Monday, February 23, 2026

Bible in a Year: Psalms 51-53 | Acts 20

From my adolescence and well into adulthood, I didn’t reject God, but I didn’t fully trust him either. I was not particularly athletic or scholarly - so I decided it was up to me to fix my life. I wanted to be known, loved, and accepted, so I got into the business of “image management.”

I got so caught up in looking the part that I, sometimes, lost sight of who I was. And that led me into the business of trying to accomplish goals based on that manufactured image. It often felt like I was competing in an Indy car race with a minivan. I felt anxious and condemned!

Romans 8:1 provides us with a liberating alternative!

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

This sounds great, but it can be hard to believe.

Condemnation makes us defensive. It causes us to build walls and put on masks. We get into the business of feeding what is not fruitful.

If trusting that verse doesn’t feel right, we begin to pursue what the world tells us is better. Before long, the business of comparison drives us to work obsessively, immerse ourselves in biased news podcasts, buy the next greatest thing, or spend too much time at the gym. All of which give us a license to criticize those who lack our high standards.

We start playing God … that’s bad business, too.

We begin to do life on our own because we don’t trust that God created us in his image for a greater purpose. Unfortunately, the fruits of this labor are that we just end up with ourselves - exhausted, alone, and still condemned.

Galatians 5:22-23
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

So, what are the possibilities if we begin to feed what is fruitful and draw nearer to God, who gave his Son to make the ultimate sacrifice?

We can finally be honest, free, and even bold enough to take risks. We’re no longer driven by fear of condemnation (Romans 8:34)!

When we put our trust in God, we begin to finally harvest the fruit of the Spirit. And isn’t that what we were looking for from the start?

Now that is good business.

Questions:
What are you hanging on to that keeps you from receiving the full redemption Jesus offers?

How does the sacrificial and redeeming love of Jesus inspire you to love others? Name three ways/examples.

Next Steps:
Pray this simple prayer: “Lord, help me to see myself as you see me.”

Join a Group you enjoy and can be honest with. At the end of the semester, write down how it has freed your spirit.

Prayer:
Father God, thank you for the way you pursue us even when we reject you. Your unconditional and sacrificial love is incomprehensible and yet so inspiring. Give me a heart for letting your love flow through me so others will see and also be inspired or curious. All glory to you, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:

Colossians 3:10
Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

This post was written by Nick Thomas, a Findlay attendee and a regular contributor to the Daily LivingItOut.