Called 4 Jesus

by TA York

Option 1: Healing the Fragmented Soul:
Theme: Moving from survival to emotional restoration.

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” — Luke 12:48

In the classic film Ben-Hur, there is a poignant scene where Judah Ben-Hur sits by a river. He dips his hand into the water, takes a few sips, and shakes off the excess. In that moment, his memory flashes back to his time as a slave on a forced march. He was dying of thirst until a merciful man brought him water. Reflecting on the weight of his survival and the pain he endured, Ben-Hur states, “It would’ve been better if I’d dumped the water on the ground and died.”
Self-loathing and internal suffering are heavy burdens. The wounds within the soul can last a lifetime.

I was physically abused as a child. While the physical scars faded years ago, the agony of rejection remains. Being told by my parents that I would always be “useless” and “worthless” left a lingering echo. I went to Jesus for healing, yet for a long time, I couldn’t even describe my “feelings.” I could recount the events and recite the theological answers to the problem, but I couldn’t tap into the emotion. I was, and in many ways still am, deeply hurt.

There have been many days where I prayed a prayer similar to Ben-Hur’s. I wished for a “do-over,” or felt it would be easier to just “pour the water on the ground.”

A wound this deep requires more than a bandage; it requires surgery and a blood transfusion. To find peace, I must lay my life on the altar as a living sacrifice, allowing God to cleanse my conscience (Romans 12:1, Hebrews 9:14).

The revelation is this: Because I am hurting, I find it difficult to trust others. It is hard to open my heart and love them the way God loves me. Healing isn’t a simple task, and it certainly isn’t “fun.” But it is the only path that truly releases the soul to God.

Option 2: Through a Broken Lens:
Theme: Breaking the cycle of spiritual blindness and reclaiming your identity.

Imagine the moment the tribes of Israel were released from Egypt. It was a time of electric excitement. For the elderly, it was a season of relief; the back-breaking hardship of slavery was finally over. For the youth, it was a grand adventure into the unknown. None of them had ever known life outside the borders of Egypt, yet here they were, exploring the wilderness with God as their guide.

Many of us equate this Exodus with our “first taste” of Christ. I remember the incredible joy I felt when the Holy Spirit first fell upon me. But have we ever considered the cost?

While watching the 1956 film The Ten Commandments, I began to think about the “other side.” I thought of the Egyptians who suffered because of one man’s hardened heart. Pharaoh was spiritually blind, and his blindness cast a shadow over his entire nation.

John 1:10 says, “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.”

Often, we see our lives through a skewed view. I used to think of myself as a “minor character” in the story—never the lead. Do you feel the same? Do you feel unworthy of the spotlight? The truth is, Christ has written a story specifically about you. In His kingdom, you are a main character, provided you follow the “Script” (the Word).

Think of a camera with a shattered lens. What does the finished product look like? The images are fractured and split; nothing is in focus. This is how the world views reality—skewed and broken. Just as a cracked cell phone screen drives us crazy until we replace it, a broken spiritual perspective makes everything feel “off.”

Our past experiences create our identity. When we believe negative lies, we view God and ourselves incorrectly. Jesus is willing to let us “wrestle” with understanding Him because He wants us to seek Him out—not just through our own effort, but through the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and the accountability of our brothers and sisters.

When I was spiritually blind, I inadvertently hindered others from coming to Christ (like Pharaoh blinded all the Egyptians). But 2 Chronicles 7:14 gives us the key: “If my people… humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin.”

If you want your family and friends to find Jesus, seek God completely. Take off the mask and get real with Him. You don’t have to do this alone—discipleship and accountability are vital. Sometimes, we need someone on the outside to help us see what is happening on the inside.

God Bless

by TA York

The Geometry of the Heart: Navigating What We Treasure:

We spend our lives in a constant state of pursuit. From the moment we enter the workforce—or even earlier, in the classrooms of our youth—we are taught that the “good life” is a collection of milestones. We collect degrees, accolades, possessions, and experiences. We treat life like a gallery, carefully curating a collection of “treasures” we hope will define us.

But there is a fundamental flaw in the earthly gallery: the roof leaks, the security system is faulty, and the exhibits are biodegradable.

