Sarah Jefferson – Page 2 – NorthStar Church Blog

Digging Deeper: Dwelling at God’s Altar

Sarah Jefferson on November 22, 2024

“The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while.”

1 Peter 5:10 (CSB)

DWELLING AT GOD’S ALTAR

So what do we do with this suffering Peter is warning us of? He tells us in verse 9, “Resist him, firm in the faith…” But how do we resist this lion looking to devour our souls?

Psalm 84 says, “How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord of Armies. I long and yearn for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh cry out for the living God. Even a sparrow finds a home and a swallow, a nest for herself where she places her young — near your altars, Lord of Armies, my King and my God.”

What an interesting choice to talk about the sparrow and the swallow. These are interesting birds because they’re nothing birds. In Jesus’ day, they had very little value. And they were messy.

Have you ever been out on a boat, maybe on Allatoona? If you go under an overpass, the bridges that cross the lake, and look up, you’ll see these mud nests. Those are sparrow nests.

These birds would build their nests in little nooks and crannies around the temple, and they were a mess. They were loose, misshapen nests made of whatever they could find, or they were made out of mud. But there they were–near His altar.

He could have written about any beautiful, prized, put-together bird here. Birds with nests that are planned, polished, clean, and fully put together. Birds that hold worldly value, whose soar demands the respect of others. But he chose the sparrow and the swallow. Why do you think that is?

Because that’s you, and that’s me. And that’s the call He has placed on our lives! Bring your mess, your filth, your unpolished world, and live your life near His altar–and dwell there.

I did a word study of altar. Are you ready? [Altar]: a place of sacrifice AND thanksgiving, a place where God brings change.

We resist the devil and stand firm in the faith when we build our lives at His altar. When we allow Him to empower us in the hard seasons, whatever it is, and determine to set our hearts on following Jesus, wherever He leads us. When we suffer and weep–because we will–He takes our tears and makes them refreshing–and a place of blessing. We’ll look back and see we moved from strength to strength, empowering to empowering, one situation at a time. Why? Because we’ve camped our lives–every aspect of it–on Jesus, at His altar–His place of transformation.

Only Jesus can do that. There’s no other route, no other way, no other choice that can give you this kind of “return” on obedience, surrender, and sheer determination to follow Him.

Sarah Jefferson is married to Curtis and the mother to Grey, Sanders, and Collins. She is a rare Atlanta native, currently living in Acworth. Sarah began her career in public relations in the sports industry. Now, she is a high school English teacher Mt. Paran Christian School. When she’s not teaching, you can find her running or hiking the beautiful trails of north Georgia and spending time with her busy family.

Digging Deeper: The Enemy’s Prowling, So Expect Suffering

Sarah Jefferson on November 21, 2024

“Your adversary, the devil, is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.”

1 Peter 5:8-9 (CSB)

THE ENEMY’S PROWLING, SO EXPECT SUFFERING

As a writer and fellow lover of words, I absolutely love Peter’s writing style. He uses strong words and powerful language to communicate his message. He cuts to the chase, calling Jesus’ followers up not only to the reality of the calling on their lives but also to the beauty in it all.

But as we read his description of the enemy, I can’t help but wonder why Peter was writing like this. He’s concluding his letter that essentially tells Jesus’ followers, “Hey, Jesus suffered, and you need to prepare yourself that you’re going to suffer too.”

Prowling, by definition, means to move about or wander stealthily in search of prey. Perhaps, Peter learned that lions prefer to do their hunting when it’s dark. Maybe he was taught that lions also like to hunt during storms because the noise of the wind, rain, and thunder makes it hard for their prey to see or hear them coming. It’s even possible that Peter observed lions stalk their prey. All of this is true of the nature of lions.

Or, maybe Peter wrote like that because he had lived it.

Remember, it was during the Last Supper (Luke 22) that Jesus said to Peter, “Look out, Peter. Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” And Peter replies proudly, likely with the same emotionally charged boldness he had in the garden, “Lord, I’m ready to go with you to prison and even death.” And can’t you just imagine Jesus’ face falling and his voice lowering a bit, looking deeply into Peter’s eyes, saying, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you even know me.

