Mike Browning

Tag: Faith

  • Nothing To Add

    Nothing To Add

    It is finished.

    If you’re here looking for some different angle of reflection, you’re not going to find it today. I’m not sure anyone ever does.

    If you haven’t already and it’s still early enough, get to church and celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

    Or spend time with your family and sit with the fact that what you couldn’t do yourself has been done for you.

    Nothing to add to it.

    You accept it.

    He is risen.

    He is risen indeed.

    P.S. If you’d like to read through the Bible this year, you can join us at His Word Together.


    No commentary.
    No telling you what to think.
    Nothing to buy.
    Nothing fancy.
    Just steady time in the Word.


    Check it out here.

  • It’s Not a Vending Machine

    Give, and it will be given back. But not always how you think.

    Luke 6:38 says:

    “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

    That verse is true.

    It’s also one of the most misused verses in the Bible.

    A lot of people read it as a formula.
    Give money.
    Get more money back.
    Preferably a lot more.

    That interpretation sounds appealing.
    It also sounds suspiciously convenient.

    Because if that’s what Jesus meant, the whole thing falls apart under even light scrutiny.

    If giving money reliably produced a guaranteed twenty-fold return, the people preaching it wouldn’t be asking you for money.
    They’d be giving you money.
    They’d be chasing you down to do it.

    The fact that they aren’t tells you something.

    The problem isn’t the verse.
    It’s the assumption that “given back” has to mean “in kind.”

    Jesus doesn’t say you’ll get back the same thing you gave.
    He says it will be given to you.

    Sometimes that’s provision.
    Sometimes it’s peace.
    Sometimes it’s relationships.
    Sometimes it’s freedom from fear, or a loosened grip on money altogether.

    And yes, sometimes it may be financial.
    But that’s not the promise.

    Turning generosity into a transaction misses the point.
    It turns trust into strategy.

    Less scrupulous churches and charities lean on that misunderstanding. Not always maliciously. Sometimes because people want to hear it. But it still takes advantage of the same confusion.

    Giving isn’t a trick to get rich.
    It’s a way of learning who you actually trust.

    If you give expecting a payout, you’re still clinging to control.
    If you give because it’s right, the return takes care of itself.

    Just not always in the way you’d script.

    P.S. If you want to read Scripture regularly, without anyone telling you what to think about it, I also run a separate site called His Word Together. It’s just the readings, posted each week. You can find it here:

    HisWordTogether.com

  • God Forgives People You Don’t Want Him To

    God Forgives People You Don’t Want Him To

    Lucky for you.

    There’s a part of the gospel we don’t say out loud very often.

    Not because it’s unclear — it’s actually very clear — but because it makes us squirm a little.

    Here it is:

    God has (and will) forgive people you don’t want Him to.

    People you think deserve what’s coming to them.

    People you can’t stand.

    People who’ve made choices you would never make.

    People whose sins look worse to you than your own.

    We talk a lot about grace, but if we’re honest, what we really like is selective grace.

    Grace for people who sin in familiar ways. Grace for people who apologize the right way. Grace for people who fit our idea of “fixable.”

    But God doesn’t use our categories.

    He doesn’t sort humanity into “acceptable sinners” and “unacceptable sinners.”

    He doesn’t forgive based on how easy someone is to sympathize with. He doesn’t take polls or run background checks.

    If someone turns to Him, He forgives — cleanly, completely, without hesitation.

    Even tho they don’t immediately clean up 100% (like you).

    And sometimes, if we’re being honest, that irritates us.

    Because deep down, we think grace should be proportional. The bigger the sin, the bigger the penalty.

    The more damage someone caused, the longer they should sit in the penalty box before God lets them up.

    But that’s not how grace works.

    Grace isn’t earned. Grace isn’t calibrated. Grace isn’t a reward for good behavior.

    Grace is a gift — and it’s a gift God hands out more freely than we would.

    If that bothers us, there’s a reason:

    We’ve forgotten what we were forgiven of. Or we’ve minimized it. Or we’ve convinced ourselves that our sins were more understandable, more reasonable, more “human.”

    They weren’t.

    They just feel smaller because they’re ours.

    The truth is simple:

    The same grace that covers you will cover people you don’t like.

    And the same cross that saved you will save people you wouldn’t choose.

    That’s not a flaw in the gospel. That’s the whole point.

    And if God is that generous with them…
    He’s that generous with you, too.

