Message from Scripture: 10/31/2020

 

Our message from Scripture today is 1 John 4:8; “The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

 

While there are so many wonderful aspects to the nature of God, and how that relates to us as His children, one we all take comfort in is that He is a God of love, and promises us his eternal love in our relationship with him. God’s love is not conditioned on how much we love Him, but on His nature as God. It is a defining principle to the life we should live in Him, that His love is seen in how we treat each other.

 

What does this mean to us? if we are constantly aware of God’s great love for us, it will strengthen our faith in him and help us rely on his promises. God reminds us through Jeremiah, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued to extend faithful love to you” (Jer. 31:3). God’s everlasting love for us is seen in the love of Christ for us, in dying for us, interceding for us, offering us life in Him.

 

God’s love for us is always an unending love for us, providing direction to us for a life of trust and obedience. Paul tells us, “Always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body” (2 Cor. 4:10). The assurance of God’s eternal, unchanging love can sustain us no matter what.

 

God loves us. He is looking after us, He is waiting for us, and He will rejoice to welcome and receive us if His love is seen in us. Today, let’s show the love of God in our seeking Him in life, our seeking each other to encourage and build up, and our earnest desire for the eternal. Have a great day today. God bless.

 

Robert

Message from Scripture: 10/30/2020

Our message from Scripture today is Gen. 9:11; “I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth.”

God is a covenant making God, entering into a relationship with His creation. In doing this, He makes promises to us as His people. Some of these promises are unconditional, meaning God will keep them, no matter how we respond to Him, He will always be faithful. Our quote from Gen. 9 illustrates an unconditional promise of the covenant God established with the earth after the flood. While there may be local flooding, He has been faithful to His promise never to destroy the entire world again with a flood.

But there are promises we have from God in a covenant relationship with Him that binds both Him and us. The gospel age is a covenant we enter in with God, sealed with the blood of Christ, assured to us by our obedience to the gospel, by being immersed in Christ (Rom. 6:3-4). In this covenant, God promises us salvation and the blessings of a relationship with Him. Our commitment is to yield our lives to Him and seek to do His will through the course of our lives. The Hebrew writer reminds us, “And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation” (Heb. 5:9). The word “obey” is in the present tense; it not only speaks of obeying the gospel, but continuing to live obediently to Him, each day. As Jesus said, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” Rev. 2:10). This is the way to have an abundant life (John 10:10), living in the will of God, which allows us to reflect His image.

What a wonderful God we serve! He is loving, kind, and forgiving. We can trust Him to do His part for us. Let’s be faithful to Him, so we can enjoy these rich blessings, and do what He asks of us in a covenant relationship with Him, because it’s for our good, now and eternally. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 10/27/2020

 

Our message from Scripture today is 2 Kings 6:17; “Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

 

The king of Syria had surrounded Elisha and his servant with horses, chariots, and a great army, to keep him from revealing what God had shown him regarding Syria’s plans to overcome the people of God. His servant was overwhelmed with this sight, and thought they were doomed. Elisha prayed that God would open his servant’s eye, so he could see the unseen, that the army of the Lord was greater than the foe they faced in the flesh.

 

Like Elisha’s servant, we need the eyes of our souls opened so we can understand the truth revealed in the divine word of God. Scripture is the word of God, given by inspiration, God-breathed, without error, applicable to us for all time. Only when we recognize what Scripture is will we be drawn to spend time in it and learn its truths for us today. We remember the words from Hebrews; “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).

 

Like Elisha’s servant, we need the eyes of our souls opened so we can live the truth revealed in the divine word of God. Paul confirms to us, “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1).

 

We are so richly blessed to have the word of God so available to us. Now, let’s make sure we use it as God intends, to live for Him today, and forever. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 10/26/2020

 

Our message from Scripture today is Matt. 28:6; “He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.”

 

From the beginning of time, man has raised the question that was asked by Job, “If a man dies, will he live again?” (Job 14:14). People stand in fear of death and the tomb. Only Christ has an authentic answer our question about life and death. The basic truth of Christianity is found in this angelic announcement we just read from Matthew. This statement isn’t an argument about the state of Jesus; it’s a divine proclamation that Jesus Christ had conquered death and had risen to life. The empty tomb speaks with a shout to declare that He is no longer dead.

