Are You Passing The Test?

Much of what we read in the Gospels focuses on Jesus’ earthly ministry which is a relatively short period of His life. I’m not questioning God’s design. What He gave us is perfect and sufficient. Still, if I’m honest, I sometimes wish we had more detail about Jesus’ early years. THE PERFECT CHILD Imagine Jesus as a child. He never threw tantrums. He always ate all of His vegetables. He always chose carrots from his snacks instead of sour patch kids. He went to bed right when He needed to. He obeyed His parents without hesitation—“Yes, sir” and “Yes, ma’am.” He was, in every sense, the perfect child. WHERE IS JESUS? Luke 2 is often read during the Christmas season, but it also gives us the only glimpse into Jesus’ youth. In this passage, Jesus remains at the temple while His parents travel on without Him. Their trust in Him was complete—He had never given them a reason to worry. After three days, they realized He was missing and returned to Jerusalem to find Him. Any parent knows that when children are unusually quiet, something is probably wrong. Silence often signals mischief. But not with Jesus. When Mary and Joseph found Him, He was in the temple—listening, asking questions, and engaging in serious spiritual discussion. This wasn’t surprising for Him, though it would be for any other child. When questioned, Jesus responded, “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?” (Luke 2:49) Ask yourself: Are you all about the Father’s business? A WEEKEND HOBBY OR A WAY OF LIFE? Our family enjoys a variety of activities on our day together—parks, bike rides, games, and projects. But that’s just one day. The rest of the week has a different focus. Many treat God the same way—as a once-a-week priority rather than a daily pursuit. Church becomes enough, and spiritual seriousness is reserved for Sundays. That wasn’t true of Jesus. He was about His Father’s business every day. Can the same be said of you? Whether at work or at home, God’s work isn’t confined to one day a week. It is a daily calling. Are you like a child left alone, drifting into trouble—or like Christ, faithfully engaged in the work of God at all times? A key to being Christlike is living every day about the Father’s business.

ARE YOU IN THE FAMILY? If you were to ask the average American about their family tree, you might hear something like, “My grandparents came from England,” or “My parents came here from Mexico,”—something that ties them to another country a few generations back. The truth is, many people know where their family came from before arriving in America, but few really know the details or the full story of how their family got here. JESUS’ FAMILY TREE Gospel of Matthew chapter 1 and Gospel of Luke chapter 3 present two genealogies of Jesus. Matthew traces Jesus’ line forward from Abraham to Jesus. Luke traces Jesus’ line backward from Jesus all the way to Adam. Matthew presents Jesus as a descendant of Abraham and a Son of David. Luke presents Jesus as the Son of Man and, ultimately, the second Adam. When you read lists like these in the Bible, you may feel tempted to skip over the unfamiliar names. But imagine how differently you would feel if your name were included in one of those lists—even if it were the only time your name appeared in the entire Bible. You would likely take pride in the fact that Jesus is in your family tree. Or better yet, that you are in His. The real question to consider is this— ARE YOU IN THE FAMILY? MORE THAN A LAST NAME Your last name has no bearing on whether you are part of the family of God. It is a matter of adoption. Ephesians 1:5 tells us that God chose to offer us this privilege, and He made that decision before you were even born. In fact, He chose to offer adoption before the world was even created. That is how important this is to God—and how special it is to be part of His family. People often say, “We are all God’s children.” But that is not entirely accurate. We are all God’s creation, but we are not all God’s children. Here is the difference: Gospel of John 1:12 says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” Becoming part of God’s family is not about being fortunate because of your bloodline. In fact, it begins with recognizing that our bloodline is affected by sin, and that receiving Jesus Christ is the only way to enter into His family. A RELATIONSHIP BY CHOICE, NOT CHANCE When you study the genealogies in Matthew and Luke, it is hard not to notice who is included. Names like Rahab, Tamar, and Ruth stand out. These women were not united by heritage alone, but by something greater—grace. Your last name does not determine your future—your place in God’s family does. The key to being Christlike is being part of that family. Without adoption into God’s family, there is no true hope, no lasting belonging, and no real purpose. When we consider the Saviour we are called to follow, God presented Him as the Son of God. It is His relationship with the Father that set Him apart as the only begotten Son. In the same way, it is our relationship with our Heavenly Father that gives us the ability to reflect the Son of God.

