July 2019: 

7/1/19                                Joseph – A Faithful Father                             1 

When [Joseph] arose, he took the young Child and His mother [Mary] by night and departed for Egypt. Matthew 2:14

RECOMMENDED READING: MATTHEW 1:18-25  “¹⁸ Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. ²⁰ But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. ²¹ And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”²² So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ²³ “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”²⁴ Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, ²⁵ and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus..”

COMMENTS:   Heroes people most often choose are not always  the best role models.   Those successful at business or wealth or power or position all too often pursued at sacrifice of family and church and fellowship with God.  How many have robbed family and God of fellowship  time with each in order to meet demands of employer and profession.    Yet, God has put within each husband and father a natural obligation to provide for his wife and children.   However, satan has distorted and suppressed his God given obligations to pursue his own selfish ambitions and desires.   To sacrifice his family to pursue selfish ambition and goals.  But God’s way is to put needs of his family above his needs, including need for quality time.

Joseph had such desires and feelings to and was also a honorable and God honoring man.    But God called Him to raise a child that  would not be related to Him.   To raise a child who would be the Messiah they all had been promised and  looked forward to for centuries.  What a privilege!  What a honor!

Sure, crisis or special circumstances like war or health or personal crisis can require special focus and priority to result.  But most

We meet Joseph in the early chapters of Matthew and Luke’s accounts of Jesus’ birth—and then he disappears from sight once Jesus begins His ministry. But we are safe in saying that Joseph took upon himself the most difficult task of shepherding the mother of Jesus, and then Jesus Himself, through the perilous days before and after Jesus’ birth. Joseph was a father who took God at His Word (Matthew 1:20-25). Given Jesus’ precocious nature at age twelve (Luke 2:41-52), Joseph must have nurtured Jesus’ spiritual development from an early age.

Faithful fathers don’t worry about rewards or credit. They depend on eternity to reveal the fruit of their faithfulness to their children.  Their priority is seeking and following Christ while leading their family to  seek and follow Him too.   Unfortunately,  such fathers are becoming rare, but still alive and well.   There are modern day faithful fathers as  there were in previous generations and those recorded in scripture to guide and encourage us too.

Human fatherhood should be molded and modeled on the pattern of the fatherhood of God.
William Barclay

7/2/19                                           The Object of Jealousy                                                         2 

For you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
Exodus 34:14

RECOMMENDED READING:  2 Corinthians 11:2   “² For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”

COMMENTS:  Jealousy  is portrayed as a sinful emotion and behavior which included anger motivated behavior and suspicion of motives and conduct of others.  Jealousy generally results in destructive behavior – destructive usually to those directly and many indirectly connected.   Proverbs 14:30 tell us jealousy and envy are “rottenness to the bones” while Exodus 34:14 identifies God as a “jealous God”.

So is jealousy a righteous attribute or a sinful indulgence?   Remember satan is skillful at pretending to copy and offering God’s strengthens.  Satan’s version of jealousy is a lot different than God’s version or attribute.  God is jealous based on His love and concern for our wellbeing.   Human or satan motivated jealousy is based on the jealousy person’s needs and desires and not by welfare of others.      That is a huge and fundamental difference that defines entirely different responses  and behavior choices.

So, why is jealousy an attribute for God but a sin for us?   Because of the motivation and  resulting behavior.  God loves us so much that He is  “zealous” for us to worship and fellowship with Him alone for our benefit and not for His.  In contrast, human jealousy is motivated by selfish motives, to satisfy selfish pleasures and self-centered interests.

So, how does jealousy look like to you?  Do I see jealousy in my own feelings and conduct?  Is jealousy motivated by welfare of other person or welfare of myself?  Am I demonstrating a God attribute or a satan attribute?   Sounds pretty black or white.  Well, it may be that obvious and clearly defined if we find the proper perspective to judge.

God is jealous for the good of His redeemed people—but He can never be jealous of anything or anyone.
John Blanchard

7/3/19                                    A Royal Problem                                                  3

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles. Love does not envy.  Proverbs 24:17; 1 Corinthians 13:4

RECOMMENDED READING: I CORINTHIANS 13 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.⁴ Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.⁸ Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part. ¹⁰ But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. ¹² For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.¹³ And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

COMMENTS: Living on a higher plane of conduct and motivation putting the welfare of others and desire to please God  ahead of personal – selfish ambitions and dreams.  We have many good examples like:  Joseph, Daniel, David (with  a few times of exception) and Solomon (when he was young and was still following God).  With blessing and wealth and talents comes responsibility and great temptation.  Misusing blessing God intends for good is all too common.   Using what God intends to help others for selfish self gratification is never positive.  God will honor wise use of resources but never foolish use.  The parable of the talents   is one illustration Jesus gave to  reveal God’s heart and will with regard to God’s  purpose for us and all He gives us.

Families dealing with most bitter conflicts are all too often   because of jealousy or battles over large inheritances.      Poor families where  the most valuable treasures passed on is            family pictures and badly worn furniture.  In those instances where  family is close and love is strong, in God’s eyes, possess treasure far more precious than earthly wealth.    

The news is full of terrible family violence and tragedy causes by family.  Parents abusing and neglecting    their children, children hurting parents by foolish and even evil conduct and words motivated by rage and satan’s temptations.   But God has a far better way and plan for each of us, for each family and for each child.  Plans to life and not death.  Plans to joy and hope instead of misery and desperation.     God often hides or withholds evidence of good in order to build and develop faith and trust in Him.  Satan, on the other hand, always promises great things but never delivers.  You would think people would eventually           discover who to trust and not trust, but most people never seem to discover satan’s tricks.

Changing the way we think and becoming more aware of needs of others and less aware of      our own needs.  Rejoicing with those who rejoice and grieving with those who are grieving is far better than rejoicing at the misfortune and hardship of others,

We ought to rejoice in the success of others….Their success should be our encouragement.
The Lutheran Magazine, 1829.

 

7/4/19                                              One Accord                                          4

They were all with one accord.  Acts 2:1

RECOMMENDED READING:  Acts 4:23-31 “²³ And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. ²⁴ So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, ²⁵ who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:‘Why did the nations rage,And the people plot vain things?²⁶ The kings of the earth took their stand,And the rulers were gathered togetherAgainst the Lord and against His Christ.’²⁷ “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together ²⁸ to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. ²⁹ Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, ³⁰ by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”³¹ And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”

COMMENTS:  Being of one accord or mind is a good thing for a marriage, for a family, and for a church.  With one common goal and mission, all work together in agreement of goal and mission.  Such agreement has resulted in building great church buildings and paying off debt sooner than planned.   Building structures is typically easier for a healthy growing church than for same church to agree on ministry priorities and even doctrine and teaching priorities and subjects.  Interpretation of scripture quickly becomes murky and confused when men and women insert their thoughts and interpretations, especially when sincere members of the body have opposed opinions to biblical teachings.  Paul’s letters  served to resolve and clarify such teachings of Jesus and conflicts that arose in the young churches Paul started.  Those churched didn’t argue about where to meet but did argue about what Jesus taught.  The very fact that Paul’s  letters became books in the New Testament gives us assurance that His written interpretations were in harmony with Jesus’ teachings and God’s word even from Old Testament.  There were many evangelists of Jesus’ teaching that misinterpreted and distorted Jesus’ teachings.  Some deliberately for their own ambitions and selfish and sinful purpose.  But some sincerely being deceived by other false teachers.

The danger of following and believing false  teachers is real and contagious.  Many cults and false religions had their start at the hands of a false teacher misinterpreting biblical truths.  It’s followers failed to identify or test teaching that failed to follow Jesus’ teachings and passed that false teaching on to their children, thereby strengthening and spreading that flawed faith.  Making sure the source of  truth is pure and staying at the source is essential for a church and for a family.   By doing so, the faith and doctrine preached and shared remains true and pure.

The purpose of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost was to empower and anoint and give discernment so that the Good News (Gospel) of Jesus would be spread and gain followers, but also so that Gospel would  remain true and pure.  The Holy Spirit would give discernment to identify false teaching from truth.  Paul grew us and gained a biblical knowledge and understanding of the Old Testament and prophecies from the greatest teacher of his day,  Gammaliel.  That foundation gave me the ability to connect Jesus’ mission and teaching and life to those old testament prophecies and connect Jesus’ teaching with Old Testament teaching and instruction and wisdom.  The wisdom of David and Solomon in Psalms and Proverbs was completed in Jesus’ teaching and life.  Paul evangelized and wrote what his learning and revelations from Jesus showed him.  That made him better equipped to write what would become a major part of our New Testament.  But the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in him gave him the authority and ability to do so.

Today we have too many church leaders and congregations following their own interpretations and feelings instead of staying grounded in biblical teachings of Jesus and elaborated in Paul’s writings.  Great evangelists and preachers like Moody and Spurgeon and Wesley have added volumes to Paul’s letters, but their writings do not replace scripture and should not be used in place of scripture.  Scripture still serves to be the foundation holding each generation to Jesus’ truths.  The Holy Spirit still serves to guide and keep us true to those unchanging truths, which do not become outdated or obsolete when new thinking and new ideas become popular.   

On seven occasions, the writer of the book of Acts tells us the early Christians were of  “one accord.” They were in one accord in the Upper Room awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit in an attitude of prayer and expectancy (Acts 1:14 and 2:1). They were in one accord after the events of the Day of Pentecost when three thousand new believers were added to their numbers (Acts 2:41, 46). They were in one accord during persecution (Acts 4:24) and in times of praise (Acts 5:12). They were in one accord listening to the preaching of the Gospel (Acts 8:6) and when sending out missionaries (Acts 15:25).

When the Philippians church encountered some difficulties, the apostle Paul told them to “fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (Philippians 2:2). The Early Church understood what we must recognize today—that Christians are encouraged and blessed when they come together with a common purpose.  But even more important, a common purpose that reflects Jesus’ mission and teaching.  That is as important today as it was in the early church.

Conflict in churches or in families is divisive and needs resolved.  Not by submitting to the loudest or most convincing voice or to the most influential or powerful or wealthy voice, but in seeking and listening to God’s voice. Perhaps the problem is a trace of bitterness or offended pride within. The Bible says, “Strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men” (Acts 24:16).

Rejoice today with one accord…rejoice and praise our mighty Lord.
Henry W. Baker, hymnist

 

7/5/19                                          One Body , Many Parts                                                5

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.    1 Corinthians 12:12

RECOMMENDED READING: EPHESIANS 4:11-13  “¹¹ And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, ¹³ till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

COMMENTS:  On this American Independence Day, a lesson from history applies to the Body of Christ. Prior to July 4, 1776, there were only thirteen British colonies that existed as separate outposts of the British Empire. But when representatives of those thirteen colonies signed the Declaration of Independence, it was the first step toward becoming one nation instead of thirteen colonies. The founders recognized that there is strength in unity. The strength of the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The apostle Paul didn’t know American history, of course, but he recognized the human body demonstrated this principle—individual organs and parts of the body working together to accomplish human goals no individual part could accomplish by itself.

Paul then applied that lesson to the Church, the Body of Christ. Each Christian is given gifts by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:11) in order to build up the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12).

Many have become increasingly critical of founding fathers like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and other key people in creating and signing the Declaration of   Independence of the USA because they were slave owners.   Their writings led the way and provided the basis for Abraham Lincoln to outlawing slavery.  Slavery was a globally accepted  practice and judged to be the economic way of building strength and economy for a country to become strong.   But the convictions of devout Christians like the Pilgrims and Puritans who migrated to the US colonies and that influence on those who wrote key documents that guiding the organization of the new country that would become USA,   Those who oppose or deny that influence are ignorant or blinded to how powerful and positive  that influence was.   Even those who owned slaves eventually yielded to that influence and supported outlawing slavery.

