Message from Scripture: 8/31/2020

Today’s message from Scripture is Phil. 3:21; “Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

When the word heaven is spoken, I think of the chorus of that great hymn we sing, “Heaven holds all to me, brighter its glory will be, joy without measure, will be my treasure, heaven holds all to me.”

But just what is heaven like? We know what is true of the physical existence we have, but heaven is far superior because it isn’t a physical place, it isn’t susceptible to all the things that are true of the flesh. Scripture doesn’t identify what this spiritual place is in detail, because we have no frame of reference to compare it to. Outside of life in the church, we haven’t seen or experienced anything like it. Until we are actually there, we cannot know fully and completely.

Two things, though, are present in heaven we can relate to today. It’s a place where we will always want to worship our God (Rev. 4 & 5). It is also a place where we will always want to serve our God. “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence” (Rev. 7:15). We should ask ourselves, if we don’t want to worship or serve God when we have the opportunity to do so today, why would that be desirable to us in heaven for all eternity? Is it simply because the alternative is eternal punishment? Also, we should seriously ask if we will have the opportunity to worship and serve God forever, when we tend to avoid it today? What do you think?

During His earthly ministry, Jesus had a preference to worship God (Luke 4:16) and came to serve Him (John 5:30). Let’s do what another song we sing bids us, "More like You, Jesus, more like You. Fill my heart with your desire, to make me more like You." Today, live for Jesus. God bless. 

Robert

 

Do Your Best

"They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer...Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts" (Acts 2:42, 46).

Luke describes the early Christians' commitment to teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread (Lord's Supper), and prayer as "continual." The Greek term continual is προσκαρτερέω (proskartereo), and means to continue steadfastly, to cleave faithfully. Here it is used metaphorically of steadfastness and faithfulness in the ongoings of the Christian life. He also adds they were devoted, προσκαρτερέω, to meeting every day in the temple, meaning they were devoted to it, committed to it, acknowledging the benefit of doing so.

While nothing is recorded as a command of the Lord to assemble every day, these Christians understood the value of learning, fellowship, and worship to a growing faith. It is a vivid illustration that the child of God shouldn't ask, what is the minimum effort I have to give to please God, but how much, how often, how privileged are we to offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God (Rom. 12:1)? This is the spirit, John wrote, of those who “did not love their life even when faced with death” (Rev. 12:11).There is something amiss in a heart that wants to expend minimal effort to receive the greatest of blessings in Christ, who offered His all for us. May we make sure our motives align with the will of God, and the choices we make reveal our love for Christ. "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15).

Robert

 

 

We’ve Only Done Our Duty

“Which one of you having a servant tending sheep or plowing will say to him when he comes in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? Instead, will he not tell him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, get ready, and serve me while I eat and drink; later you can eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did what was commanded? In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we’ve only done our duty’” (Luke 17:7-10).

I have been considering the concept of thankfulness lately. Scripture commends us to have a grateful heart, and to express thanks to God and the Son for all that has been done for us, and we are to be thankful to each other, as we all have needs and need help from time to time, and its wonderful people care enough to help. “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:16-18).

We are familiar with this attitude being integral to our relationship with God. Have you ever considered, though, whether God expresses thanks to us for obeying Him? There is rejoicing in heaven when a sinner is saved (Luke 15), but does God thank us for choosing life and living for Him? In considering the analogy Jesus offered in the above Scripture, Jesus raised the question whether the master would thank a servant for doing what he had been commanded to do? The language Jesus uses in the Greek (the use of the negative μή at the beginning of a Greek question) anticipates a negative response. The conclusion Jesus then draws is “in the same way,” or “so also,” or “likewise.” In other words, doing all we have been commanded, we are still unworthy servants, we are only doing what is our duty. The word duty literally means “of what the circumstances of time, place, or person render to be fit and proper, of what is necessary, what is required.”

 You may ask what the point of this discussion is. The point is, we are debtors to God, and not He to us. In the account of the prayers of the Pharisee and tax collector (Luke 18:11-14), the Pharisee was overly proud of who he thought he was, and what he had done in serving God. Perhaps he would fit the one who would want a “thank you” from God. The tax collector had no such delusions, and acknowledged he was a sinner in need of God’s grace. It was in his humility that he found what He had sought, forgiveness, and in the Pharisee’s pride that he missed being who he thought he was, God’s favored.

 Do not misunderstand the point being made. We are special to God, each and every one of us, as we’ve been created in His image, and recreated in Christ (1 Cor. 6:19-20). But we all have chosen to sin (Rom. 3:23), and sin creates the need we have for forgiveness (Rom. 3:24). We must walk in the light if the blood of Christ is to continue to cleanse us of our sins (1 John 1:7). We can rejoice in the grace of God, but we must also remember God saved us, not because of how great we are, but how great our need for forgiveness is, and how without His intervention, we would be lost. If we genuinely love the Father and Son, we will devote our lives to Him, in love serving Him (John 14:15). It is we who should always thank God.