We are all born with certain traits that are given to us by God through our parents. These traits can include eye color, hair color, height, body type, and more. When a baby is born, you often hear someone say, “She has her mother’s eyes,” or something similar. I’m usually the one thinking, “I don’t think she looks like anybody I know.” But hey, let them have their moment. The more time someone spends around you, the more they begin to form ideas about where you’re from, what kind of upbringing you had, and other clues about what makes you who you are. It may be your accent that reveals where you’re from, or your temper that makes someone wonder what shaped you that way. THE BIG QUESTION The reason for this introduction is to ask a simple question: Who are you like? Are you like your parents? Your friends? Your siblings? Your coworkers? For most people, the answer would be “all of the above.” But for a Christian, it should be the goal of our lives that when people are around us, they think, “He or she is like Jesus.” They may not know much about the Saviour, but they should not be able to ignore that there is something different. DEFINING THE TERM The term Christian appears only three times in the Bible—twice in Acts and once in I Peter. In the first two instances, it was used by outsiders. Believers did not originally call themselves Christians; it was a name given to them by those who observed their lives. In essence, they were saying, “These people are like Christ”—or even, “little Christs.” At Antioch, the disciples were first called Christians. Later, during Paul’s trial, King Agrippa said that Paul had almost persuaded him to become a Christian. Moreover, the term Christian stuck. Followers of Jesus were marked by this term far before the denominational terms were given like Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, etc. This term didn’t make people think of the style of their church building or whether they had regular potlucks at their church. The name Christian made others think of Jesus that was born in Bethlehem, raised in Nazareth, died on the cross, and rose from the grave. IT IS POSSIBLE Ask yourself honestly: Am I Christ-like? When you read about His ministry, His teachings, and His example, how does your life reflect Christ? Convicting, isn’t it? I feel it too. You may be tempted to say, “Of course not—that’s impossible.” But consider Acts 11:26 : “…And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” This name was given to those who believed in Jesus and followed Him. It was not just their inward faith, but their outward testimony that earned them this title. What people saw was a group of individuals who followed the teachings and example of Jesus the Messiah. Because they reflected who He was and what He taught, they were called Christians. Names carry meaning, and the name Christian carries great weight—it connects us directly to our Saviour. This is the standard that was set for true followers of Jesus. Over the next several weeks, we will examine the teachings and example of Christ that so transformed these men that others gave them a name so powerful we still use it today. Would the world have called you a Christian if you had lived in the time of Acts 11? Would those around you call you a Christian today? Are you truly Christ-like?

New Year’s, Valentine’s, St. Patrick’s, Easter—and on and on it goes. Holidays bring excitement to our days of routine, but they can also lose their meaning and become just a day off from work, a time to fire up the barbecue and feast together, or simply a date to fill the calendar. There are many holidays that send us to Google each year, asking ourselves, “What is this day even about?” If there is one holiday we must not overlook—one we cannot allow to become routine—it is RESURRECTION SUNDAY . How can you and I do our part to make Easter a day set apart from the rest? Here are some practical thoughts to consider this weekend: Spend time in God’s Word. For several years, I’ve made it a habit to go to the end of the Gospels and read slowly through the last days of Jesus that led Him to Calvary and His resurrection. Google should not be our first instinct to learn about this day—God told us about it Himself. Take time this weekend to read slowly through the following passages: Matthew 26–28 Mark 14–16 Luke 22–24 John 18–21 Spend time thanking, pondering, and worshiping God in prayer. Easter Sunday is not just a day to be informed about, but a day that should bring transformation. Many know the facts about the resurrection, but their spirit is as dead as the Easter bunny. Ask God, “Please renew my passion and love for You as I consider what Jesus did for me on Calvary.” Tell God, “Thank You for what You did for me. I would be lost and without hope without the cross and the empty tomb.” Praise God for who He is and what He has done. Talk about the cross and the empty tomb in your home. If you have children, you should take this opportunity to teach them about the sacrifice and victory of Jesus. Don’t wait for them to hear it at church on Easter. They should be so familiar