Digging Deeper: Upside-Down Living Leads to True Joy

Avatar photo Larry Grays on May 1, 2026

 

“When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven.”

Luke 6:23 (NLT)


UPSIDE-DOWN LIVING LEADS TO TRUE JOY

 

A pastor once joked that he tried eating healthy for a week, but then someone brought donuts to church. He said, “I realized my joy is not in vegetables; it’s in frosting.” Everyone laughed, but it made a point: we often choose what feels good now instead of what’s truly good.

Jesus flips that thinking upside down. In Luke 6:22–23, He describes people being rejected, mocked, and excluded for following Him. Then He says something surprising: “Be happy… leap for joy.” Why would anyone respond that way? Because their reward isn’t based on what’s happening now; it’s based on what’s coming later.

Jesus is teaching us to live with eternity in view. When we understand that God sees, rewards, and restores, it changes how we respond to hardship. The world says happiness comes from comfort and approval. Jesus says it comes from faithfulness and trust. And when we live that way, we experience a kind of joy that circumstances can’t take away.

Reflection Questions

  • Are you living more for the present or for eternity?
  • What would it look like to trust God’s reward over immediate comfort?

Suggested Prayer
Lord, help me live for what lasts. Give me joy that is rooted in You, not in my circumstances.

 

Dr. Larry Grays is passionate about helping churches grow and reaching people in fresh, creative ways. He launched a church in a Midtown Atlanta movie theater and later served as an Urban Church Planting Strategist with the North American Mission Board. Today, he speaks, writes, and coaches pastors and leaders. Larry has degrees from UCF, Southeastern Seminary, and Southern Seminary—but more importantly, he loves Jesus, good coffee, and seeing the next generation step into their calling. He and his wife Lori love raising their incredible kids and love doing life and ministry together.

Digging Deeper: Happiness is Found in Who I Follow

Avatar photo Larry Grays on April 30, 2026

 

“God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied.”

Luke 6:21 (NLT)


HAPPINESS IS FOUND IN WHO I FOLLOW

 

There was a man standing before a judge in California for shooting a Condor. This a protected bird and people who kill them must pay the consequences. The man pleaded with the judge by saying, “I just arrived in this state, and I have never seen a bird that large before. I was hungry and could not help myself to shoot and eat it. The judge said, “I forgive you, just don’t let it happen again!” The man replied,” Yes, sir!” The judge curious about the bird asked the man how did it taste? The man replied, “Oh, I guess somewhere between a Whooping Crane and a spotted owl.”

When Jesus talks about being “hungry,” He’s describing a deep longing, not just for food, but for what is right and good in God’s eyes. This kind of hunger is a sign of spiritual life. When someone is physically hungry, it drives them to seek food. In the same way, spiritual hunger drives us toward God. It creates a desire for His truth, His presence, and His ways. Jesus promises something powerful: “you will be satisfied.” That doesn’t mean life becomes easy. It means our deepest needs are met in Him. Even in difficult circumstances, there is a steady sense of fulfillment that comes from walking with Christ.

Jesus also talks about weeping and rejection. These aren’t random hardships, they often come as a result of following Him. But they don’t cancel happiness, they deepen it. True happiness is not about avoiding difficulty. It’s about being anchored to Jesus in the middle of it.

Reflection Questions

  • What are you truly hungry for right now?
  • How can you pursue God more intentionally this week?

Suggested Prayer
Jesus, give me a deeper hunger for You. Help me find satisfaction in following You.

 

Dr. Larry Grays is passionate about helping churches grow and reaching people in fresh, creative ways. He launched a church in a Midtown Atlanta movie theater and later served as an Urban Church Planting Strategist with the North American Mission Board. Today, he speaks, writes, and coaches pastors and leaders. Larry has degrees from UCF, Southeastern Seminary, and Southern Seminary—but more importantly, he loves Jesus, good coffee, and seeing the next generation step into their calling. He and his wife Lori love raising their incredible kids and love doing life and ministry together.

God’s Calling on Your Life

Kevin Burrell on April 29, 2026

 

“I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Jeremiah 1:5

 

GOD’S CALLING ON YOUR LIFE

Recently, I had a conversation with a D1 college head baseball coach. He made an interesting statement. He said, “I am a follower of Christ. I am a believer, but I am not equipped and feel inadequate about my spiritual calling and purpose as a coach where God has planted me.”

Quite honestly, I sense that this is the experience of many who are in the same position as this head coach.

In Jeremiah 1:5, this powerful declaration from God to the young prophet Jeremiah reveals God’s sovereign purpose over our lives. Even before Jeremiah existed, God had already decided his identity and calling.