Should God thank us for our doing what He expects of us? While Paul could thank Christians for obeying the gospel and living by the gospel (1 Thess. 1:2-4), considering the price paid for our sins, no Scripture records God thanking us for doing what we should. Perhaps this is part of what our problem can be. The gospel demands a commitment from us, but Christ made a commitment to us from eternity (1 Pet. 1:19-20). We are to obey God, but Christ came from heaven to do the Father’s will (John 5:30). We are God’s special people, but only because of who we are in Christ (1 Pet. 2:9-10). Clearly, we do not deserve to be thanked by God when we choose to obey Him, but we should thank God for His love that brings us eternal life, and offers us the choice of a life to live that transforms us (2 Cor. 3:18). “It’s not about me, it’s not about you, it’s not about them, but it’s all about Him.”

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 8/29/2020

Today’s message from Scripture is Psa. 1:1; “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers.”

The first psalm considered in the book of Psalms sets a positive tone for what the book is all about, which is what a relationship with God is like. Here the psalmist describes what a blessed life is. The word for blessed is always used to refer to people and is never used of God, as it is what only God can offer us, and not what He needs from us. This term is also used to describe a person or nation who enjoys a relationship with God. So, we know from the start to be blessed is something God offers us by being connected with Him.

What is true of a man blessed by God? He doesn’t walk by the advice the wicked give. He doesn’t take his stand in the way sinners live. He doesn’t sit in the company of those who scoff, or mock, God. Do you notice the progression sin brings to life? First, your walking, then standing, then sitting. It starts with the wicked, then sinners, then those who openly ridicule God and all that has to do with him. This is the way sin works, getting progressively worse and drawing people deeper and deeper into its web of deceit and destruction. To avoid this lifestyle is to be blessed, as sin only offers problems and despair.

Instead, if one delights, not in sin, but on the law of God, and meditates on it continually, you can have wisdom for life and a lifestyle that allows one to prosper because God is the integral element to life. This is the choice we have in how to think and live. The conclusion is, “The LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish (Psa. 1:6). Let’s choose to be blessed, not cursed. Let’s choose life, not condemnation. Let’s choose God, not sin. Make today a great day by practicing these principles. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 8/28/2020

Today’s message from Scripture is Isa. 53:3; “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”

It is interesting, and sad, that many of those in Scripture who stood with God did so alone, who felt alone. For Moses, he knew that Pharaoh would reject him, as God had said so before sending him to free the Israelites (Ex. 4:21). How much harder was it when he discovered his own people would reject him as well (Ex. 5:21).

In our Scripture today, Isaiah prophesied how Jesus would be rejected by His own as well. How sad to hear the cry of those He came to save shout, “Crucify Him!” (Luke 23:21). John recorded Jesus knew this would be true, as He writes, “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him” (John 1:11).

Jesus told His own disciples in advance of their ministry for Him, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18).

The world’s system is under the influence of Satan (1 John 5:19), and being deceived by sin, doesn’t understand what a relationship with God is really like, what real peace, joy, love, hope, and forgiveness is all about. May we never be discouraged because it seems we stand alone. We have family in Christ to encourage us. We have God’s word to encourage us. We have God and His Son who will never forsake us. As Paul, who at times was alone as well, wrote, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38-39). Hold on to God, no matter what anyone else says or does. Though others fail, He will never let us go. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 8/27/2020

Today our message from Scripture comes from Matt. 6:33; “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.”

One of the common themes in Scripture is about the steadfast love of the Lord. A spiritual song about God’s constant love is titled “One Thing Remains.” Part of that song goes, “Your love never fails, it never gives up, it never runs out on me...and on and on and on and on it goes, yes, it overwhelms and satisfies my soul.” God’s love is a continual, unbroken part of His relationship with us. Sadly, there is an opposite response, offered by Satan, as his design on us never stops, he never gives up tempting us, he always is seeking to overwhelm our souls with sin.

Perhaps this is why Jesus used the language He did in our Scripture for today. We are to seek God and His kingdom, meaning to strive humbly and sincerely to follow and obey Him. It carries the idea of intensity in the effort, not a casual pursuit, but a serious undertaking. Jesus would also say, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because I tell you, many will try to enter and won’t be able” (Luke 13:24).

We are also to seek God and His kingdom first, meaning foremost, of most importance. It is to take priority in our lives. We shouldn’t have any divided loyalties in who we love and serve, and where in our list of what’s important He comes. Paul echoes that thought when he said, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).

It can never be said Jesus put God or His will on the back burner, even though Satan tempted Him to. May our priorities be just as clear, and our resolve against Satan as strong. Stand firm in the Lord today, and have a great day in Him. God bless.

Robert

 Message from Scripture: 8/26/2020

Today our message from Scripture comes from Col. 3:2; “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”

What does it mean to have one’s mind set on something? We know it is important to do this, because we are sometimes told to “pay attention,” or to “focus” on something important. To let our minds wander and not be alert can cause real problems if you’re driving, thinking about things other than what’s happening on the road. Specific instructions on how to take medicine need to be listened to carefully to receive the maximum benefit from it. It is said what we pay attention to shapes our brain, and paying attention in leadership roles is considered critical in business.

