Nothing Shall Separate Us…

Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I did not realize that our Verse of the Day would continue in Romans 8. I included this passage in the commentary yesterday to share Paul’s personal conviction regarding his keen awareness and understanding of the love of God expressed to us in Christ Jesus! Paul swells with emotion as he contemplates what possibilities might exist that could remove the love of God for His creation. Paul concludes: “There is nothing in all creation!” There is nothing with the power to dissolve or diminish the love of God for us. There is nothing you or I can do or not do that will change or annul the love of God for us. He is not subjected to our mortal ideas, thoughts, or personal wills. (Cf. Isaiah 55:6-11) His love IS eternally existent!

Let’s consider these thoughts for a moment. The Bible is filled with physical metaphors to help us comprehend spiritual realities. For example, Jesus is called the Word who was with God in the beginning. (Cf. John 1:1-3) Jesus is called the Lamb of God. (Cf. John 1:29; 1:36) He was the unblemished, spotless lamb God provided for Himself to be the final, ultimate sacrifice for the sins of all humans. Yet, we read this Lamb (Jesus) who removed the sins of the world was slain before the foundation of the world! The names of all believers were written in the Lamb’s Book of Life before the earth was created. (Cf. Revelation 5:12; 13:8) So, if God loved us (and He did) before you and I were ever born … and died to impute His holiness and righteousness upon us (and He did) because we were condemned and without hope, then what can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord? Will our sin now separate us from His love? Was it not for your sin and mine that Jesus died in order to make atonement for us? (Cf. Romans 5:8) That is the love of God in action! That is the salvation of God in truth! You and I cannot save ourselves. It was HIS GREAT LOVE that saved us. (Cf. Ephesians 2:1-10)

My conviction is that ALL of this was done on our behalf by God the Father. All of this was done because of His great love with which He loved us … even before we were born into this world and before we were born-again of the Spirit. So, if we had no opportunity or ability to cause God to love us, what would make us think that we can separate ourselves from His love at all? But I think the more pressing question we should ask is: “Why would anyone reject this great love of God?” It seems God permits human beings to have the capacity (free will) to reject His love. We find evidence of this rejection throughout the Old and New Testaments. For example, Israel forsook the love of God by “turning to other gods and worshipping them; rejecting God and breaking His covenant.” (Cf. Deuteronomy 31:15-22) God did not cease to love Israel or separate Himself from them. They refused His love for them! They broke His covenant of love with them. They rejected His call to repentance in order to obtain mercy. And we still find this state of the human heart in our time … people who remain in darkness … who dismiss the Word of God … whose hearts are hardened and ungrateful for what God Himself has done for them.

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.” (Cf. Deuteronomy 7:9) Yes, God is faithful to keep His covenant of love with those who love Him. It is our response to the love of God that establishes this bond. Paul is correct that nothing can separate us from the love God has poured out upon His creation. It is immutable! It is everlasting! It is unfailing! And it is always available! But for purposes known only to God, He permits us to reject Him and His love. He allows us to separate our hearts from Him … not the other way around. And this brings me back to what the Apostle John wrote:

John 3:16-19 (NKJV)

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

God has given us His love! And this love is in His Son, Christ Jesus! Through Jesus … in Jesus … is the love of God the Father both revealed and manifested! Who among us can understand this kind of love? We cannot be separated from it … but we can reject it. It is evident we have the free will to reject the testimony of God regarding His Son. We can refuse to believe in Him … we can live our lives with total disregard for the love God has bestowed on His creation.

In light of this good news … what are the implications for us? Here are some things that come to mind:

Romans 6:1-7 (NIV)

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

1 John 3:4-9 (NIV)

Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that He appeared so that He might take away our sins. And in Him is no sin. No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him. Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.

Father God, how incredible it is to know your love is inseparable … immutable … and everlasting in Christ Jesus. How can we show our gratitude for your mercies? How can we live lives worthy of what you have done for us? I pray each one of us, who in view of your mercy, will offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to you Father as our true and spiritual worship. I pray each of us will not be conformed to the deception of this fallen world, but will be transformed in our minds through your trustworthy Word. Lord God, I pray everyone, everywhere will come to know your great love so that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith … so that all might have the power and ability to comprehend how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ – and to know this love that surpasses knowledge so that we might be filled with the measure of all your fullness! O Lord, forever remind us that your love never fails … that you will keep us in perfect peace whose minds are steadfast because we trust in you alone. Let our gratitude for your love toward us be shown through our love of one another. Let us be ambassadors of reconciliation to those who do not know your great love. And let us seek holiness in our lives … that we might see you and have confidence when we stand before you at your return! Grant us all these things, Father, in the name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

