Hour…

Hour…

“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” ~ John 12:27-28

I find it interesting that Jesus felt troubled in His soul when the approaching hour of His ultimate test would come. In His human form, Jesus too was subjected to weakness and temptation in every way, just as we are – yet He did not sin. (Cf. Hebrews 4:15) Jesus did not coward from His purpose or His mission. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. (Luke 19:10) And His death would be a sacrifice of atonement. Indeed, Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2)

How often do we become troubled in our souls as we commit ourselves to the calling and purpose of God upon our own lives? Do we meet with resistance from others? Jesus did! He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him. (John 1:11) Yes, He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. (Isaiah 53:3a) And yet, for the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

Oh, there is a powerful lesson here if we would but grasp it and fix our eyes upon Jesus. You, too, will be tested as you serve God. Yes, in faith you responded to His call upon your life. In faith, you vowed to be obedient and to accomplish the mission you were assigned to fulfill. And from experience, your most difficult challenges have come from your own … your own family … your own friends … your own church. Do not be dismayed when your greatest distractions and discouragement come from those you thought most unlikely to do so. Remember, even Jesus was betrayed by one of His chosen disciples.

I am grateful that the Apostle Paul shared some additional insight for us to consider before we throw in the towel or surrender to our temporal emotions during the heat of the battle. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:12-13) Indeed, your challenges come from the Adversary who is at always at work to prevent you from glorying God through your good deeds in your hour.

My dear friends, when Jesus was troubled in His soul, He first had to surmount all the human frustrations and emotions that besieged Him. And then He questioned, “Should I let pain or suffering deter me from what the Father sent me to do?” “Should I pray for divine rescue from the difficult circumstances that God had already allowed to test my faith?” What did Jesus conclude? “No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Yes, like Jesus, our resolve should be to remain steadfast in the good works that God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

John 15:7-12 (NIV)

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. “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. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

Have a Blessed Day!

Good…

Good…

As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up to Him and fell on His knees before Him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. (Mark 10:17-18)

As I read this story, I wondered why Jesus asked the man a question before He responded with any answer. I do not think our Lord Jesus made His response to the man to rebuke him; rather, I think Jesus was trying to determine if the man thought that He was God? Notice that the man had fallen to his knees before Jesus. Perhaps, it appeared to be a gesture of worship. So, it was a valid question … similar to when Jesus had asked His disciples: “Who do you say I am?” (Mark 8:29)

As we read further in the story, we see more detail of the interchange between this ruler and Jesus. Observe how Jesus answered the question:

Mark 10:19-22 (NIV)

“You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” He said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

What a powerful statement! Jesus loved the man for his effort to please God through obedience; however, something was lacking. In what had the man ultimately placed his confidence? In his self-perceived goodness through keeping the relational commandments? Note the absence of the first four commandments to love, serve, and worship God? Yet, Jesus brings these into view when He explains what is lacking and urges: “Come, follow Me.” Indeed, the time had come for true worshipers to worship the Father in the Spirit and in Truth. (John 4:23)

It is clear that goodness has escaped us since the trespass of Adam. “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.” (Genesis 6:5) Moses understood this spiritual issue. Indeed, in spite of our greatest intentions for goodness or our utmost desires for holiness, our sin nature still reflects this verdict: “There is no one who does good – not even one.” (Psalm 53:3) King David confirmed it…. And later, the Prophet Isaiah observed:

Isaiah 64:4-6 (NIV)

Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved? All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

My friends, Jesus has told us what we must do to receive eternal life. We need to understand that our righteousness has not been received through the Law because none of us has been careful to obey all the commandments. (Cf. Deuteronomy 6:25) But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:21-24) A person is justified by faith apart from the works of the Law; and this is the Good News!

Have a Blessed Day!

I Stand at the Door…

Revelation 3:20 (NIV)

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Our Verse of the Day encourages us as the Church … the Body of Christ … to take an action that would seem so obvious for believers; and yet, Jesus had to confront the Church at Laodicea to self-examine what they had become as a local body. I believe the modern church needs to do the same in these latter days….