It can be easy to look at pages and scripture and honestly just feel like it’s all unrelatable. But if we strip away the modern ways of the world, the pages of scripture are filled with fallible people like you and me. While Peter wasn’t perfect, he’s the same man Jesus said he would build his church on and even the gates of hell could not overthrow (Matthew 16).

If you follow Jesus–and you should–you will suffer. Peter strongly warns us that the enemy is real, and he’s looking to sink his teeth into those who don’t see him coming. But the other thing I hope we see is that Peter is the gift the Lord gave us to show us he’s not looking to use perfect people–he’s looking to use the bold, repenting, and willing. Don’t allow your past sin to keep you from leaning into all God is calling you to.

Digging Deeper: Humility Lightens Our Burden

Sarah Jefferson on November 20, 2024

“All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exact you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:6-7 (CSB)

HUMILITY LIGHTENS OUR BURDEN

Since 2020, I feel like we have been frogs in the pot of ever-increasing tensions among Americans. We certainly are not lacking for things to divide us.

This passage from 1 Peter encourages us to embrace humility as both a garment we put on and a posture we take before God and others. To “clothe yourselves with humility” calls us to make humility a visible part of who we are. We are all image-bearers created to display God’s glory regardless of our circumstances. When we approach others with humility, we’re choosing to respect and value them, acknowledging that everyone is worthy of love and respect in God’s eyes. God honors this attitude by extending His grace toward us in ways we may not even expect.

God’s promise here is beautiful and freeing, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time.” This is not about looking down on ourselves or pretending to be less. It’s not about pretending at all. This call to humility is about real about who we are and our need for Jesus and surrendering our plans and purposes for our lives believing His are better. When we submit to His timing, we can rest knowing that He will lift us up and fulfill His purposes in our lives at just the right time.

Finally, Peter reminds us to “cast all your cares on him because he cares for you.” Early in our marriage, I distinctly felt the Lord telling me, “Sarah, before you complain about Curtis, just tell me.” What I have learned through bringing all of my concerns in marriage, parenting, work, and friendships to him is that most often, He’s inviting me to see Him more clearly and know Him more fully. Humility means recognizing that we don’t have to carry our burdens alone. When we let go of pride and self-sufficiency, we make room for the Holy Spirit to work in our lives to strengthen and support us in all He’s calling us to, experiencing His care in a deeply personal way.

Peter’s warning about suffering, followed by casting our cares on the Lord, isn’t a coincidence. We are only able to suffer well when we allow the Lord to carry the heaviness of all that’s hard in our lives. As Christ-followers, we must develop our prayer life so that whether we are struggling in sin or weighed down by our circumstances, we run to our Father to tell him.

In his book Desiring God, John Piper wrote, “Prayer is not a task to be completed, but a relationship to be cultivated.” Today, let’s lean in and ask God to clothe us in humility, trusting His mighty hand and resting in His profound love for us. There’s a dying world that needs to experience our kindness and love for them in order to see the hope we have in Jesus.

Digging Deeper: Humble Submission

Sarah Jefferson on November 19, 2024

“In the same way, you who are younger be subject to the elders.”

1 Peter 5:5 (CSB)

HUMBLE SUBMISSION

Peter opens the chapter by talking directly to those in leadership within the church and commanding them to shepherd the flock. That is to say, their jobs are to preserve and protect the sheep–that’s you and me. It could be easy to read a passage like this with a hand on our hips posture, looking at church leadership passive-aggressively to do just that. And there’s no denying this is within their job descriptions.

However, there is an important aspect worth considering. Are we willing to follow? You see, church leaders can only lead to the degree to which their sheep are willing to follow. While some may consider submission a four-letter word, Jesus’ life and ministry modeled a life of humble submission, ultimately calling us to the same. So, what does humble submission look like for those of us who are members of this body of believers at NorthStar?

A willingness to be known.