The Love of Christ…

Romans 8:35 (NIV)

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

As I read our Verse of the Day, I just had to smile! This is one of my “go-to” passages when I need affirmation; when I need to be reminded the love of God in Christ Jesus is unconditional and everlasting! In fact, to me, the entire Romans Chapter 8 is uplifting! It is here that I am told there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. It is here that God affirms His Son met the righteous requirement of law for me and sent His Holy Spirit to live in me. It is here that I come to understand how a life lived in the Spirit sets me free from the bondage of sin and unites me with God. It is here the Father confirms to me that I am His child. It is here that I find trust in the sovereign plan of God for my life … that He works all things for my good. Yes, it is here that God affirms He is for me and not against me. It is here God affirms that He loves me with an inseparable, unfailing love because He gave me to His Son. Indeed, it is here I become overwhelmed with the Good News of Jesus … the love of God who IS my life!

Paul asks a very salient question in our Verse of the Day: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” As he courses through the possible answers, Paul comes to the conclusion that NOTHING will be able to separate us from His love. But perhaps we might ask another question: “Who joined us … who united us to His incomprehensible love?” Through the Scriptures, we have come to understand that our relationship with God through His Son is totally 100% HIS Work! He is the initiator! God loved us first! This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (Cf. 1 John 4:10) His love was not a response to our goodness or righteousness. His love was not merited or earned by any of us. We were dead in our trespasses and sins! But God made us alive in Christ! He resurrected us in Christ! (Cf. Ephesians 2:1-10; Colossians 2:13-14) Why? Because God, in Christ, was reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses against them. (Cf. 2 Corinthians 5:19) So, if God has the will and power to join us to Himself; then the answer to the question of who can separate us from Him is ‘No one!” No one can separate us from His love!

Paul then moves on to the question: “What can separate us from the love of Christ?” “Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” Paul implies that as Christians we will have problems in this world. As Jesus foretold, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Cf. John 16:33) So, can these troubles, hardships, trials, sufferings, or dangers separate us from God? Paul asserts it is not possible. Indeed, there is historical precedence that God allows His people to suffer even when there is no apparent reason … no rebellion, disobedience, or sin … that would justify the “punishment” of suffering. (Cf. Psalm 44) Or think about the sufferings of righteous Job. Shall we allow feelings or perceptions of injustice on the part of God to permeate our reactions to the difficult circumstances He might allow us to suffer? Maybe we should take a deep breath and consider the righteousness of God. Perhaps it is not that God has withheld or removed His love … His holy, unfailing, and everlasting love; rather, there is a greater purpose that the Father has in mind when He permits suffering to occur in our lives. I think Peter expressed this thought quite well when he wrote:

1 Peter 3:13-18 (NIV)

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” (Citing Isaiah 8:12) But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

There it is! Jesus Christ, the only sinless human to ever walk upon the earth, was allowed by God to SUFFER for our sins … the righteous for the unrighteous … in order to do what? To bring you and I to God! Oh, how our Lord Jesus was allowed to suffer incomprehensible torture and a merciless death upon that cross. I cannot even imagine it…. Yet, because of the love of God, Jesus was triumphant through His resurrection! He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit! This is an example for us who believe … to be victorious over suffering and affliction. Why? When we rise above the people and things of this world that have the potential to crush our spirits and cause us to doubt the love of God … when we reject the temptation to entertain the lies of Satan that God has abandoned and forsaken us … when we renounce the voice that says God does not love us and only wants to inflict His wrath upon us … we too will become triumphant over the testing of suffering!

Indeed, how WE handle suffering can greatly influence others around us; and our victorious example could even lead them into a relationship with Jesus Christ. In Jesus, we have been afforded sufficient grace … ALL SUFFICIENT grace to experience victories that ultimately will glorify the Father. For it will be evident that except for the grace of God we could not have endured or persevered through those circumstances in which we have suffered. His grace and love IS the testimony of believers! And, perhaps, that is at least a partial answer as to why God permits suffering in our lives. Through suffering we learn submission … we learn obedience … we become humbled … and God is glorified!