Revelation 3:14-22 (NIV)

To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on His throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

In review of this passage, we find in the list of “attributes” that afford a clear description of the Lord Jesus Christ as the author of the words being communicated through the Apostle John to the Seven Churches – and specifically to the church at Laodicea. He is the Truth … He is the Faithful Witness … and He has power and authority over all creation! We discern the omniscience of Christ … “I know your deeds.” And Jesus describes their state of ministry as neither cold nor hot … but lukewarm. It is clear that Jesus is referring to their works … their ministry; and His displeasure with them is quite evident from the tone. The language used is that Jesus would “vomit” them out of His mouth. The metaphor indicates that lukewarm, apathetic, indifferent followers make Jesus sick to His stomach. If you and I are not “on fire” for Christ and being witnesses of the Gospel in both word and deed, this warning of “rejection” should catch our attention for sure….

Still, Jesus declares His affection for the Church. He has rebuked them in righteousness and judgment. He has spiritually disciplined them. So, Jesus is expectant of prompt repentance from the people! The members of His Body there need to receive what Jesus revealed about them and give full consideration to what Jesus has exposed regarding the condition of their hearts. While this message was for the Church in Laodicea, I think it could be directed at the modern church of our generation … especially the Western Church … the American Church … which has said, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But we do not fully realize how this spiritual attitude has rendered us wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked…. Indeed, in this present hour, we are being called to humble ourselves and to repent … to turn from our wicked ways and to seek His face … and then Jesus would restore and heal us.

Then Jesus said to the Church: “Here I am!” I am available to you … even standing at the door of your sanctuary … at the doors of your hearts and knocking. I sense there is a plea in His voice … “Let me in!” The implication is potential but not certain action. The person or the church must respond! So, we need to hear His voice … as the voice of a Shepherd. We need to open our hearts to His rebuke and receive His correction. Jesus does so because He loves us and wants us to stay the course of faith and to do the good works which God prepared for us in advance to do. (Cf. Ephesians 2:10) If we open our hearts to Him, He will enter and initiate fellowship with us. Eating a meal together has long been a sign of covenant, friendship, and fellowship. Yes, we will experience the intimate relationship with Jesus that He desires for us to have with Him but we must respond to His invitation….

My friends, I believe in some ways the lukewarm church in Laodicea reflects the modern church of our generation. We need to heed the rebukes Jesus spoke to this church and to repent if we individually and corporately want to be effective witnesses in these latter days. I hope this review will prompt us to dive deeper into the Word of God and allow it to penetrate and to judge the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts. (Cf. Hebrews 4:12) We should not be deceived, but be reminded that God will not be mocked. A person will reap what they sow. (Cf. Galatians 6:7) Because as we have seen, there is nothing in all creation hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. (Cf. Hebrews 4:13) And as Paul wrote: “Therefore, judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God. (Cf. 1 Corinthians 4:5)

It is my prayer that each of us be earnest and repent! Let us get on fire and make a difference in these days that God has granted us to live! Let us each complete the works God prepared in advance for us to do! Let us be faithful and true witnesses ourselves! Let us open the doors of our hearts and invite Him into the intimate place of our souls. Let us persevere and be victorious in our confession and practice of faith! Indeed, let us hear what the Spirit says to the churches!

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of Him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. ~ Revelation 3:7-8

Hasten To Obey…

Psalm 119:60 (NIV)

I will hasten and not delay to obey Your commands.

Have you ever hesitated to follow through on a prompting of the Holy Spirit that you know was aligned with the Word of God? Regretfully, I know that I have done so. I suspect it happens to all of us…. We hear His voice in our spirit to say or do something that is intended to advance the Kingdom of God; but then we fumble the ball, we doubt the impulse, we make excuses, or we act like we did not hear the voice of God. We might begin to question, “Was that really you speaking to me, God?” How can I know? Show me a sign! Yet, in our inner being, we knew God wanted us to respond to Him and to act upon His command in that moment…. It was another opportunity to be light … to be salt … to show grace … to plant a word from God … to lead someone to the truth … but we did not follow through. I hold my own head down in shame at the opportunities … given and forsaken. I hear Jesus ask me, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Cf. Luke 6:46)

Our Verse of the Day filled me with fresh conviction! Faith asks me to be bold … to be courageous. “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” (Cf. 2 Timothy 1:7) Oh, how I need to remember these scriptures when I find myself in a “divine appointment” … when I find myself “asked of God” to do a good work – one that He prepared in advance for me to do. (Cf. Ephesians 2:10) I should say in my heart, “Lord, I will hasten and not delay to obey you!”

