Revelation 22

December 31

Revelation  22

The final battle is over. Jesus has reclaimed that which is rightfully He is coming back to take His throne and to deliver judgment. He who was from the beginning will bring light to the nations and live with His people. Those who are washed in the blood of Jesus, those who have received the gift of salvation offered to them through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus shall enter the gates of the holy city where the River of Life flows and the tree of life bears fruit every month.

Jesus delivered this message to John to tell to the churches. There will be no excuse that we did not know. There will be no excuse that we had not been warned. Jesus wanted everyone to know that He is coming back and when He comes, those who have rejected Him will be removed from His presence and cast into hell. Those who have received His salvation, will enter His presence for eternity. Jesus’ return will be a great and dreadful day. We can choose today what that day will be like. Our relationship with Jesus now dictates our eternal destiny. Come Lord Jesus!

"The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen." (Revelation 22:21, NIV)

 

 

 

Revelation 19-21

December 30

Revelation  19-21

When all is said and done there will be a new heaven and a new earth. God will dwell with His people. He will wipe away our tears. There will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain. Life will be as it was created to be when God first created. The earth will return to its former glory and God will be worshiped and obeyed. God will use the gems and minerals that are so sought after to build walls and roads.

The sun and moon will no longer need to shine because God’s glory will shine and give us light. When that day comes our faith will become sight. We will be able to stand in the presence of God and look upon His glory. We will walk with Jesus and enjoy His creation as it was meant to be. Sin will be removed and holiness will fill the land.

 

 

 

Revelation 17-18

December 29

Revelation 17-18

The things of earth will not last. People put their trust in their jobs, their savings, their homes, their retirement account, but none of these things will last. Babylon represents the focus of this world, the result of sinful humanity. There will be those who rise up against Jesus. Those who refuse to turn to Him. Some will worship the beast and persecute followers of Jesus. Though they come against the followers of Jesus, though they continue to reject Him and wage war against Him, they will not win.

Jesus said; "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." (Matthew 16:18, NIV) When the final battle takes place, Jesus and His Church will remain standing. We all face challenges in life, but in the end, only one thing matters; our relationship with Jesus. Everything else is going to be destroyed. All the luxuries will turn to dust. We will stand before the judgment seat of Christ where we will hear; “well done my good and faithful servant”  or “away from me, I never knew you.” Our choices now affect our eternal life.

 

Revelation 14-16

December 28

Revelation 14-16

When the end or time approaches there will be a great division that will take place. In Matthew 13:47 and following, Jesus said the Kingdom of God is like a net that catches all kinds of fish and the fishermen separate the good from the bad. "This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 13:49-50, NIV) Jesus also said that at the harvest the wheat and the weeds would be separated. The wheat taken into the barn and the weeds will be burnt. These verses from Revelation reveal the fulfillment of the stories told by Jesus. Those who die in the Lord will rest from their labor, while the wicked will be cursed to eternal damnation.

You would think that when the bowls of wrath began to be poured out, the people would turn to God, begging for mercy, but they refuse to repent and give Him glory. In the Old Testament, God called Israel to repentance, but they refused. They trusted the other nations instead of trusting God. In our day, many people die refusing to turn to God, refusing to repent of their sin, refusing to put their trust in Jesus. We are reminded of the power of sin. Sin overpowers us and hardens our hearts until we refuse to listen to God; we refuse to submit to His authority. It is important to respond to God’s call when we hear Him. To “put off” responding may harden our hearts so we cannot respond. There will be a day of judgment, our only hope is to be cleansed by the blood of Jesus.

 

Revelation 11-13

December 27

Revelation 11-13

“The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”" (Revelation 11:15, NIV)

 When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we pray; “thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” When we look around at the direction the world seems to be taking, it can be frustrating or seem that God’s will, will never be done on earth as it is in heaven. But there will be a day, when God takes drastic measures to bring total restoration to His creation. There will be judgment of all people the living and the dead.  There will be rewards and ruin. God will come to claim that which is rightfully His.

God has allowed the prince of this world, the devil, Satan to do his damage over the years, but a day is coming when all that will be over and God will reign from His holy mountain. What we do now dictates what happens to us then. Those who bow before God now will be exalted in that day. Those who exalt themselves now will be brought low on that day. It will be a great and terrible day as God establishes His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Those who are a part of His kingdom will join Him; those who reject him will face eternal destruction.

What does that mean for us? We do not know the day or time Jesus will return and claim His kingdom, but we are called to be ready no matter when He comes. Jesus told several parables to emphasize this fact. One of the key points of Jesus’ ministry was; “repent for the Kingdom of God is near.” There is no better time than now to turn toward Jesus and live for His Kingdom.

 

Revelation 6-10

December 26

Revelation 6-10

" After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”" (Revelation 7:9-10, NIV)

 Though the gate is narrow that leads to life, there will be a great multitude, who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb, who will stand before Jesus in heaven worshiping Him. Every nation, tribe, people, and language will be represented in this mass of people. The prejudices of earth will pass away as we gather as one people to worship our only Savior. Red, yellow, black, and white, as the children’s song proclaims, are all precious in His sight. The man made divisions will all be demolished.

 As citizens of the Kingdom of God, now is the time to prepare for our time standing before the throne of Jesus. Now is the time to tear down the walls that separate us because of race, color, or nationality. Followers of Jesus will spend eternity together worshiping our Lord; we should learn to get along now. Jesus said the second greatest command was to love our neighbor as ourselves. He then told a story about a Samaritan caring for the needs of a Jew, though the two people groups had a strong dislike of each other.

