# 645 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 12:32 So the scribe said to Him, "Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. 33 "And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."
34 Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." But after that no one dared question Him.
T o love God and the neighbor that He created and brought into your life is greater than the entire system of burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the Old Testament. These requirements were meant to be nothing but shadows and pictures of the sacrificial work of Jesus.
There is nothing shadowy about love. Love does not need to be prefigured or foreshadowed, love never fails! Love needs to be displayed for what it is....love. And it was displayed for this scribe and all the rest of the world on Calvary where God so loved that He gave His only begotten Son!
No wonder Jesus told the scribe he was so close to getting it. He was so close to ditching the Old Testament sacrifice mentality for the once for all sacrifice of love given by Jesus. So close to relying on the real displayed love of God alone for his salvation. Rather than relying on mere symbols.
How about you? Is your love of God locked into the display of symbols, or is it flowing through you by the way you live and worship?
Father, it is easy to fall into the trap of symbolic worship And when I go to church instead of being the church, my love is turning cold. Light a fire in my heart for You and let it spill out into the lives of others.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
Every Man Naturally Loves Himself
# 644 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 12:31a "And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
This passage is easily misused and abused in the name of self-love. I have heard Christians say that you cannot love others unless you truly love yourself, and then use that as an excuse to place their perceived needs, wants and desires above others.
Some will use it as grounds for a divorce, or even justifying an affair, or living in sin, or ignoring the poor. Ummmm, there's a better word for that folks, it's called selfishness, not loving self.
Don Matzat wrote a book several years ago called “Christ-Esteem.” I strongly urge you to read it as it will give you a clear picture why we are to love ourselves. We love ourselves because God first loved us. Period.
Our source of self-esteem comes from the fact that God loved us so much He sent His only Son to die for us! Believe me, EVERY MAN NATURALLY LOVES HIMSELF, and you don't need to prove it by pampering your flesh at the expense of others or God's commands.
Though we seek to love others with the aid of the Holy Spirit, though we seek to be as considerate of others as we are of ourselves, we always fall short. Jesus is the only One who did not fall short in this matter of loving others. If we are to love others, this love must flow from Him through us.
Lord have mercy on us, we are selfish sinners, help us just today for starters to begin to love as You intended.
This passage is easily misused and abused in the name of self-love. I have heard Christians say that you cannot love others unless you truly love yourself, and then use that as an excuse to place their perceived needs, wants and desires above others.
Some will use it as grounds for a divorce, or even justifying an affair, or living in sin, or ignoring the poor. Ummmm, there's a better word for that folks, it's called selfishness, not loving self.
Don Matzat wrote a book several years ago called “Christ-Esteem.” I strongly urge you to read it as it will give you a clear picture why we are to love ourselves. We love ourselves because God first loved us. Period.
Our source of self-esteem comes from the fact that God loved us so much He sent His only Son to die for us! Believe me, EVERY MAN NATURALLY LOVES HIMSELF, and you don't need to prove it by pampering your flesh at the expense of others or God's commands.
Though we seek to love others with the aid of the Holy Spirit, though we seek to be as considerate of others as we are of ourselves, we always fall short. Jesus is the only One who did not fall short in this matter of loving others. If we are to love others, this love must flow from Him through us.
Lord have mercy on us, we are selfish sinners, help us just today for starters to begin to love as You intended.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
The Sum of the Second Table of the Law
# 643 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 12:31 "And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
The scribe had asked Jesus for the most important commandment of all and Jesus gives him a bonus answer as well. The second most important commandment is like the first in that it involves the same kind of love.
A love for others that is purposeful, with an understanding of why we love, who we love, and how we love. The who here is our neighbor and our neighbor is anyone with whom we come in contact.
The why we love is connected to who created our neighbor. God did, and if we say we love God, how can we not love that which He made in His image? 1Jo 4:20b says, “he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?”
The “how we love,” is found throughout the pages of Scripture, but the crux of it all is to love selflessly. Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
These two commands are the sum of all commands and can be called the two tables of the Law. The first table dealing with the love of God, and the second table with the love of man.
If you want to really understand these two commands and get into their depth, I suggest that you open your Bible and read first John. Believe me, the point will be driven home, and the road to love can begin.
Father, help me to win my personal battles with self-ambition and to learn to esteem others better than myself.
The scribe had asked Jesus for the most important commandment of all and Jesus gives him a bonus answer as well. The second most important commandment is like the first in that it involves the same kind of love.
A love for others that is purposeful, with an understanding of why we love, who we love, and how we love. The who here is our neighbor and our neighbor is anyone with whom we come in contact.
The why we love is connected to who created our neighbor. God did, and if we say we love God, how can we not love that which He made in His image? 1Jo 4:20b says, “he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?”
The “how we love,” is found throughout the pages of Scripture, but the crux of it all is to love selflessly. Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
These two commands are the sum of all commands and can be called the two tables of the Law. The first table dealing with the love of God, and the second table with the love of man.
If you want to really understand these two commands and get into their depth, I suggest that you open your Bible and read first John. Believe me, the point will be driven home, and the road to love can begin.
Father, help me to win my personal battles with self-ambition and to learn to esteem others better than myself.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Loving God With Our All
# 642 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 12:30 'And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment.
Because the Lord your God is one, that is, completely, perfectly together, we then must completely and perfectly love Him with every aspect of our God-created being! This is what He has created each of us to do. Unfortunately, due to sin, we will not be able to do this perfectly until we are in heaven.
This love is a purposeful love, a full intelligent understanding of why we love, who we love, and how we love. Untainted by sin, we will be able to love the One God, “with all.” With all that we have in our God-created vessels. All out heart, soul, mind, and strength.
The heart is the very center of our being. The soul is our very life. The mind is our power to think. Our strength is the effort to put forth all that we have in our heart, soul, and mind to love Him.
Honestly, we shouldn't have to go any further than this command to see what imperfect beings we are in the here and now. Who can possibly love God in such a way? Only Jesus. Yet as we surrender our lives to Jesus, the Holy Spirit, dwells in us and it is His sincere desire and mission to help us love God in such a way.
The more we allow Him to do this work in us, the closer we come to being who he created us to be
Father, I see anew today, how far short I fall from what You created me to be. By Your grace grant me more of a desire to love you this way, through the power of Your Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ my Lord, Amen.
Because the Lord your God is one, that is, completely, perfectly together, we then must completely and perfectly love Him with every aspect of our God-created being! This is what He has created each of us to do. Unfortunately, due to sin, we will not be able to do this perfectly until we are in heaven.
This love is a purposeful love, a full intelligent understanding of why we love, who we love, and how we love. Untainted by sin, we will be able to love the One God, “with all.” With all that we have in our God-created vessels. All out heart, soul, mind, and strength.
The heart is the very center of our being. The soul is our very life. The mind is our power to think. Our strength is the effort to put forth all that we have in our heart, soul, and mind to love Him.
Honestly, we shouldn't have to go any further than this command to see what imperfect beings we are in the here and now. Who can possibly love God in such a way? Only Jesus. Yet as we surrender our lives to Jesus, the Holy Spirit, dwells in us and it is His sincere desire and mission to help us love God in such a way.
The more we allow Him to do this work in us, the closer we come to being who he created us to be
Father, I see anew today, how far short I fall from what You created me to be. By Your grace grant me more of a desire to love you this way, through the power of Your Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ my Lord, Amen.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
The Lord Is One. What Does This Mean?
# 641 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 12:29 Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.”
The word “hear” means to heed. The word “Israel” is the covenant name of the Old Testament, today we could use the term “Christian.” And we could restate the first portion of this verse as follows: “Christian, heed the words of the Lord our God.
The second part of the verse is mind-boggling rich with information about the God we worship and serve.
“The Lord is one.” Some would use this statement to dispel the notion of the Trinity, but this oneness spoken of here is the oneness of “being,” and not of “person”. The “One God” has revealed Himself in plenty of other portions of Scripture as three in one..
I would rather use this fundamental statement of faith, (The Lord is One) as a REASON for us to “heed” and love Him, and here is where it starts to get rich.
Heed and love God because He is one! The idea of “oneness here is that He is completely, perfectly “together.” That's what I mean by this is a matter of “being” rather than a statement of how many persons are in the Godhead.
Heed God, because there is no shadow of turning, no hint of falsehood. He is completely trustworthy and faithful. He is one with holiness, one with perfection.
His plan of salvation has been one from the beginning!
Let the whole concept of the oneness of God's being really sink in! Because He is one (perfectly together) He can tell Moses that His name is “I AM.” Friend, when you can grasp this, be in awe, for you are standing on holy ground.(James 1:17)
Father, we respect people who “have it together” in this life, but they are no match for how much You have it together! May this truth strike our souls today.
The word “hear” means to heed. The word “Israel” is the covenant name of the Old Testament, today we could use the term “Christian.” And we could restate the first portion of this verse as follows: “Christian, heed the words of the Lord our God.
The second part of the verse is mind-boggling rich with information about the God we worship and serve.
“The Lord is one.” Some would use this statement to dispel the notion of the Trinity, but this oneness spoken of here is the oneness of “being,” and not of “person”. The “One God” has revealed Himself in plenty of other portions of Scripture as three in one..
I would rather use this fundamental statement of faith, (The Lord is One) as a REASON for us to “heed” and love Him, and here is where it starts to get rich.
Heed and love God because He is one! The idea of “oneness here is that He is completely, perfectly “together.” That's what I mean by this is a matter of “being” rather than a statement of how many persons are in the Godhead.
Heed God, because there is no shadow of turning, no hint of falsehood. He is completely trustworthy and faithful. He is one with holiness, one with perfection.
His plan of salvation has been one from the beginning!
Let the whole concept of the oneness of God's being really sink in! Because He is one (perfectly together) He can tell Moses that His name is “I AM.” Friend, when you can grasp this, be in awe, for you are standing on holy ground.(James 1:17)
Father, we respect people who “have it together” in this life, but they are no match for how much You have it together! May this truth strike our souls today.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Which Commandment Has Precedence
# 639 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 12:28 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, "Which is the first commandment of all?"
A scribe (an expert on the Laws of God) overhears Jesus comments about the resurrection and evidently was greatly impressed that Jesus took them back to the source and repeated God's declaration to Moses that He is the God of the living!
Good lawyers are like that, they look for precedents. Now like a good lawyer, he asks Jesus which commandment, (and we could say here,) which Law takes precedence? There were quite a few to choose from.
The rabbis of Jesus' day counted a total of 613 commandments, 248 were positive and 365 were negative. One of the methods that they used to determine the order of importance involved the severity of the penalty attached to the breaking of the Law. This method makes perfect sense. For instance, the penalty for murder in our court system is greater than the penalty for shoplifting.
Jesus, then goes on to tell the scribe the commandment that takes precedence is; 'And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment.
(The commandment of precedence)
The penalty for not keeping this commandment is found in De 6:15 '(for the LORD your God is a jealous God among you), lest the anger of the LORD your God be aroused against you and destroy you from the face of the earth.
That's a pretty strong penalty, and it will be carried out against all those who reject Jesus.
Still another aspect to consider in the precedence of this command, is that all other commands, including the love of neighbor flow from it. No wonder God says, Pr 9:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
A scribe (an expert on the Laws of God) overhears Jesus comments about the resurrection and evidently was greatly impressed that Jesus took them back to the source and repeated God's declaration to Moses that He is the God of the living!
Good lawyers are like that, they look for precedents. Now like a good lawyer, he asks Jesus which commandment, (and we could say here,) which Law takes precedence? There were quite a few to choose from.
The rabbis of Jesus' day counted a total of 613 commandments, 248 were positive and 365 were negative. One of the methods that they used to determine the order of importance involved the severity of the penalty attached to the breaking of the Law. This method makes perfect sense. For instance, the penalty for murder in our court system is greater than the penalty for shoplifting.
Jesus, then goes on to tell the scribe the commandment that takes precedence is; 'And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment.
(The commandment of precedence)
The penalty for not keeping this commandment is found in De 6:15 '(for the LORD your God is a jealous God among you), lest the anger of the LORD your God be aroused against you and destroy you from the face of the earth.
That's a pretty strong penalty, and it will be carried out against all those who reject Jesus.
Still another aspect to consider in the precedence of this command, is that all other commands, including the love of neighbor flow from it. No wonder God says, Pr 9:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
He Said "I Am!" Not, "I Was!"
# 637 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 12:26 "But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? 27 "He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken."
The Sadducees based their assumption of no bodily resurrection on an ordinance that was communicated through Moses for the period of the old covenant...the law of the levirate, but Jesus goes right to the source.
He takes them to the very passage in which God personally identified Himself to Moses as the great I Am, and what was spoken at the burning bush was not an ordinance, it was a statement of fact. I AM the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He didn't say “I WAS!”
This would be all the proof needed for a bodily resurrection, for these patriarchs were not just souls, they were body and soul! God is the God of the living, not the dead!
Then, Jesus could've said, “you are mistaken, but He added the word “greatly!” This belief in a bodily resurrection is no small matter. It is a great matter and it is why you will find it in the great Christian creeds.
Ro 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Believe it pilgrim, and live in that blessed hope. It's what gives us purpose!
1Co 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
Father, help me to live in the blessed hope of the resurrection. Everything changes when I live with an eternal perspective.
The Sadducees based their assumption of no bodily resurrection on an ordinance that was communicated through Moses for the period of the old covenant...the law of the levirate, but Jesus goes right to the source.
He takes them to the very passage in which God personally identified Himself to Moses as the great I Am, and what was spoken at the burning bush was not an ordinance, it was a statement of fact. I AM the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He didn't say “I WAS!”
This would be all the proof needed for a bodily resurrection, for these patriarchs were not just souls, they were body and soul! God is the God of the living, not the dead!
Then, Jesus could've said, “you are mistaken, but He added the word “greatly!” This belief in a bodily resurrection is no small matter. It is a great matter and it is why you will find it in the great Christian creeds.
Ro 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Believe it pilgrim, and live in that blessed hope. It's what gives us purpose!
1Co 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
Father, help me to live in the blessed hope of the resurrection. Everything changes when I live with an eternal perspective.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
In Heaven There Is No Beer (Or Sex)
# 636 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 12:22-25, "So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also. "Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife." Jesus answered and said to them, "Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God? "For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
The Sadducees have used a ridiculous illustration in combination with the levirate law of Moses to prove that a bodily resurrection is not possible. Think about it! Seven spouses! What a mess that would be for eternity for all those who have remarried! Multiple spouses for eternity does not exactly sound blissful. But their reasoning is faulty because they have a misguided view of Paradise..
Jesus then gives us a little insight into what heaven will be like. Men and women will no longer be given in marriage. In other words, in heaven there will be no need for sexual activity. What? I've heard a song about there being no beer in heaven....but no sex?
Well again, think about it. Sex will be totally removed from the picture because the population of Paradise will be set, there will be no need for it! (By the way, this is further proof that sex is reserved for marriage between a man and a woman, for the purpose of raising godly offspring.)
