Jesus offers total justification—there is no guilt or condemnation for any Christian. Likewise, Jesus—by the Spirit—provides spiritual animation. The fight is real, but it should not be a losing battle.

In the grace and power of Christ, let’s embrace the call to be strugglers.

In the Garden, we were created for cultivation.

In the wilderness, we now take part in Christ’s work of reconciliation.

And in the City, we’ll enjoy the blessing and active work and rest of glorification.

As I've reflected on my ancestry and the likelihood of its regrettable involvement in one of the most heinous violations of the Imago Dei in the modern era, I was reminded of Jesus’ family tree. Though noteworthy at various points, Jesus’ ancestors made up a colorful list of sinners.

For them, the concern isn’t that they can’t remember the exact time. The concern is that if they can’t remember the moment, they worry their salvation isn’t genuine.

Here’s the good news.

You might not remember the moment, but God does.

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Original music by Matthew Lewis.

The Mountain is the place where heaven and earth overlap. Visually, it’s where sky and land collide. But more importantly, the mountaintop in the Bible is a place of spiritual intersection.

The Bible presents the mountain motif to connect God’s activity with humanity through history. It’s on the mountaintop that God steps down to grace humanity with His presence, and where He invites us up into relationship with Him. Across the Bible’s many mountains, three stand out above the rest—Eden, Sinai, and Zion.

Original music by Matthew Lewis.

By contrast, margin is our available and unassigned bandwidth in life.

Margin speaks to potential, the possibility of opportunity.

Intentionality - Biblically Expected

Margin - Biblically Wise

Zone 1: Low Margin + High Intentionality

Zone 2: High Margin + Low Intentionality

Zone 3: Low Margin + Low Intentionality

Zone 4: High Margin + High Intentionality