In a world of perfectly filtered squares, social media has led us to believe highlight reels are real life. The truth is, there are no perfect churches, marriages, children, schools, and the list goes on. But as we struggle in those areas, we must be willing to be real so that church leaders can come alongside to love and lead us. Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” This is how we love one another and spur each other on to the deeper things God is calling us to.

A teachable spirit.

Being known isn’t the answer to this humble, submissive spirit if we aren’t also willing to be teachable. This isn’t easy. Yet, Proverbs 12:1 tells us plainly, “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but one who hates correction is stupid.” As we grow in our knowledge of God’s word, we allow sanctification to have its way in our lives as we allow others to encourage us to love and respect our spouses, to parent our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, to view our time, talents and treasures in a way that glorifies the Lord.

A posture of prayer.

We are undoubtedly living in times when we are seeing Christian leaders, in their humanity, fall short of God’s call on their lives. In one story, a pastor admitted he was leading from an empty place. Are we praying intently for our leaders that they would be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and that God would give them a hunger and thirst for His word? Are we asking for an extra measure of boldness to preach all of God’s word, even when it steps on our toes? Are we covering their marriages and families, asking that God might protect them and be glorified in their lives?

Yes, Peter is calling our church leaders up, but he is calling us up, too. God’s created order within the church gives us the freedom to love God, love others, and live sent in a world that desperately needs the hope we have in Jesus.

Digging Deeper: Christ’s Grace Shaped Peter’s Leadership

Sarah Jefferson on November 18, 2024

“Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”

1 Peter 5:2-3 (CSB)

CHRIST’S GRACE SHAPED PETER’S LEADERSHIP

Peter doesn’t mince words when he speaks to leaders within the church. He calls them to shepherd but clarifies that they should do so willingly and set an example for those they lead. But why would he place so much emphasis on the way they shepherd?

Perhaps his own failures lurked as a not-too-distant memory. He was the disciple who walked on water with Jesus, yet all too quickly rushed to defend Jesus in the garden. In John 6, when some of His disciples found it hard to follow and accept His teachings, Jesus asked the remaining disciples if they wanted to go away too. And Peter replies so authentically, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Later, he would deny three times even knowing Jesus.

However, I believe Jesus’ words and example had a far more lasting impact on his ministry than any of his failures. During the Last Supper, Jesus says, “Simon, Simon, look out. Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32).

Jesus isn’t simply telling Peter of a specific sin he will commit but ultimately speaking of a life of suffering to come for the sake of Jesus’ call on his life. In his kindness, Jesus adds his prayer that his faith would not fail so that he might strengthen his brothers.

Fallible as he was, Peter was a pivotal leader in building the church. In Matthew 16, Jesus told him, “On this rock, I will build my church.” Peter made mistakes, but God’s plans and purposes prevailed, and even the powers of hell could not overcome them. And Peter is now imploring fellow leaders to understand and walk out the high calling of leading God’s chosen people.

This is convicting in a time when churchgoers often take the posture of consumers, looking to pastors and leaders to perform, entertain, and lead perfect lives without sin or struggle. Yet Peter’s life shows us that pastors and leaders within the church can deeply love the Lord, be eager to serve, and still show their humanity.

Paul encourages church leaders in Titus 1 to “Hold to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able to both encourage with sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.” As our campus transitions through the Whatever It Takes campaign, it will be easy to focus on minor inconveniences. Yet we have this glorious opportunity to model Jesus by praying for our church leaders that their faith would not fail, that their work might strengthen the members, and that they might hold fast to God’s word. That’s doing whatever it takes. That’s the foundation God uses to build eternity in the hearts of those who still need Jesus.

Digging Deeper: How Can I Know?

Sarah Jefferson on June 7, 2024

But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?”

Genesis 15:8 (CSB)

HOW CAN I KNOW?

Here, we find Abram, the father of faith, wrestling with a question that often plagues us all: How can I know? How can I know that the promises of God will come to pass in my life? It’s a question rooted in our human nature and in our desire for certainty in the midst of the uncertain.

God, in His infinite wisdom and love, doesn’t rebuke Abram for his question. Instead, He provides a tangible sign of His covenant faithfulness. He instructs Abram to bring specific animals for a sacrifice. Abram obeys, cutting them in two and arranging the halves opposite each other.