Now some may say, “What! No sex in heaven! Well if that's the case, I don't want to go there!” Really? If that's your attitude, then you are like the Sadducees who underestimated the power of God.
Think about it. How powerful is a God who can make you so perfectly happy in all your relationships for eternity that the pleasures of sex will not be necessary or even missed?
Besides, how much sexual activity do you expect to find in that other place?
Father, thank You again for the reminder of Your design for sexual activity here on earth.
The Sadducees have used a ridiculous illustration in combination with the levirate law of Moses to prove that a bodily resurrection is not possible. Think about it! Seven spouses! What a mess that would be for eternity for all those who have remarried! Multiple spouses for eternity does not exactly sound blissful. But their reasoning is faulty because they have a misguided view of Paradise..
Jesus then gives us a little insight into what heaven will be like. Men and women will no longer be given in marriage. In other words, in heaven there will be no need for sexual activity. What? I've heard a song about there being no beer in heaven....but no sex?
Well again, think about it. Sex will be totally removed from the picture because the population of Paradise will be set, there will be no need for it! (By the way, this is further proof that sex is reserved for marriage between a man and a woman, for the purpose of raising godly offspring.)
Now some may say, “What! No sex in heaven! Well if that's the case, I don't want to go there!” Really? If that's your attitude, then you are like the Sadducees who underestimated the power of God.
Think about it. How powerful is a God who can make you so perfectly happy in all your relationships for eternity that the pleasures of sex will not be necessary or even missed?
Besides, how much sexual activity do you expect to find in that other place?
Father, thank You again for the reminder of Your design for sexual activity here on earth.
Friday, December 23, 2011
The Great Commission of the Old Testament
# 636 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 12:18-23 Then some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him; and they asked Him, saying:
"Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, and leaves his wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. "Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring. "And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise. "So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also. "Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife."
The Sadducees were convinced that a bodily resurrection would be impossible and they use the Mosaic levirate law to make their point. You can read about this law in Dt 25:5-10, and can actually see it in action in the Book of Ruth.
The law required that a surviving brother was to marry the wife of his deceased brother if she had no son. This marriage then would provide the opportunity to raise up a son and continue the family line.
This seems so strange to us today, but it was very important to the people of the Old Testament. Given the fact that the Messiah was to come through the Jewish race, one can see how important this would be to the Jews! In fact it was the levirate Law which brought David into the picture through the marriage of Boaz and Ruth! And of course the Messiah, Jesus came from the line of David!
This Law obviously is no longer needed since Christ has come, but I want you to think about another aspect of all of this. The Great Commission of the Old Testament church was to bring Christ into the world physically! The Great commission of the New Testament Church is to bring Christ to the world in a spiritual sense.
We ought to take our commission just as seriously as the Old Testament church took theirs.
"Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, and leaves his wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. "Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring. "And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise. "So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also. "Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife."
The Sadducees were convinced that a bodily resurrection would be impossible and they use the Mosaic levirate law to make their point. You can read about this law in Dt 25:5-10, and can actually see it in action in the Book of Ruth.
The law required that a surviving brother was to marry the wife of his deceased brother if she had no son. This marriage then would provide the opportunity to raise up a son and continue the family line.
This seems so strange to us today, but it was very important to the people of the Old Testament. Given the fact that the Messiah was to come through the Jewish race, one can see how important this would be to the Jews! In fact it was the levirate Law which brought David into the picture through the marriage of Boaz and Ruth! And of course the Messiah, Jesus came from the line of David!
This Law obviously is no longer needed since Christ has come, but I want you to think about another aspect of all of this. The Great Commission of the Old Testament church was to bring Christ into the world physically! The Great commission of the New Testament Church is to bring Christ to the world in a spiritual sense.
We ought to take our commission just as seriously as the Old Testament church took theirs.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Sad You Sees
# 634 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 12:18a “Then some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him;
Two camps. Both opposed to Jesus because He was a threat to their status quo. One party, the Pharisees, the pinnacle of biblical orthodoxy in their day, the other. The Sadducees, the pinnacle of biblical liberlaism.
These groups are still with us today, some professing Christians, so rigid with legalism that mercy is trampled to the ground, and others, so liberal with the Word of God that anything goes. The problem is solved when Jesus is truly reigning in one's life.
Today, both camps would claim to have Jesus, but let's be honest. If Jesus were really reigning in our life, mercy would be lifted up, not trampled on. And if Jesus really were reigning in our life, ALL His Word would mean something, and we wouldn't twist it to give license to sin.
The Sadducees were sophisticated, educated, men who like their extreme liberal counterparts of today would deny the miracles of Jesus, the virgin birth, the existence of hell, and yes even the bodily resurrection!
No resurrection?????
Without the resurrection of Christ our faith is futile and we are still in our sins. (1 Cor 15:17) No wonder they were called Sadducees, because without the hope of a bodily resurrection, they were “sad you see.” The hope of a resurrection is the wellspring of Christian joy!
But when we start down the path of questioning that ALL Scripture is God-breathed, the well spring will eventually dry up and we are left with no hope and no joy.
Father guard our hearts from that ploy of the devil, “Did God really say,” give us the faith to embrace Your Word as inerrant and infallible.
Two camps. Both opposed to Jesus because He was a threat to their status quo. One party, the Pharisees, the pinnacle of biblical orthodoxy in their day, the other. The Sadducees, the pinnacle of biblical liberlaism.
These groups are still with us today, some professing Christians, so rigid with legalism that mercy is trampled to the ground, and others, so liberal with the Word of God that anything goes. The problem is solved when Jesus is truly reigning in one's life.
Today, both camps would claim to have Jesus, but let's be honest. If Jesus were really reigning in our life, mercy would be lifted up, not trampled on. And if Jesus really were reigning in our life, ALL His Word would mean something, and we wouldn't twist it to give license to sin.
The Sadducees were sophisticated, educated, men who like their extreme liberal counterparts of today would deny the miracles of Jesus, the virgin birth, the existence of hell, and yes even the bodily resurrection!
No resurrection?????
Without the resurrection of Christ our faith is futile and we are still in our sins. (1 Cor 15:17) No wonder they were called Sadducees, because without the hope of a bodily resurrection, they were “sad you see.” The hope of a resurrection is the wellspring of Christian joy!
But when we start down the path of questioning that ALL Scripture is God-breathed, the well spring will eventually dry up and we are left with no hope and no joy.
Father guard our hearts from that ploy of the devil, “Did God really say,” give us the faith to embrace Your Word as inerrant and infallible.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Restoring the Marred Image
# 632 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 12:14b “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? "Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?" But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, "Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it." So they brought it. And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They said to Him, "Caesar's." And Jesus answered and said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
In addition to teaching us about our civic responsibilities here, Jesus has another invaluable lesson for us, and it has to do with stamped on images. If the image stamped on the coin is an indicator of ownership, what does that tell you about the image stamped on you?
Gen 2:27 says, “So God created men in His own image, in the image of God He created him.”
Who do you belong to? When Adam and Eve fell, that image was marred, but God promised a way of restoration through faith in the coming Messiah. The devil took ownership of the human race at the fall, but when Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, He bought us back, and He has given His church the sacrament of baptism to restore that original sinless image.
In baptism, God's seal of ownership is placed back on us, and it will remain there, untarnished, as long as we remain in the faith.
Father, thank You for a way to overcome the problem of original sin. Thank you for 'restoring my soul.”
In addition to teaching us about our civic responsibilities here, Jesus has another invaluable lesson for us, and it has to do with stamped on images. If the image stamped on the coin is an indicator of ownership, what does that tell you about the image stamped on you?
Gen 2:27 says, “So God created men in His own image, in the image of God He created him.”
Who do you belong to? When Adam and Eve fell, that image was marred, but God promised a way of restoration through faith in the coming Messiah. The devil took ownership of the human race at the fall, but when Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, He bought us back, and He has given His church the sacrament of baptism to restore that original sinless image.
In baptism, God's seal of ownership is placed back on us, and it will remain there, untarnished, as long as we remain in the faith.
Father, thank You for a way to overcome the problem of original sin. Thank you for 'restoring my soul.”
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Getting Overly Uptight About Government
# 632 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 12:14b “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? "Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?" But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, "Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it." So they brought it. And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They said to Him, "Caesar's." And Jesus answered and said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they marveled at Him.”
Why do we pay taxes? Because Jesus said so. Not only here, but also in Rom 13:6a, “For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God.”
Do you really understand what is being said here? Civil government is a minister of God. Whether elected, or appointed, civil authorities are nothing but pawns in the hand of God. Pr 8:16 says, “ By me princes rule, and nobles, All the judges of the earth.” and in Pr 21:1, we read, “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.”
No king, no emperor, no congress, no parliament on earth can levy a dime of tax on you or I without God's permission. God has allowed His ministers to tax us, therefore to render unto Caesar is in reality to render unto God.
To get overly uptight about those in authority is to get overly uptight about God.
Father help me to remember that Your throne oversees all thrones.
Why do we pay taxes? Because Jesus said so. Not only here, but also in Rom 13:6a, “For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God.”
Do you really understand what is being said here? Civil government is a minister of God. Whether elected, or appointed, civil authorities are nothing but pawns in the hand of God. Pr 8:16 says, “ By me princes rule, and nobles, All the judges of the earth.” and in Pr 21:1, we read, “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.”
No king, no emperor, no congress, no parliament on earth can levy a dime of tax on you or I without God's permission. God has allowed His ministers to tax us, therefore to render unto Caesar is in reality to render unto God.
To get overly uptight about those in authority is to get overly uptight about God.
Father help me to remember that Your throne oversees all thrones.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Setting the Wheels of Revival Into Motion
# 631 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 12:14 When they had come, they said to Him, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?
These rulers go through great lengths seeking to trap Jesus in His words. They send a delegation of Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus in order to bring up the matter of taxes.
The Pharisees were opposed to paying them and the Herodians were okay with it. They hoped that this would give the illusion of a legitimate inquiry. Then they attempt to schmooz Jesus with their words. The words they spoke were absolutely true, but they did not hold to them in their heart. In reality, they viewed Jesus as a blasphemer and not a truth speaker.
But let us learn from their words about Jesus. He IS truth, and he spoke the truth without prejudice. Even though the truth is offensive to some, He told it like it is.
I'm afraid the church today has become soft on God's truth. We bend over backwards to not offend anyone. We don't talk about sexual sins, divorce, remarriage, abortion, and the poor are left to fend for themselves because we don't want to talk about our wallets.
Lord, raise up anointed men of valor to once again speak Your truth. For it is Your truth that sets the wheels of revival into motion and it is Your truth that us free.
These rulers go through great lengths seeking to trap Jesus in His words. They send a delegation of Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus in order to bring up the matter of taxes.
The Pharisees were opposed to paying them and the Herodians were okay with it. They hoped that this would give the illusion of a legitimate inquiry. Then they attempt to schmooz Jesus with their words. The words they spoke were absolutely true, but they did not hold to them in their heart. In reality, they viewed Jesus as a blasphemer and not a truth speaker.
But let us learn from their words about Jesus. He IS truth, and he spoke the truth without prejudice. Even though the truth is offensive to some, He told it like it is.
I'm afraid the church today has become soft on God's truth. We bend over backwards to not offend anyone. We don't talk about sexual sins, divorce, remarriage, abortion, and the poor are left to fend for themselves because we don't want to talk about our wallets.
Lord, raise up anointed men of valor to once again speak Your truth. For it is Your truth that sets the wheels of revival into motion and it is Your truth that us free.
Setting the Wheels of Revival Into Motion
# 631 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 12:14 When they had come, they said to Him, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?
These rulers go through great lengths seeking to trap Jesus in His words. They send a delegation of Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus in order to bring up the matter of taxes.
The Pharisees were opposed to paying them and the Herodians were okay with it. They hoped that this would give the illusion of a legitimate inquiry. Then they attempt to schmooz Jesus with their words. The words they spoke were absolutely true, but they did not hold to them in their heart. In reality, they viewed Jesus as a blasphemer and not a truth speaker.
But let us learn from their words about Jesus. He IS truth, and he spoke the truth without prejudice. Even though the truth is offensive to some, He told it like it is.
I'm afraid the church today has become soft on God's truth. We bend over backwards to not offend anyone. We don't talk about sexual sins, divorce, remarriage, abortion, and the poor are left to fend for themselves because we don't want to talk about our wallets.
Lord, raise up anointed men of valor to once again speak Your truth. For it is Your truth that sets the wheels of revival into motion and it is Your truth that us free.
These rulers go through great lengths seeking to trap Jesus in His words. They send a delegation of Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus in order to bring up the matter of taxes.
The Pharisees were opposed to paying them and the Herodians were okay with it. They hoped that this would give the illusion of a legitimate inquiry. Then they attempt to schmooz Jesus with their words. The words they spoke were absolutely true, but they did not hold to them in their heart. In reality, they viewed Jesus as a blasphemer and not a truth speaker.
But let us learn from their words about Jesus. He IS truth, and he spoke the truth without prejudice. Even though the truth is offensive to some, He told it like it is.
I'm afraid the church today has become soft on God's truth. We bend over backwards to not offend anyone. We don't talk about sexual sins, divorce, remarriage, abortion, and the poor are left to fend for themselves because we don't want to talk about our wallets.
Lord, raise up anointed men of valor to once again speak Your truth. For it is Your truth that sets the wheels of revival into motion and it is Your truth that us free.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Trying To Catch Jesus In His Own Words
# 630 - Today's Living Word comes from: Mr 12:12,13 “And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away. Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words.”
They knew that Jesus had spoken this parable against them and what did they do? Did they even stop and consider the truth of His words? Did they ever consider the possibility that they were traveling on the wrong course? What if Jesus was right about them and their fate? No one was going to tell them what to do and off they go to hatch a very clever plot with the Herodian camp.
This plot would be an attempt to catch or ensnare Jesus in His own words. Are we really all that different? When faced with the nitty gritty of living according to God's will, how often do we look for loopholes in Scripture to justify our sinful actions?
In matters like giving to the church, giving to the poor, sexual sin, marrying an unbeliever, the permanence of marriage, divorce, remarriage after a divorce, and so on, we often find ourselves asking the question, “But what about this situation or what about that situation,” and we fall into the trap of a religion based on situational ethics rather than the unchanging truth of God's Word.
When we get into these kind of arguments with ourselves, we are in effect trying to trap Jesus in His own words, so we can live as we please! Sadly, in most cases, it boils down to, my mind is made up and no one , not even Jesus is going to tell me what to do.
The Psalmist understood this struggle and prayed in, Ps 19:12, “Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. 13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
Thankfully, there is forgiveness in Jesus, even for our presumptuous sins, when we are willing to confess them and receive His forgiveness.
They knew that Jesus had spoken this parable against them and what did they do? Did they even stop and consider the truth of His words? Did they ever consider the possibility that they were traveling on the wrong course? What if Jesus was right about them and their fate? No one was going to tell them what to do and off they go to hatch a very clever plot with the Herodian camp.
This plot would be an attempt to catch or ensnare Jesus in His own words. Are we really all that different? When faced with the nitty gritty of living according to God's will, how often do we look for loopholes in Scripture to justify our sinful actions?
