I am afraid that so many believers have been lured into performing their righteous for others to see. They are looking to prove their devotion by spiritual acts, performing their Christianity for the respect and admiration of others.

The gospel is not primarily about behavioral modification. The gospel is about a new creation, producing a heart transformation that overflows into good works. Let the Holy Spirit come and clean the inside of the cup and change you from the inside out. There is so much grace.

Jesus dealt with the outer courts violently because it was violently opposing all that He came to accomplish. He dealt violently with the outer courts on Monday and violently with the inner courts on Friday, tearing the veil to the Holy of Holies from top to bottom.

In turning over the tables and rending the veil in the temple, Jesus was overturning one priesthood and program of worship and inaugurating a new priesthood that would spread across the whole earth until incense would arise in every place and every nation would see and sing of His worth.

The crowds lifted their voice in jubilation as Jesus rode through the city gate, welcoming the One who they hoped would redeem Israel from all her troubles. Five days later they would be shouting “crucify Him!”. He came in a way they didn’t expect. He didn’t do what they wanted Him to do.

Have you ever worshipped Him passionately one day, only to accuse Him of inaction the next day? Oh how our unmet expectations pollute our worship! Jesus, give us eyes to see that you are working for our good even when the answers don’t come in the way we expect.

As we evaluate the missiological philosophies, the most important thing to consider is: what is the fruit? It would be hard to look at a single indigenous church in this nation and say “nope, wasn't worth the fruit.”

The challenge to partner with local indigenous churches and pastors is immense. It is not easy but we feel so passionately that the difficult road, the way of the cross, will bear fruit thirty, sixty, and one hundredfold, both in this age and in the age to come.

The Great Commission wasn't just given to a few believers or a few denominations. It is the mission of the entire church! So I ask then, why so few black laborers on the field? What have been the stumbling blocks in the path of black laborers being sent out to the harvest?

How is it that black people were mobilized and sent to the missions field even in the midst of slavery but now are nearly nonexistent in the modern-day missions movement? Many of us have never heard of George Liele and Betsy Stockton so it’s no surprise that African Americans are unaware of the history and the leadership role they have had in missions in America…

If you had asked me eight years ago what I thought was to be the hardest thing that faces a person in the Middle East who follows Christ, I would have listed out a whole litany of things. Persecution. Cultural Stigmas. Christian crusaders and their history. Lack of community. Lack of resources. Family pressure. Politics. ISIS. War. Martyrdom. And to be honest, these are real and legitimate difficulties for the modern-day Arabs who find themselves following the Risen King in a region where he is decidedly regarded as a prophet who is not God and did not die on a cross.

However, one thing that has surprised me since learning to love and lead in the Muslim world, is that there is one difficulty that can be the greatest stumbling block of all; following a Jewish Messiah who has plans and purposes that He will see to completion for the apple of His eye, Israel.