When God directs us to act … we need to listen and align with His Word and His timing. And, yes, I believe it is fine to ask God for “the right time” to accomplish His assignment. We should ask for wisdom or discernment regarding the circumstances, if needed. But these types of requests are different than simply procrastinating out of our own doubts or insecurities or just plain slothfulness. If it matters to God to prompt us through His Spirit … it matters for us to be obedient.

And while it is important for us to listen to God and to obey Him as He guides and direct us to be His hands and feet in this world, I think there might be another application much closer to home that we should consider … something that might be overlooked. I want to encourage us to look inward for a moment. What if the “divine appointment” is with yourself? What if the good work God asks of you is to change something within you? Perhaps we should be still and listen for His still small voice a moment. What is the Holy Spirit speaking to you in your inner being? What commands have you heard that you have dismissed or delayed to obey? Is there a conviction from the Word of God challenging your pursuit of sanctification? Consider this passage from 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.” Or is there a conviction from the Word of God challenging your character? Consider this passage from Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

My friends, there is plenty we can hear from God and apply to our lives from His Word. We just need to read it and study it. “For the Word of God is alive 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.” (Cf. Hebrews 4:12) Indeed, the indwelling Holy Spirit guides us into ALL truth … including the truth about ourselves. And sometimes when we want to impact the world around us for Christ, we often need to begin with changes within ourselves. Whether God calls us to divine encounters with those around us, or He calls us to submit to His prompts within our own hearts, we would be wise to listen to Him! Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice, and they follow me.” (Cf. John 10:27) And so, as we hear His voice, let us hasten and not delay to obey His commands. This is my prayer for each of us. Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly, I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. ~ Matthew 21:28-32

Your Works of Love…

Hebrews 6:10 (NIV)

God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.

Our Verse of the Day made me pause to think about what the writer is really saying with regard to our “work” for God. So, I want to review the context of this passage:

Hebrews 6:1-12 (NIV)

Therefore, let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death (useless rituals); and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites (baptisms), the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so. It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the Word of God and the powers of the coming age – and if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to public disgrace. Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

In the context, we see an exhortation to achieve maturity in the faith. He contends that believers have received sufficient knowledge to walk in the light of truth. And so, his concern is for those who fall away from what they know. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, to ‘fall away’ is a “phrasal intransitive verb” and it conveys a processing of diminishing … decreasing in size … eroding. If something such as a sound or feeling falls away, it becomes weaker and disappears. If something falls away, it breaks off from the thing it was attached to. To fall away from faith in Christ Jesus is tantamount to severing your personal relationship with Him … the One to whom you are attached. In the context here, the inspired writer warns that people who have been enlightened and repent … people who have been born of the Word of God and come to a knowledge of the truth … people who have received the Holy Spirit … people who engage in the spiritual conflict between light and darkness … can enter a place of no return if they “fall away” or “renounce their faith.” He indicates that a faith that is focused on the promise of salvation … a faith that is patient and mature … remains alive and active! In short, faith has no place for laziness at all…. Consider what Peter advises in this regard:

2 Peter 1:3-11 (NIV)

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

So, what is a faith that is alive and growing? Well, it is a faith that is engaged! It is a faith that manifests itself in good works and service to the Kingdom of God. It is a faith that we keep “adding” to – through bearing the fruit of the Spirit. It is a faith that is effective and productive! As Paul wrote: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Cf. Ephesians 2:10) A growing faith … a mature faith … is attending to the business of the Father who saved us in Christ Jesus to fulfill His purposes. And He has equipped us to accomplish it! And here is the point that I want us to see: “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.” What you and I do when we help one another … when we love one another and continue to do so … is how we show our love to God! The Father does not forget our expressions of love but remembers each one. But if we should fall away … if we should become lazy in our faith … if we fail to persevere in the faith we have received, we essentially tell God that His salvation means nothing. As the author of Hebrews admonished: “To our loss we are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to public disgrace….”

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race (of faith) marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 10:36-37

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. For, “In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay.”

James 1:12

Blessed 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.

My friends, I want to encourage you to not grow weary as we do good for those around us. Such works do not save us; rather, they are the expression of love and a grateful heart for the salvation God promised to us through His Son … our Lord Jesus. I pray these verses I have shared will comfort you. Indeed, there is great reward for perseverance in faith!

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. ~ Galatians 6:8-10

Learn To Do Right…

Isaiah 1:16-17 (NIV)

Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.