 

What does this mean for how we live today? The empty tomb declares that Jesus Christ was really the divine Son of God. Paul reminds us Jesus was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead (Rom. 1:4).

 

The empty tomb declares that His death on the cross made atonement for our sins. Paul also adds, “He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification” (Rom. 4:25).

 

The empty tomb is a promise to us of our victory over death and over the grave. Jesus said, “Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:19).

 

The risen, living Savior offers the gift of eternal life now; He can deliver us from the sentence of spiritual death, and He will one day deliver us from physical death at the resurrection. May we rejoice in knowing what Christ offers us, and in what we are in Him. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Where is God?

 

With everything that has been going on in the world this year, from the wildfires out west, to the rapid succession of tropical storms and hurricanes in the gulf, or the COVID virus that has been challenging our lives and replaced normalcy with chaos for many, the question is inevitably asked, “Where is God in all this?”  In the political realm, when evil seems to gain the upper hand in the matters of a nation, some ask, “Where is God in this?  Why would he allow such things to happen?”  The nature of the questions implies God must not exist, or he must be weak and ineffective, or even worse, perhaps he is evil himself to allow evil to exist.

 

Of course, God is not evil, nor does he engage in any form of evil.  He is a holy God (1 Pet. 1:16), and only responds from pure motives (Jas. 1:13).  Nor does God distance himself from his creation, in that he is unaware of what is happening or unavailable to care for it.  Paul reminded the Colossians that all things were made through God in Christ, and that in him all things consist, or hold together (Col. 1:16-17).  The answer to the question, “Where is God” then, is where he has always been, in charge of all his creation.

 

The question is still raised, though, if he is in charge, then why do all these things happen? God has created humanity with free will, the ability to choose how one lives.  He created us able to make decisions for ourselves, whether to serve him or live for self, to live in sin.  Sin comes with consequences, altering how creation functions, bringing its own curse on creation in general and each of us specifically (Gen. 3:17-18).  Paul wrote, “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it,” (Rom. 8:20), and adds, “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now” (8:22).  Sin is the reason our world is filled with evil and all its consequences.

 

So, where is God in all this?  He is fulfilling his eternal purpose, as he has always done.  Paul reminds us, “What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, ‘That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged’” (Rom. 3:3-4).  The psalmist reminds us, “God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne” (Psa. 47:8).  The theme of Revelation is that God’s purpose will be triumphant, no matter what humanity does.  There is a day when all sin, all evil, will be dealt with in his righteousness (2 Cor. 5:10).  Until then, “Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other. I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose’” (Isa. 46:9-10).

 

God reminds us, “’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts’” (Isa. 55:8-9).  The question is not if God is still in charge, but whether or not we are willing to trust the sovereignty of God. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil” (Prov. 3:5-7).

 

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

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 10/24/2020

 

Our message from Scripture today is 1 Thess. 5:24; “He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.”

 

Just before offering the church in Thessalonica these encouraging words, Paul offered his desire for God to sanctify them entirely, that they would be without blame at the coming of the Lord. What a noble, and daunting, task to consider. All Christians want to be considered blameless when coming before the Lord in judgment. Paul offers this assurance for us this is what God will do.

 

This passage tells us God is faithful. He has called us through His word (2 Thess. 2:13-14). It is by this that we have confirmation about this aspect of God. We know about His love for us, especially as it is seen in His Son’s sacrifice for us, and about all He has done, and is doing and will do, on our behalf  We can have assurance the call of the gospel extends to us, to transform us by the power of God, to be His children, to live His life,

 

This is the goal of the Godhead, to bring about our salvation, to give us confidence, to lead us to heaven. This is the plan God conceived, Christ carried out, and the Holy Spirit revealed to us. He will do what He has promised; of this we have every confidence. We must ask ourselves, are we willing to do what our God bids us do? Do we trust Him enough to obey Him? Do we have enough confidence to live for Him? Do we have the desire to give ourselves to Him, that eternity can be ours? You see, the issue isn’t whether God will do what He has said, but if we will join with Him so His goal can be accomplished in us.