In those times, when a covenant was made, both parties would walk between the slain animals, symbolically showing that if either broke their side of the agreement, the offending party would suffer the same fate as the animals. Today, in a court, people place their hand on a Bible and swear their testimony is true.

Similarly, when the smoking pot and the flaming torch passed through the animals, God walked through for both of them, showing that the covenant was dependent on God alone.

When, like Abram, we ask God, “How can I know?” He responds the same way, swearing by Himself. In Isaiah 45, He says, “There is no other God but me, a righteous God and Savior, there is no one except me. Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth. For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn; truth has gone from my mouth, a word that will not be revoked …”

If we believe in God for salvation, can we not also trust His call to walk with Him in the new and unknown? He’s not asking us to have it all figured out. He does. He’s simply asking us, “Do you believe? Will you trust Me?” Friends, this is where the rubber meets the road in our faith walk. Our faith will only grow to the degree that we’re willing to follow. He has sworn by Himself to work all the events of our lives together for our good and His glory. Don’t miss the promised land simply because you don’t have all the answers to your questions.

Sarah Jefferson is married to Curtis and the mother to Grey, Sanders and Collins. She is a rare Atlanta native, currently living in Acworth. Sarah began her career in public relations in the sports industry. Now, she writes web content for a variety of companies and ministries. When she’s not writing or blogging, you can find her running or hiking the beautiful trails of north Georgia and spending time with her busy family.

Digging Deeper: True Belief

Sarah Jefferson on June 6, 2024

“Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”

Genesis 15:6 (CSB)

TRUE BELIEF

We’re four days into Abram’s faith journey. He has been called to leave everything familiar and go. Without any other information, Abram obeys. It’s easy to read these stories and feel that their obedience plays out perfectly, without any doubts. But Abram’s story shows us that even after being called and told who God would be to him and for him, he still has fears.

Yesterday, we saw Abram confess those fears to the Lord and even begin to imagine how this would play out in his power. God patiently reminds Abram that it won’t have anything to do with his power but the endless power of His Creator. Abram’s response here is worth sitting with. Scripture says, “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”

Webster defines believe as “considering to be true or honest, to accept the word or evidence of.” We toss around this word believe a lot, and I think it’s lost its actual value biblically. For example, we believe diet and exercise benefit our health, yet many don’t live active, healthy lifestyles. We believe our words matter, yet we often fall prey to sharp words and responses. Abram has banked his whole life on this promise. Like a person skydiving believes the parachute will see him safely to the ground, God calls us to believe Him this way. To throw ourselves from the comforts of life into the unknown plans of a faithful God.

Brandon Lake writes these lyrics:

I see you, child
Though you can’t see me
And I know your thoughts
Before you even think
I heard every last prayer you prayed
Though I answered all the time
You just didn’t hear my reply
And I know it’s not easy, oh

Don’t you give up on me
Don’t you give up on me
‘Cause the darker the night gets
The brighter the light hits
Don’t you give up on me
Don’t you give up on me
You ain’t seen what I promised
Child, we’re just getting started

Friends, I’m not typing this with a full view of how God’s plans for me will play out. But I’m learning that this tension of faith and doubt is a beautiful invitation to lock eyes with Jesus. When we fix our gaze on Him, stare into the pages of Scripture, and lay our fears before Him, He leads us on to a glorious conclusion.

Digging Deeper: Mind-Blowing Promises

Sarah Jefferson on June 5, 2024

“Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

Genesis 15:4-5 (CSB)

MIND-BLOWING PROMISES

Here we see that God responds to Abram’s doubts with a profound promise that transcends human understanding. God tells Abram that Eliezer will not be his heir, but rather a son from his own flesh and blood will inherit his blessings. To illustrate the magnitude of His promise, God leads Abram outside and instructs him to count the stars in the sky, saying, “So shall your offspring be.”

