Devotion post change at least weekly

(week of Nov 18th) (joy)

The Only Joy We Never Lose

Why Happiness Is Not Optional

October 11, 2019

Article by Marshall Segal

President & CEO, Desiring God

If you only experience joy on your best days, you have not yet tasted the best joy. We tend to think of joy as a light and fleeting feeling that comes and goes as life allows. But the best joy is strong enough for the realities of life — all of life.

We also tend to think of joy as optional, as icing on the cake of following Christ. Some Christians get to be happy, we think, wishing we were one of the handful who do. Yet the apostle Paul says, plainly and unapologetically,

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)

Oh, that always — all at once so awe-inspiring, and so haunting. Awe-inspiring because that means always must be possible. What news! In Christ, we never have to be without genuine happiness. And yet also so haunting because of how often we lose our sense of joy — the joy that God, throughout the Scriptures, commands of his people.

Why would Paul repeat himself? “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” He knew how hard such always-joy would often be. He wrote these words, as he often did, from prison (Philippians 1:13). Yet even in the loneliness and uncertainty of captivity, he had found real felicity. He could say always because he had suffered so much, and rejoiced even in those dark, lonely, and painful places.

Never settle for a god who cannot satisfy you in a prison cell. If you only enjoy God when life seems good, follow Paul’s joy with me through Philippians to something more precious than gold, even much fine gold, something sweeter than honey — and anything else you might enjoy in this life.

Better Even Than Life

If our joy is rooted in how well life seems to be going, our joy will falter and fade when trials come. More often than we want to admit, our joy is rooted in our feeling secure, comfortable, successful, liked — and so real joy, the always-joy Paul writes about, can feel foreign and distant.

“If you only experience joy on your best days, you have not yet tasted the best joy.”

When his enemies preached Christ out of envy and rivalry, wanting to wound Paul and undermine his ministry (Philippians 1:15–17), he welled up not with anger, bitterness, or resentment, but with joy. “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice” (Philippians 1:18). It takes more than human courage to rejoice when you’re mistreated, especially when you’re in prison where you can’t defend yourself.

Where was this courageous joy anchored? He writes in the next verses,

It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:20–21)

He could have joy in life or death because he lived and died for Christ — and nothing and no one could take Christ from him. Because his faith, hope, and joy were firmly rooted in the honor and glory of Christ, the worst things that might happen to him could only ultimately serve him (Romans 8:37). Knowing Christ had made a friend even out of death.

Prisons may have kept him from speaking to crowds, but they only amplified the joy that he preached. Adversaries could make his circumstances miserable, but his gladness in God engulfed any short-lived misery. Satan threw everything imaginable at him — beaten with rods, stoned almost to death, shipwrecked and stranded, attacked by robbers, left without food and shelter, suffering danger from every direction (2 Corinthians 11:25–27) — and yet he rejoiced. Few have suffered like this man, and few have suffered with more joy.

Better Than Any Other Joy

To have more joy in suffering than in peace and comfort, we have to want Jesus more than anything else, including peace and comfort.

“Never settle for a god who cannot satisfy you in a prison cell.”

Paul didn’t choose joy in Christ because he couldn’t find joy anywhere else. He had tasted and enjoyed the glory of success and popularity — the Hebrew of Hebrews, the Pharisee of Pharisees, the most zealous, the most blameless, the most recognized (Philippians 3:5–6). When he chose to follow Jesus, he surrendered the kind of life others would die for — and he surrendered that life for more happiness, not less.

After listing all that he had earned and accomplished, he says,

Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. (Philippians 3:7–8)

When Paul found the treasure hidden in the fields of Scripture, his pearl of great price, all the other pearls had suddenly faded in color. He quickly sold them all to have just one. His love for worldly success and attention withered and fell away to make way for a new, more vibrant love. He wrote, “My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better” (Philippians 1:23).

In the end, we do not forfeit happiness to have Christ. Whatever we trade away (and we do trade away real joys to follow Christ), we receive back a hundredfold now, “and in the age to come eternal life” (Mark 10:30). Joy in Christ is far better than any other pleasure, achievement, or prize. We are fools to ever prefer what we enjoyed before him.

How to Guard Your Joy

How do we guard the joy we’ve found in God? We can’t, and won’t, on our own. Two verses after saying, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice,” Paul writes, “Do not be anxious about anything,” — anything that might hinder or compromise your joy in the Lord — “but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7).

We preserve the joy we have in God by asking God to guard it. We pray. Any joy we have in Christ will be perpetually under assault — by Satan, by sin and temptation, by suffering, by life in a world still enslaved to corruption (Romans 8:21). We need someone stronger than all those forces combined to guard what we have found in God. We need God himself to guard our happiness in God.

“We never forfeit happiness to have Christ. Whatever we trade away, we receive back a hundredfold.”

We pray, but not just any prayer. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” The kind of prayer that thwarts anxiety and strengthens joy presses on in gratitude. Paul brings these three — joy, thanksgiving, and prayer — together again in another letter: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18). A sure way to combat the enemies of our joy is to relentlessly give thanks to God for all the graces, large and small, in our lives.

When the devil conspires to spoil your joy — and he will in more ways than you can predict or imagine — remember this: “The Lord is at hand” (Philippians 4:5). He is near to those who rejoice in him, supplying indescribable peace to us in the midst of whatever trials we face. His return is also at hand, when he will deliver all his children from every form of pain and suffering, and when he will punish everyone who rejected his Son and afflicted his followers. On that day, everything and everyone who made Christians miserable will come to an awful end.

So, take heart, wait yet a little longer, give thanks for the good you can see now, and pray for God to keep you until joy finally comes in full (Psalm 16:11).

Finding Always-Joy

For the Christian, joy in God is not optional. It’s not icing for some to savor. It is central, and essential. We cannot glorify God as we ought unless our souls are satisfied in him. But we all have to learn the secret to always-joy. None of us is born, or even reborn, with this wisdom.

The apostle himself says, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content” (Philippians 4:11). Joy in God is not simply a switch that’s flipped the moment we first trust in Jesus; joy in God is a lifelong pursuit and discipline. We learn, over months and years and decades, how to rejoice in the Lord. The flower sprouts when we are saved, but it matures, grows, and blossoms over time, while its roots grow deeper, wider, and stronger.

“Do not believe the lie that joy will only come when the clouds in your life finally clear.”

“I know how to be brought low,” Paul continues, “and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:12–13). The secret to his contentment was his relentless always-joy in Christ (Philippians 3:8; 4:4, 10). And it wasn’t only his secret to contentment in hunger and need, but also in plenty and abundance. John Piper says about these verses,

When we have little and have lost much, Christ comes and reveals himself as more valuable than what we have lost. And when we have much and are overflowing in abundance, Christ comes and he shows that he is far superior to everything we have.

So, rejoice always in the Lord. Again, I say rejoice. Do not believe the lie that joy will only come when the clouds in your life finally clear, and the sun shines through. Don’t settle for a religion or god that cannot promise joy even in the darkest, most difficult days. If you rejoice in the Lord, you never have to be without real happiness again.

Daily Devotion – Philippians 4:4 – Choose Joy

Dancing In The Rain

Published On: July 30, 2019

Written By: Lesley Crawford

Do you find it hard to choose joy each day? Sometimes we don’t feel like choosing joy today because of life’s circumstances. But the Bible is full of people in dire circumstances that accepted them and chose to display the joy of the Lord anyway. Here are some examples and ways that you can purpose in your heart you will choose joy no matter your current circumstances.

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Philippians 4:4 NLT

Dancing In The Rain

As I hurried along the city street, the rain was falling heavily. Several people were out and about, but there was little interaction. Everyone was dashing from shop to shop, trying to do what they needed to do and get out of the rain.

But then the music started…

It was a brass band playing on the bandstand, and they were good. Gradually, people began to slow down and look up. Eventually a group, myself included, decided to brave the rain to go and listen.

As the band began to play “Singing in the Rain,” everyone shared a smile, but as we listened, my attention was drawn to an elderly lady in the crowd. Her bright pink raincoat made her stand out in the gloomy greyness of the day, but what really caught my eye was her reaction to the music. It seemed impossible for her to stand still. She began by tapping her foot, then she started swaying from side to side. Eventually she gave into it and, stepping away from the group of people into a space, she began to dance.

A couple nearby were holding a rainbow umbrella. It didn’t seem that she knew them, but she went over and took the umbrella and then began dancing in front of the crowd, twirling the umbrella as she went.

It was a beautiful moment.

While her dancing was nothing spectacular, there was something wonderful about her freedom to express herself with a total disregard for what others were thinking, and her joy was contagious.

As I looked around, the rain continued as before, but now people were smiling and talking and the whole atmosphere had changed, all because some musicians and a little old lady chose joy over gloom.

Paul Chooses Joy

As I read Paul’s letter to the Philippians, I see that same attitude of choosing joy.

His situation is dire – he’s locked in prison for no crime other than preaching the Gospel, and to make it worse, his enemies are using his situation as an opportunity to get at him. If I imagine myself in Paul’s situation, I expect that I would be downcast and complaining, yet Paul’s letter bubbles over with joy. It makes me wonder: what is his secret? How is he able to find joy even in such circumstances?

As I read his letter, a few things stand out, all of them to do with where he is choosing to focus.

Instead of focusing on himself and his own situation, Paul focuses on the Gospel and on where God is at work. He rejoices in the opportunities he has to talk about his faith with the palace guard, he delights in the boldness with which other believers are speaking out, and, as for those who are preaching with false motives – as long as they are telling people about Jesus, Paul chooses to find joy in that.

Paul Focuses on Eternity

He also chooses to focus on eternity. There are several reminders to the Philippians that they are “citizens of heaven.” Although Paul’s current situation is less than ideal, he chooses to look beyond it to see the bigger picture. God is ultimately in charge and his suffering will not last forever. Surely this too is cause for joy.

Third, instead of turning inwards, he chooses to focus on others. His words to the Philippians are full of encouragement, and he clearly prays for them often. He also writes warmly of others, such as Timothy and Epaphroditus, who are helping to spread the Gospel, and he finds joy in these friendships.

He urges the Philippians to join him in choosing joy by making the decision about where to focus and he shares advice he is clearly living out: “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:8 NLT)

We Can Choose Joy, Our Attitude, and Focus

We may not be able to choose our circumstances, but we can choose our attitude and our focus. We can choose, like Paul, to rejoice in the Lord – not necessarily to be joyful about our circumstances, but to find joy in God whatever our circumstances.

And when we choose that attitude, like Paul, and like the lady dancing in the rain, it can impact others and bring joy to them too.

Where is your focus today?

How can you choose to focus on what is excellent and worthy of praise?

How can a focus on the Gospel, on eternity, and on other people lead you to find and choose joy in God today?

(week of Nov 11th) (soldier)

Tempted and Unarmed

Why We Need the Armor of God

Article by Garrett Kell

Pastor, Alexandria, Virginia

It was the boy’s first day of junior high. All was going well until three older kids took his lunch, ruffled his hair, and stuffed him in a locker. They snarled at his squeals and high-fived one another as they walked away. What the bullies didn’t know, though, was that the kid in the locker was the little brother of the football team’s starting middle linebacker.

After lunch, the boy told his brother what happened. His brother looked him in the eyes. “Let’s go.” As the boy came to his locker, the bullies were waiting for him, grinning. But he hadn’t come alone this time. He came in the strength of his older brother. That was the last day they messed with him.

As Christians, we have a dangerous adversary. We face something far scarier than getting stuffed in a locker. Our enemy wants to devour our faith and drag us to hell.

“Spiritual warfare is about God’s people joining their Lord in his warfare.”

So, when the apostle Paul instructs the Ephesian church about spiritual warfare, he begins by exhorting them not to go into the battle in their own strength. He reminds them of their Elder Brother. He says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:10–11).

Marching into War

Jesus is on a mission to rescue captive souls from a strong enemy (Mark 3:23; Luke 19:10). Through his crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus delivered a mortal wound to our formidable foe (Colossians 2:15; 1 John 3:8). He now calls sinners to flee from Satan’s captivity, and align with his everlasting kingdom (Acts 17:30). He commissions his church to join him in taking the gospel to the ends of the earth (Matthew 28:18–20). This means that, when we follow Jesus, we follow him into a war zone.

Though Satan has been decisively defeated, and his future is doomed, he lives for the present. He still schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11), stalks (1 Peter 5:8), deceives (Revelation 12:9), ensnares (2 Timothy 2:26), hinders (1 Thessalonians 2:18), harasses (2 Corinthians 12:7), and attacks us with fiery darts of temptation (Ephesians 6:16). We wage war against his dark forces, but not with physical artillery (2 Corinthians 10:3–4). Rather, we are commanded to “be strong in the Lord and . . . put on the whole armor of God” (Ephesians 6:10–11). When we come to the battle, we do not fight alone. We fight in the strength of our Lord.

What Is the Armor of God?

On the wall of my childhood Sunday school classroom hung a poster of a Roman soldier’s armor. It explained that God’s armor corresponded to what those first-century soldiers wore. While there are similarities, Paul desires our imaginations to be captured by something far greater than a Roman soldier. He wants us to see our warrior God, who powerfully fights “against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). The focus of spiritual warfare isn’t Satan or an imaginary Roman soldier; it’s our Savior.

Paul wasn’t using a contemporary illustration to explain spiritual warfare; he was reminding the Ephesians of the prophet Isaiah’s presentation of our warrior King. The afflicted take courage because a Spirit-filled Savior girds himself with a belt of truth to speak on their behalf (Isaiah 11:1–5). God’s people erupt with singing because the Lord is coming with shoes to pronounce gospel peace (Isaiah 52:1–10). This Savior enters evil’s darkness with a breastplate of righteousness and a helmet of salvation to deliver his people from oppression (Isaiah 59:17). The Lord’s servant speaks words like a sharp sword, bringing salvation to the ends of the earth (Isaiah 49:1–6). It is to this Savior that King David flees to be shielded by faith during his enemy’s attacks (Psalm 18:29–42).

“When we follow Jesus, we follow him into a war zone.”

Too often, spiritual warfare is seen as an individual believer’s call to put on armor and fight demonic forces alone, as if this is a test to prove his faith. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Spiritual warfare is about God’s people joining their Lord in his warfare. He equips (Ephesians 4:7–16) and empowers us (1 Corinthians 12:11) to accompany him into enemy territory and further his kingdom purposes (Matthew 28:20).

Whole Armor of God

Putting on God’s armor isn’t like dressing with clothes from your closet. There’s no mixing and matching, no switching out for whatever the season may require. Spiritual armor is applied by faith, daily — and the entire letter of Ephesians teaches us how to put it on.

Belt of Truth

Satan labors to make you a liar like him. But we put on the Lord’s belt of truth by “[putting] away falsehood” and “[speaking] the truth” to one another (Ephesians 4:25). We don’t hatefully deceive like the devil, but “[speak] the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). We don’t cover our sins but confess them. We don’t slander but speak honest words about others. Putting on the belt of truth is an act of faith that resists Satan’s call to be a liar like him (John 8:44).

Breastplate of Righteousness, Helmet of Salvation

Satan wants you to join him in rebelling against God. But we resist him by putting on the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation. We “put off [our] old self . . . [and] put on the new self . . . in true righteousness” (Ephesians 4:22–24). We stand confidently in Christ’s imputed righteousness rather than adopt worldly identities (Ephesians 1–3).

We step courageously in Christlike practical righteousness rather than follow worldly ways (Ephesians 4–6). We resist sexual immorality in order to show true love (Ephesians 5:1–6). We resist corrupting talk and crude joking by speaking grace-filled words of edification (Ephesians 4:29) We do not get drunk with worldly indulgence but serve others in the power of the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18–21).

Shoes of Gospel Peace

Satan hates the good news about Christ’s blood and the forgiveness it purchases. He hates to see sinners reconciled to God (Ephesians 2:1–10) and to one another in the church (Ephesians 2:11–22). He wars to hinder evangelism among unbelievers (Luke 8:12) and strives to stoke angry division among the redeemed (Ephesians 4:26–27).

But hell’s gates will not prevail against Jesus’s church (Matthew 16:18). So, we lace up shoes of gospel peace and sow gospel seed (Romans 10:15). Inspired by his grace, we “[bear] with one another in love” and are “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1–3).

Shield of Faith

Satan stokes fear in hopes that we will retreat. He threatens us with social rejection, persecution, pain, and death (Hebrews 2:14). But rather than retreat, we take up the shield of faith. We draw near to Jesus, and hide without shame under his cover. We embrace his words to the persecuted church in Smyrna: “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison. . . . Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). We “do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” (Matthew 10:28). We rest knowing that, even if we die for Christ, we shall forever live with Christ (John 11:25–26).

Sword of the Spirit

Satan seduces and accuses us with lies. But we take up the sword of the Spirit and strike down his lofty arguments (2 Corinthians 10:5). When he promises fleeting pleasures, we emulate Jesus by striking them down with God’s word (Matthew 4:1–11). When he heaps shame and condemnation upon us, we slash them with scriptural assurances (Romans 8:1). When we are threatened by Satan’s requests to sift us, we pray, knowing that Jesus ever lives to intercede for us (Luke 22:31; Hebrews 7:25).

“Spiritual warfare most often takes place in the mundane details of life.”

Some of these descriptions may not seem like spiritual warfare because they seem so normal, so everyday. But while spiritual warfare can involve demonic possession and exorcisms, it most often takes place in the mundane details of life. Why do you think confessing your sin is so difficult? Why is obedience so challenging? Why are you so afraid to evangelize? Why is forgiveness so daunting? Why is prayer so marred by distraction?

It is because the world, the flesh, and the devil are continually working against what our Lord is warring for. Yet we do not lose heart, because we face them in our Lord’s strength, knowing that “he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). We go into battle with Christ who strengthens us.

When Satan Strikes

At times, we fail to put on the armor. We get busy with our own pursuits, and when the struggle sneaks up on us, we try to fight in our own strength. We step out from under our Lord’s strength and are overcome by temptation. We lie instead of speaking truth. We harbor bitterness instead of forgiving. We slander instead of pursuing peace. We justify sin instead of repenting of it. We indulge our lust instead of loving God. We grieve the Spirit and sap our joy (Ephesians 4:30).

When these fiery darts strike us, we are left wounded and wearied. Our spiritual strength is sapped, desire for prayer dissipates, singing is silenced, shame is stoked, fellowship is avoided, and our taste for temptation increases.

When this happens, we must not lose heart, but rather cry to our warrior God, our great Savior, who leaves none of his fellow soldiers behind. He will not allow us to be snatched from his grasp (John 10:28). Rather, he will throw us over his shoulder, and take us to green pastures and still waters, where he will restore our souls (Psalm 23:1–3). In him we are strengthened to go back into battle, knowing that our warrior God “will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20).

(week of Nov 4th) (chosen)

Ten Reasons to Revel in Being Chosen

Article by John Piper

Peter said to the “elect exiles” — that is, to Christians scattered throughout the Roman Empire — “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession” (1 Peter 2:9).

He meant it as an enormous encouragement for a tiny, beleaguered, persecuted minority in a vast sea of unbelief and growing hostility. The adversaries may seem powerful and numerous and dangerous and dominant. But look again. You are God’s chosen ones: “a people for his own possession.” O dear suffering Christians, Peter would say, do you feel what that means? Revel in being God’s chosen ones! There are so many reasons!

1. Your faith is not the basis of God’s choosing you, but the result of it.

This means that your faith is a wonder — more wonderful than any of the seven wonders of the world. Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you” (John 15:16). And there was a deeper choosing going on here than just the selection of the Twelve. We know this because Judas was part of the Twelve, and he was not “chosen.” Jesus said, “I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me’” (John 13:18).

If you have come to Jesus, the wonder is that you already belonged to the Father, and the Father gave you to Jesus. You were not chosen because you came; you came because you were chosen. That’s what Jesus said: “All that the Father gives me will come to me. . . . Yours they were, and you gave them to me” (John 6:37; 17:6).

“Your roots, as a child of God, are in eternity — in the infinite mind and heart of God.”

If you have believed on Jesus, the wonder is that you were first appointed to eternal life. You weren’t appointed because you believed; you believed because you were appointed. When the Gentiles heard that the gospel actually included them, “they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48).

Revel in the wonder that you are a Christian because God chose you to be one. Your roots, as a child of God, are in eternity — in the infinite mind and heart of God. Your faith, and all its fruits, are God’s eternal gift.

2. Therefore, the basis of God choosing you is not in you, but in grace.

Take God’s Old Testament people Israel, for example. Why did God set his favor on Israel above all the peoples of the earth? What was the basis of God’s calling them “my chosen” (Isaiah 45:4)? Here’s Moses’s answer:

The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers. (Deuteronomy 7:6–8)

This is amazing: “The Lord set his love on you and chose you . . . because the Lord loves you.” He loves you because he loves you! That’s the deepest, and ultimate, basis of God’s choosing Israel.

Paul underlines the wonder. Why was Jacob, the father of the nation of Israel, chosen over his twin brother Esau? Paul answers, “Though they were not yet born, and had done nothing either good or bad — in order that God’s purpose to choose might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls — their mother was told, ‘The older will serve the younger’” (Romans 9:11–12).

And the principle holds today. Paul would say, “So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace” (Romans 11:5). So it is with every true Christian. Behind our believing — behind our coming to Jesus — is grace alone. There is no ground for our being chosen beneath the all-wise and incomprehensible love of God. Oh, the vastness of the repercussions of this unfathomable truth!

3. Since our faith and obedience is owing to God’s choice of us, we can know we are chosen.

It is a wonder that God’s unfathomable, eternal choice of who will be his children can be known by those he chose. Paul said that he knew the Thessalonian believers were God’s chosen ones. “We know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you” (1 Thessalonians 1:4).

“Calvinism is the end of racism among Christians.”

How can he know this? And how can they? Paul explains, “We know . . . because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. . . . You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 1:4–6).

Only God’s eternal resolve to save his chosen people can explain the miracle of faith that receives the word of the gospel with joy in the midst of affliction. This is the work of God, and God does this saving work for his chosen ones. If it has happened to you, you may know that you are chosen.

Let the wonder of this sink in. Your faith is not a witness to any prior power in you. It is a witness to God’s choosing you. It is not a testimony to something so small as self-determination. It is a testimony to the same power that created the universe. God chose to raise you from the dead (Ephesians 2:5).

4. Being chosen by God means no charge against us can finally stick.

The multiplied wonders of God’s choosing a people include the unfathomable fact that God sent his Son into the world to cancel all the debts of his chosen ones — to nullify every damning accusation against them, and to give them a righteous standing in the court of heaven.

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died — more than that, who was raised — who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (Romans 8:31–34)

The reason no charge can stick to God’s chosen ones is that God “gave [his Son] up for us,” and it necessarily follows that God will “graciously give us all things.” The wonder is not only that there is “no condemnation,” but that this was all planned in eternity to be omnipotently successful. He did not do this great work like a fisherman throwing a net to see who might swim into it. We did not just happen to swim into God’s salvation. This was planned and performed with a special view to us, the chosen ones. This is a wonder to revel in.

5. Being chosen by God is designed to secure for us the sweetness of humility.

The more we consider being chosen, the more the wonder of it grows. And Paul tells us to consider it. The reason he wants us to think about being chosen (Do you? — With joy?) is that it will make us humble. Here’s the passage that makes this point. He starts by telling us to consider our “calling,” because this calling — from death to life — is the way we actually experience in time the choice he made in eternity. Then he mentions three times our being chosen.

Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (1 Corinthians 1:26–29)

Do you see the point? God is free to choose who will become Christians. And in his freedom he explodes all worldly expectations of who is “special.” Just when we think we may have him figured out in his choosing, we see he has gone another way. Paul doesn’t leave us to guess what the point is. It is this: “so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” God’s choosing is designed to remove our boasting.

“Your faith in Jesus is a wonder more wonderful than any of the seven wonders of the world.”

Any group, or any person, who boasts that there is something in them that justifies God’s choosing them, has not experienced what the choosing is for. It is for the annihilation of self as the basis of God’s favor. We did nothing — absolutely nothing — to qualify for being chosen.

Revel in this. You carry no burden to measure up to the merit that qualified you for being chosen. There is no such thing.

6. Being a chosen race is the end of racism among Christians.

It is a wonder that in God’s choosing a people for himself, he nullified the self-exalting effects of all races and ethnicities. “You are a chosen race . . . a holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9). The chosen race is not white or black or Asian or any other natural grouping.

The chosen race are people who are “born again to a living hope” (1 Peter 1:3). Their new identifying DNA is from the Holy Spirit. Race and ethnicity are not unimportant in our common cultural life. But they are not what unites us to God or to each other in Christ. We are a new creation, a new humanity. Peter even says, a new race! A “chosen race.” A race taken from all races.

God chose us freely — without respect to race — to be in this new race. Then he sent his Son to purchase us from all the ethnic groups of the world: “You were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). In this way, he nullified all racism. For he bound together every race and every ethnicity into one new family, with one glorious Father. And he did this in eternity when he chose to make a people from every race into one new race.

Revel in your freedom from racism. And if you can’t, then come learn who you are. Learn what it means to be a “chosen race.”

7. Being chosen by God means being destined for everlasting, all-satisfying praise of the infinitely beautiful God.

The wonder is that the ultimate aim of being chosen is the ultimate joy of being satisfied. And the wonder deepens as we realize that we human beings were designed to find our fullest satisfaction not in front of a mirror, but in front of God. We were made to be mirrors, not see mirrors. Mirrors with eyes. And the joy of seeing all-satisfying Beauty was meant to find its consummation in the reflection of that beauty to God and man in praise.

This is what Paul says in Ephesians 1:4–6. God “chose us” and “predestined us . . . to the praise of the glory of his grace.” And in case we missed it, he says in verse 12, “ . . . to the praise of his glory.” And again in verse 14, “ . . . to the praise of his glory.” We get the joy of admiration. He gets the glory of exaltation.

Revel in the wonder that you were chosen in eternity past for the endless joy of praise in eternity future.

8. Being chosen by God means that God will use all necessary means to bring you to this eternal glory.

The wonder of being chosen includes the wonder that God has chosen means to bring us home. Glory is not immediate and not automatic.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares,

I have already come,

’Tis grace that brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.

We do not travel from new birth to new earth without the trials of a traveler. And if God had not chosen for us to be helped by many fellow travelers, we would not make it. That’s why Paul says, “Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the chosen ones, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory” (2 Timothy 2:10).

Paul himself was a God-chosen means of saving the chosen ones. So are you. You are one. And you need others. For God’s chosen ones, the means are necessary, and they are certain. For God has chosen them as surely as he has chosen you.

Revel in the wonder that you must fight your way to heaven, and God will see to it that you win.

9. Being chosen by God means that God shapes history on your behalf.

This wonder may be too much for us to comprehend, but here it is: “If those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones those days will be cut short” (Matthew 24:22).

The flow of history will be altered. For the sake of the chosen ones. The world of unbelievers, who reject God and his Son, have no idea how the world is run. They do not know what true significance is. They will be stunned someday to learn that the Christians, whom they despised or ignored, were the linchpin of history.

10. Finally, being chosen by God means he will gather us when he comes, and give us justice.

The wonder of vindication is coming. It may be that in this life the chosen ones were treated just like Jesus — a stone which the builders rejected. But in God’s sight that stone was “chosen and precious” (1 Peter 2:4, 6). And that very stone became the cornerstone of the kingdom of God (1 Peter 2:6–8). He rose from the dead. There was a glorious vindication.

“We were designed to find our fullest satisfaction not in front of a mirror, but in front of God.”

So it will be with all God’s chosen ones. “He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:31). Finally, it will come true: “Will not God give justice to his chosen ones, who cry to him day and night?” (Luke 18:7). Yes, he will. And everything hidden will come to light.

Revel in this promise. You may feel like a rejected stone for now. But when he comes, he will make you a pillar in the temple of God (Revelation 3:12). He will triumph over every enemy of your soul and you will reign with him — you, the chosen ones. “For he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful” (Revelation 17:14).

(week of Oct 28th) (my child, Solomon/Proverbs)

Straight Talk about Trust

September 04, 2021

by Pastor Chuck Swindoll

Scriptures: Proverbs 3:1–6

In his fatherly advice about worry, Solomon turned from the horizontal dimension to consider the vertical (vv. 5–6), our relationship with God. There are four verbs in these two verses, four action words that are of special interest to all who want to live beyond the daily grind of worry.

trust

lean

acknowledge

make straight

The first three terms are commands directed to the child of God. They are our responsibility: “Trust . . . do not lean . . . acknowledge.” The fourth verb—make straight—is a simple declaration of God’s promise, declaring His part of the covenant. The structure of three commands followed by a promise strongly implies another cause-and-effect principle we can rely on. Except this particular cause prompts a supernatural effect.

Our Part:

Trust!

Do not lean!

Acknowledge!

God’s Part:

He will make straight. . . .

Take note also that the possessive pronoun your appears four times. This is a personal promise you can trust in at any time. Or not. God leaves that choice to us.

So, the first phrase and the last establish the main idea; the two middle statements merely amplify that idea. The main idea is “I am to trust in my Lord with all my heart—without reservation; in response, He makes my paths straight.” The middle two phrases expand on this main idea.

Trust is a dramatically descriptive term. It’s similar to an Arabic word that means, literally, “to throw oneself down upon his or her face,” a posture that conveys complete dependence and submission. Trust refers to mentally and emotionally throwing oneself facedown on the ground—casting all hopes for the present and the future upon another, finding provision and security there. In most Hebrew contexts, the word trust carries the idea of feeling safe and secure or feeling unconcerned. To see this more clearly, look at the clever play on words in Proverbs 11:28:

He who trusts in [or “casts himself upon”] his riches will fall,

But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.

We are told not to trust in riches, for riches are not secure (see Proverbs 23:4–5). If you set your heart on getting rich, if you throw yourself down upon your wealth so as to find provision and security there, you will be sadly disappointed. Riches fail and fly away. What’s more, material wealth cannot help you in eternity.

Consider also Proverbs 3:21–23:

My son, let them not vanish from your sight;

Keep sound wisdom and discretion,

So they will be life to your soul

And adornment to your neck.

Then you will walk in your way securely

And your foot will not stumble.

The word translated “securely” has the same Hebrew root word as our term trust. We are commanded by our Lord to cast ourselves completely, fully, absolutely on Him—and on Him alone!

The English word Lord translates the sacred name for God, expressed by the four consonants YHWH. To this day, Orthodox Jews consider it so sacred they will not even pronounce it. It is the title given Israel’s covenant-keeping God, the supreme King of the universe who bound Himself to His people by love and by promise. The New Testament writers—recognizing the deity of God’s precious Son—applied the title to Jesus. We are to rely fully upon Him, finding our provision and security in His sovereign care.

The term heart has little to do with the blood-pumping organ in your chest. The word is instead used throughout the Old Testament to refer to our inner self, that part of us that constitutes the seat of our intellect, emotion, and will: our conscience and our personality. So what is the Lord saying? He is saying we are to cast ourselves upon our Savior-God in complete trust, not holding back in any area of our mind or will or feeling. That, my friend, is quite an assignment!

(week of Oct. 21st) (the past)

Ronald C. Christie

In this article on Philippians 3:13-14, the past and the future is discussed, as well as the Christian hope.

Philippians 3:13-14 - Looking to the Future, Forgetting the Past

One thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13-14

We cannot interpret these words to mean that for Paul the past counts for nothing. Rather this is a statement about the overall outlook of Paul's life. On balance, the future was more important to him, more in his thinking, than the past. The way this is recorded in Scripture, suggests that this should be our outlook too.

In arguing that he doesn't forget the past entirely, we are only doing justice to the overall teaching of Scripture.

A Time to Remember⤒🔗

After all, Paul himself has been recounting here the story of his early life and of his conversion (vv. 4-6); elsewhere he similarly recounts past experiences (2 Corinthians 12:1-9; Gala­tians 1:13-24; Acts 26:4-18).

