Trading with Jesus

Today we’re anchored in First Epistle of John 3:16, “By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.” This verse gives us the real definition of love. Not feelings, not words, not just saying the right things, but action and sacrifice.

Today we’re anchored in Book of Isaiah 53:5, “He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” What’s crazy about this verse is it was written hundreds of years before Jesus, yet it describes exactly what He would go through. This wasn’t random, this was always the plan.

Today we’re anchored in Gospel of John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” And I love this because Jesus keeps it real. He doesn’t say you might have trouble, He says you will. That means challenges aren’t a sign that something is wrong, they’re part of the process.

Today we’re anchored in Book of Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” This verse is all about where your focus is and how you handle the process.

Today we’re anchored in Gospel of Matthew 20:28, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Jesus is completely flipping the script on what greatness looks like. The world says the goal is to rise up, gain status, and have everything work for you. But Jesus shows us that real greatness is found in humility, service, and sacrifice.

Today we’re anchored in Gospel of John 1:29, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” When John the Baptist said this, he wasn’t just making a statement, he was revealing who Jesus truly is and why He came. He said “Behold,” meaning stop, look closely, don’t miss this. And honestly, that’s something we need in trading too, because it’s easy to get so locked in on charts, bias, and setups that we miss what actually matters most.

Today we’re anchored in Gospel of Luke 19:38, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.” This moment is powerful because the people are praising Jesus as King, but they don’t fully understand Him. They’re expecting a King who comes with force, control, and immediate change… but Jesus comes in humility, riding in low, heading toward the cross.

Today we’re anchored in Psalm 3:3, “But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.” David wrote this in one of the most intense seasons of his life. He was under pressure, being pursued, dealing with betrayal, and yet in the middle of all that he makes a powerful shift. He says, “But you, O Lord…” That word “but” is everything. It’s the moment where he stops focusing on everything going wrong and turns his attention back to God.

We’re anchored in Romans 15:5, “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus.” Right from the start, Paul reminds us of who God is. He is the God of endurance and encouragement. That means when life gets hard, when pressure builds, when things don’t go your way, the strength to keep going doesn’t come from you alone. It comes from Him. Endurance is the ability to stay steady when things aren’t working. Encouragement is what lifts you up when you feel like falling off track. And both of those are supplied by God.

Today we’re anchored in Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” That’s a promise from God, not a maybe or a possibility, but a guarantee. He says you will find Him, but the condition is how you seek Him. It’s not casual, it’s not distracted, and it’s not something you do when everything else is already handled. It’s wholehearted. It’s intentional. It’s putting God first instead of fitting Him in.

Before we jump into the charts today, let’s center ourselves on one powerful truth from John 7:38:“Whoever believes in me… out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”Let’s really understand what Jesus is saying here.