The theme of repentance and righteous conduct continues with our Verse of the Day. And it resonates with me this morning as I think about the message of Scripture – God revealing His plan of salvation for the world and His will for us to respond to Him. We see the desire of God to redeem His fallen creatures from the moment sin (disobedience) entered the heart of mankind. It is reflected in His judgment of the serpent (the deceiver):

Genesis 3:14-15 (NKJV)

¹⁴So the Lord God said to the serpent:

“Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field. On your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. ¹⁵And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed. He shall crush your head, and you shall strike His heel.”

Moses instructed: “Be sure to keep the commands of the Lord your God and the stipulations and decrees He has given you. Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors, thrusting out all your enemies before you, as the Lord said.” (Cf. Deuteronomy 6:17-19) And centuries later, King David observed: “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. (Cf. Psalm 14:1-3; 53:1-3)

David urged:Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. (Cf. Psalm 34:14) Isaiah lamented: “What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad? (Cf. Isaiah 5:4) And Jeremiah pondered: “If you ask yourself, ‘Why has this happened to me?’— it is because of your many sins that your skirts have been torn off and your body mistreated. Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil. (Cf. Jeremiah 13:22-23)

What does God require? What has God always required of human beings since we attained the knowledge of good and evil? (Cf. Genesis 3:22) Perhaps Job articulated it best: “God looked at wisdom and appraised it; He confirmed it and tested it. And He said to the human race, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.” (Cf. Job 28:28) And King Solomon reiterated this same truth: “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.” (Cf. Proverbs 3:7)

The Old Testament instruction is clear that we are to stop doing wrong … that we are have deep reverence for God … that we are to choose good and to shun evil. But it is clear that mankind has failed to heed the wisdom of God revealed through His servants. I want us to clearly see that the message from God has not changed. As Isaiah disclosed: “This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” (Cf. Isaiah 30:15) And so, in these last days, God has spoken to us through His Son … our Lord Jesus. (Cf. Hebrews 1:2) And this is how Jesus began His ministry after His wilderness experience: “From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near.” (Cf. Matthew 4:17)

His message was the same as His forerunner, John the Baptist, was sent to preach:

Matthew 3:1-8 (NIV)

¹In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea ²and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” ³This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’” (Citing Isaiah 40:3) ⁴John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. ⁶Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. ⁷But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

Indeed, the fruit of repentance is what our response to God should be for His mercy, grace, and kindness! “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “NO” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. (Cf. Titus 2:11-12) It instructs us to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with God. (Cf. Micah 6:8) It admonishes us to take our evil deeds out of the sight of God; to stop doing wrong; to learn to do right; to seek justice; to defend the oppressed; to take up the cause of the fatherless; and to plead the case of the widow! Yes, we were saved to serve … to love our neighbor as ourself … to love one another as we have been loved by God in Christ Jesus.

In his Gospel, Mark noted that John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (Cf. Mark 1:4) After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the Good News of God. “The time has come,” He said, “The Kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the Good News!” (Cf. Mark 1:14-15) My friends, if we want to receive reconciliation with God through Jesus, then we must begin with repentance! Jesus said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Cf. Luke 5:32) Indeed, God demonstrated His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Cf. Romans 5:8)

Acts 2:37-39 (NIV)

³⁷When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” ³⁸Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

This was the message that Paul preached as well:

Acts 26:19-20 (NIV)

“So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. ²⁰First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.

Do you see it? Paul said that we are to demonstrate our repentance by our deeds! And that is the application of our Verse of the Day. Our deeds … our good works … do not save us or redeem us; rather, they demonstrate our repentance and faith! As James asserted: “Someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.” And then he adds, “You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.” (Cf. James 2:18, 24) So, let us keep produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And, “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Cf. Galatians 6:9-10) “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.” (Cf. 1 Peter 2:15)

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” (Citing Proverbs 11:31) So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” ~ 1 Peter 4:17-19

Thanksgiving For Giving…

Colossians 3:17 (NIV)

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Our Verse of the Day instructs us to give thanks to God through the name of Jesus Christ. Indeed, it is right for us to always be giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Cf. Ephesians 5:20) So, let us joyfully give thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the Kingdom of Light. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Cf. Colossians 1:12-14)

Colossians 3:12-17 (NIV)

¹²Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. ¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Oh, what wisdom the Apostle Paul has shared in his epistle to the Colossian believers! He instructs us to be thankful … to live in accordance with the lavish grace and redemption we have received in Christ Jesus … and to always give thanks to the Father through Him! As we studied yesterday: just as we received Christ Jesus as Lord, so we should continue to live our lives in Him. And so, look at the examples of HOW we should live as God’s chosen people! Yes, whatever we say or do, all is to be done in Jesus’ name to the glory of God the Father.