More importantly, the message he preaches is founded on past happenings: historical events in the life of Jesus are the basis of the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). In preaching these, he is recalling the past. He is also well acquainted with the story of previous generations of God's people and he sees their experiences as relevant for the believers of his own day. "These things," he says after recounting Israel's experience in the desert, "happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us" (1 Corinthians 10:11).

In displaying that interest in history he is only follow­ing a path, well marked out in Scripture. The Psalms recount the unfolding of God's purpose in human history (Psalms 105 and 106, for example) and tell of parents recounting to their children the "praiseworthy deeds of the Lord" (Psalm 78:4). In the annual Pass­over ceremony, past events were engraved on the memory (Exodus 12:26) as they are on ours by the Lord's Supper (1 Corin­thians 11: 24-26). "Re­member the days of old" (Deuteronomy 32:7) is a Biblical injunction.

Any Christian who does not appreciate Church History has failed to recog­nise God as a God of providence and to grasp the fact that the Bible is God's revelation given in history.

And a Time to Forget←⤒🔗

On the other hand, there are times to forget. As the bride "forgets" her father's house on marriage (Psalm 45:10), so in the light of the great things that God is going to do, the prophet tells the people: "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past" (Isaiah 43:18). It is that spirit that Paul has when he speaks of forgetting what is behind and straining out to what is ahead. Why centre our thoughts on the past when the best is yet to be? Why be shackled to the past, when the future is brighter than what has been?

The testimony of Scrip­ture in regard to the past and the future leave us a knife-edge to walk on. To forget God's past dealings is to deprive us of much that is important and useful; to dwell over much on what has been is to distort our outlook and diminish our vision for the future.

Let's explore this further to try and get a balanced Biblical outlook on past and future.

Very Depressing←⤒🔗

An interest in the past may help us to understand the present or even to fore­cast or prepare for the future. An interest in the history of the church can stimulate faith, give us a pattern which we can follow or warn of dangers to be avoided. It can provoke a sense of humility, of depen­dence on God and of thank­fulness that he has laid hold on us. But thinking on the past can be harmful, too. I want to mention two ways in which it can do us damage.

As we grow in spiritual maturity, we become in­creasingly aware of what our faults have been. What seemed to us in our imma­turity to be adequate Chris­tian behaviour, we now look back on with a profound sense of shame. Our failures now seem mountains when once they were molehills. Hindsight becomes a micro­scope through which we see our sins with greater clarity. And there's nothing wrong in that — if it leads to deeper penitence, greater humility and a new resting on divine grace.

The danger is when dwell­ing on past sins turns us in on ourselves rather than out­ward to Christ. A morbid raking up of past misdeeds, long since repented of, makes us self-centred; a constant turning over of silly acts or wrong decisions can make us downcast; swamp us with self-pity; produce a sense of frailty that cripples our spiritual outlook and incapacitates us from service; engulf us in shame and cause us to take our eyes off present and future spiritual realities.

Moaning and groaning over sin has its place in Christian experience but it is not an end in itself, only a means to an end. It is not the characteristic feature of the believer (for it happens to unconverted people too). The Christian whose mind is flooded with thoughts from the past needs to be told: take your eyes off the past and set them on the present reality of Christ, your agent and representative, who is seated at the right hand of your Father. Look to him, cling to him. Lay hold on the status that belongs to you in him: justified, accepted in the Beloved, adopted into the family of God.

If God himself no longer remembers our sins and our iniquities (Jeremiah 31:34), it is ridiculous that we should drag them to the forefront of our thoughts. What we should do is take ourselves to task and look to a brighter future like the Psalmist did (Psalm 42:11) and so concentrate our mind on what we are now in Christ — and what we will be yet. In other words, this is a case where forgetting what lies behind and strain­ing towards what is ahead is especially appropriate.

Dangerously Enslaving←⤒🔗

The narrow experience of the past which is known to us can sometimes be taken as an infallible guide for our conduct today. "That's what we've always done; that's what we'll always do" is a recipe for spiritual disaster.

It works on the pre­supposition that the past was beyond criticism and so it sets up a standard to which we appeal as our guide. This strikes at the very heart of the faith that we profess, for it undermines the unique binding authority of the Bible and sets up human standards in its place.

Our belief, founded on the way Paul argues (in 1 Corinthians 11:13-14, for example) is that there are some circumstances con­cerning the worship of God and the government of the Church, common to human actions and societies, and that they are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence. But tradition fails to recognise that fact, and demands that such details be ordered according to a set pattern laid down by history. This cripples the church's ability to change in things that don't enter into the essence of the faith. It stops it from witnessing effectively in the present.

Tradition binds our expec­tations of God by alleging that only as he acted in our past history can he work in the future. It undermines God's sovereignty and cramps our vision. It locks us into a straightjacket and enslaves us to the narrow part of past history which we ourselves have known. As it exalts our particular ex­perience of history, it tends to foster pride.

Little wonder that this looking to the past for guidance brings the stinging condemnation of Christ:

Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypo­crites; as it is written: 'These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'

Mark 7:6-7

If we have worshipped the past, we must repent and embrace the attitude of mind that Paul has. To concen­trate on the future frees us from these depressing and enslaving influences of the past.

To look to the future implies that the best is yet to be; that the prospect of the future fills us with a hope that the past can't fill us with. How does this come about?

Individual Hope←⤒🔗

The promises of God are plain:

no-one shall pluck us out of the Father's hand;

he will complete the good work that he has begun in us;

he shall renew our youth like the eagle's;

though the outward man is perishing, the inner man is being renewed.

In old age, when others fade,

we fruit still forth shall bring;

we shall be fat and full of sap

and aye be flourishing.

These are all statements that should make us antici­pate the future with the greatest of confidence. It isn't a case of postponing our hope of maturity until we get to heaven; but rather one of thinking positively of the immediate future, of cherishing hope of progress and spiritual development and greater victory, based on the trustworthiness of our God. We should picture our­selves gaining ground and going on to conquer sins at present unrealised. The pro­spect is glorious, there to be received with faith.

That's the way it is too for the more distant future. Although it grieves us to think of our bodies coming under the power of the last enemy, that is, lying in the grave and our spirits separ­ated from them, there are thoughts that more than compensate for that. Our spirits will be made perfect and will be in the presence of Christ, which is far better than their state in this world. And one day our bodies too will be raised from the ground; they will be glorified and reunited with our perfected spirits. So, we will spend all eternity with God in glorified body and spirit.

Why dwell on past human failings when we have the prospect of God's glorious future with which to fill our minds?

The Church's Hope←⤒🔗

The general picture of the church's future is no dif­ferent from that of the in­dividual believer's. From time to time the church will have to go through difficult times and be in relative decadence. But these are but the troughs between waves of blessing which will be­come more and more power­ful as time rolls by.

One day the whole world is going to be filled with the knowledge of the Lord (Isaiah 11:9). One day there will be no need for anyone to teach his brother saying: "Know the Lord", for all shall know him from the least to the greatest (Jere­miah 31:34. One day every knee shall bow to him and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11). One day there will be a new heavens and a new earth, the home of righteousness (2 Peter 3:13). Imagine that! How different the world is to be: peace and truth and justice flourishing as the gospel changes the lives of the nations.

The glory of the Disrup­tion pales into insignificance at what is to be. The wonder of the great revivals may seem remarkable to us but it is nothing compared to what there will be in the future. Why use the past as a standard to live by if the future is to be so much better?

Some Suggestions←⤒🔗

Given the nature of God's purpose and promises, Paul had every right to say what he did about forgetting what was behind and straining towards what was ahead. If the balance of our thought does not tilt in that direction we must ask ourselves why.

No doubt there is a variety of reasons: our historical situation has placed us under pressure to glorify the past and we have not successfully resisted the temptation; sheltering in the memory of the past gives us a sense of comfort in a hostile world or it relieves us from asking the awkward question "what does it mean to be all things to all men" today?

But the real reason for the imbalance is not our attitude to the past, but our concept of the future. For many of our people, I believe, the future is extremely vague, their thinking on it confused and lacking in detail. We need more Biblical exposi­tion on the glorious future that belongs to the people of God; the resurrection of the body, the Second Coming and related themes. When there is that Biblical under­standing of the future, there can only be one result: folks will see that the best is yet to be and the undoubted glories of the past will be seen in their true perspective.

(week of Oct. 14th) (confidence)

by Lynn Cowell

“Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” John 12:3 (ESV)

Why did this memory come back now after so many years?

All was quiet in the early hours of the morning as I spent time reading my Bible and praying when an unwanted memory popped in my mind.

Painful and hurt-filled, this memory from years ago involved me unknowingly letting someone down. She felt I’d failed her and that my failure proved I was unqualified. She let others know what she thought.

I was well past that blow, wasn’t I?

As I reflected for a few moments, the Holy Spirit helped me understand. I had recently made a new move with the Lord, saying yes to a challenging assignment. Once I saw my returned memory in that light, it made sense. Of course, the enemy would try to bring my confidence into doubt and remind me what he tried to drill into me years before: You don’t have what it takes.

It’s not the first time Satan has used this tactic.

We see him do the same to Mary (Martha and Lazarus’ sister) as she anointed Jesus’s feet in today’s verse in John 12:3.

“Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”

Mary knew her culture’s rules, just as you and I know ours. She was very aware her place was not at the feet of Jesus; women were not allowed to learn directly from a teacher. Yet, it didn’t matter to her what others thought.

Mary’s heart and eyes were on one person: Jesus. As Mary made her move toward Jesus, the enemy made his.

Through Judas, Satan tried to push Mary and all who were witnessing her love to look anywhere but on the King of Glory. He pushed her to become self-conscious, to draw attention to herself through her reaction.

He pushed others to doubt Mary’s sincerity and look to judge her. He pushed the entire room to validate Judas and look to exalt her accuser. Anywhere but looking upon Jesus.

The enemy hates God’s glory, this radiance, this confidence, which is the Holy Spirit Himself in us. This is why the enemy tries to crush our confidence, and one of his main tactics is diversion — getting our eyes off Jesus.

We have to be aware that where God moves, the enemy moves.

As long as we’re on this earth and “the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8b, NIV), there will be opportunities for our confidence to be attacked and for us to turn to God for His help.

The day my failure came to mind, the enemy might have thought he was being oh-so-sneaky. He knows we reflect the beauty, goodness and love of his enemy, Jesus. He will do all he can to push down this glory, and he will use any tactic, including our past failures and fears.

When you make your move toward Jesus, like Mary, that means the enemy intends to move as well. Even while you are in the very act of advancing and growing in your faith, the enemy will try to stop you. When he presses, pushing us to abandon God’s gift of confidence to us, we must push harder toward Jesus and remind the enemy he is not qualified to do that.

Dear Jesus, when the enemy uses his tactics to try to get me to take my eyes off You, help me to not abandon the confidence I have gained in You. Instead, help me remember who You have proven Yourself to be and who You are in me. You are my confidence. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

1 John 2:28, “And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.” (ESV)

Jeremiah 17:7, “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.” (NIV)

WHERE IS YOUR CONFIDENCE?

October 22, 2023

“This is what the Lord says, ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a saltland where no one lives. But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.’” Jeremiah 17:5–8

Where is your confidence in this life?

If you’re a Christian, your answer is the Lord. Yet, it’s so easy to be distracted and deceived by the cares of this world and the remedies it offers for our temporary trials.

It’s easy to put our hope in our jobs, our families, our 401Ks, our communities, or even our own grit. None of these things are bad in themselves. In fact, all of them are gifts from God. But when we begin to put our confidence in gifts rather than the Giver, we step straight into sinking sand.

In Jeremiah 17, God calls the people of Judah to put their confidence in Him. In verses 5–8, he gives them two images: One of a person who trusts in man and the other of a person who trusts in the Lord.

In verse 6, we get an image of what happens to the one who trusts in man. He’s compared to a dried-up bush in the desert, parched and incapable of thriving. God also makes clear that he’ll have a warped perspective of his circumstances: “They won’t see prosperity when it comes” (Jeremiah 17:6).

This confidence in man is sin against God because it is rebellion against the way God created us to be. We are creatures, men and women, who are dependent on our loving Heavenly Father to care for us. Yet, we live in a world full of people who build their lives upon the shifting sands of self-reliance. We are constantly fed the message that if we just “believe in ourselves,” everything will turn out okay, but the dried-up bush in Jeremiah 17:6 says something different.

The person who trusts in God is blessed. This person’s confidence is not just in the things God has provided for him. His confidence is in God Himself (Jeremiah 17:7). He loves God and knows he is good, so he is confident that God is working things together for his good and God’s glory (Romans  8:28).

In Jeremiah 17:8, we get the contrasting image of what happens to the one who trusts in the Lord. Instead of a withered bush, we see a strong tree with deep roots drinking up nutrients from fertile soil by a stream. And interestingly, this tree thrives despite its circumstances. When the heat comes, its leaves remain green, and in drought, it continues to bear fruit.

When a person’s heart is turned toward the Lord, they are able to see their circumstances through the lens of who God is. By His grace, they are able to endure difficult trials and bear the fruit of the Spirit. They are able to trust in the God who loves them by relying on Him for strength and security in this life and the one to come.

Where is your confidence in this life? 

If you’re convicted of the sin of trusting in man, don’t despair; be encouraged. This is the Spirit’s work in your heart! When we confess our sin to God (and come to Him for help!), He is faithful and just to forgive us and is eager to help us grow in trusting Him (1 John 1:9). 

Remember, this is why Christ died for you. You can stand on the solid rock of the gospel as He helps you grow to trust Him more.

On Christ the solid rock I stand

All other ground is sinking sand

All other ground is sinking sand

Written by Marjorie Roberson, Guest Contributor

(week of Oct.7th) (temptation)

Overcome Temptation

By Billy Graham  

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

—Psalm 119:11

When temptations come, let me suggest that you ask God for strength—and also to show you the way He has prepared for your escape. One other word of counsel; be very sure that you do not deliberately place yourself in a position to be tempted. All of us are not subjected to the same weaknesses and temptations. To one, alcohol may be the temptation; to another, it may be impure thoughts and acts; to another, greed and covetousness; to another, criticism and an unloving attitude. Regardless of what it may be, be sure that Satan will tempt you at your weak point, not the strong. Our Lord has given us an example of how to overcome the devil’s temptations. When He was tempted in the wilderness, He defeated Satan every time by the use of the Bible.

Prayer for the day

With the shield of Your Word, I will face temptation, almighty God.

October 26, 2020

Temptation Is No Simple Enemy

Article by Marshall Segal

President & CEO, Desiring God

Temptation often prevails against us because of our simple and naive assumptions about temptation.

We expect temptation will march through the front door, dressed like a wolf, announcing itself loudly as it comes. But temptation often prefers the back door, and the bedroom window, and that crack between the floorboards. Temptation relies on subtlety and nuance, on deception and surprise, on ignorance and naivete. To begin to taste victory, we have to start treating the war like a war. We have to study the enemy of our souls.

We remember the story of Samson and Delilah because she overpowered the strongest man alive. But have we ever stopped to really ask how? How did Delilah subdue a man who had just killed a thousand men? When we unravel the secrets of her seduction, they can become weapons for us against whatever temptation we face.

The Ambition of Temptation

The first step in taking temptation more seriously is to remember that temptation has a mission: to ruin your soul and rob you of God. No temptation is innocent or trivial. All temptation schemes and plots for this one end: your never-ending misery. Temptation will please you to abuse you, seduce you to undo you, distract you to destroy you.

“Temptation will please you to abuse you, seduce you to undo you, distract you to destroy you.”

Delilah may have been motivated by money rather than hatred, but she was still every bit as determined to destroy Samson. The Philistines, his murderous enemies, said to her, “Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to humble him” (Judges 16:5). Just verses earlier, Samson had killed a thousand of them with only a jawbone (Judges 15:16). These men were thirsty for blood, his blood, and Delilah was all too willing to prepare the slaughter.

Like the forbidden woman, the lips of temptation drip honey, “but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword” (Proverbs 5:4). Temptation robs us of honor and squanders our lives (Proverbs 5:9); it spoils our strength and ruins our work (Proverbs 5:10); it ends only in futility and regret (Proverbs 5:11). “The thief,” Jesus says, “comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). That is the mission of temptation, however sweet and pleasant it may seem for the moment.

So, how did Delilah seek to destroy Samson? How did temptation overcome even the strongest man?

Temptation Leads with Pleasure

The first lesson may seem obvious: temptation seduces us by holding out pleasure. “Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him” (Judges 16:5). Before temptation can betray us to destruction, it must woo us with some promise of satisfaction.

“Please tell me where your great strength lies,” Delilah says to Samson, “and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you” (Judges 16:6). We might expect her to flatter or flirt, but instead she asks him directly for his secret. In black and white on the page, it may not even sound like seduction. But this kind of knowledge is intimacy. To ask was to test his love, and to invite him deeper into love with her.

Clearly, Samson didn’t fully trust her (he lied to her), but he also clearly enjoyed her attention and affection. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have had a second hearing. He entertained her games because he had tasted her love — an empty love, to be sure, but one that pleased him all the same. All sin hangs on such love. As John Piper says, “The power of all temptation is the prospect that it will make me happier. No one sins out of a sense of duty.” What sins have beset you, and what happiness have they promised?

“The power of temptation relies on us believing that sin is better than full and forever.”

Sinful pleasure will always be appealing if we have not set our hearts on a superior pleasure. “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). Fullness of joy, not the fractions we often settle for with sin. Pleasures forevermore, not the short-lived thrills of lust, or greed, or laziness, or envy. The power of temptation relies on us believing that sin is better than full and forever. It rests on us being tired or bored of God, the deepest, strongest pleasure in the universe.

Temptation Heaps on Shame

If sin cannot lure us with pleasure, it will assault us with shame. Delilah wasn’t making progress through seduction, so she started questioning Samson’s integrity instead. She said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and you have not told me where your great strength lies” (Judges 16:15). Do you hear the irony in her strategy? “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me?” All while her heart is in the pockets of the dangerous men outside.

Like Delilah, temptation hides its own murderous motives in order to shame its target. Temptation may not say, with Delilah, “How can you say you love me?” but it may ask, “How can you say you love God?”

One reason some give in so often is because they have believed that sin is who they are. Satan is an accuser. And he does not accuse occasionally, but day and night (Revelation 12:10). If he can convince you that you’re still that same old person — enslaved to pornography, consumed with envy, enraged with anger, defenseless before sloth — he can convince you to do almost anything. Our shame and self-pity are Satan’s food. Without them he, and all his schemes, will starve and expire.

When Satan comes to accuse you — “How can you say you love God?” — know beforehand how you will answer. “I am not who I was (2 Corinthians 5:17). I have been crucified with my King (Galatians 2:20). My sin has been canceled (Colossians 2:14), and it no longer rules over me (Romans 6:14). In Christ, there is now no condemnation for me (Romans 8:1). God has given me all I need to resist temptation (2 Peter 1:3; 1 Corinthians 10:13). Therefore, I will not be put to shame (Romans 10:11).”

Temptation Wears You Out

Delilah seduced Samson, then she shamed him, and eventually she exhausted him. “When she pressed him hard with her words day after day, and urged him, his soul was vexed to death” (Judges 16:16). What began as playful flirtation ended in fatigue and despair. She pressed and pleaded, pressed and pleaded, until he (even he!) could not bear the weight of her advances. Has temptation ever felt like that for you?

Maybe you resisted blowing up in anger at your spouse at first, but he would not relent. Maybe you refused to click on that website at first, but a couple of hours later you were more tired and vulnerable. Maybe you worked hard all week and didn’t give in to laziness, only to crumble into more weekend binge-watching. Maybe you ate with self-control for several weeks, but the cravings slowly overwhelmed you. Temptation is rarely a single arrow to be avoided, but far more often a wide and prolonged wave of warfare meant to wear us down until we surrender.

“Temptation is not a simple enemy, so ours will not be a simple victory, but in Christ it will be sure.”

If temptation depends on exhaustion, the battle against temptation must be more than dos and don’ts in the moment. Alongside the weapons most of us are familiar with — the word of God, prayer and fasting, fellowship and accountability — our ability to withstand temptation’s attacks rests, at least in part, on the health and vitality of our bodies. Good sleep, a healthy diet, and regular exercise are far more effective weapons against our besetting sins than we may realize or expect. If we neglect or despise them, we invite Satan to wreak his havoc.

So, if we want to overcome temptation, we must study temptation — its seducing, its shaming, its exhausting — and prepare our souls for warfare. Immerse yourself in a superior Joy, anchor your identity and security in who God says you are, and then get some sleep. Temptation is not a simple enemy, so ours will not be a simple victory. But in Christ it will be sure.

(week of Sept 30th) (in harmony)

Living in Harmony

Encountering God

May God give us wisdom, and empower us to walk the path of humility and love as we seek to live in harmony today.

Introduction

As we near the end of our series on the marks of a true Christian, today we’re going to explore together what it means to live in harmony with one another. There’s hardly a better feeling than being in harmony with those that are close to you. We were created for close, thriving relationship with God and others. And God in his power and love wants to equip us to build and keep harmony, even in the midst of our brokenness. May God give us wisdom, and empower us to walk the path of humility and love as we seek to live in harmony today.

Scripture

“Live in harmony with one another.”

Romans 12:16 ESV

Devotional

Harmony in music is this beautiful, fleeting occurrence that most singers and musicians work their entire lives to continuously experience. It requires diligence, patience, humility, and unity between people pursuing the same goal of making beautiful music. And when musical harmony is achieved, it touches not only those singing or playing, but everyone listening as well. Living in harmony with one another in everyday life isn’t too different than musical harmony. For most of us it’s a target just as elusive and fleeting. But like musical harmony, it’s worth fighting for. Like musical harmony, it produces joy and life in those who pursue it and touches those around them. All throughout the New Testament, we find exhortations to live life in unified, harmonious community. Scripture is clear that unity in the body is foundational to the Christian life. So, let’s look more deeply today at how we can grow in unity and open our hearts to the Spirit’s work to fill us with the desire and ability to pursue harmony with one another. Romans 12:16-20 says:

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Not only does Paul offer us the important exhortation to live in harmony, but he also provides practical ways to achieve harmony. Romans 12 teaches us that harmony requires humility, grace, the pursuit of peace, not fighting for our own justice, and blessing those who hurt us. What would our communities, churches, and families look like if we all committed ourselves to these virtues? What would your relationships look like if you strived to obey these commands? God doesn’t ask you and me to pursue these virtues; he commands us. It is a command because God knows that pursuing a life lived in harmony with one another will lead us to the abundance of joy, peace, and purpose we are created to experience. As our good Father, he wants his children to experience the peace that can only come from living in harmony with one another.

Not only do unity and harmony provide a better life for all involved, but they also glorify Jesus. Romans 15:5-6 says, “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” When we love each other well and offer grace and forgiveness, we demonstrate Christ’s power to change hearts to the world. When we live in harmony together, we worship with our lives in one beautiful, unified voice. The power of the gospel is that God will always love us in our pride and transgressions, but he doesn’t intend to leave us there. God works in the hearts of his people, knitting them together in harmony like a beautiful tapestry of transformed lives. You and I are written into the pages of God’s beautiful narrative. We have an important place in his eternal story of redemption. Spend time in God’s presence today allowing him to fill you with the desire and ability to pursue harmony with others. Pursue unity with the people God’s placed in your life. And experience transformation in your relationships as God works through you to produce unity and joy.

Prayer

1. Meditate on God’s command to live in harmony with others.

“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.'” Romans 12:16-20

“That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:25-27

2. Humble yourself and ask the Spirit to mold and shape you into a person who lives out the virtues of Romans 12.

“Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” Philippians 2:2

“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” 1 Peter 3:8

3. Now ask the Spirit for specific ways you can pursue harmony with others. Whom could you invite over for a meal to hear their story? Whom can you bless who has hurt you in the past? Whom could you associate yourself with that the world deems “lowly?” How can you honor that person you always seem to disagree with?

“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:14

Living in Harmony Is Necessary

 Scripture Reading — Romans 12:9-16

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another.

—  Romans 12:15-16

Wise believers acknowledge that when Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another” (John 13:34), this was not simply a suggestion for getting along. So too, the Bible’s commands as to how we treat one another shouldn’t be considered optional. That’s not the nature of God’s commands.

As Christ’s followers, we must remember how our relationship with God affects our relationships with each other. When we pray, “Our Father,” we acknowledge that we are part of a family that includes sisters and brothers. We’re called to live in harmony together. Today’s reading mentions specific ways of doing so, such as honoring one another above ourselves, holding to what is good, praying faithfully, sharing with people in need, showing hospitality, and not being proud.

When believers live in harmony, expressing their love for one another by sharing tears in times of sorrow and expanding their joy by celebrating together, they become appealing witnesses to their hope in Christ. When a coworker observes, “It’s amazing how you guys love each other,” the cause of Christ moves forward. Jesus taught this when he prayed that all believers “may be one” and “may be brought to complete unity. Then,” he said to the Father, “the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:22-23).

Father, we want to live with others in such a way that shows we are in a life-giving relationship with you. Grant us your Spirit to do so. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Live in Harmony

Daily Devotional

November 5, 2022

Daily Devotional |Live in Harmony

Romans 12:9–21

Read Romans 12:9–21

Music consists of three key components: melody, rhythm, and harmony. Melody and rhythm make music memorable, but the third element, harmony, can elevate a piece from ordinary and obvious to ambitious and sophisticated. Harmony is achieved when individual musical tones come together to form a cohesive sound. On their own, different musical instruments can play separate notes, but when the right notes are played together, harmony is created.

Harmony can be created in the church too. In fact, our text today commands that Christians “live in harmony with one another” (v. 16). Paul reminds the Romans that people will continue to persecute them (v. 14), but even while enduring persecution, they need to be mindful of each other (v. 15). This awareness of what others are going through is the first component to living in harmony.

Paul adds another element of living in harmony with one another: humility. Being humble and not proud is reflected in Romans 12:3: “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought.” As C. S. Lewis states, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less.” When we think of ourselves less, we think more of others and see everyone as Jesus does, with immeasurable value. Christians are to include and interact with everyone.

The final component which builds harmony in the church is when people are not conceited (v. 16) but have a growth mindset. The last sentence of verse 16 could be translated “Never be wise in your own sight.” Paul encourages harmony through the posture of being able to learn from one another. Harmony in a church can be challenging, but a harmonious church is attractive, healthy, and God-honoring.

>> Professional musicians will tell you that harmony doesn’t happen overnight, it takes daily practice. How can you practice living in harmony today? To begin, try humbling yourself, thinking of others first, and be willing to learn.

Pray with Us

It’s easier to practice humility, thoughtfulness, and lack of conceit when we receive the same from others. God, help us practice these virtues even toward those who never seem to reciprocate.

(week of Sept 23) (role model)

