percussion of the explosion. Maxwell’s logic is as follows, it is better that 300,000 or so people die than for all of National City and the world be turned into slaves of the aliens.

Cara Zor-El is left with a crazy choice. She does not think that killing 300,000 people should be an option on the table, and yet Maxwell’s plan seems to be the only one that has any chance in stopping the Kryptonians. The question becomes does she try to take the high road and do what is morally right, possibly risking losing to the Kryptonians? Or, does she act quickly out of fear of what might happen if she doesn’t?

While the show is obviously fiction, it sets up what we face every day in our lives: FEAR and the choices such FEAR presents us. The question is, what do you fear and how does it affect the decisions you make in your life? Do you allow your fears to consume you, do you allow them to cause you to justify what you would otherwise deem morally reprehenisble? In today’s world, where fear runs rampant and rules us like a tyrannical dictator, we find ourselves faced with people pushing some really crazy and scary idealogies. What’s more, many people are willing to toss their good sensibilities and morals aside, for fear of what will happen if they don’t “DO SOMETHING” in order to prevent what they fear from happening.

Christ does not call us to DO SOMETHING, Christ calls us to DO THE RIGHT THING. Christ is calling us to know what we fear, to name those fears, and to put them into check with our faith. If we have faith in God, if we truly have faith, we will do what is right over and above what seems expedient in preventing our fears from coming true. When we let go and we trust in God, then we can conquer our fears and rise above the things our fears dicate we should do. I pray that we all find the truth in this and place our trust in God.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

PRAYER
Lord, help me to name my fears and conquer them with your love. Amen.

Devotional

Rubber Meet Road

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Read Daniel 6:1–23

ALSO IN SCRIPTURE
But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority” (Acts 5:29 NLT).

Image: AI-generated using Adobe Firefly and customized by the author. Used with the devotional “Rubber Meet Road” at Life-Giving Water Devotions.

There are moments when being a Christian stops being theoretical and becomes painfully, inconveniently real.

Meet three people from the same faith community—just everyday followers of Jesus. They aren’t famous. They’re not trying to make headlines. But in the quiet corners of their town, each one faces a moment when the law and love pull in opposite directions.

Elaine walks through the park after sunset, just as she’s done every Thursday night since joining the church’s outreach team. She sees the usual group of folks huddled on benches—coats pulled tight, bags beneath their heads. A posted sign reads: “No loitering after dusk.” She hesitates. She’s been warned before. But tonight is bitter cold. So she slips away, returns with blankets and handwarmers, and leaves them gently by each sleeper. Daniel flashes through her mind—praying though it was forbidden, trusting that faithfulness was worth the risk. (Daniel 6)

Marcus meets every Sunday with his small group just after worship. For years they’ve packed lunches—sandwiches, fruit, water—and handed them out near the bus depot downtown. Last week, a city official approached with a clipboard: “You need a permit for this. Next time, there may be a fine.” The group nods politely. And the next Sunday, they’re right back at it. As they prepare the lunches, Marcus thinks of Jesus’ words: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Rosa, the lay leader, hears from a member about a young family facing deportation. No paperwork. No recourse. No home. Their child plays in the same Sunday school class as her grandson. Her church isn’t a formal sanctuary congregation. There are rules. Zoning laws. Insurance policies. But Rosa knows the Spirit’s pull. That night, she quietly makes a few calls, finds a room in the church basement, and opens the door. She doesn’t need a chapter and verse—just the clear memory of Jesus saying, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27)

Each of them broke something—an ordinance, a policy, a protocol. But none of them broke faith. In fact, they kept it.

These aren’t dramatic revolutions. They’re quiet refusals to let legality define morality. Their choices may not change the law, but they reveal a deeper allegiance—to the One who called us to love without condition, defend the vulnerable, and follow Christ, no matter what road that leads us down.

Centuries earlier, Daniel faced a similar choice. He wasn’t staging a protest or shouting in the streets—he was simply praying. But his quiet faithfulness was still seen as a threat, because it revealed where his true allegiance lay. Whether he had prayed in silence or preached in the streets, his loyalty to God would’ve still brought him into conflict with unjust power.

Likewise, Peter and the apostles stood before the religious authorities and boldly declared, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.” Their faith was not performative—it was defiant in the most faithful way. They were committed to the reign of God, even when it meant confrontation with the kingdoms of humanity.