To the church in Colossae, Paul wants them to be mindful of and devoted to the spiritual, not just things physical. This is significant for all of us as Christians, as the foundation and basis on which we live in Christ is spiritual in nature. The spiritual is eternal in nature, and the truths we are to live by are spiritual truths. It is this that gives our physical activities meaning and purpose. It is this that keeps us from majoring in minors, as the saying goes, looking at life from the wrong perspective. 

God created us physical beings, living in a physical universe, but being created in God’s image means we’re spiritual beings as well. We are eternal in nature, and even though our physical body decays and dies, we have waiting a spiritual body that lasts eternally. We must not ignore the spiritual values for life, because only considering and living for today causes us to miss the big picture, to consider how the spiritual impacts the physical. We need spiritual values to direct our thoughts and actions, otherwise we’ll live only for the short-term, and miss the goal of eternal life. 

As you live today, do you think about the impact it has on your soul? Set your mind on things above, heaven, and you’ll make better choices on how to live today. Have a great day in Christ today. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 8/22/2020

Today our message from Scripture comes from 2 Cor. 5:7-8; “For we walk by faith, not by sight. In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

I read this thought recently, which I believe helps us in our daily Christian walk. “The point of contrast between this world and the next, is simply to stimulate us to see how much more wonderful than the present, is the future that awaits the Christian.” In other words, Scripture doesn’t give us exact details what the nature of heaven is, but only those that show us it is far beyond our ability to figure out for ourselves. The realm of the spiritual, outside of what the Bible reveals, is beyond our intellectual capacity to perceive, far greater, far more desirable, than anything this life has to offer.

But there are some things we can know about heaven. It is spoken of as being eternal life, life without end, so we know death will play no part there (1 Cor. 15:25-26). We know we will have a spiritual body that will never wear out, grow old, or be destroyed (1 Cor. 15:42-44). We know the experiences of heaven will be far better than anything here, as there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain (Rev. 21:4). Peter adds to this list heaven itself is imperishable (without wear, waste, or perishing away), undefiled (not polluted or soiled by sin), and unfading (always will be as it is, in all its glory).

Heaven is beyond description in its radiance and grandeur. By contrast, hell is beyond description in its unending pain and torment. If God is in heaven, we know it will be wonderful forever, in contrast to hell, where He will not be, and the suffering that will never stop there. Why exchange the joy of heaven for the tears of hell? Let’s recognize how great heaven is, and live so we can know it will be our forever home. God bless.

Robert

 

Let’s Learn to Live

It’s that time of year when all of our young people are returning back to school. This year, however, it’s not the same routine as in the past. There is a greater degree of uncertainty as to how things will turn out, regarding the challenges COVID-19 offers about personal interaction and maintaining one’s health. Will classes be in and out of the classroom, with distance learning, or a computer classroom, playing as big a role as traditional learning methods? Could it end with everyone back home again? It is challenging to consider the possibilities and the part teachers, parents, and students play in the whole process. However, one thing that no doubt will be true, is there will be some way of testing, of evaluating the learning process, to discern what is being gained, of what is lacking, in the learning process, and how to help those who seem to come short of the goal.

This is true not just in the education system, but spiritually as well. As Christians, we all face tests, trials of our faith through the course of our lives (1 Pet. 4:12). We realize, though, there is an ultimate exam where we will be evaluated by the Lord. Paul reminds us, “ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Cor. 5:10). God will examine us regarding the lives we have lived, whether good or bad. Knowing that our eternity is determined by how we have lived our lives, what can we know about God’s final exam, and how should we live day by day in view of His review of us?

We know that God in Christ rewards His followers in judgment, but not collectively as a group. Instead, we will be judged individually, on how well we have taken His principles and applied them to our individual lives. God will not credit us for the reputation of our congregation as a whole, but rather how each individual member has lived his or her life. Every time we perform a righteous deed with a godly motive, God acknowledges our commitment to Him, our service for Him. “Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God” (1 Cor. 4:5).

God is concerned about how we live, and how we serve, because He wants us to build a life worthy of His eternal reward. We live each day making choices in life, building the house of our lives with materials either of eternal quality or of those things that will not stand. Our day of testing will reveal what our lives are made of, of where we will spend eternity (1 Cor. 3:12-13). Peter wrote, “And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:5).

Each of us must make the effort to learn principles in the educational realm that can help us have a better life as we grow and mature. We should certainly want to learn those principles that will help us live a spiritual life that pleases God, that commends us to Him in judgment. Many people know the importance of planning for the future for the here and now; unfortunately, many people fail to store up the heavenly treasures that godly living will produce. Every day we live we’re in God’s classroom, learning of His love, of the life He wants us to live, of both the blessings we can have, or the problems, depending on what we learn and what we practice. May we pass the test life challenges us with each day, in the strength God provides. May we live by His will to have that abundant life, not one that will end in despair. Learn, live, and receive the rewards that come from being faithful in God’s classroom of life.  “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”

Robert

Message from Scripture: 8/21/2020

Today our message from Scripture comes from 1 Pet. 5:6-7; “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.”