The pilgrims came so they could worship God without restriction or outside influences.  Yet their influence on others changed many who would become key powerful figures shaping future history.  Their influence changed John & Charles Wesley.  They changed the founders and signers of the Declaration of Independence and influenced the wording and content of the Bill of Rights and Constitution.  Their gifts was not in writing or preaching or leadership specifically but their gift was in sincerity and conviction of their beliefs and understanding of scripture.  Their gift was in living their faith – in being Christ-like.

What is your gift? What is your role? The Body of Christ is only as strong as the participation of all its members!  Christ will unite and coordinate our lives and actions if we are faithful to do and be all that Christ intends and the Holy Spirit guides.

Unity is of the essence of the Body of Christ.
R. B. Kuiper

7/6/19                                        No Limit                           6

For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.       Philippians 1:19

Recommended Reading: Acts 16:6-7 “⁶ Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. ⁷ After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.”

COMMENTS:  The work of the Holy Spirit has been significant but little understood.  So what has been that work in Old Testament times and what changed at Pentecost?   I have to confess my understanding is limited, but I also believe even biblical scholars differ and are limited in their understanding as well, so I think we need to trod lightly here.  The Holy Spirit did speak to and guide many identified in the Old Testament like Daniel and Noah and David and Joseph and even Jonah.   The Holy Spirit guided Moses and gave him the words and inspiration to confront Pharaoh and to lead the multitude of Israelites out of Egypt.

Before the fall, Adam and Eve had constant daily fellowship with God.  His Holy Spirit abided in and with them until they  ate the forbidden fruit and sinned.  They died that day because  the Holy Spirit no longer abided in them. From that day, God chose who and when He would guide and direct by His Spirit but His Holy Spirit was only available for a few for a defined purpose and goal.

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was once again available to every believer who received Christ’s redemption.  When the separating curtain was torn in the Temple that Good Friday, God was revealing Himself as being once again accessible and abiding in and with His people.

The transformation of the disciples on Pentecost  was dramatic, and the influence of the Holy Spirit indwelling in them was dramatic that day and each day going forward.  They lacked the vision – the confidence – the courage to obey the Great Commission.     We see the  powerful influence the Holy Spirit made with Daniel and Joseph and Noah and Moses and so many others in the Old Testament.  We see the difference the Holy Spirit made with Paul and John and Thomas  and especially with Peter.      But the biggest and most significant change at Pentecost is that the Holy Spirit is not only given to a few individuals called to a specific mission but to all Christians willing to receive and welcome Him into their soul. 

Ok, if the Holy Spirit dwells in every Christian, who aren’t all Christians  acting and living more Christ-like doing the  work like the disciples and early believers did after Pentecost?

That is a good question and a mystery.  But truth is God does not come into a believer uninvited or unwelcome.  He will guide and warn and encourage, but will not force or even compel obedience.  We still have free will to choose good or evil, obedience or rebellion.  The influences of satan are still close and powerful and only as effective as we let them be.  Even Christ faced and endured temptation even up to and while on the cross.  He chose to obey His Father’s Will and follow His Father’s Plan to the cross, but satan did all he could to deter and stop Him from doing so.

We should not think we will be spared the same even though we have the benefit of the abiding Holy Spirit to warn and guide and  strengthen us  too.  Stop and reflect on times the Holy Spirit warned you of temptation and you ignored Him to later regret not listening.  How many times have you heard His soft  voice and allowed a distraction or louder voice of temptation to prevail?

God still  requires faith, so He will still only show evidence after we choose to follow His lead.  Take some time to reflect and  rediscover how powerful and vital the Holy Spirit’s influence is in your life and give Him praise and worship.

For Christians, the Holy Spirit is given as a permanent, indwelling reality. He is there to guide, comfort, and counsel us in our daily lives—especially in times of adversity. The Spirit does for us what He did for Paul in Asia Minor—comes alongside to clear up confusion and provides direction when needed (Acts 16:6-10). He will come alongside us as well when we need counsel and comfort.

Be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) and depend on Him to come alongside you. There is no limit to His loving presence.

Great Comforter, descend, and bring some tokens of Thy grace.
Isaac Watts

 

7/7/19                       Ready for Flight                                                7                   

I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained.  2 Timothy 2:9

Recommended Reading: 2 Timothy 2:1-10 –“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. ³ You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴ No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. ⁵ And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. ⁷ Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.⁸ Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, ⁹ for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. ¹⁰ Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.“

COMMENTS:  When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, He provided courage and confidence and inspiration and direction.  The disciples and early questions went from fearful weak believers in hiding to bold preachers openly sharing Christ’s message in plain view.  Sure, they knew when to do so and when to retreat and go another direction.   Many examples of this are recorded in the New Testament.  Evidence of this was true in Old Testament but rare and not by most even faithful Jews.   Such reveals a big difference between Old Testament Covenant and New Testament Covenant.  Before Pentecost and before Easter, God chose and anointed certain individuals with His Holy Spirit to a certain task and missions and work. Such individuals as Noah – Daniel – Moses – Jeremiah – Elijah – Elisha – Joseph – Esther – Ruth just to mention a few. When God came and called them, their abilities and conduct changed dramatically. 

But after Easter, God became accessible to everyone willing to receive Him.  Then after Pentecost, God’s abiding Holy Spirit became available to every believer willing to yield to His indwelling.  Each must choose and submit as a act of will in order to receive and enjoy God abiding and guiding presence.  That has always been true but now everyone can choose to have what  only a few enjoyed in Old Testament. 

North Korea is one of the most oppressive and dangerous places for Christians.   Even more dangerous than most Islam dominated countries.  In North Korea Christians are executed and any attempt to share Christ with others is met with torture and risk of execution.  Many radical Muslim dominated countries are just as hostile as well toward Christians.

But even in the midst of such hostility, God is doing His Will.  Christ is visiting Muslims directly as He did Saul on the Damascus Road winning thousands of Muslims to Christ.  Radio and faithful Christians are winning many in North Korea to Christ.  People are so hungry for hope and the message of a Savior that they are willing to pay the price of their lives to receive that hope and receive Christ’s words of life.  South Korea Christians even put flash drives with the Bible in balloons and releasing them to fly into North Korea.  They  trust God will guide those balloons to His destinations, which is exactly what  is happening.  Evil leaders bent on stamping out Christianity couldn’t do it in Roman times.  They couldn’t do it during middle ages when Islam was bent on world rule.  They couldn’t do it in China during Communist domination or in Russia or in Nazi Germany during their reigns of terror.  Many countries think they can do it today, but history repeats the truth that persecution only makes Christians stronger and spreads their faith farther and faster.  20% of population is Christian in China even though China communism focused on destroying Christianity in 1960’s and 1970’s and 1980’s. 

Recently, however, the summit meetings between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un complicated the balloon launches because the South Korean government doesn’t want anything to upset the talks. Still, the Word of God is not chained.

Who knows what God is doing inside the darkest land on earth? North Korean missiles are no match for Gospel balloons, for the Gospel is not chained. Pray for North Korea!

We must keep reminding ourselves and others that we, as Christ  followers, are on the winning side, especially when circumstances and future seems bleak and hopeless.  God specializes in hopeless situations.  Why?  Because we humans generally only come to Him in desperation and willing to obey Him when circumstances are desperate.   We don’t need to wait til times are desperate, but good to know God  is a master at coming through during desperate times.  After all, even in death He provides escape to a wonderful home and place He is already preparing for you and me.

Just as a dandelion needs the wind to spread its seeds, we need the wind to spread the message.
A South Korean evangelist

7/8/19                  THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN                            8

Scripture:  Luke 10:25-37  “²⁵ On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”²⁶ “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”²⁷ He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’²⁸ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”³⁰ In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii  and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”.”

COMMENTS:  This parable is one of the best know and sermons on this parable most commonly given.  Google searches for sermons on this topic has 481,000 results, so Christ’s message to us through this parable still commands great interest and hunger for Christ’s instruction. 

So what do most get from this parable?  Instruction and guidance on who God expects to help and those He expects in need of help.

That is true and we’ll discuss that instruction, but this parable also has an eternal lesson with a deeper meaning and instruction, which we will also explore.

This scripture responds to two questions. 

1. How to have eternal life
2. Who is our neighbor

Jesus and the Lawyer                                                                                                                                                   A lawyer approached Jesus with a sincere and important question asking how He could inherit eternal life.  An inheritance is not earned by accessible by proof of being an heir of owner He designated to receive his specified possessions.  Non- heirs can also receive an inheritance if owner included them in his legal will.  So if the lawyer was asking how he could legally receive eternal life, he was inquiring from the owner of eternal life, the owner and administrator of eternal life so designated and dispatched in human form by the Father.  Jesus came to earth with full authority of the Father so Jesus’ response was identical to the response God the Father would give if asked of Him.

His question “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  assumes eternal life is inherited and not earned or given by a living owner, but does recognize a personal relationship between owner and receiver.  Jesus’ response of this parable addresses the inheritance question and the unasked earned question.  The parable tells us eternal life is not just inherited and definitely no earned but given. 

Jesus responds with a question asking him what the Law said.  The Lawyer know Old Testament scripture and specific scripture recorded in Deuteronomy 4:4-7 “⁴ “Hear, O Israel: ^[a]The Lord our God, the Lord is one! ⁵ You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.⁶ “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”  He also added Leviticus 19:18 “¹⁸ You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”  For the lawyer to join these verses and tie loving God to loving his neighbor is both key and is supported by Jesus’  response.  Then the lawyer asked who was his neighbor, prompting Jesus to then respond with the story of the Good Samaritan. 

We don’t know if the story happened or just a story created to clarify and help answer the lawyer’s sincere question and ours too.  Not the answer expected or maybe hoped but a far better and more wonderful answer for him and for us too. 

But let’s first look at the contrast of who the Jewish culture judged their neighbor and Jesus’ view.  Only a fellow Jew was considered a neighbor.  A Gentile or a Samaritan was judged neither a neighbor nor an equal in Jewish culture and worthy of respect or help.  The Lawyer thought treating a fellow Jew as an equal and with respect and compassion was sufficient to earn him eternal life.  Human nature has always preferred or diluted or diminished God’s standards for behavior.

Well, Jesus not only introduces us to the lawyer but to the Samaritan, the Priest, and the Scribe too.                                           

The Priest and Levite

The road between Jericho and Jerusalem was 18 miles long and narrow and rocky.  An ideal place for robbers to hide waiting for defenseless travelers.  So Jesus’ parable is based on real cases of robbery and beatings or worse to travelers.  

Samaritans were hated by Jews.  Why?  Judah and Israel were separated in 9^th century BC and King Omri bought the hill of Samaria from Semer (1 Kings 16:24) and built the city of Samaria as the capital.  In 722 BC the city fell to the Assyrians and became the capital of the Assyrians province there.  The Jews living in Samaria intermarried with the pagan settlers and invaders and their decedents were known as the Samaritans.  During Jesus’ time the Samaritans condemned the Jews for judging them and not allowing to worship in Jerusalem and for treated them as inferior since they were not full blood Jews.  Truth is many Jews were no longer pure blood Jews when returning from Babylon either.  Prejustice bred prejustice from one generation to another and built hatred between then both in strength and in misunderstanding.  Jews were discouraged from association with or showing compassion or respect for Samaritans and Samaritans likewise towards Jews.

