a powerful message
June 23, 2009 READ: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 The gospel of Christ . . . is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. —Romans 1:16 Bible teacher Lehman Strauss was brought to Christ through the power of the Word when he was young. At his girlfriend’s suggestion, he read Romans 3:23, 5:8, and [...]
dying for life
Others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection (v.35).
READ: Hebrews 11:32-40
“Some men can’t be bullied or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.”
—Alfred the Butler Those words, from last summer’s mega-blockbuster movie The Dark Knight speak of motive. Like me, you may wonder what motivates real terrorists to strap on explosives and self-detonate—blowing up others in acts of terrorism that some call martyrdom.
The writer of Hebrews has a different take on what being a martyr (being killed because of your beliefs, not taking your own life) is all about. He writes of those who died for Christ: “These people earned a good reputation because of their faith” (Hebrews 11:39).
Why a good reputation? Because they refused “to turn from God” (v.35) and accepted death at their persecutors’ hands.
Jesus is the supreme example of a fixed faith that led to ultimate sacrifice. He remained silent and accepted the imminent horrors of crucifixion (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 26:63). His goal was life and victory over death (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). Stephen, a follower of Jesus, spoke words of forgiveness and life even as he died a martyr (Acts 7:60)—imitating his Savior.
These examples define true martyrdom—selfless acts that lead to life. They don’t live to die—they die for life.
These words from Matthew Henry clarify the contrast: “Shall we be most amazed at the wickedness of human nature, that it is capable of such awful cruelties to fellow-creatures, or at the excellence of divine grace, that is able to bear up the faithful under such cruelties, and to carry them safely through all?”
To live and die for Jesus is all about life! —Tom Felten
How did Jesus both live and die for life? How can you daily surrender your life more fully to Him?
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Loading ...open invitation
June 22, 2009
READ: Ephesians 2:14-22
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. —Hebrews 4:16
Versailles was made the capital of France by King Louis XIV in 1682 and remained the capital (except for a short time) until 1789 when it was moved back to Paris. The beautiful palace of Versailles included an opulent 241-foot-long Hall of Mirrors. When a visitor approached the king, he had to curtsy every five steps as he walked the entire distance to meet the king sitting on his dazzling silver throne!
Foreign emissaries to France submitted to that humiliating ritual to court the French monarch’s favor toward their country. By contrast, our God, the King of kings, invites His people to come to His throne freely. We can come to Him anytime—no advance appointments and no bowing required!
How grateful we should be that our heavenly Father is so much more inviting! “Through [Christ] we . . . have access by one Spirit to the Father” (Eph. 2:18). Because of this, the writer of Hebrews urges us to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).
Have you responded to God’s open invitation? Come in awe and gratitude, for the God of this universe is willing to hear your petitions anytime. — C. P. Hia
Access to God’s throne is always open.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...the foolishness we find
Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted (v.1).
READ: Psalm 127:1-2
I’m not into Christian T-shirts, but I recently saw one I’d like to own. Walking downtown in our city, I passed an elderly man with this caption across his chest:
Step back and let Jesus do what He do.
Bad grammar aside, that’s a pretty good thought. All the evil and sadness and poverty and darkness in our world ought to compel us to haul ourselves off our comfy couches and do something about it. As one writer put it, “Jesus rose from the dead; and we’ve got work to do.”
However, the psalmist, along with the steady theme of the whole of Scripture, cautions us against ever thinking that we are the central cause or effect in any of our efforts. God’s engagement with the world is not swinging on a thin thread, barely hanging on in anxious hope for us humans to show up.
All our exertion and skill and expertise fall fallow without God’s intervention. “Unless the Lord protects a city,” the psalmist writes, “guarding it with sentries will do no good” (127:1). In fact, “it is useless for [us] to work so hard from early morning until late at night” (v.2) because frantic activity ignores the truth that we are dependent on God’s kindness and mercy.
Oblivious to this truth, we toil and worry and sweat. We plan and manipulate and fret. We seldom rest. We rarely pray. And as a result, we find ourselves in the foolish place of living as though we are God.
This is no argument for a flaccid life, for living drowsy or inert. Rather, this is a call to be engaged with God’s redemptive work in the world—remembering always that it is His work in the world.
Tyler Wigg Stevenson put it well: “The world is not mine to save, but I can serve the mission of the God who has already done so.” —Winn Collier
Why might you resist trusting in God’s power and work? How would you experience your world differently if you stepped back and trusted God’s work in and around you?
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our legacy
June 21, 2009
READ: Psalm 127
Children are a heritage from the Lord. —Psalm 127:3
A friend of mine wrote recently, “If we died tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days. But the family left behind would feel the loss for the rest of their lives. Why then do we invest so much in our work and so little in our children’s lives?”
Why do we sometimes exhaust ourselves rising up early and going late to rest, “eating the bread of anxious toil” (Ps. 127:1-2 esv), busying ourselves to make our mark on this world, and overlooking the one investment that matters beyond everything else—our children?
Solomon declared, “Children are a heritage from the Lord”—an invaluable legacy He has bequeathed us. “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth” (v.4) is his striking simile. Nothing is more worthy of our energy and time.
There is no need for “anxious toil,” working night and day, the wise man Solomon proclaimed, for the Lord does take care of us (Ps. 127:2). We can make time for our children and trust that the Lord will provide for all of our physical needs. Children, whether our own or those we disciple, are our lasting legacy—an investment we’ll never regret. — David H. Roper
Time spent with your children is time wisely invested.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...most important
You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind (v.37).
READ: Matthew 22:34-40
If you’ve been a believer in Jesus for a while, you can probably easily answer the following question: “Which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” (Matthew 22:36). The answer Jesus gave? “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind” (v.37).