No one has to tell us we live in a world filled with cares and worries. The most cursory glance at today’s headlines, or listening to the news broadcast on media sources, speaks of all the turmoil our society is in, and the concerns so many have about what is happening in our world. Not only this, but in our own personal lives, we each have problems that beset us. They can weigh us down emotionally and physically. How do we cope living in such a world?

We should remember that, while we do indeed have real problems to contend with, the world has always had problems to contend with. Every generation has struggled to find solutions to those things that disturb us. God, however, has the real and lasting solution.

First, as Peter reminds us, we need to humble ourselves before God. We are weak and sinful, and this only add to the problem. If we let Him have control of our lives, He has a “mighty hand,” and is able to do what we cannot do, in providing for our needs and helping us have peace of mind.

We also need to cast our cares, our worries, our concerns, on Him, because He genuinely cares about us. He is willing and ready to help with us with every need, not matter what, no matter when. We should fully rely and trust in Him to provide what we can’t, because He not only care for us, He can help us in those things where we can’t help ourselves.

Today, put your trust in God, be willing to go to Him in faith and seek His help, His guidance. You will be amazed at what He can do for us, no matter what we face in life. Confide in Him and have a great day. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 8/20/2020

Today our message from Scripture comes from Rom. 15:13; “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

What an encouraging passage of Scripture this is to us. It begins and ends with the theme of hope. Paul’s desire for these Christians is that the God of hope may enable them to overflow with hope. With hope comes joy and peace, knowing God is at work in us and what He is working to accomplish, the salvation of our souls.

The sphere, or realm, where hope and its blessings dwell in us is in faith, in believing. The term faith in Scripture, when it is addressed of God and His Son, carries the idea of being firmly persuaded in something, with the idea of hope and certain expectation. This is why, when it is used of salvation, it carries the idea of obedience, of responding positively to the will of God. So, Mark can write in Mark 16:16 of one who has believed and has been immersed as being saved, while the one who does not believe is condemned, as without faith one cannot truly obey. Without faith one is unable to please God (Heb. 11:6).

This is one reason why John could write how our faith helps us overcome the world (1 John 5:4). If we truly believe, we will truly obey, and in surrendering our will to the will of God, we will find all the blessings in life we can never truly experience without Him. They are all provided through His Son, whose blood ushers us into this special and unique relationship that the world will never know. It is completely amazing to consider how the God of hope is able to fill us with all joy and peace through our faith, so we abound, overflow, in hope. Here is our source of courage and strength, our endurance, our ability to press on no matter what, because we know what lies ahead. Feed your faith from God’s word today, and find all you need for life and eternity. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 8/18/2020

Today our message from Scripture comes from Acts 2:38. “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

The baptism preached in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost had been preceded by the immersion preached by John earlier, that people would know a change was taking place in covenants. Being part of this new relationship with God was conditioned, not by one’s genealogy, but one’s contrition and submission to the will of God. Because of this, both John and the apostles preached not only immersion, but the need of repentance to precede it (Mark 1:4; Acts 2:38).

Repentance, then, is as integral to forgiveness as is being immersed. Repentance is to have a change of mind, which brings a change of heart, which issues in a change of life. It is what brings about dying to sin so we might live for Christ instead. It is part of a change that is brought about by believing Christ is the Son of God and can accomplish our salvation. It is part of a change that enables us to confidently say Jesus is Lord, and determining to put sin in the past, we are washed clean by Christ’s blood, now having a new life in Christ.

Repentance is an important part of God’s plan, as we are to live for what is godly, not sinful. It’s our commitment to allow the blood of Christ to keep on cleansing us of our sins. And if we fall back into sin, it’s our way, along with confession, to return back to the cleansing of Christ. May we seek to have a repentant spirit each day, drawing closer to Christ, and further away from sin. Live for Jesus, and know what all He does for us, now and forever. Have a great day. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 8/17/2020

Today our message from Scripture comes from Isa. 1:18. Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.”

New and improved!  Now more environmentally friendly formula!  Twice as effective as before!  Do these slogans sound familiar?  A minor change in the composition of a product results in major changes in advertising. Now, no stain you get on your clothes is too tough for modern detergent to remove! However, the greatest stain of all remains indelibly pressed on us, no matter our efforts to remove it.  Sin stains our very souls, and we by our own efforts are unable to remove it and its effects from our lives.  Like Pilate, who washed his hands in front of the crowds in an effort to assign guilt to them instead of himself (Matt. 27:24), we can assign guilt and responsibility elsewhere, but the stain of our sin remains.  Only God can make a change in us spiritually.

What Isaiah said could happen, has happened for us in Christ. Through His blood we can be washed clean of our sins. The blood that was shed almost 2,000 years ago can’t be improved. The price for our forgiveness can never be lessened.  Nothing else can be offered that will do what our Lord has already done for us.  He alone can remove sin, keep us cleansed from its stain, and provide the blessings of eternal life.  He makes us new and improved. As Paul said to the church in Corinth, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Cor. 5:17).