In this context, I feel compelled to share this word from God that resonated with me during my quiet time this morning. I want to draw our attention to the thanksgiving that comes from giving:

2 Corinthians 9:6-15 (NIV)

⁶Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ⁹As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” (Citing Psalm 112:9) ¹⁰Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. ¹²This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. ¹³Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. ¹⁴And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. ¹⁵Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Oh, I think that the Spirit of God wants to impress upon us a spirit of generosity! He desires for us to be generous in the kindness of our words for the ministry of the reconciliation … and in the accomplishment of all He has called us to do for the needs of others. For in the acts of freely giving of our abundance to the poor and freely giving of ourselves as living sacrifices, there is an overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God! Yes, our Heavenly Father will be praised for the obedience that accompanies our confession of the Gospel of Christ … and for our generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

My friend, do not be reluctant or afraid to be generous with what God has graciously provided you. God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work – prepared in advance for you to do. (Cf. Ephesians 2:10) I believe that the most important outcome of generosity is the overflowing of thankfulness that will be offered to God! Yes, every act of giving creates an opportunity for thanksgiving and praise to be lifted up to our Heavenly Father in the name of our Lord Jesus! Indeed, thanks be to God for His indescribable gift … the gift of generous hearts! Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NIV)

¹⁷Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. ¹⁸Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ¹⁹In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

The Will of God…

1 Peter 2:15-16 (NIV)

For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.

Yesterday, we studied a prayer that asked for being filled with the knowledge of God’s will. And I thought, after reading our Verse of the Day, that we can simply look in the Word of God to find specific revelations of His will for our lives. Our verse is an example of several unequivocal declarations of God’s will found in scripture; and I will share some others for your reference:

1 Peter 2:15 (NIV)

For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-6 (NIV)

³It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; ⁴that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, ⁵not in passionate lust like unbelievers, who do not know God; ⁶and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister….

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NASB)

¹⁶Rejoice always; ¹⁷pray without ceasing; ¹⁸in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 1:3-5 (ESV)

³Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴who gave Himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, ⁵to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Luke 7:29-30 (NKJV)

²⁹And when all the people heard Jesus, even the tax collectors declared the righteousness of God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. ³⁰But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by John.

These passages tell us that the will of God for us is to do good; to be sanctified; to rejoice always; to pray without ceasing; to give thanks to God; to fulfill the calling of God on our lives; and to receive the baptism of repentance. Paul declared that his calling to be an apostle of Christ Jesus was by the will of God. (Cf. 1 Corinthians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Ephesians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; 2 Timothy 1:1) So even though we might not always have complete knowledge of God’s will, we CAN still act and operate on what we do know. The least we can do is respond to the knowledge of God’s will we already have available to us. Yes, I think that just doing the few things revealed here will position us to have greater intimacy with God as we continue “to be filled with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”

Often, I have heard people express concern about “missing” the will of God. When I reflected on my own attempts to discern and fulfill the will of God for my own life; what I discovered is that I was chasing after my own hopes and dreams at times. I was not giving consideration to what had already been revealed to me in His Word. Then it occurred to me, that perhaps I should focus on and pursue the things that I do know already; rather than be worried or idled while waiting for some new revelation from God.

I remember sharing my anxieties with a former pastor about the decision to move my family to a different state for a new job. He told me, not to agonize over whether to go or to have ultimate certainty of the “rightness” of the decision. Pastor Sam shared, “Sometimes the Holy Spirit simply moves us to take a new step of faith. He shared, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” (Cf. Hebrews 11:8) Then he said, “Where you go … what you do … is not always the most important aspect of your decision; rather, wherever you go – just take root and bear fruit. That is always the will of God for our lives.” His wisdom has stuck with me through the years … perhaps it will speak to you when those type of decisions come to your life.

God’s will for us is to do the good works for which we were created in Christ Jesus to do before the foundation of the world. (Cf. Ephesians 2:10) God’s will for us is to be baptized and sanctified – set part for service to Him. God’s will for us is to rejoice, pray, and to give Him thanks all the time. God’s will for each of us is to exercise our spiritual gifts and fulfill our role within the Body of Christ. (Cf. Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12) When I look at these things, none of them have anything to do with where I live; what occupation I have; who I should marry; or those types of decisions because His will and purpose for me will always be for me to be obedient in any of those contexts….

