April 10, 2023
Michael Spann ’09
Consumer Protection Investigator
The more I walk with the Lord, the more I realize my dependency on him for every aspect of life. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of God” That verse has really spoken to me in the last few years of my life. I am coming to see more and more that Jesus is looking for hearts who know their need for him, not those who are self-sufficient. He understands our brokenness and our inability to get things right—after all, to sin, is to literally miss the mark. I think understanding this takes the pressure off us to perform and work really hard, and leads us to set our eyes on Jesus, who is the author and perfecter of our faith. Jesus does not compare us to sheep for no reason! Sheep do not know how to lead themselves very well—as a-matter of-fact, they often times wonder and get themselves into real pickles. We are meant to have a shepherd who gently leads us in peace and victory. So in this Christmas season, allow Immanuel, God With Us, to comfort you, and to lift the burden of trying really hard to get things right. Rather, rest that He knows exactly what he is doing with your life and that He is a better leader than you are a follower. Lastly, there is no better advice than to simply keep your eyes on Jesus; he will faithfully take care of the rest.