They were not alone. Moses defied Pharaoh. Esther approached the king unsummoned. Elijah and Elisha stood against corrupt kings. Jeremiah was arrested for speaking God’s word. Jesus healed on the Sabbath and violated religious norms. Peter, James, John, Paul, Stephen—none of them bowed to unjust rules when those rules conflicted with the call of God’s justice and mercy.

That’s why we need to remember stories like Daniel’s. He didn’t go looking for trouble—he just refused to abandon his rhythm of faith when unjust laws tried to shut it down. And the lions didn’t come because he was loud or reckless. They came because he stayed faithful.

We often assume that because Daniel survived the lions’ den, it proves God was on his side. But that’s a dangerous way to measure faithfulness. Had Daniel been torn apart, it still would have been God who called him to kneel in prayer. Deliverance doesn’t prove obedience; obedience proves faith. Jesus wasn’t spared. Neither were Peter, Paul, or James. They all died serving God—and they were never more faithful than in their final steps.

Faith meets the road where policy and compassion collide—where following Jesus costs something real. Not just our comfort, but sometimes our reputation. Our relationships. Our standing. And in some cases, even our safety. That’s the place where obedience becomes more than personal belief—it becomes embodied conviction.

To follow Christ is to step into that space where grace challenges power, and where love disrupts what the world considers “law and order.” It’s not always dramatic. Often, it’s just showing up. Standing firm. Saying no. Opening the door. Offering the blanket. Refusing to walk past the need.

And yes—it’s costly. But that cost is the confirmation that our faith is alive and real. That’s where the rubber meets the road.

And the good news? We never walk that road alone.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Where your faith meets real life, does it bend toward comfort—or conviction?

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, give me the courage to obey You even when it’s not easy or convenient. Teach me to discern when laws uphold justice—and when they do not. May I never confuse legality with righteousness. Help me walk in love, speak with grace, and act with bold faith when the rubber meets the road. Amen.

Devotion written by Rev. Todd R. Lattig with the assistance of ChatGPT (OpenAI).

Devotional

Death the Deceiver

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Read 1 Corinthians 15:54–57

ALSO IN SCRIPTURE
“I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.” —Revelation 1:18 (NLT)

Image: AI-generated using Adobe Firefly and customized by the author. Used with the devotional “Death the Deceiver” at Life-Giving Water Devotions.

Have you ever stood in a cemetery long after the funeral has ended? The chairs are folded, the people have gone home, and it’s just you and the stone. Maybe it bears the name of someone you loved, someone you still talk to. And so, you speak. You ask questions. You share regrets. You cry. You laugh. You wait for something—anything—in return.

But all you get is silence.

Death doesn’t talk back. It doesn’t comfort. It doesn’t explain itself. It simply takes… and leaves us with the ache of unanswered questions. And yet, in that silence, we do something very human—we start to imagine death as something we can reason with, something we can bargain with, something we can understand. We try to make it feel fair. Even noble. But what if we’ve got it all wrong?

The world often says, “Death is the great equalizer.” But is it? Some die peacefully in their sleep, others in excruciating pain. Some go surrounded by loved ones; others go alone. Some have time to prepare; others are taken in an instant. If this is a level playing field, it sure doesn’t look that way. The truth is, death is not a friend or a philosopher. It’s not even a conversation partner. Death takes. Indiscriminately. Without fairness, without explanation, without moral compass.

As Christians, we do not romanticize death. We face it. Even Jesus did. The Son of God, the Word made flesh, was not spared death’s reach. He succumbed to it fully, painfully, publicly. But here’s the truth death doesn’t want you to know: Jesus walked out of the grave. Not because death let Him go, but because it couldn’t keep Him. He didn’t escape death—He conquered it.

And that changes everything.

In Jesus, death is not the end. It is not the last word. It is not something to fear, bargain with, or exalt. It is temporary. And if that’s true—if death really has lost its sting—then how should we live? We live by anchoring our hope not in comfort or avoidance, but in Christ. In the One who is the way, the truth, and the life.

We follow Him not by mere belief, but by devotion—loving God, loving neighbor, pouring ourselves into communities of faith that worship, learn, grow, disciple, steward, and serve. This is not a faith of convenience. It’s a faith of commitment. A faith that looks death square in the face and says, “You don’t get to win.”

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Death is not a friend or a philosopher. It is a deceiver. But Jesus, who conquered death, is the truth that sets us free.

