Message from Scripture: 3/31/2021

Our message from Scripture today is Matt. 12:37. “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Words are powerful. They can be used to encourage others when they are feeling down, and they can be used to hurt others. Words are not just so many letters of the alphabet strung together, but the vehicle we use to express our feelings, our desires, our motives. In this passage of Scripture, Jesus tells us how we use our words will either justify us before God, or condemn us. How should we use our words?

We need to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). This means not only seek to use the right words for the situations we face in love, but to have the love of Christ working within us as the motive from which they are spoken. Even truth can be expressed in a way that can hurtful and harmful, rather than kind and caring. Paul also tells us, “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person” (Col. 4:6).

We need to make sure the words we speak are designed to encourage us to live faithful lives in Christ, not those which deceive and lead people astray. James said, “So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!” (Jas. 3:5). Our speech shouldn’t be hypocritical, it shouldn’t entice others into a sinful act or lifestyle. The writer of Proverbs reminds us, “Put away from you a deceitful mouth and put devious speech far from you” (Prov. 4:24).

We all can remember words spoken to us that made us feel special, to feel we could do better, to keep on living faithful lives. We also can remember words that tore us down, that discouraged, that could cause us to want to give up. May we use our speech to fit the needs of those we speak to, that we all seek to be our best in serving God and helping each other overcome the world around us. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 3/30/2021

Our message from Scripture today is John 20:30-31. “Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”

Archeology has been the friend of the Bible for many years, as it has helped confirm the historical accuracy of so many events, places, and people recorded in Scripture. It is a great tool for those who may doubt the inspiration and truthfulness of the Biblical record. In modern times, however, there have been so called scholars who want to call into doubt, or simply dismiss, anything the Bible states. Such has been the case with Jesus teaching in synagogues.

For example, Matthew tells us Jesus “went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people” (Matt. 4:23). Luke also tells us, “And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as was His custom, He went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and He stood up to read” (Luke 4:16). Scripture here tells us this was not an infrequent thing Jesus did, but something that was His custom, something He was accustomed to doing, his habit.

Skeptics claim there were no synagogues in Israel until after the destruction of the 2^nd temple in Jerusalem, in AD 70. However, in 2020 the remains of a 2^nd temple era synagogue was discover at Beth Shemesh, well before the Romans destroyed the temple. In fact, there are other 1^st century synagogues that have been discovered as well. Don’t believe those with an agenda against Scripture; trust your Bible, as it is what it claims to be, the very word of God. As the psalmist wrote, “The entirety of your word is truth, each of your righteous judgments endures forever” (Psa. 119:160). God bless.

Robert

 

They are Watching

“Or don’t you know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the trivial cases?” (1 Cor. 6:2).

At first glance, this passage seems to be at odds with the statement Paul made to the congregation in Rome, when he wrote, “On the day when God judges what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus” (Rom. 2:16). If God will judge the world through Christ (Acts 17:31), how then will the saints, faithful Christians, judge the world? Perhaps the thought is similar to what Jesus said during His earthly ministry. “The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at Jonah’s preaching; and look — something greater than Jonah is here” (Matt. 12:41). Their lives stand as an affirmation of the truth Jonah preached, and the response was one of repentance, which validated the will of God.

It seems clear what Paul is trying to emphasize is that those who lived faithful Christian lives will affirm the righteous judgment of Christ, the validity of who He is and the message He spoke. Those who live in and for Him confirm there is glory for the righteous, and punishment for the wicked. He offers a rebuke to those Christians in Corinth, whose lives do not offer such a testimony to the truth, who are incapable of resolving issues and must resort to worldly courts to work out their differences (1 Cor. 6:2-8). What does that say about the gospel to unbelievers?

In considering Paul’s admonition to the Corinthian church, we should ask ourselves what kind of image do we offer to the world around us? Do they see the wisdom of God at work in the church? Do they see brotherly love shown to one another? Do they observe a willingness to work out our differences, even to the point of being wronged and cheated, rather than dishonor the gospel of Christ (1 Cor. 6:7)? Many years ago, while still a student in college, I remember a congregation who had a dispute that led them to court before a secular judge, who in essence gave them a lecture on how Christians should act. He sent them back to work out their differences with a stern rebuke for how they were behaving. It was to the church’s shame someone from the world had to set them back on track to act like believers should.