Six Male Role Models in the Bible

Jun 27, 2016

John McOwen

We have many, many role models in society and if we would take a quick poll as to what the two most popular role models are in our nation, in our modern time, I think that the most common answer first would be the entertainers, be it in the movies or in television. The second would probably be our sports “heroes,” those who are really good at sports. These seem to be the two occupations which, at least in the media, are lifted up as role models today; and how unfortunate that this is the case, because we see, over and over again, that we have some bad role models in both of these realms of life and, typically, there is a lot of sin or pride involved, or both. Fortunately for us, we have the Scriptures; and in the Scriptures, we have great role models. So today we are going to do a study of six male role models in the Old Testament, men who lived exemplary lives. Of course, all men are sinners. The Bible tells us, “There is none righteous, no, not one.” But different examples of the lives of certain men are recorded for us in the Scriptures to give us a great example and to inspire and encourage us how to live. If you are in a particular situation or predicament, then this is when you can especially call upon some of these great examples that we see in the Scriptures, for strength, for guidance, for wisdom. After all, these historical characters did exist, and some of the things that happened in their lives were recorded in the Bible for our edification and for our purpose. So we are going to look today briefly at six male role models to see why they are particularly singled out as role models in the Scriptures. The first one we are going to start with is Noah. We read about him in the Old Testament, in Genesis 6. So let us go back there and take a brief snippet of Noah’s life to see exactly what God says about him and why I picked this particular incident to look at. What are the lessons that can be learned from this particular example in his life that can benefit us? If your child is ever given a homework assignment and has to write a biography on a role model, you would want to point him/her to the Scriptures, of course. I am going to give you six today that you can call upon, six men in particular. We are going to look at both men and women and the great examples that we can all learn from their lives. In Genesis 6:13-16, we are going to take a snapshot of Noah: And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. This is pretty specific information that God is giving to Noah here, is it not? It is a blueprint. If you are in the construction of something, you have to have a blueprint of what the project is going to look like; you need to be given very specific detail. Now we will go down a few verses. We read in Genesis 6:19-20: And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. Then we read another command that God gives to Noah. It says in Genesis 6:21: And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them. So God gave Noah certain things to do. And we only took a brief snapshot here of the laundry list of the specific details concerning the Ark. God also told Noah when to bring in the animals, how to bring them in, and to bring the food. Verse 22 ends the chapter, and we read in Genesis 6:22: Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he. Noah is our first role model from the men of the Old Testament. What is the lesson here? What did Noah do that was so exemplary? What Noah did was that he obeyed all, not just a little bit, but all. Who is someone from the Bible who did not quite obey all? He made a seemingly minor infraction, and yet a lot of evil came of it? There are actually two examples, but we are looking here at Saul. Saul in his beginning was pretty obedient, was he not? Remember Samuel told him a bunch of things to do. Finally Samuel told him that after seven days to wait and he would come and offer a sacrifice before Saul was to go out to battle. Saul did all of these things perfectly, until the seventh day. After Saul had waited a week, Samuel still had not shown up. On that seventh day, the day was still young. So Saul got impatient and went and burned sacrifices himself, because he was scared to go before the enemy without sacrificing before the Lord first. Then what happened? When Samuel got there, his attitude was not, “Oh, I am sorry that I am late.” Remember he told Saul that he was going to take seven days and to wait. Saul did not and what happened? What happened was that a very unfortunate conversation occurred between the two of them. Because of what Saul had done, Samuel had to tell Saul that on that very day, the Lord had forsaken Saul from being king, and Saul went away very, very sad. Who else did a lot of good things, was seemingly obedient to the Lord, and had life “perfect”? The word “perfect” should give you a clue. It was Adam. Adam was seemingly fine, until he did one thing that was not quite right. Adam took of “the fruit of the tree” that was forbidden. What happened as a result of that one infraction? What happened was that the whole world, all of mankind, was cursed, and we have what we have today, sin everywhere multiplied. Sin is in every one of us, including those who are with child. Just as we mentioned earlier in our prayer requests, even that little unborn girl in Jennifer’s womb is a sinner today because of Adam and Eve. Sin has been transposed throughout the line of their progeny, all the way up to us today. So the lesson with Noah is that he did all, and notice all the specifics of how high and how wide the Ark was supposed to be, what kind of wood he was to use, the information about the animals and where and how to bring them in, plus the food to collect for all of them. And the Bible underscores the fact that Noah did all. What a great role model Noah was. What a great lesson. Noah did all, not just a little. Now let us go to another one. I said that we were going to focus on six men. The second one is going to be Moses, and Moses is very similar. We will be looking at Exodus 40. Moses is another very popular historical figure, and in the Scriptures, he was a mighty man of God. Let us just take a look at a couple of things that God tells Moses in Exodus 40. We read in Exodus 40:1-3: And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail. Now let us read Exodus 40:13-15: And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: and thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations. So we are just taking a look at a few things here. This is speaking about the “holy garments” that were made for Aaron and the priests. In the earlier verses, we read about the tabernacle. Do you remember how intricate the tabernacle was? All of the boards and the entire structure—the curtains, the rods, the pomegranates, the bells—all these things were specifically commanded by God in very great detail, even down to the garments for the priests of Aaron and the priestly line. And in Exodus 40:16, the Bible tells us: Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he. So who wants to tell me the lesson that we learn from Moses? Is it the same? Yes, it is identical; it is all. Moses is pointed out here for doing all that the Lord had commanded him; every single detail was followed specifically. Wow! What a great lesson for us to learn today, because what is a modern trap that we can fall into in our day and age? In our day, it is “situation ethics.” Would God really want me in this situation to do such and such and so and so? I may think that I am doing what God commands in the Bible. I am leading a very moral life. My children are in tow; they are very obedient at home and they do their chores. As a family, we do not participate in any of the typical sins of the world, sins that our neighbors are involved in. But what does the Bible say? If I do not do all that the Lord commands me (and of course we know that the only way we can do anything pleasing to God at all is through the power of His Spirt working within us to will and do of His good pleasrue), then I am going to be like Saul. God rejected him from being king just because he did not wait that extra hour for Samuel to arrive so that Samuel could offer the sacrifice. Also, I am going to be like Adam when he took just one piece of fruit from that tree. I have a large print Bible. This is pretty thick and there are a lot of instructions in here. How am I to do all of that God commands me to do? What do I need to do first? I need to read it. So we start by reading the Bible. We need to study it, we need to understand it, and we need to hearken to what we see in the Bible, to what we read and hear coming from the Bible. If I am not desiring to do all that God commands, I can expect no blessing, no blessing whatsoever. This is just one example. So in your life, the only way that you are going to know how to do all is to study the Word. You have to be diligent. There is nothing better to do with your time than to spend time reading and studying the Bible. The Bible says, “I have esteemed the Words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” Let us say that we are eating three meals a day. Now let us throw in a snack or two. So we are eating up to four or five times a day. Am I reading the Bible five different times during the day? Am I reading it even three times a day? Do I read it in the morning and at night, at a minimum? Well, I hope so. Personally, I would not want to start my day without the Word of God, nor would I want to end my day and go into a nice peaceful sleep without first being saturated with the Word of God. So these are great lessons from Noah and Moses. Now let us go to a third Old Testament character to see why I picked him as a role model. He is someone less known than the prior two. The next person is Phinehas. Does anyone know who Phinehas was? Let us read in Numbers 25:3 where the story of Phinehas was introduced in the Scripture. We read in Numbers 25:3: And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. So right away, we see idol worship, do we not? We also see that the Lord is angry. Then we read in Numbers 25:4-5: And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel. And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor. This is a pretty harsh statement from God. God is saying that He wants the heads of the people who transgressed against Him to have their heads hung up before the sun. This is God’s severe wrath and anger. Then the Bible says in Numbers 25:6-7: And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it… So here we read about a man named Phinehas. We read that he is in the priestly line, in the lineage of Aaron. Numbers 25:7 continues: …he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; What did Phinehas do with the javelin? Let us keep reading. Numbers 25:8: And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly… And listen to what the Bible says right after he did this, as Numbers 25:8 continues: …So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. This means that the plague was stopped. Numbers 25:9: And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand. So 24,000 people had already been slain by the Lord here. Yet when Phinehas did this with the javelin, he put it through both the man of Israel and the Midianitish woman, of whom the man of Israel was not supposed to be with. None of the people of Israel were supposed to combine themselves with the people of the other nations. God had certain reasons for doing this, obviously. Then we read in the next verse, in Numbers 25:10: And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Do you suppose that the Lord told Moses that he should put Phinehas in jail for murder, or was the Lord very favorable to what Phinehas did? Let us keep reading. It says in Numbers 25:11-12: Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: These are words of commendation from God concerning Phinehas. And we read in Numbers 25:13: And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel. What was so commendable about Phinehas? What was commendable was his zeal. We can read about this in two different verses. Phinehas was zealous for God. He was so zealous that when he saw evil and wickedness, he took the javelin and he killed these people, both the man and the woman. And God was very commendable toward him for doing that. Wow, that is quite a lesson! So Phinehas had zealousness for God, but does this mean that I am to emulate his behavior? This is what is seemingly being taught here, right? But I know better. What happened? We can look through the Scriptures to find out how, in our modern-day life, in the life that we live today, God wants us to be zealous for Him. One example is that we are to preach the Word. So let us follow this up in the Old Testament, because what God says here is that Phinehas was so zealous that he was really commended for what he did. But now God is going to define what zealousness means, because remember that the plague was stayed. God’s wrath was turned away when Phinehas threw the javelin that killed the man and that woman through her belly. So how does God say that His wrath will be turned away? Lets go to 2 Chronicles 19 and I will define this lesson of how I can put feet underneath this example in my own life, as I turn back into the world tomorrow, whether I am returning to school or to work or in my own neighborhood and whatever I am doing with my family. 2 Chronicles 19:8-9 says, and listen to the similarity here: Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem. And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. What is the Lord saying? Let us continue and look at 2 Chronicles 19:10: And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the LORD, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass. So what would not come upon them if they did this certain thing? If they “trespass not against the LORD,” they would avoid the wrath. So what was the trespass that God did not want them to do? He had commanded them to set up judges over the Law of God. In verse 10, it says to warn them, “that they trespass not against the LORD.” Hence, the wrath of God would not come. So instead of me taking a javelin, what am I to do? Instead, figuratively speaking, I am supposed to pick up a sword. This sword would be the “Sword of the Spirit,” which the Bible defines as the Word of God. So I am to now use the Word of God to warn. We heard earlier in the previous study this morning about the salt, “Ye are the salt of the earth.” So I need to warn others. I need to have judgment in my speech. My speech needs to be “seasoned with salt” always, the Bible says. I need to be more diligent about warning people. That was a great study this morning about bringing the Gospel with humility and with peace and with love, but I still, nonetheless, have to have “salt.” I need to give the warning. I need to warn others. This is what the Bible says, and to be “zealous” for God is to be doing this. However, what am I not supposed to do that I see being done today in the name of “Christianity”? What is a great example, where there is a completely overboard zealousness like Phinehas, but in the wrong way? Where does this happen? Well, we can see this in the area of abortion. We have seen that people blow up abortion clinics. They think they are doing it in the name of God, that they are seemingly being zealous for God, but there is a better way to do this. We do this quietly, as we hand out tracts. If you want to stand on the corner of the abortion clinic where there is traffic, where women are coming back and forth and doctors or whomever, this is the way to do this. Nothing is accomplished by blowing things up. This is what we learn from 2 Chronicles. God told us that if you warn them, then His wrath will be turned. But if you do not warn them, if you leave it out, then His wrath is coming, and it will get you. So there we have it. Phinehas is a great example, a role model of zealousness for God. We, too, can be zealous today, so let us use the Word of God, the “Sword of the Spirit” to be zealous like Phinehas. Now let us look at our fourth example in the Old Testament. Our fourth role model is Caleb. This name, Caleb, may not be as familiar as the other role models. Let us pick him up in Numbers 13 and see what we read there. In Numbers 13, what was so good about Caleb? Does anyone remember? Caleb gave a good report, about what? Let us read and see. Numbers 13:1-2: And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan… Remember, Canaan is the “promised land.” Numbers 13:2 continues: …which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them. So how many men went out to investigate and spy out the land of Canaan? How many tribes were there? Twelve, so how many men went out? Twelve, so there were 12 men to go and spy out the land of Canaan, the “promised land.” Now, let us look at Numbers 13:17-20: And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain: and see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; and what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; and what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes. So there we have it. These men are being sent out to spy out this land. Is it good? Is it bad? Is it fruitful? Is it barren? Are the people strong or are they weak? What does it look like? Let us go to verse 25 of this chapter to pick this up again. Numbers 13:25: And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. So they were out for a long time. This is a nice test, these forty days. And then we read in Numbers 13:26: And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. So here we have it. Let us listen up. It says in Numbers 13:27-28: And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey… So it is a good land, is it not? …and this is the fruit of it. So they showed the fruit of the first ripe fruits. Nevertheless… This word, “nevertheless,” is a key word. Nevertheless, even after this good report of the land and the fruit. Numbers 13:28-29: Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan. In the next verse is where we see Caleb. We read in Numbers 13:30: And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. There is the good report; Caleb brought a good report. The land was beautiful. It was flowing with milk and honey. It had great fruits. It was the “promised land” that God had promised. The timeframe for this was very shortly after they came out of Egypt. This was not forty years later. This was right after they came out; it was early on. Then, unfortunately, we read in Numbers 13:31-32: But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched… Do you see what Caleb’s strength was and why he is a role model? Caleb was trusting in God, was he not? He surely was. He said, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.” He was saying that the Lord would give them the land. Well, in Numbers 14:1, we see the result of what happened: And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. Why are they crying? They are crying because of the “evil report” that was brought by ten of the men. “Those people were too strong. We will never beat them. We are doomed!” Then we read in Numbers 14:2-5: And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt. Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces… Look at the next few verses, we see that there is encouragement. We read in Numbers 14:6-9: And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: and they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us… How do you like this example? “They are bread for us.” This is great and a good word of encouragement. Then we read in Numbers 14:10: But all the congregation bade stone them with stones… So the people listened to the majority, to the ten who said that they would never beat them. The probabilities were such that they were going to lose, so the attitude was, “Let us give up now.” God was with them, but the people did not listen. Joshua and Caleb were the only two who brought up a good report. Then what happened to these other men? What happened to all of these adults, 20 years and older? They never got to Canaan, did they? Forty years later Joshua and Caleb did. The Bible tells us that Caleb was 40 when this happened or maybe 42, so he was 80 when they got to Canaan. And the Bible tells us that at the age of 80, he was as strong as when he was 40. So Caleb had to wait to see his prediction come true. Then he was able to go in. He had a city. Everything was given to him. His progeny lived there and built a city. So Caleb was rewarded for his faithfulness. What is the lesson in this? What is the lesson in our fourth role model today? The lesson is for us to charge straight ahead, trusting the Lord no matter what. There are two great verses in the Bible that really summarize this lesson. We read in Proverb 3:5-6: Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Do not lean on your own understanding, even though they may be bigger than us. This is what the ten men thought. This is why they gave up in Canaan. But Caleb knew that God was on his side and that they would be lead through. Let me give an example of this. Let us apply this to the family. We are looking at these role models and you men, you are the head of the household, as the Bible instructs. There is a catastrophe of some sort, something very distressing. Maybe there is a financial calamity in your household or a health emergency with one of your children or your spouse. How are you to be under these circumstances? You are to be like Caleb. You are to be strong, trusting in God, having faith, believing God, leading your family. What is the natural reaction of mankind, especially children? Let us say that there is a big thunderstorm outside and the children are afraid and crying. They come to mommy and daddy, and what do you need to do? You need to comfort them, through a trust in God. So you have to lead. You have to be the one who commits the family, to bring it before the Lord, to trust in the Lord like Caleb and Joshua did as they encouraged the people. If the Lord delights in us, He will get us through this. This is what Numbers 14:8 said. This is a great verse: If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Do the same thing in your family, and do it the same way. Do not fret. Do not get discouraged when there is a problem. When there is a huge curve ball thrown your way men, as the head of the household, stand up. Remember Caleb and trust in God. Use these verses. Use his story. Use this example to read before your family to encourage them that God will get you through the tough times, no matter what is afflicting you at this moment. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 8. This is another great example. There was a big storm on the sea that we read about in Matthew 8. I will just pick it up in verse 23. In Matthew 8:23-25, we read: And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. This is equivalent to your children coming in to you when there is a huge thunderstorm outside. What is happening? They are frightened because the whole house is shaking with thunder. Then we read in Matthew 8:26: And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. Put this passage also in your arsenal, husbands and fathers, of stilling a distressing situation in your family. This is a great passage to read before your family when they are distressed over a problem, whatever it may be. Maybe someone had to be rushed to the hospital. Read this, still them, calm them with Scripture. Faith, that is what Jesus pointed to, faith, “O ye of little faith.” Have faith in God. “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” This is a great way to lead your family. So Caleb was a wonderful example, a role model for us to look at, especially for us husbands and fathers in the audience today. I said we were going to look at six male role models. The fifth one is Solomon. Now Solomon was not perfect, was he? Far from it. He did many wonderful things, and he was mighty. Solomon was the richest king who ever lived and the wisest man that ever lived, the Scriptures say, that is until Christ came. When Christ came, He said, “A greater than Solomon is here.” So let us take a brief snapshot of one thing in Solomon’s life that gives us an example today of why I classify him as a role model. I want us to look at one particular instance in his life. We will be reading in 2 Chronicles 1 of the Old Testament. For all of the mighty things that Solomon was able to accomplish through the power of God in his life, I would say that this one incident, to me, is the hallmark. This defined his life. To me, this is what he is most known for, the greatest moment of his life. When you look at your life, do you have a moment in time that you can look back on and say that it was the highlight of your life, that it was the best moment that you ever had in obedience to God, however it might have worked out? Maybe you have never thought about this, but with Solomon, I really think that this was it. We read in 2 Chronicles 1:7-12: In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead. Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like. What a great moment in Solomon’s life. What a perfect thing to ask for: wisdom and knowledge. What is the lesson? What can we take away from this? How can I emulate this incredible example? Well, we read in Matthew 6:33: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Solomon was a great example of this. Then how am I to learn this lesson? Prioritize; what did Solomon get right? Solomon had right priorities. What did he prioritize? He prioritized the Kingdom of God. In Solomon’s case, he asked for wisdom and knowledge to lead his people, and God gave it to him in such abundance that there was never the like seen on any man save Jesus Christ. What did God do because Solomon was seeking this first as a priority? Then God gave him all of these other things. This is why Matthew 6 is such a beautiful verse. “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness,” and then all these other things will be given to you: the food, the clothing, the security of home, as far as having the comfort of shelter from storms and things of that nature. But you know what? This is what we should do in our life. We should prioritize in prayer. This is the message that we are to take away from Solomon. How many of us mistakenly go before God in prayer and say, “Lord, please heal my broken leg; it is so painful; it is so difficult to get around”? Well, if I am truly prioritizing, this is going to be far down on the list. How am I going to God? I am going to the Lord and I am praising Him first for His goodness and His mercy and His loving kindness. I am worshipping His holiness, and then I am thanking Him for all the benefits in my life. No matter how bad things are, I can always find things that are good, always, always. That is why people at work will sometimes come up to me; say around 9:00 A.M. I might seemingly be a little upbeat, and they are just drinking their coffee and ready to crash after the sugar and caffeine rush, which they do. Then they come up to me and ask me why I feel this way. I always start my response by being thankful. I try to think of what God has done for me or given me. It makes people think when you speak to them in this way. I will start rattling off things to them because I have been thinking about them all morning. This is why I feel great, and this is the way to go before God. Set your priorities. Spiritual things are first, the Kingdom of God and ultimately the forgiveness of my sins and the salvation for my family and for my loved ones. And you know what? Maybe there are prayers that I am not even mentioning, like the physical needs. But guess what? If you seek first “the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness,” all of these things will be added to you anyway. So I do not even need to remember the broken leg or the upset stomach or the house payment next month, or whatever the case may be. God will provide. What a great example Solomon gave to us and left us with! Finally, in closing and very briefly, our sixth and final male role model from the Old Testament is Daniel. In Daniel 9, I am just going to read a few verses. Ask yourself what we are to take away from this example. Ask yourself what was so good about the particular posture that Daniel took in this chapter. I think it really has a lot of application to the current day and age that we are living in. We read in Daniel 9:1-2: In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; in the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. Can I fast forward to today? Is there an analogy to today? “by books” means the books of the Bible. So are we understanding “by books” the number of the years today? Are we even understanding where we stand at the end of time? We have a few more years to go, then the rapture coming up, and then the ultimate Judgment Day itself in October 2011. We are understanding a lot and, of course, this “seventy years” of tribulation is exactly analogous to the tribulation that we are in today, the 23 years that we are right in the midst of now. So why was Daniel chosen as a role model? What was Daniel doing by acknowledging this? Let us read the next few verses to see how he starts. It says in Daniel 9:3-5: And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: and I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; we have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly… What was the key word for Noah and Moses? It was the word, “all.” What is the key word here? The key word here is “we.” What is the trap that we fall into today? The trap that we fall into today is the word “them.” We refer to those people who are still in church. Do you believe that the people who are still in the churches will not listen? It is very easy for me to fall into the trap of pointing the finger out there, “Look at them; they do not understand.” And I can get very uptight and angry over this, over whatever, and pride can set in. Daniel understood “by books the number of the years.” You may understand by the books of the Bible the number of the years that we are living in. What is the posture that we can take away from this? Why is he a great role model for today? We have sinned. I am no better than my neighbor or my family member who is still in the church. I may be saved and they may not be, but am I any better than they are? No! We have all sinned; we have all committed iniquity. Daniel’s whole prayer in this chapter, all the way to verses 19 and 20, is beautiful. He is in contrite repentance before God, and then he says in Daniel 9:19: O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do… And then he says in Daniel 9:20: And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God… Can you see this? God gives us a great example. He reiterates it again. Daniel was confessing his own sin, as well as the sin of the people of Israel. There you have it—a great role model and a great example. So let me give a quick summary of the six. What was the take away message from Moses and Noah? They did all that the Lord commanded. Phinehas was zealous for the Lord. Caleb gave a good report and trusted God. He had great faith, even in the midst of adversity and probabilities that were against him. Solomon had wisdom for the right things, so he prioritized; he had the right priorities in his prayer before the Lord. So I am to prioritize, “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” And then lastly, Daniel. Daniel was humble and had humility, even in the day of understanding “by books the numbers of the years” and knowing exactly where he stood. He understood when we would be at the very end, and he understood that he was no better off then the “sinners” out there. For us today, it is easy to point to not only the world but to the people in churches. This points to the need for humility and meekness in these last days. If you need a dose of that, read the first 20 verses of Daniel 9. What a great prayer he gives from verses 3-20—awesome prayer; great humility! So here we have six male role models in the Scriptures. May God give us strength to emulate the things that they did that were right before God and that can benefit our lives immeasurably.

(week of Sept 16th) (the end of times)

7 Signs We Are in the End Times

Britt Mooney

May 31, 2024

The sky is falling! 

In the old story, a type of parable, Henny Penny is a chicken and not a very intelligent one. An acorn falls on her head, and she concludes the sky must be falling, leading to hysteria. 

Speaking of the end times carries a certain amount of tension. The Bible speaks of the end of this world and a transition into the New Heaven and New Earth, a redemptive story where the end times and corruption of this world is first exposed in a destructive, dramatic fashion before the next world is fully realized. 

Passages like Matthew 24 and the book of Revelation read like a fantasy or science fiction novel with epic visions of creatures and beasts. These dramatic scenes of what we refer to as the "last days" or "end times" have led to erroneous declarations from pastors or supposed prophets about the end drawing nigh within the near future. Those dates have all passed, and we can be skeptical of ideas about the end times. 

Jesus tells us we won’t know the day or the hour the world will end. At the same time, he gives us specific signs the end is coming soon. In the Olivet Discourse of Matthew 24, he lists several end times events and calls these birth pangs like a woman in labor with a child. Painful. Intense. Yet a promise of new life at the end. 

Many today look at the world around us, see the headlines, and wonder if we are living in the end times. One way or another, we’re getting closer, but we should carefully explore the words of Jesus and how events today might fit his teaching. Let's look at seven events that will be signs of the end times and last days of earth.

1. Natural Disasters

In Matthew 24:7-8, Jesus speaks of earthquakes, famines, and pestilences as signs preceding His return. Throughout history, natural disasters have been interpreted by many Christians as indicators of the nearing end times, signaling God’s judgment and the fulfillment of biblical prophecy.

In recent times, the frequency and intensity of natural disasters have led some to perceive them as confirmation of biblical end-time prophecies. For example, the increasing occurrence of devastating hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, and tsunamis in various parts of the world has prompted discussions about their significance in relation to biblical eschatology.

Hurricane Katrina, which struck the United States in 2005, causing widespread destruction and loss of life, was viewed by some as a sign of God’s judgment, although that is difficult to know for sure. Similarly, the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, which resulted in thousands of deaths and widespread devastation, raised questions about the role of natural disasters in biblical prophecy. In 2024, several significant earthquakes have occurred globally, sparking discussions among some groups who believe these events are signs of the end times. Notable earthquakes this year include a 7.5 magnitude quake in Japan which caused significant damage and loss of life, and a 7.4 magnitude quake offshore of Hualien, Taiwan.

Furthermore, the ongoing climate crisis and its associated impacts, such as rising sea levels and extreme weather events, have heightened concerns about the relevance of biblical end-time prophecies. Many Christians interpret these environmental crises as signs of the earth “groaning” in anticipation of the return of Christ, as described in Romans 8:22.

As natural disasters continue to occur with increasing frequency and severity, discussions about their significance in relation to biblical prophecy are likely to persist.

2. War and Conflicts

Jesus speaks of “wars and rumors of wars” in Matthew 24:6-7 as indicators of the nearing end. Throughout history, these violent and tumultuous times have been viewed by many Christians as connected to biblical prophecies. Signaling a period of tribulation and unrest preceding the return of Christ.

In modern times, the prevalence of wars and conflicts around the world has heightened concerns about their significance in relation to biblical end-time prophecies. Within the past century, the world has seen two world wars, and World War II was an actual planet-wide conflict with frightening weapons like nuclear arms. 

Examples of recent conflicts, such as the ongoing civil war in Syria, the conflict between Israel and Palestine, and the rise of terrorist groups like ISIS, have fueled discussions about their role in fulfilling biblical prophecy. The current Israeli-Palestinian conflict, characterized by decades of violence and political strife, has been viewed by many as a fulfillment of biblical prophecies regarding the restoration of Israel and the Middle East conflict preceding the return of Christ.

Furthermore, the rise of terrorism and extremist ideologies, exemplified by groups like ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and Boko Haram, has led to widespread fear and uncertainty, prompting discussions about their role in biblical end-time scenarios.

3. Famine and Disease

In Matthew 24:7, Jesus speaks of “famines and pestilences” as indicators of the coming end. Throughout the previous centuries, famine and disease outbreaks have been discussed by many Christians as the fulfillment of biblical prophecy.

In modern times, the prevalence of famine and disease outbreaks around the world has heightened concerns about their significance in relation to biblical end-time prophecies. Examples of recent famines, such as the food crises in Yemen, South Sudan, and parts of Africa, have led to widespread starvation and humanitarian emergencies, prompting discussions about their role in fulfilling biblical prophecy.

The world has seen a number of recent serious disease outbreaks. From the HIV/AIDS virus in the 80s, SARS in 2002, H1N1 in 2009, and Ebola in 2014-2016, millions have died from these far-reaching diseases. 

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus, has also been viewed by many as a sign of the end times. The pandemic has resulted in millions of deaths worldwide, overwhelmed healthcare systems, and disrupted economies and societies on a global scale. The rapid spread of the virus and its devastating impact have led some to interpret it as a fulfillment of biblical prophecies regarding pestilences and plagues preceding the return of Christ.

Moreover, the emergence of new infectious diseases, antibiotic-resistant pathogens, and other public health threats has raised concerns about the potential for future pandemics and their role in biblical end-time scenarios.

4. Moral Decay

The apostle Paul, in 2 Timothy 3:1-5, mentions moral decay as a sign of the coming end, where people will be “lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”

Christians throughout history have paid attention to periods of moral decline and spiritual apostasy as potential signs preceding the return of Christ. 

Today, examples of moral decay can be observed in various aspects of society, including the breakdown of traditional family structures, including high divorce rates, single-parent households, and declining marriage rates, reflecting a departure from biblical principles of marriage and family. Our culture has also experienced increasingly permissive attitudes towards sexuality, pornography, substance abuse, and other forms of immorality indicating a shift away from biblical morality and values.

The growing influence of secularism and relativism has led to a rejection of absolute truth and moral absolutes, resulting in moral relativism and the acceptance of diverse lifestyles and beliefs. Disrespect for authority, erosion of trust in institutions, and increasing polarization and division within society contribute to moral decay and societal unrest.

As moral decay continues to manifest in various aspects of society, discussions about its role in eschatological narratives are likely to persist.

5. False Prophets

Back in Matthew 24, Jesus warns of false prophets who will arise during the last days and deceive many. Throughout Scripture, false prophets are depicted as individuals who claim to speak on behalf of God but propagate deceitful teachings and lead people astray from the truth.

In modern times, false prophets continue to exist, disseminating misleading teachings and exploiting people’s spiritual vulnerabilities for personal gain. Examples of false prophets and deceptive religious movements can be observed in various contexts. 

Some self-proclaimed Christian leaders promote a distorted version of the gospel that emphasizes material wealth and financial prosperity as signs of God’s favor. They often manipulate scripture to promote the idea that faithfulness to God leads to material success, exploiting vulnerable believers and perpetuating a message contrary to biblical teachings on humility, sacrifice, and stewardship.

Numerous cults and fringe religious movements have emerged throughout history, led by charismatic leaders who claim divine authority and offer exclusive access to spiritual truth. These groups often use manipulation, coercion, and isolation to control their followers and maintain power, leading to psychological and emotional harm. These have increased in the past century. 

Various new age and spiritualist movements promote syncretic beliefs and practices that blend elements of different religious traditions with esoteric teachings and mystical experiences. While some may offer insights into spirituality and personal growth, others promote deceptive ideologies and false claims of spiritual enlightenment.

6. Persecution of Believers

Jesus cautions in Matthew 24:9-10 that during the last days, believers will be persecuted and hated because of their faith. Throughout the Bible, persecution is depicted as a hallmark of discipleship and a fulfillment of Jesus’ words that “in this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33).

Persecution of Christians continues to occur around the world. In fact, there have been more martyrs to Christianity in the past century than in the previous 1800 years combined. Examples of persecution of Christians include the following 

In countries where religious extremism holds sway, such as parts of the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, Christians are often targeted for their faith. They face violence, discrimination, and oppression at the hands of extremist groups who seek to eradicate Christianity from their territories. In some countries with authoritarian regimes, Christians are persecuted by the state for their religious beliefs. They may face imprisonment, torture, or even death for practicing their faith or engaging in evangelism.

In areas of conflict or civil unrest, Christians are often targeted by armed groups or factions seeking to advance their political or ideological agendas. They may be subjected to attacks, bombings, or forced displacement, resulting in loss of life, property, and livelihoods. In societies where Christianity is viewed as a threat to cultural or national identity, Christians may face social discrimination, harassment, or exclusion from certain sectors of society. They may be denied access to education, employment opportunities, or public services because of their faith.

7. False Christs

Finally, as the return of the Messiah nears, the Devil will bring more counterfeit versions. In Matthew 24:24, Jesus cautions that during the end times, many false messiahs will arise and deceive crowds of followers. False christs are individuals who claim to be the Messiah or Savior but propagate deceitful teachings and lead people away from the true faith.

False christs continue to emerge and seem to be occurring more in the past century.

Jim Jones founded the Peoples Temple and styled himself as a messianic figure, claiming to be the reincarnation of Jesus, Buddha, and Lenin. He led his followers to establish Jonestown, where over 900 members died in a mass murder-suicide in 1978.

Leader of the Branch Davidians, David Koresh, claimed to be the final prophet and the “Lamb of God” mentioned in the Book of Revelation. He and many of his followers died in a standoff with law enforcement in Waco, Texas, in 1993.

Sun Myung Moon founded the Unification Church, also known as the Moonies. Moon claimed to be the second coming of Christ and taught his followers to view him as the messiah. He gained a large following and built a religious empire.

Co-founder of the Heaven's Gate cult, Marshall Applewhite, preached that he and his followers were extraterrestrial beings sent to Earth to guide humanity to the “next level” of existence. He claimed to be the “present representative” of Jesus Christ and led his followers in a mass suicide in 1997, believing they would be transported to a spaceship trailing the Hale-Bopp comet.

Two important things to remember when you're curious about distinguishing signs of the end times. First, these are modern examples of the signs Jesus and the apostles spoke about. However, to some degree, these signs appear in every generation. They reveal the sin and corruption of humanity and the systems of this world, making the verses in Matthew 24 and Revelation relevant to every generation. 

Second, while some signs are more intense today than ever before (world wars as an example), our modern communication and media might give us the perception things happen more than in generations past. We must be careful to both watch for the signs as Jesus said but also to be careful not to jump to conclusions. 

Regarding the end times, the core teaching by Jesus and the writers of the New Testament points us to constant readiness. Even when we recognize the signs in the modern day, the end will come as a surprise. We must keep our lamps full of oil and lights lit, waiting for the coming of Jesus and the coming redemption of all things.

(week of Sept 9th) (lineage of Christ....5 women)

(4) 

Lessons From Rahab in the Bible

Rahab the harlot is one of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11. Why is she considered a person of faith? What lessons can we learn from Rahab in the Bible? 

Isaac Khalil

by Isaac Khalil

Hebrews 11 is known as the Faith Chapter, and it opens with a description of faith: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). It goes on to show that it is impossible to please God without faith (verse 6).

Some of the heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11 include Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah and Moses (among other prominent names from the Old Testament). 

But there’s another name in the list that might not seem as obvious. 

In verse 31, it lists Rahab the harlot as a hero of faith.

Who was Rahab in the Bible?

Rahab was the prostitute from Jericho who saved the Israelite spies from being caught by the authorities of Jericho. She savvily sent the spies’ pursuers on a wild goose chase. Her actions allowed the spies to safely escape the city and return to their people with information on Jericho.  

Have you ever aspired to be like Rahab the harlot? Why is a prostitute mentioned among giants of faith like Noah, Abraham and Moses?

God inspired her to be included for a reason. What does He want us to learn from Rahab’s life and example? 

Lesson from Rahab: The importance of faith and works

The two spies sneaked into Jericho and lodged in Rahab’s house. Harlotry was not considered shameful or immoral in Canaanite culture. It was even practiced in their religious worship. 

Her house doubled as an inn and was visited often by travelers, so the two spies’ lodging there wouldn’t have aroused much suspicion ordinarily. However, the spies were spied upon.

This is a great lesson we can learn: like Rahab, we must act on our faith.After the king of Jericho found out they were in the city, Rahab hid them on her roof (Joshua 2:2-6). Consider how brave it was for her to do this. Had she been caught, she probably would have been executed along with the spies.  

Rahab risked all and put her trust in the God of Israel.

She showed her faith in Israel’s God through her actions and let the spies down the outer wall of the city by a rope through the window (Joshua 2:15-18). The book of James uses this as an example of how one is justified by one’s actions (James 2:25). 

Rahab had faith and acted on it. 

This is a great lesson we can learn: like Rahab, we must act on our faith. It’s not enough to just have faith and believe in God—we have to act on it through obedience. As James also wrote, “Faith without works is dead” (verse 26). 

Lesson from Rahab: Faith by hearing, not from sight

Rahab’s journey of faith began by hearing of the miracles performed by the God of Israel. She had heard of the Red Sea miracle that God had performed 40 years earlier (Joshua 2:10). She believed because of what she heard. This illustrates a point about faith that Paul wrote: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

The Israelites saw the Red Sea split, but they didn’t have enduring faith, as they continued rebelling against Him afterward. Rahab didn’t see the miracle, but believed by hearing of God and His power to part the sea.

Rahab showed belief and loyalty to God that was often lacking among the Israelites themselves.As Christians today, we also must base our faith on hearing and reading. None of us have seen the mighty deeds performed by God in Bible times. But we read and hear about them—and believe. Jesus pronounced a special blessing on people who do this: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).

To believe what we have heard about but haven’t seen, we must have faith. 

Not only did Rahab believe God, she confessed that “He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath” (Joshua 2:11). This is an amazing statement considering that she had spent her entire life in a pagan polytheistic culture. In this statement, she was forsaking her own gods as worthless. 

Rahab showed belief and loyalty to God that was often lacking among the Israelites themselves. No, she didn’t fully understand God’s law and standards yet, as evidenced by her willingness to lie to save the spies, but her brave actions were due to her extraordinary faith.  

Like Rahab, we can exercise faith and loyalty to the true God through hearing and reading about Him. 