 Are there people of certain nationalities or colors that you tense up around? Are there some people groups that you distrust? Do you have prejudices? Most if not all of us have learned prejudices, but being prejudice is not of God."“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)  He gave His Son for all the nations, all the races, all people, the world. If Christians treated each other as brothers and sisters in Christ, the world would be a whole lot closer to peace, and God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

 

 

Revelation 3-5

December 25

Revelation 3-5

On what we celebrate as Christmas Day, God brought His throne to earth. Jesus left His rainbow encircled throne for a straw lined crib made out of a feed trough. He left the worship of the angels around the throne, for the worship of some uneducated shepherds who left their flocks to see this baby they had been told about. Jesus left the glory described in Revelation 4 so that we would join Him there someday. We will join the multitude as they worship the lamb who is found worthy to open the scroll.

In the mean time, we wait. We live out our lives on earth unaware of the activities taking place in heaven. We lift up our prayers, sometimes wondering if they are even heard. We cry out for loved ones, we anoint the sick, we ask for wisdom, we lift words of praise. In the mean time, in heaven, our prayers are lifted before the throne in golden bowls as incense. God knows our prayers and as incense penetrates our noses; our prayers are taken in by God himself.

God’s love for us is displayed throughout the year, but His greatest gift is celebrated during Christmas. He has plans for each of us. "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV) Christmas reminds us that God’s plans will come to fruition, even when we grow tired and weary and wonder when.

 

 

Revelation 1-2

December 24

Revelation 1-2

     It is Christmas Eve and our reading today reminds us that Jesus is coming back to claim those who follow Him. Just as no one knew when He would arrive the first time He came, He will come like a thief in the night. We may not expect it, but we can be ready for His return. He will come to bring judgment and restoration to a lost and broken world.

     Though He died, He lives and He holds the keys of death and Hades. Jesus’ letters to the churches addresses their strengths, gives warnings about their weaknesses, and reminds them of the advantage of overcoming the pull of the world. Life in this world is a struggle. There are multiple challenges. But there are rewards for our perseverance. Those who overcome will; receive the right to eat from the tree of life, will not be hurt by the second death, will receive some of the hidden manna, will receive a white stone with a new name, will receive authority over the nations, will be dressed in white and their name will never be blotted out of the book of life, Jesus will acknowledge them before the Father, will become a pillar in the temple of God, and will receive the right to sit on the throne with Jesus.

     The rewards God pours out on us for persevering with Him, far outweighs the empty promises of the world. Some grow weary wondering when. We do not know when, but just as He told us about the first coming through the prophets, He also told us about His return. He is coming back to wrap up what He has already begun. He is coming back to make all things new.

 

 

 

2 &3 John, Jude

December 23

2 &3 John, Jude

As long as we live in this world, there will be opposition to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Some people bring obvious opposition, but the more dangerous are those who try to change the message of Jesus in subtle ways that may go unnoticed. Sometimes the gospel in all its truth is difficult to hear. The softening of the words is easier on our ears. The excuse of we are only human takes away the sting of sin. But God has called us to so much more. He calls us to walk in obedience to Him. He calls us to follow Him, no matter the cost. There will be people who try to knock us off course, but remember the road is narrow that leads to eternal life and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:14).

To try to live the Christian life without the power of God leading us is impossible, but God “is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—" (Jude 24, NIV) Through prayer, scripture reading, the fellowship of believers, and faith in Jesus, we are able to persevere through a life of trials and will receive our eternal reward in Christ.

 

 

 

1 John

December 22

1 John

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (1 John 3:16, NIV)

 

This is worship; laying down our lives for our brothers. Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:21 "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." (Ephesians 5:21, NIV) When we respond to God’s great love for us by laying down our lives for others, we are imitating Jesus. He did not respond to the false accusations hurled at Him by firing back words of ridicule and hatred. Jesus laid down His life in order to give us eternal life. He gave up His rightful position in order to hang on the cross so we could enter His presence in Heaven.

Laying down of our lives does not necessarily mean we have to die. Laying down our lives means we put aside our claim to our position for the benefit of others. Laying down our lives means we become servants of others. Laying down our lives means we die to ourselves daily and live for Jesus. Laying down our lives means we imitate the love Jesus displayed on the cross for those who loved Him and for His enemies. Laying down our lives means, as Paul wrote; "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20, NIV)

Laying down our lives is the ultimate display of love. John wrote that our salvation is revealed by our love for God and our love for people. We cannot say we love God and not love people. Our love for God is revealed in our love for people. If we realize how much God loves us and the price He paid for our salvation, it becomes easier to put aside our rights for the benefit of others.

 

 

2 Peter

December 21

2 Peter

Just as Jesus came to bring salvation to the world, He is coming back to bring judgment and restoration. It has been over 2000 years since Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father where He intercedes for us. 2000 years is a long time. Paul’s early writings revealed that he believed Jesus would come back in his lifetime. Throughout the centuries there have been those who tried to predict the day and time Jesus would return, though Jesus said that was not for us to worry about. There have been periods of time that seemed to fulfill all that Jesus said had to take place before He returned. We are still waiting.

 

The people of Peter’s day were growing frustrated. Some people mocked them because they were counting on Jesus’ return. "They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”" (2 Peter 3:4, NIV) We forget that God’s timing is not our timing. God created time. He is not constrained by the boundaries of time as we are bound. He has been since eternity past. He has no beginning, He always has been. Not only is God outside of the constraints of time, He also so loves us that He wants every person possible to come to Him. "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9, NIV)

Jesus will return in God’s perfect timing. He will come and He will welcome those who are living holy and godly lives into His Kingdom as He creates a new heaven and a new earth. Those who have rejected Him, those who have not come to repentance will face judgment and eternal separation from Him. God has called us to live lives of righteousness. We cannot live that way on our own. Our sinful nature is too powerful to overcome, but through our relationship with Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we are able to live as the people God created us to be. As we live those lives each day on earth, we are preparing for eternity in heaven.