In matters like giving to the church, giving to the poor, sexual sin, marrying an unbeliever, the permanence of marriage, divorce, remarriage after a divorce, and so on, we often find ourselves asking the question, “But what about this situation or what about that situation,” and we fall into the trap of a religion based on situational ethics rather than the unchanging truth of God's Word.
When we get into these kind of arguments with ourselves, we are in effect trying to trap Jesus in His own words, so we can live as we please! Sadly, in most cases, it boils down to, my mind is made up and no one , not even Jesus is going to tell me what to do.
The Psalmist understood this struggle and prayed in, Ps 19:12, “Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. 13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
Thankfully, there is forgiveness in Jesus, even for our presumptuous sins, when we are willing to confess them and receive His forgiveness.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
A Reason To Celebrate Sunday
# 629 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 12:10,11 "Have you not even read this Scripture: 'The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD'S doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'?"
Jesus quotes from the 118th Psalm here and one of the most important things we can remember about cornerstones are that they are the starting place of every building. Jesus is the starting point of our faith. It is our God-given confession that He is the Christ the Son of the Living God, that begins our journey toward heaven. No one comes to the Father except through Him (Jn 14:6)
This cornerstone was laid when Jesus rose from the dead! Ro 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
It's interesting to read the next verse of Ps 118, (v24) It reads, “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” We have taken that verse and used it as a tool of rejoicing for each new day we are given on earth, (and that's okay) but the true context of this verse is to rejoice in the day of His resurrection, for that was the day the stone was laid.
That was the day that the blessed hope of our own bodily resurrection was established. It is the basis of v17, of Ps 118, :I shall not die, but I shall live.”
This is the reason most congregations gather for worship on Sunday rather than Saturday. We call it “the Lord's Day” because it was the Day He rose again from the dead, and one Day, if we remain in the faith, we shall do the same
Remember this when you gather for worship on Sunday. Celebrate our blessed hope! “This is the Day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” If that doesn't liven up your worship, I don't know what will!
Father, thank You for our blessed hope. Let us learn to live and rejoice in it.
Jesus quotes from the 118th Psalm here and one of the most important things we can remember about cornerstones are that they are the starting place of every building. Jesus is the starting point of our faith. It is our God-given confession that He is the Christ the Son of the Living God, that begins our journey toward heaven. No one comes to the Father except through Him (Jn 14:6)
This cornerstone was laid when Jesus rose from the dead! Ro 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
It's interesting to read the next verse of Ps 118, (v24) It reads, “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” We have taken that verse and used it as a tool of rejoicing for each new day we are given on earth, (and that's okay) but the true context of this verse is to rejoice in the day of His resurrection, for that was the day the stone was laid.
That was the day that the blessed hope of our own bodily resurrection was established. It is the basis of v17, of Ps 118, :I shall not die, but I shall live.”
This is the reason most congregations gather for worship on Sunday rather than Saturday. We call it “the Lord's Day” because it was the Day He rose again from the dead, and one Day, if we remain in the faith, we shall do the same
Remember this when you gather for worship on Sunday. Celebrate our blessed hope! “This is the Day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” If that doesn't liven up your worship, I don't know what will!
Father, thank You for our blessed hope. Let us learn to live and rejoice in it.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Don't Confuse Peter With the Real Rock
# 628 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 12:10,11 "Have you not even read this Scripture: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD'S doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'?"
This quote from Jesus became a favorite of Peter's. The Holy Spirit spoke it through him when he and John were brought before the council in Acts 4. He also used the concept of Christ being the cornerstone in both of his epistles.
How fitting that Peter, the one whom Jesus called the rock would be enamored with this kind of terminology. It's like he was trying to make the point that he was not to be confused with the real Rock of our salvation.
Listen again to his words before the council. “This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:11,12)
When we are tempted to give Peter a higher standing in the church, we would do well to ask, “WWPD.” What would Peter do?” The answer is obvious, he would do what he did here, namely, deflect all the glory to the Chief Cornerstone. Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God!
It was this confession of Peter's that would be the Rock of the church, not him.
Father, guard us from misdirecting our praise and thanks, for thine is the kingdom, thine is the power, and thine is the glory forever and ever amen.
This quote from Jesus became a favorite of Peter's. The Holy Spirit spoke it through him when he and John were brought before the council in Acts 4. He also used the concept of Christ being the cornerstone in both of his epistles.
How fitting that Peter, the one whom Jesus called the rock would be enamored with this kind of terminology. It's like he was trying to make the point that he was not to be confused with the real Rock of our salvation.
Listen again to his words before the council. “This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:11,12)
When we are tempted to give Peter a higher standing in the church, we would do well to ask, “WWPD.” What would Peter do?” The answer is obvious, he would do what he did here, namely, deflect all the glory to the Chief Cornerstone. Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God!
It was this confession of Peter's that would be the Rock of the church, not him.
Father, guard us from misdirecting our praise and thanks, for thine is the kingdom, thine is the power, and thine is the glory forever and ever amen.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Thoughts On the Mock Nativity Placed In Madison Wisconsin Yesterday
# 627 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 12:8,9 "So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard. 9 "Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others.
Something happened in Madison Wisconsin yesterday that ties in with this particular portion of the parable of the vine-dressers. The Freedom From Religion Foundation placed a mock nativity scene in the capitol building in Madison Wisconsin.
In this parable, we find a “spot on” prophecy from Jesus concerning what the Jews would do with Him. They not only killed Him, but took Him outside the walls (the vineyard) to do it. Blinded by their unbelief, their act proclaimed to the world, “This is what we think of the Son of God.”
What did God (the owner of the vineyard) do? In 70 A.D. He visited the Jews with a most horrific judgment when He destroyed the city of Jerusalem. This destruction of Jerusalem serves as a warning for all who would reject the Son of God, for their eternal fate will be even worse!
Fast forward now to the event in Madison yesterday. Anne Gaylor, the spokesperson for the Freedom From Religion Foundation described their mock nativity as “slightly blasphemous, an irreverent tweak on the Nativity scene,"
In effect, this group was taking their views about Jesus outside their walls and doing the same thing these Jews did to Jesus. They are shouting to the world, “This is what we think of the Son of God!”
I shudder to think of what awaits these people if they do not come to repentance. In the end, it will be far worse than the destruction of Jerusalem.
But we need to remember this: Even as Jesus was being made a public spectacle by the Jews, He prayed for them, “Father forgive them they know not what they do.” This should be our response to these atheists as well.
Pray for them! As long as there is breath in their body, there is hope for them. Atheists CAN be converted. A couple of examples come to mind. C.S. Lewis, and Dr. Bernard Nathanson, and some guy named Duane Matz.
There was a time when we too, “knew not,” but by the grace of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit. He came to us and opened our eyes to His truth. May He do the same for Anne Gaylor and others like her.
Something happened in Madison Wisconsin yesterday that ties in with this particular portion of the parable of the vine-dressers. The Freedom From Religion Foundation placed a mock nativity scene in the capitol building in Madison Wisconsin.
In this parable, we find a “spot on” prophecy from Jesus concerning what the Jews would do with Him. They not only killed Him, but took Him outside the walls (the vineyard) to do it. Blinded by their unbelief, their act proclaimed to the world, “This is what we think of the Son of God.”
What did God (the owner of the vineyard) do? In 70 A.D. He visited the Jews with a most horrific judgment when He destroyed the city of Jerusalem. This destruction of Jerusalem serves as a warning for all who would reject the Son of God, for their eternal fate will be even worse!
Fast forward now to the event in Madison yesterday. Anne Gaylor, the spokesperson for the Freedom From Religion Foundation described their mock nativity as “slightly blasphemous, an irreverent tweak on the Nativity scene,"
In effect, this group was taking their views about Jesus outside their walls and doing the same thing these Jews did to Jesus. They are shouting to the world, “This is what we think of the Son of God!”
I shudder to think of what awaits these people if they do not come to repentance. In the end, it will be far worse than the destruction of Jerusalem.
But we need to remember this: Even as Jesus was being made a public spectacle by the Jews, He prayed for them, “Father forgive them they know not what they do.” This should be our response to these atheists as well.
Pray for them! As long as there is breath in their body, there is hope for them. Atheists CAN be converted. A couple of examples come to mind. C.S. Lewis, and Dr. Bernard Nathanson, and some guy named Duane Matz.
There was a time when we too, “knew not,” but by the grace of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit. He came to us and opened our eyes to His truth. May He do the same for Anne Gaylor and others like her.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
A Picture of the Doom Awaiting Those Who Reject Christ
# 627 - Today's Living Word comes from: Mr 12:8,9 "So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard. 9 "Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others.
Jesus continues with His parable of the vineyard, and it is loaded with prophetic implications. The son of the landowner in the parable is taken out of the vineyard and killed. This is exactly what they would do to Jesus.
They roughed Him up in the vineyard (Jerusalem) then took Him out of the city to Golgotha and killed Him! It's one thing to keep their deed inside the walls but to take it outside is to tell the world, “this is what we think of this person!” They didn't know what they were doing! Blinded by unbelief, they were in effect saying, “this is what we think of the Son of God!”
What do you think the vinedresser will do to such people? He will destroy them and give His vineyard to others. This is exactly what happened.
The gospel message, God's message of grace was given to the Gentiles and they embraced it. And in 70 A.D the city of Jerusalem (the vineyard) was destroyed.
God's vineyard continues today as the church of Jesus Christ, and all who deny His Sonship will face a similar end. This parable was a warning for the Jews and should serve as a warning for us as well.
Father, thank You for Your mercy, I know I wouldn't be here without it. But I have so many acquaintances Lord who have rejected Jesus. Have mercy on them. Pursue them with Your Holy Spirit and awaken saving faith in their souls.
Jesus continues with His parable of the vineyard, and it is loaded with prophetic implications. The son of the landowner in the parable is taken out of the vineyard and killed. This is exactly what they would do to Jesus.
They roughed Him up in the vineyard (Jerusalem) then took Him out of the city to Golgotha and killed Him! It's one thing to keep their deed inside the walls but to take it outside is to tell the world, “this is what we think of this person!” They didn't know what they were doing! Blinded by unbelief, they were in effect saying, “this is what we think of the Son of God!”
What do you think the vinedresser will do to such people? He will destroy them and give His vineyard to others. This is exactly what happened.
The gospel message, God's message of grace was given to the Gentiles and they embraced it. And in 70 A.D the city of Jerusalem (the vineyard) was destroyed.
God's vineyard continues today as the church of Jesus Christ, and all who deny His Sonship will face a similar end. This parable was a warning for the Jews and should serve as a warning for us as well.
Father, thank You for Your mercy, I know I wouldn't be here without it. But I have so many acquaintances Lord who have rejected Jesus. Have mercy on them. Pursue them with Your Holy Spirit and awaken saving faith in their souls.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Don't Look To the Trellis For Life Stay Connected To the Vine
# 626 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 12:6,7 "Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, 'They will respect my son.'
7 "But those vinedressers said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.
And now the final damning portion of this prophetic parable. The Jews and their leaders killed the prophets and now they would kill God's only Son. They refused to see that Jesus sprouted from the root of Jesse through His miraculous incarnation.
He is the vine and we are the branches, and what folly to think you can remove the vine and still survive as a branch! The unbelieving Jews chose to cling to the trellis of the Law rather than connect to the life giving sap of grace.
This is the age old problem of salvation by works. The world, our flesh, and the devil constantly try to convince us that we can be good enough apart from Christ. It's a struggle even after we have placed our faith in Jesus. Our lives change for the better as we start winning a few battles with sin, and we begin to think more highly of ourselves than we ought, but we must never forget where the power comes from for those victories.
It is the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit through grace, not the Law that makes the difference. And when we sense a spiritual withering in our lives, don't look to the trellis (the Law) for help, rather seek to get reconnected to the vine.
Father, I confess I fall into this trap far too often. I love the trellis for it guides me and keeps me following the direction that You would have me go, but if I disconnect from the vine of the Holy Spirit, I will wither and die. Keep me connected dear Lord.
7 "But those vinedressers said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.
And now the final damning portion of this prophetic parable. The Jews and their leaders killed the prophets and now they would kill God's only Son. They refused to see that Jesus sprouted from the root of Jesse through His miraculous incarnation.
He is the vine and we are the branches, and what folly to think you can remove the vine and still survive as a branch! The unbelieving Jews chose to cling to the trellis of the Law rather than connect to the life giving sap of grace.
This is the age old problem of salvation by works. The world, our flesh, and the devil constantly try to convince us that we can be good enough apart from Christ. It's a struggle even after we have placed our faith in Jesus. Our lives change for the better as we start winning a few battles with sin, and we begin to think more highly of ourselves than we ought, but we must never forget where the power comes from for those victories.
It is the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit through grace, not the Law that makes the difference. And when we sense a spiritual withering in our lives, don't look to the trellis (the Law) for help, rather seek to get reconnected to the vine.
Father, I confess I fall into this trap far too often. I love the trellis for it guides me and keeps me following the direction that You would have me go, but if I disconnect from the vine of the Holy Spirit, I will wither and die. Keep me connected dear Lord.
Monday, December 12, 2011
A Modern Day Stoning
# 625 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 12:4,5 "Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. 5 "And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some.
These are the prophets of God. His servants who preached repentance to Israel. God sent them to His precious vineyard to call His people to the fruit bearing works of repentance. But instead of heeding the prophets, the people beat them and killed them.
In Mt 23:35, Jesus put the spilled blood of the prophets squarely on the hands of those who sought to silence their words through killing them. "that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.”
We, we no longer have these prophets with us, but we do have their sure prophetic word. 2Pe 1:19 says, “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; “
If we ignore the words of Scripture, we are in effect “killing the prophets,” joining in the shedding of their blood as we too silence them by shutting our ears to their message.
Still want to “pick and choose” what you believe about the Scriptures? Still want to live your way instead of God's way? Drop the stones and turn to Jesus. Acknowledge Him as Lord and then live that way!
Father, thank You for Your sure prophetic Word. Forgive us when we ignore it, help us to overcome our tendency to do it our way instead of Yours.
These are the prophets of God. His servants who preached repentance to Israel. God sent them to His precious vineyard to call His people to the fruit bearing works of repentance. But instead of heeding the prophets, the people beat them and killed them.
In Mt 23:35, Jesus put the spilled blood of the prophets squarely on the hands of those who sought to silence their words through killing them. "that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.”
We, we no longer have these prophets with us, but we do have their sure prophetic word. 2Pe 1:19 says, “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; “
If we ignore the words of Scripture, we are in effect “killing the prophets,” joining in the shedding of their blood as we too silence them by shutting our ears to their message.
Still want to “pick and choose” what you believe about the Scriptures? Still want to live your way instead of God's way? Drop the stones and turn to Jesus. Acknowledge Him as Lord and then live that way!
Father, thank You for Your sure prophetic Word. Forgive us when we ignore it, help us to overcome our tendency to do it our way instead of Yours.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Making A Decision For Christ
# 623 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 12:1 Then He began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country.