PRAYER
God of life and light, remind us that our hope is not in this world alone, and certainly not in death’s illusion of finality. When grief tempts us to make peace with death’s lies, turn our hearts back to the truth of the Resurrection. Help us to live boldly in the freedom Christ has secured, to love deeply, serve faithfully, and reflect Your glory in all we do. Amen.

Devotion written by Rev. Todd R. Lattig with the assistance of ChatGPT (OpenAI).

Devotional, Series

KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTIAN, Part 19: Don’t Withhold Grace

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Read Matthew 5:43–48

ALSO IN SCRIPTURE
“O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what God requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8 NLT)

We’ve all seen those bumper stickers and church signs urging us to “Keep Christ in Christmas.” Well-intentioned? Sure. But often missing the mark? Absolutely. They focus on preserving a commercialized image of “baby Jesus” rather than embracing the full, transformative power of Christ in our lives. The real challenge isn’t just keeping Christ in a holiday—it’s keeping Christ in Christian.

Image: AI-generated by Rev. Todd R. Lattig using Adobe Firefly and modified by the author.

Part 19: Don’t Withhold Grace. In the wake of President Donald J. Trump’s inauguration, the National Cathedral held its traditional interfaith prayer service—an event deeply rooted in American religious custom. Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde offered a reflection that day, standing before a sanctuary full of dignitaries, including the newly inaugurated president. She didn’t grandstand. She didn’t ridicule. She simply made a pastoral appeal: “In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy on the people in our country who are scared now.” She spoke of LGBTQ+ people, of immigrants, of refugees fleeing war—real people with real fears. It was a call for compassion, not condemnation. (PBS NewsHour)

But grace was not what she received.

President Trump dismissed the service on Truth Social as “boring,” labeled Bishop Budde a “so-called bishop,” and called her a “Radical Left hard-line Trump hater.” He also demanded an apology—reportedly because he believed she had embarrassed the nation. Evangelical leaders chimed in, with Pastor Robert Jeffress claiming Budde “insulted rather than encouraged our great president,” and a Republican Congressman suggesting she should be “added to the deportation list.” Yes—deportation—for praying for mercy.

Let that sink in.

This is a moment the Church must not ignore. Because the issue is not partisanship—it’s discipleship. It’s about whether Christians, especially, but not limited to, those with platforms and influence, will reflect the grace of Christ—or withhold it when it’s politically inconvenient.

Let’s contrast that moment with Rev. Franklin Graham’s prayer at the inauguration—one filled with calls for God’s protection and guidance for President Trump. That prayer had its place, and no one faulted him for offering it. But where was the accompanying call for justice, mercy, or humility? Where was Micah 6:8?

The real contrast isn’t one preacher versus another. It’s about how the Church chooses to show up. Do we offer grace only when it aligns with our worldview? Do we support leaders with unconditional affirmation, but condemn pastors who dare speak truth to power?

To make matters worse, we’re now in an era where empathy itself is mocked. Elon Musk has described empathy as a kind of civilizational weakness—suggesting that misplaced compassion can lead to societal decline and even “civilizational suicide.” He’s argued that we often direct empathy toward the wrong people or causes, and in doing so, we undermine collective strength. Disturbingly, this framing has begun to echo within some Christian circles, where empathy is being viewed as counterproductive or even dangerous.

Joe Rigney, Fellow of Theology at New Saint Andrews College and Associate Pastor at Christ Church, explores this very idea in his book The Sin of Empathy: Compassion and Its Counterfeits. In it, Rigney argues that unchecked empathy can distort Christian truth, framing it as a temptation rather than a virtue. When did Christlikeness become a weakness? When did mercy become controversial?

Jesus wept with the grieving. He touched the untouchable. He forgave his executioners. The Church cannot claim to follow Christ and simultaneously call for deportation when a bishop prays for compassion. We cannot cheer prayers for power while booing prayers for mercy.

Grace is not optional. It’s not something we ration out based on who we think deserves it. The moment we start doing that, we’ve stopped following Jesus and started following something else entirely.

That truth has been the driving thread through every part of this series. Keeping Christ in Christian is not about slogans or seasonal posturing. It’s about re-centering our lives—our communities—on the radical, often uncomfortable grace of Christ. And if we really mean to keep Christ in Christian, then we must allow that grace to shape not just our beliefs, but our actions, our speech, our silence, and how we treat those who challenge us.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Grace isn’t deserved—no one deserves or earns grace—rather, it is God’s free gift and can only be received or rejected. The choice is ours to make, and it will forever change the trajectory of our lives.