When we consider all that Paul suffered in his endeavors to share and spread the Gospel message, it is encouraging that he would still conclude:

Romans 8:37-39 (NIV)

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Is this not the greatest news a person could ever receive? Oh, my friends, I pray you will never question the love that God has for you. His love is not dependent upon your perfection. His love is given because of your imperfection! His love and grace are ever-present in all circumstances and situations. God simply wants you and me to come to Him through the way He has prepared for us to come to Him: Christ Jesus, His Son! And NOTHING can, nor ever will, separate you from His unsurpassed love….

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one. ~ John 10:27-30

Jesus Raised The Bar…

Matthew 5:43-45 (NIV)

You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Our Verse of the Day is another lesson on the command of Christ Jesus for us to love another as He has loved us. (Cf. John 13:34) In this passage, I observe that Jesus has raised the bar. The expression of love toward others is not limited only to those we love or those that love us. No, the expectation is higher – that we would love even our enemies and those who hate us. Why? Because God loves the whole world … even those who express hatred toward Him or Jesus, His Son. God our Father is not willing that anyone should perish but that everyone would come to repentance. (Cf. 2 Peter 3:8-9) To be sure, judgment will come to those who do not believe in Christ Jesus. But in His patience and longsuffering, God is benevolent to all … displaying the riches of His grace and kindness in order to lead people to repentance. (Cf. Romans 2:4) So in this passage, Jesus shares a couple of simple examples of this kindness: He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Think about what Jesus is saying here. God is good and gracious to all people regardless of the intent of their hearts or their manner of life. Everyone on the earth experiences the sun rise each day. Everyone receives the rain when it falls. The goodness of God is evident in His creation regardless of whether a person recognizes it or not. So, I believe Jesus implies that we are to be like-minded in our attitudes and conduct toward others. While it may be hard to fathom … much less perform … we are called to be indiscriminately gracious and kind to all. We are not to love others based on whether they deserve it; rather, we are to be merciful to the ungrateful and the evil just like our Father has been in His dealings with us. When we reflect the nature of God, when we imitate His benevolence to others, we show that we are His children. As Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (Cf. John 13:35) I want us to look at this same passage in the Gospel of Luke because it has a little more detail in the narrative:

Luke 6:27-38 (NIV)

“But I say to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your shirt (tunic) either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

In reading this passage in its full context, I think there is a lesson that we could miss with just a casual reading. Yes, we realize that we are to be nice people as Christians. We are to be merciful, kind, forgiving, and generous toward others; but just as I said earlier, Jesus raised the bar! He said to lend, expecting nothing in return. He said to judge not and condemn not because you and I will be held to the same standard of judgment or condemnation we measure to others. Yet, notice that Jesus indicated there would be favor for those who follow His instruction. When we love our enemies, and do good, and lend without expectation for reciprocation, we will receive “great reward” as children of the Most-High God! If we do not judge others, we will not be judged. If we do not condemn others, we will not be condemned. If we give, it will be returned by God in ways that will overflow in abundance to us! And please observe that Jesus does not qualify whether the person we encounter is worthy of such mercy or kindness … on any level. We were not worthy either when He rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son He loves. (Cf. Colossians 1:13)

I think Paul was quite eloquent on this issue when he wrote: “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! (Cf. Romans 5:6-10)

Sinners are justified by the blood of Christ! There is no other justification available before our Holy God! So, no amount of focus and hostility toward others with a self-righteous attitude is going to lead them to the reconciliation they want and need. It is by grace we have been saved, through faith – and this is not of ourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works so that no one can boast. (Cf. Ephesians 2:8-9) None of us is worthy! I repeat … none of us is worthy of the price that was paid for our sin. It was the kindness of God our Savior who gave Himself for all who would come to faith. And those who are ungodly (like we were) need our Savior … not our judgment or condemnation! (Cf. Titus:3-5) In fact, neither of these indictments were the intent of God when He sent our Lord Jesus into world:

John 3:16-17 (ESV)

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.

John 5:21-23 (ESV)

For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

John 8:15-16 (ESV)

You judge according to human standards; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.

John 12:46-47 (ESV)

I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

My friends, we need to understand the heart of this message. When God took the judgment for our sin and removed the condemnation of our own darkness and unbelief (Cf. John 3:18; Romans 8:1), He did so out of His mercy and love. His pardon of our sin was unmerited and undeserved! So, who are we to pass judgment or condemnation on anyone? My thought is that we need to focus less on the sins of others, and more on leading them to Christ! Jesus called us to be merciful, even as our Father is merciful. So I believe this is the mindset we should have in our relationships with everyone.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

For God our Savior wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. Yes, there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all people; and this has now been witnessed to at the proper time. ~ 1 Timothy 2:3-6

Pursue Righteousness and Love

Proverbs 21:21 (NIV)

Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.