So for Jesus to go through Samaria and show interest and compassion towards them was significant.  Likewise, the use a Samaritan to show compassion towards a traveler while a Priest and Levite ignored him for what they thought were good reasons was also significant. The Priest and Levite felt no obligation to help the dying traveler due to pressing obligations.  For Jesus it didn’t matter whether the traveler was a Jew or Samaritan or a Pagan but He gave the impression the traveler was a fellow Jew.  It only mattered who helped him.  Story does have more significant if traveler was a Jew and for a Levite or a Priest to withhold helping a needy Jew and for a Samaritan to render help to a Jew.  Since Jesus was telling this story to a Jew, it is likely the Lawyer and disciples and other listeners received the story thinking the traveler was a fellow Jew since the mostly likely travelers from Jericho to Jerusalem (including Levites and Priests) were Jews.

But Jesus made it clear to those listening that the Priest and Levite were not being good neighbors to the traveler.  They were more worried about staying on schedule to meet their obligations and avoid risk of being “unclean” by helping a bleeding hurt human.  To touch blood by Jewish law would render them unclean and unprepared to do their duties.  That was more important to them than the life of one in need, but not to Jesus as the parable revealed.

The Jew and the Samaritan   

The hatred the Jews and Samaritans had for each other was real to them but Jesus was using this parable and His own example to show  them that their hatred was not acceptable to Him or to the Father.  He showed them Samaritans were His beloved people too and lived under God’s Law and moral standard of conduct too.  They too would be included in His redemption, for His coming sacrifice would be for them too.  Eternal life would become available to Jews and Samaritans and even Romans and all people.  His sacrifice on the cross would be sufficient for all and available to all willing to accept it and yield to Christ. 

It was the Samaritan who had compassion on the Jewish traveler. It was the Samaritan who showed love to him and saved his life. Jesus then asked the Lawyer who was the traveler’s neighbor.          Jesus used this parable to reveal to listeners then, to listeners through the centuries, to listeners today, and on until His return: 

1. Jesus came to be the Messiah and became the one perfect sacrifice to redeem all people of all races and background who will receive – accept His redemption.
2. Jesus exampled the perfect life He wants us to strive for with His help. He wants us to love each other as He loves us and be in relationship with Him as He showed us with His relationship with the Father.
3. Jesus showed us the one and only way to eternal life is through Him (John 14:6). He calls us to share His Gospel of redemption to others not motivated by selfish ideas of earning eternal life or forgiveness but out of our love for Him and compassion and need of others no matter who they are or what they have done.  Why?  Because of His love and mercy for us and because He is our Lord and Savior and Redeemer.  
4. Jesus told the Lawyer to go and do as the Samaritan did, not for purpose of gaining a reward or repayment but because doing so is the right and good thing to do. Because He asks us too.  Because doing so gives us purpose and fulfillment.  Because doing so gives life, not death.
5. Eternal life is not an inheritance entitled but a gift available to all. Only qualification is receiving it and yielding to God’s Will. 
6. Love for Him is demonstrated by love for one another, especially the unlovable. By showing mercy and being a good neighbor to the needy unable to repay kindnesses.  By bringing others together and not dividing or causing division with others.  By bringing healing and not harm.  Not counting reward or cost.  Only responding to His call and trusting His promise to not leave or forsake us.  Trusting in Him and Him above all else.
7. ANSWERING JESUS’ CALL TO BE ACCESSIBLE! TO BE OPEN TO GOD’S NUDGING!  FREEING UP  TIME AND BEING AVAILABLE!  TO BE A SERVANT USING RESOURCES AND ABILITIES IN HAND!   TO TRUST GOD TO PROVIDE RESULTS!
8. IDEAS: Broaden influence by volunteering beyond local church like local pantry, local hospital or park, school, cemetery, fire department,…

Jeremiah 29:13 “¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

“To love is not to wish one another well, but to carry one another’s burdens –  that is, things that are grievous to us, and that we would not willingly bear. Therefore, Christians must have strong shoulders and bones.”      MARTIN LUTHER

7/9/19                   Lord, Use This for Good!                                               9                   

God meant it for good.   Genesis 50:20

Recommended Reading: GENESIS 50:15-21 “¹⁵ When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.” ¹⁶ So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, “Before your father died he commanded, saying, ¹⁷ ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.”’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.¹⁸ Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”¹⁹ Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? ²⁰ But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. ²¹ Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.”

COMMENTS:   Joseph’s story of is a wonderful story of permanent forgiveness and redemption.  The progression of evil  Satan orchestrated  to destroy not only Joseph and his father but also his  entire family.  Satan knew how much Jacob loved Joseph and used jealousy to motivate his brothers to  scheme and plan an evil  plan to  get rid of Joseph.   They didn’t intend to kill Joseph or do him harm, but just wanted to get rid of him.  But in process of implemented their plan to get rid of him, some  brothers thought they could go along with plan and rescue Joseph before harm came to him.  But they, nor we, often realize Satan is a master destroyer and always leads those who follow his evil down a darker and more destructive path than they otherwise would have willingly followed.     They went from just wanting to teach Joseph a lesson to nearly having him killed but certainly selling him into a sure misery as a slave to a pagan Egyptian captors.  Then to orchestrate a lie to hide their evil deed from their father.

But evil is never hid or forgotten but only festers and gets worse.  Satan was pleased how their evil plan worked out until God intervened and changed the destructive plan Satan designed into a plan of redemption and  forgiveness and bonding of brothers who were bitter enemies into a healthy loving strong family.   Jacob lived to learn the truth but also to see God’s redemption unfold in his family.

We live in a society where the word “sin” is being purged from our vocabulary.  The standard of living and conduct that God designed and dictated for us always is good and best , but the standard of living and conduct we naturally gravitate to – conduct of sin and self gratification – always concluded on a  dead end of regrets and death.    Each generation  must discover the blessing and wisdom of God’s path  for themselves, but each generation consistently refuses to accept God’s path and follow it before first going down Satan’s destructive path.  Why is that?  Why is God’s way always less appealing to us?

Well, the answer to that question is a great mystery, but  personal reflection of our own weaknesses and sinful past gives us humbling realization of just how powerful and deceptive Satan is.  But Christ is more powerful and His redemption, freely available to all.  When we invite and follow Christ and His Holy Spirit into our lives, we begin seeing Satan for who he really is and his temptations for what they really are.   We are blind to that on our own, but when we let Christ remove the scales from our eyes, we not only  see clearly but are empowered with the will and strength to refuse those temptations and go on a far better path, a path of life and fulfillment.  A path of redemption and forgiveness and restoration.  Restoration to   life as God intended instead of destruction and misery.

Joseph’s story continues to bring redemption and forgiveness and present generations read and receive God’s Grace and forgiveness and redemption and then share that forgiveness towards others.  Far better to   avoid sin’s trap but redemption finds a way to restore even after a wrong path is chosen.  As long as life remains, hope of redemption and option of redemption remains.    But if refused, there will come a time when hearts will become hard and/or the option of redemption   will be removed .   Christ warns us to accept redemption while available for a time will come when redemption will not be available.  History confirms God’s judgment is delayed longer than humanly possible but God’s judgment sure and unavoidable without repentance.    Joseph’s story would have had a darker and more tragic end if Joseph hadn’t  been faithful to God during his dark years of slavery and prison and if he had refused to forgave his brothers.  Free will brings both options but wise choices open brighter and better options.       WE CAN CHOOSE GOOD OR EVIL BUT WE CAN’T CHOOSE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THOSE CHOICES.  THE CONSEQUENCES AR E SOLELY AND

In God’s hands intended evil becomes eventual good.  Max Lucado

 

7/10/19                                             Being Bold and Courageous                                         10

Now when [the religious leaders] saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.  Acts 4:13

Recommended Reading  Deuteronomy 31:1-8 “¹⁹ For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. ²⁰ For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. ²¹ For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:²² “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; ²³ who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;”

COMMENTS: When we read of  the accounts of faithful first century Christians recorded in Paul’s letters and other books of the New Testament, we marvel at their courage and boldness in sharing Christ’s Gospel – Good News of redemption.  We marvel at stories of how they faced painful death and or many years of agonizing imprisonment and abuse.  But reality is they all had a clear vision and expectation of the eternal light at the end of their dark tunnel,  the light of Christ’s promise of eternal life with Him but also the confident peace of having the Holy Spirit hand in Hand guiding and encouraging and reminding each of Christ’s example and promises.  They knew what they were enduring was not going to last much longer and impact on others and reward and relief for them was sure and coming soon.  They took each day at a time not knowing how much longer suffering would continue, but without feeling sorry for themselves nor becoming bitter towards God for allowing their suffering to continue.

But their suffering was a catalyst accelerating the spreading and credibility of  the Gospel beyond Jerusalem to the far corners of the globe.

Paul’s suffering and 2 year imprisonment in Rome before his execution enabled him to witness one to one to hundreds of Roman soldiers and to senior officers of great influence in the Roman Empire.  That influence likely was key in Christianity being recognized as the religion of the Roman Empire 200 years later.   God’s way and timing often is slower and longer than ours, but always is greater and better than any we envision or strive for.  When God calls us to menial tasks or acts of kindness than seem to go unnoticed, be reminded that God’s ways and our service to Him will never go unnoticed to Him and will also be fruitful in His time and way.                                                                         Open Doors, a ministry to the persecuted Church worldwide, says that on average every month 255 Christians are killed, 104 are abducted, 180 Christian women are raped, harassed, or forced into marriage, 66 churches are attacked, and 160 Christians are imprisoned without trial.

How is it that those who persecute Christians know whom to target? It’s because the Christians are living lives that testify to their faith in Jesus Christ. They are not afraid of persecution. Instead, they manifest courage and boldness in their walk with the Lord. When they are persecuted, they do what Jesus did: “[He] committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:23). Peter and John, in first-century Jerusalem, did the same thing. When persecuted by the religious leaders, they stood firm. It was their boldness and courage that caused the leaders to “marvel” and recognize their connection to Jesus.

In faith and practice, always imitate Jesus—especially when your faith is opposed by others.

Persecution is like the goldsmith’s hallmark on real silver and gold; it is one of the marks of a converted man.  J. C. Ryle

7/11/19                                            Now or Later                                            11                                           

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.     Matthew 5:10

Scripture Reading: Matthew 19:29  “²⁹ And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.”

COMMENTS:  The “pay me now or pay me later”  statement usually applies to concept of investing work and sacrifice to reach a long term goal instead of putting that sacrifice or commitment off to enjoy self gratification for a time instead.  When I was even in grade school, I learned early it is better to do my homework right away when I got home from school and then play rather than play first and put off doing homework until later.   I discovered homework didn’t get easier later and more often than not, I hadn’t left enough time to properly do my homework nor had interest and energy to do so.  

But when I got home from school the last thing I wanted to do was my homework.   But encouragement and  discipline made doing my homework first more of a habit and normal practice enough doing so became easier to do.

The same  goes for putting off doing unpleasant tasks or work versus doing such tasks as need and opportunity arises first and then the easier and more pleasant tasks.  Have more pleasant tasks to look forward to helps energize and motive working through unpleasant tasks too.  Stop and reflect and see if your experience compares to mine.

The same principle and statement also holds true to our spiritual journey and priorities.  Working for eternal purpose and goals at cost of present sacrifice.  Colossians 3:23-24 “²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. ”

As I get older and realize I have spent more years than I have years remaining, I also realize  just how brief and fragile life is.  I am enjoying benefits of wise choices and sacrifices made years ago, but also a few poor choices that reaped loss that hindered even better outcomes.   Fortunately, God’s mercy and impact of good choices mostly outweighed the poor ones for me.  Especially the ripple effects of those choices on my family and church and others.   I am reminded just how true it is that we have free will to choose foolish or wisely how we spend our resources, including time and money.   Choices that impact us and those we care about.   Choices that we control and manage but with blessings or consequences we cannot control or manage or even anticipate. 