    Lucky for all of us.

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    PS-If you’ve ever wanted a steady, no-pressure rhythm for reading the Bible, His Word Together is built for exactly that.

    You can explore it here: https://hiswordtogether.com

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  • It’s Looking Like You’re Going to Have to Go.

    It’s Looking Like You’re Going to Have to Go.

    Trying to get better is fine — but that’s not what God is asking for.

    Joe Rogan said recently that he’s been going to church. He said something along the lines of: “It’s actually very nice. They’re all just trying to be better people. It’s a good vibe.”

    And that’s good.

    There are a lot of people who could benefit from simply sitting in a place where everyone is at least trying to orient themselves toward something higher than their own impulses.

    And I don’t know what’s in Joe’s heart, but I’m glad he’s going.

    His orientation toward Christianity has changed over the years, and I hope he gets all the way there.

    I also hope he isn’t being used to help people get comfortable with treating the Bible as just a moral framework, while stopping short of confessing that Jesus is Lord. Like many say about Jordan Peterson.

    But regardless of all that, there’s something important to clarify:

    Christianity is not a self-improvement project.

    It’s not “be a better version of yourself.” It’s not a lifestyle upgrade or a moral hobby. It’s not even “learn to be a good person.”

    Because here’s the truth:

    You can’t make yourself good.

    If it were possible to simply try harder and behave your way into righteousness, Jesus wouldn’t have needed to come at all. And the people who followed Him wouldn’t have needed Him either.

    Self-help says: improve yourself.

    The Gospel says: you can’t. That’s why you need Christ.

    Now, it is true that following Jesus will often (not always, but often) lead to better outcomes in life.

    More peace. More patience. Fewer disasters caused by your own stupidity. Better relationships. Less self-inflicted chaos.

    But that isn’t because you’re “getting better.”

    It’s because He is changing you.

    There’s a difference.

    If Christianity were about improving your earthly situation, then Jesus — who never sinned once — should have had an easy life. He didn’t.

    They killed Him.

    The people closest to Him — the ones who became more like Him as they followed — were imprisoned, beaten, mocked, and executed. Not rich. Not adored.

    Not living their “best lives.”

    They didn’t become successful.

    They became sanctified.

    They didn’t get upgrades. They got transformation.

    So when someone goes to church and says, “It’s nice. Everyone’s just trying to be better people,” that’s okay. That’s an entry point. A doorway. A starting step.

    But the deeper truth is:

    The old you doesn’t need to improve.

    The old you needs to die.

    And the new life that comes after — the life in Christ — is something you cannot produce by effort, discipline, or good intentions.

    It’s not self-help.

    It’s surrender.

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  • It Ain’t Over Yet

    It Ain’t Over Yet

    It’s not your job to keep it fair. Stop worrying about it.

    Proverbs 11:31 says:

    If the righteous receive their due on earth,
    how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

    This feels straightforward, and it matches how we want the world to work:

    You reap what you sow. What goes around comes around. Justice happens. People get what they deserve.

    The problem is: that’s not what we always see.

    Some people who treat others poorly seem to be doing great. Meanwhile, people who really try to do things the “right way” seem to run into every roadblock in life.

    And of course, we always assume we’re the righteous ones — and everyone else is the ungodly.

    But let’s slow down a second.

    First:

    You’re only seeing the highlight reel of other people’s lives. Whether it’s social media or public reputation, you’re not seeing the whole story. A lot of the time, people who look like they have it made are carrying more struggle than you know.

    Second:

    Why are we so sure that we are the righteous ones?

    If you’re honest, you fall short all the time. I do too.

    We all do.

    So maybe some of the “unfairness” we experience is just us receiving what is actually owed.

    Although thankfully, that’s not the whole story.

    Because Christ paid what we couldn’t.

    But here’s the real point:

    Proverbs (and most of Scripture) speaks in principles, not instant transactions.

    Wisdom literature describes how the world truly works, not how it looks in the moment.

    So when Proverbs says the righteous will receive their due — it doesn’t necessarily mean right now.

    And when it says the wicked will receive theirs — it doesn’t always mean today.

    It means: God settles accounts. All of them.

    Just not on our timeline.

    Jeremiah asked God directly:

    Why do the wicked prosper?

    And God’s answer was basically:

    You’re judging the story before it’s over. I’m not done yet.