Our Verse of the Day comes from the wisdom literature attributed to King Solomon. It affords us a simple directive for life: “Pursue righteousness and love.” His instruction is not difficult to understand, but far too often we miss the calling. If we want to experience “abundant” life … a life that God intends for us … I believe we need give this further consideration.

As I thought about these two pursuits for our lives, I found some other Scriptures that I believe will give us some additional insight for contemplation. Romans 5 is a good place to start if we want to look at the pursuit of righteousness. The theological premise that Paul sets forth is quite innovative … and well, of course, inspired. I encourage you to read the entire chapter (click the link above), but I think it’s important to point out that righteousness is a gift from God – for it is what we receive when we place our faith in Christ Jesus. His blood atonement for our sin imputed His perfect righteousness to us. Indeed, it is through grace that we have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. (Cf. Ephesians 2:8) Indeed, “He has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.” (Cf. 2 Timothy 1:8-10)

If we want to pursue righteousness … we must pursue Christ Jesus with all of our hearts. We must abide in Him and He is us. It is only through Him that we will receive a righteousness that is acceptable to God the Father. In contrasting the issue of death which came through the disobedience (sin) of Adam with life that comes through the obedience (holiness) of our Lord Jesus, Paul reasoned: “But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man (Adam), how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man (Adam), death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! (Cf. Romans 5:15-17)

To pursue righteousness is to receive righteousness … and this through the abundant riches of God’s grace and mercy revealed in Jesus Christ. As I mentioned above, if we want to experience abundant life, we need the righteousness of Jesus applied to our hearts. And Paul will continue in Romans 6 to unfold what this means in practical terms. Again, I urge you to read the entire chapter, but I want us to see the application of His righteousness to our lives:

Romans 6:11-23 (NIV)

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

The pursuit of love is similar to that of righteousness. If we want to pursue love … what is means to truly love … then we must pursue Christ Jesus with all of our hearts as well. The Apostle John is a great resource for us in this quest, so I will quote the beloved disciple for our study:

1 John 4:7-21 (NIV)

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in Him and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because He first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And He has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

In John 13:34-35, Jesus declared: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Indeed, our pursuit of love is a commandment! And the standard is quite high – to love others as Jesus loved us! Yet consider the outcomes of both righteousness and love: You will find life … prosperity … and honor! Yes, you will experience life to the full (Cf. John 10:10) because Jesus came to give us true life … eternal life! 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. (Cf. John 3:16) And I love this following verse: “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth.” (Cf. 3 John 1:2-4) Yes, when we walk and live in the truth (Jesus), we will prosper in all things just as our souls prosper….

Well, I am prayerful this study provides some food for thought and some application for you.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him. It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” ~ 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Love The Lord Your God…

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NIV)

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Our Verse of the Day recites the first and greatest commandment! I thought that I would provide us the surrounding context because Moses elaborates on the theological concept of love for God being rooted in obedience to God….

Deuteronomy 6:1-9; 20-25 (New Living Translation)

These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy, and you and your children and grandchildren must fear the Lord your God as long as you live. If you obey all His decrees and commands, you will enjoy a long life. Listen closely, Israel, and be careful to obey. Then all will go well with you, and you will have many children in the land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone (or the Lord our God is one Lord). And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

In the future your children will ask you, “What is the meaning of these laws, decrees, and regulations that the Lord our God has commanded us to obey?” Then you must tell them, “We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with His strong hand. The Lord did miraculous signs and wonders before our eyes, dealing terrifying blows against Egypt and Pharaoh and all his people. He brought us out of Egypt so He could give us this land He had sworn to give our ancestors. And the Lord our God commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear Him so He can continue to bless us and preserve our lives, as He has done to this day. For we will be counted as righteous when we obey all the commands the Lord our God has given us.”

It is clear that our love for God is demonstrated through our obedience to God. Moses repeated this theme in his inspired writings – noting that there is blessing for obedience; and after him, Joshua continued with their emphasis:

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (NIV)

And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?

Deuteronomy 11:13-16 (NIV)

So, if you faithfully obey the commands that I am giving you today—to love the Lord your God and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul— then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied. Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them.