ONLY GOD HAS CONTROL OF THE BLESSINGS AND CONSEQUENCES OF OUR CHOICES AND ACTIONS!  To continue to make poor choices and then hope and expect God’s mercy to spare us of consequences and only enjoy blessings is not understanding God’s Will and Plan nor preparing to receive God’s response.  Evil or even just poor or foolish choices never bring good results.   They never have and never will because the author of the temptations to make those choices is not interested nor wants us to enjoy God’s blessings.  Satan knows how painful it is to God to judge and punish or even discipline us.

Our motivation to do God’s Will must always be our love for Him and compassion for others.  Any other selfish reason will not honor Him more be effective.  Since we can’t fully understand God or His Plan, how could we see the outcome?  But that is why we need His abiding presence to guide us in our choices each day, especially when we think we have it all figured out.

Whatever you lose for Christ’s sake—property, reputation, comfort, your good name—does not go unnoticed by God. Nor will it go unrewarded (Romans 8:18).

In the second advent [God] will manifest His glory to reward their faith.
John Chrysostom

 

 

7/12/19                                     What Doesn’t Mix                                                     12

For you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?  1 Corinthians 3:3

RECOMMENDED READING: MARK 10:42-45 , ” ⁴² 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. ⁴³ Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. ⁴⁴ And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 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.”

COMMENTS:  Water and oil simply won’t mix.  No matter how much stirring is done, oil will float to the top of oil.  Love and hate don’t mix either.  Hate will drive out love in an instant, but love will always overcome hate if permitted.  Likewise, criticism motivated by anger or envy or selfishness will drive out unity.

So what brings unity to families and to churches?  Serving and supporting each other does.  Trust built on helping and strengthening each other builds a bond of love and unity that strengthens both the family or church as well as each member.  Cliques may have a inner circle of members with common interests and goals and support each other, but demonstrate a selfish hateful attitude and conduct towards those outside their circle.  How families and churches treat those outside their group also demonstrates their motives and how Christ-like they really are.

I Corinthians 3:5 reveal men like Paul and Apollo’s brought unity to Corinth by serving them and teaching them common Christ-centered lessons and truths.  They taught by example as well.  They also showed Christ’s example as the ultimate example to follow.  They sincerely strived to follow His example too, but never put their example above Christ’s life as the perfect example to follow. (Mark 10:45, Philippians 2:7).  Neither should we!

Servants look first to the interest and welfare of others rather than their own interest and welfare (Philippians 2:4).  Such naturally builds unity within the Christian body as well as within the family unit.  Family and church really were never intended to be in conflict or separated, but to support and build up each other.  Families who worship and serve together are the most united and strongest and healthiest.

Unity comes when individual Christians submit their will and agenda to the Lordship of Jesus Christ—it’s the best way to begin every day.

In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity.
Richard Baxter

7/13/19                               Unity Yet Diversity                                       13      

Keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  Ephesians 4:3

Recommended Reading:  EPHESIANS 4:3-6   “³ endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

COMMENTS:  We only need to look around to discover just how much God loves diversity and variety.   Consider how different everyone and every creature is even from their own kind.   Some animals may all look alike but even they have different identifying marks or features.   Every mother can identify their children from other children even in animal kingdom.  As humans we learn how differentiate between even identical twins, for even those demonstrate different personality traits.  

God knows us all by name and even better than we know ourselves.  Yet He unites us with a common love for each other and for Him if we allow Him into our soul.

So, the question we should reflect on is “Am I causing unity or division in my family and in my church family?”  “Do I cause or calm conflict?”   “Does most of my day reflect God’s Will or mine?”

Scripture gives us ample council on how we should live and act, but the Holy Spirit desires for us to invite Him into our soul and follow His council and direction.  This discussion seems foreign to non-Christians, but the positive power and influence of a daily walk with God allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and influence our thinking makes all the difference setting priorities and effectively and efficiently managing all the obligations and duties and tasks and contacts our day brings.

When we look at effective pastors and businessmen and doctors and other professionals, we discover their daily lives reflect considerable time and planning to reach predetermined goals.   When we allow God to guide us, we enable our daily lives to impact others and our own towards eternal goals that only God could know and implements.  Goals that will mean everything to us 100 years from now.  Goals that will far outlive and mean more than any we have or strive to achieve today. 

So what are your goals and  what do you spend most of your  time accomplishing?   How do they compare to Christ’s eternal goals?  What adjustments is His Holy Spirit nudging you to make to enable your goals to match His goals?  Why not ask Him and wait for Him to respond to you?  He will but His answer may wait until He knows you are waiting to here because you really want to know.

Believers are never told to become one; we already are one and are expected to act like it.
Joni Eareckson Tada

7/14/19                                            Nuisance or Life Changing Calls                                14   

Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.  Romans 10:13

Recommended Reading:  ROMANS 10:8-13  ⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: ⁹ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ¹¹ As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

COMMENTS:  Today almost everyone with a land phone or cell phone is bombarded with nuisance unsolicited calls asking for money or to purchase a service or item or make a donation to a variety of charities,   many or most of  which are not valid or credible. Such calls made  up 3.7% of all calls but today  in 2019 make up 50% of all calls. 

 We all try to minimize and discourage such calls but blocking or hanging up on such calls.   But most efforts are effective at best only for a time until hackers and scammers find another loophole or way to get their calls through. 

But some Christians are using such calls as an opportunity to witness to callers.  They turn conversation to sharing the Gospel message.  Such  ways like responding to                                                                                                            solicitation to buy a vacation package by talking to caller about the eternal package Christ bought for everyone and will be given to everyone who accepts it.  To respond to callers trying to sell credit cards by offering God’s offer to forgive each sinners debt of sin.   

The calls usually hangs up but those times when the caller listens and responds                        means an eternal difference for that person and also for the one who shared Christ’s Good News of Salvation.  If only one is won, it is worth work and many rejections  enduring by the Christ follower who answers those calls and responds in this way. 

Well, maybe we should all stop and reflect and pray about doing the same.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Let’s never miss an opportunity to share the Gospel.  Franklin Graham

7/15/19                                      WITHOUT DISTRACTION                                15  

A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.
Isaiah 35:8     

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE READING:  I CORINTHIANS 7:29-35  “²⁹ But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, ³⁰ those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, ³¹ and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away. ³² But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. ³³ But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. ³⁴ There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. ³⁵ And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.”

COMMENTS:  Doing one thing at a time well as compared to doing many tasks at a time poor.  We, humans, tend to do poorly trying to prioritize tasks and focusing on one task at a time.  We would rather try to do everything  that demands our attention at  the same time.  But there is so much demanding our time these days.  Family – Church – Job are important  and demand a majority of our time.  But so many less important  things also demand and consume our time.  Things like possessions like car(s) and  home(s)   and even toys like 4 wheelers and camping or golf or video games or time online.  Time on cell phones or i-pads or computers has become a major consumer of each day’s hour in last few years, robbing needed time for more important needs like family and church and even job.                  

Story is told of a tragedy in 2017 in Texas of a car accident that took the lives of 13 people returning from a church  retreat. The accident was caused by a truck driving erratically while texting.  That  truck driver has expressed his regrets but cannot change the events of that day.   Both he and families of those killed continue to  pay dearly for distractions of that day.  This is one example of a  growing dangerous environment  caused  by distracted drivers.  Close calls happen every day in every community.

But scripture tells in Hebrews 12:1-2 “Let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and the sin which so readily clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course … looking away (from all that will distract) to Jesus.” 

I Corinthians 7:35 “Serve the Lord without distraction.”  Stay focused on and give top priority to  doing His Will.  Doing one thing at a time – setting  priority and order of focus so important tasks each day are completed in proper order  and God’s perfect timing.  Result is also a far more efficient and successful  day.  We also find the phone and i-pad is not so important and urgent and needed.                                            Having a flip-up cell phone instead of  a “smart phone” helps me keep do so by limiting things I  can do on that device.  That may not work well for others and does                                                               cause some difficulties for me at times, but value of and wisdom of scriptures council   stands as still valid and needed.  Considering likelihood that many of life’s distractions are indeed temptations coming directly from satan and his demons.                                                                                                      

Many of our distractions may be fathered by the devil.  Thomas Watson

7/16/19                                       Out of the Miry Clay                                                      16     

RECOMMENDED READING:  PSALM 40:1-9 “ I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined to me.  And heard my cry.  He also brought me out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.  He has put a new song in my mouth – Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord.  Blessed is that man who makes the Lord His trust, and does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.  Many, O Lord my God, are your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts towards us Cannot be recounted to You in order;  If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.  Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened.  Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.  Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book written of me.  I delight to do your will, O my God, and Your law is written within my heart.  I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness In the great assembly; indeed, I do not restrain my lips, oh Lord, You Yourself know.”

COMMENTS:   The miry clay is wet and cold but engulfs and hold those who are it so  tightly that they cannot climb or  get out of its hold without strong outside help.  Today’s scripture, believed to be written by David, reflects examples of David’s past he is recalling as he expresses his gratitude for the mercy and  redemption God has showed him many times.  God’s help as a boy to defeat Goliath, protection from Saul as a young man,  protection from the Philistines who he foolishly went to trying to escape Saul, and even forgiveness for his sin with Bathsheba and murder of her husband.  I am sure today’s scripture also was inspired and motivated by other equally as significant examples not recorded in scripture but equally as impactful on David.

No, David  was sinful and weak as other men, but difference was that he repented to God each time and opened himself to receive God’s mercy – forgiveness – healing.  By doing so, David spared himself of judgment and punishment and also opened himself to   receive God’s mercy and restored fellowship and council. He discovered fellowship with God brings a strong hand to pull him out of the miry clay of sin and judgment and death while also restoring the hope and joy of  a daily walk with his (and our ) creator and friend and Lord.

Psalm 40 is a wonder praise and worship prayer that not only opened David’s heart for us to see, but provides an example of praise and worship helpful for us to follow too.  God always heard David’s prayers and considered him as a man after God’s own heart.  When we open and soften our heart and soul towards Him, we open a link of fellowship with Him will all the benefits David enjoyed with  one wonderful addition.  We know the redemption bought by Christ’s sacrifice on  the cross and His abiding Holy Spirit  that was not known by David because God had not revealed nor  made that  sacrifice yet.  David was redeemed by submitting to God and receiving the blood sacrifice of a  lamb sacrifice God made acceptable in David’s  time, but now the  sacrifice of Christ completes that redemption  to any and all who  accept it.  Fellowship with God was enjoyed by David as few from his day knew or experienced, but God’s Holy Spirit is more involved and closer to  each believer than David experienced.  Yet David clearly enjoyed a closeness and  joyful and meaningful relationship with God that satisfied the need and longing of his soul.

Take some time to read and pray Psalm 40 and see if it brings you closer to Christ and opens up  a deeper fellowship and relationship with Christ too.                                                                                                                                                                                            

through the day that was about to dawn upon us.
General Robert McAllister at Chancellorsville

7/17/19                                                   BE ON GUARD                                     17       Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:3

 

Recommended Reading: EPHESIANS 2:13-18 ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.¹⁴ For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, ¹⁵ having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. ¹⁷ And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.”

COMMENTS:  In old testament there were a few like Daniel who had special frequent and regular fellowship with God, receiving special revelation and insight and strength from God through that relationship.  Result was a level of obedience and living a life of integrity and righteousness noticeably above others.  Most Jews never reached that level of fellowship or maturity. 