Though our sins were like scarlet, in Christ, we are white as snow; they were red like crimson, but now like the purest wool. What we could never do, Christ did. Let us rejoice in the love of God, the effectiveness of the blood of Christ, and the hope we have of the eternal. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 8/15/2020

Today our message from Scripture comes from 1 Cor. 6:11. “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

In this passage of Scripture, Paul speaks about how the Christians in Corinth had left their sinful desires and practices in the past, and now, by being cleansed by the blood of Christ, they were able to be counted just before Christ, and should live sanctified lives. To be sanctified means to be set apart, separated from sin, so they could be set apart, separated to God, to live pure and dedicated lives in His will instead. While this is easy to say, it’s not so easy to practice, as Satan seeks to pull us back into sin and condemn us for eternity. How do we live sanctified?

I think to do this, we must have a clear goal in mind, know how to reach that goal, and not let anything get us sidetracked. First, the goal is heaven, eternal life. I don’t believe anyone wants to spend eternity in hell, in punishment that never ends, that never lessens. We want to be in heaven with the Father and Son and Holy Spirit! More than any physical delight, this must be what is most important to us to gain.

If this is really crucial to us, then we will change our lifestyles. It will be more important to please God than to please ourselves. God has given us tools to help us do this very thing. He has given us His word to study and learn of Him. He has given us prayer so we can seek His help. He has given us worship to remember He is God and worthy of our praise, to put Him first. He has given us fellowship, to encourage each other not to forget and stop living for the goal.

The question isn’t whether God wants us to be saved, but if we will cooperate with Him so we can. He has given us everything needed to find eternal life. Are you taking advantage of them? Why not start today, and make your life great in Him? God bless.

Robert

 

When Will We Grow?

“The kingdom of God is like this,” he said. “A man scatters seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day; the seed sprouts and grows, although he doesn’t know how. The soil produces a crop by itself — first the blade, then the head, and then the full grain on the head. As soon as the crop is ready, he sends for the sickle, because the harvest has come” (Mark 4:26-29).

This parable is found only in the book of Mark, but presents an important truth, especially today.  In the growth of grain, nature works step by step.  In fact, most of nature's wonders are performed gradually.  It is not hard to observe the result of growth, but the process itself may be imperceptible in its development.  This illustrates growth in the kingdom of God.  Christian growth isn’t instantaneous, but most of the time deliberate and gradual.  In our spiritual development, we may want to take giant steps.  If we fail, we may become disappointed.  In such cases, we must remember Jesus’ lesson from nature.

Nothing worth achieving is done so instantly.  No scientist is made in a day.  No one learns a new language overnight.  The skill of an athlete requires many hours of practice. Many of life’s lessons come from applying what we know to our daily circumstances, which can have its setbacks as well as advances.  It is no different with our growth in Christ.  Mature congregations have to be developed member by member, as we each are to grow in God's will.  The change the gospel produces in our lives, from one day to the next, may not appear like much, but over time, it can be.  If you are learning, remember knowledge and understanding does not happen overnight.  If you become discouraged, remember only by persistent and patient efforts does God's word come to rule in people's hearts. Jesus said, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able” (Luke 13:24). The word “strive” (ἀγωνίζομαι), literally means to agonize, straining every nerve to the uttermost towards the goal. The victory we win is more precious when we invest ourselves wholly and completely to reach the prize.

We must make it our goal to grow in Christ every day.  Christian growth, however, is not marked only from day to day, but over the course of a lifetime. We may not see much progress from yesterday to today, but what about over 5 years? Or 10? Or more?  Make Paul's attitude your own.  "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:13-14).  Keep growing in the Lord day by day, and see what a difference it can make eternally.

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 8/14/2020

Today our message from Scripture comes from Psa. 116:15. “Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His godly ones.”

This psalm has been a conundrum for some. At the beginning of it, the writer speaks of His love for the Lord, specifically because God heard his plea for help. He was in the deepest of distress, as he felt he was being tied up in the ropes of death, but the Lord delivered him from his affliction and the agitation such a prospect brought with it. In the midst of his thanksgiving, he then said the death of those godly is precious in God’s eyes. It’s as if he is saying God saved him, but it would have been better for him to die.

Of course, we know God is the giver and sustainer of life. Life is precious, and we should consider it as precious and valuable, and thank God for all He does in offering us His help and blessings throughout our existence. We are grateful for all His goodness and love that He shows us every day. However, we also know there is another side to life which many don’t consider until it’s too late. Death is also a part of life’s experiences, for we all must face death until our Lord returns. While the psalmist could consider the blessings of life, he could also think about what happens when the time comes for us to depart this existence. God has something more wonderful planned for us when die than we can imagine, as He offers us joy in His presence and rest for eternity.

It seems to me the psalmist is expressing his understanding of the nature of life, especially of the faithful. God is our help and strength through today, and when the time comes for us to die, He has something even better planned, for those who are His. What a God we serve who takes everything about our lives into consideration, and provides for both! As the song we often sings goes, “In life, in death, O Lord, abide with Me,” and He does. Have a great day today. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 8/13/2020

Today our message from Scripture comes from Jas. 1:2-4. “Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”

While this sounds like an oxymoron, it is still true. Life is easier to live if we can look beyond the moment in time we are facing to the benefits that point in time can bring. No one has to tell us to enjoy the good times, but it’s not as easy when we have trials and difficulties to deal with. From our Scripture reading, James reminds us, no matter we face in life, we can trust God to take anything that comes our way and use it for good.