 

 

1 Peter

December 20

1 Peter

"Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." (1 Peter 2:11-12, NIV)

      Do you ever get frustrated with the direction the world seems to be going? Do you ever feel like you just don’t fit in? As followers of Jesus, we are citizens of another kingdom, we are citizens of the Kingdom of God. In 2 Corinthians 5:20, Paul wrote that we are ambassadors for Christ. We are representatives of the Kingdom of God living in the kingdom of the earth. We feel like outcasts at times, because we are strangers in the world. We have different goals, different priorities, and different standards.

     Are strength comes from each other. Just as you may see people a certain nationalities gather together to support one another when they live in a foreign land, fellow Christians need each other for encouragement and support. The culture of this world will slowly wear you down if you do not do something to continue to build yourself back up in Christ. Through prayer God gives us strength, but we also need each other to come along side and support one another.

     If we remain faithful and true to the word of God, if we live by God’s standards instead of the world’s standards, people will take notice. You may face persecution, you may face ridicule, you may face accusations, but your good deeds will speak volumes to those you encounter. They will see the Spirit of God reflected through your life and someday, whether now or when He returns, glorify God for His goodness revealed in you.

 

James

December 19

James

"You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did." (James 2:20-22, NIV)

 The key to our foundation is faith. Paul wrote that we are saved by grace through faith. James is not disagreeing with Paul, but unless our faith produces good deeds, we need to question the root of our faith. Faith is not some abstract thought that floats around in our minds. Our faith is the foundation on which our lives are built. We can say we believe whatever we want, but our actions reveal what we really believe. We can check our faith by examining our actions. Faith and action work hand in hand.

 Going to church and listening to the word of God, even reading the scriptures every day does not make us Christian. Once again, our actions should reflect what we are reading and hearing from the scripture. To read the scripture and not allow it to change our thoughts and actions is meaningless. Our lives, as followers of Jesus, should reflect the word of God revealed in scripture. Our actions are the fruit of our lives. Our actions reveal what is really at our heart. What is going on inside of us is revealed by our actions. What do your actions reveal?

Hebrews 12-13

December 18

Hebrews 12-13

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2, NIV)

 

Have you ever noticed that you can be in a room full of people, full of furniture, full of knick knacks, full of all kinds of stimuli, but you only really focus on one or two things at a time. If you focus on one person, the couch they are sitting on fades to the background. Of if you focus on the couch the person is in the background. In life,  there are all kinds of stimuli calling for our attention. Many of these call us off the road we are traveling toward Christlikeness. There are distractions the divert our attention, there are temptations that pull us in another direction, there are even good things that are not God’s best for us that may send us off course.

 

The only cure for all the diversions is to fix our eyes on Jesus. If we keep Him as our focal point all the other things of life will fall in line where they belong. When choices come, if we focus on Jesus’ calling on our lives, His desires for our lives, we will stay the course. If we allow our self centeredness to arise, if we focus on self instead of on Jesus, we may easily get off course. When we get off course, God brings discipline, not as a means of beating us down, but as a means of bringing correction. God wants us to live our lives for Him. He created us and knows what is best for us.

 

Jesus died on the cross to give us life full and fulfilled. After He rose from the dead He sat at the right hand of the Father. He intercedes for us and cheers us on as we persevere, running the race marked out for us. So “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,” fix your eyes on Jesus and keep running until you receive your crown of righteousness in Glory.

 

 

 

Hebrews 10-11

December 17

Hebrews 10-11

"let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:22, NIV)

 

Many Christians hesitate to speak of the cleansing work of the blood of Jesus. We will speak of the saving work, we will talk of how Jesus’ death on the cross gave us the victory over death so we can have eternal life with God in heaven. But His blood also washes us of our sin. He purifies us so we can draw near to God in our lives, not just in our deaths. His blood gives us assurance that our sin and guilt have been removed and we have been empowered through the work of the Holy Spirit to live lives sold out for Jesus.

 

When we enter in to a relationship with Jesus we are set aside for Him. In other words, we are made holy. Holiness is not something we do for ourselves; it is something God does for us. Our part in the process is to surrender to Christ, He is faithful to cleanse us and to make us holy unto Him. God is looking for those who will come to Him with sincere hearts, truly seeking to be shaped into the image of Christ. If we come with sincerity, He will cleanse us and make us holy.

 

 

Hebrews 6-9

December 16

Hebrews 6-9

Jesus came as the great high priest. The priests of the old covenant took the blood of bulls and goats to cover over their sin and the sin of the people. Jesus had no sin so He did not have to make a sacrifice for himself. But by the shedding of His blood He entered the heavenly holy of holies and sat at the right hand of the Father.  The blood of bulls and goats covered over sin, but they were not able to purify us of our sin. The blood of Jesus cleanses us completely so that we can be set aside as holy instruments able to faithfully serve God.

What does it mean that Jesus came and shed His blood for the forgiveness of our sin? What difference does it make in the way we live? If we can begin to realize that God became human and died for us, we would begin to realize how much He loves us. If we begin to realize how much He loves us, we will realize He wants what is best for us and His instructions for life are for our benefit, not to shackle us and keep us from the good times. When we understand these concepts, we desire to walk in obedience to Him because of our love for Him and our desire to live the lives He created us to live.  

 

 

Hebrews 1-5

December 15

Hebrews 1-5

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, NIV)

 

The word of God is like an x-ray, it reveals what is going on inside of us. When we examine our lives based on the word of God, we get a true picture of our standing before God. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, but He extends His grace to us. The word of God reveals our need for His grace. The Holy Spirit lives in us and helps us interpret the scriptures in our lives. The word of God is not a dead word lying on the pages of the bible, but when we read or hear the scriptures, the Holy Spirit teaches, rebukes, and counsels us so we can grow in Christ-likeness.