with it from home that Sunday becomes a review. It is not the church’s job to train your children—that is your responsibility, mom and dad. The church can be an aid, but children need to hear about God from their parents. Here are some ways you can do this: Read the Bible together. Ask questions to see if they understand. Show videos that are safe and scripturally accurate—only after you’ve reviewed them. There are good resources available, but also much misinformation. Have an older child teach younger children the Easter story. Sing songs about the cross and the empty tomb. God made us to love music, and music is also a teacher. During our family’s Bible time, we’ve sung songs this week about the resurrection. Go through your hymnal together as a family. Hum the words throughout the day. Music is an expression of the heart, but it also leaves an impression on the heart. Some songs to consider: He Lives There Rose a Lamb He Arose Because He Lives Tell others about Easter by going soul winning. Easter and Christmas are, by and large, the easiest times of the year to talk to people about church and Jesus. People almost expect it, and many are open to attending church—whether out of obligation, culture, or family tradition. We should take every opportunity to share the Gospel and the true meaning of Easter. Invite people with church tracts. Talk to your neighbors. Carry tracts with you and pass them out throughout the weekend. Attend church and be involved. One of the greatest ways we can honor the Lord’s resurrection is by being in God’s house on this Sunday. This is a day you shouldn’t miss. You may already know the story, but Easter Sunday is always special. Here are some ways to make the most of it: Prepare your clothes the night before. Spend time with God before church. Arrive early. Find a place to serve. Take family pictures. Look for visitors to welcome and witness to. Spend time with family and friends. I love that we gather together on days like this—it should be special. While the celebration should never replace church, it is a wonderful thing to share a meal and enjoy fellowship. Humanity has always connected meaningful occasions with food and togetherness. And if there’s a day to celebrate in this way—it’s EASTER SUNDAY !

In 2017, God placed it on my heart to write a daily devotional for the new converts in our church. Over the course of that year, my desire to write continued to grow. The blessing of hearing people express how much it helped them fueled my passion to keep writing. Through a godly lady in our church—whom God used to help make that desire a reality—my first book was published in 2018. Since then, the world has changed rapidly. We live in the age of information. For a while, we thought we had reached the pinnacle of access with Google only a click away. Then AI entered our world, and access took on an entirely new meaning. Computers, phones, televisions, and even refrigerators now keep us connected to information, content, and entertainment around the clock—a 24/7 dopamine diet. Is this truly for our good? Only time will tell. There is no competing with the sheer volume of content the world produces. YouTubers, social media influencers, and news sources on X dominate the digital space. So, the question arises: is there still a point to physical books? Furthermore, we might even ask whether there is still a reason to write, to read, to study, or to learn—or whether the entire pursuit is becoming obsolete. The answer is yes. We must still have writers. We must still read. We must still memorize. And we must still study. The seasoned apostle Paul told the young and ambitious Timothy, “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (I Timothy 4:13). We cannot surrender simply because of the age in which we live, and we must not throw in the towel when it comes to fighting the good fight of faith. The book I have written is directed toward our youth. My desire is that teenagers and young adults will read it. If there is any group we must continue striving to influence, it is the next generation. The youth of today have grown up knowing only a world of social media and constant entertainment. They do not remember when Facebook began; they simply remember watching their parents scroll endlessly—and the day finally came when they could create accounts of their own. Young people still need books. Adults still need books. Everyone still needs wise counsel from godly voices—counsel that engages the mind rather than merely entertaining it. My prayer is that this devotional will impact young people far beyond my lifetime. That is what books do. Books outlast lives. Blogs will fade (this one included). Digital content may eventually be lost in the cloud. But books remain. They may sit on a shelf and collect dust for a time, but they will still be there—ready to be opened, read, and to pass their influence on to future generations. If you have a young person in your home, I hope you will consider this resource. God has strongly impressed this work upon my heart, and it is my prayer that He will use it to be a blessing.