But after that first Easter and especially after the first Pentecost, God’s spirit and the level of fellowship Daniel enjoyed became available and God became even more accessible to every believer than even Daniel.  God still chooses what gifts and how many He gives to each individual.  He decides who He will reveal certain things to.  He decides who He will call to evangelize like Paul or Billy Sunday or John Wesley or Billy Graham or David Jeremiah or …  Most He instead chooses to use in smaller settings like their own family and church and community.  He does so still offering the same rich personal relationship and council and joy and peace and eternal life with Him that He offers the great evangelists of old and current generations.  They all, like we, still struggle with vulnerability to sin and discouragement and weariness.

Everyone is granted the same 24 hour period each day, the same opportunity to read and discover scripture.   Well, some are  given  deeper insight when study scripture and many    are deprived full access to scripture because of evil leadership and government control.

Paul   exhorted the Ephesians church to “keep, preserve, and guard” the unity they have in Christ with follows that were before them, living with them, and those yet to  come.  He adopts us into a far larger and eternal family He is preparing a new and permanent home for with Him and with each other.  We will be able to talk to and enjoy the company of  Daniel and David and Abraham and Joseph and Esther and so many others of old.   With               Paul and the Disciples, with all the great men and women of  faith since both in generations of long ago and current generations.  We will discover and talk to each other about impact of  obedience on them and others, including future generations.  Then we will have fellowship directly with Christ without restriction or limits causes by human weakness and sin.

Paul is not telling them to create unity but to enjoy and use that unity. Unity that bonds all people to Him and to each other.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Unity in Christ is not something to be achieved; it is something to be recognized.
A. W. Tozer

7/18/19                              JOY IN DOING GOD’S   WILL                                     18                  

Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.   Philippians 2:17

RECOMMENDED READING: 2 TIMOTHY 1:8-12 ^“ 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, ⁹ who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, ¹⁰ but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, ¹¹ to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. ¹² For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”

 

COMMENTS:  Persecution for faithfully following God’s commands and calling          has been experience by tyrant rulers and by non-believing bullies and even friends and neighbors.  Such was evident during Old Testament times as weil as in New Testament  times.  Today the level and instances of persecution of Christians is greater in intensity and frequency and more widespread than ever before in history.  Even in free countries established in Christians principles are finding greater intolerance of Christian believes and doctrine and standard for behavior.  Today not only are Christians expected to tolerate sinful behavior in others, but also                            expected to condone such behavior as good.

But God’s standards and Commandments have not changed and definition of sin      still remains. God’s redemption  and forgiveness does not condone sin but forgives and provides a way to reject and overcome and conquer sin.  Satan is still our enemy and His vices of temptation and sin still are evil in God’s eyes.  God provides strength and will to overcome the  power of temptation and sin  that we could  and would not resist in the past.  That is the Good News of Christ’s Gospel and free gift He offers to us without cost to us but at great cost to Himself.

God provides deliverance from sin but also either provides deliverance from persecution or strength and peace to endure that persecution far beyond what is humanly possible.  Countless examples are recorded in scripture and in contemporary history.  One example is Thomas Cranmer, a English protestant, who preached reformation-based theology.  He was threatened with death in 1556 by  Catholic Queen Mary, resulted in recanting his faith.  But he could not bear the guilt and regret of that choice of weakness and changed his mind .  Result of death by burning at  the stake alive.  As the flames grew towards him, he even thrust his arm into the flame just before the flames engulfed his body.

That level of courage and strength is not humanly possible but is available from Christ sufficient to endure anything we can or will face.  He does not ask or allow us to face what we cannot but is there beside and behind and ahead and even within us.  It helps to know God is providing a far better home and environment and body and life and community for us than we could ever hope to have in earth and for eternity and not just for a few years.  That greatly helped encourage and strengthen martyrs of years past as well as current martyrs.  But God is also merciful shielding sufferers as they endure pain and suffering at the hands of their persecutors.  Far worse will be the suffering and pain those persecutors will face than they inflict but for eternity and not just for a brief time.

God doesn’t condone or inflict pain on His children but will allow it for a time for His purpose in order to broaden and strengthen His message and impact on His people and  on potential followers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

To obey God’s will is to find the fulfillment of our lives.     David Watson

7/19/19                                              Serving Others                                19            
Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need.  Philippians 2:25

RECOMMENDED  READING PHILIPPIANS 4:14-19  “¹⁴ Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. ¹⁵ Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. ¹⁶ For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. ¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. ¹⁸ Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

COMMENTS: Scripture gives us the names of a few people that were close to Paul and faithful to him. Those whom Paul could and did trust and rely on.  However, the likely number was more likely 100’s, which is still small compared with number converted by Paul’s ministry during his life.   Their stories and impact on Paul will be heard and know when we join them in heaven.

One such person was Epahproditus.  He is twice named in Philippians 2:25 and 4:18.  He was one of a number who risked death for helping Paul.  God permitted Paul to endure great persecution and eventually martyrdom for spreading Christ’s redemptive message.   Even Paul needed help and encouragement at times, so God shielded him with His Holy          Spirit until he finally was ushered into his eternal heavenly home.  But until then, he had close and dear friends God blessed him with to  provide encouragement and support when he was weak and discouraged and overwhelmed with work and battles still to be done and fought.  Elijah experienced miraculous help and support directly from God (I Kings 18-19) but still was commonly discouraged and weak.  God had a wonderful way of reminded him how weak and reliant he was on God, but also how faithful and trustworthy God truly is and has always been. 

We too  are often discouraged, forgetting God’s faithfulness while and when being overwhelmed with satan’s evil temptations and discouragement.  But scripture and His Holy Spirit are available and eager to provide needed nourishment (like exampled in I Kings 18)  and rally help of others for support and strength. 

Psalms are a wonderful source of expressed praise and worship to  help us remember God’s faithfulness in prosperous as well as desperate circumstances.  Discouragement may be inevitable for us as humans, but it is unnecessary for us to dwell or linger  there. A way of escape and to overcome is available but not always visible or appealing to us.  The only way we can access His way of escape is by putting our eyes and keeping our eyes on Him.   Doing so not only enables us to endure our own battles and hardships but empowers us to have enough strength and passion and love to take on burdens and needs and battles others need help and   encouragement doing.  You see, those who help and encourage us also have their own battles and struggles and needs that overwhelm them at times too.  God’s will and plan is for others to lighten our load as we lighten them.   That way, He bonds us in love to each other as well as more deeply to Himself and He to us.  AMEN?  AMEN!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Our true heart is revealed when we put concern for others ahead of ourselves                         (Philippians 2:4).

The highest honour in the Church is not government but service.  John Calvin

 

7/20/19                             What is Humility? What is Pride?                  20

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”  1 Peter 5:5, NIV

RECOMMENDED READING ROMANS  12:1-8  “ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. ³ For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. ⁴ For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, ⁵ so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. ⁶ Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; ⁷ or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; ⁸ he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”

COMMENTS:  Success and humility seldom reside for long together, but when they do,  success takes on a greater meaning and balance.  Take some time to reflect on examples from scripture and from your own experience.  Gifted preachers and evangelists have lost their vision and fellowship with God when pride replaced humility in their soul.  The tragedy this that they may continue winning people to Christ for a time but forget their own relationship and  fellowship with the God they once loved and was guided by.  Consider how long David  lived without fellowship he had with God after his sin with Bathsheba before he realized it when Nathan confronted him.  If he was vulnerable to being fooled and blinded by satan, than how dare we think we can be immune?  Pride was the sin that blinded satan and caused him to pursue a eternal path away from God and to damnation bringing any and all God’s creatures with him that he can so deceive.  Think about all the damage satan has done over the centuries, not because God willed it but because God allows all free will to choose good or evil.  Satan had that choice.  The angels of heaven had that choice, and we all continue to have that choice.  For satan, pride was the gateway to a multitude of deprived sins that he continues to evangelize to humanity.   With humility comes a realization of our vulnerability and willingness and openness to pursue and follow God’s council and fellowship.  But the wonderful news is God pursues us and is eager and ready to embrace us when we open ourselves to receive Him.   His Holy Spirit is the how His fellowship becomes and remains real and powerful to us.  He paid dearly for our salvation and redemption.  One day soon satan will be judged and we will be free of his influence to enjoy God’s blessings and eternity with Him as He wills and intended from the beginning and before.  That is why pride is so dangerous to harbor and humility is so important to seek.  Only God is the source of true humility and lack of that humility is pride just like darkness is the lack of light or cold is the lack of heat.

So, lasting success is defined as doing God’s Will and humility is realizing it is not about us but about Him and only He is worthy of praise and worship and credit.   Failure is opposite of success and pride is lack of humility.   Satan tried to redefine success as failure and failure as success.  He also tried to redefine pride as something good,  BUT GOD GIVES US DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS IN SCRIPTURE.  THE TRUE DEFINITION.  AMEN?  AMEN! 

Romans 12:3 “³ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”

How do you view yourself? With pride? With false humility? Or soberly and realistically according to the grace of God in your life?

“A really humble man…will not be thinking about humility, he will not be thinking about himself at all. ”  C. S. Lewis

 

7/21/19                                     Ministry of Music                                        20

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  Colossians 3:16

RECOMMENDED READING I  PETER 3:13-16  “¹³ And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” ¹⁵ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; ¹⁶ having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.“

COMMENTS:  John D’Esterre perished in an 1815 duel, leaving behind a young widow, Jane, and two children. Jane fled her husband’s creditors and grew discouraged. One day she sat by a river, contemplating suicide. On the other bank, a ploughman started his day’s work. As he labored behind the animals, he began whistling Christian hymns. This young man was well known in the area of his hymn-whistling, and as Jane listened, her heart was moved. She decided to attend a church service, where she found Christ as her Savior. She went on to marry John Guinness, and later her son, Harry Grattan Guinness, helped trigger the Irish Revival of 1859, which brought 100,000 people to Christ. The influence of the hymn-whistler is still touching the world today through one of Jane’s descendants, Dr. Os Guinness.

What impact have Hymns and Chorus’s and Christian music of all times ancient or modern had on you over the years.  Everyone is impacted by music, some secular with negative results, some secular with positive results, but God intends music that honor Him and uplifts us to draw us closer to Him by giving us a way of expressing our love for Him and gratitude to Him and for us to receive spiritual nourishment and fellowship and direction from Him.   Music based on scripture and inspired by Him does that.  For some the old hymns of last century are most impactful.  For some, contemporary Christian music is more impactful.   There is room in God’s will for both and believers need to be open to encourage both in worship and in their family.  But there is also music that is called Christian but does not honor God nor reflect bible based teaching and doctrine.  We can be fooled.  BUT GOD CAN’T.  WE MUST HUMBLY AND SINCERELY SEEK CHRIST’S COUNCIL AND HOLY SPIRIT’S DIRECTION TO PROPERLY DISCERN.  That is a vital and foolproof way to welcome music God approves of and music He does not.  AMEN?  AMEN!  Who knows, we might just be opening a way for God to make a life changing difference in someone’s life not reachable any other way.

When from a joyful heart we sing or play or send forth the music of the Lord, we never know who is listening—even if we do nothing more than whistle our faith.

We who are followers of Jesus stand as witnesses to the truth and meaning of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  Dr. Os Guinness

7/22/19                                    Pray First                                                       22     
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.  Proverbs 16:3, NIV

RECOMMENDED  READING: PROVERBS 16:1-9 “The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.² All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the spirits.³ Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established.⁴ The Lord has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.⁵ Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.⁶ In mercy and truth. Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.⁷ When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.⁸ Better is a little with righteousness, Than vast revenues without justice.⁹ A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.”

COMMENTS:  Daniel Webster was once asked, “Mr. Webster, what is the most sobering, searching thought that ever entered your mind?” Without hesitancy, the staunch statesman replied, “My personal accountability to God.”