Time does not permit us to tackle the entire parable in one day, so let's attempt to break it up into several pieces.
First of all, Jesus is speaking this parable directly to the spiritual leaders of Israel, the Old Testament church. If you recall, they had just refused to acknowledge that He was sent from God, this parable will put that argument to rest, and it contains a stern warning to these rulers and any and all people who reject Jesus.
The “man” who planted this vineyard was none other than God the Father. Notice that it is He who did the planting. It is he who establishes His vineyard, His church. It is planted with the God-given gift of faith. This is the first lesson of this parable for you and I.
Faith is a gift of God. If we make a “decision for Christ,” it is only because God gave us the necessary faith. It was He who planted the seed of faith in our hearts. When Peter made his confession of faith that Jesus was the Christ the Son of the living God. Jesus immediately said, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” (Mt 16:17)
Father we praise and give You thanks for every decision made for Christ, but let us never forget that this decision flows from Your grace through the gift of faith.
Time does not permit us to tackle the entire parable in one day, so let's attempt to break it up into several pieces.
First of all, Jesus is speaking this parable directly to the spiritual leaders of Israel, the Old Testament church. If you recall, they had just refused to acknowledge that He was sent from God, this parable will put that argument to rest, and it contains a stern warning to these rulers and any and all people who reject Jesus.
The “man” who planted this vineyard was none other than God the Father. Notice that it is He who did the planting. It is he who establishes His vineyard, His church. It is planted with the God-given gift of faith. This is the first lesson of this parable for you and I.
Faith is a gift of God. If we make a “decision for Christ,” it is only because God gave us the necessary faith. It was He who planted the seed of faith in our hearts. When Peter made his confession of faith that Jesus was the Christ the Son of the living God. Jesus immediately said, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” (Mt 16:17)
Father we praise and give You thanks for every decision made for Christ, but let us never forget that this decision flows from Your grace through the gift of faith.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Cushiness Is A Great Enemy of the Church
# 622 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 11:31-33 “And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' "But if we say, 'From men' --they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. So they answered and said to Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus answered and said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."
These religious rulers believed that John's baptism was from men and not God. Yet they refused to state their conviction to Jesus for fear of the people.
Why? Because these leaders feared the loss of their status quo.
If the people get a little tumultuous over their dissing of John the baptist, the Romans may move in and take away their cushy deal. Better to not take an official stand on this one.
Cushiness is a great enemy of the church. Pastors will skirt issues that may result in an attendance drop and subsequent reduced offering. Jesus asked the rulers if John's baptism was from God or men. We would do well, to ask this same question regarding all of our moral standards and behavior. Are they guided by men or by God?
Bottom line is this. Is the Bible from God or from men? I'm afraid that if we look at the way we are living as professing Christians today, we have given the same answer as the religious leaders of Jesus' day. “We don't know.”
That is a chilling response. It smacks of disinterest and a lack of true commitment to Jesus. It's chilling because Jesus has stated that the lukewarm will be vomited out of His mouth. Re 3:16 "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
Father, the Bible is Your Word, help us to yield to it's authority in our lives.
These religious rulers believed that John's baptism was from men and not God. Yet they refused to state their conviction to Jesus for fear of the people.
Why? Because these leaders feared the loss of their status quo.
If the people get a little tumultuous over their dissing of John the baptist, the Romans may move in and take away their cushy deal. Better to not take an official stand on this one.
Cushiness is a great enemy of the church. Pastors will skirt issues that may result in an attendance drop and subsequent reduced offering. Jesus asked the rulers if John's baptism was from God or men. We would do well, to ask this same question regarding all of our moral standards and behavior. Are they guided by men or by God?
Bottom line is this. Is the Bible from God or from men? I'm afraid that if we look at the way we are living as professing Christians today, we have given the same answer as the religious leaders of Jesus' day. “We don't know.”
That is a chilling response. It smacks of disinterest and a lack of true commitment to Jesus. It's chilling because Jesus has stated that the lukewarm will be vomited out of His mouth. Re 3:16 "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
Father, the Bible is Your Word, help us to yield to it's authority in our lives.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Is Baptism Something God Does For Us Or Is It Something We Do For Him?
# 621 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 11:29 But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: "The baptism of John--was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me."
The rulers had just asked Jesus who gave Him the authority to hold a parade and to cleanse the temple, and Jesus counters with a question of His own. Where did John the Baptist get his authority?
John was a son of one of their own, born in miraculous fashion, and called to prepare the way for Jesus as a prophet in the spirit and power of Elijah. (Luke 1:!7) His method of preparation was baptism.
In baptism, sins are washed away, “rise and be baptized and wash away your sins.” (Acts 22:16) and the way is simultaneously prepared for Jesus to enter the heart.
The question then is this: Is baptism God's idea or man's idea? Is baptism something God does for man (grace) or something that man does for God? (obedience)
Think about it, if baptism washes away sins and only God can forgive sins, then it stands to reason that God does something for us in baptism, not the other way around. Baptism. Is it from God or is it from men? This is a question well worth considering.
Father, thank You for still another reminder in Scripture about the importance of baptism. Open our hearts to receive the promise of forgiveness of our sins in baptism.
The rulers had just asked Jesus who gave Him the authority to hold a parade and to cleanse the temple, and Jesus counters with a question of His own. Where did John the Baptist get his authority?
John was a son of one of their own, born in miraculous fashion, and called to prepare the way for Jesus as a prophet in the spirit and power of Elijah. (Luke 1:!7) His method of preparation was baptism.
In baptism, sins are washed away, “rise and be baptized and wash away your sins.” (Acts 22:16) and the way is simultaneously prepared for Jesus to enter the heart.
The question then is this: Is baptism God's idea or man's idea? Is baptism something God does for man (grace) or something that man does for God? (obedience)
Think about it, if baptism washes away sins and only God can forgive sins, then it stands to reason that God does something for us in baptism, not the other way around. Baptism. Is it from God or is it from men? This is a question well worth considering.
Father, thank You for still another reminder in Scripture about the importance of baptism. Open our hearts to receive the promise of forgiveness of our sins in baptism.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Throwing Our Weight Around In Church
# 620 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 11:27,28 “Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him. 28 And they said to Him, "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?"
It's Tuesday, the day after Jesus had cleansed the temple and two days after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The Jewish rulers want to know where Jesus got His authority for such acts. Who does He think He is? Did He not realize that THEY were the authorities around here? They issue the parade permits! They decide what kind of business is allowed in the Temple! This is their city! This is their temple!
Wow! The audacity of these rulers!
But wait a minute. How often have we not heard the same attitude expressed in our own congregations? How often has this same sentiment been angrily expressed in board meetings, and in semi-secret conversations in the fellowship hall or narthex? How often have we played the old, “this is my church,” card and then sought to throw our weight around, forgetting what Jesus has said about His house. It is to be a house of prayer.
If we are going to throw our weight behind anything, let it be the weight of prayer.
Father, help us always to remember that the church belongs to You. It is Your house, not ours, let us learn to treat it that way.
It's Tuesday, the day after Jesus had cleansed the temple and two days after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The Jewish rulers want to know where Jesus got His authority for such acts. Who does He think He is? Did He not realize that THEY were the authorities around here? They issue the parade permits! They decide what kind of business is allowed in the Temple! This is their city! This is their temple!
Wow! The audacity of these rulers!
But wait a minute. How often have we not heard the same attitude expressed in our own congregations? How often has this same sentiment been angrily expressed in board meetings, and in semi-secret conversations in the fellowship hall or narthex? How often have we played the old, “this is my church,” card and then sought to throw our weight around, forgetting what Jesus has said about His house. It is to be a house of prayer.
If we are going to throw our weight behind anything, let it be the weight of prayer.
Father, help us always to remember that the church belongs to You. It is Your house, not ours, let us learn to treat it that way.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
The Importance of Forgiving Others
# 619 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 11:24 "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."
Couldn't You have stopped at v24 Jesus? Why bring in this matter of forgiving others in relation to our prayers? Though you and I may pray without doubting and be a conduit of great healings, prophecies, miracles, etc, in the end, if we harbor unforgiveness, we are stained with sin, and those with sin still clinging to them, will not see Paradise.
God does not “know” sin. Mt 7:22, 23a says, "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never KNEW you; depart from Me,”
In order for Jesus to “know” us, our sins must be removed, and if we cannot forgive others, we have a sin problem. This problem is best dealt with as we daily come before God with a contrite heart. Confessing our own wickedness and receiving His forgiveness. How can we not forgive others when we approach the level ground of the cross.
Humility, must be guarded in the life of the Christian, and those who have this gift of faith, are especially at risk of getting a little full of themselves, and this superiority can lead to forgetfulness in this matter of forgiveness.
Thanks for the warning Jesus, Amen
Couldn't You have stopped at v24 Jesus? Why bring in this matter of forgiving others in relation to our prayers? Though you and I may pray without doubting and be a conduit of great healings, prophecies, miracles, etc, in the end, if we harbor unforgiveness, we are stained with sin, and those with sin still clinging to them, will not see Paradise.
God does not “know” sin. Mt 7:22, 23a says, "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never KNEW you; depart from Me,”
In order for Jesus to “know” us, our sins must be removed, and if we cannot forgive others, we have a sin problem. This problem is best dealt with as we daily come before God with a contrite heart. Confessing our own wickedness and receiving His forgiveness. How can we not forgive others when we approach the level ground of the cross.
Humility, must be guarded in the life of the Christian, and those who have this gift of faith, are especially at risk of getting a little full of themselves, and this superiority can lead to forgetfulness in this matter of forgiveness.
Thanks for the warning Jesus, Amen
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Erasing Doubt
# 619 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 11:23,24 "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
Whenever you see a “therefore” in Scripture, you need to go back a verse or two to see what the “therefore” is “there for!” In this case, Jesus is saying “because doubt is absent in the heart, the obstacle of unbelief has been removed, and we can pray with confidence. But how do we get there? How do we remove doubt?
The answer is WE don't. God is the One who gets us there. Faith is always HIS gift. However there are some things we can do to strengthen our faith. The most important thing we can do is to get into His Word and then actually put it into practice in our daily living. The more we trust God and His Word as we apply it to our daily living, His faithfulness will become more and more evident.
After all, Nu 23:19 says,"God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”
God uses His proven record of faithfulness and His Word to remove our doubts. But we won't know of that record if we don't get into His Word, and we won't taste of that record until we put that Word into practice.
Father, help us to take that leap necessary to trust You and Your Word in our daily living. Help us to keep our eyes open to the opportunities to put Your Word into practice.
Whenever you see a “therefore” in Scripture, you need to go back a verse or two to see what the “therefore” is “there for!” In this case, Jesus is saying “because doubt is absent in the heart, the obstacle of unbelief has been removed, and we can pray with confidence. But how do we get there? How do we remove doubt?
The answer is WE don't. God is the One who gets us there. Faith is always HIS gift. However there are some things we can do to strengthen our faith. The most important thing we can do is to get into His Word and then actually put it into practice in our daily living. The more we trust God and His Word as we apply it to our daily living, His faithfulness will become more and more evident.
After all, Nu 23:19 says,"God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”
God uses His proven record of faithfulness and His Word to remove our doubts. But we won't know of that record if we don't get into His Word, and we won't taste of that record until we put that Word into practice.
Father, help us to take that leap necessary to trust You and Your Word in our daily living. Help us to keep our eyes open to the opportunities to put Your Word into practice.
Monday, December 5, 2011
A Way To Strengthen Faith
# 617 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 11:22-23 “So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
Jesus is not talking about saving faith here, but rather that faith that is considered one of the gifts of the Spirit as mentioned in 1 Cor 12:7-11. This supernatural gift of God allows for supernatural healings, miracles, futuristic prophetic utterances, and discerning of spirits, and all other things that we would view as impossible.
Doubt is the enemy of this kind of faith.. Remember the incident after the Mount of transfiguration? A father brings his son to the disciples to be delivered from demonic possession but they couldn't do it and Jesus told them it was due to a lack of faith. and then used the illustration of being able to cast a mountain into the see with the faith of a mustard seed.
What caused their faith to flee? It was just a shadow of doubt. Just an inkling that God won't take action and you're gift of faith becomes impotent. What to do? Jesus reminded His disciples that “these kind only come out through “prayer and fasting.”
I think we all struggle at times with doubt, but in this passage, Jesus tells us how to conquer doubt. The Christian disciplines of prayer and fasting strengthen the gift of faith, and help minimize doubt. Put them into practice!
Pray! Have conversations with God in His Word on a regular basis, responding with action when He calls for it, to show Him that you have heard what he has spoken.
Fast! Pray with your body, denying yourself sensual pleasure for a time in order to have more of God!
Father, if we are to take our faith seriously, we need to engage in these spiritual disciplines, give us the resolve to start today.
Jesus is not talking about saving faith here, but rather that faith that is considered one of the gifts of the Spirit as mentioned in 1 Cor 12:7-11. This supernatural gift of God allows for supernatural healings, miracles, futuristic prophetic utterances, and discerning of spirits, and all other things that we would view as impossible.
Doubt is the enemy of this kind of faith.. Remember the incident after the Mount of transfiguration? A father brings his son to the disciples to be delivered from demonic possession but they couldn't do it and Jesus told them it was due to a lack of faith. and then used the illustration of being able to cast a mountain into the see with the faith of a mustard seed.
What caused their faith to flee? It was just a shadow of doubt. Just an inkling that God won't take action and you're gift of faith becomes impotent. What to do? Jesus reminded His disciples that “these kind only come out through “prayer and fasting.”
I think we all struggle at times with doubt, but in this passage, Jesus tells us how to conquer doubt. The Christian disciplines of prayer and fasting strengthen the gift of faith, and help minimize doubt. Put them into practice!
Pray! Have conversations with God in His Word on a regular basis, responding with action when He calls for it, to show Him that you have heard what he has spoken.
Fast! Pray with your body, denying yourself sensual pleasure for a time in order to have more of God!
Father, if we are to take our faith seriously, we need to engage in these spiritual disciplines, give us the resolve to start today.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
The Utter Lack of Doubt
# 616 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 11:22-23 “So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
Jesus is not talking about saving faith here, but rather that faith that is considered one of the gifts of the Spirit as mentioned in 1 Cor 12:7-11. This supernatural gift of God allows for supernatural healings, miracles, futuristic prophetic utterances, and discerning of spirits, and all other things that we would view as impossible.
The key to its manifestation is an utter lack of doubt. Now just think about that for a moment as it applies to some of the supernatural events recorded in the Book of Acts. Who could possibly be so certain that a healing will occur, or that there will be a famine in Jerusalem, or that Ananias and Sapphira had lying spirits, or that Dorcas could actually be brought back to life? Who could speak those things without an inkling of doubt? Only God!
And so you see, how much this gift is of God. And how the person who truly has this gift is blessed with moments of God given assurance in the abilities of God to do all things. God prompts this gifted person to speak and act, and before He does all doubt is removed. To me, that's the real miracle. The removal of all doubt.