Sometimes it is better to forego a situation in dealing with brothers and sisters in Christ, than to act in a way that the world, as wicked as it can be, realizes the church is no different than it is. I believe there are times we may face such circumstances to be tested by God, to show Him and the world who we truly believe in, by what we say and do. If we genuinely trust God, will He not bless us for taking the high road, so to speak, to put Him first, rather than show the world our faith is more talk than a lifestyle? If we truly trust God, will He not provide for all our needs?

Paul would later write the church in Corinth, “For we are the temple of the living God, as God said: I will dwell and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord; do not touch any unclean thing, and I will welcome you. And I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty” (2 Cor. 6:16-18).

The world is watching us. Our brothers and sisters are watching us. God and Christ are watching us. What do they see?

μαράνα θᾶ

Robert

 

 

Message from Scripture: 3/27/2021 

Our message from Scripture today is Psa. 90:12. “Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.” 

Have you ever noticed that we take tomorrow for granted? We talk about what we are going to do tomorrow or next week, or next month, or even next year. God hasn't promised that we will live until next year, or next month, or even until tomorrow. All we have is what God has given us...today. This fact is made quite clear in 2 Cor. 6:2-4. “At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is the acceptable time, behold, now is the day of salvation. Giving no cause for offense in anything…”

The reason that now is the acceptable time is because all we have is now. That’s why it is so important to learn what Paul is trying to teach us in these verses. Now is the time that we have. We need to give no offence in anything right now. He then lists two reasons why we shouldn't give offence (sin) in anything. First, we should live so that reproach is not brought on anything because of our actions. The second reason is so we will be approved of God. With each day we are given, we should resolve to be what God would have you to be.

It would be good if we would greet each day with these words, "This day I resolve to," and then specifically list what you are going to do to draw closer to God. Paul gives us this reason as to why. “Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk — not as unwise people but as wise — making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is” (Eph. 5:15-17). Make the most of today for our Lord. God bless.

Robert

 

 

Message from Scripture: 3/26/2021

Our message from Scripture today is Eph. 5:29-30. “For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, since we are members of his body.”

It’s sad to say every congregation of the Lord has its battles to fight against Satan and sin. We know he desires to destroy it and the salvation it has to offer. However, there is much good to say about the church! There is no greater institution ever established on our behalf than the church.  Christ offered His life for it (Eph. 5:25-27). We are added to it, having our sins forgiven and being made acceptable before God (Acts 2:47). God has organized it so it helps us grow and mature in Him and His salvation (Eph. 4:12-16).   It encourages us to be our best individually, and to reach out to others with the good news that can save their souls, offering them an abundant life today, and eternal life when this life is over. That eternal hope can guide us on our way, and God promises to help us attain it. There is nothing that can compare with the church.

We cannot ignore problems that may arise within the church, for that can be destructive to our faith (1 Cor. 5:6-8). On the other hand, we should never ignore the immense good within the church, as we benefit from it every day of our lives. Let us deal with sin honestly and righteously, but never act as if all the church has is problems. Let's remember how important the church is, serve for its good, and encourage one another to be positive about it. Don’t be complacent about being part of the body of Christ. Be excited about all we have by being in Christ. Be positive about the church! Let it be seen in how you live your life today. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 3/25/2021

Our message from Scripture today is 1 Cor. 2:16. “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

In the 1990’s, the initials WWJD became popular, meaning what would Jesus do? The phrase was a reminder of a belief in a moral imperative to act in a manner that would demonstrate the love of Jesus through their actions. For a while, it was on wristbands, t-shirts, caps, almost anything one could imagine. While this phrase itself had a noble goal in mind, it turned out most people decided what Jesus would do was what they wanted to do.

Paul expressed this thought about living like Jesus to the church in Philippi, when he told them, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,” or “adopt the same attitude as that of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 2:5). The term mind, or attitude, means to be of one mind, one accord, to think the same thing. When it comes to the spiritual, do we think the same thing, the same way, that our Lord thought regarding living for God?