It is so easy to fall into our daily routines without regard or thought of God’s constant influence and involvement in our lives.  Every beat of our heart, every step or thought or word we speak all are because of God’s Grace and involvement.  When tragedy or hardship comes, we try to fix or resolve situation ourselves involving as few others as possible, including God.  Only considering going to God when all other options fail or when know no other options will help.  

BUT CHRIST WANTS US TO GO TO HIM FIRST! WE DESPERATELY NEED TO GO TO HIM FIRST! No one has ever regretted going to God in prayer first before making major decisions or before responding to a major life event or situation.   But everyone has one of more regrets from trying to deal with such first before reaching out to God.  Why is that ?    Maybe we are afraid or expect God will respond too slowly.   Maybe we are afraid we won’t like or agree with His response.   Maybe we simply want to see if we are smart and strong enough to successfully respond alone.  Pride fools us into thinking we can and should.  We really don’t like to rely on others and don’t feel successful until we accomplish alone our goals. 

Well, God deeply desires regular fellowship with us, but also to reveal Himself to us.  Yet He knows we are not able to receive that fellowship without proper preparation and mind and soul change.  We simply are blind and deaf to Him until we allow Him to open our eyes and ears and souls.  Sometimes it does take a life change or tragedy to do that.  Sometimes it takes removing some distractions from our lives to do that.  Sometimes it takes a message or sermon or insights from a friend to do that.  But whatever it takes, the blessing from going to God often and first are beyond our needs and hopes because they first wait for God’s best instead of settling for our best attempts. 

God often seems to be late, but His timing is perfect and never late or ineffective.  We would do well to find an accountability partner to  remind us of this and confront us when we are weak or discouraged or going down a wrong path trying to go ahead of God.  TO REMIND US THAT GOD NEVER FAILS!  HE NEVER HAS AND NEVER WILL!  AMEN?   AMEN!!

Trusting in the Lord, delighting in the Lord, committing my way unto the Lord, let me now just “rest.” Don’t worry. Whatever happens, just refer it to the Lord!
John Henry Jowett

 

 

7/23/19                          Things Always Improve When…                                23   

Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since the events took place so suddenly.  2 Chronicles 29:36

Recommended Reading: 2 CHRONICLES 29:31-36  “³¹ Then Hezekiah answered and said, “Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the Lord, come near, and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the Lord.” So the assembly brought in sacrifices and thank offerings, and as many as were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings. ³² And the number of the burnt offerings which the assembly brought was seventy bulls, one hundred rams, and two hundred lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord. ³³ The consecrated things were six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep. ³⁴ But the priests were too few, so that they could not skin all the burnt offerings; therefore their brethren the Levites helped them until the work was ended and until the other priests had sanctified themselves, for the Levites were more diligent in sanctifying themselves than the priests. ³⁵ Also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings and with the drink offerings for every burnt offering.

So the service of the house of the Lord was set in order. ³⁶ Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since the events took place so suddenly.”

COMMENTS:  “Sometimes God calms the storm, sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child.”   This wise and insightful statement has become famous among the Christian community and is most insightful into way God  works and a glimpse into why.   God does control all things and manages them so as to bless His followers in ways not possible otherwise.    Consider the hardships and suffering Christians faced in the first century, some recorded in our New Testament.  Consider hardships Paul and the Disciples faced during their lives after Pentecost.   Most were martyred but not all.  Also, there were times God intervened and spared even those later martyred.  So why does God sometimes calm storms and other times just calm the child?  Well, that is a mystery only God knows the reason for.  Yet time often reveals the answer to that question.   The severe persecution of the early Christians led to the spreading of the Gospel more quickly and further around the known world at that time.  The persecution of the Roman Empire made Christians scatter while also providing boats and road that made that scattering quicker and easier.

God’s purpose was in eternal salvation for His followers while providing opportunity for those followers to spread His Gospel message to more and further as well.   When we consider God’s perspective, we begin to understand suffering that lasts a few years may seem eternal to us but from an eternal perspective is a brief moment.   So suffering that must be endured in order to bring eternal salvation to more is an acceptable price to be paid.  Those who must pay that price get to the point of understanding and accepting that price.  It is not that God enjoys or wants us to suffer.  Quite the opposite and His sacrifice gave us opportunity to avoid eternal suffering.   Instead, God suffers too when we suffer and goes through that suffering with them to lighten and easy their load.  That is what is meant by last half of the above statement “…sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child.”   He promises never to let His child face or endure more  than he can nor more than is necessary in order to accomplish His Will, which includes strengthening His child and enabling him to be a more credible and effective witness to others.

Those most effective in reaching others is those who have gone  through the same situation and can testify how God helped and guided them through that situation.

So too, you and I sometimes are called to endure some hardships for same reason.  Some hardships are caused by our own poor choices and sinful deeds, but some are caused by poor choices and sinful deeds of others.  When that happens, consequences on the innocent seem so unfair, but truth is we all are sinful and desire far worse than any consequences we may face in this life.  Consequences of sins of others may not be fair but our own sins deserve far worse, so we have no reason to complain when suffer at the hands of others.  Likewise, God isn’t asking us to suffer because we deserve it, but He calls His children to suffer in order to grow and become a light for others.

Consider how effective doing so became for Paul and Peter and countless millions of other Christians of the early church.   Those who experienced torture and death at the hand of Nero were ultimately ushered into heaven by Christ Himself for an eternal reward for their faithfulness.  Their solidarity and peace and joy during such became a shining beacon and gave authenticity to the Gospel message embraced by countless millions that came after them. 

Psalm 30:5 “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning”    You and I need reminded of the truth and importance of this verse during dark times but even more so during peaceful times so our reliance and focus on Him does not waiver and our reliance on ourselves does not overshadow our surrender to Him.   The best is yet to come but only if we keep our hand in His and follow His path instead of our own.  AMEN?  AMEN!

The best is yet to be and we can’t lose for winning!
Vance Havner

7/24/19                                           Glory to Jesus!                                             24                         I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.  John 16:22

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE  John 16:16-22  “¹⁶ “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.” ¹⁷ Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “What is this that He says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” ¹⁸ They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.”¹⁹ Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? ²⁰ Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. ²¹ A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. ²² Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.”

COMMENTS: Glory and worship go to Jesus, but joy in giving Him praise and worship and glory is ours.  Praise and worship for who He is (God).  For what He has done (died and bore our sins but raised victorious over sin and satan).  For what He continues to do (prepare a place for us and have relationship with us).   Jesus continues to forgive and accept sinners generation after generation with only condition being that each must accept His mercy and forgiveness.  Admitting we have sinned and accepting His forgiveness as our only way to forgiveness and redemption is necessary but is the only way God provided. 

Those who object to gospel message or reject  Christ as the only way as John 14:6 affirms, One road to redemption is sufficient and like it or not, is the only road God provided.  A road most costly to Him and least costly for us, but still costly.  For us, cost is abandoning and giving up our pride and selfish indulgences in sin.   Forgiveness is not earned or bought by us, so obedience – doing what God asks, is a response of gratitude and love from us instead of requirement or condition of His mercy.  Truth is love and gratitude are much stronger motivations than  obligations or demands.   Likewise, love motivates going further than demands ever could.   Love makes doing so easier and more enjoyable and more effective too.  God gives us confident hope that we will one day  receive our eternal home.  As wonderful as that will be, there is much more.  A new body that will not age or get sick.  Fellowship with fellow followers of old and fellow followers among our loved ones and friends (and even enemies).   BUT MOST OF ALL – FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST WITHOUT ANCHOR OF SIN AND TEMPTATION DISTRACTING AND WEIGHING US DOWN!    

Friends will be there I have loved long ago; joy like a river around me will flow.
Charles Gabriel, hymnist

7/25/19                                                 Christ With Us                                         25 
I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 3:14
RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE READING MARK 16:20  “²⁰ And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.”                                                                                                       COMMENTS: Human nature is to try to make God in our image instead of working to be more like God, as described and  revealed to us in scripture and in the life of Christ.  Trying to make God less than perfect with human flaws and a sinful nature.  Humans cannot comprehend nor understand a perfect God, so find it unappealing and impossible to strive to be like Him.   Besides, who would desire to live the life of sacrifice and hardship that Jesus did? 

Well, first Century Christians did face great hardship not because  they wanted to but because to avoid persecution and suffering required rejecting Christ.  Their love and devotion and relationship with Christ was too important and precious for them, so they were willing to pay cost to remain faithful to Him. Christ provided, for  them, hope for a bright future, peace and life meaning and life purpose not available through pagan or    even Jewish religion.              

The Jewish religious leader no longer provided spiritual nourishment.  Once Christ was on the scene, God began revealing Himself through Him.  When Saul encountered Jesus on the Damascus Road,   he could no longer embrace his Jewish faith and teaching because it became obsolete.  But Saul became Paul and his old faith became the foundation to build a new faith and doctrine based on Christ.  His old faith was not a stumbling point because Paul discovered Christ came not to tear down but to f fulfill the prophecies and goals set down in Jewish doctrine and teaching.  Gamaliel was a famous Jewish teacher that taught Paul well, but Paul’s instruction was completed and broadened by Christ.

Why did God pick Saul to be at the center of spreading the Gospel in his generation and to write the letters that would become the major part of New Testament scripture?  Why did second place go to Peter and John instead of first place.  They had major sins in their life that God forgave, like Paul. 

Well, Paul responded with a higher level of commitment and sacrifice and passion and time.   He gave 100% all the time, but I suspect his leadership and personality traits made him a more natural choice to lead the team in evangelism.  So, Paul’s focus was on evangelism to gentiles while Peter focused on Jews mostly.    But God did deal with Peter’s prejudice against gentiles and enabled Peter to effectively preach to gentiles too.

Let’s face it , we all have different gifts and personalities so we tend to be more effective in different ministries.  Some are more effective in building relationships and in doing acts of kindness while not so effective in teaching or preaching while others struggle with developing effective personal relationships while being powerful bible teachers or bible preachers.  Pastors really need to be effective in all these areas while evangelists can focus on preaching and teaching since they tend to be nomads while leaving tools to build relationships with others   in church family.

But truth is, God doesn’t let either off the hook.   Church family and individuals are still accountable and responsible to learn and share the Gospel message as well as give money and time to acts of kindness and compassion.  Likewise, there are also those with faulty or distorted beliefs effectively  preaching or  teaching a different or false gospel typically based on salvation by works instead of the true Christ centered Gospel of salvation only by His sacrifice and Grace while works only being a natural response of gratitude and love in  response.  That was the case during Paul’s ministry which he responded to in his letters preserved in our New Testament scripture.

There still are those teaching false doctrine today who are deceiving many. In last century several cults have risen that have shifted focus from Christ-centered Gospel of Grace to a diluted – distorted gospel of earned salvation. Some distorted has occurred and remained even in Christ-centered churches and congregations.   Well, didn’t say I’m leaving! It’s all up to you now. Instead, He promised to be with them “to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20), “working with them” in their apostolic tasks (Mark 16:20). He even sent His Spirit to “guide [them] into all truth” (John 16:13). We are not called and commissioned to grow into maturity on our own. Jesus, by His Spirit, enables us in all He asks us to do for Him.

Whatever God calls you to do in ministry, family, or vocation, you are not alone. Jesus, by His Spirit, is with you to conform you to His image (Romans 8:29).

“Talk with us, Lord, Thyself reveal, while here o’er earth we rove; speak to our hearts, and let us feel the kindling of Thy love.”  Charles Wesley

7/26/19                                                   A Sign of Maturity                               26            

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.                      Philippians 3:20

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE READING:  TITUS 2:13   “¹³ looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,”

COMMENTS: An important sign of Christian Maturity is what we think about and what inspires and motivates us.  Not only what we do and say but what goals we are working to achieve.  As we look at the way first century Christians face persecution and certain death, they did so confidently  showing amazing courage and many even singing.  How could any display such courage and what inspired and strengthened them?