Father, thank You for these various gifts You have given Your church. And thank You for the miracle of removing doubt. Not only in the charismatic gifts, but also in the certainty of our salvation through faith in Jesus.
Jesus is not talking about saving faith here, but rather that faith that is considered one of the gifts of the Spirit as mentioned in 1 Cor 12:7-11. This supernatural gift of God allows for supernatural healings, miracles, futuristic prophetic utterances, and discerning of spirits, and all other things that we would view as impossible.
The key to its manifestation is an utter lack of doubt. Now just think about that for a moment as it applies to some of the supernatural events recorded in the Book of Acts. Who could possibly be so certain that a healing will occur, or that there will be a famine in Jerusalem, or that Ananias and Sapphira had lying spirits, or that Dorcas could actually be brought back to life? Who could speak those things without an inkling of doubt? Only God!
And so you see, how much this gift is of God. And how the person who truly has this gift is blessed with moments of God given assurance in the abilities of God to do all things. God prompts this gifted person to speak and act, and before He does all doubt is removed. To me, that's the real miracle. The removal of all doubt.
Father, thank You for these various gifts You have given Your church. And thank You for the miracle of removing doubt. Not only in the charismatic gifts, but also in the certainty of our salvation through faith in Jesus.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
The Charismatic Gift of Faith
# 615 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 11:20-22, “Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away." So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God”
Here it is, that same fig tree that Jesus had cursed back in verse 14, was now deader than a doornail. And Peter's remark is nothing more than a question. “How is that possible Jesus? And Jesus replied, “It's possible through faith in God.”
The Bible talks about two kinds of faith. There is saving faith, that gift of God given to all His children through His means of grace, spoken of in Eph 2:8,9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
And there is what we will call the charismatic gift of faith. which is described in 1Co 12:9, “ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, “
This gift is simply believing that God is able to do the seemingly impossible. Not all believers have this gift. 1Co 12:11 says, “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
So this charismatic gift of faith comes directly from the Holy Spirit, and it is the Holy Spirit who prompts the believer when to use it. For instance, Peter had this gift and he used it when prompted by the Holy Spirit to heal the lame beggar outside the temple, that we read about in Acts 3:1-8 and in Ac 3:6 we read, “Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."
What did Peter have” The gift of healing and the gift of faith to use it properly. Namely for the glory of God! So he did. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, he had no choice.
God determines when this gift is to be exercised, and it is always used for His purposes and His glory! It should never be used to line the purse of the healer. Jesus said in Mt 10:8 "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Father, thank You for the gift of saving faith and all the other gifts You have given to Your church, guard us against any and all abuses of these gifts, and may Your name be glorified wherever and whenever they are used.
Here it is, that same fig tree that Jesus had cursed back in verse 14, was now deader than a doornail. And Peter's remark is nothing more than a question. “How is that possible Jesus? And Jesus replied, “It's possible through faith in God.”
The Bible talks about two kinds of faith. There is saving faith, that gift of God given to all His children through His means of grace, spoken of in Eph 2:8,9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
And there is what we will call the charismatic gift of faith. which is described in 1Co 12:9, “ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, “
This gift is simply believing that God is able to do the seemingly impossible. Not all believers have this gift. 1Co 12:11 says, “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
So this charismatic gift of faith comes directly from the Holy Spirit, and it is the Holy Spirit who prompts the believer when to use it. For instance, Peter had this gift and he used it when prompted by the Holy Spirit to heal the lame beggar outside the temple, that we read about in Acts 3:1-8 and in Ac 3:6 we read, “Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."
What did Peter have” The gift of healing and the gift of faith to use it properly. Namely for the glory of God! So he did. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, he had no choice.
God determines when this gift is to be exercised, and it is always used for His purposes and His glory! It should never be used to line the purse of the healer. Jesus said in Mt 10:8 "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Father, thank You for the gift of saving faith and all the other gifts You have given to Your church, guard us against any and all abuses of these gifts, and may Your name be glorified wherever and whenever they are used.
Friday, December 2, 2011
The Essence of Prayer
# 614 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 11:17-19 “Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves.'" And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching. When evening had come, He went out of the city.
Jesus cleans out the Temple and then uses the temple properly. Namely for teaching. The church is to be a house of teaching the Word of God, and so the temple is properly called a “house of prayer.” A place of hearing the Word of the Lord and then responding to it. That is the essence of prayer!
Well, the people were just eating up the teaching of Jesus from the pure Word of God, and the leaders feared that they were going to be pushed out, so they now begin to earnestly seek ways to destroy Jesus, and since it was not yet His time Jesus leaves the city at night for His protection.
Though this event took place in a physical building, we should use it as an example for the new temple of the Holy Spirit...our individual heart. We ought to be willing to allow Jesus to enter our hearts and cleanse us from sin and all other distractions, on a regular basis, so that we too can better receive the astonishing teachings of Jesus.
Father, this is basic housecleaning for the followers of Your Son, let us never weary of it, and help us to never lose that sense of awe and astonishment of the teachings of Jesus.
Jesus cleans out the Temple and then uses the temple properly. Namely for teaching. The church is to be a house of teaching the Word of God, and so the temple is properly called a “house of prayer.” A place of hearing the Word of the Lord and then responding to it. That is the essence of prayer!
Well, the people were just eating up the teaching of Jesus from the pure Word of God, and the leaders feared that they were going to be pushed out, so they now begin to earnestly seek ways to destroy Jesus, and since it was not yet His time Jesus leaves the city at night for His protection.
Though this event took place in a physical building, we should use it as an example for the new temple of the Holy Spirit...our individual heart. We ought to be willing to allow Jesus to enter our hearts and cleanse us from sin and all other distractions, on a regular basis, so that we too can better receive the astonishing teachings of Jesus.
Father, this is basic housecleaning for the followers of Your Son, let us never weary of it, and help us to never lose that sense of awe and astonishment of the teachings of Jesus.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Pie or Piety?
# 613 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 11:15-17 “ So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"
I confess, I used to seethe at the various fundraising activities undertaken under the umbrella of the church. Seeing the tables set up in the narthex of the church and money exchanging hands always stirred up memories of this event in Scripture.
Today I still lament that we have to spend so much time and energy on these events. If everyone would just give a tenth of their income to the church, these church bazaars would be completely unnecessary, and we could all devote more time to our corporate and individual spiritual growth through prayer, Bible study, and ministry.
Now please, I'm not saying that bake sales are of the devil. But it wouldn't hurt our churches to pause and consider what impression we are leaving to those on the outside looking in. Are we known for our pie or our piety? Are we known as people in touch with God, or trying to put the touch on others?
Father, restore Your house to what You meant for it to be. Let us once again be first and foremost a house of prayer.
I confess, I used to seethe at the various fundraising activities undertaken under the umbrella of the church. Seeing the tables set up in the narthex of the church and money exchanging hands always stirred up memories of this event in Scripture.
Today I still lament that we have to spend so much time and energy on these events. If everyone would just give a tenth of their income to the church, these church bazaars would be completely unnecessary, and we could all devote more time to our corporate and individual spiritual growth through prayer, Bible study, and ministry.
Now please, I'm not saying that bake sales are of the devil. But it wouldn't hurt our churches to pause and consider what impression we are leaving to those on the outside looking in. Are we known for our pie or our piety? Are we known as people in touch with God, or trying to put the touch on others?
Father, restore Your house to what You meant for it to be. Let us once again be first and foremost a house of prayer.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
He Sentenced the Tree To Death
# 612 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 11:12-14”Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again." And His disciples heard it.
In Matthews account of this incident we are told that this fig tree was found along the road. (Mt 21:19) This means that it was available to all, it wasn't owned by a fig tree farmer.
It was an unusual tree that evidently had a great location, because it was ahead of other fig trees as far as it's bloom was concerned. (Since “it was not season for figs.”) Fig trees grow their fruit first and then the leaves follow. So naturally, when Jesus saw the leaves, He went over to the tree to grab a fig or two. But when He got there, He found nothing but leaves, not even a promise of fruit.
Finding no evidence of fruit, He sentenced the tree to death. (“Let no one eat fruit from you again!”) That seems harsh, but learn from the fig tree. It's not about all show. It's not about looking good on the outside, it's about true faith on the inside which always produces fruit on the outside. This fig tree incident is simply a visual of James 2:20 “faith without works is dead.”
Father, It is so easy to be a “doctrinal” Christian. Help us to live for You in a balance that makes us more than just “hearers” of Your Word.
In Matthews account of this incident we are told that this fig tree was found along the road. (Mt 21:19) This means that it was available to all, it wasn't owned by a fig tree farmer.
It was an unusual tree that evidently had a great location, because it was ahead of other fig trees as far as it's bloom was concerned. (Since “it was not season for figs.”) Fig trees grow their fruit first and then the leaves follow. So naturally, when Jesus saw the leaves, He went over to the tree to grab a fig or two. But when He got there, He found nothing but leaves, not even a promise of fruit.
Finding no evidence of fruit, He sentenced the tree to death. (“Let no one eat fruit from you again!”) That seems harsh, but learn from the fig tree. It's not about all show. It's not about looking good on the outside, it's about true faith on the inside which always produces fruit on the outside. This fig tree incident is simply a visual of James 2:20 “faith without works is dead.”
Father, It is so easy to be a “doctrinal” Christian. Help us to live for You in a balance that makes us more than just “hearers” of Your Word.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
When's the Last Time Your Temple Was Cleansed
# 611 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 11:11 And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.
Jesus decides to go to the temple in Jerusalem. He looks around and takes in all the abuses. The moneychangers are at it again! If you recall, at the beginning of His ministry He had cleansed this very same temple. Joh 2:14-16 tells us: “And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, "Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!"
Well, guess what? They're baaaack.. Jesus cleansed our personal temples when we were baptized. If He were to examine your temple today, what would He find? What have you allowed back in to your temple? What are those things that you have quietly accepted as business as usual, but God regards as sin?
Friend, today, right now, take the time to embrace 1 Jn 1:9 and freshen up your temple. 1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Father we take the time to cleanse the outside of our body, help us to make our inner cleansing a top priority through confession of our sins, daily repentance, and receiving Your promised absolution.
Jesus decides to go to the temple in Jerusalem. He looks around and takes in all the abuses. The moneychangers are at it again! If you recall, at the beginning of His ministry He had cleansed this very same temple. Joh 2:14-16 tells us: “And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, "Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!"
Well, guess what? They're baaaack.. Jesus cleansed our personal temples when we were baptized. If He were to examine your temple today, what would He find? What have you allowed back in to your temple? What are those things that you have quietly accepted as business as usual, but God regards as sin?
Friend, today, right now, take the time to embrace 1 Jn 1:9 and freshen up your temple. 1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Father we take the time to cleanse the outside of our body, help us to make our inner cleansing a top priority through confession of our sins, daily repentance, and receiving Your promised absolution.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Beware of Your Expectations
# 610 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 11:9,10 “Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"
What a glorious day as the throng chants from the 118th Psalm with loud Hosanna's! The word means “save now.” Why all the excitement?
Luke tells us that they were rejoicing and praising God “for all the mighty works they had seen.” (Luke 19:37) This was a holy, unbridled moment of enthusiasm, a wave of real spiritual feeling and joy. Something like one might catch at a stadium worship event.
But what happened? Later in this week , this same crowd would be demanding that He be crucified.
Beware my friend, lest your mountain top worship experiences be forgotten, in the ordinary expectations of life. This crowd did not expect their Messiah to allow Himself to be whipped and humiliated by the much hated Romans. In fact such a Messiah was really no Messiah at all. Forgetting all the other mighty works He had done, the moment He stopped meeting their expectations, they turned on Him.
The question begs to be asked. What will we do with Jesus when our expectations aren't met?
Father, guard our hearts from allowing our own expectations to rule our hearts, and let us be more concerned about Your expectations. Let Your expectations rule our hearts and lives.
What a glorious day as the throng chants from the 118th Psalm with loud Hosanna's! The word means “save now.” Why all the excitement?
Luke tells us that they were rejoicing and praising God “for all the mighty works they had seen.” (Luke 19:37) This was a holy, unbridled moment of enthusiasm, a wave of real spiritual feeling and joy. Something like one might catch at a stadium worship event.
But what happened? Later in this week , this same crowd would be demanding that He be crucified.
Beware my friend, lest your mountain top worship experiences be forgotten, in the ordinary expectations of life. This crowd did not expect their Messiah to allow Himself to be whipped and humiliated by the much hated Romans. In fact such a Messiah was really no Messiah at all. Forgetting all the other mighty works He had done, the moment He stopped meeting their expectations, they turned on Him.
The question begs to be asked. What will we do with Jesus when our expectations aren't met?
Father, guard our hearts from allowing our own expectations to rule our hearts, and let us be more concerned about Your expectations. Let Your expectations rule our hearts and lives.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Submit To the King
# 609 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 11:7,8 “ Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road.”
First of all, remember that these people still held the idea that Jesus was an earthly Messiah, an earthly king. They believed he would restore the fortunes of Israel to the good times of David and Solomon.
Even so, I wish we in the church would be able to get a better grasp of the majesty of our Jesus, who is King of kings and Lord of lords. This was no “buddy, buddy,” worship service, this was Handel's Messiah to the nth degree.
Don't get me wrong, there is a place for contemporary worship and a place for the majesty of the church organ and trumpets. But here, on Palm Sunday, it was all about the latter.
Robes thrown under the feet of the king, just as they did for Jehu in 2 Kings 9:13, “in haste, every man of them took his garment and put it under him on the bare steps and they blew the trumpet and proclaimed, Jehu is king.”
This was an extraordinary symbolical act indicating a willingness to submit to the king. I pray that this is one aspect of our worship we will never omit from our worship services be they contemporary or traditional. Submit to Jesus with joy, let the Holy Spirit have His way with you, because Jesus is the King!
Father, so many things vie for our attention, even during our worship services, help us to quiet our hearts and joyfully submit to You, for in joyful submission is true worship.
First of all, remember that these people still held the idea that Jesus was an earthly Messiah, an earthly king. They believed he would restore the fortunes of Israel to the good times of David and Solomon.
Even so, I wish we in the church would be able to get a better grasp of the majesty of our Jesus, who is King of kings and Lord of lords. This was no “buddy, buddy,” worship service, this was Handel's Messiah to the nth degree.
Don't get me wrong, there is a place for contemporary worship and a place for the majesty of the church organ and trumpets. But here, on Palm Sunday, it was all about the latter.
Robes thrown under the feet of the king, just as they did for Jehu in 2 Kings 9:13, “in haste, every man of them took his garment and put it under him on the bare steps and they blew the trumpet and proclaimed, Jehu is king.”
This was an extraordinary symbolical act indicating a willingness to submit to the king. I pray that this is one aspect of our worship we will never omit from our worship services be they contemporary or traditional. Submit to Jesus with joy, let the Holy Spirit have His way with you, because Jesus is the King!