Joshua 22:4-6 (NIV)

Now that the Lord your God has given them rest as He promised, return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of the Jordan. But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to keep His commands, to hold fast to Him and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul. Then Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their homes.

I think these passages of Scripture are quite important for us to observe because Jesus quoted them in His teachings and responses to the religious authorities during His time of ministry on earth. Jesus confirmed that our devotion to God through obedience to His commands is imperative to have an intimate relationship with Him:

Matthew 22:35-40 (NIV)

One of them, an expert in the law, tested Him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. (Citing Leviticus 19:18) All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Mark 12:28-31 (NIV)

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked Him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” Jesus answered, “The most important one is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. (Citing Leviticus 19:18) There is no commandment greater than these.

Luke 10:25-28 (NIV)

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Citing Leviticus 19:18) “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

I believe the Holy Spirit wants to impress upon us this message of the obedience that comes from faith. The will of the Father is that we believe in His Son … the One He sent into the world to save us. As the Apostle John wrote and affirmed:

1 John 5:1-5 (NIV)

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves His child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and keeping His commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. ~ John 14:15-17

Abounding In Love…

Psalm 86:5 (NIV)

You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.

Our Verse of the Day is a great reminder that God really does love us! Despite our sins and failures, God declared in Isaiah 43:25, “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” Why would God do that for us? Because He remembers His covenant forever … the promise He made … for a thousand generations. (Cf. Psalm 105:8) Yes, the Lord is a compassionate and gracious God … slow to anger … abounding in love and faithfulness. (Cf. Exodus 34:6; Numbers 14:18; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 86:15; Psalm 103:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2) Do you see the diversity of biblical writers who affirmed this same truth?

Psalm 103:13-18 (NIV)

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust. The life of humans is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.

God desires us to be holy. He wants us to be perfected … yet He knows how we are formed and remembers that we are but dust. In our human state, we will not fully attain the holiness that God requires. But in His love and compassion for His children (those who fear Him), God has provided salvation for us! God sent His Son, Jesus, so that through Him we might be saved, covered by His holiness, and given His perfect righteousness. Yes, His righteousness is imputed to us through faith! (Cf. Romans 4) For if salvation were possible within ourselves or through our own deeds, then there would be no need of a Savior…. But God, who is rich in mercy, demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Cf. Romans 5:8)

I believe there is someone who needs to hear this truth again! Someone here needs assurance that God truly loves them. I say to you, “Do not look at your circumstances. Whatever you might be enduring at this moment will not separate you from the love of God.” (Cf. Romans 8:35-39) My child, my friend, my brother or sister in Christ; I can assure you through the trustworthy Word of God … You are loved! The Father says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” (Cf. Jeremiah 31:3) So I urge you, seek the heart of God! Do not dismiss or forsake the riches of His kindness, forbearance and patience; rather, understand His kindness is intended to lead you to repentance. (Cf. Romans 2:4) For who among any of us can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin? (Cf. Proverbs 20:9)

Yes, I love this Psalm because it draws us to our loving, gracious, and forgiving Lord. It is a prayer that looks to the faithfulness of God in our lives. It prompts us to entrust ourselves to God … it affirms His mercies and compassion … and it encourages us to worship Him who alone is worthy of praise and honor and glory. Indeed, let the inspired prayer of David speak directly to you and be the cry of your own heart this morning:

Psalm 86 – A Prayer of David.

¹Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
²Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God;

³Have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long.
⁴Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you.

⁵You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.
⁶Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy.
⁷When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me.

⁸Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours.
⁹All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name.
¹⁰For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.

¹¹Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.
¹²I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.
¹³For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead.

¹⁴Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God; ruthless people are trying to kill me— they have no regard for you.
¹⁵But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
¹⁶Turn to me and have mercy on me; show your strength in behalf of your servant; save me, because I serve you just as my mother did.
¹⁷Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May He send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. May He remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests. ~ Psalm 20:1-5

When You Are Tempted…

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Our Verse of the Day encourages us to continue the pursuit of holiness for our lives. Let’s break it down and examine it in more detail:

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.