But is that commandment truly the most important to us? Let me paraphrase that question with two more: Which command most dictates the way we live? Which command most influences our behavior?
Many other “commandments” which—due to our upbringing or personal inclination—may rise as most important. The “law” of watch out for No.1 and the “rule” of self-advancement are two you’ve likely run into.
Imagine this scenario: Someone is spreading vicious rumors about you. What will you do? Immediately launch a counterattack to preserve your good name? Or will you consider what a loving God demands of you, “Never pay back evil with more evil”? (Romans 12:17).
How about when your work piles up, or when you’re feeling pressured to climb over people on your way up the corporate ladder—what is your greatest commandment then? Is it still to love God? To seek the kingdom of God above all else? (Matthew 6:33).
Jesus not only described “loving God” as the greatest commandment, He also said that it is the “first” (v.38). This word implies priority. Loving God must take the highest priority. It takes precedence over any human desires or drives. This commandment must be the first consideration in all our decisions. We must watch out for that No. 1 as we approach our work, relationships, and all of our life.
Simply put, loving God with our all is foremost! Is this commandment the greatest in your life? —Poh Fang Chia
How have you been living out God’s greatest commandment? What happens in our relationship with others when we truly love God with all our heart, soul, and mind?
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...a happy reunion
June 20, 2009
READ: Revelation 21:1-5
Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. —Revelation 21:3
In 2002, Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped from her home in Utah. She lived a vagabond life in the constant presence of the couple accused of abducting her. However, 9 months after she was abducted she was found and returned home. It was the happy reunion her family had been longing for.
In the book of Revelation, John describes a vision of a new heaven and a new earth and our future reunion with the Lord (21:1-5). The context is not just geographic, but a context of life for God’s people—a glorious reality of God and His people dwelling together for eternity.
John describes the benefits that come to God’s people when He takes up His abode in their midst. Abolished forever are the debilitating consequences of sin. In John’s vision, sorrow, death, pain, and separation are all part of the first things that are now gone. The old order gives way to the new and perfect order—a reunion of eternal blessedness. “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. . . . He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new’?” (Rev. 21:3,5).
One day, we’ll rejoice over a happy reunion in heaven with our heavenly Father. We cannot imagine what a day of rejoicing that will be! — Marvin Williams
Separation is the law of earth—reunion is the law of heaven.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...blame and confession
We have sinned and done wrong (v.5).
READ: Daniel 9:4-19
Blame shifting is common in our world today. Consider, for example, the United States’ two-party political system. Instead of taking shared responsibility for things gone wrong, the Democrats point fingers at the Republicans. The Republicans accuse the Democrats. The “right-wing conservatives” blame the “left-wing liberals.” The “left-wing liberals” fault the “right-wing conservatives,” and so on. Even those who profess faith in Jesus often fall into this trap, possessing an “us” versus “them” attitude.
The Old Testament prophet Daniel was widely known for walking faithfully with God. Despite his own goodness and integrity, Daniel didn’t consider his own thoughts and actions less sinful than those of others. To the contrary, the prophet believed that he and his fellow Babylonian citizens were in equal need of God’s grace and forgiveness. Examine the prophet’s humility displayed in this prayer (Daniel 9:4-19):
•
“We have sinned and done wrong.”
• “We have rebelled against You.”
•
“We have scorned Your commands and regulations.”
•
“We have refused to listen to Your servants the
prophets.”
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“We are covered with shame.”
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“We have not obeyed the Lord or kept His laws.”
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“We have refused to seek mercy from the Lord . . . by turning from our sins and recognizing His truth.”
•
“We did not obey Him.”
• “We make this plea, not because we deserve help,
but because of your mercy.”
What can you learn from Daniel’s prayer of confession? —Roxanne Robbins
Count the number of times Daniel uses the pronoun “we” in Daniel 9:4-19. How many times does he ask God to forgive “them” for their sins? How can this passage serve as a model for your prayer life?
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...wrong impressions
God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him (v.17).
READ: John 3:16-18
Recently, a pastor led a young man to faith in Jesus. At one point in their conversation, the young man had hesitantly asked the pastor, “Now that I’m a Christian, do I have to walk around judging everyone?” The pastor, saddened by the question, was able to say, “Of course not. That’s the opposite of how a follower of Christ should treat people.”
The young man explained that many of the Christians he had run across appeared to be judgmental. They acted as if they were above sin and looked down their “holier-than-thou” noses at people. Their self-superiority left a bad impression, especially when they were not as perfect as they appeared to be.
If there was ever anyone who had the right to act superior, it was Jesus. He is the only human to live without sinning (Hebrews 4:15). But as you read through the Gospels, you will find that He didn’t shun and condemn those who lived in obvious sin. He didn’t expect crooked tax collectors or prostitutes to immediately shed their immorality before He had anything to do with them. Instead, He was a friend to sinners and met them where they were in relation to God (Luke 5:30-32, 7:34-50).
As believers in Jesus, we should come across to our unbelieving neighbors, co-workers, and family members as people who genuinely care about others. This doesn’t mean we should give the wrong impression that we’re not concerned about sin. Jesus certainly didn’t (John 5:14, 8:11). Still, throughout His earthly ministry, He modeled that we can have friendships with “sinners” without compromising our concerns and moral convictions.
Lord, help us to show others Your love and Your ways that lead to life. Help us not to condemn those who have strayed and those who don’t yet know You—and are living a lifestyle that leads to death (Romans 8:6). —Jeff Olson
How did Jesus treat sinners? How will you care for and reach out to those who are dealing with sin issues?
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