Father, so many things vie for our attention, even during our worship services, help us to quiet our hearts and joyfully submit to You, for in joyful submission is true worship.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
The Specific Words of the Sacraments
# 608 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 11:1-6 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; and He said to them, "Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. "And if anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord has need of it,' and immediately he will send it here." So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. But some of those who stood there said to them, "What are you doing, loosing the colt?" And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go.
We have arrived at the day we call “Palm Sunday.” Passion week is about to begin. This particular incident regarding Jesus riding on the foal of a donkey into Jerusalem was a specific prophecy found in Zec 9:9. "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey. This prophecy was written over 500 years before Jesus was born!
I want to zero in on one specific part of this event. “They spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded, so they let them go.” Have you ever considered that Jesus has given us specific words to speak in the Sacraments? Speak them as He commanded and they have the same force as if He were there speaking them.....because He is.
Virtually every Christian baptism and every celebration of the Lord's Supper uses these words in one form or another.
Don't mess with them. Speak them as He commanded, because they are spoken in faith to loosen us from our sins. They are spoken as a direct command from Jesus through His servants, and our sins have no choice, they, like the owners of the donkey, “must let go.”
Father, thank You for the Sacraments, thank You for the consolation and confidence that our sins are untied and sent away, gone forever in the Sea of Forgetfulness.
We have arrived at the day we call “Palm Sunday.” Passion week is about to begin. This particular incident regarding Jesus riding on the foal of a donkey into Jerusalem was a specific prophecy found in Zec 9:9. "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey. This prophecy was written over 500 years before Jesus was born!
I want to zero in on one specific part of this event. “They spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded, so they let them go.” Have you ever considered that Jesus has given us specific words to speak in the Sacraments? Speak them as He commanded and they have the same force as if He were there speaking them.....because He is.
Virtually every Christian baptism and every celebration of the Lord's Supper uses these words in one form or another.
Don't mess with them. Speak them as He commanded, because they are spoken in faith to loosen us from our sins. They are spoken as a direct command from Jesus through His servants, and our sins have no choice, they, like the owners of the donkey, “must let go.”
Father, thank You for the Sacraments, thank You for the consolation and confidence that our sins are untied and sent away, gone forever in the Sea of Forgetfulness.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Give Me the Eyes of Faith
# 607 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 10:51 So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight." Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.
What a physical miracle! Jesus has the power to restore the eyesight of Bartimaeus. And what a picture of the power He has to restore our spiritual blindness. We are all born, (indeed conceived) in spiritual blindness. “in sin my mother conceived me.” (Ps 51:5) “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1Co 2:14)
So, we, being made aware of our spiritual condition through the Law, call out to Jesus for mercy, He responds to our pleas and calls us through the gospel, we respond by casting aside anything that would hinder us from coming to Him, and He says, “What do you want me to do for you?” And our response is similar to that of Bartimaeus.
“Give me the eyes of faith. Let me see things from Your perspective.” And Jesus replies, “Because God has caused you to believe (given you faith) I can do this, let it be done.” And immediately his sight was restored and He followed Jesus. That's his story, it's my story, and we're sticking with it.........make it yours.
Thank You Father for the gift of faith, may You continue to help us see things from Your perspective.
What a physical miracle! Jesus has the power to restore the eyesight of Bartimaeus. And what a picture of the power He has to restore our spiritual blindness. We are all born, (indeed conceived) in spiritual blindness. “in sin my mother conceived me.” (Ps 51:5) “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1Co 2:14)
So, we, being made aware of our spiritual condition through the Law, call out to Jesus for mercy, He responds to our pleas and calls us through the gospel, we respond by casting aside anything that would hinder us from coming to Him, and He says, “What do you want me to do for you?” And our response is similar to that of Bartimaeus.
“Give me the eyes of faith. Let me see things from Your perspective.” And Jesus replies, “Because God has caused you to believe (given you faith) I can do this, let it be done.” And immediately his sight was restored and He followed Jesus. That's his story, it's my story, and we're sticking with it.........make it yours.
Thank You Father for the gift of faith, may You continue to help us see things from Your perspective.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
How About A Thanksgiving Resolution?
Happy Thanksgiving! One day of the year which we have set aside in our nation to give thanks to God. Wow! Aren't we something special! A day that has been gobbled up with massive tradition laden meals , football games, dreams of shopping deals on the morrow, and oh yes, maybe.....maybe a table prayer that mentions God, or more likely a list of things and people that we are thankful for.
Believe it or not, I don't have a problem with that. Please, enjoy all these good things that God allows us to have! I know I will!
But would you at least consider this. Would you consider making a thanksgiving resolution today? No need to declare it at the table, or make an announcement during halftime, just a quiet resolution between you and the Lord to become a thankful person on a daily basis for the next year.
Ps 54:6b,7 says, “I will give thanks to Your name O Lord, for it is good. For He has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.”
There's your resolution. “I WILL give thanks.” Why? Because God is good, and even when it doesn't appear that way, we have His promise that “all things work together for good, for those who love God and are called according to His purpose,” (Rom 8:28)
Further we read that He has delivered us from every trouble. That doesn't mean that He removes trouble, it means that He delivers us through our troubles. He gives us what we need to cope and endure. Is that not reason enough to thank Him on a daily basis? Who knows what lies ahead today, tomorrow, or in the year to come?
And finally, as you daily give thanks to God for His gift of Jesus, and daily come to Him confessing your sins and receiving His forgiveness, your “eye will look in triumph on your enemies.” No, your enemy is not that family member or neighbor or co-worker that you just can't seem to get along with. Your enemies are the world, your flesh and the devil, who all desire to separate you from the love of God.
And in the coming year, if you keep your thanksgiving resolution, and daily confess your sins, receiving God's forgiveness and asking His help for victory over sin in your life, I guarantee you, that your eye will see victory over your enemies. This is the key to the preservation of your soul, and when all is said and done, if it is well with our soul, all we can say is “Thanks Lord!”
Father, thank You!.
Believe it or not, I don't have a problem with that. Please, enjoy all these good things that God allows us to have! I know I will!
But would you at least consider this. Would you consider making a thanksgiving resolution today? No need to declare it at the table, or make an announcement during halftime, just a quiet resolution between you and the Lord to become a thankful person on a daily basis for the next year.
Ps 54:6b,7 says, “I will give thanks to Your name O Lord, for it is good. For He has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.”
There's your resolution. “I WILL give thanks.” Why? Because God is good, and even when it doesn't appear that way, we have His promise that “all things work together for good, for those who love God and are called according to His purpose,” (Rom 8:28)
Further we read that He has delivered us from every trouble. That doesn't mean that He removes trouble, it means that He delivers us through our troubles. He gives us what we need to cope and endure. Is that not reason enough to thank Him on a daily basis? Who knows what lies ahead today, tomorrow, or in the year to come?
And finally, as you daily give thanks to God for His gift of Jesus, and daily come to Him confessing your sins and receiving His forgiveness, your “eye will look in triumph on your enemies.” No, your enemy is not that family member or neighbor or co-worker that you just can't seem to get along with. Your enemies are the world, your flesh and the devil, who all desire to separate you from the love of God.
And in the coming year, if you keep your thanksgiving resolution, and daily confess your sins, receiving God's forgiveness and asking His help for victory over sin in your life, I guarantee you, that your eye will see victory over your enemies. This is the key to the preservation of your soul, and when all is said and done, if it is well with our soul, all we can say is “Thanks Lord!”
Father, thank You!.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
The Lessons of Bartimaeus
# 606 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 10:49,50 “So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, "Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you." And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus”
Blind Bartimaeus. A picture of you and I when we were once lost, as the song says “I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.”
Please note that Jesus has responded to the heartfelt cry for mercy from Bartimaeus. He knows when we need it, He knows when we are ready for it. When we are ready, He calls. How does He call?
The call is stated beautifully in the Lutheran catechism, where we read, “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel.”
Jesus calls those desiring mercy through the words of the Gospel, and when we hear those words in our heart of hearts, our heart is cheered as we rise up from our lost condition to meet Him, casting aside all those things of the world that might hinder us.
Did you notice what Bartimaeus did? He cast aside his garment. Do you understand this? Bartimaeus was blind! Removing his garment wasn't going to help him run any faster. It was a symbolical act, of casting aside any and all hindrances to responding to God's mercy..
Beloved, when you hear the call be prepared to let go of any and all things that will hinder you from responding fully to the call and mercy of Christ.
Father, I need Your mercy daily, help me to cast off any hindrances to receiving it.
Blind Bartimaeus. A picture of you and I when we were once lost, as the song says “I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.”
Please note that Jesus has responded to the heartfelt cry for mercy from Bartimaeus. He knows when we need it, He knows when we are ready for it. When we are ready, He calls. How does He call?
The call is stated beautifully in the Lutheran catechism, where we read, “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel.”
Jesus calls those desiring mercy through the words of the Gospel, and when we hear those words in our heart of hearts, our heart is cheered as we rise up from our lost condition to meet Him, casting aside all those things of the world that might hinder us.
Did you notice what Bartimaeus did? He cast aside his garment. Do you understand this? Bartimaeus was blind! Removing his garment wasn't going to help him run any faster. It was a symbolical act, of casting aside any and all hindrances to responding to God's mercy..
Beloved, when you hear the call be prepared to let go of any and all things that will hinder you from responding fully to the call and mercy of Christ.
Father, I need Your mercy daily, help me to cast off any hindrances to receiving it.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Stopping God In His Tracks
# 605 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 10:46-49a, “Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" So Jesus stood still.”
A couple of things stand out here. First of all, the faith of Bartimaeus. Who told him that Jesus was the Son of David? The Son of David was the title reserved for the Messiah! Only God could've revealed this fact to Bartimaeus.
Next, notice what Jesus did when the cries of Bartimaeus hit His ears. “He stood still.” He literally stopped in His tracks. Beloved, every cry for mercy stops God in His tracks? Ps 33:18 says, “Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy.”
A cry for mercy, is hope for mercy and it's why the publican went to his house justified and the Pharisee did not. The publican prayed, “God, be merciful to me a sinner.” ( Lu 18:13b) This heartfelt prayer will stop God in His tracks every time . Need mercy and forgiveness from God? Just ask. He is more than happy to give it
God, how I need Your mercy! Even when I'm on top of my game and everything seems to be running smoothly, my heart cries out for Your mercy. It thrills me to know, that such heartfelt cries stop You in Your tracks, and move You to action on my behalf.
A couple of things stand out here. First of all, the faith of Bartimaeus. Who told him that Jesus was the Son of David? The Son of David was the title reserved for the Messiah! Only God could've revealed this fact to Bartimaeus.
Next, notice what Jesus did when the cries of Bartimaeus hit His ears. “He stood still.” He literally stopped in His tracks. Beloved, every cry for mercy stops God in His tracks? Ps 33:18 says, “Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy.”
A cry for mercy, is hope for mercy and it's why the publican went to his house justified and the Pharisee did not. The publican prayed, “God, be merciful to me a sinner.” ( Lu 18:13b) This heartfelt prayer will stop God in His tracks every time . Need mercy and forgiveness from God? Just ask. He is more than happy to give it
God, how I need Your mercy! Even when I'm on top of my game and everything seems to be running smoothly, my heart cries out for Your mercy. It thrills me to know, that such heartfelt cries stop You in Your tracks, and move You to action on my behalf.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Perfect Fulfillment
# 604 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 10:45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
Who will be the greatest (mortally speaking) in the Kingdom of heaven? The Son of Man! Jesus! But even He did not come to be waited on hand and foot! This seems to be another idea concerning the Kingdom that needed to be clarified for the disciples.
I don't believe the kingdom of heaven either now or for eternity will consist of believers sitting on thrones while servants peel their grapes for them. I believe it will be more like the perfect contentment that comes from being useful.
I'm not sure how that will play out, but I imagine all our God-created giftedness and uniqueness will be maximized in perfect fulfillment, and He will forever be praised because of it.
And think about it, the only reason you or I even have an opportunity to be partakers of this Kingdom is because Jesus played the role of the Servant perfectly and then paid the ransom.
In a sense, we were all kidnapped when Adam and Eve fell. The ransom price was set by God Himself, for His Word says that the wages of sin, (the ransom) is death Jesus paid that price and the bonds of sin, which had held us captive were burst and we have been set free.
Jesus served in perfect fulfillment and it brought Him great joy: Heb 12:2b “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,”
This same kind of fulfilling joy awaits all who remain in Christ.
Father, what a blessed place heaven will be, open the ears of the spiritually deaf, that they may hear and believe, and one day experience their created purpose in all its fullness.
Who will be the greatest (mortally speaking) in the Kingdom of heaven? The Son of Man! Jesus! But even He did not come to be waited on hand and foot! This seems to be another idea concerning the Kingdom that needed to be clarified for the disciples.
I don't believe the kingdom of heaven either now or for eternity will consist of believers sitting on thrones while servants peel their grapes for them. I believe it will be more like the perfect contentment that comes from being useful.
I'm not sure how that will play out, but I imagine all our God-created giftedness and uniqueness will be maximized in perfect fulfillment, and He will forever be praised because of it.
And think about it, the only reason you or I even have an opportunity to be partakers of this Kingdom is because Jesus played the role of the Servant perfectly and then paid the ransom.
In a sense, we were all kidnapped when Adam and Eve fell. The ransom price was set by God Himself, for His Word says that the wages of sin, (the ransom) is death Jesus paid that price and the bonds of sin, which had held us captive were burst and we have been set free.
Jesus served in perfect fulfillment and it brought Him great joy: Heb 12:2b “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,”
This same kind of fulfilling joy awaits all who remain in Christ.
Father, what a blessed place heaven will be, open the ears of the spiritually deaf, that they may hear and believe, and one day experience their created purpose in all its fullness.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
A Ready Ministrant
# 603 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 10:41-44, “And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
"Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. "And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.
John and James didn't get it, and neither did the other ten. They were displeased at this attempted power grab of the sons of thunder. I mean after all, weren't they deserving of a special place in the royal court too? Jesus uses their displeasure as another teachable moment.
Please note that He does not ditz the idea of seeking to be great in His kingdom. In fact He unlocks the secret to greatness in His kingdom for any who wish to achieve it. “If you want to be great, then serve others.”
The force of the Greek here is to be a “ready ministrant.” Be ready to pour out the grace you have freely received in your life, into the lives of others. Minister to them! Grace flowed through Jesus because He made Himself a “ready ministrant.” It will flow through us if we are willing to do the same.
Father, give me a willing heart. That I may be a vessel of Your grace to others.
"Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. "And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.
John and James didn't get it, and neither did the other ten. They were displeased at this attempted power grab of the sons of thunder. I mean after all, weren't they deserving of a special place in the royal court too? Jesus uses their displeasure as another teachable moment.
Please note that He does not ditz the idea of seeking to be great in His kingdom. In fact He unlocks the secret to greatness in His kingdom for any who wish to achieve it. “If you want to be great, then serve others.”
The force of the Greek here is to be a “ready ministrant.” Be ready to pour out the grace you have freely received in your life, into the lives of others. Minister to them! Grace flowed through Jesus because He made Himself a “ready ministrant.” It will flow through us if we are willing to do the same.