Since Scripture is inspired by God (2 Tim. 3:16), and is the word concerning Christ (Rom. 10:17), we know what Jesus would do by being immersed in Scripture, by knowing what it says, by storing it up in our hearts (Psa. 119:11), and by putting it into practice in our daily lifestyles (Eph. 5:2). Knowing what Jesus would do isn’t a subjective experience, but a way of life lived with the same mindset Jesus had in doing the will of God. Are we students of the word so we can do this? As Paul points out to the church in Corinth, we do have the mind of Christ, if we know and live by the word. Be imitators of Christ, living by His will, revealed in His word. It’s life changing, now and eternally. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 3/24/2021

 Our message from Scripture today is John 4:35. “Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest” (John 4:35).

The difficulty in these words of Jesus to His disciples lies in the nature of the fields, the world around us. Scripture often uses the term world to refer to the sum total of the material universe. This is how John speaks of the world, under the influence of Satan.  Thus, the world as a whole has a problem with sin.  While this is a true statement, we must not let it discourage us, keeping us from teaching the truth of the gospel that saves souls.  Certainly, if we were responsible individually for trying to convert the world as a whole, the task would be insurmountable.  Most will reject the way of truth (Matt. 7:13-14), so how can we effectively reach the world?

Considering the world as a whole, we can’t; individually, however, we definitely can.  The power of the gospel works on each person’s heart.  While we won’t convert the world as a whole, we can reach people in the world, individuals whose hearts can be touched, who will hear, understand, believe, and obey.  Is this not how each of us came to Christ?  While 3,000 were baptized on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41), each of that number was pierced in his or her own heart, convicted, and through an obedient faith, individually converted.

Let’s not become discouraged because of the shape the world is in.  Do you know one person you can talk to about Christ?  This is how it begins, and how it’s done. Can that one reach another?  And that one another?  When we approach the world individually, we can make a positive difference in the lives of individuals, who can reach others.  “We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ” (Col. 1:28). Have a great day today. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 3/23/2021

Our message from Scripture today is Rom. 6:17. “But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were handed over.”

A new book has been released about how our nation is still a religious nation, but the nature of religion is being redefined. It states our society has become syncretistic in its view of matters of faith. The term syncretism is the combining of different beliefs into one new system of belief, borrowing from perhaps Christianity, Hinduism, Muslimism, and other views. It shows the discontent people have without faith convictions, the result of living with no morals, no values, no standards to give life any real direction or purpose.

We can note this is really nothing new. It’s seen in Saul reinterpreting God’s command to destroy all the Amalekites and their possessions, to destroying most of the Amalekites, and keeping the best of their flocks and herds (1 Sam. 15). It’s seen in the churches of Galatia trying to merge Judaism with the gospel (Gal. 5:4) and in Colossae mixing Christianity with a variety of other religious systems. It’s been seen in denominationalism which for generations has advocated one is saved by faith alone, even though Scriptures says immersion is where the blood of Christ washes away our sins (1 Pet. 1:20, 22; 3:21). Satan is at work in all of this, seeking to compromise truth, which still condemns.

Any merging of truth and error is still error. This is why Paul reminded Timothy to hold on to the pattern of sound teaching (2 Tim. 1:13). He also reminded the church in Ephesus there is only one faith (Eph. 4:4), and anything other than true gospel is anathema (Gal. 1:6-9). Let’s show the truth of the gospel at work in our lives, as this is really what the world seeks. Do you know the truth that will set you free? Spend time in Scripture today. It will make a difference. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 3/22/2021

Our message from Scripture today is Psa. 139:13. “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb."

Since the legalization of abortion in the United States, over 62 million of them have taken place.  What was originally promoted as a procedure that would only be used in emergency situations has become a commonplace occurrence. We know the child in the womb is a life, is a human being. Modern imaging equipment has helped us to better understand this, along with other advances in technology. So many lives have been terminated by abortion, we have become desensitized to the process of death.