    So instead of worrying about how “unfair” life looks:

    Quit keeping score. Quit comparing.

    Quit assuming you’re the good guy and they’re the bad guy.

    God sees everything.

    Everything will be dealt with. Perfectly.

    In His time.

    Not necessarily the way you think it will be, or think it “should.”

    (and that’s to our benefit if you think about it for even a second)

    Our job is simple:

    Trust Jesus.

    Do what He says.

    Let God handle everything else.

    If you like reading along with these, you can get them in your inbox each week.

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  • The Door Is Open — But Will You Walk In?

    The Door Is Open — But Will You Walk In?

    If you don’t get in, it’s because you refused the invitation.

    Jesus said:

    “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children,
    you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 18:3

    That’s not soft language.

    He doesn’t say it would be helpful to be more childlike. He doesn’t say you’ll grow more spiritually if you do. He doesn’t say this is one recommended spiritual posture among many.

    He says unless you change — you will not enter.

    And notice what He doesn’t say.

    He doesn’t say God will refuse you. He doesn’t say you’ll be kept out.

    He says you will not enter.

    Meaning the barrier isn’t at the gate — it’s in the heart.

    It will be your decision.

    Like the older brother in the Prodigal Son account. He was invited into the celebration. The Father wanted him there. The door was open.

    But he would not enter.

    Not couldn’t. Would not.

    Because he wanted the Kingdom on his terms — through merit, performance, and proving himself.

    That’s the tragedy Jesus is pointing to. Not rejection — refusal.

    So the real question becomes:

    What has to change?

    Jesus is not telling us to be childish, naive, or irresponsible.

    Children are not models of wisdom. They are models of dependence.

    A child knows they cannot provide for themselves. They know they are not in control. They know they need the one who loves them. And they are not embarrassed to need Him.

    Adults are.

    Adults spend years constructing a version of themselves that doesn’t need anyone. We build our identities on competence, independence, and control.

    We want to come to God having it all together.

    But the Kingdom is not something we achieve by becoming stronger. It is something we receive by becoming honest.

    A child can receive love because they are not ashamed to need it.

    They don’t apologize for asking. They don’t try to earn it first. They simply trust the Father.

    This is the change Jesus is talking about — the collapse of the part of us that believes we can handle life without God.

    The part that wants to negotiate. The part that wants to understand before obeying. The part that wants to feel in control before moving.

    To become like a child is not to become simple-minded — it is to stop performing.

    To stop pretending we can be righteous on our own.

    To stop approaching God as a business partner, or a distant authority, or a system to manage.

    A child doesn’t ask for the plan. A child reaches for the hand.

    The change Jesus requires is not intellectual.

    It is relational.

    It isn’t about becoming smarter. It’s about becoming truthful.

    Remember when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet.

    They didn’t ask Him to. They didn’t think they needed it.

    Peter even tried to refuse.

    Because letting someone wash you means admitting you need washing.

    It means letting go of dignity, pride, and control.

    But Jesus told him:

    “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.”

    Same message. Same Kingdom. Same invitation.

    You don’t wash yourself first.

    You let Him wash you.

    The Kingdom belongs to those who know they need the Father — and are no longer embarrassed to say so.

    You don’t clean yourself up before you come.

    You come — and He does the cleaning.

    You’ve been invited.

    Just go in.

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    P.S. If you don’t have a Bible you’ll actually use, get one.

    Not the fancy kind that sits on a shelf.

    One you can keep open, mark up, and read.

    You can find one here:

    Bibles at Amazon

    (Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Clicking that link may earn me a small commission, at no extra cost to you.)

  • Obedience Before Understanding

    Obedience Before Understanding

    We don’t have to know all the why’s in order to do what we’re told.

    Awhile back I got a little irritated with one of my kids.

    Which one? Doesn’t matter.

    The same basic situation has happened with all four of them. (And if you have kids I promise you’ve had the same experience.)

    So they probably all think I’m talking about them.

    Anyway here’s the story:

    We were planning to go somewhere. About a half hour away. Which she knew.

    But I needed to make a stop along the way, so I told her to be ready an hour earlier than we’d normally leave.

    She said “okay” and I went on about my business.

    Did I explain why? No. Should I have? Maybe.

    But you know how it goes — if I explained every single why behind everything I do, I’d never get anything done.

    Anyone want to guess what happened next?

    Time to leave rolls around…

    She’s not ready.