No matter what you are going through … no matter what you face in the battle against sin in your life … there is someone else who has waged the same fight. The sinful human nature is common to the human life we experience here on earth. And if you have been “overtaken” by the sin that so easily ensnares you (Cf. Hebrews 12:1), know that you are not alone. What you have allowed to become a stronghold in your life is common to all mankind. And I believe the greatest temptation that has overtaken any human is the sin of “unbelief.” I think when most sin occurs is when we are most vulnerable to its deception and we have fallen into faithlessness toward God. Yes, when we ignore His invitation to intimacy, we lose the awareness that God sees all! David asked: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” (Cf. Psalm 139:7) Indeed, there is no place we can go outside of His presence. When we wander from God, we do not leave His presence; rather, we abandon His divine power and His hand upon our lives. Unbelief weakens us! It renders us powerless to overcome sin rather than being mighty to the pulling down of strongholds. Yet, there is an answer to this plight of temptation!

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV)

³For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. ⁴The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

The reason temptation can overtake us is because we try to fight the battle in our flesh and not in the Spirit realm. Our weapons to resist and flee are not natural but spiritual! And those weapons are fasting, prayer, and the sword of the Spirit – which is the Word of God! (Cf. Ephesians 6:17) Paul instructs us to put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil (temptation) comes, we may be able to stand our ground, and after we have done everything, to stand. (Cf. Ephesians 6:13). Even Jesus was not exempt from being tempted by Satan when He was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness! With every high and lofty arrow of temptation aimed straight for His heart, Jesus responded to Satan with Scripture: “It is written….” (Cf. Matthew 4:1-10) So, do we know the Word of God well enough to fight or resist temptation? Are we spiritually armored up to do battle and to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ? Spiritual warfare is real, my friends! And on the battlefields of our minds and hearts, the war will be won or lost….

God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.

I think far too often we lose battles and wave our white flags of surrender because we have not prepared ourselves for the war. When we “cave to crave” we have not yet reached what we can bear. Remember, God will not let us be tempted (tested) beyond what we can bear! So, what happens? Why do we sometimes fail? I believe James gives us some insight:

James 1:12-15 (NIV)

¹²Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him. ¹³When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; ¹⁴but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

So, we see that temptation comes from within our hearts. We just examined the condition of man – when the Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. (Cf. Genesis 6:5) David asked, “Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”? (Cf. Psalm 20:9) Paul observed that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Cf. Romans 3:23) And John asserted: “If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His Word is not in us.” (Cf. 1 John 1:10) We need clean hearts and right spirits in order to find the path to victory!

What an encouragement to know that even when we are tempted … even when we are weak or faithless … God is still faithful to us. Indeed, His kindness is always intended to lead us to repentance. (Cf. Romans 2:4) David found that place of repentance; and we would do well to carefully observe His confession. I encourage you to read Psalm 51 … but this excerpt is what came to my heart: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” (Cf. Psalm 51:10-12) And John affirmed, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (Cf. 1 John 1:9)

But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

The truth of the matter is you and I will be tempted. The text does not read, “But IF you are tempted….” No human being is or has ever been without temptation. It has become part of our human experience since the transgression of Adam and Eve. And even though God showed Himself mighty to deliver His people, they still wandered and rebelled against Him. God demonstrated His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Cf. Romans 5:8) And yet Jesus asked, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Cf. Luke 18:8) Faith is essential in this battle against temptation, because faith determines whether or not we will engage our human will to resist each temptation that comes. I am reminded what Moses wrote:

Deuteronomy 8:2-5 (NIV)

²Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands. ³He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. ⁴Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. ⁵Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you. ⁶Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to Him and revering Him.

God took His people into the wilderness and then He led them through it. God caused His people to hunger … and then He fed them. So, I think it is important for us to realize the testing and trials that the Lord allows are not temptations; rather, they are used to expose the truth of what lies within our hearts. As Peter explained: “These (trials) have come so that the genuineness of your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (Cf. 1 Peter 1:7) And James encouraged: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (Cf. James 1:2-4)

My friends, we will all be sifted! We will all be subjected to temptation … in order to test the sincerity of our faith! But let me encourage you, that even now, Jesus sits at the right hand of God and He is interceding for us. (Cf. Hebrews 7:24-25) God may send you into the wilderness, but He will lead you through it. God may allow you to hunger and thirst, but He will fill you and sustain your life. God may allow Satan to sift you with temptation to test the genuineness of your faith, but Jesus will intercede for you so that your faith may not fail. Praise Him!

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

“I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” ~ Psalm 119:11

The Ministry of Reconciliation

2 Corinthians 5:19-20 (NIV)

God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God!

