June 18, 2025

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

The True

Three or More

Again. Again. Again.

The king had a simple instruction from the prophet. He was simply to strike the ground with arrows. The king followed the instruction and struck the ground with the arrows but stopped after three strikes. This angered the prophet and limited the king’s blessing. It is a strange story, and it has direct application to your life this week.

The passage is 2 Kings 13:14-19, the king is Jehoash, and the prophet is Elisha. King Jehoash is seeking a blessing over his military endeavors from an ailing Elisha, and when Elisha bizarrely instructs the king to strike the ground with some arrows, the king seemingly obeys and strikes the ground three times. This “obedience” angers Elisha, who replies, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times” (2 Kings 13:19).

There is a danger in extrapolating God’s Word in a specific context and applying it to a different context, but in this case, the example of God’s favor flowing in proportion to the obedience displayed is a concept woven all throughout scripture. It is a precept we would do very well to take to heart, and doing so would allow us to walk ever deeper into all that God has for us.

Consider the following two passages:

“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” (Lk. 6:38).

“’Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it’” (Mal. 3:10).

The question for you this week is, “What is it that God has instructed you to do?” What task has He assigned you? What mission has He given you?

No matter your answer, are you persisting in it? How many times have you “struck the ground,” and at some point, did you stop? If so, why?

The enemy of your soul would like nothing more than to convince you that a little obedience is enough. He relishes the idea you would decide to tacitly comply with the great mission God has given you—to “check the box” quickly and be done with it!

But this week, ask: Are you persisting in that which God has assigned to you? Are you testing Him and expecting the floodgates of heaven to be thrown open? Or have you walked away after a few feeble (or even hearty) attempts?

If God has assigned you a task, you are meant to sustain it until He releases you from it! Your mission is to be fully consumed within His mission, and you should persist again and again and again until He directs otherwise.

My friend, the result is more blessing and power than you can possibly imagine. If you persist, there is no limit in what God can do in and through you! If it is an enemy, your God can and will completely destroy it! If it is a mission, your God can and will completely accomplish it!

But you must press in.

You must not walk away.

You must not cease, and you must not just do the bare minimum.

If you have your instructions from God, strike the proverbial ground. Then do it again. And again. And again.

Persist until the One who gave the instruction shows Himself strong. He is good for His Word, and He will not fail (Lk. 1:37: Is. 55:11).

But He does demand your sustained obedience. Persist, and see what your God will do!

World

All Out War

Israel and Iran are at war. The two countries have long been enemies and there has for some time now been sustained hostilities, proxy skirmishes, and recently direct engagement between them. This week marked a significant escalation, however, with Israel embarking on a multi-day and ongoing campaign to cripple Iran’s nuclear weapons capability. The result has been the destruction of multiple sites related to Iran’s nuclear enrichment and development, as well as the death of multiple Iranian military leadership.

Iran responded by firing hundreds of missiles into Israel, killing more than 20 people and injuring at least 500.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised the military action would continue until Iran’s nuclear program was no longer a threat to Israel’s existence.

Analysis and eternal perspective: Pray persistently for peace (Ps. 34:14). Defend the oppressed from their oppressor (Is. 1:17). Seek the freedom of the captives and the restored fortunes of Zion (Ps. 126).

Friends, we have been intentional about these applications for some time now. We have been viewing modern day hostilities against Israel through a biblical lens that acknowledges both God’s everlasting love for people on all sides of the raging conflict and the reality that a hatred of God’s chosen people—the Jewish people—has been on full display since Old Testament times.

This week’s developments make it difficult to persist. You may be discouraged and you may be fearful. Those are understandable emotions, but do not grow weary because God is still on the throne (Ps. 47:8; Heb. 1:8)! You know the end of the story, and you serve the one true God who is coming for his covenant people—which, thanks to the finished work of Jesus on the cross, includes an open invitation to you and me!

So this week, recommit to the following even in the face of trying circumstances:

Pray for peace. Pray for a peace that will sustain and one in which the oppressor will be diminished.

Finally, pray that those still held captive will be returned with songs of joy (Ps. 126:6).

U.S.

Political Violence in Minnesota

Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, are dead, and Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, are injured after a gunman went on an overnight shooting spree with apparent plans to target dozens of elected officials. Authorities say the suspect, who was later taken into custody near his home, had a target list of more than 40 Democrat lawmakers and attempted to harm at least two additional officials at their homes on the night of the attack.

As prosecutors prepare their case against the suspect, elected officials on both the federal and state levels are reassessing their current security protocol.

Analysis and eternal perspective: Political violence has become something of the norm in the United States. It is an uncomfortable truth, but truth nonetheless. It is occurring at an increasing rate and at all points on the political spectrum.

It is on that last point that we as The Equipped have an opportunity and a biblical obligation to lead the way. In the wake of political violence, a great deal of the conversation is always about the political persuasions of the perpetrator, and there is significant effort made to blame the rhetoric and the views of one political faction or another for the violence.

The truth each of us must face is that politically motivated violence is happening across the political spectrum and each us should stand against it within our own partisan camps and affiliations. Scripture is clear about this need for self-reflection, including the importance of holding each other accountable.

We are to sharpen each other (Pr. 27:17), stir up each other to love and good works (Heb. 10:24), and yes, even rebuke each other when required (Pr. 27:5-6).

Proverbs 27:5-6 says, “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.”

Each of us should be able to clearly and unequivocally condemn the violence that occurred in Minnesota this week. It would be easy to leave it there. But let’s together go the next step and be willing to address the festering problem that exists in our own political camp. This week, how can you positively impact the tone of the debate and the health of those who share your political affiliations?

It is not enough for a follower of Jesus to simply be against evil actions. How can you stir up those around you to love and good works? That is our mission this week as The Equipped family.

U.S.

Parade and Protests

The U.S. Army celebrated its 250^th anniversary this week with a parade of troops, military equipment, and music in the streets of Washington, DC. It was among the first of what will be many events commemorating 250 years since many of the foundational moments in American history—including the adoption by the Continental Congress of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The celebratory event was met by protests in many American cities but went off without major incident in DC.

Analysis and eternal perspective: There will continue to be widely divergent views about the best methods for commemorating America’s 250 years. The extended commemoration does, however, present Jesus followers with a prime opportunity to walk out several of our Gospel mandates. While there will be numerous displays of division in the days ahead, let’s together choose to proactively seize the moment in the following ways:

- Love deeply. “Above all, love each other deeply” (1 Pet. 4:8).

- Embrace freedom. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Gal. 5:1)

- Live and love sacrificially. “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn. 15:13).

The events of the coming months will give you every opportunity to choose either deep division or radical power, love, and reconciliation. There remains no greater model for how to lead a transformative life than that of Jesus, who demonstrated sacrificial love with immense strength through humility—embodied through the washing of feet and, ultimately, death on a Roman cross and resurrection three days later!

As you and I endeavor to be more like Jesus in the days ahead, we should expect it to be counter-cultural, and we should further expect it to have a radical impact far beyond our own natural capacity!

The Beautiful

Brilliant Sensitivity

This is the beautiful Romano Purpiat Heirloom Bean from our garden. It is a deep purple when harvested but turns a brilliant jade green when cooked because of a sensitivity to heat in its pigment.

How does your life look different because of the heat of recent challenges? Mine shows significant evidence of being impacted by the heat of life, and I wager yours is the same. My prayer for you this week is that the heat of your life would produce brilliant color and beauty!

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (Jam. 1:2-4).

Blessings on your week! Please share with a friend and consider supporting the work of The Equipped!