Well, we can only understand in part unless we faced formidable suffering too.  Scripture gives us God’s promise not to allow us to endure any more than we are able to with His help. I Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

But the wonderful – confident promise and hope we have is that we will spend eternity with Him and with our loved ones without sickness and aging and evil influences.   In a place Jesus is preparing for us and in a new body that will never age or die.   That is what energized and gave those early Christians the energy and courage to endure the evil that satan was persuading the religious and Roman leaders and soldiers to do to them.  Such evil is becoming more rampant in the world today.  

But the wisdom and truth the first Christians discovered and Christians in every generation have learned is that “Sometimes God calms the storm and sometimes He calms His child“.  

Bible prophecy is important enough to be included in every New Testament book except 4 (Galatians, 2 and 3 John, and Philemon).  Important enough for Jesus to tells His disciples that He would prepare a place for them so they could be with Him forever.  Important enough to understand what heaven is like sufficiently enough to be confident death is not an end of life but beginning of a far better life free of earthly pain and suffering and sins and sin consequences. 

Philippians 3:10-15 “¹⁰ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.¹⁵ All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. ¹⁶ Only let us live up to what we have already attained.”

If you aren’t already, begin today “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

A continual looking forward to the eternal world is not a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do.
C. S. Lewis

7/27/19                                          Any Fool Can Do This                                  27   

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.  Romans 12:16                                                         RECOMMENDED READING: ROMANS 12:9-21  “ ⁹ Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; ¹¹ not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; ¹² rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; ¹³ distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹ Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

COMMENTS:  

Do you ever quarrel with someone you love? Nothing good comes from it, and that’s why Proverbs 17:14 says, “The beginning of strife is like releasing water; therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.” More to the point, Proverbs 20:3 says, “It is honorable for a man to stop striving, since any fool can start a quarrel.”

Who wants to hear a concert when the instruments are out of tune? Discordant notes make us wince. But when the instruments are playing in harmony—trumpets, drums, violins, and all the rest—the music is a pleasure to hear.

Yes, we sometimes have honest disagreements and must work through them. But there’s really no place for us to be childish and quarrelsome. The Bible says, “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient” (2 Timothy 2:24).

If you’re quarreling with someone you love, make it a matter of prayer and ask God to give you a harmonious attitude—one of humility, gentleness, and patience.

“When we’re in tune with God, we’ll be in harmony with each other.” Anonymous

7/28/19                                Do it Heartily                                                 28

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.  Colossians 3:23

Colossians 3:22-24– “²² Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ²³ And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”

COMMENTS:  “A job worth doing is a job worth doing well.”  This is a well known saying that has been told by fathers to their sons and mothers to their daughters (and bosses to their employees) for a long time.  I’m not sure of its origins but a similar verse is found in Ecclesiastes 9:10 “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.”  Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men”

Have you ever either done a job half-hearted or seen or received such work from others?  More often such work either needed redone or completed to be sufficient or result in a  quality usable item.  Such uninspired work tends to take longer and require more total effort than if done with joy and enthusiasm.  Why is that when work itself is no different.  Well, our attitude makes a huge difference, doesn’t it?  A job we enjoy and desire to do usually takes less time and effort to complete and task tends to be of higher quality too. 

God’s work tend to or often is less appealing to us than tasks we choose to do ourselves.  Not sure why that is except  reality of God’s timing and priorities never seem to match ours and tasks we feel urgent doing tend to have less priority in God’s schedule than His.  OK, maybe that doesn’t always happen but I bet it happens often enough.   When we do what we want first and put off God’s work, what tends to happen?  My experience is my work done first tends to take longer and encounter more difficulties than expected when try to do it out of sequence I know God desires. Conversely, my experience is when God nudges or compels me to do a certain task for someone, just dropping what I’m doing to cut it short and doing it usually ends better, and I still end up completing my tasks in a reasonable time frame or even within time I had planned for.  Does you experience support this conclusion too?

Enthusiasm is a good motivator and energizer both in doing tasks and also in motivating others to either help or to complete their tasks.  Good bosses and supervisors have learned this truth and exercise that truth too.  They also discover the importance of their employees feeling their work is of value and needed as well as value of their employees being a part of a team that  works well together .  When we are given a task for God, we’re to do it heartily with all our might and strength.  He expects us to and He certainly deserves our best too.  AMEN?  AMEN!                                                                                                                                         You cannot love a thing without wanting to fight for it.
G. K. Chesterton

7/29/19                                              A MERRY HEART                        29

A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.
Proverbs 17:22

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE PROVERBS 15:13-15  “¹³ A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance,  But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.¹⁴ The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.¹⁵ All the days of the afflicted are evil, But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.”

COMMENTS:  There are some people who naturally brighten a room when  they enter.  Their attitude and conversation just cheers others up.  Granted, there are many who crave the respect and  acceptance of others and put on a front to win their affections.  But I am  referring to those with sincere compassion and  respect  for others and enjoy cheering others up and brightening their day.   Then there are a few with a bitter outlook and tend to be critical of others and tear others down in an attempt to lift themselves up.  Taking credit for other’s work may be evident as well.   Becoming successful at their endeavors overshadow welfare of others and becomes justified in their minds as a acceptable price.  Maybe someone had so treated them.

Well, Christ didn’t treat others than way nor condoned such behavior.  The story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) and the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12) tell use importance God places on showing compassion and kindness, even sacrificially, to others especially who are in need.

Well, it isn’t easy living with others, even with those we care for and love.  Sooner or later they hurt our feelings by something they do or say or neglect to.  Likewise, we find ourselves saying or doing things that potentially are hurtful either due to short lived bursts of angry emotions or due to thoughtless words without regard for their impact.   But being cheerful with conduct and  words is a deliberate choice that has powerful impact on others especially if we discipline ourselves to sustain such and regularly seek God’s help and Holy Spirit’s abiding influence to make and keep us cheerful.  I am not talking about telling funny jokes or forcing ourselves to laugh a lot.  No, I am talking about having and keeping a positive attitude and outlook on life that can only naturally develop with the Holy Spirit abiding in and influencing our personalities from the inside out.

Conversely, enjoying doing God’s work is vital and necessary to effective and sustained obedience to God’s nudging as well.  When work becomes necessary and just an obligation, it is not performed as  well nor can be sustained as long.  So our attitude and desire to obey is not something we can accomplish on our own but we do have control and ability to manage it.  When we let our feelings control us unrestrained and without discipline, we put ourselves at  risk of satan’s influence and devices.  But when we seek and welcome the Holy Spirit’s control and influence, even our feelings and desires come into align with God’s Will and nudging too. 

Well, God doesn’t stop testing our faith in order to draw us into deeper relationship and level l of trust in Him.  So continuing to take us outside our comfort zone and to areas when faith  is necessary before evidence of His direction is certain.  That is when experience and memory of past times when He has guided and nudged us to do something beyond our comfort zone or an interruption due to a need of others, all help us respond with more confidence and joy when those times of His voice speaking to us again.

Well, such is a journey and challenge for each of us no matter how long we have journeyed with Him or accomplishments we have enjoyed with Him, so we should not settle into thinking we know His will too comfortably.  He might just be getting ready for another detour or change in direction again. But enjoying serving Him is definitely something He wants us to experience because He wants us to enjoy fellowship with Him while on the journey.

The Bible says:

• “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance” (Proverbs 15:13).
• “A merry heart has a continual feast” (Proverbs 15:15).
• “Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has already accepted your works” (Ecclesiastes 9:7).

May God give us all a merry heart that will be like an elixir for those with whom we live!

” A merry heart, a merry heart, it shines upon the face, / and insures you a welcome at every time and place.”  Mrs. A. Jones, a nineteenth-century poet

7/30/19                               PARTNERING WITH GOD                        30

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE ACTS 2:1-4:34  “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues^[a] as the Spirit enabled them.⁵ Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. ⁶ When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. ⁷ Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? ⁹ Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,^{[b] 10} Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome ¹¹ (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” ¹² Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”¹³ Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” ¹⁴ Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. ¹⁵ These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! ¹⁶ No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:¹⁷ “‘In the last days, God says,  I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,  your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.¹⁸ Even on my servants, both men and women,  I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.¹⁹ I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below,  blood and fire and billows of smoke.²⁰ The sun will be turned to darkness  and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. ²¹ And everyone who calls  on the name of the Lord will be saved.’²² “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. ²³ This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,^[d] put him to death by nailing him to the cross. ²⁴ But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. ²⁵ David said about him:“‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.²⁶ Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, ²⁷ because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. ²⁸ You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’²⁹ “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. ³⁰ But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. ³¹ Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. ³² God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. ³³ Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. ³⁴ For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,” ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand ³⁵ until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”³⁶ “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”³⁷ When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”³⁸ Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”⁴⁰ With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” ⁴¹ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

3 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. ² Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. ³ When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. ⁴ Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” ⁵ So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.⁶ Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” ⁷ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. ⁸ He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. ⁹ When all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.¹¹ While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. ¹² When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? ¹³ The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. ¹⁴ You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. ¹⁵ You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. ¹⁶ By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.¹⁷ “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. ¹⁸ But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. ¹⁹ Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, ²⁰ and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. ²¹ Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. ²² For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. ²³ Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’²⁴ “Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. ²⁵ And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’^{[h] 26} When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

4 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. ² They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. ³ They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. ⁴ But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.⁵ The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. ⁶ Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. ⁷ They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! ⁹ If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, ¹⁰ then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. ¹¹ Jesus is” ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’¹² Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”¹³ When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. ¹⁵ So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. ¹⁶ “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”¹⁸ Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! ²⁰ As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”²¹ After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. ²² For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.²³ On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. ²⁵ You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:“‘Why do the nations rage  and the peoples plot in vain? ²⁶ The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together  against the Lord and against his anointed one. ²⁷ Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. ²⁸ They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. ²⁹ Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. ³⁰ Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”³¹ After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.³² All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. ³³ With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all ³⁴ that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales .”

COMMENTS:  Today’s scripture is unusually long but comprises a long story from the first Pentecost the first miracle the disciples did after Pentecost.  Today’s devotion is linked to a sermon given by evangelist Dr. Doug Newton at Pleasantville Free Methodist Family Camp held 7/26-8/3/19 and attended by 150 adults and 90 teens and children.

The focus of Doug’s messages was “Our Great Salvation” and identified paradigms related to specific aspects of salvation.  

The traditional paradigm is “Judicial Paradigm” which focuses on Jesus sacrifice on the cross paying the penalty for our sins and provision so we can be freed from bondage to sin as well as from the penalty of sin. II Corinthians 5:12.   But exclusive focus on payment for sins does not consider what Christ provides in addition to forgiveness.

The “Lost – Found Paradigm” identifies the sense of purpose and belonging Jesus provides.  Jesus gives us purpose and love like none other.  He enables us to be restored to belong and be equipped to do His work with joy and passion we could not generate nor develop on our own.  The parable of the Prodigal or lost son illustrates this principle and paradigm. Jesus experienced separation from the Father while taking our sins and guilt at the cross so we can forgiven and free from guilt and punishment of sin but also so we can be in fellowship with Him and enjoy a close relationship with Him as  Adam did before the fall.   The prodigal parable illustrates the passion and love God has for us through the loving father who ran to the son when he came into view of his father.  LUKE 15:11-32

The “Victory Paradigm” identifies and gives focus on power to overcome and defeat all satan’s temptations and deceptions.  On the cross, Christ defeated satan and provides ability and  equipment to each believers needed to overcome any and all weaknesses and temptations and failures of the past so they need not be repeated in the future.  Ref. John 12:31,  John 14:30, John 16:11, Acts 10:36-38, and I John 3:8 reveals specific purpose and focus Jesus dealt with to this end while battling satan and defeated him on Easter morning.