 

We can just read over the words of scripture and perhaps we can ignore the Spirit as He reveals the truth to us. But if we will pray, read, and study the scriptures, if we allow scripture to interpret scripture, we will see God revealed in our lives and in the world around us. God give us His word to direct our decisions in life. He gives us His word to strengthen us for living the lives He created us to live. He gives us His word to build us up. His word, if we give it the attention it deserves, will penetrate and transform our lives to the core of our being.

 

 

 

Titus & Philemon

December 14

Titus & Philemon

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men." (Titus 2:11, NIV)

 

God is not stingy with His grace. He pours out His grace on all people. His grace is an expression of His love. When Jesus went to the cross it was not just for some, it was for all people. He died for those who receive Him, but He also died for those who reject Him. God wants everyone to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus. This saving grace poured out by God, not only prepares us for heaven, it also shapes us for life on earth.

 

Today is the first day of eternity. We are either headed toward eternity in heaven or in hell. God’s grace is available to us no matter the direction we are headed. Those who know Jesus wait for the hope we have in our salvation, we look forward to a day when Jesus is going to come back to take His people with Him. In the mean time he calls us to live lives of purity, eager to do what is good.

2 Timothy

December 13

2 Timothy

If you have ever been around a fireplace, a woodstove, or even a camp fire, you know that after burning for a while the fire dies down and the wood glows red.  If you throw more wood on the pile, it may just sit and smolder and smoke. But if you fan the flame, if you blow on it or get a billow and add air to the embers, fire ignites the new wood and spreads with fresh power.

Paul writes to Timothy; "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:6-7, NIV) Just as we have to fan into flame the embers in a fire, we need to fan into flame the gift of God which is in us. We need to feed the fire of the Holy Spirit; we need to open ourselves up to the Word of God so He can breathe new life into us.

As we go through the trials of life, it is easy to get burnt out or just get complacent. We need refreshing by the Holy Spirit. We get that refreshment through worship, bible reading and prayer. God is the provider of the refreshing; we just have to allow Him to work. We have to remember we have the power of God dwelling in us if we are followers of Jesus. That power enables us to love others and to live lives of obedience and righteousness in the presence of God.

Fan the flame. Allow God to move in your life and watch the fire spread in your life and in the lives of the people around you.

 

 

 

1 Timothy

December 12

1 Timothy

Because of the sedentary lifestyle of so many people in our country, fitness has become an important part of the lives of many. As evidence comes from medical research on the importance of physical exercise, people decide they must exercise in order to prolong life and quality of life. In 2012, over $45 billion was spent on the fitness industry. The driving factors of this industry are disposable income, money that can be spent on non-essentials, and leisure time. The average American has around 5.2 hours per day of leisure time. More and more people are using a portion of that time for physical training.

Paul wrote to Timothy; "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." (1 Timothy 4:8, NIV)  Physical training is important. We are supposed to take care of the bodies we have. In the past, physical labor helped keep us physically fit, but the changes in the structure of many jobs has caused us to become physically unfit. Our physical fitness affects the way we feel, the way we think, our energy levels and so much more.

But even more important than our physical fitness is our spiritual fitness. Physical fitness helps us live life to the fullest, but spiritual fitness prepares us for the present and eternal life. Just as we need to exercise our bodies in order to maintain physical fitness, we need to train ourselves through bible reading, prayer, worship, and fellowship with other believers in order to maintain or grow spiritually. Spending some of our leisure time each day preparing our bodies is important, but it is even more important to spend some of that time preparing ourselves spiritually so we can grow in godliness.

 

 

2 Thessalonians

December 11

2 Thessalonians

Many people today disregard God’s word. They make God in to the god they want Him to be instead of the God revealed in the scripture. We like God’s grace, but want to ignore His judgment. We do not get one without the other. God is a God of love, but He is also a just God. "He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus." (2 Thessalonians 1:8, NIV) Jesus is coming back and when He comes, He is going to come with power to transform this broken world. He will bring judgment and grace.

Jesus said; "“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" (Matthew 7:21-23, NIV)  We are not saved by our actions, but our actions reveal what we really believe. If we believe Jesus is our Lord, it means He is in charge. If He is really our Lord we will obey Him. If we do not obey Him, we don’t really have a relationship with Him. If we do not have a relationship with Him, we are destined for hell.

But if we know Him, if we believe, if we obey, we will glorify and marvel at His return. We are to live as if He will return any day, but also live as if He will not come in our lifetime. We should be prepared at all times for Jesus to show up, but we need to plan, work, and live for life to continue on this earth. If we are prepared either way, we will not be disappointed on the day He arrives.

 

 

 

1 Thessalonians

December 10

1 Thessalonians

"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, NIV)

 

What does Paul mean when he prays that God would sanctify the readers through and through? Sanctify means to set apart or to declare holy. For God to sanctify us, He sets us aside and declares us holy. Paul wrote; “May  your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless.” Paul is praying for God’s cleansing of the entire person. He does not just pray for spiritual cleansing, but the cleansing of the entire person. We cannot separate out the parts of our being. Our spirit, soul, and body are interconnected. Each part affects the other parts.

We cannot sanctify ourselves. God does the sanctifying. Our part in the process is to give ourselves over to God or to present ourselves as living sacrifices. When we come to God and say; “here am I, use me.” God will take what we present to Him and will set it aside for His purposes. He wants all of us. He wants to make us what we cannot become on our own; holy.

This is not something we have to beg God to do in our lives. This is what God created us for. This is God’s desire for us. Entire sanctification marks the time when we give ourselves completely to God and He receives us, makes us His holy instrument, and sends us out as His ambassador to the world. It does not mark a time when we have arrived, but instead marks the beginning of our journey toward Christ likeness.