The Two Treasures: A Scriptural Foundation:

In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus provides a diagnostic tool for the human soul:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

The math of eternity is simple but piercing. If you treasure what is temporary, your heart will eventually be broken, because your treasure is destined to break. In five, ten, or fifty years, the things we sweat and toil for will be cast aside. The car becomes scrap; the fashion becomes a “vintage” curiosity; the house requires a new roof.

Then, in Matthew 13:44, Jesus flips the perspective:

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”

This is the great exchange. It isn’t a chore to give up the “earthly” for the “heavenly.” It is a joyful transaction. When you find something of infinite value, selling your “all” doesn’t feel like a sacrifice—it feels like a bargain.

Defining the Deposit: What is “Treasure”?

To understand what Jesus is asking of us, we have to look at the language. The Greek word used here is thesauros (θησαυρός). It is where we get our English word thesaurus.

1. The Repository of Knowledge;

Originally, a thesauros was a storehouse or a repository. Just as a thesaurus is a wealth of knowledge contained within a book, a treasure is something we “store up” for future use.

Interestingly, in some cultures, even a casket or an urn is viewed as a treasure chest—a final repository for what was once a living, breathing wealth of soul. Consider the strange case of Charlie Chaplin. After his death in 1977, his body was famously stolen from a Swiss cemetery and held for ransom. For eleven months, his family lived in the tension of a stolen “treasure.” When the body was finally recovered, his widow, Oona, had the casket reburied in a reinforced concrete vault. To the world, it was a macabre news story; to the family, that casket was a treasure to be protected at all costs.

2. The Trap of Hoarding;

The second facet of thesauros involves the act of collecting—which can easily slip into hoarding.

I remember volunteering with a church youth group to help a woman clean her home. It was a sobering sight. Boxes were stacked to the ceiling; newspapers and magazines from decades past created narrow canyons through the rooms. It wasn’t just “clutter”; it was a crisis. The Health Department had given her 90 days to clear the home before it was condemned.

As we hauled box after box to the curb, she wept. To us, it was a health hazard—a firetrap of dusty paper and decay. To her, every scrap was a “treasure.” This is the danger of the earthly heart: we begin to find security in things that are actually suffocating us. We cling to the “trash” of the world because we have forgotten what real gold looks like.

The Foot Washer and the $20 Tip:

If earthly treasure is “stuff,” what is heavenly treasure? It begins with an encounter with the Living God.

In John 13, we see the Creator of the Universe kneeling. He takes the basin and the towel and washes the dirt from the feet of his disciples. When He comes to Peter, Peter resists. It feels wrong. It’s a breach of protocol. But Jesus insists: “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

Imagine standing there, staring into those loving eyes, hearing Him say, “You are clean.” What is your reaction? In our world of “tit-for-tat,” our instinct is to pay for the service. We want to reach into our pockets and offer a $20 tip. We want to prove our worth through our works, our “goodness,” or our religious performance.

But Jesus doesn’t want your earthly currency. To Him, the gold of this world is the pavement of heaven. It is “garbage” in the light of His glory. He doesn’t want your money; He wants your complete heart.

The Incomprehensible Love: A Different Kind of Treasure:

Human love is often a transaction. We love to the extent of our understanding. We give love with the unspoken expectation that we will receive something in return—validation, security, or affection.

We ask ourselves:

If I fail, will their love lessen?

If I stop meeting their expectations, will their heart change?

In the world, the answer is often “yes.” This is why families split and friendships dissolve; the “treasure” of the relationship was based on the “performance” of the person. People think, “There must be a better love somewhere else,” and they move on.

But Jesus’ love does not lessen. He died in the most dehumanizing way possible. The prophet Isaiah tells us that He was so marred He was barely recognizable as human. This is the “treasure” He spent to buy us. He looked at the “field” of humanity, saw the treasure hidden within us, and “sold all He had” (His very life) to buy the field.

He hides us in His “bosom of love.” To Him, we are the treasure. He doesn’t need our works to love us; He already proved His love on the cross. And here is the incomprehensible part: He loves us so much that He would do it all again just for you.

The Thirst of the Soul:

On the cross, Jesus made one of His final statements: “I thirst” (John 19:28).