A COMMON GENE There are a few common traits in each of us, placed there by God, that give us common ground. We ask the same questions: “Why am I here?” “Where did I come from?” “What is my purpose?” We share similar fears: “Will I die soon?” “Do I have what it takes?” And I believe we have similar desires. You often hear people say, “I want to make a difference with my life.” That desire wasn’t created by some nonbelieving Hollywood writer. These thoughts and feelings were given to you by God, and they have a purpose. Everything God has placed within you is meant to draw you to the knowledge of His existence and His grace. Recognizing these truths—made clear to us all the way back in the Genesis account of Creation—helps us understand that these feelings and desires were planted by Almighty God and should be nurtured as we seek His purpose for our lives. Let's Build Something for God! A MORE PERSONAL NOTE For many churches, the beginning of January is a time to share vision, present future plans, and renew commitment. For our church, on Sunday night, January 11, we presented a prayer that exceeds our ability. The theme for 2026 (and beyond) for Regency is “Let’s Build Something for God!” This prayer reflects a burden that has been on my heart for some time. God has allowed us to develop plans to prepare for a potential building on our property. Our desire is to build something for God that will facilitate the goals of our ministry and enable us to minister to people for generations to come. Would you pray for us? We want to build something for God! GOD IS FOR BUILDING PROJECTS Re-read that statement—but don’t think about a building. Think about your life. You are God’s project. Ephesians 2:10 describes us this way: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works...” God has a work He wants to do in each of us. Here’s what we must realize: everything God is doing in our lives is for the purpose of building us into the person He created us to be. When I presented this project to our church, I said, “Building projects build people.” That’s what excites me most—both personally and for our church. Whatever God is putting in your heart to do for Him, do it by faith. There is something God is trying to build in your life. Problems arise when we lay down the hammer and set aside the tool belt. A stagnant project is a dead project. Let's Build Something for God! What are you going to do for God in 2026? Maybe your witnessing needs to be revived. Surely, we all desire a deeper relationship with God than ever before—through His Word and in the prayer closet. Perhaps your commitment to God needs to be reignited. Christians across the world who determine to build something in their lives for God could bring about a revival unlike anything we’ve ever seen. This is a matter of personal responsibility. Will you pick up the hammer in your life and get to work?

Our family was driving home from church the other night and as we pulled on to our street, our kids commented on the Halloween decorations that covered houses in our neighborhood. For Christian kids, their comments were interesting. They said, “They have Halloween decorations. They are bad people”. My wife and I quickly chimed in and explained to our kids that most of our neighbors are not saved, and while they may not necessarily be good people, they simply do not understand the truth about God and the devil and that we should pray for them to be saved. Interestingly, Christians are quite divided on the issue of Halloween. Churches have their “Trunk or Treat” events. Some dress in costume. Some do not. Some treat any fellowship on October 31 st as a union with the worship of the devil’s day with non-believers. Some provide alternative fellowships like fall festivals that do not have costumes, ghouls, and skeletons, but provide activities like hay rides, apple bobbing, and corn hole. Not all religions are as divided on this issue, but Independent Baptists seem to especially have a variety of stances on how to treat this holiday. Disclaimer An important disclaimer to this subject must be said. This is not necessarily a gospel issue. As Christians, we live in the world, but we are not of the world. How we operate and live in the world will preach a message, and we are going to differ on many issues in this life. Grace should be readily given to a number of these issues. While I do not give grace to false preachers of the gospel, I’m also not going to demonize a church for holding a “Trunk or Treat” event that does it in good taste. I personally don’t promote that with our church. For years, we’ve held a “Harvest Party”. People don’t dress up and we have a sweet time of fellowship. I am more opposed to those that use the liberty excuse to dress up as R-rated horror movie characters though. Moreover, I do personally give a measure of grace to my fellow believers on this issue. However, the reason for this article is to highlight the fact that we must be vigilant. Too many of our decisions have been flippantly exercised to appease our conscience when indulging in worldly pleasures. “It’s not that big of an issue” is too often shrugged. What your church did on Halloween may not be the subject of contention on your death bed, it is worth noting. Where did Halloween come from? It really is a melting pot of traditions and practices. Some say it is from a Celtic belief and practice where the God of death would come and gather the dead souls together around this time. Some say it is from certain European traditions where a visitation from the dead would be around this time. Some say that Catholics have a part in the origin. The one thread that continues throughout these sources is that they are all connected to the dead in some way. In some origins, it was pagan beliefs and practices. In others, it was prayers and rituals for the dead. The reality is that what is practiced in modern America with Halloween is loosely, if at all, connected to these origins. With a select number, there may be. With most, these origins are unrealized. Origins don’t always dictate how practices continue. Several holidays would have this truth as well. Halloween Today