Lesson from Rahab: Wisdom is justified by her children

After the book of Joshua, Rahab isn’t mentioned in the Bible again until the opening chapter of the book of Matthew, where we find her in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 1:5 mentions her by name: “Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab.” 

Rahab's example should stand out to us today that we, too, can have faith and act on it—no matter who we are or where we come from. We don’t know much about Salmon, except he probably swam against the current, pardon the pun, by marrying Rahab the harlot. It was probably general known that she came out of prostitution, yet Salmon married her anyway. 

Jesus said, “Wisdom is justified by her children” (Matthew 11:19). This means that the way we live our lives should reflect God’s wisdom. In other words, “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16). In this case, it’s literally true. The fruit of Rahab’s womb was Boaz—the same Boaz who redeemed and married Ruth the Moabite (Ruth 4:9-13; compare Matthew 1:5).

We probably have not noticed how closely related Rahab and Ruth are, especially considering that Rahab made her entry in the early chapters of Joshua while the book of Ruth comes after Judges, which makes them seem hundreds of years apart. But the fact is, Ruth was Rahab’s daughter-in-law.

When Boaz redeemed Ruth, he likely saw striking similarities between her and his mother, Rahab:

Both were gentiles, outsiders to the nation of Israel.

Both forsook their people, their gods and their customs.

Both showed an intense loyalty to the God of Israel that was uncommon even among the Israelites.

Both were their brother’s keepers. Rahab looked after the spies; Ruth looked after Naomi, the mother of her first husband.

Rahab’s example was not just an inspiration to her son, but her example should stand out to us today that we, too, can have faith and act on it—no matter who we are or where we come from. 

The legacy of Rahab the harlot

Though she is usually referred to as Rahab the harlot, she didn’t remain a harlot. When she came into the community of Israel, she left harlotry and lying behind and lived in accordance with the laws God gave Israel. 

She didn’t fully understand God’s way of life while living as a harlot in Jericho. But she did believe. That belief led to faith, and that faith allowed God to use her.

Rahab’s faith saved herself and her family. Her faith helped her to change from being a woman of the night, to being a woman of the light.

(5)

I read Genesis 38 with Judah and Tamar and, if I’m being honest, I felt a little gross after. As I sat with my Bible open, I had to ask, “Lord, why is this in your Word?”

I believe God answered my prayer in a few ways. I share with you how the Lord answered me so you can see that every part of Scripture is truly the Word of God, breathed out for our good.

What Happens in Genesis 38

I do encourage you to read Genesis 38. The entire kerfuffle we read about results from Judah and his sons refusing to fulfill their duty to their in-law, a woman named Tamar (see Deuteronomy 25:5-10).

Here’s the story. Tamar loses her husband—that’s tough enough. After this, she follows the law of the land and marries her husband’s brother Onan, who is supposed to provide for her (I know this sounds weird to us, but this law was God’s protection. It was for her safety and provision).

Onan reaps the benefits of marriage, but intentionally prevents Tamar from having kids—pretty icky. God thought so too, and Onan dies for his wickedness (Genesis 38:10).

Judah, Tamar’s father-in-law, then promises his other son to Tamar when he comes of age. Sadly, Judah has no intention of keeping his promise (Genesis 38:11). When Tamar realizes Judah has willfully shirked his responsibility to provide her with his son in marriage, she resorts to deception (Genesis 38:14).

On a random outing sometime later, Judah willingly engages with a prostitute. Ironically, shortly afterward, Judah finds out that Tamar is pregnant by prostitution. He demands that she be killed. On her way to death, Judah finds out that they were involved together in the same sin—he’s the dad. Tamar is spared; Judah is humiliated, confronted with his evil. In time, Tamar bears twins, who are also Judah’s children.

The grisliness of this story as recorded in Genesis disturbs. This family dynamic is ugly from every angle. Lord, I asked, why did you include this in the Bible? It’s not the most pleasant, and I don’t see how it’s beneficial.

Why Is This Story in the Bible?

I know from reading the Bible how this story plays into the larger story of the Bible, and its role in Scripture was what first came to mind after I prayed. I’d like to share with you how Genesis 38 belongs in the bigger story of the Bible.

See, Judah is the son of Israel that God chooses to carry on the family line of the Messiah, the promised rescuer for humanity (Genesis 49:10). Jesus Christ comes from the line of Judah.

In other words, in Genesis 38, God is showing us the means by which he is keeping his promises to Abraham to provide an offspring that will bless the whole world (Jesus).

The child born of Tamar by Judah ends up being the next link in the lineage of the Messiah (Matthew 1:3).

Unfathomable. Right?

Why Bring the Messiah Out of This Mess?

You may be thinking, “But WHY?” Why did it have to be this way? Why bring the Messiah out of all this mess?

That was my honest question too. Why would God include this unpleasant little anecdote in his Word?

First, because it’s a link in the genealogy of Jesus.

But why would he intend this ugly mess to be a link in his own Son’s story? Well, we know that God brought Jesus into the world out of this mess—maybe that’s the point. Let me explain.

1. How Genesis 8 Makes Sense of Genesis 38

Let’s take a look at two passages that will help us understand why God might bring his own Son into the world by means of such a moral mess. First, let’s look at Genesis 8:21.

After the Lord destroys all mankind and starts over with Noah, he promises to never destroy all mankind by flood, reasoning that “the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth” (Genesis 8:21 ESV).

In other words, humanity is broken beyond repair. The severest of judgments or even the greatest kindness cannot alter our inclination towards evil. My point? Every man, every woman—everyone—is a mess. There are no perfect humans available for God to use to carry out his plan.

No one is righteous, not even one (Romans 3:10), the Scripture says.

Ever have selective amnesia about this like I do? Ever forget we’re fundamentally bad not good, more prone to wrong than right? It’s a hard truth to swallow!

God has no worthy raw materials to work with. He doesn’t have a perfect instrument in all of creation.

And maybe that’s why the God of the Bible is so wonderful—because he creates salvation, redemption, and beauty despite only having despicable crude raw materials at his disposal… us.

God persevered, forbearing with our perversity, working out his plan to save us from it, and from the punishment we deserve. God persevered to bring the promised Messiah from the line of Abraham, despite the sinfulness of people like those in Judah’s family.

God can work miracles out of a mess.

2. How Genesis 38 Makes Sense of Judah’s Life

We know that our God not only saves; he also redeems. Genesis 38 is a story of redemption, not only in the grand story of the Bible, because it points to the Messiah, but it’s also the story of Judah’s redemption.

When we first meet Judah in the Bible, he sells his brother into slavery (Genesis 37:26-27). Yes, despicable. At the end of Judah’s story, he’s offering to sell himself into slavery to save the life of one of his brothers (Genesis 44:33-34). In other words, Judah changed. Between these two points in his life, we read Genesis 38.

Genesis 38 tells us the story of Judah’s humiliation, how his sin was confronted. We meet him afresh later as a changed man. Genesis 38 indicates that at some point, God humbled Judah and gave him a change of heart.

Judah’s older brothers were disqualified from carrying the Messiah’s lineage for their wickedness (Genesis 49:2-7), but Judah’s sin didn’t disqualify him—Why? God redeemed Judah’s life. God did a work in Judah—he forgave him and showed him grace.

Genesis 38 is in the Bible to tell us that there’s hope for us as sinners. It’s God’s kindness to confront us with our ugliness and let us have a good honest look at our sin. It humbles us and helps us recognize our need for God’s forgiveness, grace, and redemption—which he is willing to give.

Genesis 38 seems to be the turning point for Judah himself. What about you? Is there a “Genesis 38” in your life? That ugly story in your life—the scene you’d rather forget—isn’t the end of your story. It’s God’s invitation to humble yourself before him and receive the forgiveness and fresh relationship with him he offers you in Jesus Christ, the Messiah who suffered in your stead. God can change anyone, and he does wonderful things with those who humble themselves before him (Isaiah 66:2).

3. How 2 Corinthians 4:7 Makes Sense of Genesis 38

Paul writes in Romans, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Corinthians 4:7 ESV). What’s the treasure Paul refers to? The Lord Jesus. For those of us who trust in God’s promised rescuer, Jesus, for the forgiveness of our sins, we have been restored to fellowship with God. God has come and made his home with us, by the Holy Spirit.

We who believe in Jesus always hold within us a priceless treasure. Yet, we are all, as Scripture describes us—clay jars. Not one of us is a vessel of honorable use in and of ourselves. None of us have turned silver or gold. No, we are cracked clay, vessels made of hardened dirt, yet dignified by the light we hold inside—Jesus.

What Genesis 38 Is in Your Bible

Genesis 38 is in the Bible because it’s part of God’s story of how he would rescue us from our perversion. It’s also in the Bible to remind us that God worked redemption through flawed means. He changed Judah and used his mess to humble him before God and make him a new man. He sovereignly turned Judah’s sinful decisions into steps that would lead to the salvation of many people through Jesus Christ.

For those of us who have accepted God’s salvation offered to us in Jesus, we too are promised a place in God’s plan of salvation—to shine the light of Christ out of our own imperfect, weak lives, just like Judah and Tamar.

When we look at Judah and Tamar, we see clay jars, cracked and obviously broken. But when we step back and see their story as a whole, we see the light of Christ shining through their cracked jars.

Friend, I don’t care how bad you are, how ugly your story is, or how grisly your past is. Neither does God. He offers you total forgiveness if you’ll believe him. He didn’t come to save good people; he came because we’re all hopeless sinners (Mark 2:17). And he offers you new life, a life where his light will fill your heart, and shine through those cracks to help others see his goodness. Genesis 38 is in your Bible to tell you so—that God is good, and he loves to save sinners.

(week of Sept 2nd) (labor)

God Still Loves Hard Work

Labor for Christ in a Cursed World

Article by David Mathis

Executive Editor, desiringGod.org

We humans have a love-hate relationship with work. We associate labor with childbirth for a reason. And this is no new development; the apostle Paul did it two millennia ago (Galatians 4:27; 1 Thessalonians 5:3).

Labor is painfully difficult, and then exceedingly rewarding. Serious work in a fallen world is like childbirth in microcosm. It doesn’t come easily — not if it counts. It’s challenging. It’s uncomfortable. We encounter obstacles both expected and unexpected. It takes pushing, often beyond our sense of ability. And in the end, it’s undoubtedly worth it.

Paul listed “labors” among the pains he had endured, alongside beatings, imprisonments, riots, sleepless nights, and hunger (2 Corinthians 6:5). He knew firsthand that life in a fallen world is not easy, and the Christian life all the more. In fact, the Christian life is not just cursed like physical labor, but opposed by demonic forces. Expect the friction and obstacles to be all the more difficult. And yet Paul charges Christians to rise to it. He means for us to encounter resistance and endure, not fold.

Christians of all humans shouldn’t be surprised that our world struggles with work in all its forms. Into the confusion about work we all feel in this fallen, broken age, we have an important word to say about the labor God made us for, even as it is cursed and often feels relentlessly frustrating.

Work as God’s Idea

From the very beginning, God created us to labor. “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion . . .” (Genesis 1:28). Work is not the product of sin, but a major facet of God’s original plan for human life in his world.

God designed us to move and be active, to exert energy and employ skill to produce goods for human flourishing. Before sin entered the world, God “took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15). And then God made the man “a helper fit for him” (Genesis 2:18). God made men and women to use, not squander, the energy he gives us daily through food and rest, to accomplish his mission — the work — he gave us to do in the world. Work, then, we might say, is the exertion of energy, investment of time and attention, and application of skill toward the ends of God’s calling to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth, as well as subdue it and have holy dominion. Such work is a central aspect of what it means to be human.

And so, it makes sense that when sin enters the world, and God curses the creation, he also curses our work:

Cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you. . . . By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread. (Genesis 3:17–19)

Work is good. And work is cursed. Such is our lot in this age, until the creation is set free from its bondage to corruption and enters with us, the redeemed, into the freedom of the glory of the children of God (Romans 8:21). Even then we will not sit around doing nothing, but we will be freed to work and move and expend ourselves in joy, finally unencumbered by the curse.

In the meantime, we learn to work, despite the curse, at our work.

Work with Your Hands

We often have career and work-for-pay in mind when we talk about our work. But for Christians, the concept of work and labor extends far beyond simply what other people pay us to do. Let’s begin, though, with the weekly labors that pay mortgages and put bread on the table.

In all the Scriptures, no one talks about work more than the apostle Paul. “Work” was more than just “working with our own hands” (1 Corinthians 4:12), but not less. Paul himself was a tentmaker. Such work was an especially pressing issue in Thessalonica, where some in the church were idle, refusing to work — waiting, they claimed, for Christ’s imminent return. Paul saw it as a spiritual-sounding covering for laziness. He put himself and Timothy forward as examples of hard work.

You remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. (1 Thessalonians 2:9)

We were not idle when we were with you, . . . but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. (2 Thessalonians 3:7–8)

And he expected the same from every Christian. “Aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one” (1 Thessalonians 4:11–12).

Paul knew the transforming power of the Spirit, and expected mooches and thieves alike to find a new work ethic once they came to Christ. “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need” (Ephesians 4:28). Not just to relieve the need for others to be burdened by you, but to secure enough, through honest hard work, to be able to share with others in need.

And yet, for Paul, such work-for-pay was only one aspect of work or labor for the Christian. He didn’t mean for converts to work their forty-plus hours, Monday to Friday, and be idle for the other eighty waking hours of the week. He both embodies and teaches a work ethic that is relevant at the office and at home, even for “time off” and vacation. It begins with a particular kind of rest.

Final Rest from Labor

The first word, and foundational word, for the Christian about work is that the labor of our hands cannot get us right with God. Human effort and exertion, no matter how impressive compared to our peers’, cannot secure the acceptance and favor of the Almighty. God’s full and final acceptance — which we call justification — comes to us “by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24), not through our working, even our doing of God-commanded works (Romans 3:28). God’s choice of his people “depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy” (Romans 9:16), and so, fittingly, his final and decisive approval and embrace of his people is through their believing in him, not their working for him (Romans 4:4–5; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5).

The Christian faith — rightly understood, grounded in justification by faith alone — is the world’s greatest rest from human labor. Jesus invites “all who labor and are heavy laden” to come to him for his gift of rest (Matthew 11:28). And then in this rest, God supplies remarkable, even supernatural, ambition for pouring out what energies we have for the good of others.

Freed for the Good of Others

As we come to Christ in faith, we receive another gift, in addition to justification: “the promised Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 1:13). The Spirit not only produces in us the faith by which we’re justified, but he gives us new life in Christ, new desires, new inclinations, new instincts. By the Spirit, our coming into such rest does not make us idle or lazy. Rather, Paul says, the Spirit begins to make us “zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14), eager and ready to do good (2 Timothy 2:21; 3:16–17; Titus 3:1–2), devoting ourselves to acts that serve the good of others (Titus 3:8, 14).

The Reformation recovery of such ultimate rest for the soul produced a different kind of people. Not a lazy and apathetic people. But the kind of people with new energy and freedom, new vision and hope, fresh initiatives, fresh freedom from self, and new desires to expend self for the good of others. The kind of people who have the Spirit of God in them. It’s been called “the Protestant work ethic.”

Paul not only commended hard work (Acts 20:35; Romans 16:6, 12; Colossians 4:13; 2 Timothy 2:6), but criticized the idle and lazy (1 Thessalonians 5:15; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 7, 11; Titus 1:12–13). And he was not the first. Proverbs warns against the folly of sloth (Proverbs 12:24, 27; 19:15) and against the sluggard (fourteen times). Twice do we hear this refrain:

A little sleep, a little slumber,

     a little folding of the hands to rest,

and poverty will come upon you like a robber,

     and want like an armed man. (Both Proverbs 6:10–11 and 24:33–34)

The opposite of the sluggard is the diligent (Proverbs 13:4) and upright (Proverbs 15:19). Laziness will catch up with us; it’s just a matter of time (Proverbs 6:6–11; 20:4; 21:25; 24:30–34). Laziness makes ridiculous excuses to protect its own comforts (Proverbs 22:13; 26:13). Sluggards may even think (and say) they are smart and develop elaborate rationales against just doing hard work (Proverbs 26:16).

But Christians should be the freest people on the planet to work hard. Because we know we do not have to earn the favor of God Almighty with our works — but that it has been secured for us by Jesus — we have been liberated to pour our energy and time and skill and creativity into blessing others. Which leads to one of the main ways Paul talked about work.

Christian Ministry as Labor

Paul wasn’t the first to see Christian ministry as labor. Jesus talked about a plentiful harvest, and few laborers, and told his disciples to ask “the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:37–38; Luke 10:2). Such laborers in kingdom work, he said, deserve their wages and food (Matthew 10:10; Luke 10:7; 1 Timothy 5:18).

Paul not only worked with his own hands, and charged others to do the same, but he saw Christian ministry as labor. He wasn’t worried about collapsing tents when he spoke regularly of concern that his labors not be in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58; Galatians 4:11; Philippians 2:16; 1 Thessalonians 3:5). A dozen times in his letters he refers to ministry helpers and associates as “fellow workers.” He knew that “living on in the flesh” in this life would mean “fruitful labor” (Philippians 1:22), not retirement, excess leisure, or extended vacations. He wanted every Christian, not just his delegates and assistants, to join him in “always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Work with Your Love

Paul knew that hard work in and of itself was inadequate. In Christian ministry, the point is not the hard work itself but the goal: love. He spoke of the “labor of love” — the hard work we do for others (1 Thessalonians 1:3). Hard work in service of private, selfish ends is not commendable, but selfless, others-oriented, loving labor is.

Paul testifies, “I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me” (Colossians 1:29), not because he simply had a hard-working personality type, but because he was driven to proclaim Christ for the good of others: “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ” (Colossians 1:28). Because “godliness is of value in every way” (1 Timothy 4:8), he said, “we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God” (1 Timothy 4:10).

He also saw the ministry of Christian preaching and teaching, done rightly, as hard labor (1 Timothy 5:17–18; 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13), not a nice fit for guys with soft hands and a preference for an indoor job. Such labor is not only cursed and opposed but specifically targeted by Satan, who often focuses his assaults on opposing lieutenants. If he can cut off the leadership and supply lines, he will soon overwhelm the ground troops. A pastor who doesn’t sweat and strain, especially at his study and teaching (2 Timothy 2:15), is not fulfilling his calling.

Perhaps Paul would acknowledge that he had some unusual wiring. Maybe it was his singleness that freed him for extraordinary ministry output. Not only did he testify to “far greater labors” than his detractors (2 Corinthians 11:23), but even compared to the other apostles, he said, “I worked hard than any of them” (1 Corinthians 15:10). But again and again, he put his uncommon exertions forward not as an exception to admire, but as an example to follow — within the capacity God had given each, and with the understanding that every Christian can grow and expand our capacity for productive labor.

We Are His Workmanship

Few, if any, will match Paul’s labors. As John Piper shares why he loves the apostle Paul, he commends his work ethic:

His achievements were unsurpassed. Now and then, he referred to his hard work and spiritual authority and fruitfulness. But every time he did that, he confessed his utter dependence on the grace of God. He wanted to glory in Christ himself, not in his own hard work. (88–89)

There is a word of hope here for those who battle laziness. Paul professed again and again that the key to his seemingly tireless labors was God at work in him (Philippians 2:12–13; Colossians 1:29). It was not in his own strength to do what he did. Christ was strengthening him (1 Timothy 1:12; Philippians 4:13). In the same breath, he says he “worked harder than” the other apostles, and he says, “though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10). And still today, Christ strengthens his church by grace (Romans 16:25; 2 Timothy 2:1).

Paul would be quick to challenge today’s hardest workers with the truth that, apart from God, our best labors will prove futile in the end. And for those who know they need help, who have more regrets about laziness than over-work, he would remind them, “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). God doesn’t leave us to labor in our own strength. He has our good works prepared ahead of time. And he doesn’t demand a dead sprint, but invites us to walk in them.

(week of August 26th) (refining)

He Is Like a Refiner's Fire

Resource by John Piper

Scripture: Malachi 2:17–3:6    

You have wearied the LORD with your words. "How have we wearied him?" you ask. By saying, "All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and he is pleased with them" or "Where is the God of justice?" "See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years. "So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the LORD Almighty. "I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed." (NIV)

It does not say in verse 2 that he is like a forest fire, or like an incinerator's fire. It says that he is like a refiner's fire. A forest fire destroys indiscriminately. An incinerator consumes completely. But verse 6 says, "I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed—you are not destroyed."

A Word of Warning and a Word of Hope

He is a refiner's fire, and that makes all the difference. A refiner's fire does not destroy indiscriminately like a forest fire. A refiner's fire does not consume completely like the fire of an incinerator. A refiner's fire refines. It purifies. It melts down the bar of silver or gold, separates out the impurities that ruin its value, burns them up, and leaves the silver and gold intact. He is like a refiner's fire.

It does say FIRE. And therefore purity and holiness will always be a dreadful thing. There will always be a proper "fear and trembling" in the process of becoming pure. We learn it from the time we are little children: never play with fire! And it's a good lesson! Therefore, Christianity is never a play thing. And the passion for purity is never flippant. He is like fire and fire is serious. You don't fool around with it.

But it does say, he is like a REFINER'S fire. And therefore this is not merely a word of warning, but a tremendous word of hope. The furnace of affliction in the family of God is always for refinement, never for destruction.

Four Questions About This Text 

Now, to unfold this text, let me ask four questions, and point you to their answers in the Scripture in the time we have.

Who is like a refiner's fire?

Why must he be like a refiner's fire?

How can we experience his fire as refining and not consuming?

What is life like in the refiner's fire?

1. Who Is Like a Refiner's Fire?

Verse 3 gives the answer. As I read it, look for three individuals.

Behold, I send my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.

Three Individuals Mentioned

The first individual mentioned is "I"—"Behold, I send . . . " This "I" is identified at the end of the verse: "Says the Lord of hosts." The speaker is Jehovah, God the Father.

The second individual mentioned is Jehovah's messenger who prepares the way. "Behold, I send my messenger to prepare the way before me." Who is this? Well the New Testament quotes this very verse to identify John the Baptist, the one who came to prepare the way for Christ (Matthew 11:10; Mark 1:2; Luke 7:27).

But you don't have to read in from the New Testament that this is a kind of prophet whom God would raise up in the last day. It says in Malachi 4:5, "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes." So the first messenger mentioned in 3:1 that God will send to prepare his way is a kind of Elijah or one like Elijah. That is why Luke 1:17 says that John the Baptist went before Jesus in the Spirit and the power of Elijah.

The third individual mentioned in verse 1 is "the Lord who comes to his temple." "And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight."

The Identity of the Third Individual

This is another messenger, different from the first. Who is this person? Three things point to the divine Son of God and Messiah.

He is called "Lord"—a term that Malachi would not apply to Elijah or John the Baptist. This person is someone greater.

The temple is said to belong to him: He will suddenly come to "HIS temple." Of whom could you say that he is the owner of the temple of God?

This person seems to be almost identical with Jehovah, not only because Jehovah's temple is his temple, but also because he seems to take the place of the word "me" in the first half of the verse. It says, "Behold, I send my messenger [Elijah=John the Baptist] to prepare the way before ME . . . " But then he switches without any difficulty and instead of saying, "And I will suddenly come to my temple," he says, "And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple." It looks as though "me"—Jehovah—is virtually interchangeable with this other person called the Lord, who owns the temple of God.

So I conclude that the messenger of the covenant, the Lord, the owner of the temple of God, is none other than the Son of God, who is with God and is God, and who came into the world and made himself known to us personally in Jesus Christ.

So when verse 2 goes on to say, "But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears, for he is like a refiner's fire," I conclude that it is talking about the Son of God who came to us in Jesus Christ.

2. Why Must He Be Like a Refiner's Fire?

The answer is implied in the word itself. He must be a like a refiner's because we need to be refined.

We Need to Be Refined

We were created in the image of God with the potential to reverence God and trust him and obey him and glorify him, but we were born in iniquity and in sin did our mothers conceive us. We are shot through with the impurity of rebellion and unbelief, and we fall short of God's glory again and again.

You can prove this to yourself in many ways. For example, you can notice how readily your heart inclines to those things that will show your strengths to other people, and how resistant your heart is to communion with God in solitude.

So we are impure by nature and by practice. But God will have no alloys in heaven. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." And yet he will have someone in heaven. He will have a redeemed people. His banquet hall will be full. And therefore he must be a refiner's fire. If he were only a forest fire, heaven would be empty. If he were only an incinerating fire, heaven would be empty. And if he were no fire, heaven would be empty.

Why God Won't Abandon Impure People Like Us

But how do we know heaven will not be empty? Or to put it another way, how do we know that God will not simply abandon impure people like us? We don't deserve salvation? Why are we not simply consumed? Why does Christ come as a refiner's fire and not a forest fire?

Verse 6 gives the answer? "For I the Lord do not change; therefore, you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed." But by itself that doesn't make sense. What if God were changelessly bent on being a forest fire? What if he were changeless in unrelenting wrath? What sort of changelessness is it that guarantees that we are not consumed?

It is covenant-keeping changelessness. According to verse 1 the Lord comes as "the messenger of the covenant." The reason Jesus is a refiner's fire and not a forest fire is because God made a covenant. And Jesus is the emissary of that covenant. He confirms it and seals it with his blood. So his blood is called in Hebrews 13:20, "the blood of the everlasting covenant."

The book of Malachi began with a statement of how the covenant began. "'I have loved you,' says the Lord. But you say, 'How hast thou loved us?' 'Is not Esau Jacob's brother?' says the LORD. 'Yet I have loved Jacob!'" (1:2). This is what never changes—the free and sovereign choice of God to save sinners. "'I have loved you,' says the Lord . . . 'And I the Lord do not change. Therefore you are not consumed.'" Therefore, Jesus is a refiner's fire and not a forest fire.

3. How Can We Experience His Fire as Refining and Not Consuming?

Verse 5 makes it clear that when God comes, not everyone will be refined. Some will be consumed.

Then I will draw near to you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.

This is not the work of refinement, but the final judgment of condemnation. It is ever clearer in 4:1,

For behold, the day comes burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.

So when the Lord comes, some are refined and some are consumed. How can we be sure to experience the fire of God as refining and not consuming?

What the Answer Cannot Be

Notice very clearly what the answer cannot be! The answer cannot be: get rid of your own sin. If you got rid of your own sin, you would need no refining. Refining is for sinners! You can't answer the question, How do I qualify to get refined? by saying, Get rid of your sin! That's what refining does—it starts to burn up your sin? But how, then, does a sinner qualify to have his sin burned up? If it takes the merciful fire of God to destroy the rebellion of sin, what can a man do to have that mercy?

The Answer of the Whole Bible

And the answer of the whole Bible is: trust in the purifying mercy God! Or to put it the way Malachi puts it again and again: fear God—which means mainly fear to dishonor him with unbelief. Fear the irreverence of distrust. Fear the impulse to jump out of the refining fire of mercy into the forest fire of judgment because it looks cooler. Trust the goodness of God. Believe that his ways are the ways to infinite joy. Don't doubt his expertise as a Refiner.

He knows the time for joy, and, truly,

Will send it when He sees it meet;

When He has tried and purged thee duly,

And finds thee free from all deceit.

He comes to thee all unaware,

And makes thee own his loving care.

The way to experience the fire of Christ as refining and not consuming is to trust his promise to bring us through the fire to endless joy. Salvation is by grace through faith in the purifying mercy of God.

4. What Is Life Like in the Refiner's Fire?

The most important thing to say is that it is a life of confidence in God. And the foundation of our confidence is this promise: The furnace of affliction in the family of God is always for refinement, never for destruction. "I the Lord do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob!" Which simply means that life in the refiner's fire is a life of trust in the unchanging, purifying love of God.

And perhaps the next most important thing to say is that there is no painless path to heaven. Why? Because Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." And it is no more possible to become pure painlessly than it is to be burned painlessly. Purity comes through the refining fire. And the fire has two forms: one is the fire of affliction and the other is the fire of intentional self-denial.

The Fire of Affliction

We see the first fire, for example, in

1 Peter 1:6–7, "Now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold, which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

James 1:2–4,"Count it all joy, my brethren when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Hebrews 12:5–10, 14, "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord . . . for the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives . . . If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children . . . he disciplines us for our good that we may share his holiness . . . Pursue holiness without which no one will see the Lord."

The Fire of Intentional Self-Denial

And the other form of purifying fire is the fire of intentional self-denial. We see it for example in

Matthew 5:29–30, "If your right eye causes you to sin pluck it out . . . and if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away."

1 Corinthians 9:27, "I pommel my body and subdue it."

Romans 8:13, "If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live."

Unshakable Trust in God's Purifying Fire

What is life like in the refiner's fire?

More than anything else it is the unshakable trust that all the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness.

And on the path to purity and heaven the other truth is this: no pain, no gain.

Both things are true: the Lord is like a refiner's fire; and a refiner's fire is a fire.

(week of August 19th) (outcast)

Jesus treated outcasts like family

Some time ago, my son came home from school and started recounting his day to us.  He told us that one of the most consequential things that happened to him that day was in regard to his lunch.  His schedule was being shifted to accommodate the new classes he needed to take which meant he wouldn't have the same lunchtime for the rest of the year.  It also meant that the friends he made this year at his new school are friends he wouldn't be able to eat lunch with any longer.  He handled it well, but I know he was disappointed.

Can you remember having that kind of experience when you were growing up?  Maybe you changed schools or moved to a new neighborhood and felt like you were out of place for a while until you established new friendships.  It can take a while to do that.  Maybe you felt that way when you started college or took your first "career" job.  It isn't easy to be the "new guy."  It isn't easy to feel like the "outsider" or even the "outcast."

Now imagine if you lived in a context where you felt like no matter what you did, you were never going to be accepted or welcomed?  For many people, that's the way they would characterize the bulk of their daily experiences.  They feel unloved and can give you many examples of how they've been treated like unwanted, unloved, and unappreciated outcasts.

That was certainly the case during the days of Christ's earthly ministry.  In the context in which He was living and doing ministry, there were those who were considered the respectable and admired people of society, while others were considered unclean and unwanted.  But Jesus didn't avoid the outcasts.  He offered Himself to them and gave them the opportunity to become part of His family.

What did it look like when Jesus did this?  What should we be learning from His example?  How can we begin practicing in this era what Jesus demonstrated in that era?

I.  Jesus loved the easiest people to hate

“

And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.  And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

— Mark 2:15-17, ESV

In this world, there are plenty of people we may like and enjoy spending time with, while there are plenty of others that, if we're honest, we might feel somewhat uncomfortable giving our time.  Maybe we're fearful of their bad reputation rubbing off on us.  Maybe we aren't comfortable with the sights and smells that might come with placing ourselves in certain company.  Maybe we feel pressure from others to avoid hanging out with people of certain backgrounds, ethnicities, faiths, or lifestyles.

There's a little bit of a dilemma at play here.  We are highly influenced by those we spend the most time with, for good and for bad, yet we're also called to be ambassadors of Christ in all the world.  That tells me that we need both the wisdom and protective guidance of the Holy Spirit if we're going to love those who might be the easiest people to hate, or the most dangerous to spend our time with.

In the context of the gospels, this dilemma would often play out in the interactions Jesus had with others.  On one hand, there were the religiously legalistic Pharisees who took great pleasure in burdening people with regulations and expectations that seemed ethical, yet often stretched the teaching or the heart of the word of God in harsh and inaccurate ways.  On the other hand you had tax collectors and other so called "sinners" who didn't even bother conveying a sense of religious pretense.

Yet Jesus who is the sinless, holy, Son of God didn't appreciate the harsh hearts of the scribes and Pharisees.  And even at the risk of being chastised by them, He was willing to eat with the tax collectors and sinners.