    Which put me in a bind. So I was frustrated, and I explained then why we had to leave early.

    To which she replied:

    “Well I didn’t know that.”

    So I walked off thinking:

    I wouldn’t have told you to be ready early for no reason. Why couldn’t you just do what I asked even if you didn’t understand why?

    And then it hit me.

    God probably feels the same way about me.

    We’ve all had times where we feel like God wants us to do something — or not do something — and it doesn’t make sense to us.

    We think it would be better if we did it our way.

    Our timing. Our understanding.

    Pretty presumptuous when you think about it.

    Whenever something doesn’t line up with how we think it should go, we assume the instructions are wrong — instead of assuming we might be the ones who don’t see the full picture.

    But God doesn’t think like we do.

    Thankfully.

    I remember realizing in that moment that I was the one who needed to learn obedience just as much as she did. Maybe more.

    Have I gotten any better?

    I like to think so.

    But if I’m being honest — probably not nearly where I should be. Stubbornness is my superpower, and it doesn’t always serve me well.

    But I’ll keep trying.

    And I won’t give up.

    I can be stubborn about that too.

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    PS: I’ve mentioned this before, but having a physical Bible matters.

    Most people who own one don’t read it much. And most who do read Scripture only do it when it’s put in front of them on Sunday.

    But there have been studies showing that people who read their Bible at least 4 times a week have lower rates of depression, anxiety, addiction, and other issues.

    It’s a spiritual discipline with physical benefits.

    Reading or listening online is fine — until it isn’t.

    If access to digital content went away for any reason… what would you have?

    A physical Bible isn’t expensive.

    And it doesn’t require Wi-Fi.

    Buy one here on Amazon.

    (Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Clicking that link may earn me a small commission, at no extra cost to you.)

  • It Ain’t Giving Up And Going Home Time

    It Ain’t Giving Up And Going Home Time

    Things often seem like they’re never going to change. But we can’t give up.

    For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.
    — Hebrews 3:14

    Sometimes it feels like no matter how hard we pray or try to do what God asks, nothing moves the way we want.

    Family members get sick. Friendships don’t work out. Bad people seem to get all the good results — and enjoy them right in your face.

    Other times we get what we were hoping for… just not for long.

    The new job or promotion doesn’t fix everything. One problem gets solved, and a bigger one shows up in its place. The political fix that was supposed to change things turns out to be more of the same.

    It’s frustrating. And it’s understandable that people would want to throw their hands up and quit.

    But we mustn’t. No matter how pointless it feels, we’re called to keep doing what God asks.

    Even when the results aren’t visible yet.

    That’s faith — believing in things not yet seen.

    Trusting that the result is coming, even when it looks impossible.

    It can seem like there’s not enough. But there is.

    I have an old friend who lives out of state. We send each other videos of the sermons we hear at our churches.

    His pastor’s style is different — he’ll punctuate sentences by calling out someone’s name in the congregation, like he’s speaking straight to them.

    The first time I watched one, I was still getting used to it. And then it happened:

    “It ain’t giving up and going home time, [friend’s name]!”

    It made me laugh, and I’ve texted that line to my friend ever since. But the more I think about it, the more I realize — that’s pretty good advice.

    Because just when things don’t seem to be working out, that’s when faith matters most. We can’t quit.

    Not because we think tomorrow everything will finally go our way.

    But because one day, things will be so much better than we could ever imagine.

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    PS – I’ve been saying recently it’s wise to keep a physical copy of the Bible.

    Reading the Bible won’t save you, only faith in Jesus does that. But it will help you understand God (and yourself), and can only lead you in the right direction.

    Reading or listening electronically is great—until the power or the connection goes out.

    Will that happen? Maybe not. Could it? Sure.

    It’s a risk you can remove easily and cheaply.

    You can buy one here on Amazon

    Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy something—anything—after clicking that link, I may receive a small commission. It doesn’t change your price.

  • There’s Always More Than Enough

    There’s Always More Than Enough

    No matter how much Jesus gives us, there’s more left over.

    On two separate occasions, Jesus fed a multitude of people with what seemed like a tiny amount of food.

    The first time, He fed a crowd of 5,000 at Bethsaida with five loaves of bread and two fish.

    Later on, He fed 4,000 in the Decapolis with seven loaves and a few small fish.

    I don’t see it pointed out often, but in both cases the Bible says the numbers only counted the men — not the women and children. We don’t know how many that added up to, but it could easily have been two or three times the size we usually picture.