The soldiers offered Him sour wine on a sponge, but I believe this thirst went far deeper than physical dehydration. Jesus had emptied Himself—spirit, soul, and body. He had poured Himself out in the Garden of Gethsemane, in Pilate’s court, and along the dusty road to Golgotha.

If you have ever given a major presentation, taught a class, or performed publicly, you know that feeling of being utterly drained. You feel “hollowed out.” Now, multiply that by the weight of the sins of the world. Jesus was empty because He had given everything away to buy His treasure.

There is a song from 1972 that says, “I would give everything I own, just to have you back again.” That is the heart of the Gospel. Jesus gave everything He owned—His glory, His comfort, His blood—just to have you back.

A Call to Respect: The Danger of the Edge:

While God’s love is infinite, it is not a license for apathy.

I once stood at the edge of the Grand Canyon and watched two men—tourists from Germany—taking photos. One man climbed over the safety railing, pretending to dangle from the edge for a “cool” picture. They had no fear. They didn’t realize that the winds in the canyon can shift in a heartbeat, sweeping the unsuspecting over the cliff to their death. They were in a place of majestic, terrifying beauty, yet they treated it without respect.

I see this same attitude in the modern church. People say, “I believe in God; I treasure Him,” yet their lives show no evidence of His lordship. They continue to live in patterns of self-destruction—drugs, immorality, and bitterness.

To “treasure” God is to treat Him with the reverence He deserves. You cannot claim to treasure the King while spitting on His decrees. We must “wake up, oh sleeper.” The “great wind” of eternity is coming.

Final Reflection:

What are you storing in your storehouse today?

Is it the “newspapers and boxes” of earthly anxiety?

Is it the “ransom money” of worldly status?

Or have you recognized that you are the treasure Jesus died for, and in response, made Him your ultimate treasure?

The field is bought. The price is paid. Where will your heart be?

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

How does your current “collection” of priorities reflect the value you place on Christ?

God bless!

by TA York

The Lavish Love of the Father (1 John 3:1-3)

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.”

The “great love” John describes is not an abstract concept; it is Jesus Christ, sent directly from the Father. Salvation isn’t something Jesus merely tried to offer—He accomplished it. It is a finished work, and our role is simply to receive it.

This love isn’t a family heirloom passed down through DNA, nor do we obtain it via “spiritual osmosis” from our parents or by simply sitting in a church pew. Many attend church without ever truly accepting Jesus as Lord. Being a “child of God” is a personal identity, distinct from being a “child of the world.”

I’ll be the first to admit I am not a perfect husband or father. I still struggle because pieces of the world remain in me. However, God’s love doesn’t mean He overlooks sin. On the contrary, a Holy God cannot coexist with sin. To bridge that gap, God became man in Jesus Christ. He set aside His heavenly crown to experience the human plight—hunger, betrayal, and pain—so He could truly understand us. This is Agape love: a pure heart that faced every temptation yet remained without sin.

The Tie That Binds

In my own home, between my wife, my three children, and my son-in-law, we have six different sets of life experiences. I am often misunderstood because my perspective is shaped by my specific past, including my pains. Just as it’s hard for me to explain my experiences to someone who hasn’t lived them, God knew that to truly have compassion for us, He had to live among us.

I grew up with parents who were legalistic—not necessarily in a religious sense, but in their rigid demand that things be done “their way.” There was little room for grace or mercy. I was determined to raise my children differently, yet I still fall short. I am constantly returning to the Cross for forgiveness because I am still learning to be Christ-like.

Empathy Born of Suffering

The world may not value my suffering, but God uses it. As children of God, we gain a unique sense of empathy. I’ve found that my past pain allows me to “feel” for others in similar situations.

The Power of Words:

I once shared a verse with a young woman who grew up under constant shame. When I told her that both Jesus and I loved her with Agape love, I watched her entire countenance change. She found peace.

The Power of Touch:

I remember hugging a homeless man who began to cry because it had been years since someone had hugged him. Because of my own past experiences with homelessness, I didn’t smell the dirt; I only saw a person to be loved.

The Power of Jesus:

Luke 5:12-13
12 “While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

Every child of God MUST experience Jesus personally. We cannot rely on someone else’s faith; we must each come to the realization that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. That there is absolutely no other way to the Father, except through Jesus.