The tax collectors were particularly hated by many of the people, particularly those who were of Jewish background like Levi who was hosting the dinner party spoken of in Mark 2:15-17.  Jesus had just called Levi, also known as Matthew, to be His disciple.  In celebration, Levi threw this dinner party and invited his friends, the other outcasts.  But Levi was hated by many in that community because they viewed him as a traitor.  He was likely excommunicated from the synagogue and despised for his allegiance to the Roman government.  If Levi followed the pattern of many tax collectors, he most likely had also been overcharging the people when it came to their tax payments so he could pocket extra money.  

But Jesus was willing to look at Levi, call him unto Himself, enjoy a meal with him, transform his heart, and send him into this world as a new man.  Levi was once a disreputable sinner, but Jesus cleansed his sin and made him an apostle.  It would have been socially accepted and even applauded if Jesus avoided outcasts like Levi, but that's not what Christ did.  Levi was easy to hate, yet Jesus showed him love.  Jesus wasn't worried about Levi's reputation rubbing off on Him.  Jesus didn't sweat whether or not people would hate Him too if he was seen with Levi.  Not only was He willing to eat with him, He was also willing to invite him to be part of His inner circle of friends and ministry partners.

Who does this world hate that Christ has called us to love?  Are we willing to be seen with them, eat meals with them, and call them our friends, or do we care more about the smug opinions of insecure and self-righteous critics?

II.  Jesus showed respect to the disrespected

“

Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.  And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself.  When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.”  And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God.  But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.”  Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?”  As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.

— Luke 13:10-17, ESV

Dealing with physical infirmities can be one of the most difficult things we face on this earth.  Physical limitations can sometimes feel embarrassing and discouraging.  I have a close friend whose son has muscular dystrophy.  Not long ago, his son asked him, "Dad, why can't I run like the other kids?"  That's a hard question to answer, and an even harder condition to live through.  I sense that my friend's son may have been feeling somewhat disrespected by his peers, but Jesus shows respect to the disrespected.

In Luke 13:10-17, we're told that Jesus was teaching in the Synagogue on the Sabbath day.  Many people loved to hear Christ's teaching.  He taught with clarity, authority, and compassion.  He helped people understand the heart of God and the truth of Scripture.  Among those listening to what Jesus taught, there was a woman who for eighteen years had been severely bent over.  She couldn't stand up straight.  She experienced pain, limitations, and probably the unflattering stares of those who couldn't identify with her experience.  And while others may not have shown her the respect they should have, Jesus reached into her life.

We're told that Jesus called out to this woman, declared that she was free from her infirmity, laid His hands on her, and healed her.  She stood straight up and rejoiced by giving praise to God for her healing.  And you would think that everyone who witnessed this miracle would have rejoiced at it and joined her in giving God praise, but that's not what happened.  The ruler of the Synagogue, who in my mind was probably somewhat jealous of the attention the crowds would give Jesus when He spoke, decided to express his displeasure with this miracle.

We're told that the Synagogue ruler criticized the fact that this miracle took place on the Sabbath when it could have been done on a different day.  Isn't it a shame that this man didn't understand God's heart in designating a Sabbath day?  The Lord created the Sabbath in part to show us mercy.  It was a day for rest.  Shouldn't an act of mercy be celebrated instead of being condemned on a day like that?  When I look at an event like this and I think about my friend's son, I can't imagine a critical word being spoken if his child was healed on one day over another, but the Synagogue ruler disrespected this woman and disrespected Jesus in front of the crowd because he didn't understand the depth of God's mercy.

In the aftermath of World War I, many soldiers returned with severely disfiguring facial injuries.  It was said that the soldiers who also lost their sight tended to fare better than those who could clearly see their newly disfigured faces in mirrors, or catch the startled glances of those who stared at them in public.  Responding to this need, a talented sculptor, Anna Coleman Ladd, began designing individually sculpted masks that could be worn by these soldiers to disguise their facial injuries.  She didn't have miraculous powers, but to the men she helped, she was a gift from God.  She treated them with dignity and blessed them with a tool that made them feel more comfortable when they appeared in public.

When I hear stories like those of Anna Coleman Ladd, I'm reminded of the heart of Christ toward those who feel like outcasts.  Jesus treated this woman with respect.  He even respectfully referenced her as a "daughter of Abraham."  Then Jesus chided the critics.  He reminded them that they showed more compassion to their animals than they showed to a fellow human being, and we're told that the crowd rejoiced at Christ's confrontation of His adversaries.

III.  Jesus blessed those who could offer Him nothing in return

“

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them.  But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.  Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”  And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

— Mark 10:13-16, ESV

Speaking of Christ's treatment toward outcasts, there's one group of people that can be very easy to dismiss and disrespect, and we interact with them all the time.  Children can at times feel like the biggest outcasts there are, but Christ showed them love.  He blessed those who could offer Him nothing in return.  He blessed those who were at an age when they could easily test the patience of others.  To be honest, I think you can tell a lot about a person by how they interact with children.

Mark 10:13-16 tells us that the crowds were bringing their children to Jesus so He could lay His hands on them and bless them, but the disciples were starting to get annoyed by this.  I'm sure we can picture what the scene may have been like.  Adults and children rushing forward.  Children making a scene.  Some of the kids escaping and going off in other directions.  Some of the children staring blankly because they had no idea what was going on.  Maybe the disciples were tired or were feeling flustered by the chaos, but whatever they were feeling, they tried to stop this noisy event from proceeding and began telling the parents to take their kids away.

Children are easy to chase away.  They probably even expect you to do that sometimes.  I remember years ago when I was a new pastor, I had started a youth ministry that grew too big for one meeting, so we divided the group into two groups that met on different nights.  Soon after the second group was started, some of the adults got mad and blamed the new teens for marking up one of the walls, implying that it was a bad idea for this group to meet at the church.  Except it wasn't the teens that made the marks.  The marks were made by an artificial Christmas tree that was placed too close to the wall by the adults, and it left marks by brushing up against the flat white paint.

In Mark 10:14b-15, Jesus said, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” This is good counsel for us that we would be wise to heed.  Children live in a state of continual faith.  Their lives and well-being are at the mercy of the adults in their lives.  They intrinsically trust what you say and copy what you do.  Shouldn't that also be the pattern of our lives in regard to the Lord?  Shouldn't we trust Him, remain confident in every word He says, and copy everything we see Him do?

Jesus loved the outcasts and we should to.  Keep in mind, when we're talking about outcasts, we're ultimately talking about us.  We were the outcasts.  We were distant from God.  We were foreign to His promises and His presence, yet through faith in Christ, we are brought near.  We are made part of the eternal family of God.

Jesus loved the easiest people to hate.  Jesus showed respect to the disrespected, and He blessed those who could offer Him nothing in return.  This is the heart of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, and by faith in Him, empowered by His grace, this too can become the fruit of His love demonstrated to others through our lives.

(week of August 12th) (ask)

Asking, Seeking, Knocking

Matthew 7:7–11

'If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (v. 11).

Dr. Sinclair Ferguson says, “Knowing God as judge has a sanctifying and restraining effect on our lives” (The Sermon on the Mount, p. 150). In other words, reflecting on God’s perfect holiness drives us to recognize our own sin and deal with it before we judge others (Matt. 7:1–5). We begin to see who we are — depraved men and women who cannot merit the Lord’s forgiveness. This helps us to be merciful. If our Father in His infinite goodness can pardon us, surely we sinners can forgive others.

However, we still often find it hard to show mercy even when we know the Lord’s character. We still need wisdom to distinguish between those who will mock the Gospel and those who will not trample upon the good news (v. 6). Moreover, we are in desperate need of God’s help in order that we might live up to the high calling throughout the Sermon on the Mount to be salt and light (5:13–16), obey the law of Christ in heart and deed (vv. 21–48), abstain from hypocrisy (6:1–18), and serve the Lord wholeheartedly (vv. 19–34).

This need is the reason why our Savior returns to the subject of prayer in today’s passage. Living in conformity to His way is impossible if we attempt to do it in our own power. But if we persevere in prayer, seeking to be empowered by the Spirit to obey Christ with gladness, God will enable us to be faithful to His call (7:7–8). Our Father is generous and kind. He will not trick us and give us a stone that looks like bread when it is bread that we need, and He will not give us a snake if we need fish (vv. 9–10, some Galilean fish look like serpents). Our Creator will give us all the spiritual and physical resources we need to serve Him if we ask Him in faith (Mark 11:22–24).

Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 7:7–11 does not assure us that we will get everything we want, only whatever we need. We are often unable to tell the differences between these things, but God does not have this problem. If we do not get what we ask for, let us therefore not think He has forgotten us. As John Calvin writes: “We must not think that he takes no notice of us, when he does not answer our wishes: for he has a right to distinguish what we actually need.”

Coram Deo

We persevere in prayer knowing that our Father in His goodness will never withhold from us what we really need. We also need to recall, Matthew Henry says, that “we often ask that of God which would do us harm if we had it; he knows this, and therefore does not give it to us.” When the Lord does not give us what we want, let us remember that it is probably because what we want would be harmful to us. Even God’s “no” to us is evidence of His great love for us.

For Further S

(week of Aug 5th) (Grace)

Grace-  a: unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification

by Lysa TerKeurst

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:6 (NIV)

Sometimes God’s Word can feel like an impossible order, don’t you think? Take today’s passage for example: Paul tells us we are to let our words be gracious. I love that the NIV actually reads “full of grace.” Full of it. As in, the bulk of our words should be made up of grace toward the person with whom we are conversing.

Not partial grace. Not halfway grace. All the way grace.

I don’t know if you’ve ever tried this, but it’s hard.

It’s hard when one of the precious people living in your house gets on your last good nerve. It’s hard when a trusted friend deeply wounds you. And it’s incredibly hard when people share their thoughts and opinions so freely and carelessly on social media. Offering thoughts and opinions that can leave you feeling frustrated, angry or even personally attacked.

I don’t know about you, but words laced with grace aren’t typically the first ones that come to mind when someone’s hurtful words have landed like daggers in my heart. I want to defend myself. And point out how they’re misunderstanding my intentions.

But just because speaking with grace is hard, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. And Paul’s words to the Colossians remind us that our words matter.

Paul specifically wants us to consider our words in light of unbelievers, telling us in Colossians 4:5-6, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

And look at how Jesus models grace and truth in John 1:14, which says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (NIV). Every instance in the New Testament where we see grace and truth together is always connected to Jesus.

We are to be people of truth with grace-filled words. People who choose healing and helpful words. Because whether we realize it or not, believers and unbelievers alike are listening intently to the words we speak. They’re reading the words we type. And our words testify to the kind of relationship we have with Jesus and the kind of effect He has on our hearts.

So where is the hope in the midst of words that make our pulse race and our face flush? How do we keep our words full of grace?

We remember that Jesus doesn’t offer us partial grace. He doesn’t offer us halfway grace. Jesus gave, and continues to give, all-the-way grace. Grace that took Him all the way to the cross.

Oh, how we need to let this truth interrupt us and redirect us. The divine grace we receive from Christ should fuel our gracious natures and fill our conversations. Because we are people who desperately need grace, we should be people who lavishly give grace.

And not only are we to be gracious in our speech, Paul also tells us our words should be “seasoned with salt.” In rabbinic tradition, this phrase would have been associated with wisdom. In Greco-Roman literature, it meant to be “winsome or witty” in speech. Paul was reminding the Colossians they were called to be people filled with godly wisdom. To be able to respond to objections to the gospel in a manner that was winsome. He wanted their words, and ours, to attract people to Christ, not repel them.

I don’t know who puts grace to the test in your life, sweet friend. But I do know the Holy Spirit is willing to help us choose grace-filled words, if only we will pause long enough for Him to replace the first ones that may pop into our brains.

We can also go ahead and pre-decide that today, because of the lavish grace of Jesus, we will choose the way of grace. With His help, we can speak with honor in the midst of being dishonored. We can speak with peace in the midst of being threatened. We can speak of good things in the midst of bad situations.

We can choose words that won’t leave the bitter taste of regret in our mouths. Words seasoned with the salt of wisdom and full of the grace of Jesus.

Father God, thank You for Your Son, Jesus. He could have held back His grace. But instead, He chose to pour out every single drop for me at Calvary. May Your grace be what pours out of me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY

Ecclesiastes 10:12, “Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.” (NIV)

Article by Phillip Holmes

We know the Scriptures proclaim that God is gracious, but many struggle to believe it. Others wonder what grace actually looks like. If we take seriously the righteousness of God and the heinousness of our sin every day, we might find ourselves asking God, “Do you still love me?” or “Why are you so patient with me?” or “Why haven’t you killed me for what I’ve done?”

As our hatred for and awareness of our sin increases, we desperately need a biblical view of the grace of God. We need the Scriptures to paint a clear picture of who God is and how much he loves us in Christ Jesus. We need to see the God of the Scriptures who is so gracious it blows our minds — bringing us to tears and repentance.

How We Think About God

In Micah 6:6–7, the Israelites have a warped view of who God is. In verses one through five, the Lord offers a tender rebuke asking, “What have I done to you?” He reminds them of how he delivered them out of the hand of Egypt and other righteous acts he’s done on their behalf.

Their response in verses 6–7 is dumbfounding but painfully familiar:

With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

Instead of responding in gratitude, they exposed themselves. Whether they intended to or not, they paint this picture of God that makes him seem demanding, cruel, and impossible to satisfy. The tone is unclear. We could assume that the speaker is genuinely trying to repent or we could assume that the speaker is indignant. Their disposition is beside the point. The point is that their view of God doesn’t line up with reality and I’m all too familiar with their view of God.

Back in college, a dear friend and I were confessing sin and praying. During our time of confession and prayer, we discovered that we had very similar pictures of God. We both viewed God as the angry father sitting on the throne appalled and shocked we had sinned again. The God we pictured was impatient, angry, and completely disappointed in us. We thought our heavenly Father lived in constant frustration with his rebellious children. So when I read Micah 6:6–7 recently, I could relate to the Israelites.

God’s Grace Is Not Like Man’s Grace

Part of how we view God’s grace is often birthed out of our experience with each other. Whether it’s a parent, relative, or our general view of mankind, our experience with sinful and broken people affect our view of our holy and righteous God. We’re unacquainted with grace, mercy, and truth that’s untainted by sin. Humanly speaking, though we’ve experienced grace, we’ve never met a person that embodied grace perfectly.

As I reflected on how we love and show grace, two things stood out to me about man and our motivation to forgive:

Natural man is motivated to be gracious because man is aware (to some extent) that he’s just as guilty as the person in need of grace.

Natural man forgives others because he often only knows a small piece of all the other person is actually guilty of.

I’m sure there are more human motivations for showing grace, but from these two alone we discover two factors that play enormous parts in our ability to forgive — our own sin and ignorance.

Mind-Blowing Grace

As I began to process this, I was blown away. God is neither motivated by his own sinfulness nor enabled by his ignorance. He is a holy and righteous God, completely void of sin and full of goodness and love. He’s never made a mistake and can do anything but fail. He is perfect in all his ways. If he were a doctor, he’d never lose a patient. If he were a lawyer, he’d never lose a case. There is no moral compass that could measure how upright and blameless he is.

Nevertheless, when we, his sinful and rebellious prodigal children, spit in his face, wallow in our sin, and grieve his Spirit, he calls us to repentance with open and loving arms saying, “Come home, child.”

He’s not ignorant of all the ways we’ve sinned against him. He knows everything we’ve ever done and is able to stomach it. His knowledge of who we really are will never hinder his love for us. He’s even aware of the evil behind our righteous deeds. The intimacy by which the Lord knows us but is able to lovingly embrace us as his children is supernatural. God’s grace is mind-blowing. Every time I think of this reality, I’m brought to tears because I serve a God whose love and grace baffle me.

Knowing God’s Grace Through the Scriptures

Throughout the Scriptures, the message of this grace is proclaimed. Our God is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” (Exodus 34:6–7). This grace is distinct to the Christian faith. No other religion emphasizes divine grace the way the Bible does.

This is why reading the Bible and communing with God is essential to Christian flourishing. The less we read and pray the Bible, the more blemished our view of God becomes. If you want the grace of God to blow your mind again, read your Bibles.

(week of July 29th) (trees)

The Gospels tell a tale of trees.

It starts with John the Baptist. He comes preaching a gospel of repentance, warning the “axe is already laid at the root of the trees” (Matt. 3:10). Trees without fruit or with bad fruit will be cut down and consumed in fire (Matt. 3:10). Jesus reiterates the warning. Trees are known by the fruit they produce. Good trees bear good fruit, bad trees bear bad fruit, and the latter are destined for burning (Matt. 7:17–20).

These aren’t warnings of a generic judgment. John’s reference to the “axe” brings us back to Isaiah 10, where Yahweh takes up Assyria as his rod and axe to shatter and chop up the forest of Judah (Isa. 10:5–19). In Psalm 74, the temple is the forest hacked down by Israel’s enemies (vv. 1–7). Like many of the warnings of the Gospels, John’s and Jesus’s tree prophecies speak doom to the temple, shortly to be torn down block-by-block by the Romans (cf. Matt. 24:1–2).

The tale of trees comes to a climax during Holy Week. Jesus enters Jerusalem from the grove on the Mount of Olives (Matt. 21:1), and enters Jerusalem riding over tree branches (Matt. 21:8), like Yahweh marching over the trees to lead David into battle (2 Sam. 5:17–25). Jesus marches directly to the temple and, after inspecting and clearing God’s house, leaves Jerusalem to spend the night in Bethany. The next morning, he has a strange encounter with a fig tree. Finding it fruitless, he curses it: “No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you” (Matt. 21:19). According to Matthew’s account, “at once the fig tree withered” (Matt. 21:19).

Matthew juxtaposes the temple incident with the fig tree. In Mark 11:12–26, the two episodes form a classic “Markan sandwich”: Jesus curses the tree, Jesus clears the temple, the tree is withered. Both Matthew and Mark want us to see some connection between the two episodes. The earlier tree warnings provide the key. Jesus comes to the temple, looking for fruit that will prove the temple is a good tree. But the temple is a hideout for brigands, not a house of prayer. His curse on the fruitless fig tree symbolizes a curse on the fruitless temple. It’s a more pointed warning about the coming fire that will leave the temple withered.

Death of the Tree

Jesus is the good tree. He produces the fruit of good works, cleansing lepers, delivering the possessed from enslaving demons, healing the withered and sick, raising the dead. His words are nourishing food for those who hear. Even when Jesus goes into the wilderness, there’s plenty of food. His presence turns the wilderness into a fertile field.

As Holy Week continues, though, Jesus appears to become something else. He’s arrested, tried, and tortured. He no longer heals bodies, but suffers in his own. The man who battled Satan and cast out demons is subdued by the powers of darkness. At the last, he’s nailed to a tree (cf. Gal. 3:13). It seems the curse he pronounced on the fig tree has recoiled on him. Jesus, the fruitful tree, becomes Jesus, the withered tree. Which is precisely what has happened. God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to die under the law’s curse, to redeem those under the law. Jesus takes Israel’s curse on himself, and so he looks for all the world like a bad tree, prepared for the fire.

Jesus, the fruitful tree, becomes Jesus, the withered tree.

Immediately the tale of trees takes a turn. Jesus is elevated in his death, dried fruit hanging on a tree of death. After he dies, Joseph of Arimathea takes his body down and places it in a cave, Joseph’s own tomb. Jesus enters into a stone, into the earth. In the grave, Jesus is a seed, lying dormant. The seed of his body dies. Holy Saturday is a day of germination, as the seed gets ready to burst through the earth to bear much fruit (John 12:24). 

Resurrected Tree

Isaiah again provides the frame for seeing Jesus’s resurrection as another moment in this tale of trees. The Assyrian axe hacks Judah down to its roots, until there’s nothing left but the stump of Jesse (Isa. 11:1). When Assyria is finished, it’s as if David never existed, much less his dynasty. But from this unpromising stub of a tree, a branch grows, a new David filled with the sevenfold Spirit of God, who will judge for the poor, strike the earth with his rod, and slay the wicked with his breath (Isa. 11:1–5). Growing from Jesse’s barren root, the branch “will bear fruit” (Isa. 11:1). Jesus, the barren tree, springs from the tomb as Jesus, the tree of life.

The tale of trees becomes more elusive and allusive, but it doesn’t end with the resurrection. Nebuchadnezzar dreamed he was a tall tree with beautiful foliage and abundant fruit for all. Beasts rested in the shade beneath, and the birds nested in its branches (Dan. 4:10–12). The tree is a figure of Nebuchadnezzar’s empire, the birds and beasts a figure of the nations that live under his protective shade, fed by the fruit of Babylon. 

Jesus, the barren tree, springs from the tomb as Jesus, the tree of life.

That’s the kind of tree Jesus becomes. He doesn’t remain a branch. He grows into a great tree that touches the sky. As he said, the kingdom is a tiny mustard seed, which grows into a great herb, big enough for birds to take refuge in its branches (Matt. 13:31–32). Jesus is the kingdom tree in person. He’s the greater Nebuchadnezzar, who ascends to be the imperial tree that connects heaven and earth. The withered tree has been raised and exalted to fill the whole earth. 

Jesus Creates Other Trees

Jesus is the world-tree, but he’s the greatest tree in a forest of trees. His canopy spreads out over the birds and beasts, overshadowing the church like the Spirit who hovered over the primordial waters (Gen. 1:1–2). Ascended to fill all things, Jesus pours out his Spirit like rain, which turns the desert into a fertile field, the fertile field into a forest (Isa. 32:9–20).

Drenched with the same Spirit that nourished the branch of Jesse, we too grow into trees, planted by streams of water, our leaves green, our branches ever fruitful. When the Father grafts us into Jesus the vine, we produce the fruit of the Spirit, the fruit of the withered-and-risen tree of life.

(week of July 22nd) (Rock)

What Do We Mean When We Say ‘God Is My Rock?’

Clarence L. Haynes Jr.

Aug 31, 2021

What Do We Mean When We Say ‘God Is My Rock?’

I remember when I was growing up, we used to sing this song in Sunday School.

I am under the Rock

The Rock is higher than I

Jehovah hides me I am under the Rock

Go tell my enemies I am under the Rock

Jehovah hides me I am under the Rock

For some of you, hopefully, that brought back some memories and you are humming the tune in your head.

What I did not recognize as a child singing this song is the great truth and theology that are contained within these words. Have you ever taken the time to fully grasp what it means when we say God is my rock? Though I didn’t totally understand it as a child it is crystal clear as an adult. There are many things I could point to, but I want to highlight four things that will help you understand what it means that God is our rock.

The Dichotomy of the Rock

When you think about a rock there are several images that can come to mind. For me when I think of a rock, I think of something hard, tough, and durable. What is fascinating about God being the rock is that he is all those things and yet at the same time in this same rock you find tenderness, mercy, and compassion. I call this the dichotomy of the rock. As we explore what God is our rock means I think you will see both aspects come to light.

So, what does it mean that God is my rock?

1. God is the rock of refuge and safety.

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;

let me never be put to shame.

In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;

turn your ear to me and save me.

Be my rock of refuge,

to which I can always go;

give the command to save me,

for you are my rock and my fortress. Psalm 71:1-3

When you think of what it means that God is my rock the first thing I want to point to is he is our refuge and safety. The word refuge hear can also mean to put your trust in, so some translations read in you Lord I put my trust. In this passage, God is pictured as a place you can go for safety and a place where you can put your trust. It is wonderful to know that God’s presence is a safe place. You can trust God with your fears, your concerns, your anxieties, and all of your emotions because they are safe with him. Since God is also the one who can be trusted this means you never have to hide anything from him. If you ever feel overwhelmed or threatened, you can run to the rock and find a place of refuge and safety. The other good thing about a refuge, it is a place you can rest. If you are stressed, you can go to the rock and find relief. If you are tired you can go to the rock and find rest. God is the one you can go to in every season of life and find refuge, safety, and rest because he is your rock and he can be trusted.

2. God is my rock of protection.

God is not only a rock for refuge, but he is also your protector. As protector, this means that not only will he fight for you, but he will watch over you. His protection does not give us license to be foolish, but it gives us assurance that he will be with us. When you walk in God’s will you also walk in God’s protection. As long as you remain in his will you will be under his protection until the day he calls you home or until Jesus comes, whichever happens first.

God as protector also becomes an issue of trust because that means he protects every part of you, not just physical protection but he also protects who you are as well. This means if you trust him as protector, he will never let you be put to shame. Another way of saying it is God will protect your reputation. This means that you don’t always have to worry about defending yourself because God will do it for you. As the psalmist wrote in Ps. 25:3, no one who trusts in you will ever be put to shame. This is true because God is your rock of protection. He protects you from harm and he protects you from shame.

3. God is my rock of foundation.

So, this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone,

  a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;

 the one who relies on it

  will never be stricken with panic. Isaiah 28:16

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11

The very foundation of our lives should be built on Jesus Christ. He is the rock of our life. The reason foundation is so important is because it gives stability and strength. If the foundation of a house is shaky then that house is going to be shaky. If the foundation is strong then that house will be strong. The same is true of our lives. If our lives are truly built on the foundation of Jesus Christ, then we will remain strong and stand regardless of what happens around us. This requires you to not always focus on what is happening around you but to make sure your foundation is secure because then you can withstand whatever comes your way. Here is what Jesus had to say about those whose lives were built on the rock.

Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. Matthew 7:24-25

Jesus is our rock and if he is the foundation of your life you will stand. As the old song says,

On Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand.

4. God is the rock of our salvation.

The last wonderful imagery to point to that lets us know what we mean that God is our rock is that he is our hope of salvation. It is comforting to know that our salvation is not dependent on shifting or changing things, but it is dependent on an immovable, unchanging God. Here is the confidence you can have in the rock and hope of your salvation.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:27-28

Because we have the confidence of Jesus as our rock and our salvation is found only in him, then our eternity is secure in him. Remember he is the rock and he has declared that no one will ever snatch you out of his hand. This gives you hope, confidence, and assurance.

Will you run to the rock?

You have two choices in how you live your life. You can run to the rock and live in a place of refuge, rest, protection, and hope or you can live outside that. If you are in Christ and you refuse to run to God for refuge, then you are living outside of your privilege. God desires to be the rock in your life. He wants to hide you in him and be your place of safety. In a world where things are changing right before our eyes, it is good to know that we can be hidden in God who is our rock. I encourage you today no matter what is going on, run to God who is your rock because there really is no better place to be.

(week of July 15th) (Children of God)

Children of God

Tedd Tripp

Ephesians 5:1

Scripture uses various metaphors to describe the Christian’s relationship with God. God is the Creator; we are creatures. He is the Vine; we are the branches. He is the King; we are His subjects. He is the Shepherd; we are His sheep. He is the Potter; we are the clay. He is the Physician; we are the sickly ones. He is our Captain; we are soldiers of the cross. Each of these metaphors conveys a truth that is valuable for understanding ourselves and God.

In Ephesians 5:1, Paul reminds us of sonship. We are “beloved children.” Father and beloved child is one of the most precious metaphors for our relationship with God. When Jesus teaches us to pray, He says, “Our Father,” not “our Captain,” not “our King” or not even “our Shepherd,” but “our Father.”

We are His children by adoption. The privilege of being a beloved child of the Almighty God is amazing. To be healed is wonderful. To be forgiven is glorious. To be a believer is marvelous. But to be a child of God, a beloved child; there is intimacy in that metaphor.

Think of the privileges of being a beloved child of God:

Acceptance

A child is always accepted in the family. A boss can fire an employee, but you cannot fire your child. Parents love their children with eagerness and endurance. A parent can always find qualities in his beloved child that no one else is able to see. As God’s child you are accepted. There is no condemnation in Christ. Christ has given you a new record. He is not deciding day by day whether to accept you. That transaction was already accomplished in the life and death of Jesus Christ.

Access

A child has unfettered access to his parent. He can come into his parents’ room in the middle of the night and awaken them with a report of a bad dream. An employee never has that kind of access to the boss. Even the best boss in the world does not want you to awaken him in the middle of the night with your personal problems. But a dearly loved child has access. We can come to our Father day or night. We have immediate, personal access to the God of the universe.

Refuge

God is a refuge for and protector of His beloved children. Just as a parent naturally desires to protect and shelter his child, God is our refuge and protector. He is never overbearing, but He is always present. In the valley of the shadow of death, in the presence of our enemies. God is our refuge, our protector and our provider.

Inheritance

God’s beloved children are joint heirs with Jesus Christ. We can live with the confidence and poise of people who inherit eternal blessings from the largess of our Father.

We are beloved children of God in Christ. What a privilege.

(week of July 8th) (His Touch)

The Lord's Touch

Article by John Piper

Reading the words of 1 Samuel 10:26 moved me to pray for a new touch from God. “And Saul also went to his house at Gibeah; and the valiant men whose hearts God had touched went with him.”

What a wonderful thing to be touched in the heart by God. There is nothing unusual about the Hebrew word here (naga'). It is simply “touch” in the ordinary sense. God touched their hearts.

The touch of God in the heart is an awesome thing. It is awesome because the heart is so precious to us—so deep and intimate and personal. When the heart is touched we are deeply touched. When the heart is touched the core of our being is touched. When the heart is touched someone has gotten through all the layers to the center. We have been known. We have been seen. We have been pierced.

The touch of God is an awesome thing because God is God. Just think of what is being said here! God touched them. Not a wife. Not a child. Not a parent. Not a counselor. But God. The One with infinite power in the universe. The One with infinite authority and infinite wisdom and infinite love and infinite goodness and infinite purity and infinite justice. That One touched their heart. How does the circumference of Jupiter touch the edge of a molecule? Let alone penetrate to its nucleus?

The touch of God is awesome because it is a touch. It is a real connection. That it involves the heart is awesome. That it involves God is awesome. And that it involves an actual touch is awesome. The valiant men were not just spoken to. They were not just swayed by a divine influence. They were not just seen and known. God, with infinite condescension, touched their heart. God was that close. And they were not consumed.

I love that touch. I want it more and more. For myself and for all of you. I pray that God would touch me anew for his glory. I pray that he would touch us all. O for the touch of God! If it comes with fire, so be it. If it comes with water so be it. If it comes with wind, let it come, O God. If it comes with thunder and lightning, let us bow before it.

O Lord, come. Come that close. Burn and soak and blow and crash. Or still and small, come. Come all the way. Touch.

Touched and longing,

Pastor John

(week of July 1st) (freedom)

MARCH 20, 2022

What Is ‘Freedom in Christ’?

Cities Church | Minneapolis

Resource by David Mathis

Scripture: Galatians 5:1–6    Topic: Identity in Christ

In New York Harbor stands a giant copper statue, 150 feet high — mounted on a base that’s another 150 feet high, putting the torch of “Lady Liberty,” as some call her, more than 300 feet above the ground. This “Statue of Liberty” was a gift to the United States, from France, in 1876, marking 100 years since the Declaration of Independence. The statue was dedicated ten years later, in 1886, and has become a worldwide symbol of freedom — of liberty — for more than 130 years.

But we might ask, Freedom from what? The idea of liberty, of freedom, has taken on a life of its own in the modern world, and it can be easy to lose track of the context of freedom. Freedom from what, and for what?

The founding fathers of the United States had a particular oppressor in mind when they cried for liberty: English rule. And more specifically for the U.S. founders, freedom meant government on the consent of the governed, rather than the authority of kings. Yet, in the struggle for independence from Britain, the founders were not afraid to speak of Liberty in grandiose terms:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

The sound of liberty in human ears is a powerful tonic, sometimes healing genuine ills, and other times acting as a poison. The cry for freedom can produce both peaceful elections and mob violence. What began with national freedom from foreign rule can quickly devolve into a cry of freedom against our own chosen government when it turns out we don’t like something. The cry for freedom, unchecked, soon pines for individual “liberty” from any outside “authority,” however human, or divine.

In 1992, Supreme Court justice Anthony Kennedy wrote, in Planned Parenthood vs. Casey, “At the heart of liberty is the right to define one’s own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life.” That is a sweeping, expansive claim, which might have stunned even the most liberal of the founders. And that was thirty years ago.