Father, give me a willing heart. That I may be a vessel of Your grace to others.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Who Gets To Sit On the Right and Left Hand of Jesus
# 602 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 10:40 "but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared."
James and John have asked for the privilege of sitting on the right and left hand of Jesus when He comes into His kingdom. Jesus told them that they didn't understand what they were asking and here He adds that these seats are not His to give. That should tell us that these seats are assigned by the Father.
Further we learn that these seats have not yet been occupied, but rather there is some preparation work that must first be accomplished. The prep work will be completed when Jesus ascends into heaven. Who then will occupy these seats?
I believe it's not a who but a what. In Zech 4, we read of a prophetic vision involving a lampstand and two olive trees, one on the right of the lampstand and the other on the left. The lampstand represents the church, (Jesus) These olive trees represent the means of grace that God will use through His church to add to His kingdom. Namely the Word of God and the Sacraments.
The Word of God will have pre-eminence (on the right) because the Sacraments derive their power from the Word.
No need to rack your brain trying to figure out this seating arrangement, rather purpose to seek your role in bringing these means of grace to our dying world.
Father, sometimes we spend more time trying to figure out Your Word than living it. Help us to live whatever revelation You have given us, and forgive us when we fall short.
James and John have asked for the privilege of sitting on the right and left hand of Jesus when He comes into His kingdom. Jesus told them that they didn't understand what they were asking and here He adds that these seats are not His to give. That should tell us that these seats are assigned by the Father.
Further we learn that these seats have not yet been occupied, but rather there is some preparation work that must first be accomplished. The prep work will be completed when Jesus ascends into heaven. Who then will occupy these seats?
I believe it's not a who but a what. In Zech 4, we read of a prophetic vision involving a lampstand and two olive trees, one on the right of the lampstand and the other on the left. The lampstand represents the church, (Jesus) These olive trees represent the means of grace that God will use through His church to add to His kingdom. Namely the Word of God and the Sacraments.
The Word of God will have pre-eminence (on the right) because the Sacraments derive their power from the Word.
No need to rack your brain trying to figure out this seating arrangement, rather purpose to seek your role in bringing these means of grace to our dying world.
Father, sometimes we spend more time trying to figure out Your Word than living it. Help us to live whatever revelation You have given us, and forgive us when we fall short.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Baptized With the Holy Spirit
# 601 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 10:38,39 “But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able." So Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized;
I believe that Jesus is pointing the disciples ahead to Pentecost, for it was on that day that the disciples experienced the baptism of fire. The word “baptize” here means to be whelmed or completely covered. Some have used these verses as proof of the necessity of baptism by immersion, but be careful, there is enough proof in other places of Scripture that discount such a doctrine.
Nonetheless, the effect of water baptism is the same, it produces a “whelming”, a saturation, of the Holy Spirit in those who receive it. Baptism also produces a drinking of the cup, that is, a complete emptying of self as the old man is crucified, and the new man aflame with the Holy Spirit comes forth.
The Holy Spirit (the baptism of Jesus, Mt 3:11) was given to the church on Pentecost, and He is received in baptism. (Acts 2:38Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you SHALL RECEIVE the gift of the Holy Spirit.)
This passage is also interpreted to speak of the necessity of suffering for those who follow Jesus, and while this is true, we do the text no harm as we speak of baptism because, once we are received into the kingdom, we will also take on His suffering in varying degrees......it comes with the territory.
Father, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit, and help me to empty my cup (my self) on a daily basis so He may have full sway in my life, helping me to endure any and all struggles that may come my way.
I believe that Jesus is pointing the disciples ahead to Pentecost, for it was on that day that the disciples experienced the baptism of fire. The word “baptize” here means to be whelmed or completely covered. Some have used these verses as proof of the necessity of baptism by immersion, but be careful, there is enough proof in other places of Scripture that discount such a doctrine.
Nonetheless, the effect of water baptism is the same, it produces a “whelming”, a saturation, of the Holy Spirit in those who receive it. Baptism also produces a drinking of the cup, that is, a complete emptying of self as the old man is crucified, and the new man aflame with the Holy Spirit comes forth.
The Holy Spirit (the baptism of Jesus, Mt 3:11) was given to the church on Pentecost, and He is received in baptism. (Acts 2:38Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you SHALL RECEIVE the gift of the Holy Spirit.)
This passage is also interpreted to speak of the necessity of suffering for those who follow Jesus, and while this is true, we do the text no harm as we speak of baptism because, once we are received into the kingdom, we will also take on His suffering in varying degrees......it comes with the territory.
Father, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit, and help me to empty my cup (my self) on a daily basis so He may have full sway in my life, helping me to endure any and all struggles that may come my way.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Go Right To Jesus
# 600 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 10:35-38a) “Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask." And He said to them, "What do you want Me to do for you?"
They said to Him, "Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you ask."
James and John are soooo close to understanding the concept of Jesus as the “King of all kings,” and they are asking Jesus to give them positions of great honor when He assumes what they thought would soon be His earthly throne.
In today's politics, these would be presidential advisers. They would be powerful people who have the president's ear. Jesus then gently tells them that they don't understand the role of the right and left hand men of His kingdom.
You see, it's not about having His ear in a special way, it's not about personal power. The fact is ALL believers have His ear and all believers have access to His power. When Jesus died, the temple curtain was torn in two, dramatically making the point that we may now boldly approach the throne (Heb 4:16) through the blood of Jesus! (Heb 10:19,20) No need to go through right hand or left hand men,
Go right to Jesus. He won that right for you.
To go to Jesus through any other means turns your personal relationship with Jesus into an impersonal relationship with Jesus, and when you think about His love for you, is that where you want your relationship to be?
Father, guard my heart from any and all things that would distance me from You.
They said to Him, "Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you ask."
James and John are soooo close to understanding the concept of Jesus as the “King of all kings,” and they are asking Jesus to give them positions of great honor when He assumes what they thought would soon be His earthly throne.
In today's politics, these would be presidential advisers. They would be powerful people who have the president's ear. Jesus then gently tells them that they don't understand the role of the right and left hand men of His kingdom.
You see, it's not about having His ear in a special way, it's not about personal power. The fact is ALL believers have His ear and all believers have access to His power. When Jesus died, the temple curtain was torn in two, dramatically making the point that we may now boldly approach the throne (Heb 4:16) through the blood of Jesus! (Heb 10:19,20) No need to go through right hand or left hand men,
Go right to Jesus. He won that right for you.
To go to Jesus through any other means turns your personal relationship with Jesus into an impersonal relationship with Jesus, and when you think about His love for you, is that where you want your relationship to be?
Father, guard my heart from any and all things that would distance me from You.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
If You Ask Anything In My Name, I Will Do It
# 599 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 10:35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask."
In Matthews account of this incident it was Salome, the mother of James and John who made this request. Apparently it was something that the three had cooked up a while ago and Salome was waiting for an opportune time to make the request.
Mom was speaking for her boys and that's why the Holy Spirit speaking through Mark says the words came from James and John. Listen to the tone of their request: “We want You to do for us whatever we ask.” What cheek right? Wrong! They actually sort of get it!
An earthly king is able to grant any request and need not know what it is in advance. The case of Herod granting the wish of Herodius' daughter and delivering the Baptist's head on a platter is an example of such powers.
What they didn't understand yet was that Jesus' kingdom is not of this world. It is far above and over this world. When the disciples rightly understood what the true realm of Jesus is and when we rightly understand it, the entire focus of our petitions broadens from mere earthly concerns to high heavenly concerns, and we pray with Salome, “Do for us whatever we ask,” because Jesus Himself has said, Jn 14:14, "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it..”
Stop settling for just the things of your kingdom and start seeking the things of the Lord's kingdom. If you ask anything related to His will, He will grant it, and unlike Herod He will not look back with regrets over granting your request.
Father, give us kingdom vision and priorities that we will not ask amiss.
In Matthews account of this incident it was Salome, the mother of James and John who made this request. Apparently it was something that the three had cooked up a while ago and Salome was waiting for an opportune time to make the request.
Mom was speaking for her boys and that's why the Holy Spirit speaking through Mark says the words came from James and John. Listen to the tone of their request: “We want You to do for us whatever we ask.” What cheek right? Wrong! They actually sort of get it!
An earthly king is able to grant any request and need not know what it is in advance. The case of Herod granting the wish of Herodius' daughter and delivering the Baptist's head on a platter is an example of such powers.
What they didn't understand yet was that Jesus' kingdom is not of this world. It is far above and over this world. When the disciples rightly understood what the true realm of Jesus is and when we rightly understand it, the entire focus of our petitions broadens from mere earthly concerns to high heavenly concerns, and we pray with Salome, “Do for us whatever we ask,” because Jesus Himself has said, Jn 14:14, "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it..”
Stop settling for just the things of your kingdom and start seeking the things of the Lord's kingdom. If you ask anything related to His will, He will grant it, and unlike Herod He will not look back with regrets over granting your request.
Father, give us kingdom vision and priorities that we will not ask amiss.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The Gift of Peace
# 598 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 10:32-34 “Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; "and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again."
Amazed and afraid. The idea of being amazed is they were dumbfounded....found to be dumb, in other words they were speechless. They couldn't believe that their Master was bent on going to Jerusalem! Grave danger lay ahead for Him!
They were also afraid. The word in the Greek is phobea, from which we get the word phobia. This was not an ordinary fear, it was paralyzing. It explains why they missed what Jesus said next. They missed the part about Him rising from the dead!
All they could focus on was their fears. None of us hear very well when we are panicked. Too bad, because if we would but listen to Him here, perhaps we could better handle are own times of fear.
The worst possible scenario was going to happen to Jesus, yet in the end, He wins. He rises from the dead, and so will we. Let that fact bring peace to your troubled soul.
Think of all the times in Scripture, where the Lord says, “Fear not.” I don't think it is a suggestion. I believe it has the full authority of a command, and when He commands the spirit of fear to depart from our flesh, it has no choice but to leave.
I have come to believe through my own personal experience, that peace (a lack of fear) is a gift from God, and that it can depart at any time, therefore I thank God every day for peace, and I pray that He will continually command the spirit of fear to depart when my heart is troubled.
Father, guard our hearts from fear and grant us Your peace.
Amazed and afraid. The idea of being amazed is they were dumbfounded....found to be dumb, in other words they were speechless. They couldn't believe that their Master was bent on going to Jerusalem! Grave danger lay ahead for Him!
They were also afraid. The word in the Greek is phobea, from which we get the word phobia. This was not an ordinary fear, it was paralyzing. It explains why they missed what Jesus said next. They missed the part about Him rising from the dead!
All they could focus on was their fears. None of us hear very well when we are panicked. Too bad, because if we would but listen to Him here, perhaps we could better handle are own times of fear.
The worst possible scenario was going to happen to Jesus, yet in the end, He wins. He rises from the dead, and so will we. Let that fact bring peace to your troubled soul.
Think of all the times in Scripture, where the Lord says, “Fear not.” I don't think it is a suggestion. I believe it has the full authority of a command, and when He commands the spirit of fear to depart from our flesh, it has no choice but to leave.
I have come to believe through my own personal experience, that peace (a lack of fear) is a gift from God, and that it can depart at any time, therefore I thank God every day for peace, and I pray that He will continually command the spirit of fear to depart when my heart is troubled.
Father, guard our hearts from fear and grant us Your peace.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Your Baptism Alone Will Not Save You
# 597 - Today's Du-votional Living Word comes from: Mr 10:31 But many who are first shall be last, and the last, first."
Jesus has just finished speaking of the necessity of forsaking all and following Him and the rewards associated with that path. He concludes with a stern warning. The sternness of the warning is found in the word, “last.”
He is not using the term in the sense of a pecking order, He is using it as a dividing line. The “last” are those left outside the gates of heaven, which means the “first” are those who will be admitted into heaven.
This is especially important for those who have enjoyed an outward attachment to the church, but have lost their first love. For whatever reason, Jesus has been crowded out of their hearts. When such people were baptized, they were among the first, but unless they persevere in their God-given faith, they will be last, left on the outside looking in.
Don't rely on your baptism alone for salvation. Mr 16:16 makes it clear that baptism must be accompanied by faith. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
Can it be any plainer than that? Baptism plus belief equals salvation. Baptism minus belief equals condemnation. In other words without enduring faith, you become the first that was last....baptized or not.
Father, let this be a wake up call for all of us. We are either in love with Jesus or not. There is no room for the cold or lukewarm. Help us to live a daily surrendered life to You.
Jesus has just finished speaking of the necessity of forsaking all and following Him and the rewards associated with that path. He concludes with a stern warning. The sternness of the warning is found in the word, “last.”
He is not using the term in the sense of a pecking order, He is using it as a dividing line. The “last” are those left outside the gates of heaven, which means the “first” are those who will be admitted into heaven.
This is especially important for those who have enjoyed an outward attachment to the church, but have lost their first love. For whatever reason, Jesus has been crowded out of their hearts. When such people were baptized, they were among the first, but unless they persevere in their God-given faith, they will be last, left on the outside looking in.
Don't rely on your baptism alone for salvation. Mr 16:16 makes it clear that baptism must be accompanied by faith. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
Can it be any plainer than that? Baptism plus belief equals salvation. Baptism minus belief equals condemnation. In other words without enduring faith, you become the first that was last....baptized or not.
Father, let this be a wake up call for all of us. We are either in love with Jesus or not. There is no room for the cold or lukewarm. Help us to live a daily surrendered life to You.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
The Other Part of the Reward
# 596 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 10:29,30 “So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, "who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life. "
There is no exception here. All those who forsake, who make Jesus their top love and priority, will be rewarded in the here and now with the sweet shared and sharing fellowship found only in the Body of Christ. Now don't miss the other part of the reward....persecutions.
As a member of the Body of Christ and in active fellowship with others, you will experience persecution. Jesus said in Joh 15:19,20 "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.”
As a forsaker, you have been called out of fellowship with the world and into fellowship with Jesus and other believers. This means persecution must come for the sake of your faith. Persevere brothers and sisters for the sake of the age to come, namely heaven.
Re 21:7 "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
Father, help me to not overlook the fact that persecution will come. It will come in all forms, help me to be aware of it and to keep my eye on the prize when it comes. Help me to be an overcomer that I may be with You one day in Paradise.
There is no exception here. All those who forsake, who make Jesus their top love and priority, will be rewarded in the here and now with the sweet shared and sharing fellowship found only in the Body of Christ. Now don't miss the other part of the reward....persecutions.
As a member of the Body of Christ and in active fellowship with others, you will experience persecution. Jesus said in Joh 15:19,20 "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.”
As a forsaker, you have been called out of fellowship with the world and into fellowship with Jesus and other believers. This means persecution must come for the sake of your faith. Persevere brothers and sisters for the sake of the age to come, namely heaven.