The “Partnership Paradigm” then identifies the relationship and fellowship daily and continual that Adam and Eve enjoyed in Eden, lost when they sinned, and now was bought  back and restored at the cross – offered on Easter morning and manifested at Pentecost and since.    Genesis 1-2 identifies each created life producing offspring “after their kind” or like them.  Likewise, God partners with us so we become more like Him and produce spiritual children like Him.  In other words, share His Good News so others become Christ followers and grow to be like Him too.

Partnership involves continual interaction and working together.  Also included investment of both partners but not necessarily equal investments.  The very good news is God invests the most and has already planned  for only a modest investment on our part to be sufficient.  Just being open so when He nudges us, we will respond.   When He nudges us to make a call  or visit or take a detour on  way somewhere or spend a bit more time at a place so He can use us to encourage or council or help someone in  need.  Stop and reflect on your experiences and times God has used you.   We need to be more open so more of those examples can take place.

Healing is also a Paradigm of Salvation paid for on the Cross.  This will be identified and discussed next month in a devotion.  In the meantime, however, notice in this scripture that Peter stopped, he asked the beggar to look at him and asked him  what he wanted.  The beggar was a  regular and Peter and John had likely passed him many times or maybe tossed him a few coins in past, but  this time God nudged Peter to stop.  Note also that Peter did not see any evidence of God’s healing until he began pulling beggar up.  Peter had seen Jesus do such healings but this was a first for him and Jesus was not there in the flesh to take over.  BUT JESUS  WAS THERE THROUGH HIS HOLY SPIRIT AND PETER  WAS EMPOWERED BY THAT SAME SPIRIT TO DO AND SAY EXACTLY WHAT WAS NEEDED AND ADMINISTER THAT HEALING .  Also note the impact of that healing and resulting conversion of 5,000 more even though 3,000 had been save just a few days before when Peter gave his first empowered sermon at Pentecost.  Pentecost transformed the disciples and more Peter evidently by his boldness and preaching and willingness to be at risk of failure when reached out to the beggar.  We put ourselves at risk by partnering with God too but open ourselves to opportunities and blessings and in being a instrument of blessings to others.  God has been so good and faithful, so how can we doubt Him?  He tends to let us reach out or take a first step before He gives us evidence or confirmation.  But our experience reminds us He  will never fail us and will not leave us unprotected or unsupported when we do trust Him and step out in faith when He asks us to. 

Another area is opening ourselves to new insights into His Word.  By looking  at verses and verses after passages studying for devotions or specific assignments, we can discover the story or event noted was longer and had more going on that we first thought.   Exploring those additional verses can and often will change or broaden our understanding of scripture.  I will be exploring this study technique going forward with potential new discoveries scripture may reveal.  I hope you will do so and would love to learn  what you discover as I share what God  reveals to me.  AMEN?  AMEN!  

7/31/19                                     FAMOUS LAST WORDS                                             31

I have fought the good fight.  2 Timothy 4:7

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE:  2 TIMOTHY 4:6-8“⁶ For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”                                                                                                                                            COMMENTS:   Famous last words or death bed words are memorial because they reflect what is most important to the person dying and to their loved ones  wanting to treasure the last time they will hear their voice so hold those words from them precious.  

Some lasts words from noteworthy are:

D.L.Moody (evangelist) “This is my coronation day! It is glorious!:

John Nelson Darby (evangelist) “Beyond the grave comes heaven.  Well, it will be strange to find myself in heaven, but it won’t be a strange Christ.  One I’ve known these many years. I am glad He knows me.  I have a deep peace , which you know.”

By contrast the French writer, Francois Rabelais: “Bring down the curtain –  the farce is played out.” 

I can testify of the confident joy and peace of loved ones as they passed because of their faith in Christ.  Scripture records  the death on countless faithful Christ followers.  Death need not be something dreaded but anticipated as the transportation to the wonderful home Jesus is preparing for  each of us. 

Jesus does give a joyous heart at peace at the time of death to those who know Him.   Because Jesus, Himself, fought and defeated death and imparts eternal life with Him to any and all who accept His gift of salvation and redemption.

Completed is another month of devotions.  Time is something we all have equal amounts each day.  Some endure or enjoy 80 or 90 or 100+ years of life while others only for a very short time.  But what lasts is the impact we have on the lives of others and some key choice we make during those years.  Consider the impact of Sunday School teachers or pastors or neighbors or friends have had positively on you over the years.  The impact of parents and grandparents and so many others.  Their influence continues even though they may have passed on many years ago.   We are still forming and working on our impact as long as we have life, but one day soon we too will be saying our last words and our eternal impact  will be completed.   Most days are filled with routine tasks and duties that seen uneventful and of little importance or impact on others.   But as we reflect, we begin to realize a smile or kind word or a listening ear or a heartfelt prayer are the things that make lasting impact from others and likewise us on others.  Doing so each day and willingness to accept distractions in order to listen to and fellowship with others is  building a lasting legacy.  Likewise,  giving Christ time in fellowship and devotion each day and throughout our day gives us sensitive hearts that will hear His nudge to stop and be a servant to another.

Let’s not be so busy we don’t have time to stop and listen and share with those we cross paths with today.  Who knows, the words we say then might be our last and the words they will hold and cherish.  None of us know when our last day will come.  AMEN?  AMEN!

GIDEON BIBLE REFERENCE SCRIPTURES:

HELP IN TIME OF NEED:

• The way of salvation:                                   John 14:6, Acts 16.32, Romans 10:9
• Comfort in time of loneliness :                    Psalm 23, Isaiah 41:10, Hebrews 13:5-6
• Comfort in time of sorrow                            2 Cor. 1:3-5, Romans 8:26-28
• Relief in time of suffering                             2 Cor. 12:8-10, Hebrews 12:3-13
• Guidance in time of decision                       James  1:5-6, Proverbs 3:5-6
• Protection in time of danger                       Psalm 91, Psalm 121
• Courage in time of fear                                  Hebrews 13:5-6, Ephesians 6:10-18
• Peace in time of turmoil                                Isaiah 26:3-4, Philippians 4:6-7
• Rest in time of weariness                             Matthew 11:28-29, Psalm 23
• Strength in time of temptation                  James 1:12-16, 1Cor. 10:6-13
• Warning in time of indifference                 Gal. 5:19-21, Hebrews 10:26-31
• Forgiveness in time of conviction               Isaiah 1:18, 1Jn, 1:7-8

 

SUGGESTED READINGS (HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS):

• The creation Genesis 1-2
• The fall of man Gen 3
• The flood of Noah Gen 6-9
• The call of Abraham Gen 12:1-9
• Deliverance of Israel from Egypt Exodus 11-14
• Dedication of the temple 2 Chronicles 5-7
• The Babylonian Captivity of Israel 2 Chr. 36
• Revival of Israel after captivity Nehemiah 8-9
• Promises of the coming Messiah Isaiah 9:2-7, Ps22, Is.53
• The Birth of Christ                 Mtt1:18-2:23, Lk1:26-2:40
• The Triumphal Entry Lk19:28-44
• The last supper Mk14:2-26
• The Garden of Gathsemane 26:36-46
• The Betreyal of Jesus 26-47-56
• The arrest and trial of Jesus Jn 18:12-19:16
• The death of Christ Lk 23:26-56, Jn19:16-42
• The resurrection of Christ Lk24, Jn20
• The ascension of Christ Acts 1:1-12
• The coming of the Holy Spirit Acts2:1-21
• The conversion of Paul Acts 9:1-31
• The heroes of Faith Hebrews 11

 

SUGGESTED READINGS (SPIRITUAL STANDARDS)

• The 10 commandments Exodus 20:1-17
• The sermon on the mount Mtt 5-7
• The golden rule Mtt7:12
• The greatest commandment Mtt 22:36-40
• The righteousness of Faith Romans 3:19-28
• The Royal Law James 2:8, Romans 13:8-10
• Christ’s New Commandment John 13:34-35
• Christian love               1 Cor. 13

 

DYNAMIC DOCTRINES

• God’s greatness and man’s weakness                                                     Isaiah 40
• The two fold Revelation of God                                                                  Psalm 19
• Man’s universal guilt                                                                                       Rom 1:18-2:16
• Atonement                                                                                                        Leviticus 16, Romans 5
• The new birth                                                                                                    John 3
• Justification by Faith                                                                                       Eph 2:1-10, Gal 2:16-21
• Christ, the Good Shepherd                                                                          Ps 23, John 10:1-18
• Christ’s intercession for His Own                                                               Jn 17, Heb 7:25
• The High Priestly Work of Christ                                                                 Heb. 7:25, Heb. 4:14-16
• Christ’s Humiliation and Exhaltation                                                         Philippians 2:5-11
• Resurrection of the Christian Dead                                                           1 Cor. 16, 1Thess. 4:13-18
• The second coming of Christ                                                                        Mtt 24, 2 Thess. 1:7-2:12
• The Last Judgment                                                                                          Rev. 20:10-15
• The New Heaven and New Earth                                                               Rev. 21-22

 

PRACTICAL PRECEPTS:

• Christian Home relationships                      Eph. 5:22-6:4
• A model wife and mother                             Prov. 31:10-31
• Marriage and divorce                                     Mtt 19:3-9, Malachi 2:14-16
• The sin of adultery                                           Prov. 6:23-33
• The prodigal son                                               Luke 15:11-32
• Employer-employee relationships            Col 3:22-4:1
• Business and prof. principles                       Ps15, Prov. 3:1-12
• Seperation of worldliness                             2 Cor. 6:14-7:1, 1 Jn 2:15-17
• Decisions of doubtful things                        Rom.14
• Christian fruitfulness                                      Jn15
• Heavenly wisdom                                            James 3:14-18
• Christian responsibilities                               Rom. 12-13
• Christian stewardship                                    2 Cor. 8-9
• Christian witnessing                                        Mtt 28:18-20, Jm17:18-20
• Prevailing prayer                                              Mtt 6:5-15, Philippians 4:6-7
• Heavenly priorities                                          Mtt 6:25-33
• Brevity of man’s days                                     Ps 90
• The causes of war                                            James 4:1-4
• The value of the soul                                      Mk. 8:36-37

 

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT:

• ITSELF:                                                                  2 Tim. 3:15-16   , Psalm 19:7
• GOD:                                                                     Psalm 99:9, 1 Tim.1:17, Isaiah 45:21-22
• MAN:                                                                    Gen. 1:27, Gen 2:7, Isaiah 43:7
• HEAVEN:                                                              Rev.21:3-4, 21:27
• SIN:                                                                        Romans 5:12, Isaiah 59:2, Romans 3:23
• HELL:                                                                     2 Thess 1:8-9, Rev. 20:15
• CHRIST –HIS ADVENT                                      Micah 5:2, Mtt.1:21-23, Lk 2:10-11
• CHRIST – HIS PERSON                                     John 10:30, 14:6
• CHRIST –HIS WORK                                          Lk. 22:19-20, 1 Peter 2:24, Col.1:14, Isaiah 53:5-6
• CHRIST-HIS RESURRECTION                         Lk. 24:36,39, 1 Cor. 15:3-4
• FAITH                                                                    Acts 20:20-21, Heb. 11:6, Eph. 2:8-9
• LIFE                                                                        John 3:3, 1:12-13, 3:36, 2 Cor.5:17

If you wish, you can access my blog at “https://donsdevotions.wordpress.com“. There you will find 466 blog posts I have made plus a link to my devotional journal material archives from 2013 to present.

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