First, we learn patience through our trials. Patience is the power to hold out, to refuse to quit, to go on when we feel like giving up. Like exercise can strengthen our muscles and aid our overall health, so patience can only be developed when our faith is tested to endure. Endurance helps us receive the promises of God (Heb. 10:26).

Second, we learn compassion. While we may not all share the same experiences and problems life brings, we do share in having problems. This commonality among us all helps us to feel sympathy and gain the ability to encourage each other. It helps us bear each other’s burdens (Gal. 6:2).

Third, we learn to trust God. Difficulties remind us our existence in the flesh is temporal and uncertain. How much strength do we gain by allowing our omniscient and omnipotent God to work His good in our lives? Nothing is impossible with our God (Matt. 19:26).

David had his fair share of trials, but he could say, “Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved” (Psa. 55:22). So can we, if we believe in God. Have a great day. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 8/12/2020

Today, our message from Scripture comes from Deut. 31:6: “"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."

God, through His prophet Isaiah, speaks of those who had set themselves against Israel, who would try to destroy them. He reminds them God is on their side, that He would deliver their enemies into their hands, and they as God’s people would do to them as God has commanded. Having these promises of God, He exhorts them not to be afraid, nor to tremble because they are frightened by their threats. In contrast, they were to be strong and courageous, imperatives in the Hebrew, meaning to be convicted in their ability to overpower, to conquer, to be victorious. This is true because of who was with them. God would go with them, and there are two qualities that should comfort them as they face the unknown battles ahead. First, God wouldn’t fail them, meaning become weak and feeble, thus to fail. Also, God wouldn’t forsake them, meaning He would not leave them and not be around to help, He would not separate Himself from them. Knowing the one true God was in their corner, to help fight their battles, was a great incentive to do their best.

God is still the same when it comes to the help He affords us as His people, those in His kingdom, the church, today. The Hebrew writer offers us this encouragement to be strong and courageous in our faith, not to be afraid or tremble at what Satan and the world may throw against us. “He has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'” (Heb. 13:5-6). Rather than fear or faint at what we must face to live the Christian life, our trust should be in the Lord, in the strength He provides. Have confidence in the promises of God as you go through your day today; He will do what He has said for you. Have a great day today. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 8/11/2020

Today, our message from Scripture comes from Luke 9:51: “When the days were approaching for His ascension, Jesus was determined to go to Jerusalem.”

Jesus spent most of His ministry in Galilee, but in the passage just read, we find what we might call the “watershed” of His ministry. In Luke 13:33 Jesus would say, “It is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.”  For Him to be determined to go to Jerusalem, it meant the time for His fulfillment of God’s will was quickly approaching. He must die for the sins of the world to be forgiven, and everything He had done previously was leading Him to this goal. He was a great teacher who revealed the will of God, and He performed miracles to verify He truly was the Son of God. But from the very beginning, Jesus knew He would have to die that horrible death on the cross. He was completely dedicated to fulfilling God’s will for the sake of humanity.

In a very real sense, Jesus surrendered His privileges as deity to become flesh and blood and offer His life for us. He wasn’t a helpless victim of circumstances, but He made this choice deliberately. Where would we be if He hadn’t determined to go to Jerusalem?

For us as Christians, we are thankful for Him submitting to the will of the Father, because without it, we would be forever lost. However, to receive the benefits of Christ’s death, we must determine to follow Christ fully and completely, as He did the Father. What would it be like if every Christian would surrender to God completely in the example of Christ? We are grateful for all Jesus has done for us, but we should ask ourselves are we following in His example, to set our faces toward living for Him? “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps” (1 Pet. 2:21). What have you determined to do today? God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 8/10/2020

Today’s message from Scripture comes from 1 Thess. 4:9, 10: “Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another…But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more.”

When do we learn so much about God’s word there is nothing more to learn? When do we live by it long enough there is nothing more to do? Of course, the answer to this is never! God is infinite in His being, and we are finite in our understanding and ability to practice what we do understand, much less all that is true of the infinite wisdom of God. We remember the words of Paul in Rom. 11:33-34, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” It is incomprehensible for us to grasp all that God knows and understands. We stand in awe of his wisdom and love, knowing we will never grasp all there is to realize about him.

So, we can see what Paul means when he tells the church in Thessalonica that, having been taught about the love of God, they should love God more and more, and each other as well. There is no plateau, no end to its depth of meaning, or the ways of experiencing and practicing it to each other. In 1 Thess. 3:12, Paul says our love for God and each other should increase and abound. The word abound means to overflow, naturally abounding,  not only in having God’s love for ourselves but also for others, spilling out in how we respond to each other.

Today, let’s not be satisfied with where we are in our lives in Christ; let’s seek to have more, to be more, to do more from the love we have from Christ, and share in Christ. Let’s do this more and more. Wouldn’t that make a fantastic difference in us, in the church, in the world? It starts with each of us making it so for us. See how much God can do in and for you today. God bless.