Walking with Godly Friends (v. 2, Luke 5:18)

In verse 2, John addresses us as “dear friends.” Friendship is vital to the Christian walk. In Proverbs, we see that healthy relationships require four pillars: Trust, Truth, Transformation, and Tenderness. If one is missing, the bond weakens.

Luke 5:18 “ Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus.”

We see this in Luke 5:18, where men carried their paralyzed friend to Jesus. This is the model for the Church. Godly friends act as “iron sharpening iron.” They carry you when you are “lame” or wounded by life, bringing you to Jesus through prayer and non-judgmental support.

Hebrews 3:13
“ But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”

Note: Not everyone is meant for your journey. Some people may be distractions from your specific assignment. Letting them go doesn’t mean they are “bad,” it just means you are prioritizing your walk with Christ.

Practicing Righteousness (v. 4-10)

1 John 3:4-10
4 “Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.”

John is clear: living in Christ is the key, but it is the hardest part of the faith because we are bombarded by the world’s values. We see it everywhere—from the cost of Bibles versus secular books to the content on our screens. The world focuses on the “here and now,” but God gives us Toshiyah (wisdom and resourcefulness) to look ahead.

God used this wisdom to help my wife and me. Though we didn’t initially qualify for a home, He taught me how to manage our finances and pay off massive bills for roofing and plumbing. I am learning to live in Christ, but it isn’t easy.

“Practicing” is the key. Just as an athlete or a soldier practices their craft, we must practice “right standing” with God. We may not be sinless, but through practice, we should “sin less.”

The Vine and the Seed

John 15:1-4
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

In John 15, Jesus calls Himself the Vine. To bear fruit, we must be pruned, which is often painful. But that pain produces endurance. 1 John 3:9 tells us that God’s “seed” remains in us. However, a seed only grows if it is watered and cultivated.

We must help each other grow and be quick to cast out any “seeds” of unforgiveness or hatred. John likely outlived the other apostles just to emphasize this one final point: Learn to love. It is a long, difficult process to love other sinners just as we have been loved, but it is our highest calling.

God bless!

The Decision of Two Thieves
Luke 23:39-43

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?
41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

The scene at Calvary 2,000 years ago is mirrored in our world today. It represents the ultimate human decision: to accept or deny Christ. This is the eternal battle between good and evil waged within the human heart.

On one side, the evil within us hurls insults at Christ and demands proof, echoing the cynicism of the Pharisees. Like the first criminal, we often demand that Jesus “prove” He is the Messiah by fixing our immediate circumstances. We forget that we are never in a position to challenge Him. As people who are spiritually dying, our only rightful place is one of humility, yet pride often drives us to say the unthinkable: “Prove it to me, Jesus.”

As C.H. Spurgeon wrote in The Soul Winner:

“Men need to be told that, except divine grace shall bring them out of their enmity to God, they must eternally perish… they must be reminded of the sovereignty of God, that He is not obliged to bring them out of this state, that He would be right and just if He left them in such a condition.”

I am deeply grateful that Jesus did not take offense at my own past behavior or my lack of gratitude. He looked past my attitude to offer forgiveness.

The Power of “Remember Me”

When the second thief said, “Jesus, remember me,” what was he truly asking? This “glimmer of hope” sparked a conversation that every human must eventually have (Romans 10:9-10). Was this man simply delusional with pain, or did he finally see the Truth?

In his final moments, the thief (we are the thief) realized what Paul would later write: “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). He recognized that Jesus was his only hope.

His request was not a casual one. He wasn’t saying, “Jesus, if you have a passing thought, think of me.” It was a desperate plea: “Jesus, you are my last hope! Do not forget me! Save me from myself!”

The Response of Grace

Jesus’ reaction was immediate and profound. He listened, He heard, and He did not judge. He didn’t offer “pointless advice” to a dying man, nor did He reprimand him for a life of sin.

Jesus began His answer with the word “Truly.” In the original Greek, this carries a weight of absolute certainty:

Ontos: In fact; really.

Alithos: Amen; so let it be.

Eilikrina: Sincerely; honestly; seriously.

Jesus was giving tangible hope to a hopeless man. That same paradise is still available today to anyone who asks. As Numbers 23:19 reminds us, God is not a man that He should lie.