So rather than looking for the will of God in a specific context … perhaps becoming paralyzed with indecision about whether to move or change a job or develop new relationship; I think we would do better to base our decisions and choices on what God has revealed in Scripture. Maybe we should ask, “How will this decision affect my ability to ‘take root and bear fruit?’ How will this decision enhance my desire to walk in the revealed will of God?” This means we need to read God’s Word to know His will. This means that we do not look for answers from the world; rather, our transformation to obedience comes from a renewal of our minds … a reset of our mindset. Paul exhorts us: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Cf. Romans 12:2)

In Matthew 6:25-34, when Jesus taught us to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you,” I believe He was speaking about the pursuit of God’s will for our lives. The kingdom of God is based in His sovereign authority (His will); and it follows that seeking to do His will (obedience) must come first … regardless of the context or circumstances we have been given in life. But then, God promises to grant all us the things which pertain to our needs. So, I think we need to realize there is a difference between His will and our needs (desires). I believe the obedience of faith in Jesus must come first! But as you do the will of God, watch as He unfolds and reveals His specific will in your situation and circumstances. (Cf. Psalm 37:3-6) When you seek the will of God, watch as He causes “all things to work for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.” (Cf. Romans 8:28) And remember, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose (will) that prevails.” (Cf. Proverbs 19:21)

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Hebrews 10:36

For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

1 Peter 4:19

Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

1 John 2:16-17

¹⁶For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. ¹⁷And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

The Wisdom of Humility

James 3:13 (NIV)

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

Our Verse of the Day affords us a reflective way to end our week….

In looking at the inspired writings of the Apostle James, I personally sense that he had a great anointing to focus on the “religious folks” among God’s people. He wants to correct their (our) ritualistic or legalistic approaches to relationship with God. Such approaches do not lead to intimacy very well; and James challenges us to examine ourselves and to find practical, spiritual ways to live out our faith. Our verse is one of those morsels of instruction he imparts, so I will place it in the greater context for us:

James 3:13-18 (NIV) – Two Kinds of Wisdom

¹³Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. ¹⁷But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Indeed, there are two kinds of wisdom by which we approach the world and in which we conduct ourselves. Our behaviors, if you will, are driven by the inclinations of the thoughts of our hearts. And the thoughts of our hearts are formed by our spirits – whether influenced by the wisdom that comes from God’s word or rooted in the unspiritual wisdom of this world. James lets us know which “wisdom” we tend to embrace because it is exhibited in the nature of our conduct. He describes both “sources” in sufficient detail for us to get the picture.

So, to ask, “Which “wisdom” is manifesting itself in you? Take a self-assessment today and determine what you are allowing to influence your behaviors and relationships. And if you find that earthly, unspiritual wisdom is dominating your heart … and therefore its thoughts and the conduct that follows … then I encourage you to spend some time in prayer to seek God and ask for His wisdom to be poured out into your heart. In fact, one of the first spiritual issues that James addresses in his book is the lack of wisdom:

James 1:4-8 (NIV)

²Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Yes, James urges us to ask God for wisdom; and he assures us that God will give us His wisdom and not find fault with us because we ask. But when we ask Him to help us, to teach and train us, to guide us into the knowledge of His will, we need to receive it and embrace it without doubting. Here is another verse that speaks to the issue of wisdom: “The fear (reverence) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding. To Him belongs eternal praise.” (Cf. Psalm 111:10) You will find a wealth of similar instruction in the Book of Proverbs regarding wisdom. King Solomon wrote: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Cf. Proverbs 1:7)

As we enter the weekend, let us seek wisdom from God! Let us ask Him to increase knowledge and understanding in our hearts … so that in humility we might do the good deeds He has prepared in advance for us to do. (Cf. Ephesians 2:10) This is my prayer for each of us … because the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. Let us pray for wisdom to enter our hearts because His knowledge will be pleasant to our souls. Amen. (Cf. Proverbs 2:1-11)

1 Corinthians 3:18-21 (NIV)

¹⁸Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. ¹⁹For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness (Citing Job 5:13); ²⁰and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” (Citing Psalm 94:11)

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Links to Bible Gateway for Additional Study on Wisdom:

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

1 Corinthians 2:1-16