Declaration of Freedom

Yet as modern as the emphasis on personal liberty may seem, the cry for liberty is far more ancient than modern liberalism, or the mobs of the French Revolution, or the principled documents of the U.S. founders. More than 1700 years earlier, the apostle Paul, at the climax of his letter to the Galatians, made his great declaration for freedom. Which means that the Christian cry for liberty — for Christian freedom — far predates the cries that inform and distort the popular sense of liberty today.

Paul writes in Galatians 5:1,

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

This cry for freedom captures the heart of Paul’s burden in the letter. The first half of the verse, the declaration of freedom, anticipates the rest of the letter, from Galatians 5:13–6:10, and the freedom of the Christian life. And the second half of verse 1, the exhortation to stand firm, captures the key truth of Galatians 2:16–4:7: full acceptance with God is by faith in Jesus Christ.

The second half of verse 1, then, leads to verses Galatians 5:2–4; and the first half of verse 1 leads to Galatians 5:5–6, Paul comes back to the first part of verse 1. So, there are two distinct emphases in this text: we might call them “freedom from” (verses 1–4) and “freedom for” (verse 1 and 5–6).

The question for us this morning is this: What is Christian freedom? And this passage answers in two clear parts. And then we’ll find at the end a third aspect that is more subtle, and easy to miss, and so perhaps all the more important to draw out.

So, what is Christian freedom?

Freedom From

First, Paul is clear about what Christian freedom is freedom from. Look again at Galatians 5:2–4:

Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.

Remember, as we’ve seen throughout Galatians, the issue in this letter is justification, that is, how you get right, and stay right, with God. On what grounds, and by what means, might sinners like us be fully accepted by God, and have right-standing with him?

Paul’s answer, as we’ve seen, is that justification is by faith alone. Your full acceptance by God, your right-standing with God, is (1) based on the work of Christ alone and (2) accessed and received through faith alone. For justification before God, we cannot combine our doing with Christ’s as the basis, nor our doing with believing as the instrument. We both “get in” right relationship with God, and — this is important — “stay in,” by faith alone.

So in verses 2–4 Paul issues a succession of three warnings, because it takes vigilance to distinguish between justification and other realities in the Christian life.

Freedoms to Be Defended

Paul says, “stand firm” in verse 1. Freedom is a calling he will say in verse 13; Christian freedom, grounded in justification by faith, is a freedom to be defended. It is not enough to start by faith, and then add works-righteousness. And it also takes care to not presume and apply faith alone in improper ways.

For instance, when a parent says to a child, “Clean your room,” we should not assume that is not works-righteousness. The presenting issue is not right-standing before God. The issue is obedience to parents and a fruitful household. That is, unless the parent makes it an issue of works-righteousness by saying, “If you do not clean your room, then you’re going to hell.” If that were the case, the Christian child or teen would have every right to say, “Dear Dad, I cannot earn God’s full acceptance by cleaning my room. I can only get right and be right with God by faith alone in Christ alone. I will obey you, because you are my father, but this is not an issue of justification before God.”

So, as Christians who love and delight in the freedom we have in Christ through justification by faith, we will want to take care to be vigilant in what pressures we put on others, and what pressures we allow others to put on us, and on what terms. To stand firm, and defend justification before God, we want to keep it clear in our minds and words.

Freedom from Circumcision

Christian freedom, then, is freedom from what? We have seen in this letter that justification by faith frees us from sin (Galatians 3:22), and from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13; and from the elementary principles of the world, Galatians 4:3). Christ’s sacrifice covers our sins, and frees us from the guilt of our sins, and increasingly from the power of our sins.

The most immediate freedom from in these verses is freedom from circumcision. Galatians 5:2 is the first time in this letter that Paul has mentioned circumcision, but this is the flashpoint in Galatia. Because of the pressure from the false teachers, the Galatian Christians seem to have already added the Jewish festivals to their Christianity (Galatians 4:10), and are contemplating accepting circumcision as the decisive step of taking up old-covenant law. So, circumcision represents taking the yoke of old-covenant law, believing it to be a necessary step to belong to God’s people and be found “righteous” on the day of judgment.

So, in verse 2, Paul says, in essence, “If I could just say one thing to you . . .” He says, “Look: I, Paul . . .” In other words, Listen, it’s me. You know me. I brought the gospel to you. Listen up. I’ll shoot you straight: “if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.” It’s not because circumcision is wrong or damnable in itself. But, in this instance, accepting circumcision would mean that the Galatians now believe that Christ, and faith in him, is not enough to be right with God, and so, to be circumcised would be to rebel against God and Christ. That’s the first warning.

Freedom from the Law

Then a second warning in Galatians 5:3: “I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law.” When Paul says keep there, the word is literally do. In this situation, where the old-covenant law, through circumcision, has been made an issue (by the false teachers) of right-standing with God, to embrace it is to turn from Christ and his new covenant.

They cannot just add circumcision; to turn there is to turn to the whole law. And now that Christ has come, there is no longer a valid sacrificial system there that God accepts. If you “add the law,” you must do the law perfectly. And you cannot do the old-covenant law perfectly. For that matter, you cannot do all the new-covenant commands either, but in the new covenant we have Christ. In the new covenant, we have his provision for our sins. And so we do weekly confession every Sunday as a church. We fail every week. Every day. We cannot get or keep ourselves right with God by or through our doing.

Freedom from Earning Righteousness

Then, a third and final warning in Galatians 5:4: “You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.” “Grace” here, as with doing in verse 3, gets at the underlying issue. We’ve talked in this series about “law” meaning the old covenant, and not law or commands in general. We’ve emphasized the shift in the epochs of history, from old covenant to new. But this letter is not only about old covenant versus new. A second problem lies behind that: doing versus believing, for right-standing with God. Or, earning versus grace.

To accept circumcision, Paul says, will be to fall from grace, because circumcision represents an adding to Christ for justification and unavoidably introduces law and doing into the grace and faith of being right with God through Christ.

“Living the Christian life by grace means that we get and stay in right relationship with God by faith alone.”

What does it mean, then, practically, to live the Christian life by this grace when there are commands in the new covenant? Every Sunday at our church, we rehearse Jesus’s Great Commission to teach all nations to observe all that he commanded. Living the Christian life by grace means that, at bottom, we get and stay in right relationship with God by faith alone, based on Christ alone.

And as we obey Christ’s commands (which we do, increasingly from the heart!), and as we access God’s voice daily in his word, and respond to him in prayer, and gather with this body on Sundays to worship and during the week for fellowship, we do not seek to secure or maintain our standing with God by our doing, but our efforts, our lives, our obedience from faith are channels of God’s ongoing grace to us. Not obligations for justification, but expressions of what we call sanctification. Which leads, then, to what our freedom is for.

Freedom For

Remember, the first half of verse 1 (“For freedom Christ has set us free”) is picked up in verses 5–6. Verse 2 was Paul’s one, direct word of exhortation, about freedom from — from sin, from law, from the curse and death, and from trying to earn God’s acceptance. Now verses 5–6 celebrate freedom for what and summarize the whole letter, from beginning to end — and note the emphasis on faith:

For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Our first question might be, What’s this “waiting for the hope of righteousness”? In Christ, don’t we already, by faith, have right-standing with God?

So far in Galatians the emphasis has been on the past (Christ’s completed work) and present (we are justified, now, by faith). What’s this future aspect?

Future Hope of Freedom

First, we should clarify that “hope” in English sounds far more uncertain in our ears than “hope” in Greek (elpis) did to the Galatians. And hope, as deep confidence, not a thin wish, fits here with a future aspect of justification, when it is indeed by faith.

Paul has the final judgment in view in verse 5, and he does not change his emphasis on faith. Faith in Christ is how we now enjoy full acceptance with God and how we will be found in the right at the end. We enter by faith, stay in by faith, and will be confirmed by faith. Same basis: Christ’s work, not ours. Same instrument: our faith, not our doing. What hope then remains for the future? God’s public declaration of our righteousness in Christ, by faith, for all to know, at the final judgment, confirmed by real evidence of change in our lives.

Freedom for Enjoying God

So, what, then, about freedom for? Paul says in Galatians 5:5 that this is “through the Spirit,” which is critical in understanding Christian freedom. The Holy Spirit changes us. He takes out the old, natural heart of stone, and puts in a heart of flesh. He gives us new desires. He begins his lifelong sanctifying work in us, and we become new. He frees us to be adopted as sons and daughters.

And he frees us for the inheritance of all things, which means that freedom in Christ — freedom for — includes “the things of earth” that God has given us to enjoy him. In Christ, through the Spirit, we are free to enjoy God’s good gifts to the full — which means receiving those gifts consciously from his hand, and tracing the gift to the Giver. And there’s more.

The great new-covenant prophecy in Jeremiah 31 captures so well the “freedom from” and “freedom for” of the Christian life. In Christ, we have freedom from: “I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:34). And listen to how Jeremiah casts the freedom for:

I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts (new desires, by the Spirit!). And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 31:33–34)

“Christian freedom is for enjoying what we were made for — who we were made for: God in Christ.”

Christian freedom is freedom for knowing God. For being his, and having him as ours. Through the Spirit, we are freed for holiness, freed for true life, freed to be sons and daughters in the happiest family, freed to enjoy the inheritance of everything, and to enjoy Jesus now and forever. Christian freedom is for enjoying finally and forever what we were made for — who we were made for: God in Christ.

Freedom With

But there is one final reality in this text to understand Christian freedom. And this is Paul’s accent at the end of verse 6:

In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Paul is not here saying love justifies us before God. He is saying that the faith that justifies us before God is the kind of faith that “works through love.” It is an active (not lazy) faith, a lively (not dead) faith, a Spirit-empowered (not self-mustered) faith. And this love (for others) is a freedom, not a burden. In Christ, we have been freed to love. Which means, third and finally, Christian freedom is not only freedom from , and not only freedom for, but also freedom with.

Jump down to Galatians 5:13:

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Note the confirmations of our first two points: (1) we are called to freedom. Freedom from earning God’s acceptance through our doing, and freedom from sin, and law, and death is not optional, but essential. And (2) freedom is for joy, for holiness, for life, for knowing God — not “an opportunity for the flesh” but life in the Spirit. And then finally, (3) freedom with: “through love serve one another.”

Justification by faith frees us to love others. It frees us from the burden of earning our standing with God. It frees us from being fixated on our status and deeds. And it liberates us, then, to love others — to give attention to their needs, and take the initiative, and expend effort, to meet them.

And not only is Christian freedom for loving others, but it is a freedom with others. This is the subtle point in the text: we’re not alone. Verse 1, “us.” Verse 5, “we.” Verse 6, “love [others].” Verse 13, serve “one another.” And we’ll see in the coming weeks, verse 15, “one another” twice more. And then, verse 26, “one another” two more times. And Galatians 6:10, “especially the household of faith.”

Freedom Together

Christian freedom is freedom together. It is not the kind of liberty that moves us away from each other, to protect our rights, and guard our little packages of liberty. But it is a freedom together, a freedom with, a freedom that is greater and more enjoyable with others. In Christ, we are free to serve others, bless others, love each other; we are freed from self-justification, self-focus, selfishness. We are free to make the happy choice to not exercise some personal right, at times, for the sake of love, as Paul talks about in 1 Corinthians 9–10: “though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all.”

“Justification by faith frees us to love others.”

And the freedom of joy together through love is a greater freedom than self-focus. The sweetest, most enjoyable freedom is not alone but together — and often is enjoyed by denying ourselves some personal “rights,” or lesser freedoms, for the sake of others and enjoying the greater joys and greater freedom of love. Freedom with is far greater joy than freedom solo.

So, we come together to the Table. The Lord’s Supper is a table both of liberty and union. Liberty in that we have been set free from our sin and death and hell, and free from the burden of earning God’s acceptance. And we have been set free for life in the Spirit and the joy of holiness and love. And we have been set free together. There is unity in our liberty in Christ.

We call this Communion because in this Table we draw near to, not away from, both Christ and each other.

Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

4 Things the Bible Says About Freedom

4 Things the Bible Says About Freedom

As the United States of America celebrates Independence Day on July 4, it’s worth noting the nation was founded upon the idea that God created human beings to be free. The Declaration of Independence states that people “are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

But what is “liberty,” exactly? Is freedom based upon the country where you live, or can it have a deeper meaning?

Here are some key ideas from the Bible about freedom—including how to find true freedom in your life.

1. People have been searching for it for thousands of years.

The quest for freedom is a theme found throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Just three chapters into the story of God’s creation, humanity gave up its freedom by choosing to rebel against God. From that time forward, the perfect freedom God created in the Garden of Eden was gone, and the long-term effects were both physical and spiritual.

The Old Testament of the Bible records how God’s people lost their physical freedom time and again as various empires overtook them (most notably the Egyptians, as recorded in the book of Exodus).

The loss of physical freedom was often tied to spiritual disobedience like worshiping false gods. But time and again, the one true God forgave His people and rescued them. When God freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, He was foreshadowing the arrival of Jesus Christ, who came to free humanity from sin—the spiritual slavery that leads to death.

Today, many people are living in spiritual slavery without realizing it. They chase false gods of money, success, personal comfort and romantic love—only to realize they still have an emptiness that can’t be filled by any of those things.

>> Everyone worships something. Read Billy Graham’s short answer about the definition of an idol.

2. God’s answer to our loss of freedom has always been Jesus Christ.

When Jesus began his short period of ministry on the earth, He announced He was the One that God’s people had been waiting for since the fall of humanity. He did this by reading a particular passage from the book of Isaiah—a passage his listeners knew was referring to the Messiah, or the Savior of the world.

The words had been written hundreds of years earlier and spoke of a new freedom that was coming in the future. When Jesus stood up to read, He was saying the future had arrived. Liberty would come through Him.

“And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

    because he has anointed me

    to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

    and recovering of sight to the blind,

    to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’

And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing’” (Luke 4:17-21, emphasis added).

>> Read Billy Graham’s short devotion, “Truth Brings Freedom.”

3. Jesus came to free us from death, sin and anything that enslaves us.

The core message of the Christian faith—the Gospel—is that Jesus Christ rescues us from the slavery of sin and offers true freedom in this life and beyond. This is what Jesus said:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

The Good News—the best news ever—is that faith in Jesus frees us from the death we deserve for sinning against God. It frees us from the punishment that would be inflicted upon us at the end of our lives for the evil things we’ve thought and done.

While Christ followers still battle with sin, they are no longer slaves to it. Through the power of Christ, His people can be set free from the bondage of greed, vanity, pride, pornography, addiction, abusive behavior, gluttony, selfishness—and any other sin under the sun. Here’s what Jesus said about the freedom He offers:

“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). 

“Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:34-36).

>> Watch Billy Graham’s powerful message, “Truth and Freedom,” from his 1969 New York City Crusade.

4. God gives us freedom to choose our own path.

God created human beings, not robots. We don’t have to accept the freedom He offers us through Jesus Christ. He gives each person the free will to accept or reject His salvation. But the Bible warns that hell is a real place where real people end up when they knowingly reject the truth.

Likewise, those who choose Christ are not forced to obey Him at every turn. But God makes it clear: the best life is one that’s devoted to honoring Him. As the Apostle Paul explained to some of the first Christians:

“’All things are lawful for me,’” but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful for me,’ but I will not be dominated by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12).

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).

>> What is “the judgment,” and why did Jesus have to die for our sins? Listen to Billy Graham’s message.

Final thoughts on freedom

From cover to cover, God’s Word points to freedom in Christ. And God doesn’t leave us wondering how to grab hold of the freedom He offers. It starts with acknowledging our brokenness—and admitting we are slaves to sin. And it ends with choosing Jesus and following Him daily. Only He can break the bonds of slavery and lead us to true freedom, now and forever.

Choose Jesus today, and find out what true freedom feels like.

Walking in Freedom

Inspiration MinistriesBy Inspiration Ministries•2 Minutes

The Gospel is about walking in freedom—being freed from sin and every kind of bondage. That’s why, early in His ministry, Jesus quoted Isaiah’s Old Testament prophecy that He had been sent to “set free those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18 NASB). Jesus made clear that this freedom begins with our relationship with Him.

Many Believers (and even non-Believers) quote Jesus as saying, “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” But we can forget that there was a condition to this freedom. Jesus said this only is available to those who “continue in My Word,” to those who are “truly disciples of Mine” (John 8:31-32).

The Old Testament stresses this same principle. We read how the Psalmist could walk in freedom because he had “devoted myself to your commandments,” basing his life on God’s Word.

Many in the world think that freedom means doing whatever they want. But the Bible urges us to remember that freedom begins with a loving, obedient relationship with God. He is our Creator, and He knows us better than we know ourselves. He desires to bless us physically, financially, and spiritually. He wants to enrich our lives in every way and free us from all fears and worries.

We only experience real freedom after we make Jesus our Lord, devote ourselves to God’s Word, and are filled with the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to direct our lives.

Today, remember that “the truth will make you free.” You don’t have to be dominated by sin or bad habits, worry or fear. Make Jesus your Lord. Renew your commitment to base your life on God’s Word.

This is His plan to give you real freedom, real victory, and real peace. You can be confident and secure, guided by His wisdom.

(week of June 24th) (gossip)

I thought Rick Warren gave a great definition of gossip and how we know when we are gossiping. He said this:

When we are talking about a situation with somebody who is neither part of the problem or part of the solution, then we are probably gossiping.

When you think about words, statistics say we speak about one-fifth of our entire lives. The average person has over thirty conversations a day. That would fill up in a year 66 books at 800 pages a book—each year. Crazy, huh? There are lots of opportunities to make mistakes.

“The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” (Proverbs 18:21 – NLT)

I want to read a poem called “My Name Is Gossip”. It goes like this:

My name is Gossip.
I have no respect for justice.
I maim without killing.
I break hearts and ruin lives.
I am cunning and malicious and gather strength with age.

The more I am quoted the more I am believed.
I flourish at every level of society.
My victims are helpless.
They cannot protect themselves against me because I have no name and no face.

To track me down is impossible.
The harder you try, the more elusive I become.
I am nobody’s friend.
Once I tarnish a reputation, it is never the same.
I topple governments and wreck marriages.
I ruin careers and cause sleepless nights, heartaches and indigestion.

I make innocent people cry in their pillows.
Even my name hisses. I am called Gossip.
I make headlines and headaches.

What to do when faced with gossip

Gossip is a serious matter since people’s reputations can be destroyed in seconds. Try and avoid people who share gossip and don’t give them any opportunities for them to spread it:

• Leave the room when gossip starts
• Don’t respond to questions about opinions on others or other traps
• Change the topic whenever you see a conversation leading to gossip. Politely say that you would prefer to talk about that person when they are present.

There’s a story from the Jewish faith of a man who had told so many malicious untruths about the local rabbi that, overcome by remorse, he begged the rabbi to forgive him: And, Rabbi, tell me how I can make amends. The rabbi sighed, Take two pillows, go to the public square and there cut the pillows open. Wave them in the air. Then come back. The rumour-monger quickly went home, got two pillows and a knife, hastened to the square, cut the pillows open, waved them in the air and hastened back to the rabbi’s chambers: I did just what you said, Rabbi! The rabbi smiled: Good! Now, to realise how much harm is done by gossip, go back to the square and collect all your feathers.

What can we do? We can ask God for help. James in his epistle says that no man has tamed the tongue. He doesn’t say that God can’t help us tame the tongue. In our power and our strength, we won’t be able to do it. But with God’s power and God’s strength, we can go a long way towards taming the tongue. In the book of Psalms David has this prayer:

Take control of what I say, O Lord,
    and guard my lips.
Don’t let me drift toward evil
or take part in acts of wickedness. (Psalm 141:3-4 – NLT)

If we started to live our lives praying that prayer on a regular basis—God, help me set a guard over my mouth and watch my lips so that what I say doesn’t lean towards evil—imagine what God would do in our lives. Ask for God’

Gossip is one of the most destructive of all human sins.  What does God think about it?  What biblical principles can we apply to stop gossip in its tracks?

A Definition of Gossip

Let’s first take a look at a secular definition from the dictionary about what gossip is.  The definition of gossip includes:  Rumor or talk of an intimate nature that is personal and sensational.  Something spoken by a person who habitually spreads intimate or private rumors or facts [1]. The words that stand out to me are “personal”, “sensational”, “rumors” and “spreads.”  These are spoken by others about someone that can involve rumors or facts, but either way they are private…or at least should be.

A conversation that involves talking about another person when they are not present can include malicious, damaging, rumors or facts.  These tidbits can either be true or false.  Either way, they are damaging to the person who is not present to hear them.  Like a wildfire, gossip can spread rapidly and cover a great many people in a short amount of time.  I live in a very small town and it is a frequent occurrence to hear gossip about others.  Sadly, there is no way to confirm whether these rumors are true or not.  Even if it is true, it’s an invasion of privacy and generally tends to assassinate a person’s character.  It degrades the person being spoken about.  Gossip devalues them, embarrasses them, and can humiliate them if the gossip gets back to them.  I used to work at a small factory and the joke around the shop was, “telegraph, telephone, and tell a machinist.”  How true that was.  When I heard rumors about co-workers, it rarely made sense to me because I knew almost everyone there after seven years of employment.  The vast majority of time it was untrue and I considered it a false accusation.  Besides, it was none of my business.

What the Bible Says About Gossip

Proverbs 16:28  A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. 

(week of June 17th) (me)

DEVOTIONS

The God Who Sees You

AUGUST 23, 2021

Jo Saxton

by Jo Saxton

“She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.’” Genesis 16:13 (NIV)

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Sitting down in my favorite chair, cup of tea in hand, journal by my side, I was ready to read the Bible and pray. My family had been instructed not to disturb me and was a distant sound upstairs. Even the dog was quiet. I appreciated the space because I had a singular focus that evening. I was determined to spend time with God because I needed some answers.

My business, once the fruit of dreams we’d prayed and fasted over, was failing. Every day felt like I was working hard to rescue a sinking ship. We tried new strategies; we tried old strategies — nothing worked. I was exhausted.

I needed a plan to fix things; I needed to know the next step. There were some difficult choices to make, but how would I discern them? I needed God’s guidance.

I sat down with every intention of seeking God for direction. I was ready to pray all the confusion out and pray all the clarity in! But when I began, all I could say was:

“God, would You mind if I got into the fetal position, please … because … I can’t —”

My voice broke with sobs that spoke the prayers my words couldn’t form. I curled into a ball on the floor and wept because it’s hard to hold it all together when you’re falling apart. I’d been telling everyone, including myself, that I was “tired but OK.”

But I couldn’t fake it with God. So I stayed on the floor for what seemed like forever, pouring my heart out to Him. The grief and confusion, the anger and disappointment. Eventually a phrase came to my mind: “You are the God who sees me.” I took a slow, deep breath. Hagar.

Hagar spoke these words in the desert after escaping the mistreatment of Abram and Sarai. Her life had been swept up into their own broken struggles, and they had utterly broken her. Yet in the desert, Hagar discovered that, though she had limited value in Abram and Sarai’s eyes, every part of her life was precious to God, and He would redeem her story. In response, Hagar called Him El Roi — the God who sees.

How often do you feel that God doesn’t see what you’re going through? Perhaps you don’t take it personally; after all, there’s so much going on in the world, so many other people in need. Or maybe it does feel personal, as though God sees everyone’s life but yours, hears everyone’s prayers but yours. We struggle through difficult relationships, challenging circumstances, hard decisions that give us sleepless nights. Maybe, like me, you dutifully prepare yourself to pray the right prayers, read the right words and try to be strong for everyone, including God … even though in reality you’re falling apart.

That tearful evening, I was reminded that God doesn’t need me to try to be strong for Him when I’m going through a crisis. He is not surprised by my circumstances; He cares about them and He cares for me. He is the God who sees me.

When I was in crisis, He saw my disappointment and shattered dreams. He saw how afraid I was; He knew the way this crisis touched old wounds and scars in my past. He saw me trying to hold it together for everyone and loved me in it all. He met me there on the floor — and He reminded me of who He is. He is still the God who sees me and redeems my story.

God has seen every chapter of your story, the parts you celebrate and the parts you wish you could forget. He sees you today, in the struggles and the tiredness, the fears and the fun. He sees every part of you. He knows you. He loves you. And when life is falling apart, His hold on you is stronger than your hold on Him. He has no intention of letting you go. He will redeem your story.

Heavenly Father, You know my every thought, my deepest longings and every hope. You know the reality of all my days. Thank You that I do not have to be strong with You. Please help me today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

(Week of June 10th) (wait)

God Is Working in Your Waiting

Article by Jade Mazarin

Guest Contributor

Most parents would agree that their children don’t want to wait for anything. The last thing kids want to hear is Mom say, “Not now.” It can prompt anger, frustration, even hopelessness. This “dis-ease” of waiting follows most of us into our adult years. We may not respond with the same emotional outbursts as children, but most of us still hate waiting for what we want.

And our modern society just makes it worse. We want everything done quickly — and new devices constantly spring up to meet those demands and encourage our impatience. We are not used to waiting, and the more our technology caters to our immediate desires, the less we feel willing to wait.

Such is our dilemma as Christians. While society makes every attempt to make our life easier and faster, God works on a very different timetable. In his mind, nothing is wrong with waiting. In fact, waiting can actually be a positive good that he often uses to make us more like his Son.

God Works While We Wait

Something actually happens while nothing is happening. God uses waiting to change us.

“There is actually something happening while nothing is happening. God uses waiting to change us.”

The story of Adam and Eve is a story of rebellion against God. Once they believed that God didn’t have their best interests in mind, they decided to go ahead without God and do what they wanted. They became, in effect, their own god. Too often, this is exactly what we do today. When God tells us to wait, we don’t trust him, but go ahead and find ways to accomplish what we want to happen.

This tendency to push God to the side goes against his plan for us. It creates distance in our relationship with him. It causes us to get into trouble and brings pain. What good is it to gain the whole world now — whatever it is we think we want — and forfeit our souls’ intimacy with God (Mark 8:36)?

God wants us to learn how to follow him and put down our demanding selves — to calm that screaming child in us. One way he helps us do this is to say, “Wait.” That miserable, uncomfortable, sometimes painful state of silence is one of God’s most powerful tools to set us free.

If we are willing, that is.

Choosing at the Crossroads

We don’t start out willing to wait. Our natural response to waiting is often anger or doubt. Fortunately, God is gracious and merciful, understanding of our tendencies. Simply feeling deep, complex emotions in waiting — especially for significant things, like a pregnancy or a job — is not necessarily sinful in itself. But we can decide where those emotions take us.

We can decide to exalt these feelings. We might act on them by taking matters into our own hands. Or perhaps we will not act, but we’ll make an idol out of the good for which we are waiting — every passing day is another log on the fires of bitterness, impatience, ingratitude, perhaps even resentment against the God who won’t give us what we want.

Or, by God’s grace, we can choose to wait as he intends. “Waiting on the Lord is the opposite of running ahead of the Lord, and it’s the opposite of bailing out on the Lord,” writes John Piper. “It’s staying at your appointed place while he says stay, or it’s going at his appointed pace while he says go. It’s not impetuous, and it’s not despairing.”

We have the choice, then, to take a deep breath, release our clenched hands, and let God be God. And we are invited to continue hoping in his greatness.

Pray for God to Work in You

Certainly, only one of these options will bring us joy. As we seek to accept and rejoice in God’s handling of our lives, including his timing, we can ask God to work in us two main things, so that our waiting is not in vain: humility and trust.

1. Humility

Sometimes, when I’ve found myself getting impatient and upset, I will remind myself that God is the one who put me here. My life is not my own. This is humility. It is coming to realize that we are a breath and God owes us nothing (Psalm 39:5; Luke 17:7–10).

2. Trust

Then comes trust, which means believing at least two things about God: he is powerful, and he is loving.

“That miserable, uncomfortable, painful silence is one of God’s most powerful tools to set us free.”

Believing God is powerful means that we know he is in charge of what’s happening; things are not arbitrary or out of his control. He is capable of both helping us and changing things. Much of our anxiety in waiting is because we forget that “God is able to make all grace abound to you” (2 Corinthians 9:8). You are not at the mercy of your circumstances.

Believing God is loving means that there is care and purpose behind all that he does. It means that he is faithful to help us right now and bring us blessings later. It means that his judgment and timing is always perfectly good. True, he owes us nothing, yet he has promised to give us everything we need (Philippians 4:19).

Even during that long road of silence, God cares deeply for us. We can be like David and remind ourselves, “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14).

Blessing of Waiting in Faith

Some of the greatest figures in the Bible — Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David — had to wait for many years for God’s promises. Everything that happened in the meantime was used to prepare them, inwardly as well as outwardly. Then, when they reached their promise, they were blessed beyond measure.

God invites us to trust in his goodness today and his faithfulness tomorrow. Relinquishing control to him is the main route to experience his love and peace. It unites our hearts with his. It creates a level of maturity and character that we will take with us into the future, and it enables us to enjoy his future blessings all the more

(week of June 3rd) (Bread of Life)

Jesus Came Not to Give Bread but to Be Bread

(week of May 27th) (song)

Souls Need Songs

How God Shapes Us Through Singing

(week of May 20th) (strength)

(week of May 13th) (worthy)

I’ve learned so much from watching birds. I live in the woods and we also have a pond, so birds are frequent visitors.

Watching the birds teaches me so much about God’s love and provision. A variety of birds visit our feeders, including juncos, nuthatches, cardinals, orioles, and hummingbirds.  When I study how far some of these birds travel each year, I marvel at how God sustains them. It’s a joy to scatter sunflower seeds to help meet their needs.

I’ve also seen graceful herons and colorful wood ducks visit our pond. A few times, a bald eagle has swooped over the pond to grab a fish for supper. In the winter, I regularly hear owls calling to one another in our woods. Each bird’s personality reflects a different aspect of God’s creativity.

All the birds I see or hear inspire me to praise God for the beauty of his creation.

Yet as wonderful as birds are, they pale in comparison to the importance we people have in God’s kingdom.

Jesus affirmed our value with this verse:

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.”

He continued, “So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29,31 NIV

STRUGGLING WITH SELF-WORTH

We often lose sight of how valuable we are to God. Many of us see beautiful things in God’s creation and in other people. Yet we refuse to love ourselves in light of how God loves us. Some of us get stuck and struggle with feelings of low self-worth.

If you struggle with self-worth, let Jesus’ words bring you comfort today. Look at the birds outside your window today, and consider how wonderfully God cares for them. Then think about how much more he cares for you every day. How valuable you are to him.

Consider the great plans and purpose he has for you, in comparison to birds. Then step out in greater faith, trusting in the worth that Jesus places on you, rather than choosing a negative thought pattern.

As you meditate on the truth of God’s Word, you can begin to see your great value in God’s eyes. You can overcome feelings of low self-worth when you believe Jesus says you are greatly valuable to him. 

SARAH GERINGER

(week of May 5th) (Mothers Day)

Karen Barber

As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.  Isaiah 66:13

When Leah, our daughter-in-law-to-be, told me of plans for the wedding reception, she mentioned there would be a special time when, as the mother of the groom, I would dance with our son Jeff.

At first I thought, Oh, no, me out there on the dance floor with everyone watching!  But, as the time approached, I began to look forward to the dance. How special to have a few minutes with Jeff at the reception, perhaps the last few moments I’d get to spend with him before they left on their honeymoon and settled into their home in Colorado.

I imagined the profound and wonderful things I might say to Jeff during those moments.

The wedding festivities went by in a blur, and finally the time came for our dance. As I reached up to my son’s tall shoulder and he grasped my right hand, all of the things I’d planned to say to him evaporated.

Instead, I found myself asking with concern, “I noticed you’ve been so busy you haven’t eaten. Aren’t you hungry?”

“I haven’t eaten all day,” he admitted, “but it’s okay. They’re putting together a basket of food from the reception for us to take in the car with us.” 

Looking down at his shoes I asked, “Do your feet hurt?”

“No, they’re fine,” he answered.