Our Verse of the Day speaks not only to the mission of Christ Jesus, but it addresses the mission we ourselves are called to carry out as well – helping people become reconciled with God through a relationship with Jesus! As always, I encourage you to read the entire chapter to better understand the passage provided for study in its context:

2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (New International Version)

¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation. The old has gone, the new is here! ¹⁸All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.²¹God made Him who had no sin to be a sin offering for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (New Living Translation)

¹⁷This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! ¹⁸And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to Himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to Him. ¹⁹For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. ²⁰So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” ²¹For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Just think for a moment what is being communicated here. Reconciliation with God is a work of God toward us! He determined to reconcile sinners to Himself; and He DID so through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son. So, I think it is quite important to recognize that reconciliation with man was initiated by God. And HOW did God reconcile us to Himself? According to Verse 19 – by not holding our sins against us! God offered forgiveness as His act of reconciliation. But consider the implication of that forgiveness since our Holy God, Father and Creator, cannot tolerate sin in any form. What did He do? He held the judgement for our sins against His Sinless Son. His Son, our Lord Jesus, paid the ultimate price for our sins. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ.” (Cf. Romans 6:23)

You might ask yourself, “Why would God do such a thing? Why would He freely pardon the guilty and place a death sentence on an innocent man … His own Son? The answer is “LOVE”. God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Cf. Romans 5:8) And the Apostle John affirms this message of hope as well: “This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (Cf. 1 John 4:9-10) This is the Good News! This is the message of reconciliation! And we who believe in Jesus have been given the ministry of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us.

So, how do people become reconciled? Simply, we share the message about Christ Jesus with people who do not know the reconciliation of God. We urge them to believe in the One that God sent into the world to reconcile the world to Himself. We tell them about Jesus and His sacrificial death for us. We ask them to be reconciled by receiving the gift of forgiveness through the sin offering appropriated through Jesus. As Paul concluded: “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Cf. Romans 10:17)

As I read the last verse of our passage, the thought kept coming to my mind: “Today is the day of salvation!” In 2 Corinthians 6:1-3, Paul wrote: “As God’s co-workers, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For He says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ (Citing Isaiah 49:8) I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” There is a sense of urgency in Paul’s words. We have been commissioned to implore those who are lost to be reconciled with the Father. God is appealing, and that through us, to a world that has been ravaged by darkness and rebellion and unbelief. And though people may have hardened their hearts because of the abuse, pain, rejection, bitterness, and brokenness they have experienced in this fallen and sinful world, God is still crying out to them … speaking to their inner hearts … and prompting them to listen and to hear His voice. And He says, “Do not harden your heart!”

Hebrews 3:7-19 (NIV)

⁷So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear His voice, ⁸do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, ⁹where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. ¹⁰That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ ¹¹So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’” (Cf. Psalm 95:7-11) ¹²See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. ¹³But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. ¹⁴We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. ¹⁵As has just been said: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”

This is the appeal God is making through us because He committed to us the message of reconciliation. Indeed, it is our responsibility to proclaim the message … the word about Christ! Further, it is His command to us. (Cf. Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 1:8) And so, through prayer and fasting, God is preparing and engaging us for this ministry of reconciliation. Yes, I believe He is giving His Church a second chance to be who He has called us to be! Oh, how I pray that each one of us will be faithful and obedient to His call upon His remnant church in these latter days … for all this is from God! Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. ~ Romans 5:10-11 (NIV)

Hate Evil … Love Good

Amos 5:14-15 (NIV)

Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say He is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.

Our Verse of the Day continues the call to repentance and to righteousness. In Amos 5 we read his lament about what is going on in Israel at that time in history. There is injustice occurring. The rulers and authorities are oppressing the poor while they maintain exorbitant standards of living for themselves at the expense of the people. In their piety, these self-righteous religious leaders think they have close relationships with God. However, Amos calls them out. He said, “Seek good, not evil, that you may live. THEN, the Lord God Almighty will (in truth) be with you … just as YOU say He is. These self-deceived religious leaders think God is with them, yet Amos exposes their hypocrisy. Said another way, “You say that God is with you, but in truth, He is not and will not be with you unless you seek good and not evil.” In essence, their conduct is labeled evil and religious self-deception has overtaken them….

If you read the remainder of the chapter, God pronounces His judgment of their sinful conduct … just as God has carried out His judgments upon Israel throughout its history. Why? Because of their rebellion and disobedience … because of their hypocrisy. God does not delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices that are nothing more than token worship. God is not with those who merely give Him lip service. God is not with those who offer blemished and defective sacrifices. God is not with those who commit injustice … who oppress the poor or do evil. David said, “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17) We cannot pretend anything before God and then believe that He is with us. “God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in TRUTH.” (John 4:24) So Amos is calling out religious hypocrisy for what it is. You cannot serve yourself and think that you are serving God….