A Personal Connection

Interestingly, the thief called Jesus by His name. In those times, it was rare to address a teacher by their given name; it suggests a level of personal awareness. This man wasn’t a stranger to the Gospel; he had likely been exposed to Jesus and His message before.

I remember a professor in theology school saying, “There is no sign on a person’s forehead that says ‘Do not evangelize.’ We must speak about Jesus to everyone, even those who seem hopeless.” I relate to this deeply because I once thought I was too far gone for Jesus to want me.

The Urgency of Now

Hebrews 1:1-2 tells us:

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets… but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…”

The author of Hebrews spoke of the “last days” 2,000 years ago. Now, in 2026, we still hear that we are in the end times. The difference is that the “last days” describes a season of preparation. Whether Jesus returns tomorrow or years from now, the guarantee remains: You will never regret repenting and accepting Christ.

How wonderful it is that the Heir of all things—the Creator of the universe—remembers us. As 2 Corinthians 6:2b says, “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

A Prayer of Salvation

If you are ready to make that choice today, pray this with me:

“Dear God, I know that I’m a sinner. I believe that Jesus, Your Son, died on the cross for my sins and rose on the third day. I now repent of my sins and personally invite Jesus and the Holy Spirit into my life. Thank you for cleansing my heart and hearing my prayer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Welcome to the family of God! Your next step is to get connected to a local, Bible-teaching church (I highly recommend Calvary Chapel) and begin reading your Bible every day.

God bless you!

by TA York

Commentary: 1 John 2:7-14

1 John 2:7-8

“Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.”

John begins with a paradox. He speaks of a command that is both old and new. To understand this, we must look at “the beginning.” John identifies Jesus Himself as the Beginning (see John 1:1, 14). In this sense, the command to love is as old as the Gospel itself.

So, what makes it “new”? Jesus defines it in John 13:34-35:

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

The “newness” isn’t the concept of love, but the standard of love: we are to love as Christ loved us. This isn’t the conditional love the world offers, nor is it merely the natural affection we feel for family. This is Agape—a sacrificial care that values others enough to share Jesus with them through both word and deed.

Every Saturday, I visit an elderly lady who has been bedridden since 2020. She has no family, struggles with depression, and often complains. I listen patiently. My friends and I buy things to make her comfortable; they read, pray, and sing to her. I have even tried to get on her official family list at her facility, though the administrator hasn’t called me back yet.

The world might say, “Why waste so much effort on one woman?” A seeker of platforms might say, “She is just one person; I need a crowd.” But Christ says, “I died for this woman; do not neglect her.” This is how we live out verse 8—by letting the darkness pass away as the true light shines through our actions. The more you pursue the Truth that is Jesus, the more His light radiates through you.

1 John 2:9-11

“Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.”

In Greek, the word for “hate” can imply “to love less.” Gandhi once famously said, “I love Christ, but I hate the Christians.” Sadly, we Christians can be so full of ourselves—judgmental, argumentative, and spiteful. When we push others away with our attitudes, that is the darkness in our hearts.

Imagine walking a dark trail. Even if you are careful, you will eventually stumble. A flashlight provides sure footing, but the ultimate clarity comes from walking in the daytime. To “walk in the day” means to examine yourself through the Holy Spirit. It means taking off the mask, forgetting your ego in prayer, and becoming a child crying out to “Abba.”

1 John 2:12-14 John addresses three stages of spiritual maturity: Children, Young Men, and Fathers.

Children: We begin by learning the foundations—forgiveness, our connection to the Father, and our identity in Christ.

Young Men: As we grow, we learn to overcome. We apply what we learned as children to defeat the enemy and our “old selves,” strengthened by the Word. As they say in seminary: “You can’t have a testimony without a test.”

Fathers: These are the mentors. They use their life experiences and the wisdom gained along the road to give back and increase the Kingdom. They have a testimony to share.

I’ve found that learning about God is a lifelong process. We don’t “graduate” from one level and forget it; we are often a child, a young man, and a father all at once. We revisit these stages as we uncover more about the Triune God. That is the beauty of the Bible—it meets us exactly where we are, changing as we change.

Press on, good pilgrims.

God bless.