Soon the dance was over, and my friend Charlene was eager to know what Jeff and I had said. When I repeated the conversation, I laughed. Out there on the dance floor, I had asked my twenty-three-year-old son, who was an Air Force officer and a brand-new husband, if he was hungry or if his feet hurt!

I sat down and took off my own too-tight shoes, then reconsidered my seemingly wasted opportunity. Perhaps it had been just right after all. During that dance, I had unconsciously performed my last act of mothering by revisiting my first.

When our children are newborns, our questions are always, “Are they hungry? Are they hurt?” And as they grow, these questions grow into prayers that fit each new stage of their lives: “God, fill them and comfort them.”

I put my shoes back on and made sure the basket of food was tucked into the backseat of Jeff and Leah’s car before Jeff’s college buddies started “decorating” it with plastic wrap. I was the one who borrowed the scissors from the receptionist so Jeff and Leah could cut the wrap to open the car door. After all, the need for parenting never really ends, not even with a final dance.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the generous hearts of mothers. And give me also a heart of love for all who are hungry and hurt.

(week of April 29th) (impatience)

(week of April 22nd) (why?)

“‘Now what have I done?’ said David. ‘Can’t I even speak?’” 1 Samuel 17:29 (NIV)

I hadn’t told anyone. I wasn’t going to tell anyone. This private conversation with God was too tender and raw to share. For hours, I had spilled out all my concerns to Him — begging for answers and desperately wanting the gnawing pain in my heart to go away.

The truth is I was deeply concerned and heart-broken about some things which happened earlier that day to make me question my calling. Things that made me wonder if my purpose in life had changed. Circumstances that produced full-on hot tears as I cried out to God throughout the day in discouragement.

Was God really concerned? Was my life’s calling about to take a sharp left turn that I wasn’t prepared for? How would I recover from this latest blow of hurt and disappointment? Instead of feeling purposeful, I stood in my kitchen with a sinking suspicion God was placing me on a shelf to collect dust for a while.

I knew God loved me, but honestly, I wasn’t feeling very loved at that moment. I felt as if Satan were throwing darts at me labeled: Forgotten. Invisible. Not good enough.

I imagine that’s the way a young shepherd boy named David must have felt centuries ago. Although the prophet Samuel specifically appointed David as the next king of Israel, many years would pass and many difficult things would happen before David made it to the palace. The ruling king, Saul, questioned him, and so did David’s older brothers. To the point where right before he killed a certain giant named Goliath, David even exclaimed, “Now what have I done? … Can’t I even speak?” (1 Samuel 17:29).

God had chosen, anointed and empowered David to be Israel’s greatest king in the Old Testament. Yet as we unwrap David’s story, we see how he was placed in many situations which were perfect environments for his doubts and uncertainty to take root and flourish.

Relentlessly, David was hunted by King Saul who vowed to kill him. He lived in caves, was constantly on the run and had his fair share of fierce battles against vicious enemies.

David must have had some hard days and sleepless nights where he, too, questioned his calling. I wonder if one struggle after another — one detour after another — one delay after another — caused David to examine his situation and ask God if He still planned to fulfill His predestined purposes in David’s life? Maybe there were even brief moments when he felt forgotten, invisible, not good enough?

God had begun a good work in David and He was faithful to complete it. The detours … the delays … were all a part of the journey that prepared him to reign as king. The palace would not have been possible if the destination to it would have been cut short.

Thankfully, we know David trusted God despite the enormous challenges he faced. And we get a glimpse of David’s thoughts as we read his words in Psalm 138:8, “The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.” (NKJV)

On that difficult day when I wept in deep discouragement, the Lord brought Psalm 138:8 to mind. It was like drinking a cupful of reassurance, allowing me to pause, take a deep breath and feel God’s tender presence wrap around me.

Those beautiful words were originally penned thousands of years ago by David, and yet they spoke truth right into my situation that day. Reassuring me. Comforting me. Rekindling my hope once again.

The same applies to you and me. God is forever faithful and will complete the work He’s begun in our lives. We have to trust Him — on good days and bad days. When doors of opportunity open wide and when detours delay us for a while. Every season has a purpose, and every part of God’s plan for our lives is good. He promises to perfect all that concerns us … today and for our future.

Heavenly Father, You are greater than any obstacle I face and Your love for me endures forever. Help me to follow You on good days and bad days. To trust You moment by moment. Even when my purpose seems vague or my calling appears far off in the distance. When my concerns begin to consume me, Your love will perfect each one with unfailing grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

(week of April 15th) (His Sheep)

Judges 7:8-15

As inhabitants of a fallen world, we oftentimes face heartache, intimidation, and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. But as children of God, saved and secure in Jesus, we are never beyond the reach of the Lord’s encouragement. Sometimes it comes through Scripture or the timely words of a fellow believer, but God can also use circumstances to raise our spirits and increase our trust in Him.

This is exactly what the Lord did for Gideon, who was undoubtedly feeling anxious about taking just three hundred men to fight against the mighty Midianite army. God strategically positioned Gideon to overhear an enemy soldier recounting a frightful dream about being defeated by the Israelites. This unlikely circumstance assured Gideon that the Lord was at work in this daunting situation and would give them the victory.

God graciously used that incident to strengthen one man’s confidence in Him, and He encourages His children in similar ways today. The unexpected, hopeful circumstances that show up in our darkest moments are not accidents but precious assurance builders from the Lord. When we remember past evidence of His faithfulness, we can boldly face the future, knowing that God is always with us

Kia Stephens

1 Thessalonians 5:11

The Message

While sitting at my computer on a Saturday afternoon, I received an unexpected text from a friend.

In her message, she said the universally dreaded words no one wants to hear: “I have cancer.”

I was shocked to read those words from her. She was a mother of two, a devoted wife and successful in her career.

It seemed so unfair. I wanted to rewind to just a few months ago when we casually chatted about family. Unfortunately, her words and her present journey were irreversible.

Before I finished reading her text, I purposed in my heart to offer some type of encouragement. I was prepared to plan a visit, bring a meal or text a few kind (but inadequate) words, given her circumstance. As I scrolled through her lengthy message, I was soon blindsided by the encouragement she offered to me.

We hadn’t spoken in months, and she was undergoing chemotherapy. Yet her focus was on me. Unbeknownst to her, she shared the very words I needed to hear at the exact time I needed to hear them. Rather than responding immediately, I just sat and sobbed, tremendously impacted by the love of God I saw in her. She offered selfless, thoughtful and kind encouragement to me despite her medical condition.

This is the type of exhortation Paul, Silas and Timothy describe in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, which says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” In Acts 16 and 17, we learn that Paul, together with his fellow laborers, wrote this letter to the people of Thessalonica after having been flogged, thrown into prison in Macedonia and forced out of Thessalonica.

At a time when Paul could have been discouraged by persecution and nursing his emotional and physical wounds, he was instead concerned for the Thessalonian believers. He modeled the personal and heartfelt encouragement he wanted them to offer others.

The believers were admonished to couple this encouragement with building one another up. The Greek word used here for “building” means “to build a house.” This single act of using our words to encourage and edify fellow believers is likened to building a structure: the universal church.

This type of purposeful encouragement is vital for a believer’s faith, both individually and collectively. For the believers in Thessalonica, this was especially true because they were a new church facing persecution from nonbelieving Jews.

A commitment to encourage others like this challenges us all to selflessly lift the countenance of someone else — no matter what we might be facing ourselves. As we offer soul-deep encouragement to others, we can trust that God, in His sovereignty, will encourage us.

This is the principle described in Proverbs 11:25, “… whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (NIV). I saw this time-tested truth in my friend’s text message and in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonian believers. Through their noble examples, we are inspired to selflessly offer encouragement to others in the same way.

Dear God, please help me to offer heartfelt encouragement to others no matter what I may be facing. Help me to trust that as I refresh others, I will be refreshed. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY

Romans 15:5, “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.” (NIV)

(week of April 1st) (fool)

On April 1st, people “stretch” the truth and then announce “April Fools.” As Christians, we are to discern truth and know what the Bible says about fools. In Paul’s final letter to Timothy, he wrote about a man named Demas. But sadly, Paul did not “stretch” the truth, nor was there an announcement of “April Fools.”  Demas was a foolish man.

Demas Deserted Paul

“Make every effort to come to me soon; for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica;” (2 Timothy 4:9-10, NASB)

In this short text, there is a certain sadness conveyed by the apostle Paul. Paul was in a Roman prison, under the watchful eye of the Roman guard, and he greatly desired that Timothy would come soon. It is evident that Paul was aware that his time on earth was short (2 Timothy 4:6-8). Sadly, only Luke was with him (2 Timothy 4:11). because Demas had deserted him.

Who Was Demas?

Demas had been a cherished co-laborer with Paul, a co-worker in spreading the gospel message of Jesus (Philemon 24; Colossians 4:14). He seemed to be the real deal. but Scripture tells that at some point during Paul’s time in Rome, Demas had made it known that he “loved this present world.” And so he had departed from Paul and headed to Thessalonica.

The Greek word for deserted is “shamayim” and it speaks of “letting someone down.” In both the KJV and NKJV, the word is translated as “forsaken.”   Demas had forsaken Paul by leaving Paul because he “loved this present world.” Kenneth Wuest, a former Greek instructor at Moody Bible Institute, wrote that Demas “had set a high value on this present age.” The word for “world” is aion, and it can also be translated as “age.”  In that sense, it speaks of the aims, hopes, and aspirations that define the current time. 

A Lesson from Demas

This is a difficult passage, and also an alarming one. It reveals the lesson that this world, in which we live, can serve as a powerful tool of seduction that can actually draw a person away from the work of Christ. And this “love” of the “present age” can be even more inviting when conditions are not so favorable. 
 
After reading about Demas, these words from John’s first letter should come to mind:

“Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.” (1 John 2:15-16 – NASB)

 As John commanded those to whom he wrote, we learn that we must not love the world. John continues by telling of the temporal nature of the world, and also of its lusts that will one day be gone:

“And the world is passing away, and also its lusts” (1 John 2:17- NASB)

Foolish Demas

Demas turned his back on serving God, choosing rather to embrace the trappings of the world, the age in which he lived. He lost sight of the eternal blessings of Christ.  How foolish he was.  And so also are all people, of all ages, who deny the God of all creation, the Lord and Saviour of mankind, who gave His life so all might live.  There’s a verse in the Bible that speaks of such people.

Psa 14:1  The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.

There are fools all around us, who reject the amazing love of God and the saving grace of Jesus.  On April Fools Day, and every day throughout the year, help foolish people to see the Lord our God, who is also their God.  He “is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Pet 3:9)  Help foolish people to become wise.

Prov 12:15  The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.
Prov 3:35  The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools.

Happy April Fool’s Day!

Did you pull any pranks?

Did anyone fool you?

Do you ever find yourself feeling like a “fool“?

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. -Proverbs 1:7

I love the book of Proverbs.  When I study it, I see two distinctly different paths to choose: the way of the wise or the path of the foolish.  Wisdom brings many rewards- victory, protection, blessing, and peace.  The foolish path, however, brings destruction.  Proverbs 1:ys, “For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of  fools will destroy them.”

So, how do you “get” wisdom?

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

This reverential SURRENDER to God, loving Him above all else…..this trust in Him and His ways, believing Him…..this SEEKING Him above all else is “the fear of the Lord.”

But, a “fool” does it “her own way.”  A fool is stubborn.  A fool is full of pride.  A fool “despises wisdom and discipline.”  And, Proverbs tells us that SINCE a fool continues to choose this path, refusing God’s direction, THEN “they will eat the fruit of their ways.” (verse 31)

Ugh.  I have had to eat this STUBBORN, REBELLIOUS “fruit salad”!

Verse 23 says, “IF you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you.”

Oh, how I pray that I DO respond to God’s rebuke!  I want Him to pour out His heart to me and make His thoughts known to me!

So, HOW do I understand “the fear of the Lord”?

Thankfully, Chapter 2 in Proverbs teaches us this.

Finally, Paul tells us in Ephesians 5 to “be careful how we live- not as unwise, but wise, making the most of every opportunity…..don’t be foolish but try to understand what the Lord’s will is.”  Lord, I want to make the most of every opportunity you have planned for me!

Sweet friend, God wants to p0ur out His wisdom on us (James 1).  He doesn’t want us to be foolish, but wise.  He wants to lead us in the way of wisdom.  God wants us to search for His Wisdom, His ways….trusting Him.  He want us to be surrendered to HIS WAY.  He wants our hearts to be soft and pliable….teachable.  And, oh, the pain I could have spared myself if I just would have ASKED God and followed Him, instead of foolishly going my own way.

Father God, I love You!  Thank You that You so generously pour out Your Wisdom on me.  Thank You that You “give Wisdom to anyone who asks and that You give it generously.”  Lord, I see that the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”  Lord, grow in me the “fear of the Lord!”  Lord, make my heart soft and teachable…..pliable.  Lord, give me such a DESIRE for Your Wisdom!  Father, I confess the foolishness of my heart! And, God, I thank You for Your forgiveness for the times when I have been so foolish.  Your grace is amazing.  I love You, Lord!  In Jesus’ Name we pray.  Amen.

(week of March 25th) (Easter)

Easter is a time when we celebrate God’s love and sacrifice for us. These meditations for the remaining days leading to Easter Sunday include reflections on Jesus’ death and resurrection. As you prepare your heart for Easter, find renewed meaning in these verses and insight from Billy Graham:

THURSDAY

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:35–43

As we approach the celebration of Good Friday, I’m reminded of the seven sayings of Jesus from the cross and the glory and the power in each saying.

Jesus was alone. He had come to His own, and His own did not receive Him. When He was being arrested in the garden of Gethsemane, we are told that “all the disciples deserted him and fled” (Matthew 26:56). The crowds who had so recently shouted, “Hosanna!” would soon shout, “Crucify him! … Crucify him!” (Matthew 21:9, 27:22–23).

Now even His loyal Twelve had left. And at last we hear Him cry out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34). Not only had He been forsaken by His human companions, but now in that desperate and lonely hour, He—because He was bearing our sins in His own body on the cross—had been forsaken by God. Jesus was enduring the suffering and judgment of Hell for you and for me.

How can you show your gratitude to God for allowing His Son to endure the shame and suffering of the cross?

FRIDAY

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:44–49

Good Friday celebrates the day our Lord died for our sins on the cross. I have often sat by the hour and tried to imagine the agony and suffering He went through because of our sins. At one point He said from the cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30). He meant that God had accepted His work on the cross as the penalty for our sins.

Christ’s death on our behalf is the reason God can forgive us and still be just. And His death teaches us the depth and breadth that there should be in our forgiveness of one another.

While that holy Friday was tremendous, it was only a prelude to Sunday morning when He was raised from the dead. Godly women had come to see His tomb, but angels made the glorious announcement, “He has risen!” (Luke 24:6). His resurrection guaranteed that we, too, will be raised, if we are believers and obeyers of His Word.

As you celebrate the truth that Jesus came from Heaven to redeem you, are you reflecting His likeness to those around you?

SATURDAY

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:50–54

From Genesis to Revelation, we are warned that “it is later than you think.” Paul writes to Christians in Romans 13:11–12: “The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

There are millions of people around the world who do not have peace at this moment because they have never found the secret of peace. Some of them may have riches today as a result of greed and covetousness; but their souls are lean, their hearts are cold toward God, their consciences are dulled, and their minds are blinded.

They need to know that there is a God of marvelous love who sent His Son Jesus Christ to this world. And as a demonstration of His mercy, Christ—who is the Prince of Peace—went to the cross to make a way for peace between God and mankind.

Are you living in the reality of Jesus’ victory over death? In what tangible ways can you share that victory with others so that they, too, can have life?

EASTER SUNDAY

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:55–58

Easter is a season of great gladness for those who know Christ. But for those who are without “the light of the knowledge of God’s glory” (2 Corinthians 4:6), there is nothing to rejoice over.

Jesus left us with the great hope and certainty that He is going to return to bring a new Heaven and a new earth where, we are told, there will be no more sorrow, trouble, or death for those who have believed and followed Him. There will be trouble, sorrow, and suffering for those who have neglected or rejected Him.

As Christians, our great task is to obey the command to tell the whole world about Christ crucified, buried, yet risen again. My prayer for you during this season of the year, when we meditate on our Savior’s great sacrifice for us on the cross, is that you will be filled with great peace and hope, because “He is risen!” That is the Good News.

As you follow Christ, are you obeying His command to tell others that He is risen indeed?

(week of March 18th) (mercy)

Mercy for Today

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22–23)

God’s mercies are new every morning because each day only has enough mercy in it for that day. God appoints every day’s troubles. And God appoints every day’s mercies. In the life of his children, they are perfectly appointed. Jesus said, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34). Every day has its own trouble. Every day has its own mercies. Each is new every morning.

But we often tend to despair when we think that we may have to bear tomorrow’s load on today’s resources. God wants us to know: We won’t. Today’s mercies are for today’s troubles. Tomorrow’s mercies are for tomorrow’s troubles.

Sometimes we wonder if we will have the mercy to stand in terrible testing. Yes, we will. Peter says, “If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you” (1 Peter 4:14). When the reviling comes, the Spirit of glory comes. It happened for Stephen as he was being stoned. It will happen for you. When the Spirit and the glory are needed, they will come.

The manna in the wilderness was given one day at a time. There was no storing up. That is the way we must depend on God’s mercy. You do not receive today the strength to bear tomorrow’s burdens. You are given mercies today for today’s troubles.

Tomorrow the mercies will be new. “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9).

(week of March 11th) (Fruits of the Spirit)

Harvest season is a time of reward. The countless hours of work, the perspiration, the constant watering, the diligent guarding against threats, and even the dirt under the fingernails all become worthwhile when our gardens, orchards, and vineyards produce their crops.

The lifecycle of the plants in our gardens ensures satisfying and delicious results. But growth in our Christian lives is rarely as dependable and never as predictable as the fruit on our trees or the vegetables in our gardens. Despite the agonising work and the hours spent trying to cultivate maturity, we often perceive only minor results—or failure.

Paul’s imagery of the fruit of the Spirit describes Christian maturity with a clarity and vividness that makes us want to harvest those sweet juicy fruits. But why does it always seem just out of reach? No matter how hard we try, we never seem to attain the patience we expect or the peace we so desperately want.

What if our effort is the problem? In the pages that follow Dr. Con Campbell offers us a fresh look at the fruit of the Spirit and helps us understand who is responsible for growing it. We hope these ideas encourage you in your pursuit of Christlikeness.

• The Fruit of the Spirit
• The Fruit of the Spirit in the Orchard of the Bible
• Keeping in Step with the Spirit

Perhaps the fruit of the Spirit, like the gifts of the Spirit, are to be thought about in more corporate terms. While no one person will have all the gifts of the Spirit, the church as a whole certainly will. Maybe we should think that way about the fruit of the Spirit. I’m sure most, if not all, congregations exhibit all the fruit of the Spirit collectively. Perhaps that is what Paul was implying. He was after all writing to the church in Galatia. Far too often we read the Bible overly individualistically, in this case leading us to think that each individual ought to show all the fruit of the Spirit. But Paul may have been thinking in more corporate terms. He may have been sketching a picture of a gathering of believers, who together exhibit the characteristics listed in Galatians 5:22–23.

What is the fruit of the Spirit?

We’ve spent the last few moments considering what the fruit of the Spirit is not. Now it’s time to consider what it is. The simplest description of the fruit listed in Galatians 5:22–23 is that they are characteristics. Notice that they are not abilities (though many of the gifts of the Spirit involve abilities). They are not doing words. They are being words. Someone is gentle; someone is loving; someone is self-controlled. And yet, while this is true, being always leads to doing. This is one way the fruit of the Spirit intersects with how we act.

If someone is gentle, it will be evident by gentle conduct and manner. If someone is loving, it will be expressed in acts of love. If someone is self-controlled, it will be demonstrated in self-control. Perhaps that’s a subtle distinction, but it’s an important one. Being leads to doing. The Spirit isn’t interested in just changing certain behaviours— adding some and removing others; He is interested in changing who we are as people. Changed people do changed things. But the internal change has to come first. God doesn’t want us to be robots who always do the right thing but whose character is, well, robotic. God is after our hearts.

Something that is easy to overlook is the fact that most of the fruit mentioned is relational. Love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness are all about relating to others. What is love, if not extended toward others? I might say that I love jazz, which obviously is not a person. But that’s not the kind of love in view here. This love is relational, between two or more persons.

Peace is not about being in a peaceful Zen state in which nothing fazes us. The biblical notion of peace, or shalom, is a state of good relations between two or more parties.

Patience and kindness are obviously relational. Patience is primarily relational in that it has to do with tolerant forbearance of others. Kindness has to do with caring for others and looking out for their needs.

While goodness may be less clearly relational, true goodness is demonstrated in relationships. We might think of ourselves as a “good person,” but if we are always mean-spirited or angry toward others, our “goodness” is rather thin.

Faithfulness is always relational. It involves loyalty and commitment to someone. In the Bible, faithfulness is never abstract, like being obedient to a list of rules. Instead, faithfulness is always about our relationship with God. If we are faithful to Him, we will follow His commands. But just obeying the rules is not the point; obedience is an expression of faithfulness.

Gentleness is relational. Our interaction with other people demonstrates our gentleness. We might think of ourselves as “gentle” because we’re pacifists and wouldn’t hurt a fly and are always careful with delicate things. But if we treat people harshly, our gentleness is not a fruit of the Spirit.

The only two characteristics that are not obviously relational are joy and self-control. These seem to be more inward in the sense that they are not necessarily expressed in relation to other people. We can have joy without anyone else around. We can show self- control in private. But even these characteristics have relational applications. Our joy can be shared with others. And self-control often involves respecting the dignity of others and not infringing on their well-being.

The fruit of the Spirit has significant implications for our relationships with each other. This is a core emphasis of the godly life in Christ Jesus; we all need to get along with each other, showing love, patience, and kindness in all our interactions.

So, what do we do about this?

I’ve been making the case that Galatians 5:22–23 is not a to-do list. It’s indicative, not imperative. But surely there are implications for the way we live, right? Well, certainly. First we need to understand how the fruit of the Spirit fits in the big picture of the Christian life.

Immediately after the list, Paul says, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (GALATIANS 5:24). This verse relates to the “vice list” of 5:19–21. Notice that Paul does not say, “Don’t do these things.” Instead, he appeals to a deeper way of thinking. He appeals to a spiritual reality. If we belong to Christ Jesus, we have crucified the flesh. Now, remember that the vice list is introduced as the acts of the flesh. Flesh is the power that produces such practices.

But in 5:24 Paul says that the flesh has been crucified. It has been put to death with Christ. Because we belong to Christ Jesus, we are united with Him in His death. Spiritually, we have been put to death. We are no longer subject to the power of the flesh. This is so much more than a simple command to avoid certain behaviours. A radical change has taken place and we no longer belong to the realm of the flesh, enslaved by its passions and desires. We now belong to the realm of the Spirit.

In the following verse, Paul says, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (5:25). We live by the Spirit. We no longer live by the flesh; the Spirit is the power in the Christian life. We are under His authority and control. And if we live by the Spirit, then we are to follow the Spirit. To follow the Spirit, or to keep in step with the Spirit, means that we live our lives in a way that is consistent with Him. We learn what the Spirit wants us to be like, and we seek to be like that. We align our will with the will of the Holy Spirit. We get in sync with Him. Ultimately, that means we will desire to be marked by the fruit of the Spirit. We will want to be loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled.

But how is that different from treating the fruit of the Spirit as a to-do list? I’ve already argued that it’s a list of indicatives, not imperatives, and that’s certainly true. But the imperative comes in verse 25: We are to follow or keep in step with the Spirit. That’s different from treating the fruit as imperatives, because our wills are to be aligned with the third person of the Trinity. We are to cooperate with Him. If we do, He will produce His fruit in us. If we do not, we will remain immature believers, who look more fleshly than spiritual.

This means that the Spirit does not simply zap us to become the mature, godly believers He desires us to be. I suppose He could do that if He chose, but generally God chooses not to work like a microwave, but more like a slow-cook oven. As the Spirit slowly “cooks” us, it is our job to stay in the oven, as it were. We can’t cook ourselves, but we can allow God to do the cooking.

To understand more deeply what it means to keep in step with the Spirit, we need to think a little more broadly about Galatians as a whole. We turn to this now.

The Spirit in Galatians

Paul writes the letter to the Galatians because the Christians there had started to believe a different gospel. They had begun to think that Gentile (anyone who was not Jewish) Christians must follow Jewish customs in order to be truly Christian. Paul wrote to remind them that faith alone in Jesus Christ, not works of the law, saved them.

Paul introduces the Spirit in chapter 3 by asking if the Galatians received the Spirit by obeying the laws of Moses or by believing what they heard about Jesus.

He reminds them that Jesus redeemed them so they might be blessed by receiving the Spirit. God adopted them and sent the Spirit into their hearts as a sign of that adoption. As sons and daughters, they are free, not slaves. And since they are free, they shouldn’t turn around and make themselves slaves again.

But, Paul warns, this new freedom that comes from our adoption by God and the coming of the Spirit should not to be used to indulge our own selfish desires. Instead, the newfound freedom should be used to serve each other in love. Walking by the Spirit would help the Galatians not to gratify the desires of the flesh. The works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit are both obvious. It is easy to tell if actions are selfish or motivated by the Spirit. Since the flesh no longer controls them, they should live by the Spirit.

This brief synopsis of Galatians shows how the Spirit fits into Paul’s explanation of the Christian life, and therefore how we should think about the fruit of the Spirit. The Spirit is the sign of adoption into God’s family—He is the sign of freedom. Living by the Spirit is the answer to the problem that Paul set out to address. Do Gentile Christians need to live by Jewish customs? No! Followers of Jesus should live according to the Spirit.

Galatians in the Bible

What Galatians says about God and life for those who follow Christ intersects with some of the biggest themes of the Bible. The promises to Abraham (see genesIs12:1–3) are fulfilled in Christ, since people of all nations are blessed through faith in Him. The justice demanded by the law of Moses is satisfied in Christ’s crucifixion. In the book of Galatians, life under the law is contrasted to the new life under the Spirit. This new life is the result of a promise given long ago. The promise that the Spirit of God would dwell within His people is first given by the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel.

The promise in Ezekiel 36:27 is especially interesting for understanding the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5. In that passage the Lord says, “I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” We’ve already seen from Galatians that the presence of the Spirit is the sign of new life. Because of Christ’s death on the cross that paid the penalty for sin and our redemption through faith in Him, the presence of the Spirit in Christians’ hearts fulfils the first half of Ezekiel 36:27. But it’s the second half of the verse that connects most directly to the fruit of the Spirit. The Lord says He will put His Spirit within you and move you to follow His decrees and laws. In other words, the Spirit of God will enable the people of God to live His way.

The second half of Ezekiel 36:27 is fulfilled in the fruit of the Spirit. The Spirit brings forth love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in the lives of believers. And notice what Paul adds at the end of Galatians 5:23, “Against such things there is no law.” The point here is that if the Spirit is growing His fruit in your life, you will be living in line with the law of God. Christians are not bound by the law of Moses, but their lives will nonetheless live up to the moral standards set in the law. But this doesn’t happen through “law-keeping” or being good; rather, it will happen by keeping in step with the Spirit.

The fruit of the Spirit is part of the grand plan of God to enable His people to live in a way that pleases Him—living by the power of the Spirit. As members of God’s family—adopted sons and daughters—God shapes us to be like Him, and to bear the characteristics that flow from His own character. The fruit of the Spirit is nothing less than the culmination of centuries of promise and expectation that finds fulfilment as the result of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection. What a privilege to be Spirit-filled people!

We’ve explored what the fruit of the Spirit is (and what it isn’t) and why it matters. We turn now to consider how the fruit of the Spirit shapes Christian living.

It is wonderful to consider all that God has done for us in Christ and continues to do through the Holy Spirit. For all He has done, our responsibility is simple: Keep in step with the Spirit and resist the flesh. We are to cooperate with the work He is doing as we look forward to the day when the power of the flesh will be conquered.

One of the most important things the Spirit does is to point us to Christ. That means one way we can keep in step with the Spirit is to fix our eyes on Jesus. Let our daily thoughts and meditations return to Him time and time again. Let Him be the center of our thoughts, our imagination, and our desires. As we choose to follow Christ, to depend on Him, and to submit to Him, we will be keeping in step with the Spirit.

As we reflect on Jesus, we have opportunity to express our dependence on Him for all things, not least our salvation. He is the source of eternal life, and indeed of all life as the ruler and sustainer of the entire cosmos. Our prayerful dependence on Christ brings Him honour and is the right disposition of our hearts. All such reflection on Christ and expression of our dependence on Him is produced through the influence of the Spirit.

But we all know too well the reality that the Christian life is a struggle. While the Spirit does indeed work powerfully within us, the Scriptures exhort us to resist living according to the flesh. This assumes that we can still give ourselves over to the power of the flesh. We are not given the option of being passive. And so, throughout the Christian life, there is an ongoing tension between living by the Spirit and giving in to our own selfish desires.

A good daily prayer is to ask God for the strength to remain engaged in the struggle. There are only two ways the struggle can stop feeling like a struggle. The first is to die and be with the Lord. The second is to give up the struggle and give in to the flesh. This is the option we must avoid! So we need to be on our guard against feelings of hopelessness that discourage us to remain in the fight.

Though it will sometimes feel like it, our battle against the flesh is not hopeless. There are two major reasons for this: We are no longer under the authority of sin, and the Spirit is a deposit guaranteeing our future inheritance. Let’s explore these in turn.

We are no longer under the authority of sin. Paul develops this point in greatest detail in Romans 6. If we have died with Christ, we have been set free from sin (ROMANS 6:7). What Paul means by “sin” in Romans 6 is sin as a power, or ruler. The point he is making is that, by dying with Christ, believers have been released from sin’s power; we now live under Christ’s authority. Yet Paul appeals to the Romans not to put themselves under sin again (6:12–13). While sin is no longer our master (6:14), the pull to go on “obeying” sin is real and powerful. But Paul wants us to realize that we don’t have to give in.

The famous Welsh preacher D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones illustrated this struggle well. In 1865 the work of Abraham Lincoln and others to abolish slavery in the United States finally came to fruition. All slaves were declared free. Lloyd- Jones says to imagine you had grown up a slave in Alabama. One minute, you’re a slave. The next, you are free—legally, officially, and forever free. While you may now have your freedom, your internal grasp of that freedom may take some time to catch up to the reality. Imagine that one day you ran into your former slave-owner on the street, and he calls out to you, “Come here, boy!” At that moment, will you feel like a slave? I think you probably would. Your whole life, you’ve responded to him as your master. You’re conditioned to obey that voice. Every muscle and fiber in your body is inclined to obey.

But the reality is that you are free. You are not a slave. Your former master has no authority over you at all. He cannot tell you what to do, and you have no obligation to obey him.

Our struggle with sin is just like this. Sin once ruled over us, and our bodies were conditioned to obey its demands. It’s the way we lived our entire lives until we were set free by Christ. Now that we know spiritual freedom, our comprehension of it can take a while to catch up. Occasionally, sin calls out, “Come here, boy!” and our initial impulse is to obey. But in Christ we are no longer slaves to sin. We do not need to obey its call. And yet we will feel its pull and even struggle with our first reaction to give in to its demands. Even though we are free, we can choose to do what it says, even though sin has no right to tell us what to do.

And so, we live this life with an ongoing tension between the Spirit and our former rulers, sin and the flesh. We are to go on choosing the Spirit. We belong to Christ now, and His Spirit is powerful. Let us keeping step with the Spirit, and deny the illegitimate call of the conquered powers of sin and the flesh.

The second major reason our battle against the flesh is not hopeless is that it will one day come to an end. As Paul says in Ephesians 1:13–14, the Spirit is a seal marking the fact that we belong to Christ. And He is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance, until He finally redeems us. This means that the Spirit is the proof of our future. As the sign of the new age, we know that Spirit-filled people will one day be fully transformed, with new resurrection bodies, and we will be, once and for all, totally free from sinning.