 

God blesses us with everything we need to live with Him forever. What a thought to consider. It’s available to anyone and everyone who submits to His will. How blessed we are. As John says, “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:1-3). God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 10/23/2020

 

Our message from Scripture today is Mark 10:45; “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

 

Jesus truly fulfilled the role of a servant in His earthly ministry. He took opportunities to help others, no matter who they were, no matter their need. He helped lepers, He helped centurions, He helped men and women, He helped everyone He came into contact with that needed helped. In this passage we read, He wanted His disciples to understand, that if they were to be great before God, they would have to serve others. What does our Lord teach us about service?

 

We learn service doesn’t depend on how worthy others are. The presence of human need and suffering was reason enough for ministry in Jesus’ eyes. Jesus reminded His disciples, “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work (John 9:4).

 

We learn service doesn’t depend on how appreciative others are. Jesus did not ask others what they could do for him. Jesus didn’t help others just so they might do something for Him. Jesus elsewhere would say, “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men” (Luke 6:35).

 

We learn service does demand a compassionate concern for others. Jesus was moved with pity for others, but He was also concerned enough that he did something about it: He helped others in their need.

 

Aren’t we glad that our Lord thought enough of us to serve us by coming in the flesh and offering Himself for us?  This is where we must begin to be approved before God, to have the heart of a servant, first for God and then for each other. Amazing things will happen when we give ourselves to each other. This is the way to have a great day in Christ. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 10/22/2020

 

Our message from Scripture today is John 15:11; “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

 

When the Lord spoke of a fullness of joy, he referred to a joy that grows out of something other than the joy of ownership, the joy of popularity, or the joy of security. What are some things that brought Jesus this joy, that can help us find joy, even in the most difficult situations?

 

There is the joy of knowing God. Our Lord’s favorite title for the eternal God is wrapped up in his loving name “Father.” In every instance, with only one exception, when our Lord was engaging in prayer, he addressed the eternal God as Father. He taught his disciples to approach the throne of grace in prayer with thoughts of the parent-child relationship uppermost in their minds (Luke 11:2). To Christ, God was his loving Father, and He was eager that his disciples experience and appreciate this joy of knowing God.

 

There is also the joy of being in harmony with God’s will. There was no discord between Jesus’ will and the will of the Father. In his mind, there was no rebellion or revolt against the work God had for him to do. He was in perfect harmony with the Creator, saying He and the Father are one (John 10:30). The psalmist came to know what we long to experience. He wrote, “For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name” (Psa. 33:21).

 

Our Lord lived a life of joy, eager that we know the great joys available to us through faith and faithfulness. He prayed for all His disciples, “But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves” (John 17:13). In a world filled with so many things aimed at robbing us of our joy, it is great to know we can have joy in Christ in all situations we face. May we find that joy today, no matter what we encounter today, as our God is always with us. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 10/21/2020

 

Our message from Scripture today is 1 Cor. 1:23; “We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

 

It is sad there are those would classify God and the teaching of Scripture as being foolish, void of real meaning for life. What makes it even sadder is how the mundane things of life are now being called spiritual experiences. While there are experiences in life one can enjoy, they don’t fit being spiritual if they don’t have a spiritual focus. I recently saw a commercial for playing golf that called it a spiritual experience. All I can say about that is, how I play golf is definitely not a spiritual experience.

 

That which is spiritual is what is based in the eternal, not that which is temporal. That which is of the flesh cannot compare to the spiritual, which, as Paul goes on to say, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9).

 

In reality, to live just for the flesh is foolishness, as it will not endure. We may not know when we will pass from this existence, but we know, unless our Lord returns, we will pass. To live without considering the spiritual, meaning God and His will, Christ and His sacrifice, the Spirit and His inspired word, will only disappoint when we face eternity, which is only spiritual in nature. None of us want to find out our emphasis in life, when we stand before Christ for God’s judgment, that we were foolish in our focus.