The verse divides into three clear sections, each building on the previous one, and shows the depth of God’s intentional plan for Jeremiah’s life—and your life as well.

• “I chose you before I formed you in the womb.”

You are not an accident. Before your parents met, before your first heartbeat, before any of your successes or failures, God already chose you. This brings deep security: your worth is not earned but given. When you feel unseen or unqualified, untrained or inadequate, remember that God’s choice of you happened in eternity past, before the foundation of the world.

Q: Where in your life are you still trying to “earn” God’s love instead of resting in the fact that He already chose you?

• “I set you apart before you were born.”

Being “set apart” means you are called to be different, not for your own glory, but for God’s. It can feel uncomfortable (Jeremiah certainly felt inadequate), but it protects you and equips you for what God has prepared. It is God’s responsibility to see it through. He consecrated you. He sanctified you. He set you apart. Therefore, He will see it through. In a world that pressures us to blend in, this is a reminder that your distinctiveness is a gift, not a burden.

Q: What areas of your life does God want you to live as “set apart” right now—perhaps in your time, relationships, speech, career, or ambitions?

• “I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

God’s calling on your life is bigger than your comfort zone. You may not be a prophet, but God has appointed you for a purpose, whether as a coach, scout, parent, friend, or disciple-making leader. Your assignment flows out of your identity (chosen and set apart). Even when the task feels too big, the same God who appointed you will empower you.

Q: What specific “appointment” or role is God calling you into right now? Are you resisting it because of fear, like Jeremiah did initially?

Listen closely: God is speaking directly to you through Jeremiah 1:5. Before you took your first breath, God looked at your life and made three unshakable declarations:

He chose you.
He set you apart.
He appointed you.

Let that sink deep inside your soul.

Stop living like you have to earn a place in God’s heart. You were marked as His before you were born. You have a specific purpose and assignment on this earth. It is bigger than your comfort, your fears, and your excuses. The same God who called Jeremiah to speak to nations is the same God who is calling you to your own mission, right where He has planted you.

Now rise up and walk in it. The God who formed you is with you. The God who called you will equip you. The question is no longer “Are you enough?” but “Will you trust and obey the One who is?”

You were chosen for such a time as this. Go live like it.

 

Love God. Love People. Live Sent.

Be Worth Being.

Kevin

 

Kevin Burrell has worked in professional baseball as both a player and MLB scout for the past 45 years, and currently serves as an area scouting supervisor. Kevin was drafted in the 1st round of the 1981 free agent amateur draft (25th selection overall), and played ten years of professional baseball with four different organizations. He and his wife, Valerie, live in Sharpsburg, Ga.

Digging Deeper: Happiness is not Found in What I Accomplish

Avatar photo Larry Grays on April 29, 2026

 

“What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds…”

Luke 6:26 (NLT)


HAPPINESS IS NOT FOUND IN WHAT I ACCOMPLISH

 

A guy once posted a picture online and kept checking his phone every few minutes for likes. After a while, he said, “Maybe people just haven’t seen it yet.” His friend replied, “Or maybe your value isn’t measured in likes.” It’s funny, but it hits close to home for some of us.

Jesus addresses this in verse 26. Being praised by others feels good, but it’s not a solid foundation for life. In fact, Jesus points out that even false prophets were praised. In other words, approval doesn’t equal truth. The problem with living for applause is that it never lasts. If your identity is built on what people think, it will constantly rise and fall.

Jesus is showing us that accomplishment and recognition cannot sustain real happiness. They’re temporary and fragile. At NorthStar, we talk about finding our identity in Christ, not in performance. That’s exactly what Jesus is calling us to here.

Reflection Questions

  • How much does approval from others shape your decisions?
  • Where can you root your identity more firmly in Christ?

Suggested Prayer
Lord, free me from needing approval. Help me find my identity in You.

 

Dr. Larry Grays is passionate about helping churches grow and reaching people in fresh, creative ways. He launched a church in a Midtown Atlanta movie theater and later served as an Urban Church Planting Strategist with the North American Mission Board. Today, he speaks, writes, and coaches pastors and leaders. Larry has degrees from UCF, Southeastern Seminary, and Southern Seminary—but more importantly, he loves Jesus, good coffee, and seeing the next generation step into their calling. He and his wife Lori love raising their incredible kids and love doing life and ministry together.

Digging Deeper: Happiness is not Found in What I Accumulate

Avatar photo Larry Grays on April 28, 2026

 

“What sorrow awaits you who are rich, for you have your only happiness now.”