    So twice, He fed thousands of people with basically nothing. And this wasn’t a symbolic snack — they ate until they were full.

    And afterward, there was more left over than they started with.

    Pretty neat trick(s), you have to admit.

    But I think that part — the more left over afterward — doesn’t get the attention it deserves.

    It’s not just a miracle about food. It’s a picture of how Jesus works, and how it’s different from how we work.

    The apostles looked at what they had and thought there was no way it could be enough. But it was. More than enough.

    When we look at our sin — or at the world’s — it’s easy to think there’s no way provision has been made to cover it all. The idea that one man’s death and resurrection thousands of years ago could be enough for everyone seems impossible.

    But it is.

    It’s more than enough. There’s more left over when He’s done than when He started.

    Thankfully.

    There’s enough for all of us. And if we ever need more, it’s still available.

    You may feel like you’ve done too much, for too long, and strayed too far to be forgiven. Not true.

    Or you may think you need to clean yourself up first before coming to Jesus. Also not true. (And it’s a good thing, because without Him, you can’t.)

    Jesus offers forgiveness and salvation to whoever asks for it.

    And after you get it, there’s still more left over for the next guy. Hard to beat that deal.

    If you’re reading this, it’s not too late.

    Ask Jesus Christ to be your personal Lord and Savior today.

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    PS – I’ve been saying recently it’s wise to keep a physical copy of the Bible.

    Reading the Bible won’t save you, only faith in Jesus does that. But it will help you understand God (and yourself), and can only lead you in the right direction.

    Reading or listening electronically is great—until the power or the connection goes out.

    Will that happen? Maybe not. Could it? Sure.

    It’s a risk you can remove easily and cheaply.

    You can buy one here on Amazon

    Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy something—anything—after clicking that link, I may receive a small commission. It doesn’t change your price.

  • Compared to What?

    Compared to What?

    You can’t be behind in your own race.

    2 Corinthians 10:12 says:

    “We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.
    When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.”

    We live in a world that practically runs on comparison.

    Your phone will show you in seconds how somebody else looks, what they earn, what they drive, where they go on vacation.

    Intellectually you know you’re comparing your everyday situation to someone else’s highlight reel. And you also know that what people let you see is often embellished, if not totally made up.

    But it still makes you feel less than a lot of the time.

    Paul’s words to the Corinthians cut right through that.

    He’s basically saying: if you want to use other people as your measuring stick, don’t expect it to lead to wisdom.

    It’s not that comparison is always wrong — we can learn from good examples.

    But most of the time, it turns into something else: either pride because you think you’re doing better, or discouragement because you think you’re behind.

    Both are distortions.

    God doesn’t hand out a single, uniform blueprint for everyone’s life.

    The gifts He gives, the doors He opens, the seasons He brings us through — they aren’t identical.

    Paul himself planted churches in one place while others planted somewhere else.

    Peter’s path didn’t look like Paul’s. Neither needed to live up to the other’s assignment.

    When we keep score against each other, we start asking the wrong questions.

    “Why don’t I have what they have?”
    “Am I as successful as they are?”
    “Am I falling behind?”

    But the real question is: am I being faithful with what I’ve been given, right where I am?

    One of the subtle dangers of comparison is that it shifts your attention away from what God has actually put in your hands.

    It can keep you from noticing the good you could do today.

    Or from starting at all — because you feel as if your small start can’t measure up to someone else’s finish.

    Paul’s alternative is simple but demanding: let God set the standard.

    Measure yourself against His calling for you — not against someone else’s results.

    If you do that, you’ll find both humility and courage. Humility, because the standard isn’t other people’s applause. Courage, because you realize you don’t have to run somebody else’s race.

    The world keeps telling us we’re behind.

    Scripture says otherwise.

    You can’t be behind in a race that God set out specifically for you.

    So the next time you feel that tug to size yourself up against someone else, remember Paul’s words: it’s not wise.

    Better to look at your own work before God — and keep going.

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    ***I’ve said the last few weeks it’s wise to keep a physical copy of the Bible.

    Reading or listening electronically is great—until the power or the connection goes out.

    Will that happen? Maybe not. Could it? Sure.

    It’s a risk you can remove easily and cheaply.

    You can buy one here.

    Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy something—anything—after clicking that link, I may receive a small commission. It doesn’t change your price.