But are there other ways beside the death of the unborn child that abortion defiles our land? Certainly so! One can argue that a cheapening of the view of life in the womb leads to a cheapening of life outside the womb. If one can indiscriminately terminate an inconvenient life before birth, why not afterwards? Life itself is no longer considered sacred, but the changing standards of human judgment are now the determining factor for what life is considered worthy to live or to be ended.

If infanticide can be indiscriminately practiced on infants, then who can say what limits can be applied at the other end of the spectrum, with adult euthanasia? And how old do you have to be for someone to decide your life isn’t worth living?  Once God as Creator is ignored, and the sanctity of life is discarded, just who defines what makes a life worth living?  Who gets to say what are, or are not, “meaningful interpersonal relations?” 

Life isn’t by accident, but by design; it belongs to God.  When we bequeath life as the prerogative of humanity to choose or reject, governed by sinful motives and desires, we all lose.  Honor life as a gift from God, to be lived for Him!  “You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body” (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

Robert

                             

 

 

Message from Scripture: 3/19/2021

Our message from Scripture today is Rom. 13:11. “Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed."

Each day we live, we grow a little bit older.  Each day we live, we also come that much closer to eternity, as well. This is what Paul emphasizes in the passage above.  Each day we live brings us one day closer to our Lord's return. Each day we live brings us one day closer to our departure from this existence, if the Lord tarries. While it's easy to get caught up in everyday activities and responsibilities, we are steadily moving closer to eternity. How prepared are you to meet God in judgment?

In our youth, it seems we have an endless supply of tomorrows, more than the yesterdays we have. However, each day we live, the number of tomorrows we have shrinks, and our yesterdays accumulate. Yes, we all one day will reach the point where all our tomorrows are yesterdays, where we depart from this existence and face eternity. There aren't an infinite number of days to obey the gospel, to do the will of God. “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work” (John 9:4). What opportunities do you have for Christ, and what are you doing with them?

Salvation draws nearer each day, if you're a faithful child of God.  If not, judgment draws nearer. Don't postpone for tomorrow what you should do today for the Lord. You may not have tomorrow. Live each day in Christ, and be ready to meet Him in glory, whenever the day comes. Have a great day today. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 3/18/2021

Our message from Scripture today is Matt. 8:16. “When evening came, they brought to him many who were demon-possessed. He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.”

The English word therapy come from the Greek word θεραπεύω (therapeuo). In its original setting, it meant to serve. Later, however, doctors who rendered service in healing the sick became known by this word. Because it was used in reference to doctors, it took on the meaning “to care for the sick, to treat medically, to cure.”

In the New Testament, this word is never used in the general sense to serve.  It's often used, though, with the meaning to heal.  However, it wasn't used to refer to medical healing by doctors, but of the real healing Jesus performed.  Only Jesus could “cast out the spirits with a word, and heal all who were sick” (Matt. 8:16), even to restoring withered limbs, and life itself.

Jesus performed such acts of healing, not just for the sick person's benefit, but also more importantly, to testify to His being the Son of God. The healing He provided physically is secondary to the healing He offers spiritually, to heal a world sick with sin.  Only in Christ is there spiritual healing and the cure for sin's consequences. “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Luke 5:31-32).

No one likes getting sick physically, and we should be equally as upset with what sin does to our spiritual vitality. The blood of Christ is the cure for sin, and living for Him the therapy to avoid a setback (1 John 1:7). Let’s rejoice in the salvation Jesus, our great Physician, makes available to us. Have a great day today. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 3/17/2021

Our message from Scripture today is Rom. 5:8. “But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

We have heard of stories of heroism, of someone sacrificing themselves for another. During times of war, it was not uncommon to know of one soldier taking the place of another, or interposing themselves in the line of fire so someone else could live. I have read, during the times when someone was responsible for taking lives at a school shooting, of teachers sacrificing themselves so their students could live. Such bravery should always be remembered by those who had someone die in their place.