 

 

Colossians

December 9

Colossians

Our relationship with Jesus is not about a single experience. Our relationship begins at a point in time when we submit to Jesus as our Lord and Savior and we receive the gift of salvation He offers us, but that is just the beginning. "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him," (Colossians 2:6, NIV) When we receive Jesus as Lord we turn from our sin and turn to Him. We are to continue to walk toward Him after we make the turn. It is an error to believe we can get up from the altar of prayer after committing our lives to Jesus and to continue to live the same way we have always lived.

Our old nature is crucified with Christ. We are made new and our faith is revealed by our actions. "But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. " (Colossians 1:22-23a, NIV) Uniting with Jesus should not be a turbulent relationship. It is not like the up and down motion of the ocean. Our relationship with Jesus is about being dedicated to Him. If we really believe that He is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for our salvation, we will walk in obedience to Him. Faith is not just about what we think, our faith is the rudder that gives our lives direction.

Our old way of living, our old sinful nature dies with Christ. We are new people being renewed in Christ each day. Instead of reflecting the sinful nature and making excuses for the way we live, we now live as children of God, reflecting His character.

 

Philippians

December 8

Philippians

Attitude is everything. Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians while sitting in jail, but you would not know it by the attitude of his letter. Paul is upbeat and encouraging throughout the letter. While events in his life may have been bad, Paul looked for the good in the midst of the hardships. He continued to praise God and to seek ways to spread the good news of the Gospel, even if it cost him his life. Paul saw purpose in his life, and that purpose gave him hope. "I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted 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, NIV)  For Paul to live meant he would continue to serve Jesus, for him to die meant he would get to see Jesus. No matter what he faced he trusted God to bring him through.

Paul wrote that our attitude should be the same as Jesus (2:5). Jesus humbled himself and died on the cross for us, but there is coming a day when the Father will exalt him above every name. Jesus did not exalt himself, though He could have. He humbled himself. In the same way, we are called to humble ourselves, to serve others, to look out for the interest of others instead of always focusing on what we want.

Paul went on to say; "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14, NIV) Paul did not focus on the past, but on the future. He looked ahead to Jesus instead of looking back at his failures and the failures of others. When we keep our eyes on Jesus the troubles of this world fade.

Rejoice in the Lord and focus on the good instead of the bad and your attitude will change. When we focus on the work God is doing in our midst, we see Him working and we find peace in the midst of the chaos of life. Rejoice, and allow God to change your attitude.

 

Ephesians

December 7

Ephesians

Paul understood the importance of prayer. After talking about the full armor of God, the protection we need as we do spiritual battle in the  midst of life on this earth, he encouraged the church to pray. Prayer is our connection to God. Prayer is our source of strength to empower us to persevere through the challenges of life. Prayer reveals God’s will and direction in our lives.

 

Paul wrote to the Ephesians; "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should." (Ephesians 6:18-20, NIV)

This is a reminder that we all need prayer and we need to be praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Before we open our mouths, before we teach, before we preach, we need to pray. Paul the bold apostle who took the gospel to the gentiles asked for prayer to declare God’s word without fear. If Paul needed prayer to overcome fear when proclaiming the gospel, we probably all need that kind of prayer.

As you come before God in prayer today, pray for your pastor, for missionaries, for teachers, for yourself as you proclaim the gospel in word and in life. Our power and boldness comes through prayer.  

 

Galatians 4-6

December 6

Galatians 4-6

There are obvious differences between those who live by the Spirit and those who live by the sinful nature. When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He begins to change the very core of our being. The focus of our lives changes from being self centered to being Christ centered. It is not a matter of following the law, it is a matter of the focus of our heart.

Just as an apple tree produces apples and an orange tree produces oranges, when we are filled with the Spirit of God, we produce the fruit of the Spirit, but when we are not filled with the Spirit of God, our actions reflect the sinful nature. Those who live by the sinful nature will not and cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. Those who irit.

Living the Christian life is not about struggling to walk in obedience. In fact, it is just live by the Spirit of God are citizens of the Kingdom of God and will remain in step with the Spthe opposite. Living the Christian life is to stop struggling to walk in obedience, but instead surrendering to God and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our steps. When we walk in the Spirit the fruit is evident.

Galatians 1-3

December 5

Galatians 1-3

Sometimes gifts are hard to receive. We want to deserve the gift. We want to give back to pay back for the gift we have been given. The Galatians had accepted the gift God had given them. They realized they could not obey the law, but that God had given them the gift of salvation. But when some men came from Jerusalem and told them they also needed to obey the law, the Galatians began adding the law to faith in Jesus.

Jesus plus nothing is enough. When we try to add to the requirements of our salvation we cheapen the price Jesus paid for us. We in effect are saying His blood is not powerful enough to save us, we need more. "Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified." (Galatians 2:16, NIV)

Salvation has always been by faith. Abraham was credited as righteous by faith. The Israelites followed God by faith. The observance of the law was done as a result of faith; faith was not a result of the law. To try to live by the law is a recipe for failure. We cannot live perfectly by the law, but if we try to live by the law, we must live by all of the law. The law is not meant to save us; it reveals our need for a Savior. "He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit." (Galatians 3:14, NIV)

God has given us the gift of salvation that can only be received by faith. Any attempt to get our salvation by any means other than by faith is to reject God and His gift. We can trust Him to save us because He is good.

2 Corinthians 12-13

December 4

2 Corinthians 12-13

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." (2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV)

 

Our tendency is to pray for God to remove the weak points in our lives. We see our weaknesses as places we need to work in order to make them strengths. There are people or situations in our lives that we pray God will remove to give us relief. Sometimes God will remove them, but other times He allows them to remain in order to keep us focused on Him. Where we are strong, we can depend on ourselves, but where we are weak, we must depend on God. When we depend on Him in the places of our weaknesses, His strength, not ours is revealed. Therefore, in our weaknesses we become strong because we are relying on God’s strength.

