November 5, 2025

Viewing all things through the lens of the True and the beautiful!

The True

Now I Know

“Now I know.”

Just three little words, but they tell a significant story.

The woman’s son had been dead, but now he is alive! The woman had been grieving, but then the prophet intervened and called on his God to revive the boy. The prophet’s God responded, and as a result the boy is once again filled with the breath of life, in response to which the woman proclaims, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth” (1 Kings 17:24).

At first glance, it seems completely normal. If your son had been dead but now is alive at the hands of a prophet, you would likely acknowledge a larger power involved, as well.

But the use of the word “now” at the beginning of the exclamation denotes a change in belief. It signals that though the woman now believes, she previously did not. It communicates that until now, she held on to disbelief, and that it is only because of this miracle that she now believes.

It is a remarkable fact given what has just transpired in the previous 17 verses. Here is the cliff notes version (you can read the whole story in 1 Kings 17:7-23):

- The prophet asks the woman for some bread and water.

- The woman tells the prophet she only has enough supply to make one final meal for her son and herself, and then they will die.

- The prophet tells her to make a meal for him first anyway!

- The woman obeys.

- Miraculously, the supplies to make bread are replenished every day and never run out!

In other words, this woman and her son have been living in an ongoing miracle that has sustained their life on a daily basis! Their very existence has been repeatedly perpetuated by a life-giving miracle!

And yet, we know from what we already read that somehow the woman still does not believe. When her son becomes ill and dies, she does not believe even though her son and she have been living a miracle!

It is only when all has been stripped away and then miraculously restored that she is able to say, “Now I know.”

Are you holding out for one specific miracle? Is there one specific mountain in your life you are waiting to see moved? Is there a broken relationship or a wound or a hidden sin you are pointing to as the thing that needs to move before you will believe?

If so, I invite you to consider today: Are you already living a miracle? Look around. Does your life already speak of the One who created you and sustains you? Does it already testify to miracle upon miracle and in fact point to an assurance of power capable of delivering on that one miracle for which you are holding out?

If you stop and do an honest assessment, I think you will find the honest answer is yes. Your God has already done a miraculous work in you! He can do immeasurably more (Eph. 3:20). Even so, I cannot give you assurance that His plan for the miracle you are holding out for matches your plan. It may or may not. But He is able.

And your belief should not require the receipt of one more miracle. You already are a miracle! There is no need for you to wait to proclaim it:

“Now I know!”

World

Particular Concern

Nigeria is once again a “country of particular concern,” according to U.S. President Donald Trump and the U.S. State Department. The CPC designation is used for countries determined to be experiencing “systemic, ongoing, and egregious” religious freedom violations. The current designation is in response to recent reports of thousands of Christians being killed for their faith. The violence originally led to a similar designation by President Trump in 2020, but the action was reversed by President Joe Biden in 2021. In addition to pointing the attention of the world to the Christian persecution happening in Nigeria, the designation requires the U.S. government to advance within 90 days a plan of action to respond to the persecution.

Analysis and eternal perspective: “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:10).

Persecution is discussed frequently in the Bible:

You are warned you will be hated specifically because of your faith in Jesus (Matt. 10:22).

You are told that that persecution will land on your doorstep (Jn. 16:33).

You are instructed to pray for both the persecuted and for those who persecute you (Matt. 5:44).

And finally, Matthew 5:10 calls the persecuted “blessed.”

In all reality, those of us living in the West almost certainly use the word persecution far too loosely when it comes to the discrimination we face. There are certainly instances where your faith in Jesus subjects you to a double standard or to an infringement on the free exercise of your faith, and those are concerning realities that should be taken seriously and addressed under the law before they balloon into something more significant.

But the circumstances in Nigeria are of an entirely different dynamic. The systematic and mass slaughter of human beings made in the image of God specifically for their faith in Jesus is an atrocity that demands the world’s attention. Fortunately, history informs us that even the act of attaching the CPC designation can be a significant deterrent for some of the most intense violence. Of course, sustained protection of those living in the region will require more significant action, as evidenced by the need for this re-designation five years later.