The application of this Word to our hearts should be evident, but I will state it: God has and will always judge sinful conduct. Rebellion, disobedience, and evil conduct has no place or inheritance in the Kingdom of God … you can be sure! (Cf. 1 Corinthians 6:8-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:5) And even James wrote: “Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?” (Cf. James 2:5) These verses we have been receiving are wake up calls! They are sent to confront us … to challenge us … to direct us into the way of love. “Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the Law.” (Romans 13:10)

So, I pray we will think deeply about the implications of this prophetic word spoken to Israel because it applies to us today as well … in this moment of history. As the Prophet Micah affirmed: “The Lord does not change!” (Cf. Malachi 3:6) Therefore, let us examine our hearts as God urged His people of old to do. “Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the Lord. (Cf. Zechariah 1:4)

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for He guards the lives of His faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. ~ Psalm 97:10 (NIV)

The fear of the Lord is to hate what is sinful. I hate pride, self-love, the way of sin, and lies. ~ Proverbs 8:13 (NLV)

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ~ Romans 12:9

Follow God’s Example…

Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Our Verse of the Day brings a challenge to us as believers in response to having placed our faith in Jesus. We have been born again of the Holy Spirit; and we have been GIVEN the right (authority) to become children of God and to receive “adoption to sonship”. (Cf. John 1:12-13; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5) And because we love the Son, we love the Father who sent Him. This is why we are dearly loved children of God. But this love did not originate with us; rather, it is our response to His love for us. (Cf. 1 John 4:19) And so we are called to walk in the way of love – in the same manner as Christ loved. Then, Paul goes on here to briefly summarize how His love was demonstrated: “He gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

This theme reverberates throughout the New Testament writings of the apostles. Paul wrote, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) Indeed, it is central to our response to the grace of God and a commandment of Jesus Himself. In John 13:34, Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Likewise, in John 15:12, Jesus said, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” There is no ambiguity here. His command does not require theological research or debate. But maybe the guidance of Paul to give us descriptive and practical ways of demonstrating love to one another would be helpful….

As I thought about the many passages in which Paul addresses the demonstration of love, I kept coming back to the guiding principle where he wrote, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-3) You see, love is rooted in mercy. It is in the light of mercy that we see love manifested. Think of a new born baby. It is completely helpless and defenseless upon entrance into the world. Yet mercy demands that care and nurture to be provided – behaviors we would consider a profound demonstration of love. The “living sacrifice” of parents becomes evident from the moment of birth. So, in the same way, God cares for us. “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.” (Psalm 103:13)

Paul will continue through Romans 12:3-21 to bring full definition to love in action; but I think the conclusion for us is that love in its highest expression is sacrificial. “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10) Love begins with sacrifice. It means to give something of higher value in return for something of lesser value. It means to suffer loss. This was the principle of the sacrificial system of the temple – where the people would present a highly valued animal (first born, unblemished) to be slaughtered as a sin offering to God according to the Law. Yet, incredibly, in His mercy for our helpless sinful human condition, God decided to sacrifice His best … His all … His only begotten Son as a sin offering for us … to fulfill the righteous requirement of the Law. (Cf. Romans 8:3-4)

Jesus is God’s example of love. His love is merciful … it is gentle … it is kind and considerate … it is compassionate … it is forgiving. Paul explained the excellence of His love in this manner: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (Cf. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8) And Jesus explained: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love.” (Cf. John 15:9-10) And so we see that our love for Jesus is rooted in our obedience to Him … just as He was obedient to the Father.

Philippians 2:1-8 (NIV)

¹ Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. ⁵In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: ⁶Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; ⁷rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

So, what is the application? If you want to love others as God in Christ Jesus has loved you, then your life too must be sacrificial. And, further, your sacrifice must be your very best! Love must be sincere … not half-hearted. Love is the most excellent way! Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did. (Cf. 1 John 2:6) Yes, I believe this is what God is calling us to do in our generation … at this appointed time in history … as His remnant church! We are called to be “living sacrifices” to those who are helpless; to those who are defenseless; to those who are orphans and widows; to those who are abused and mistreated; to those who are prodigal; those who are lost and without God. Yes, “This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.” (Cf. 1 John 4:17)

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ~ 1 John 4:8

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. ~ 1 John 4:20