 

In the gospel of Luke, Jesus spoke what has been called the parable of the rich fool, who said to himself, “I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God” (12:19-21).  Make the spiritual what you live for, and be wise for eternity. God bless.

 

Robert

 

 

 

Message from Scripture: 10/20/2020

 

Our message from Scripture today is Luke 14:28-30; “For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? ²⁹ Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man started to build and wasn’t able to finish.’”

 

In speaking to the crowds that were following Him, Jesus emphasized the importance of counting the cost of being His disciple. It is a decision that is to be made seriously, as it’s not just about Christ freeing us from sin, but also about our commitment to live for Christ, to please Him and to honor Him. What can we do to help us fulfill His will in our lives and overcome sin?

 

One practical thing we can do is to write down our goals. It can help us see if they are in alignment with the will of God, and remind us life can sometimes get complicated, and we can forget our spiritual obligations. James reminds us, “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit’… Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that’” (4:13, 15).

 

We can also pray to God regularly and specifically about our goals. He is ready and willing to help us live faithfully for Him. What a great resource available for us. We can petition Him regarding our needs, allowing Him to speak to us through His word, and knowing He will work for good in our lives. Jesus also said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matt. 7:7).

 

To know God has a plan for each of our lives, and we can join our plans with His, is a fantastic thought. May we do all we can to live in His will, and see Him work His purpose in us. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 10/19/2020

 

Our message from Scripture today is Mark 8:36. “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”

 

Satan is a master at deceiving us, of trying to deceive us into thinking what he offers is best, when the truth is, it will only destroy us. The things, experiences, and desires of the flesh can offer a strong temptation, an appeal that can cloud our judgment and lure us to a place we wouldn’t normally go. So, what advice does Scripture give us to overcome and remain faithful to our Lord, not to exchange our soul for the temporal pleasures of today?

 

We should first realize Satan, promises whatever is necessary to secure and to maintain our allegiance, with no intention of making good on his promises. He is, after all, the Father of lies (John 8:44). Whatever the desires of the flesh are, they will not accomplish what he says they will.

 

Even if we could take our souls and purchase the world, we would be making a bad exchange. The world is perishing (1 John 2:17) and the desires that appeal to us are passing away. Only by focusing on the will of God can we identify the dangers of sin and make a better choice in how to live.

 

Satan offers us the world with all of its pleasures, only to pay off with disappointment, death, and destruction. Remember that Christ offers us an abundant life in Him now (John 10:10), and life hereafter, and that He offers us the freedom to become all that God intends for us to be.

 

May we fortify ourselves by spending time in the word of God, and by living in the word of God. We will be better equipped to recognize the spiritual over the carnal, and have victory in Christ. God bless.

 

Robert

 

We Can Be Bold

 

“Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).

 

When we think of coming into the presence of God, there are several things that may come to mind. We can reflect on the glory, majesty, and splendor our God possesses as deity, and images like that of Isa. 6, where the prophet declared He was lofty and exalted, and the seraphim called out to each other, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isa. 6:1-3). One might think of the response Isaiah offered to this image of God, one of humility and contrition, knowing his sin and feeling his unworthiness to stand before God. “Then I said, woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts’” (Isa. 6:5).

 

While these are appropriate, as Christians there is another attitude we should have in approaching God, in our prayers to Him, and our lives for Him. The Hebrew writer says we should come before the throne of grace with boldness. The term for boldness is παρρησία (parresia), which means freedom or frankness in speaking, freedom in speaking all that one thinks or pleases. To be able to speak with such openness offers one confidence and boldness. The Hebrew writer says this is what we need to receive mercy from God, to find His grace for help, especially in those times when only the help God offers can provide us with what we need.