Without the label and the date stamp of Halloween, most of the practices that people participate on generally seem to be positive from the outside. People gathering together, kids getting out and talking to their neighbors, candy and goodies being passed out to strangers in a fun way – on the surface, these are all pretty harmless. Now, when you add the blood, guts, gore, and severely inappropriate pieces to this, it changes drastically, but the sheer nature of what people do on this day certainly seems to have a great disconnect with some of the possible origins in other cultures with Halloween. This is not a shrug to the obvious evil, darkness, violence, and immorality present on Halloween. The kids version of Halloween seems pretty harmless, church’s fellowships and events seem to be very positive, but there is clearly another side to this day that involves immoral parties and wicked practices (whether genuine or not). The Day of the Dead I John 4:1 – “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” There is a clear connection with Halloween and the Day of the Dead. This is practiced widely in Central & South America. They believe that the spirits will come visit them on this day. Rituals are performed to contact their relatives in their homes and in public places. The Disney movie, Coco, (which I have not seen or allowed our children to see) is a clear whitewashing of this day to draw innocence to this pagan practice. The Day of the Dead is a bit of a mixture of Catholic and Aztec practices, while Catholic church bells are often the ones that are used to announce the arrival of these spirits of the dead family members and saints that are “arriving”. It is a clear damnable practice that should be completely opposed as Christians. I’m glad for the missionaries that we have in Mexico and in other places that we pass out thousands of tracts during these parades and festivals to give the truth of the gospel in the face of this abominable wickedness. Principles & Truths to Consider Not all practices that were practiced by pagans are pagan and sinful . This can easily be abused. Pagans going around singing does not mean that Christians going around singing during a certain holiday are sinful. Many of those that dress up and walk their neighborhoods on Halloween are not indulging in pagan practices clearly. The appearance of evil should be avoided at all costs . I Thessalonians 5:22 states, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” Cue the spider webs, skeletons, vampires, pop culture figures, and ghosts. None of this should be excused are accepted as Christians. You can argue whether a princess dress is appropriate for a five-year-old girl because it happens to be October 31 st , but dressing up as Frankenstein should be a no-brainer as a believer. The end doesn’t justify the means . Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” This Proverbs gives a principle that can apply to a myriad of scenarios. We are wise to consider if our methods are Christ-honoring. I don’t personally ever see our church having “Trunk or Treat”, but I’m not really against those who do. I do believe there is a line we are careful not to cross on these days, and we should be careful to be mindful of our methods just as much as our results. Separation doesn’t make you a Scrooge . Forgive the Christmas reference. You are not a downer because you refuse to put up skeletons in your front yard. Many opportunities arise in the world that give Christians a clear way to shine for Christ while the herds move in an opposite direction. Halloween would certainly be one of those examples. Offer grace and stand firm. I believe in holding firm and true to convictions while also being gracious to other believers. I have no problem with calling out the debauchery and evil that takes place on Halloween, but I also have no problem offering a measure of grace (that I hope is reciprocated) to those that don’t follow every standard that I hold to. Strive to honor Christ and to be gracious to fellow believers.

Focus on the Family published an article that dives into the link between the modern social media world and the unfiltered, hyper access for married people to cross emotional and soon physical lines in their marriages. It reads, “Licensed marriage and family therapist George James, president of communication group George Talks, adds that people often use the virtual aspect of social networking and digital communication as justification for starting these relationships. That’s reason to take caution, James says, because this blend of physical separation and instant connectivity enables people to disconnect from everyday life and engage with another human being. "The screen feels like a boundary," he says, "where people can feel like they are not doing anything wrong because the person is not there with them." K. Jason and Kelli Krafsky, joint authors of Facebook and Your Marriage , warn about how quickly former emotions can reignite online. "With access to an old flame’s profile, contact info, pictures and private ways to communicate with one another, a brief trip down memory lane can turn into camping out, reminiscing over memories and rebuilding the emotional bonds that once existed," the Krafskys say. Ephesians 5:15 commends, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,” The kind of interactions, posting, and viewing on social media has opened up the devil’s attacks towards men and women alike. Circumspectly is not how I’d define most of what we see online. Many view their interactions through their screen often as harmless because conversations and interactions are not in person but behind a screen. Lying in bed liking pictures of someone that isn’t your spouse, being alone late into the night texting the opposite gender and secretly messaging those that aren’t your spouse are just a few examples of the dynamite that many play with in the social media world. PRECAUTIONS Most of the dangers and temptations that come from inappropriate social media use could be greatly avoided with simple precautions that Christians can and should take. 1. Do not message the opposite gender in secret. Teens should