 

The cross seemed to reveal Jesus’ weakness. He seemed to be overpowered by sinful humanity. The Jewish leaders tried Him and sentenced Him, the people rejected Him and yelled; “crucify Him.” The Romans condemned Him and nailed Him to a cross. Jesus died and it looked like evil had overpowered good. But on that third day, Jesus rose from the grave in victory over sin and death. "For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you." (2 Corinthians 13:4, NIV) Our weaknesses reveal God’s strength. Don’t try to cover your weaknesses, but allow God to shine through them.

2 Corinthians 6-11

December 3

2 Corinthians 6-11

Sometimes churches get a bad reputation because people think the only thing the church wants is their money. This may be true in some circumstances, but often this is an excuse to avoid the subject of giving. Giving of our resources, whether it is money, talent or time, should be a natural response to God’s blessings upon us. Paul wrote of the Macedonians; "And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will." (2 Corinthians 8:5, NIV)

When the church encourages giving, it must begin with the heart. If we give ourselves first to the Lord, He frees up our wallets so we are more willing to give to the work of the Church. The ability to give is a gift of God. He knows that money is one of the idols that have the strongest pull on our hearts. When we are able to give, we are set free from the bondage money has over us. On the practical side, our giving also finances the ministry of God on the earth.

We cannot out give God. When we can give willingly, He opens up the floodgates of heaven and pours His blessings upon us. "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:6-7, NIV)

2 Corinthians 1-5

December 2

2 Corinthians 1-5

Our lives are fragile. We are all only one breath away from eternity. We are weak. But God is our source of strength. If we did not have to worry about death, if we did not have to face our weaknesses, in our sin, we would ignore God. But God is our source of life and strength. Our weaknesses reveal His strengths. His power and sacrifice gives us eternal life.

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, NIV)

 

What really matters in life is not what is going on on the outside, but what is going on in our hearts. As we age, our bodies slow down. Disease may overpower our strength. But God will continue to strengthen our spirit as we lean on Him and depend on Him. All that we see is only temporary, the unseen contains the eternal.

 

There will come a day when Jesus comes back or our mortal bodies finally die. But we do not need to worry. If we are in a saving relationship with Jesus, we will get a new body, a heavenly body that will not decay, but will be eternal. On that day our faith will become sight.

1 Corinthians 15-16

December 1

1 Corinthians 15-16

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve." (1 Corinthians 15:3-5, NIV)

 

Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, the most important thing he had to share was that Jesus died for our sin, was buried, and rose on the third day, just as the scriptures had foretold. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, our faith, no matter how strong, is useless. The entire Gospel message hinges on this one historic act. If Jesus did not die, our sins are not atoned for. If He did not rise from the grave we do not have victory.

 

"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." (1 Corinthians 15:20, NIV) Because of Jesus’ resurrection, we can have confidence that death has been defeated. We do not have to worry about dying because we can know it is not permanent. Death does not have the final say. Death entered the world through sin. Jesus paid for our sin and put sin to death when He died and rose again as the perfect sacrifice. His victory has given us victory so we can die with Christ and live for Him.

 

"When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:54-57, NIV)

 

Praise God for the victory that He won and has given us!

1 Corinthians 11-14

November 30

1 Corinthians 11-14

God gives His people various gifts. Some seem more “spiritual” while others seem more mundane, but they are all important to the growth and function of the Body of Christ. People look at the gifts others have and wish they had the same gifts. It is easy to think someone else has a better gift or a more important gift. When we begin to envy or desire what others have, we lose focus on what God has given us. Sometimes we look at our own gifts as more important than that of others, especially if we have a gift that gives us leadership positions. That is like the eye saying to the hand; “I don’t need you.”

God gives us different gifts so we can function stronger as a unit working together rather than as individuals each doing our own thing. When we take our gift and use if for the benefit of the entire Body for the benefit of others instead of for our own benefit, God’s Kingdom grows in size and in strength. Each of the gifts, operating on their own, can accomplish tasks in that area, but when various gifts come together, their power and abilities grow exponentially. Then when we add love to the equation, the sky is the limit.

God did not create us to live in a vacuum. He created us to live in community. He gives us gifts to be shared with that community. When we begin to spotlight different gifts, especially the gifts that could draw attention to the person instead of the Giver of the gifts, we distort the Body and cripple the Body of Christ. When we work together, God can transform our world using us as we use the gifts He has given us as His people.

1 Corinthians 6-10

November 29

1 Corinthians 6-10

What is our responsibility for other believers? In our individualized society, we often see no relationship between our actions and the affect they have on other people. Paul expressed a different perspective. Though we are free, if our actions cause someone else to stumble in their faith, we are guilty of sinning against them and against Christ. It is better to have to abstain from activities that may cause another person to stumble, than to express our freedom while causing them to stumble. Paul said he would rather never eat meat again than to cause someone else to fall.

We are free from living by a list of rules when we are in a relationship with Jesus, but love for other people is sometimes expressed by making sacrifices for their benefit. Paul wrote; "Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible." (1 Corinthians 9:19, NIV) Making Christlike disciples is more important than expressing our “rights.” We do not sacrifice our uniqueness or our freedom, but we exercise our freedom by looking for ways to connect with other people so we can introduce them to Jesus.

Paul wrote; " I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." (1 Corinthians 9:22-23, NIV) Paul’s primary goal in life is not to express his freedom, but to spread the gospel. For that reason he puts others before himself in order to win them to Christ. It would be good if we would examine our hearts, our motives to see what drives our actions. Is it Jesus and the spread of the gospel, or is it self centered and our freedoms and rights as a follower of Jesus?

1 Corinthians 1-5

November 28

1 Corinthians 1-5

The cross stands at the crossroads between heaven and hell. For some it is a bridge to eternal life in Christ, for others it is a stumbling block they will not overcome. It is a simple message. Perhaps it is too simple. We want to do something to earn our way to a relationship with God, but we can do nothing to earn our way. Besides, the price has already been paid. The gift has already been given. The price is paid. For us to try to pay God back for what He has freely given us is and insult to the price Jesus paid for us.