Luke 6:24 (NLT)


HAPPINESS IS NOT FOUND IN WHAT I ACCUMULATE

 

There have been many documented cases of lottery winners who thought they had found the dream life, only to discover the opposite. One well-known story involved a man who won millions, upgraded everything in his life, and left his job. But within a few years, he described feeling more anxious, more isolated, and less fulfilled than before. What he gained externally didn’t fix what was missing internally.

Jesus warns about that exact danger. In Luke 6:24–25, He isn’t saying money is evil. He’s saying it can become a substitute for God. The phrase “you have your only happiness now” reveals the issue: if what we have is enough for us, we stop looking to God.

That’s the danger of comfort. It can quietly convince us we don’t need anything more. But real life isn’t built on what we accumulate; it’s built on what we trust. Jesus is inviting us to see that possessions can never satisfy the deepest needs of our hearts.

Reflection Questions

  • What are you relying on for security right now?
  • How can you shift your trust back to God?

Suggested Prayer
Father, help me not to depend on what I have. Teach me to trust You fully.

 

Dr. Larry Grays is passionate about helping churches grow and reaching people in fresh, creative ways. He launched a church in a Midtown Atlanta movie theater and later served as an Urban Church Planting Strategist with the North American Mission Board. Today, he speaks, writes, and coaches pastors and leaders. Larry has degrees from UCF, Southeastern Seminary, and Southern Seminary—but more importantly, he loves Jesus, good coffee, and seeing the next generation step into their calling. He and his wife Lori love raising their incredible kids and love doing life and ministry together.

Digging Deeper: Happiness Redefined

Avatar photo Larry Grays on April 27, 2026

 

“God blesses you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours.”

Luke 6:20 (NLT)


HAPPINESS REDEFINED

 

A man once bought a “simple” desk that required assembly and decided he didn’t need the instructions. Two hours later, he had leftover screws, a crooked frame, and a drawer that only opened halfway. He finally admitted, “Maybe the designer knew what he was doing.”

That’s exactly what Jesus is doing in Luke 6: correcting how we think life works. When Jesus says, “God blesses you,” He’s talking about a deep, lasting kind of happiness, not just a good mood or a comfortable life. And when He says, “the poor,” He’s not praising poverty itself. He’s pointing to people who recognize their need for God.

That’s the key: true happiness begins with dependence on God. The crowd expected Jesus to talk about improving their situation. Instead, He points to their heart. The issue isn’t what we have; it’s whether we realize we need Him. Real life change starts from the inside out. That’s exactly what Jesus is teaching here.

Reflection Questions

  • How have you been defining happiness lately?
  • Where do you need to depend more on God?

Suggested Prayer
Lord, help me stop chasing shallow happiness. Teach me to find real joy in You.

 

Dr. Larry Grays is passionate about helping churches grow and reaching people in fresh, creative ways. He launched a church in a Midtown Atlanta movie theater and later served as an Urban Church Planting Strategist with the North American Mission Board. Today, he speaks, writes, and coaches pastors and leaders. Larry has degrees from UCF, Southeastern Seminary, and Southern Seminary—but more importantly, he loves Jesus, good coffee, and seeing the next generation step into their calling. He and his wife Lori love raising their incredible kids and love doing life and ministry together.

Digging Deeper: Find Your Purpose

Avatar photo Phil Meade on April 24, 2026

 

17 And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people . . . 18 who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all (Luke 6:17a, 18-19, ESV).

1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction (Matt 10:1).

14 And he appointed twelve. . . so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons

Mark 3:14-15 (ESV)


FIND YOUR PURPOSE

 

I think one yearning that all human beings possess is the desire to find our life’s purpose. All Christians believe that although we are “in this world but not of this world” (John 17:11, 14), God has left us here to accomplish His purpose and plan. Jesus is a prime example of someone who came into the world with a very distinct purpose: to show the world the Father and to live fully in the will of His Father.

As we see in the first passage of today’s Scripture reading—Luke 6—Jesus chooses His twelve apostles and finds Himself confronted by a great crowd (v. 17). There are numerous instances in the Gospels where Jesus is met by large crowds of people seeking to hear His teachings and to be healed of their infirmities (v. 18a). Jesus does not hesitate to drive out unclean spirits and heal all those who approach Him (vv. 18b–19).