PRAYER
Gracious God, we confess that too often we withhold the very grace You poured out so freely. Help us not only to receive it but to reflect it—to extend mercy where there is pain, love where there is hatred, and truth where there is silence. Let us never trade our witness for comfort or our calling for allegiance to anyone but Christ. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Devotion written by Rev. Todd R. Lattig with the assistance of Perplexity AI.

Devotional, Series

KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTIAN, Part 18: Don’t Be Self-Centered

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By Rev. Todd R. Lattig

Read Philippians 2:1-11

ALSO IN SCRIPTURE
“Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:12-13 NLT).

We’ve all seen those bumper stickers and church signs urging us to “Keep Christ in Christmas.” Well-intentioned? Sure. But often missing the mark? Absolutely. They focus on preserving a commercialized image of “baby Jesus” rather than embracing the full, transformative power of Christ in our lives. The real challenge isn’t just keeping Christ in a holiday—it’s keeping Christ in Christian.

Image: AI-generated by Rev. Todd R. Lattig using Adobe Firefly and modified by the author.

Part 18: Don’t Be Self-Centered. Some of you may have heard the famous allegory of the long spoons, which illustrates the stark contrast between heaven and hell. The story goes that a person was given a tour of both realms. In hell, they saw people sitting around a large pot of stew, each holding a long-handled spoon. Despite the abundance of food, they were unable to feed themselves because the spoons were too long to reach their mouths. Their frustration and suffering were palpable.

In contrast, when they visited heaven, they found a nearly identical scene: people sitting around a pot of stew with the same long-handled spoons. However, here, everyone was well-nourished and joyful. The difference was not in the circumstances but in the actions of the people. In heaven, they used their long spoons to feed each other, demonstrating a selfless love and community that allowed them to thrive.

This allegory teaches us an important truth: self-centeredness leads to emptiness and suffering, while selflessness brings joy and fulfillment. As Christians, we are called to live out our faith in a way that values others above ourselves. This is not just an ideal but a command rooted in Scripture.

In Philippians 2:1-11, Paul paints a vivid picture of what it means to live humbly and selflessly. Paul urges believers to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus, who “gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being” (Philippians 2:7 NLT). Jesus’ entire life was marked by humility and service to others, culminating in Jesus’ ultimate act of selflessness on the cross.

Self-centeredness is one of the most pervasive challenges we face today. It shows up in countless ways—when we prioritize our own comfort over someone else’s needs, when we seek recognition for our good deeds, or when we avoid helping others because it feels inconvenient. Some of us may even choose to “sleep in” or prioritize leisure activities over worshiping God or serving in mission. Social media amplifies this tendency by encouraging us to curate perfect versions of ourselves for validation and attention.

But Jesus calls us to something radically different. In John 15:12-13, Jesus tells us to love one another as He has loved us—a love so profound that it lays down its life for others. This kind of love isn’t about grand gestures; it’s about daily acts of kindness, humility, and service.

Think about your own life for a moment. Are there areas where self-centeredness has crept in? Maybe it’s in your relationships—where you expect others to meet your needs without considering theirs—or in your work or ministry—where you focus on personal success rather than serving those around you. These are hard questions to ask ourselves, but they are necessary if we want to grow as followers of Christ.

The good news is that we don’t have to overcome self-centeredness on our own. God gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us and transform our hearts. When we surrender our desires and ambitions to God’s will, God replaces them with a spirit of humility and love.

The world tells us that putting ourselves first is the key to happiness; Scripture tells us the opposite. True joy comes when we put God first, trusting God with our needs and living out our faith by prioritizing others while also taking care of ourselves in a balanced way. Just like those in heaven using their long spoons to feed each other, we thrive when we live selflessly within community.

As we reflect on this lesson from Philippians 2 and the allegory of the long spoons, let’s commit ourselves to living out Christ’s example of humility and service. Let’s reject self-centeredness and embrace a life that values others above ourselves.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
True joy comes not from serving ourselves but from serving others with humility and love.

PRAYER
God, help us to reject self-centeredness and embrace humility as we follow Your example. Teach us to value others above ourselves while caring for ourselves in balance. Transform our hearts so that we may reflect Your selfless nature in all we do. Amen.

Devotion written by Rev. Todd R. Lattig with the assistance of Perplexity AI.