Robert

 Heaven…Be There

Recently, one of my professors from my days in college passed away at the age of 90. I had him for homiletics, although he had his doubts about my ability to pass the class. Typically, one was required to take speech before this class on sermon preparation and delivery would be available for you. I had not done so, and was asking him for an exemption to that rule. After some discussion on why the prerequisite class was important, and my pleading my case, he again said I would not be able to pass. I remember saying, “Try me.” He agreed. I don’t know if I baited him into it, or he was wanting to see how much I wanted to take the class, but he relented, and I made an A. Whether he was testing me or not, it was a valuable class that helped me better understand how to craft a lesson that would communicate God’s word effectively to others.

In addition to this personal anecdote, I remember him as someone who loved to preach and teach. He wrote books on evangelism, along with his signature study on Revelation, and held meetings and seminars in an earnest desire that people would realize the importance of responding to the gospel. What sticks with me more than anything else, though, was his use of the thumbs up (long before Facebook was a thing) and the saying, “Be there!” The there was heaven. Don’t miss heaven was his unofficial theme.

Moses reminds us the days of our lives, on average, number 70, or if by virtue of strength, 80 (Psa. 90:10a). We may have fewer than this, or more, but whatever the time we have, heaven must be our theme. It certainly was on the mind of Paul, who spoke of it constantly. He knew well how we live today has a direct bearing on where we will live in eternity. He did everything he could to reach as many as he could. Not only this, he was conscientious about the example he set, as he did not want to miss heaven either. “Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified” (1 Cor. 9:27). It is appropriate to consider Moses statement in the rest of Psa. 90:10, which reminds us, no matter the days we have, they never seem to be enough. “Even the best of them are struggle and sorrow; indeed, they pass quickly and we fly away” (Psa. 90:10b).

We all have someone, or several someones, who help us understand life is more than today, and the more we understand that, the more we want to use our influence, in what we say and how we live, to help others understand it. Satan wants to distract us, to divert our efforts to today, to miss the big picture. We should take advantage of every opportunity we have to remind others what we are living for. Maybe it’s a thumb’s up and saying be there. Maybe it’s a hug and the words, “I love you.” Maybe it’s someone close passing away, reminding us what was important to them, helping to solidify in us a spiritual focus for an eternal reunion. Maybe it’s a positive example for others to see. Whatever it is, please let others know how important the gospel is to you and them, now and eternally. As Peter tells us, “And I will also make every effort so that you are able to recall these things at any time after my departure” (2 Pet. 1:15). Whatever it take, heaven…be there.

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 8/8/2020

Today’s message from Scripture comes from Psa. 122:1: “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let’s go to the house of the Lord.’”

In this psalm, David speaks of those who suggested to him to go to the house of the Lord, to worship God. As the temple was not constructed until Solomon was king, this no doubt would be to go to the tabernacle, perhaps with the ark of the covenant being brought to Jerusalem. Here was the center of the spiritual life of a united nation of Israel. To gather together to worship God there, and to pray for God’s blessings on them (122:6) was appropriate. It was a reminder to them of the relationship they had with God, and of His rich blessings to them as long as they sought Him.

The Lord’s day, the first day of the week, is a special day for us as God’s chosen ones in Christ. We are drawn together to remember the great sacrifice Christ made for us on the cross, shedding His blood that we could be redeemed from our sins. We remember His resurrection from the dead, which powerfully proclaims Him to be Lord and Savior. It validates His life and points to His return, to our resurrection from the dead. To worship God and pray for His blessings is appropriate, as we think of God’s great plan of salvation, and of His rich blessings to us as long as we seek Him.

There is not a time when we should take any of this for granted, or exempt ourselves from such devotion. The Hebrew writer reminds us, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire (Heb. 12:28-29). May we rejoice and take advantage of the privilege God gives us to assemble and worship Him, a foretaste of doing so in eternity. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 8/7/2020

Today’s message from Scripture comes from 2 Tim. 4:5: “But you, be sober in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fully carry out your ministry.”

In this last letter of Paul, written to his child in the faith, Timothy, Paul wanted him to carry out the work God had for him to do in preaching the gospel. Even though there would be trials and hardships in the process, it was what God wanted and needed from him. Timothy needed to take seriously the role he had in the kingdom, to fully, completely, do what God had assigned him to do.

Everyone who obeys the gospel has a role in the kingdom of God. When it comes to leadership, men are to exercise spiritual headship, while women are to be in submission (1 Tim. 2:8; 1 Tim. 2:11-12). Within these roles, we should use the talents and abilities God provides each of us to serve. Peter reminds us, “Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God” (1 Pet. 4:10).

There are ways we each can be involved, even in times like this, for the sake of the kingdom. We can pray, for our nation, for the church in a sinful world, for the needs brothers and sisters in Christ, for opportunities to share the gospel with the lost. We can spend time in Scripture to keep our spiritual focus. We can make phone calls to encourage others. No matter how little it may seem to us, when done for the Lord, it is of eternal value.