In the final two passages for today—Matthew 10 and Mark 3—we see Jesus giving His twelve apostles the same gifts and authority that He displays: casting out spirits, healing disease, and preaching the Gospel. Jesus empowers His closest followers to live out the purpose for which He has chosen them. They are to be His “witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). While we may not be empowered to heal the sick or cast out demons, we are most certainly equipped—and emphatically called—to be witnesses for Christ to all we encounter (see the Great Commission in Matthew 28). That is the primary purpose for which God has called us.

Rick Warren, in his bestselling book The Purpose Driven Life, notes that there are two ways to attempt to answer the question of one’s purpose: “speculation” and “revelation.” Philosophers have spent countless centuries speculating (guessing) about the purpose of life, to no avail. Rick Warren writes, “The easiest way to discover the purpose of an invention is to ask the creator of it.” The same is true for discovering your life’s purpose: ask God. God, through the revelation contained in His Word, answers our most basic question: Why am I here? If you are struggling to answer that question, open God’s Word and discover Upside Down Living—the Ordinary for the Extraordinary!


Digging Deeper (er):

Rom 8:28; Rom 12:2; Eph 2:10.

Phil Meade is a father of 3, and grandfather of 6. He has a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and lives in Acworth. He has led various small groups throughout his 25 years attending NS. He retired after 8 years as an Air Force pilot, and 33 years as a Delta pilot.

 

Digging Deeper: God Will Equip

Avatar photo Phil Meade on April 23, 2026

 

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ

Ephesians 4:11-12 (ESV)


GOD WILL EQUIP

 

In his book Twelve Ordinary Men, John MacArthur writes:

“The Twelve were like the rest of us; they were selected from the unworthy and the unqualified… Many Christians become discouraged and disheartened when their spiritual life and witness suffer because of sin or failure. We tend to think we’re worthless nobodies—and left to ourselves, that would be true! But worthless nobodies are just the kind of people God uses, because that is all He has to work with.”

Do you ever feel “unworthy” or “unqualified”? Join the club! I am sure all of us, at one time or another, have felt spiritually “inept” to accomplish the calling Jesus has placed on our lives. The original twelve apostles do not hesitate to follow Jesus at His calling. However, I am sure they had their doubts about their qualifications when His plan became apparent to them. Fortunately for them—and for us—the Holy Spirit equips those who follow Jesus for the task.

Most of us have probably taken a “Spiritual Gifts” survey. A partial list of spiritual gifts includes administration, evangelism, giving, leadership, pastor/shepherd, service, and teaching. Paul writes regarding spiritual gifts, “All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as He wills” (1 Cor. 12:11, ESV). The Spirit fills each believer with certain gifts and talents for the benefit of the body of Christ.

I believe two of my spiritual gifts are giving and teaching, although I admit I sometimes struggle with being generous with my finances. When I need a subtle reminder of my role as a steward of God’s blessings, I think of Mike’s frequent encouragement to receive blessings with open hands. When I need a more forceful reminder, I read the “bigger barn” parable (Luke 12). I have led various small groups over the years and have always found joy in the experience. I personally believe that one of the ways God affirms our spiritual gifts is by allowing us to experience joy while using them. I remember being very hesitant before my first mission trip, but the joy I experienced during that time confirmed that I was using one of my gifts.

I encourage you to complete a spiritual gifts assessment (they are readily available online). Try to answer the questions honestly—don’t attempt to influence the outcome you may have already predetermined. You may be surprised by the results, or they may simply confirm what you already know. Another way to discern your spiritual gifts is to ask someone who knows you well for an honest assessment of your talents and abilities.

The bottom line: don’t let the enemy discourage you from using all that God has equipped you for in service to His Kingdom.


Digging Deeper (er):

Luke 12:16-21; Rom 12:6-8; 1 Pet 4:10.

Phil Meade is a father of 3, and grandfather of 6. He has a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and lives in Acworth. He has led various small groups throughout his 25 years attending NS. He retired after 8 years as an Air Force pilot, and 33 years as a Delta pilot.

 

Pressure or Priority

Kevin Burrell on April 22, 2026

 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

 

PRESSURE OR PRIORITY

It was the fall of 2015 in Conway, South Carolina. Head baseball coach Gary Gilmore stood near the dugout. The stadium was nearly empty; however, Coach Gilmore could still hear it.

The noise.
The expectations.
The pressure.

For years, it had followed him.

• Win the CWS.
• Build a national program.
• Make history.
• Do more. Be more. Prove it again.

Every season became a new test. Every game carried weight. Every decision felt like it had something riding on it.

Players saw it, and coaches felt it. Coach Gilmore was leading and coaching by “pressure,” not “priority.”