What can you do now for your brothers and sisters in Nigeria?

First, you should absolutely pray (Matt. 5:10). These are your brothers and sisters in Christ, and they desperately need your covering.

Next, you should continue to ask your government (no matter where you are a citizen) to stand up and protect the innocent.

Third, you should be cleared-eyed about the current level of persecution and/or discrimination you face and should prepare spiritually for the possibility it will grow.

Finally, you should accept the Word’s beautiful reminder and promise that the persecuted will be blessed! This is not an acquiescence to the evil of persecution, but in fact an acknowledgement of holy defiance that reminds both the world and you that your eternal reality is beyond the reach of persecution. It is standing on Matthew 10:28 for both your brothers and sisters in Nigeria and yourself:

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.”

U.S.

Shutdown and SNAP

The shutdown continues, and so does SNAP (at least in part). That is the upshot of this week’s developments around the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, which is now nearly a week into its second month.

While the broader negotiations have yet to produce an agreement to reopen the government, there is now at least some relief for those who typically receive food assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). After two courts instructed the administration to continue payments and directed the use of contingency funds for that purpose, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will provide November payments that are roughly half of the typical benefit.

Analysis and eternal perspective: There are numerous layers to this story, including a debate about the proper governing role in food aid, the larger debate around the government shutdown as a whole, the constitutionality of using funds to keep programs running without specific congressional approval, and of course the very tangible reality that millions of people typically use the SNAP program to feed their family.

These debates overlap and even compete with each other at times. There are no easy and pat answers or solutions to many of the questions they raise.

There does, however, continue to be a very clear role for you and me to play. As discussed last week, there will be those who are hungry in your midst this week. Feed them! It is so straight-forward it almost sounds flippant, but our instruction in this environment really is that simple, and we are reminded of it repeatedly in scripture (you can start with Pr. 25:21-22, Matt. 25:35-40, Is. 58:10, and Jam. 2:15-17).

In fact, this simple instruction is still applicable even when it is your enemy who is hungry:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him” (Rom. 12:20).

My friends, this is one of those “difficult” stories that actually leads to a very easy to understand application for us. When you encounter someone hungry this week, feed them!

U.S.

Major Question on Foreign Affairs

Tariffs are once again front and center in the news as the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments Wednesday about the limits of a president’s power to set and direct tariffs. Critics of the tariffs are asking the Court to conclude that tariff policy is a “major question” on which Congress has not spoken, and thus beyond the authority of the president. The government—as well as outside supporters of the tariffs—will argue that presidents have wide constitutional authority over foreign affairs matters by way of Article II of the U.S. Constitution.

Analysis and eternal perspective: Here we are again. Once again, our primary task on the analyzing side of this equation is to lay aside our predisposition about the players involved and consider plainly the questions presented. There are strong and credible arguments to be made on both sides of this debate, and the Court will no doubt have to wrestle with them. We should do the same before instinctively jumping to an absolute conclusion about the proper outcome.

From an eternal perspective, we should recognize this story as having very limited reach. That is not to diminish its significance in the here and now, as the economic decisions of the U.S. government have a massive ripple effect on people all over the world. Even so, the temporary tariff policy of any government does not change any of the fundamental realities of your eternal assignment.

If the Court finds that a president has sweeping authority on tariffs, you should go and make disciples.

If the Court finds that Congress must specifically speak before tariffs are deployed, you should go and make disciples!

The Beautiful

Out of Place

Is your confidence in the God who lives within you sometimes lacking because you feel you don’t belong? Remember, even when you feel out of place in your surroundings:

- Your God has gone before you (Deut. 31:8).

- Your God is with you in the unfamiliar (Josh. 1:9; Is. 41:10) and has in fact prepared those circumstances specifically for you (Ps. 23:5).

- Your God will come after you to bless the faithful work of your hands (Deut. 28:8,12).

When you feel out of place, notice the beauty around you. It is prepared for you!