absolutely not be messaging the opposite gender. Married people should not be messaging those that aren’t their spouse of the opposite gender in secret. Rather to be overboard in this area than to be vulnerable to temptation or even slander. Group messaging is not difficult. My wife and I include each other in messages with other people all the time. I’ll either text a husband and wife together or I’ll message someone with my wife in the message. I have never found anyone to be offended by this, and it is an easy and obvious option to keeping communication above board in the comfort of your own office, vehicle, home, or bed with someone that you need to be on guard with. 2. Consider not following those of the opposite gender. I didn’t get social media really until after I was married. Like most people, I started to follow pretty much anybody and everybody I knew that would accept my “friend request” . That quickly changed. I know not all platforms are the same, but most platforms provide some way to post pictures. I remember opening my phone one morning and seeing some woman posting her new hair style or outfit or whatever it was, and I felt wrong (it wasn’t even that it was an inappropriate picture). It felt like that woman sent a selfie of herself to my phone for my viewing. I made a decision that day that I would not follow women that were not family. The only exception that I’ve made to this would be some political or new individuals (these cases are rare or more about following an organization, not an individual). POTENTIALS There are potential dangers that one should be aware of when it comes to messaging the opposite gender: 1. You can be accused for what you cannot deny. The quality of being blameless is a wise route for someone that wants to be clear of the #metoo headlines. While many ungodly people have been revealed for the hypocrites and evil people they are, I also believe many have been slandered in ways that are almost irreparable because they were accused for something they could not deny. Guardrails not only keep you safe from falling into temptation, but they also keep you safe from slander. My wife is included in this as well. She won’t have to worry about my eyes and my communications if these guardrails are put in place. 2. You can be opened to what you cannot resist. Sober and vigilant are the terms that God uses when He tells us about the roaring lion that is the devil that is out to destroy our lives. A burglar doesn’t need every door and every window open to get into your home, and Satan doesn’t need every area of your life open as well. He just needs one weak point of entry. The flesh is weak, and you need to come to grips with what your flesh can be capable of. Be wiser than those who scoff and defend, “You’re reading into this too much. It’s just a friend. I would never…” I’m sure those that ended their marriages in ruin thought and said the same thing at times. Your purity and the integrity of your name are worth the extra precautionary steps to put yourself on guard in the area against digital infidelity.

NEVERLAND IS A FANTASY The old cartoon Peter Pan was about a fantasy land where kids never grow up and they never have anyone telling them what to do. It’s no wonder why this movie and other Disney films that captured the minds of so many kids around the world. Families gather around to watch an “innocent” cartoon, but when the TV turns on, those children are reminded that Neverland is not a reality. If a child told his parents, “I want to live like Peter Pan where kids never grow up and never have to listen to anyone”, his parents (if they are good parents) will tell their child that they can believe in a fantasy land if they want, but it’s not going to make it a reality. Kids do grow up and we do have authority and responsibilities in life. LIFE IS NOT A COMPETITION Social media can be a breeding ground for covetousness. What social media really presents is the personal highlight reel of someone’s life. If we’re not careful, we compare the reality of our lives to the highlight reels that pop up on our devices every day. The result is a spirit of comparison. Comparison is the enemy of contentment. How someone looks, how their life seems, how fun their stuff seems – all of this can stir the wrong kind of spirit in a believer. REJOICE WITH THEM Sadly, our response to those that we see on social media can grow resentment in our hearts as well. Instead of rejoicing at the blessings of others, our competitive flesh kicks into hyperdrive. And if we don’t get to the picture that they’re presenting, then we not only get discouraged, but begin to resent their successes and blessings. If someone is able to take a vacation, rejoice with them. Don’t subtly imply, “It should would be nice if I was ever able to get away like you”. There will always be someone online that will one-up whatever you have, wherever you went, or however you look. Don’t resent them for it. Rejoice with them. Romans 12:15 says, “Rejoice with them that do rejoice” . WEEP WITH THEM Mourn with others. The sadness and gloom that we are told about because of the lightning-fast news source in our hands can make a sunny, beautiful day into a dreary one. It is a challenge in the day that we live in to have the knowledge that we have of specifics details, faces, and examples of wickedness and hurt, especially if people don’t know what to do with their hurt. Romans 12:15 continues, “ …and weep with them that weep ”. If we’re not careful, we can become desensitized to the hurt because it’s constant. You don’t have to show someone that is hurting the story of someone else you follow that has it worse. Just be there for them. You may not be able to be a comfort and a friend to everyone in the world, but if there’s an opportunity that social media provides it is personal access to the hearts of billions. Use it for good in any way you can. You may not get noticed by commenting on a celebrity’s post, but there are Christians and lost people all over that you may be able to reach and be a friend to. Live in the real world, even when you’re looking into the fantasy land that is often represented by social media.