Then, one fall afternoon in 2015, I slipped Coach Gilmore a book called Lead for God’s Sake and asked him to read it. He did, and it transformed his focus and impacted the 2016 season.

Coach Gilmore began living, leading, and coaching by “priority,” not “pressure.”

The pressure to win hadn’t disappeared; however, it no longer dominated and controlled his life.

Priority did. Loving God, loving people, and loving his players.

As the 2016 season went on, fans would still talk about wins, records, and the potential for a CWS championship run.

However, the players—those who sat in the dugout, rode the bus, heard the words, and felt the shift—carried something deeper within them.

How?

Because Coach Gilmore had learned something that changed everything:

“Pressure” builds performance, but “priority” builds people.

And at the end of that magical 2016 season, Coach Gilmore was a Division I College World Series champion.

All because he chose to live, coach, and manage his life under “priority,” not “pressure.”

In a similar way, there are common cultural forces that seek to shape our choices and identity to live under “pressure.”

• Performance and success
• Appearance and image
• Position and power
• Popularity and approval
• Possessions and materialism
• Independence and self-reliance

In contrast, Scripture consistently redirects our focus toward living our lives under “priority.”

• Relationship with God
• Character, conduct, and integrity
• Love for others
• Eternal perspective and impact
• Dependence on God

Listen closely: The world says, “Prove yourself, impress others, and get more.” That is managing life under “pressure.”

God says, “Know me, love others, and trust me.” That is managing life under “priority.”

Which way are you living your life?

Pressure or priority?

Just ask Coach Gilmore.

 

Love God. Love People. Live Sent.

Be Worth Being.

Kevin

 

Kevin Burrell has worked in professional baseball as both a player and MLB scout for the past 45 years, and currently serves as an area scouting supervisor. Kevin was drafted in the 1st round of the 1981 free agent amateur draft (25th selection overall), and played ten years of professional baseball with four different organizations. He and his wife, Valerie, live in Sharpsburg, Ga.

Digging Deeper: Learn from the Master

Avatar photo Phil Meade on April 22, 2026

 

13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve

Luke 6:13 (ESV)


LEARN FROM THE MASTER

 

According to Webster’s Dictionary, the word disciple means “one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another.” Synonyms for disciple include devotee, adherent, follower, and pupil. In Jesus’ time, the role of a disciple was to physically follow in the footsteps of a teacher or rabbi. They were to learn by listening to the words and observing the actions of their teacher.

James Earley writes, “It is a formal challenge to live with, learn from, and study under Rabbi Jesus. It is a call to be close to Him, obey His teachings, take the same path He takes, and walk the same road He walked. It involves daily growth and development at the expense of personal comfort.” Notice that discipleship not only involves study, but also requires immersing oneself completely in the daily life of the teacher.

Unfortunately, we don’t have Jesus with us here on earth (yet), but we do have the Word of God readily available. I assume that if you are reading this devotional, you have spent some time in the Bible. I also assume that at some point you may have participated in a Bible study. To be a disciple of Jesus, we must not only read the Word but also study it to understand its fuller meaning. This two-step process allows the truth of Scripture to move from head to heart. When you read Scripture, have a commentary handy to help you understand the context of the passage. Join a small group that helps you take the words you read to heart and apply them to your daily life.

During His earthly ministry, Jesus had many disciples who followed Him. Most of them likely fell away after experiencing hardship or disappointment. Fortunately for the Church, a core group of followers endured all challenges and spread the Gospel throughout the world. Jesus chose twelve of His disciples to be apostles. The Greek word for apostle is apostolos, meaning “sent one.” In the first century AD, an apostle was a chosen representative—someone sent to carry a message to others. The twelve apostles were called to take what they learned from their time with Jesus and go into the world as His representatives.

Although I personally believe that the Apostolic Age ended with the death of the last of the original twelve disciples (John), I also believe that we, as modern-day Christians, are called to be representatives and messengers of Christ. “Live Sent” is one of the core principles of NorthStar. Paul writes, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news” (Rom. 10:15b). He reminds the church in Rome that to be saved, one must “call on the name of the Lord” (Rom. 10:13). Paul then connects the sequence clearly: one must believe to call, hear to believe, preach to hear, and be sent to preach. May we, as representatives of Jesus, become those “beautiful feet” in a broken world.


Digging Deeper (er):

Rom 10:13-15; 2 Tim 3:16; 2 John 1:9.

Phil Meade is a father of 3, and grandfather of 6. He has a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and lives in Acworth. He has led various small groups throughout his 25 years attending NS. He retired after 8 years as an Air Force pilot, and 33 years as a Delta pilot.