 

We are able to have boldness in coming before God in our prayers because of the difference the blood of Christ makes. Without it, we are lost in sin, without hope and the blessings available in Christ. In Christ, we have access to God’s grace (2 Tim. 2:1). In Christ, we have access to the love of God (Rom. 8:38-39). In Christ, we have all spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3), including the forgiveness of our sins (1 Pet. 1:18-19). We are able to stand justified in Christ, a new creation, as the old man of sin has been crucified and we now are pleasing to God, as we keep walking in the light so the blood of Christ can keep on cleansing us of our sins (2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 6:3-4; 1 John 1:7).

 

When we come to God in prayer, through the cleansing of the blood of Jesus, we are not far away from Him, but brought near (Eph. 2:13). We are children of God, and He our loving Father, who seeks to mold us in His image, that we can inherit the promises He extends through Christ, especially of eternal life. We don’t have to worry whether God will reject us if we are in Christ, as we can approach Him freely, pouring out our hearts, the needs we have for ourselves and others. We can know He hears, that He helps us in our needs. As Paul encouraged the brethren in Philippi, “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).

 

In times past, the pagans thought they had to multiply words upon words to get the gods attention. They would physically hurt and cut themselves, but the blood they shed could do nothing to reach imaginary deities for help, much less the one true and living God. What a difference Christ makes in our lives. We can offer any and every need, the concern of our hearts, whatever is filling our minds, and know in Christ God is there to help, provide, comfort and care, and help us mature in our walk with Him. We can boldly come to Him at any time, with any entreaty. Thank God for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, what He offers to us, what we can be in Him, the access He affords for what we need to live for eternity. “This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him” (Eph. 3:11-12).

 

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

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 10/17/2020

 

Our message from Scripture today is Jas. 4:7. “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

 

In James 4, James addresses some issues the Christians he wrote to were struggling with. They had a problem with quarreling among each other, They were having problems gaining control over sinful desires. Some had stopped praying and were finding they did not have what they needed spiritually, but even those who were still praying were not getting their prayers answered, because they were asking from sinful desires. This is not how life in Christ should be! While James addresses several things that they could change, the two instructions in our Scripture reading are fundamental to overcoming the flesh and having victory in Christ.

 

First, James gives them the imperative of submitting to God. No one will find spiritual success if they have given themselves over to sin, or if they waver back and forth between the will of God and the desires of the flesh. Earlier in this chapter James said, “You adulterous people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God” (Jas. 4:4). We must spend time in God’s word daily to remember what we are to do to be in submission to our loving Father.

 

Next, James tells his readers they must resist the devil for him to flee from them. We’re familiar with the saying of how playing with fire can cause one to be burned. If you allow Satan influence in your thoughts, he will gain influence in your life. If we know the will of God, we know the right path to take. We must make it our goal, with the help of God, to practice godly principles. We can pray for wisdom (Jas. 1:5), and know God will be with us to help us keep our focus on what leads to eternal life.

 

Every day we have a choice to make, either for God or for the devil. Satan does everything in his power to destroy us, while God in Christ does everything to save us. Today, choose wisely and find the joy of life in Christ. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 10/15/2020

 

Our message from Scripture today is Matt. 28:19-20. “All authority in heaven and on the earth has been given to me. Go and make disciples of all nations, immersing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you, and remember I will be with you always, even to the end of the world.”

 

The Great Commission is the statement of God’s great eternal plan of redemption. Saving people from their sins has always been God’s purpose, and will always be. Jesus has the authority to command and to issue orders to His disciples. He has the authority to request, even demand, our total resources. Here, He tells his disciples that in their going about from place to place, they should make disciples, and He promises to be with them if they obey his command. What does this take of us to obey His will?

 

Our Lord needs committed people. Jesus reminds us, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind” (Luke 10:27).

 

Our Lord needs consistent people. “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Also, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful” (1 Cor. 4:1-2).

 

Our Lord needs compassionate people. “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15).

 

Our Lord needs courageous people. “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest’” (Matt. 9:37-38).

 

Let’s spend time praying, planning, and proving our faith in Christ, especially to those who need the truth of the gospel in their lives. It’s something we all can do. Make a difference for Christ today. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 10/14/2020

 

Our message from Scripture today is Josh. 14:12. “So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the Lord said.”