The cross is foolishness to some people, but Jesus said; "“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-14, NIV)  That gate is the cross. People look for numerous ways to come to God without facing the cross, without accepting Jesus, but there is no other way. God revealed His love for us by becoming man and dying on the cross in our place. He took our sin and punishment upon himself, so we could spend eternity with Him.

The message of the cross sounds like foolishness to those who are perishing, but there is power in the message when the Holy Spirit reveals the truth in our hearts. Once our eyes are opened and we can see the truth, our lives are changed forever. If our eyes are not opened and we continue to deny the truth of the Gospel, we are headed for destruction. We all have to choose the path we will take. We can take the narrow road and humble ourselves at the foot of the cross and receive our salvation, or we can reject the cross and fall on our faces in the presence of Jesus when He pronounces judgment upon us. We will all humble ourselves, the difference is when and our eternal destiny.

Romans 12-16

November 27

Romans 12-16

Each one of us have gifts from God. We can use those gifts for the benefit of the Body of Christ or we can use them to build ourselves up. Whenever we put ourselves above everyone else, we can be assured a fall is coming. God created us to come together and to support one another, not to lord our gifts over others or even to judge others. He wants us to lift each other up, so we call all grow closer to Jesus.

There are some people who are easier to love than others. There are some we just cannot make ourselves love. That is when we need the power of the Holy Spirit to empower us to love. Paul says we should even give our enemy food and drink. We cannot do that on our own. In love we support our brothers and sisters. If one hurts, the others are there to support them, if one rejoices, the others are there to rejoice with them. The Church is the Body of Christ and as with any body each member is affected by the others.

It can be difficult enough getting along with members of your family, how can we learn to love our brothers and sisters in Christ let alone our enemies. This kind of love can only happen when we first love God with all our heart. Paul wrote; "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship." (Romans 12:1, NIV) When we offer our bodies as living sacrifices, we no longer live for self preservation, but for the Kingdom of God. We can humble ourselves and love in ways that we could have never loved on our own. When we have a transformed mind, we can love with a pure heart.

Romans 9-11

November 26

Romans 9-11

Being sold out for a cause is not enough. Believing something with all of your heart does not make it true. Paul said the Israelites were zealous for God, but the zeal is not based on knowledge. They pursued God, but dismissed Jesus. Paul knows, he was one of them. When God did the unexpected, they did not submit to God instead they submitted to the Law. They could not accept that Jesus was the Son of God, that He came to fulfill the Law and that through Him alone we can find our salvation. We cannot be saved by our own righteousness, but only through uniting with Jesus and His righteousness.

How can anyone know God? How do we know to call on the name of Jesus? We only know the truth of the Gospel because the message has been spread throughout the world. God pursues us, desiring a relationship with us, but He uses other people to spread the Good News. Jesus said; "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”" (Matthew 28:19-20, NIV)

We are all called to make disciples, but we can also help the cause of Christ, by sending others to go to places where the Gospel has not been preached or where it has been corrupted. Some will hear the Word of God and turn to Him, while others will reject the Word shared with them. Their reaction is their choice, but we are called to go and share. Who knows God may use us to turn someone from the fires of hell, and bring them into the gates of heaven.

Romans 5-8

November 25

Romans 5-8

Sin is the curse that hangs over humanity. God gave us free will so that we could choose to love Him, but instead it was used to turn away from Him. There is no genuine love apart from free will, but the consequences of human decision have rippled out throughout the generations. Sin affects every person born into this world. It affects the environment, it brings unintended consequences. " Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—" (Romans 5:12, NIV)

There is no human solution to sin. It is too deep seated to overcome. The damage of sin is irreversible. But God became the solution; God brought reparation where brokenness reigned. Jesus came and died the death we deserved and rose for the dead in victory over sin and death. We now can unite with Jesus in His death and in His resurrection so that our old selves die with Christ and we live as new people.

We struggle with sin. As Paul says; "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." (Romans 7:15, NIV) We wrestle within ourselves. Who is going to reign in my heart? Am I going to die to myself and live for Christ or am I going to remain the king of my own life. Paul expressed this dilemma and reached a point of realizing there is only one solution. "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin." (Romans 7:24-25, NIV) Paul realized that he did not have the answer to his problem, but God did.

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:1-2, NIV) Through our relationship with Jesus, we are no longer slaves to sin. Jesus rescues us from our body of death and gives us new life in Jesus. There is no hope apart from Jesus, we cannot overcome sin, but Jesus did and He invites us to join Him in His victory.

Romans 1-4

November 24

Romans 1-4

Our salvation, justification, has never been about what we do, it is, and always has been, about faith. The Jews looked back to Abraham as their father. Abraham received the covenant from God, a promise to bless him and his descendants, that He would bless them and be with them. Abraham received this promise, not because of what he did, but because he believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. By his faith, God made him righteous. He was circumcised as a sign of his relationship with God, but the relationship was established by faith. Circumcision, the action, occurred later.

In the same way, our salvation is not initiated by us. We have all sinned and have rebelled against God. We do not seek Him, but He seeks us and invites us to come into a relationship with him. When we turn to Him, by faith, we are saved. But just as Abraham’s actions revealed his faith, our actions should reveal our faith. We do not have to be circumcised in the flesh, our hearts are circumcised, we are marked as the children of God.