Paul puts this in a similar way in Romans 8:14–17. Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God, since He is the Spirit of adoption. In fact, the Spirit enables us to cry “Abba, Father,” and testifies that we are God’s children. The punch line comes in verse 17, “If we are children [of God], then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” While we suffer with Him, we will also be glorified with Him. So we see that the presence of the Spirit in our lives points forward to a glorious future—a future without sin, suffering, or shame as the glorified children of God.

The tension between the flesh and the Spirit goes on until that day. But as we continue to live according to the Spirit, as we strive to keep in step with Him, and as we resist the call of the flesh, the Spirit will continue to produce His fruit in us.

Harvest time

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self- control, as well as other Christlike characteristics. The Spirit lives in us because new life has come in Christ, and we have been set free from slavery to the flesh, sin, and the law. He is the sign of the new age and is the seal of our membership in God’s family. The Spirit works in us to produce fruit that is in keeping with the family likeness, as we fix our eyes on Jesus, remain fully dependent upon Him, and seek to worship Him in all of life.

The fruit of the Spirit is not a to-do list to check off. The Spirit produces the fruit in us. Christianity is not a set of rules, nor is the Bible a manual for good living. Christianity is about a relationship with God the Father, through His Son Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

(week of March 4th) (40)

Forty Days in the Wilderness: Lessons from Jesus’ Temptation

Temptation is a familiar part of life for us all. If we’re honest, we can admit that it doesn’t take much to lead us astray when we let our guard down. Most of us give in far more easily than we’d like to admit. By nature, we’re more inclined to run in our own direction than to follow God’s lead. So what can we do to avoid temptation’s pitfalls and stay on the narrow path?

Just after warning his readers about the danger of drifting (Heb. 2:1–4), the writer of Hebrews answers this question by directing our gaze heavenward, encouraging us to reflect on Jesus’ own experience:

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (vv. 17–18)

One of the greatest examples we have of Jesus dealing with temptation is found in Luke 4:1–12, which chronicles Christ’s forty days in the wilderness and the accompanying temptations from the devil. When we read and study God’s Word, we should never dismiss Jesus as someone or something entirely otherworldly but instead learn from the one who is fully God and fully man.

The temptations Jesus faced are temptations we face. Yet He perfectly endured every temptation. He trusted God the Father unequivocally. He found the “way of escape” (1 Cor. 10:13). Although we can only strive toward, and not achieve, such perfection in this life, considering Jesus’ response to Satan in the wilderness can help us grow wiser and be better prepared when we face our own temptations.

When we read and study God’s Word, we should never dismiss Jesus as someone or something entirely otherworldly but instead learn from the one who is fully God and fully man.

When You Doubt God’s Provision

In Luke 3:22, at the moment of Jesus’ baptism, God’s voice came from heaven, declaring to Him, “You are my beloved Son.” In Luke 4, with Jesus now “led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days” (v. 1), we find the devil’s voice coming from hell, saying, “If you are the Son of God…” (v. 3, emphasis added). Calling God’s Word into question has long been Satan’s way: “Did God actually say…” (Gen. 3:1). It’s no surprise, then, that Satan begins his temptation of Jesus by insinuating that if God truly loved Him and was pleased with Him, things might be going a little better. His stomach might be a little fuller. Jesus should simply take matters into His own hands and make bread so He can eat.

Jesus answers Satan with a quote from the book of Deuteronomy: “Man shall not live by bread alone” (Luke 4:4; see also Deut. 8:3). In Deuteronomy, the manna God provided supernaturally was a reminder to Israel that they were ultimately dependent not on bread but on God, the Giver and Sustainer of life. Jesus therefore declares His dependence on His Father, who had promised to look after Him, even in the desolation of the Judean wilderness.

Scripture affirms God’s loving provision for us, too—but Satan calls God’s promises into question. Jesus, in His humanity, had to trust God’s provision rather than using His power to produce bread for Himself. He understood firsthand both the challenge and the comfort of what He’d soon teach in the Sermon on the Mount: “Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. … Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all” (Matt. 6:25, 32). We can trust, then, that the solution He gives us when we are tempted to worry—“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt. 6:33)—is the same one He relied on.

When God’s Way Is Difficult

The devil knew that Jesus was seeking the kingdom of God on earth—so in his next attack, we seem him suggesting that Jesus should found the messianic kingdom by making a compromise with His tempter. Jesus knows the cost of mankind’s salvation will be high (Luke 12:50 ). Indeed, He will even plead with the Father to find another way, if possible (Matt. 26:39; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42 ). By bowing down to Satan, Jesus (so the devil says) will be able to rule over the earth without the struggle and suffering of the cross (Luke 4:5–7).

But Jesus responds again with Scripture: “You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve” (Luke 4:8; see also Deut. 6:13). In serving God only, Jesus takes the way of self-denying love and sacrificial death. He takes the narrow road (Matt. 7:13–14). The power Satan offers Him is not the kingdom of God at all but the kingdom of Satan. God’s kingdom will only come through His self-giving love on the cross.

Jesus emerged victorious despite the strongest attempts of hell to overturn God’s plan of redemption. Because Jesus has secured this victory and we are in Christ, His victory is our victory, and we can call upon Him in times of temptation.

The devil says to us, too, You don’t have to believe this stuff about the narrow road. You don’t have to take up your cross every day and follow Christ. Don’t worry about all that! I’ve got a whole way of getting things done that’s much nicer and easier. We may be tempted to bring about heaven with the tools of hell, but it won’t work. God’s kingdom will only come in God’s way—and God’s way is the path to Calvary. As Jesus said to His disciples, “Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” (Luke 9:24).

When You Question God’s Faithfulness

Finally, in one last attempt, the devil leads Jesus to the highest point of the Jerusalem temple and urges Him to throw Himself down (Luke 4:9–11). Taking a cue from Jesus, Satan now employs Scripture, quoting from Psalm 91 , which begins, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High…” At the temple—the place that represented God’s protection and presence—he challenges Jesus to obtain a more definite proof of His Father’s care by forcing the Father to come to His Son’s aid. In doing so, Satan implies, Christ can show everyone how much He trusts in the promises of God’s Word.

God’s Word is perfect, but Satan likes to twist it so that it seems to say things it does not. Jesus knows and recognizes this, and so He quotes from Deuteronomy again, saying, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test” (Luke 4:12; see also Deut. 6:16). He doesn’t waver for a moment in His trust of God.

When we have Christ, when we have His Spirit indwelling and filling us, when we have His Word feeding and guiding us, then we have all that we need to face today’s temptations.

Just as he did with Jesus, the devil comes to us and asks, Why don’t you find out if God really is true to His promises? And we may meet people who are doing exactly that: ignoring God’s wisdom, spurning His commands, and expecting His promise of grace to spare them the consequences of their actions. They ask God to save them while neglecting the means of grace that He has so lovingly provided. That is putting God to the test. We ought to remember Jesus’ warning: “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand” (Matt. 7:26).

His Victory Is Ours

Jesus emerged victorious despite the strongest attempts of hell to overturn God’s plan of redemption. Because Jesus has secured this victory and we are in Christ, His victory is our victory, and we can call upon Him in times of temptation.

As Christ was full of the Spirit and full of the Word of God, so must we be. When we have Christ, when we have His Spirit indwelling and filling us, when we have His Word feeding and guiding us, then we have all that we need to face today’s temptations. May we resolve, then, to prepare ourselves for the temptations that lie ahead, that we might follow the example of Christ and arise victorious.

This article was adapted from the sermons “The Temptation of Jesus — Part One” and “The Temptation of Jesus — Part Two” by Alistair Begg.

(week of Feb 26) (content)

The Spiritual Discipline of Contentment
By Amanda Idleman 

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” - Philippians 4:11-13

We’ve all probably heard the latter part of this passage….”I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” It’s a beautiful message of strength, help, and confidence from the Lord! However, the context of these words is so important to understand their message. Paul is explaining that he has endured lows, hunger, and need. It is in these trying situations that he was taught the discipline of contentment. It was then that he realized that he can do all things through the power of Christ. 

Not to rain on the parade of this beloved verse but the idea that we have to endure hardship to understand what it means to be content and provided for is not as exciting as just focusing on the promise that we'll always, almost magically, have what we need in Christ. 

Contentment from the bible is usually associated with moderation, a sense of God's guidance and readiness for obedience. The definition of contentment is the state of being satisfied or the source of satisfaction. How many of us find ourselves longing to be content with our lives, bodies, marriages, finances, circumstances, personalities, faith, and stories that we have been given? 

Contentment is a discipline, and it is hard. 
Envy, ungratefulness, comparison, and fear are the things that stop us from living with contentment. Contentment is not a static state of being. It's the active pursuit of the life God has just for YOU. It's being ready to be obedient to God’s guidance in every season. It requires laser focus on what God has for you without being distracted by what could be instead. Contentment means we have to abandon the pursuit of perfection and instead strive for God’s beauty and redemption in our lives. Seeing God’s beauty often takes a change in mindset and not circumstances. 

This may look like appreciating the way your body has served you even if it’s not in perfect shape, it can be choosing to show love to your husband even though you experienced many seasons of struggle together or focusing on the ways you are growing rather than obsessing over your failures. Letting go of the pride that says “I have to or I need to” can be one of the hardest things for believers to do. Yet, this is the type of surrender we are called to. Our lives are no longer our own, we are a new creation in Christ! 

Contentment is a posture. It’s being in the presence of God first before we pursue action. It’s strategic stillness in our lives so we can have the right focus. Contentment feels like a strong sense of faith that your life is only possible because you are connected to your Creator. It’s living as though He is your strength and portion!

Contentment is a gift. It often can be a fleeting feeling of rightness in a moment or a season. The enemy is always working to steal our peace and push into our minds another reason to doubt, fear, worry, or need. God gives us the gift of assurance, peace, joy, of knowing we are in his will and that we are loved. Even though it can be hard to find contentment in our lives, it is a good gift worth pursuing. 

Intersecting Faith and Life: 
Pause to consider how you can cultivate more contentment in your life. How can you better model for your children peace and enoughness in a culture that screams more, more, more! What words communicate that God is enough for you, that your life is His, and while you are always moving forward, you are never asked to strive. You just have to walk hand-in-hand with Him. That is all that is required of you. 

(week of Jan 22) (temptation) 

We are stewards of our time. God has given each one of us a little “chunk of eternity” called time. These golden moments of opportunity are doled out to us for our benefit and for God’s glory. If we use them wisely, they are woven by God’s omnipotent hand into the fabric of eternity. Henry Thoreau cautioned, “You cannot kill time without injuring eternity.” “He who has no vision of eternity,” said Carlyle, “has no hold on time.” “Only one life, ’twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last” is the sentiment of every man who desires to be a good steward of his time. We are entrusted with a small portion of the capital of time. If we invest it wisely, it will pay dividends throughout eternity.

Listen to this message from Billy Graham on using time wisely.

Lea este devocional en español en es.billygraham.org.

Prayer for the day

Take away my procrastinating nature—how easy it is for me to waste time. I want to be able to leave a legacy of time spent for You, Lord, because that is eternal.

(week of Nov 6th) (listen)

(week of Oct 30th) (belonging)

(Week of October23rd) (training)

Training in Godliness

(week of June 12th) (commitment) 

Billy Graham

Each generation becomes more addicted to the sedatives of life, to dull the pain of living. Oppressed by a sense of triviality and thwarted purpose, men find no great goal or commitment to draw them, and no inner stimulation to give meaning to their existence. Christ can save you from the bane of boredom. He waits to give you a fresh sense of direction and to take dissatisfaction out of your life. I talked recently with a man in my own community who was converted to faith in Christ. “I hadn’t known what to do with my leisure time,” he told me, “but now I have a sense of commitment and purpose that I never knew before.”

Prayer for the day

Even the smallest job I do today is part of my service to You, Lord. Help my heart to be so filled with Your Spirit I will rejoice whatever task is set before me.

(week of June 5th) (ungrateful)

by Billy Graham

Are you thankful no matter what? Look at the story of a man who had every right to be bitter—but wasn’t.

The next footsteps in the corridor, he knew, might be those of the guards taking him away to his execution. His only bed was the hard, cold stone floor of the dank, cramped prison cell. Not an hour passed when he was free from the constant irritation of the chains and the pain of the iron manacles cutting into his wrists and legs.

Separated from friends, unjustly accused, brutally treated—if ever a person had a right to complain, it was this man, languishing almost forgotten in a harsh Roman prison. But instead of complaints, his lips rang with words of praise and thanksgiving!

The man was the Apostle Paul—a man who had learned the meaning of true thanksgiving, even in the midst of great adversity. Earlier, when he had been imprisoned in Rome, Paul wrote, “Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:19-20, NIV).

Think of it: Always giving thanks for everything—no matter the circumstances! Thanksgiving for the Apostle Paul was not a once-a-year celebration, but a daily reality that changed his life and made him a joyful person in every situation.

Thanksgiving—the giving of thanks—to God for all His blessings should be one of the most distinctive marks of the believer in Jesus Christ. We must not allow a spirit of ingratitude to harden our heart and chill our relationship with God and with others.

Nothing turns us into bitter, selfish, dissatisfied people more quickly than an ungrateful heart. And nothing will do more to restore contentment and the joy of our salvation than a true spirit of thankfulness.

In the ancient world, leprosy was a terrible disease. It hopelessly disfigured those who had it, and it permanently cut them off from normal society. Without exception, every leper yearned for one thing: To be healed.

One day 10 lepers approached Jesus outside a village, loudly pleading with Him to heal them. In an instant He restored them all to perfect health—but only one came back and thanked Him. All the rest left without a word of thanks, their minds preoccupied only with themselves, gripped with a spirit of ingratitude.

Today, too, ingratitude and thanklessness are far too common. Children forget to thank their parents for all that they do. Common courtesy is scorned. We take for granted the ways that others help us. Above all, we fail to thank God for His blessings.

Ingratitude is a sin, just as surely as is lying or stealing or immorality or any other sin condemned by the Bible. One of the Bible’s indictments against rebellious humanity is that “although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him” (Romans 1:21, NIV). An ungrateful heart is a heart that is cold toward God and indifferent to His mercy and love. It is a heart that has forgotten how dependent we are on God for everything.

From one end of the Bible to the other, we are commanded to be thankful. In fact, thankfulness is the natural outflowing of a heart that is attuned to God. The psalmist declared, “Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving” (Psalm 147:7, NIV). Paul wrote, “Be thankful” (Colossians 3:15, NIV). A spirit of thanksgiving is always the mark of a joyous Christian.

Why should we be thankful? Because God has blessed us, and we should be thankful for each blessing.

Thank God for the Material Blessings That He Gives You

We seem never to be satisfied with what we have—rich or poor, healthy or sick. But what a difference it makes when we realize that everything we have has been given to us by God! King David prayed, “Wealth and honor come from you … We give you thanks, and praise your glorious name … Everything comes from you” (1 Chronicles 29:12-14, NIV).

Some years ago I visited a man who was wealthy and successful. He was the envy of all his friends and business associates. But as we talked, he broke down in tears, confessing that he was miserable inside. Wealth had not been able to fill the empty place in his heart.

A few hours later I visited another man only a short distance away. His cottage was humble, and he had almost nothing in the way of this world’s possessions. And yet his face was radiant as he told me about the work he was doing for Christ and how Christ had filled his life with meaning and purpose. I am convinced that the second man was really the rich man. Although he didn’t have much, he had learned to be thankful for everything that God had given him. Paul declared, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:12, NIV). A spirit of thankfulness makes all the difference.

Are you constantly preoccupied with what you do not have? Or have you learned to thank God for what you do have?

Thank God for the People in Your Life

It is so easy to take people for granted, or even to complain and become angry because they do not meet our every wish. But we need to give thanks for those around us—our spouses, our children, our relatives, our friends and others who help us in some way.

I once received a letter from a woman who began by telling me how fortunate she was to have a kind, considerate husband. She then used four pages to list all his faults! How many marriages and other relationships grow cold and eventually are shattered because of the sin of ingratitude?

Do you let others know that you appreciate them and are thankful for them? The Christians in Corinth were far from perfect, but Paul began his first letter to them by saying, “I always thank God for you” (1 Corinthians 1:4, NIV). When a group of believers (whom Paul had never met) came out to greet him as he approached Rome, we read that “at the sight of these men Paul thanked God and was encouraged” (Acts 28:15, NIV). Thank God for those who touch your life.

Thank God in the Midst of Trials and Even Persecution

We draw back from difficulties, yet not one of us is exempt from some kind of trouble. In many parts of the world it is dangerous even to be a Christian because of persecution.

And yet in the midst of those trials we can thank God, because we know that He has promised to be with us and that He will help us. We know that He can use times of suffering to draw us closer to Himself: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:2-3, NIV).

When the prophet Daniel learned that evil men were plotting against him to destroy him, “he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before” (Daniel 6:10, NIV). The Bible commands, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV). Paul declared, “You will even be able to thank God in the midst of pain and distress because you are privileged to share the lot of those who are living in the light” (Colossians 1:12, Phillips).

I don’t know what trials you may be facing right now, but God does, and He loves you and is with you by His Holy Spirit. Cultivate a spirit of thankfulness even in the midst of trials and heartaches.

Thank God Especially for His Salvation in Jesus Christ

God has given us the greatest Gift of all—His Son, who died on the cross and rose again so that we can know Him personally and spend eternity with Him in heaven: “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15, NIV).

The Bible tells us that we are separated from God because we have sinned. But God loves us—He loves you, He loves me—and He wants us to be part of His family forever. He loves us so much that He sent His only Son into the world to die as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. All we need to do is reach out in faith and accept Christ as our Savior and Lord: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, NIV).

Have you opened your heart to Jesus Christ? If not, turn to Him with a simple prayer of repentance and faith, and thank Him for what He has done for you. And if you do know Christ, how long has it been since you thanked God for your salvation? We should not let a day go by without thanking God for His mercy and His grace to us in Jesus Christ.

Thank God for His Continued Presence and Power in Your Life

When we come to Christ, it is not the end but the beginning of a whole new life! He is with us, and He wants to help us follow Him and His Word.

In ourselves we do not have the strength that we need to live the way God wants us to live. But when we turn to Him, we discover that “it is God who works in [us] to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13, NIV). Jesus promised His disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18, 20, NIV).

In many countries a special day is set aside each year for thanksgiving. But for the Christian every day can be a day of thanksgiving, as we are “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20, NIV).

(week of May 29th) (Good Cheer [optimism, confidence])

BE OF GOOD CHEER

(week of May 22nd) (song)

A pastor, thinking that he was being humorous, once introduced me, saying, “I’ve heard him eat and I’ve heard him sing, and I’d rather hear him eat than sing.”  It’s no wonder we have become intimidated when it comes to anything much but singing in the shower where no one can hear.

Yet the one who never sings is one who stifles the music soul which gives vent to the deep feelings within.  Actually, no language is more universal than that of music.  Whether it is a cowboy with his guitar, the sheepherder who sits on the back of the old pickup playing his harmonica, the aborigine who sits on the dirt floor of a hut and plays a nose flute made from the bone of an animal, or a great symphony whose combined musical voices thunder the 1812 Overture, music has a way of purging our emotions and expressing our hopes, fears, loves, and likes.

Many of us are intimidated by the professionals whose performances are nearly perfect, yet for those who give vent to the music within there is a great blessing.  Of the seven fine arts, music is considered to be the most heavenly in nature.  Among all races and peoples, singing has played a significant part in worship.  Surely God created man with a song in his heart that had to be voiced.  The book of Genesis links joy and singing together.  Anthropologists tell us that singing and dancing are among the most ancient expressions of humankind, and both were associated with worship.  Ancient singers became the historians telling the stories of their exploits and victories in song.

Musicians who sang or played instruments always preceded the Ark of the Covenant in ancient Israel.  The Old Testament admonishes, “Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints.  Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King.  Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp” (Psalm 149:1-3).

The book of James asks, “Is anyone happy?  Let him sing songs of praise” (James 5:13).  Paul links singing with the outworking of God’s Spirit in the believer’s life.  He says, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.  Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:18,19).

When John the Apostle has a vision of heaven, yes, he includes singing.  He says, “Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!’” (Revelation 5:13).

So you can’t carry a tune, right?  That doesn’t have to stop you from letting a melody rise from your soul.  Even individuals who were born deaf, having never heard a violin or a mother’s sweet song, still sing, tapping out the melody, striving to understand the rise and fall of the notes.  In the west, eight melodic tones form an octave, but in certain other areas–China, for example–the scale is different.  Yet every race and every group of people who have ever lived sing and enjoy music.

When people are blessed they break forth in song, and only in the darkest days of Israel’s history did they put away their harps, their voices silent.  In nature God has an uncountable number of musical refrains, all of which are meaningful, so no matter how you sound, use your voice and breath to praise God in song and to express the music He put in your soul. You are the better for it and so is our world.

(week of May 15th) (Intercessory Prayer of Jesus)

(week of May 8th) (it's not a given)

(say this simple sinner’s prayer from your heart:

Dear Lord,I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness.I believe Jesus Christ is your only begotten Son. I believe that He died for my sins and that you raised Him from the dead.I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Please guide me and help me do your will and fill me with your Holy Spirit. Thank you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen)

(week of May 1st) (the Heart)

Psalm 51

One of the most misleading pieces of advice you will hear is the recommendation to follow your heart. God says, “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick” (Jeremiah 17:9). We all enter life with a inclination toward sin and selfishness, and there is no way we ourselves can change this. Instead of trusting a sinful heart, what we really need is a new, clean heart, and only the Lord can give us one.

Our heavenly Father sent His Son into this world to die on the cross and pay the penalty for our sins. Only in that way could we be forgiven and receive a clean heart from which flow holy desires and ambitions. Through Christ, we are set apart for God, welcomed into His family as adopted children, and indwelt by His Spirit.  

Thanks to our new heart and the Holy Spirit’s empowering presence, we are enabled to live a righteous life of obedience to the Lord. Instead of living with a deceptive heart, we can now draw near to God in fellowship and understand the truth of His Word. With gratitude for our new heart, let’s rely on the Spirit’s power to help us discern error and make wise decisions.

Go deeper: Read about what it means to live a life of purity and holiness.

Lea este devocional en español en es.billygraham.org.

Prayer for the day

Father, give me purity of heart that in true humility I may serve and praise You.

(week of April 24th) (Born Again)

(

week of April 17th) (a Touch)

When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. (Matthew 8:1-3)

(Week of April 10th) (Resurrection)

If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. (1 Corinthians 15:17)

Here are ten amazing things we owe to the resurrection of Jesus:

1) A Savior who can never die again. “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again” (Romans 6:9).

2) Repentance. “The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel” (Acts 5:30–31).

3) New birth. “According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).

4) Forgiveness of sin. “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17).

5) The Holy Spirit. “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing” (Acts 2:32–33).

6) No condemnation for the elect. “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died — more than that, who was raised — who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us” (Romans 8:34).

7) Jesus’s personal fellowship and protection. “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

8) Proof of coming judgment. “[God] has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” (Acts 17:31).

9) Salvation from the future wrath of God. “[We] wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10; Romans 5:9).

10) Our own resurrection from the dead. “[We know] that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence” (2 Corinthians 4:14; Romans 6:4; 8:11; 1 Corinthians 6:14; 15:20).

The resurrection of Christ brings hope. The late Emil Brunner once said, “What oxygen is for the lungs, such is hope for the meaning of human life.” As the human organism is dependent on a supply of oxygen, so humanity is dependent on its supply of hope. Yet today hopelessness and despair are everywhere. Peter, who himself was given to despair during the episode of Calvary, writes in a triumphant note, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again into a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

There is hope that mistakes and sins can be forgiven. There is hope that we can have joy, peace, assurance, and security in the midst of the despair of this age. There is hope that Christ is coming soon—this is what is called in Scripture “the blessed hope.” There is hope that there will come some day a new heaven and a new earth, and that the Kingdom of God will reign and triumph. Our hope is not in our own ability, or in our goodness, or in our physical strength. Our hope is instilled in us by the resurrection of Christ.

Read about the evidence of Jesus’ resurrection.

Lea este devocional en español en es.billygraham.org.

Prayer for the day

My hope is in You, my resurrected Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! May I never despair, as I remember Your triumph and love.

Billy Graham

(week of April  3rd) (fool)

On April 1st, people “stretch” the truth and then announce “April Fools.” As Christians, we are to discern truth and know what the Bible says about fools. In Paul’s final letter to Timothy, he wrote about a man named Demas. But sadly, Paul did not “stretch” the truth, nor was there an announcement of “April Fools.”  Demas was a foolish man.

Demas Deserted Paul

“Make every effort to come to me soon; for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica;” (2 Timothy 4:9-10, NASB)

In this short text, there is a certain sadness conveyed by the apostle Paul. Paul was in a Roman prison, under the watchful eye of the Roman guard, and he greatly desired that Timothy would come soon. It is evident that Paul was aware that his time on earth was short (2 Timothy 4:6-8). Sadly, only Luke was with him (2 Timothy 4:11). because Demas had deserted him.

Who Was Demas?

Demas had been a cherished co-laborer with Paul, a co-worker in spreading the gospel message of Jesus (Philemon 24; Colossians 4:14). He seemed to be the real deal. but Scripture tells that at some point during Paul’s time in Rome, Demas had made it known that he “loved this present world.” And so he had departed from Paul and headed to Thessalonica.

The Greek word for deserted is “shamayim” and it speaks of “letting someone down.” In both the KJV and NKJV, the word is translated as “forsaken.”   Demas had forsaken Paul by leaving Paul because he “loved this present world.” Kenneth Wuest, a former Greek instructor at Moody Bible Institute, wrote that Demas “had set a high value on this present age.” The word for “world” is aion, and it can also be translated as “age.”  In that sense, it speaks of the aims, hopes, and aspirations that define the current time. 

A Lesson from Demas

This is a difficult passage, and also an alarming one. It reveals the lesson that this world, in which we live, can serve as a powerful tool of seduction that can actually draw a person away from the work of Christ. And this “love” of the “present age” can be even more inviting when conditions are not so favorable. 
 
After reading about Demas, these words from John’s first letter should come to mind:

“Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.” (1 John 2:15-16 – NASB)

 As John commanded those to whom he wrote, we learn that we must not love the world. John continues by telling of the temporal nature of the world, and also of its lusts that will one day be gone:

“And the world is passing away, and also its lusts” (1 John 2:17- NASB)

Foolish Demas

Demas turned his back on serving God, choosing rather to embrace the trappings of the world, the age in which he lived. He lost sight of the eternal blessings of Christ.  How foolish he was.  And so also are all people, of all ages, who deny the God of all creation, the Lord and Saviour of mankind, who gave His life so all might live.  There’s a verse in the Bible that speaks of such people.

Psa 14:1  The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.

There are fools all around us, who reject the amazing love of God and the saving grace of Jesus.  On April Fools Day, and every day throughout the year, help foolish people to see the Lord our God, who is also their God.  He “is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Pet 3:9)  Help foolish people to become wise.

Prov 12:15  The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.
Prov 3:35  The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools.

(week of March 27th) (darkness)

The world’s difficulty is summed up in the words, “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness understood it not.” The light of Easter is shining, but men refuse to turn to its healing rays for forgiveness, redemption, and salvation. Thus Christ is being rejected by the overwhelming majority of humanity today. As a result, men stumble on in spiritual darkness blindly toward destruction, judgment, and hell.

In the midst of the darkness and “void” at the creation of the world, God said, “Let there be light.” In your own mind-darkened, will-paralyzed, conscience-dulled soul, God can make the light penetrate and turn the darkness of your own life into day, if you will let Him. Many of you are living in spiritual darkness, confused, frustrated, disturbed, and fearful. Let the Light come into your heart by faith.

Read Anne Graham Lotz’s Bible study, “Putting Holes in the Darkness”

Lea este devocional en español en es.billygraham.org.

Prayer for the day

At Easter time, as nature breaks through into glorious re-creation, I am reminded of the glory of Your resurrection! I praise You, Lord Jesus, for Your light which shines through the dimness of my soul.

 

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“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5 (NIV)

I spent most of my childhood doing my homework in the dark under a burning gas lamp. As war erupted in my Middle Eastern country, we had electricity only eight hours a day, and then it was dark.

Not only was my country physically dark, it was also spiritually dark. My family experienced the effects of this darkness, as we were the only Christians in our village. When we shared the gospel with our neighbors, we received heavy persecution and death threats urging us to stop, or my father would be killed. I experienced darkness at my school as well, where I was bullied for my faith. Often, my heart sank deep within me as I felt the rejection from those around me.

Persecution was affecting my family from the outside, but from the inside, poverty was taking over.

We often lacked food and sometimes only had raw onion and bread for dinner. We lived in a small apartment with no furniture, couches or beds. I desired to have new clothes, dolls and toys, but we could not afford them, and I didn’t receive gifts on Christmas or my birthday.

Yet, my parents continuously encouraged me to be content and to keep my eyes on Jesus. Mom recited Psalm 23 to me every night before going to bed, and she taught me to pray and bring all my needs to God.

During this season of darkness, Christian resources were limited. Aside from finding other Christians to meet, a Christian radio station broadcasted two hours a day. My family desired to have access to the station, but we could not afford a radio. Being a family of prayer, we brought this need to God.

Then God pierced through our darkness.

Amid the war, poverty and persecution, I was given the gift of a beautifully wrapped shoebox packed by someone halfway across the world who wanted to show me God’s love.

My family gathered to open the shoebox. As I opened it, my heart was filled with joy! I found many things that were an answer to my prayers and reflected my innermost self so well. There were hygiene items, school supplies and many beautiful toys such as a slinky and a Beanie Baby.

As we rejoiced over each item inside the box, there was another surprise awaiting us. Inside the shoebox was a smaller box, and inside that box we found a mini radio!

Out of millions of boxes, God orchestrated that box to come specifically to my family with what we needed and had prayed for. That day, as I sat in our room holding my box, the darkness did not go away, but it was overcome by God’s light. Just as the Bible says in John 1:5, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

From that day forward, every time I turned on the radio, I was reminded that God is the God of details. In a unique yet ordinary way, He pierced through the surrounding darkness and showed me that I am seen and loved by Him, even when rejected by many.

There are times when darkness seems too overwhelming and blinds us from seeing God’s presence in our lives. The enemy uses many forms of attack to blur or even blind our vision of the One True Light.

But God is not deterred by the darkness around us.

Continue to seek God even when everything is dark. God is actively working behind the scenes. He is still the God of love, the God of peace and the God of answered prayers.

Heavenly Father, sometimes I am too overwhelmed by my situations and don’t see or feel You. Would You pull me into Your light and allow me to see You shine through my darkness? Help me trust what You’re doing in my life even when I do not know all the details. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY

John 8:12, “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (NIV)

Ephesians 5:1-17

The culture in which we live is characterized by spiritual darkness. Sadly, even those of us who are believers become so accustomed to the dark that we feel neither shocked nor shamed by much of what goes on around us. Perhaps we see the sin but don’t acknowledge it as wrong, or maybe we just don’t notice it anymore.

One of those sins is sexual immorality. Throughout the Bible, we are warned of its dangers and told to abstain from impure behavior, lustful passions, and evil desires (Colossians 3:5). Though we don’t feel comfortable talking about it, we must consider what sexual immorality might look like today—whether it’s adultery, pornography, or relations outside of marriage—and be prepared to confront it.

While we cannot escape our dark society, God has provided everything we need to live in the light of our all-sufficient Savior, Jesus Christ. Through His indwelling Spirit, we are adequate to face every temptation and choose what is good and pleasing to Him.

If you have become comfortable in the darkness around you, ask the Lord to shed His light on your life to reveal any compromises or hidden sinful desires. Then receive His forgiveness and the power to walk in His ways.