 

When Israel determined not to go into the promised land, as God had told them to do (Num. 13-14), only Joshua and Caleb encouraged the people to obey God. Of that generation, only Joshua and Caleb would enter the promised land. When that time came, Caleb wanted the territory where he could best serve God, to drive out the Anakim, as God told them to do. Caleb, even in old age, was determined to do what God said. What kind of faith did Caleb have to motivate Him to do this?

 

Caleb had a faith that helped him to accept the challenges set before him. For us, James reminds us for faith to grow, we need to go through the trials of life trusting in God, stretching our spiritual convictions, and seeing what God will do when we commit ourselves to Him. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (Jas. 1:2-4).

 

Caleb was willing to do what he could for the Lord, no matter what that was. For us, life in Christ is to be characterized by continual growth. Christianity is a life-long endeavor. Paul encourages us, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Gal. 6:9).

 

Like Caleb and so many who have come before us, the greatest blessings to be found as a Christian await those who accept God's challenge and live each day, all their days, through faith. Let’s encourage each other in this worthy goal, as our God is worthy of our trust, our lives. Have a great day today. God bless.

 

Robert

 Message from Scripture: 10/13/2020

Our message from Scripture today is John 1:14. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

In the first verses of this gospel, John declares that Christ, who is the Word, is eternal and is equal to God. John also says that Christ the Word was active in creation, being the creative agent by whom all things came into being. John tells us that the Word of God became flesh and blood, and literally pitched His tent, or came for a brief period of time, to dwell with His creation. What was the purpose of His doing so? What did He achieve for us by becoming human?

He came so we could understand God in a way never seen before. “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, He has made him known” (John 1:18).

He came to destroy the works of the devil, to release us from the power of sin and its destructive influence in our lives. “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil” (Heb. 2:14).

He came so, by destroying the devil, we could be released from the fear of death and have confidence in the life He offers instead, a life that is eternal in heaven. He came to “deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Heb. 2:15).

He came to be a faithful and compassionate intercessor on our behalf. “Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Heb. 2:17).

Christ humbled Himself to become human, for the salvation and benefit of us all. Today, let’s humble ourselves before Him, that we might find His love, grace, and mercy, and be beneficiaries of all He offers, for help today, for life everlasting. Have a great day today. God bless.

Robert

 Message from Scripture: 10/12/2020

Our message from Scripture today is Jas. 2:13. ““For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.  Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

A dictionary definition of mercy is “kindness in excess of what may be expected.” This fits well with the New Testament term, which assumes need on the part of the one who receives it, and resources adequate to meet the need on the part of the one who shows it. When it comes to forgiveness, God alone has the resources to offer mercy and kindness to us. “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Ephesians 2:3-4). The only way to God’s mercy is through the Son, and the way to the Son is to yield our will to Him, that He can accomplish His good purpose in us.

How many of us can relate to the parable Jesus told of the tax-collector and Pharisee, and say of ourselves, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” (Luke 18:13)? John reminds us “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John  1:8-9). God’s mercy is not an excuse to sin, but in Christ, a pardon for sin. It’s not cheap grace, as we must repent and return; it’s God’s love, without which none of us could exist.

God’s mercy should draw us to a close relationship with Him, seeking to please Him, to follow His will, to live in and for Him. It’s the foundation on which Christian living is based (Rom. 12:1), and finds its purpose. Are you hurting? Has sin wrecked havoc in your life? As the song says, give Christ your broken life, because in Him God offers mercy. Find comfort today in His mercy. God bless.

Robert

 Message from Scripture: 10/10/2020

Our message from Scripture today is Eph. 4:15. “Speaking the truth in love, may we grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ.”

In this passage from God’s word, Paul emphasizes two fundamental and essential elements to growth in Christ…speaking the truth, and doing it in love. Only truth can save, and so it should be offered in the love of God, a genuine concern for those who need to hear that message. 

So, knowing this, it’s interesting to hear Jesus’ disciples say to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” (Matt. 15:12). As the Son of God, who came to save the world, we know He spoke in truth and love. So where did the offence come from? It came from the Pharisees, whose hearts were hardened against the truth, and who were determined to discredit Jesus, no matter what. The source of their being offended was His contradicting their interpretation of the Law of Moses with the truth, not tradition. They were offended because the truth would have demanded a change, a change they were unwilling to make.