Acts 27-28

November 23

Acts 27-28

The book of the Acts of the Apostles as it is more fully known is really about the acts of the Holy Spirit. God used the apostles to build and spread the Gospel message, but they were only able to act with the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Book of Acts is the initial fulfillment of Jesus’ command in Matthew 28; "Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”" (Matthew 28:18-20, NIV)

The Great Commission as these verses are called, was not just for the apostles present when Jesus said these words. This is what all followers of Jesus are called to act upon. We can go because Jesus who has all authority has sent us. Though Paul was in prison in Rome awaiting trial before Caesar, he did not stop preaching and teaching about the Kingdom of God. The last verse in the book tells us that; “Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ." (Acts 28:31, NIV)

The acts of the apostles may be drawing to a close at the end of the Book of Acts. The apostles were facing persecution and death, but the acts of the Holy Spirit were just beginning. The book seems to end in an odd way. We are not told what happened to Paul, about his trial with Caesar, with the rest of his life and his death. The ending of the book gives us insight into the purpose for this book. It is not to just give us the history of the church, it also reminds us that the acts of the Holy Spirit are not done. The book is not finished. God is still moving and there are leaders who step up in each generation to continue to share the Good News. Each of us is called to help writing the story begun in the Book of Acts. The Holy Spirit is still moving and if we follow Him, we too will face trials and victories and can tell the story to the generations to come. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus and He sends us to make disciples in our community.

Acts 23-26

November 22

Acts 23 -26

They purpose behind some events is not always obvious. We often wonder why things happen the way they happen. When challenges and struggles come into our lives we ask “why”. When disaster strikes whether close to home or around the world, we see the devastation and wonder why. It does not seem fair when innocent people face the consequences for the actions of others, but we live in a broken world. Sin drives our society and there are consequences for sin, not only for the offender, but there are ripple effects. Sin affects everyone.

As Paul was being brought before Felix and Agrippa, he had to wonder why this was happening to him. He had done what God asked him to do. He went and preached the gospel where God led him to preach. He had not disobeyed the law, but had upheld the law. He had faced persecution at the hands of Jews and Gentiles and now he stood before the governor and the king.

Perhaps Paul had heard the account from the Matthew’s letter that Jesus had warned; "On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles." (Matthew 10:18, NIV) He realized that imprisonment and this trial were not accidental. This was part of Paul’s mission in spreading the Gospel. Jesus had also said; "But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." (Matthew 10:19-20, NIV)

 

Paul did not hold back, he did not change his message. He showed respect to the government leaders, but he used the opportunity to share the gospel. He allowed the Spirit of God to speak through him. God used what seemed like a destructive event in Paul’s life to bring good. Paul and his followers may have wondered why this was happening to him, but God saw the bigger picture. Paul was not a victim, he was sent by God to deliver a message to the governor and king. Paul did not whine about his situation, instead he rose to the occasion.

 

Sometimes bad things happen in our lives because we live in a broken sinful world. Sometimes bad things happen in our lives because God wants to mature us or use us in ways we cannot see or imagine. No matter the reason we are facing trails, we can know that God is in the trial with us and will pull us through.

Acts 20-22

November 21

Acts 20-22

"“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me." (Acts 20:22-23, NIV)

 

Paul had no doubt that the Holy Spirit was leading him to Jerusalem. He also knew that going to Jerusalem would not be easy. He knew he would face prison and hardships. Most people make decisions based on the path of least resistance. We do not usually knowingly put ourselves in path of persecution. But Paul did not listen to human wisdom, he walked in obedience to the Holy Spirit. Paul knew going to Jerusalem could cost him his life, but he did not worry about living or dying, Paul’s greatest concern was to walk in obedience to Jesus.

 

We each have a choice to make. We can follow the leading of the Holy Spirit or we can travel the path of least resistance. God does not promise us that following His lead will be easy. He does not promise that we will not face persecution. He does not even promise we will not die. But we can know that if we finish the race, if we persevere in the faith, if we follow God, He will walk with us and empower us to remain faithful. And perhaps when we leave this world we will hear the words; “well done my good and faithful servant.” The eternal rewards of obeying the Holy Spirit far outweigh any rewards we may receive on earth going our own way.

Acts 17-19

November 20

Acts 17-19

Paul was an expert at finding out where a person was spiritually and pointing them to Jesus. Paul wrote to the Corinthians; "To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some." (1 Corinthians 9:20-22, NIV) Paul met a person where they were, he went to their place of comfort and led them to the cross. He did not stay on his turf and call them over, he went to the people and connected with them where they were.

Paul did not run from those of a different faith, he met them where they were. He went to a meeting with the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers and when he stood he complimented them on their religious fervor. Then Paul connected their unknown God with Jesus. He took something they did not understand and used it to reveal Truth.

We do not have to fear sharing our faith. God put a yearning for Him in every human heart. If we will listen to people and hear their hunger, hear their hurts, hear their desires, we can find a point of common ground and point them to Jesus. They will not listen if we shout to them from afar, but if we will come close to them, if we will do whatever it takes to get them to see the truth of the Gospel revealed in our words and in our lives, some will be saved.

Acts 15-16

November 19

Acts 15-16

The meeting between Paul and the church in Jerusalem was an important meeting for the history of the church and the establishment of Christian doctrine. Paul had been preaching to the Gentiles and many were getting saved. The Gentiles and Paul wanted to make sure the Gentile converts did not need to be circumcised in order to be right with God. The council met and after hearing Paul’s testimony and Peter’s confirmation of God’s work among the Gentiles the council declared that the Gentiles did not have to follow the dietary laws nor be circumcised.

This may not seem like a big deal to modern day Christians, but it is the foundation for our faith by faith through grace. We do not have to do anything, nor can we do anything to earn or to repay God for our salvation. It is not Jesus plus the law, Jesus is all we need.

That is not to say that there are not moral laws we follow, but we follow the law because of our relationship with Jesus, not to in order to have that relationship. Jesus fulfilled the law in His life, death, and resurrection. When we receive the gift of salvation He offers us, we do not, should not, cannot add anything to it. When we insist on legalistic ideas, we are putting a burden of those who have come to know Jesus by faith. Faith is the foundation of our salvation.