Re 21:7 "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
Father, help me to not overlook the fact that persecution will come. It will come in all forms, help me to be aware of it and to keep my eye on the prize when it comes. Help me to be an overcomer that I may be with You one day in Paradise.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
A Whole New Realm of Blessing
# 594 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 10:29-31 “So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, "who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life. "But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
Disciples of Jesus are forsakers. Lu 14:33 says, "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”
And here we see two levels of forsaking. There is one forsaking for His sake and another forsaking for the gospel's sake. The first refers to one's own personal faith and salvation, the second refers to those who we would call missionaries today. (the gospel's sake)
Notice that the promised reward is the same for both.
But what is this promised reward? If we take it literally all believers and missionaries will end up with one hundred brothers, one hundred sisters, one hundred mothers, one hundred children, and one hundred parcels of land! Sounds like a logistical nightmare to me!
So what is Jesus really saying here? Simply put, He is promising to open up a whole new realm of blessing to all forsakers, giving them access to all the people in His kingdom, (we call that fellowship) And He promises to dispense any and all material goods to His forsakers as needed.
These blessings of shared fellowship and material goods are for the here and now, (hence the 100 figure as opposed to 1000 which would represent the total completeness of eternity.)
This sharing of fellowship and material goods is beautifully portrayed in the 2nd Chapter of Acts, where we read: “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.” (Acts 2:44,45)
Some of this is missing to a certain degree in the church today, and maybe it's missing because we haven't truly been willing to forsake all. When we go “all in” with Jesus the fellowship and shared material blessings will follow suit.
Father, help me to let go from anything that is keeping me from enjoying the hundredfold blessings that Jesus promises to His forsakers.
Disciples of Jesus are forsakers. Lu 14:33 says, "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”
And here we see two levels of forsaking. There is one forsaking for His sake and another forsaking for the gospel's sake. The first refers to one's own personal faith and salvation, the second refers to those who we would call missionaries today. (the gospel's sake)
Notice that the promised reward is the same for both.
But what is this promised reward? If we take it literally all believers and missionaries will end up with one hundred brothers, one hundred sisters, one hundred mothers, one hundred children, and one hundred parcels of land! Sounds like a logistical nightmare to me!
So what is Jesus really saying here? Simply put, He is promising to open up a whole new realm of blessing to all forsakers, giving them access to all the people in His kingdom, (we call that fellowship) And He promises to dispense any and all material goods to His forsakers as needed.
These blessings of shared fellowship and material goods are for the here and now, (hence the 100 figure as opposed to 1000 which would represent the total completeness of eternity.)
This sharing of fellowship and material goods is beautifully portrayed in the 2nd Chapter of Acts, where we read: “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.” (Acts 2:44,45)
Some of this is missing to a certain degree in the church today, and maybe it's missing because we haven't truly been willing to forsake all. When we go “all in” with Jesus the fellowship and shared material blessings will follow suit.
Father, help me to let go from anything that is keeping me from enjoying the hundredfold blessings that Jesus promises to His forsakers.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Love Your Kingdom Less Than His
# 593 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 10:29-31 “So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, "who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life. "But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
This text is so rich, so full of blessing for the followers of Christ, I hardly know where to begin. Let's start with the word “assuredly.” This is a promise from Jesus that will never fail. It is always true. It's money in the spiritual bank!
He uses an extreme example to make His point. What could be the most difficult thing to sever ties with in order to follow Jesus? How about home and everything associated with it. House, family, (Matthew and Luke include wife in the list.)
This leaving is a declaration that we are pilgrims here. As the old hymn says, “I'm but a stranger here, heaven is my home.”
Understand that He is not advocating deserting your spouse, your children, your parents, or your family. That would be contrary to everything in the Scriptures. All he is saying is love them less than you love Him. Love His kingdom more than yours.
Father, I find my kingdom often collides with Your kingdom, and far too often I leave You in order to follow my own whims and fantasies. Help me to see that Yours is the only kingdom that will last, help me to seek first the kingdom of God and it's associated righteousness, believing then that You will be the caretaker of my kingdom.
This text is so rich, so full of blessing for the followers of Christ, I hardly know where to begin. Let's start with the word “assuredly.” This is a promise from Jesus that will never fail. It is always true. It's money in the spiritual bank!
He uses an extreme example to make His point. What could be the most difficult thing to sever ties with in order to follow Jesus? How about home and everything associated with it. House, family, (Matthew and Luke include wife in the list.)
This leaving is a declaration that we are pilgrims here. As the old hymn says, “I'm but a stranger here, heaven is my home.”
Understand that He is not advocating deserting your spouse, your children, your parents, or your family. That would be contrary to everything in the Scriptures. All he is saying is love them less than you love Him. Love His kingdom more than yours.
Father, I find my kingdom often collides with Your kingdom, and far too often I leave You in order to follow my own whims and fantasies. Help me to see that Yours is the only kingdom that will last, help me to seek first the kingdom of God and it's associated righteousness, believing then that You will be the caretaker of my kingdom.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
God Owes Us Nothing But Judgment
# 593 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 10:28 “Then Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You."
“Toot! Toot!” Listen to Peter toot his own horn. The very thing that Jesus had challenged the rich young ruler to do had indeed been done by these disciples. They had left their occupations, their families, for a life on the road following Jesus. (No mention by Peter though of selling their possessions and giving to the poor.) Isn't that just like you and I? We pick out maybe one item to which we have been obedient and think we have done it all! “Toot Toot!
Actually, quite the opposite is true. Jas 2:10 says, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” That little verse ought to keep all of us from patting ourselves on the back!
Make no mistake about this, Peter heard the Lord's promise to this rich young ruler about treasure in heaven and he wanted to remind the Lord that they were in line for it. Again, isn't that just like us? Peter views his following Christ as an action on his part that deserves a reward. It's the old spirit of works righteousness cropping up again in the flesh.
Remember friend, God owes nothing to sinners like us but judgment, but in His mercy, He overlooks our sins and gives us the kingdom through the merits of His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Father, I know that works righteousness is always present in me, always wanting to break out, guard my heart against such folly, and let me ever be thankful for Your grace and mercy.
“Toot! Toot!” Listen to Peter toot his own horn. The very thing that Jesus had challenged the rich young ruler to do had indeed been done by these disciples. They had left their occupations, their families, for a life on the road following Jesus. (No mention by Peter though of selling their possessions and giving to the poor.) Isn't that just like you and I? We pick out maybe one item to which we have been obedient and think we have done it all! “Toot Toot!
Actually, quite the opposite is true. Jas 2:10 says, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” That little verse ought to keep all of us from patting ourselves on the back!
Make no mistake about this, Peter heard the Lord's promise to this rich young ruler about treasure in heaven and he wanted to remind the Lord that they were in line for it. Again, isn't that just like us? Peter views his following Christ as an action on his part that deserves a reward. It's the old spirit of works righteousness cropping up again in the flesh.
Remember friend, God owes nothing to sinners like us but judgment, but in His mercy, He overlooks our sins and gives us the kingdom through the merits of His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Father, I know that works righteousness is always present in me, always wanting to break out, guard my heart against such folly, and let me ever be thankful for Your grace and mercy.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
What Good Thing Shall I Do To Be Saved?
# 591 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 10:26,27 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."
The great astonishment of the disciples tells us that they understand completely what Jesus is saying. They also confess the rich young ruler in all of us! Yes, there is a little bit of covetousness in all of us, and if this desire to be at ease materially is in all of us, (trust in riches) and keeps us out of the kingdom, “Who then can be saved?”
But Jesus looked at them one by one because again, He wants them to get His point. Men cannot save themselves. There is not one single good thing we can do to earn heaven. And this takes us back to the initial question of the rich young ruler as stated in Mt 19:16b “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"
There is no good thing! All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags! It is impossible for us because we are born, yes even conceived as spiritually dead people. “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit,” (1Co 2:14) “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (Jn 3:2) It is impossible for a dead man to revive himself, but it is not impossible for God. He is able to save to the uttermost!
I know. He saved me.
Oh, God, let me never forget that it is my Your great mercy that I am a follower of Christ. Keep me ever reliant on Him.
The great astonishment of the disciples tells us that they understand completely what Jesus is saying. They also confess the rich young ruler in all of us! Yes, there is a little bit of covetousness in all of us, and if this desire to be at ease materially is in all of us, (trust in riches) and keeps us out of the kingdom, “Who then can be saved?”
But Jesus looked at them one by one because again, He wants them to get His point. Men cannot save themselves. There is not one single good thing we can do to earn heaven. And this takes us back to the initial question of the rich young ruler as stated in Mt 19:16b “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"
There is no good thing! All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags! It is impossible for us because we are born, yes even conceived as spiritually dead people. “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit,” (1Co 2:14) “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (Jn 3:2) It is impossible for a dead man to revive himself, but it is not impossible for God. He is able to save to the uttermost!
I know. He saved me.
Oh, God, let me never forget that it is my Your great mercy that I am a follower of Christ. Keep me ever reliant on Him.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Who Unpacks the Camel?
# 590 - Today's Living Word comes from: Mr 10:25 "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
(Mr 10:25)
Many attempts have been made to use this passage in such a way to actually make it possible for a covetous man to enter heaven. My favorite is the illustration that when Jesus spoke of the needle, He meant the small portal of a gated city. In order for a camel to enter through such a portal, it would have to be unpacked of all excess baggage, and actually kneel to get through. The problem with this illustration is once through the camel is ready to be loaded up again, and the sin of covetousness has not really been dealt with.
Now this is a lovely illustration and a great spiritual principle and certainly connected to being followers of Christ. Jesus said elsewhere in Scripture Lu 14:33 "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.. In other words it is necessary to let go of worldly things (unpack the camel) to follow Him. Just don't load him up again! This is a daily unpacking, a daily forsaking and following.
Furthermore it is bluntly stated in 1Co 6:10, that the covetous will not inherit eternal life. “ Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
While this illustration of the camel makes for an interesting sermon, it misses the real point that Jesus is making.
A real live camel, packed or unpacked cannot fit through the eye of a needle. It's that simple. We must trust God. He is the only one able to move our trust in wealth and other things to a saving trust in Him.
Can a camel unpack itself? Of course not! It needs outside help and so do we! This is the point! Don't miss it!
Father, help me to stop looking for my salvation apart from You
(Mr 10:25)
Many attempts have been made to use this passage in such a way to actually make it possible for a covetous man to enter heaven. My favorite is the illustration that when Jesus spoke of the needle, He meant the small portal of a gated city. In order for a camel to enter through such a portal, it would have to be unpacked of all excess baggage, and actually kneel to get through. The problem with this illustration is once through the camel is ready to be loaded up again, and the sin of covetousness has not really been dealt with.
Now this is a lovely illustration and a great spiritual principle and certainly connected to being followers of Christ. Jesus said elsewhere in Scripture Lu 14:33 "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.. In other words it is necessary to let go of worldly things (unpack the camel) to follow Him. Just don't load him up again! This is a daily unpacking, a daily forsaking and following.
Furthermore it is bluntly stated in 1Co 6:10, that the covetous will not inherit eternal life. “ Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
While this illustration of the camel makes for an interesting sermon, it misses the real point that Jesus is making.
A real live camel, packed or unpacked cannot fit through the eye of a needle. It's that simple. We must trust God. He is the only one able to move our trust in wealth and other things to a saving trust in Him.
Can a camel unpack itself? Of course not! It needs outside help and so do we! This is the point! Don't miss it!
Father, help me to stop looking for my salvation apart from You
Monday, November 7, 2011
Prosperity Theology
589 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 10:23,24
“Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!
Did you note the difference between the first statement of Jesus and second? In the first He says it's difficult for those who HAVE RICHES and in the second he says it's difficult for those who TRUST IN RICHES.
Both statements are true of course. Wealth can distract us from what matters for our spiritual well-being, but woe to those who allow the distraction of wealth to lead to absolute trust in wealth.
The disciples were “astonished “ (the Greek Word means “stupefied”) at His remark. Why? Because the religious thinking of the day was that wealth was connected with the favor of God, and Jesus remarks were putting that notion to rest! He clarified His remark by saying in essence, if this is your theology, if you are trusting in this line of thinking, you are barking up the wrong tree.
Are we all that far from the same line of thinking today? I'm amazed how often I associate my own material blessings with God's favor, or how quick we are to use the size of the offering to gauge God's approval, or how easily people are duped into following after the theology of prosperity gospel.
Father, guard my heart against any semblance of trust in riches. True blessing is not tied to the size of my wallet, but rather what You do to the size of my heart.
“Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!
Did you note the difference between the first statement of Jesus and second? In the first He says it's difficult for those who HAVE RICHES and in the second he says it's difficult for those who TRUST IN RICHES.
Both statements are true of course. Wealth can distract us from what matters for our spiritual well-being, but woe to those who allow the distraction of wealth to lead to absolute trust in wealth.
The disciples were “astonished “ (the Greek Word means “stupefied”) at His remark. Why? Because the religious thinking of the day was that wealth was connected with the favor of God, and Jesus remarks were putting that notion to rest! He clarified His remark by saying in essence, if this is your theology, if you are trusting in this line of thinking, you are barking up the wrong tree.
Are we all that far from the same line of thinking today? I'm amazed how often I associate my own material blessings with God's favor, or how quick we are to use the size of the offering to gauge God's approval, or how easily people are duped into following after the theology of prosperity gospel.
Father, guard my heart against any semblance of trust in riches. True blessing is not tied to the size of my wallet, but rather what You do to the size of my heart.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
With God All Things Are PASSABLE
# 587 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 10:23-27 “Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."
“Then Jesus looked around.” Picture the Lord here, slowly meeting the eyes of each one of His disciples....His church, you and I....this is something He wants you and I to get!
How hard IS IT to enter the kingdom of God? Well, the word “hard” here in the Greek means “impassable.” Think about that for a minute. Think in terms of a mountain road and a rock slide. You cannot get through to the other side. It is “impassable.”
This is what He wants us to get! The only way you will be able to get through is when the obstacles are removed, and you cannot move those rocks yourself, you will need help. God is ready and willing to help you remove any and all obstacles to salvation. Maybe we should say with God all things are “passable.”
You see, it really is by grace we are saved through faith and that not of ourselves, it is a gift of God's! (Rough paraphrase of Eph 2:8,9)
Father, help me to step aside and allow You to work in my life. Remove any and all obstacles that keep me from having fuller intimacy with You.
“Then Jesus looked around.” Picture the Lord here, slowly meeting the eyes of each one of His disciples....His church, you and I....this is something He wants you and I to get!
How hard IS IT to enter the kingdom of God? Well, the word “hard” here in the Greek means “impassable.” Think about that for a minute. Think in terms of a mountain road and a rock slide. You cannot get through to the other side. It is “impassable.”
This is what He wants us to get! The only way you will be able to get through is when the obstacles are removed, and you cannot move those rocks yourself, you will need help. God is ready and willing to help you remove any and all obstacles to salvation. Maybe we should say with God all things are “passable.”
You see, it really is by grace we are saved through faith and that not of ourselves, it is a gift of God's! (Rough paraphrase of Eph 2:8,9)
Father, help me to step aside and allow You to work in my life. Remove any and all obstacles that keep me from having fuller intimacy with You.
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