On the other hand, there is never a time to stop serving God, to go on vacation from Christian living, to decide deeds of the past will be sufficient when there is still a life to be lived for God. The charge of the Lord in Rev. 2:10, “be faithful until death,” means until the day of death, not to stop before. Within the role God has given each of us, are you seeking to carry out your ministry, your service, to Christ? What can you do today be fruitful in the kingdom, to bless others and find blessings for yourself? Have a great day. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 8/6/2020

Today’s message from Scripture comes from Psa. 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”

In this passage from the Psalms, God wants us to know about His nature. We not only find comfort in Him, but His active care and concern for us as well.

First, God is our refuge. He is our place of safety and security, our protection in the difficulties and trials we face in life. He is also our strength, our source of strength. He is the one who empowers us to succeed against all that life throws against us. Because of these qualities, He is definitely our help. We can have confidence God is on our side, and provides us with what we need to be victorious. We have a unique relationship with Him as His special people, as the psalmist speaks of what God offers those in a covenant relationship with Him in  Psa. 44:26; “Rise up, be our help, And redeem us for the sake of Your lovingkindness.”

Because of this, the psalmist continues, “Therefore, we will not fear…” (Psa. 46:2). The Hebrew word for fear means frightened, terrified, or intimidated. This last meaning is what happens to so many people facing challenges in life, to be daunted or bullied so to speak, coerced into responding in a way that is contrary to what the child of God should be. This what Satan wants to happen, to doubt the goodness of God, to take an alternate route in life that only brings about ruin. God offers us His strength to rely on, His security to trust in, His help to overcome by faith and remain focused on the goal we live for.

God truly does care for us as a tender and loving Father, providing all we need to overcome sin and remain secure in His love. All this is available to us if we live in Him and for Him. Is your life anchored securely in Him? Have a great day today. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 8/5/2020

Today’s message from Scripture comes from Gen. 32:24: “Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.”

In examining the life of Jacob, few of us would have chosen him for great honor, because he spent a good deal of his life deceiving others and cheating to get his way. Throughout his life, Jacob displayed a disturbing tendency to rely on himself and not on the Lord’s presence and power.

All that changed when he wrestled with “a man” on the borders of the Promised Land. Hosea, by inspiration, tells us he was actually wrestling with God through His angel, perhaps an appearance of the pre-incarnate Christ (Hosea 12:3-4). Jacob came to learn that he had been wrestling face to face with God Himself (Gen. 32:30-32). Jacob’s name was changed, from Jacob, meaning “heel grabber,” to Israel, meaning “he who struggles with God,” the name by which God’s people would be known.

 

As Jacob literally struggled with God, which led him to a more personal, intimate relationship with God, so do we figuratively. We struggle as we seek to fight our way out of sin into a relationship with Him. At times it may seem Satan is winning the battle, but if we submit to the Lord and His will for us, we have a new name too, the name Christian. We leave the territory of sin for the citizenship God offers us in Christ. We become strangers and sojourners today that we might have a homeland to enter after this life is over (1 Pet. 2:11-12). Like Paul, we may have the scars that dealing with sin brings today (Gal. 6:17), but there is healing God offers in eternity (Rev. 22:2).

May we count as more precious to us what God has prepared in heaven, than anything this world has to offer. Who or what are you struggling with today? Won’t it be great to hear Him call us His own on that day? Have a great day. God bless.

Robert

Message from Scripture: 8/4/2020

Today’s message from Scripture comes from Rom. 6:3-4: “ Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

We are familiar with what Scripture teaches about being immersed into Christ. It is here that our sins are washed away and become a new creation, rid of the condemnation sin brings with it. This is what Paul is emphasizing in this passage. Like the physical body when it dies, the old man of sin is to be put to death, symbolized by our going into the water to be buried to die with Christ, that is, to be joined in the likeness of His death and gain the benefits it provides. We are then raised up from the water a different person, no longer a slave to sin, but having a new life in Christ, one of holiness and righteousness.

Our being immersed is a perfect figure of what happens to us through Christ. It also is a reflection of our letting go of self, to let God create us anew, thus the imagery of being born again (John 3:3; 1 Pet. 1:3). We are immersed by another, which reminds us we cannot save ourselves, it is the work of God in our submission to His will. People tend to want stay in control of every situation they possibly can, and it’s no different when it comes to being saved from sin. All the variations found in the religious world of what to do to be saved (confess Christ as one’s personal Savior, repeat the sinner’s prayer, go through some ritual prescribed by another person) are reflections of one wanting to pick how one should be saved, no matter what the will of God may actually be. It is a reflection of sin still being operative in a person’s life, those selfish desires still at work in the heart and mind.

Being immersed by another is a sign of submission to God, of letting go of the notion we’re still in control, as all that has done is lead to sin and more sin. We surrender our will to God, allowing another to plunge in the waters of immersion, that we might rise cleansed, a child of God. It is how God emphasizes to us it is what He is doing for us in Christ, not what we want for ourselves. That surrender continues throughout the course of our lives, in echoing the words of Jesus, “Not my will be yours be done.” Don’t surrender to Christ only in being immersed, just to cling to sin in the life that follows. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven (Matt. 7:21). Does that describe your life in Christ? God bless.

 

Robert