In the course of our lives, we will encounter a variety of people, from various backgrounds, with various beliefs. They may be people we love dearly, or casual acquaintances, but all deserve to hear the truth in love. We cannot separate the two from each other. While Jesus would have wanted all to recognize Him as their Savior, only the truth can save. To reject the truth is to reject Christ. Christ never stops loving, but love must always be accompanied by the truth. 

We must always be willing to ask ourselves if these two qualities are ours, truth and love. If we embrace the love of God but reject His truth, we cannot be saved. If we have the truth, but not in love, we will not be drawn to seek what can save us or others. Today, and every day, may we be renewed in the love of God and the love of His truth, seen in the Son, revealed in the word. Together, they will make all the difference in us, and others we may know. Have a great day today. God bless. 

Robert

 

We Have an Anchor

 

We live in a changing world. How much has your life changed this year, with all of the unforeseen events happening to us as a nation, as a congregation, as individuals? One could also ask how much life has changed in your own lifetime?  In truth, can you think of anything in life that does not change? We are constantly changing one circumstance for another, one age for another. We change from childhood, to adolescence, to youth, to adulthood. As we change, people, places, and events change around us. Of course, not every change is negative or bad, but change, in and of itself, can be disturbing and unsettling.  We all have a need for something constant, something to give us assurance when everything else around is uncertain.

There is someone you can trust, someone who will remain constant no matter what you may encounter. There is someone who will always be there to help, even with your greatest needs.  “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and today and into the ages” (literal translation – Heb. 13:8). No matter what changes occur to us, in us, or around us, Jesus is the anchor that provides the stability we want and need. In Him, we can endure whatever life may toss our way, knowing what He has already accomplished on our behalf, knowing the help and strength He now provides, knowing the life He offers for eternity.

Jesus is our link to that age where change will be no more, and we will reign with Him “into the ages of the ages” (Rev. 22:5). What a phenomenal promise, then, Paul can make to us based on Christ. “Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies.  Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.  Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rom. 8:33-37).

We have such a secured salvation offered us in Jesus Christ! In a world of change, and the uncertainty it brings, life in Him can be constant and sure. Take comfort in His stability. Allow His will to influence you positively, and show His confidence in your life, for every change, every challenge you face. Our faith in the changelessness of our Savior offers a hope “secure and firmly established” (Heb. 6:19). He will see us through all the changes of life, to life without change, life eternal.

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

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 10/09/2020

Our message from Scripture today is Phil. 4:1. “Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.”

Did your parents ever  refer to you  as the  "apple of  their eye?"  Perhaps  they used  the phrase "pride  and joy," or  some other  term  to indicate their  feelings  for  you.  Imagine, then , to know what it meant to the Christians at Philippi when Paul wrote to them and spoke of them as his joy and crown, his beloved. Not only they, but all those obedient to the gospel were beloved by Paul. He wrote the church in Thessalonica, “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?  For you are our glory and joy" (I Thess. 2:19-20).

These brethren were Paul's joy, which is a striking way of saying that they are his source or cause of joy. People, not things, his fellow Christians, those who shared their faith and life in Christ with him, are what gave Paul this great gladness. His joy was in knowing these individuals had come to know, believe, and obey Him who is the source of eternal life. Truly, there should be no greater joy with anyone than receiving the salvation of one’s soul.

There are many “things” that can bring people pride and joy for a brief period of time, but there is something even better that lasts when the things of life fail. There is no greater pride and joy than in simply being a New Testament Christian, to know we have been saved by the blood of Jesus, and are recipients of God’s richest blessings. We have a future greater than the perishable things we can all too often focus on, because it is eternal in heaven.

John wrote, “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth” (3 John 4). May it be our greatest joy, knowing God takes delight in us walking in His truth as well, a delight that will be embraced in heaven. May that thought help us have a great day. God bless.

Robert