Perhaps Abram was the first person to be mind-blown. Can you imagine someone childless into their 70s receiving this news? This passage unveils the extraordinary nature of God’s power and His ability to work beyond our limited comprehension. Like Abram, we often struggle to understand the full extent of God’s plans for our lives. We often question how God will fulfill His promises, especially when our circumstances seem hopeless.

Yet, God’s response to Abram reminds us that His promises are not bound by our power. His plans are far greater than we can imagine, and His power knows no bounds. Just as Abram couldn’t begin to imagine how his descendants would outnumber the stars, we will also have times when it’s tough to see and comprehend all God has in store for us.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Hebrews 12:1-2

It’s in those moments of doubt and uncertainty, when the pain is too great, or the circumstances are too far gone, that God invites us to look beyond our circumstances and trust in His unfailing character. Lock eyes with Jesus! He who began this work in us will perfect it!

Stop and gaze at the vastness of the stars in the sky and be reminded of God’s greatness and His ability to accomplish the impossible.

Digging Deeper: Trusting God’s Timing and Purposes

Sarah Jefferson on June 4, 2024

“But Abram said, ‘Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?’ And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.’”

Genesis 15:2-3 (CSB)

TRUSTING GOD’S TIMING AND PURPOSES

I love that after God speaks into Abram’s fears, he opens up more about his concerns to God. Despite God’s promises of blessing and descendants as numerous as the stars, Abram remains childless. He questions God, saying, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?”

Abram’s words reflect the tension between faith and doubt that often characterizes our journey with God. Like Abram, we often find ourselves grappling with uncertainty about how God will work in our lives and having more questions than answers.

Abram’s questions are yours and mine, aren’t they? And when we can’t wrap our minds around it, we often seek solutions within our limited understanding and resources. He suggests that a servant in his household, Eliezer, could become his heir since he has no child of his own. Yet, God’s plans far exceed Abram’s expectations and human limitations.

Like Abram, we will struggle to understand God’s timing and plans in our lives. We will face seasons of waiting and uncertainty, wondering what God is doing and if He will fulfill His promises to us. However, Abram reminds us that God can handle our doubts.

Isaiah 55 reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways, my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

In our moments of doubt and questioning, may we find comfort in knowing that God sees the bigger picture. He is not limited by our understanding or circumstances. Instead, He invites us to trust in His promises and to rest in the assurance that His plans for us are good and purposeful.

As we walk where He leads, we must hold onto the truth that His timing is perfect, and His promises never fail. Even when we cannot see how He will fulfill His word, we can trust that He is working it all together for our good and His glory.

Digging Deeper: Finding Courage in God’s Promises

Sarah Jefferson on June 3, 2024

“After these events, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great.”

Genesis 15:1 (CSB)

FINDING COURAGE IN GOD’S PROMISES

Imagine the scene: Abram is chosen by God for a special purpose and stands at a pivotal moment in his journey of faith. God has promised to make him a great nation, yet there is no baby. Knowing Abram’s feelings of uncertainty, anxiousness, and fear about his reality, God speaks into his doubts.

First, God tells Abram not to fear. Sometimes, God calls us to follow Him into the unknown. There won’t be a glance at the playbook, a list of guarantees, or a pain-to-benefit ratio explanation. Often, the calling leaves us full of uncertainties, fears, and doubts. God understands our human frailties and acknowledges our need for courage and boldness to walk out His calling on our lives.

Next, God declares Himself Abram’s shield. In ancient wartime, a shield was vital for protection in battle, deflecting the arrows and attacks of the enemy. Similarly, God promises to shield us from enemy attacks as we follow His calling on our lives. With God as our shield, we can begin to move confidently, knowing He is our great defender.

Finally, God promises Abram a great reward. While his reward would ultimately be fulfilled through the birth of Isaac and the establishment of a great nation, the greatest blessing was the fulfillment of God’s redemption plan for all mankind.

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” Hebrews 11:11

Regardless of what God calls us to, even though we might be surrounded by a fog of uncertainty, let’s be a people known by our obedience. Our lives are not our own. We were made to display His glory in whatever He calls us to. Don’t miss the beauty of walking with Jesus!