The familiar passage of John 3:16 reminds us God sent Jesus to die for the world’s sins, but in doing so, Jesus died for each one of us, individually, as well. It reminds us of what John wrote in 1 John 3:16; “This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”

As Christians, we may not know what lies ahead in our personal lives, but we do know the promise God has made through the sacrifice of Christ for us.  “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him” (1 Thess. 5:9-10).  May we live each day in view of eternity, and never forget the price Christ paid for us all, which makes life in Him possible.  “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet. 3:18).

Let’s live sacrificially, giving up sin and offering ourselves as living sacrifices to God (Rom. 12:1). We follow in the footsteps of our Lord when we do so, and make a difference for eternity as well. See you in Bible class this evening. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 3/16/2021

Our message from Scripture today is Titus 3:14. “Let our people learn to devote themselves to good works for pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.”

When asked how a cow gets lost, a rancher replied, "Well, the cow starts nibbling on a tuft of green grass, and when it finishes, it looks ahead to the next tuft of green grass, and when it finishes, it looks ahead to the next tuft of green grass and starts nibbling on that one, and then it nibbles on a tuft of grass right next to a hole in the fence.  It then sees another tuft of green grass on the other side of the fence, so it nibbles on that one and then goes on to the next tuft.  The next thing you know, the cow has nibbled itself into being lost!"

The cow nibbled itself into being lost.  Small steps away from its field become significant when a cow cannot find its way back, or when it ends up as a traffic statistic. 

It is possible for us to nibble our way into being lost. Paul reminded Titus Christians need to be devoted to good works, to be fruitful in service to God. It is easy, though, to ease away from this by nibbling on thoughts and actions focused on ourselves. How do we know if we are nibbling on sin, drifting away from our spiritual focus?  Ask some basic questions.  “Am I faithful in attendance, or do weeks go by with my being absent?  How often do I pray?  Do I read and study the Bible regularly, or infrequently?  Are spiritual values important to me, or do worldly activities take priority?”  Examining where we are, and identifying what is happening, are key elements in overcoming the influence of sin and renewing our commitment to God.  As Paul exhorts, "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith" (2 Cor. 13:5).  Let’s find eternal life, rather than nibbling on sin and facing judgment. Have a great day today. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 3/15/2021

Our message from Scripture today is 1 Tim. 2:4. “God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Certainly, Jesus is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). However, God has created us all with free will, giving everyone the choice of whether to believe or not, to obey or not. Jesus is clear more will reject God’s loving offer of forgiveness through His sacrifice than will accept it (Matt. 7:13-14). If one wants to believe something other than the truth of the gospel, while the consequences of that choice can lead to condemnation, God allows it. Paul spoke of “those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved” (2 Thess. 2:10). As Adam and Eve chose to believe the lies of Satan over God, it is no different today.

Since everyone has free will, what is our response to counteract the effects of error, of the lies of the devil? Truth! The way to peace is through the gospel, through believing and obeying the truth of the gospel, to let go of those things that are in error and embrace truth. Paul encourages us, “For he himself (Christ) is our peace (Eph. 2:14).

Knowing the truth, living the truth, and proclaiming the truth can make a difference in the world. Christ and the gospel are the answer to all the woes in our world. “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’” (John 8:31-32). He also told His disciples “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Let’s show the love of God at work in our lives, and let’s speak the truth in love. It will make an eternal difference in us and others. Have a great day today. God bless.

 Robert

 

What Is It You See?

 

“So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Cor. 4:18).

 

What is our focus in life? It may not be something we’ve written down, like a New Year’s resolution, or even a conscious thought we have as we go about our daily activities, but we do have a reason for what it is we choose to do. Whether it’s something that gives us pleasure in thinking about or doing, or provides for a need, or comes from our fears, or whatever it is, we all have motives that guide our lives. Paul did as well, and he expressed his focus is that which is unseen, the spiritual, the eternal. It really is hard thinking about what Scripture reveals to us about Paul, and not see him driven when it comes to eternity.

 

This passage isn’t the only time Paul expressed how that which is spiritual, the unseen, the eternal, was his focus in life. In Eph. 6:12, he spoke of how we face a spiritual battle against the forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. In Phil. 1:21 he said, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” In Col. 3:1-4 he wrote, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” He reminds us what happens when the Lord returns to take us home with Him (1 Thess. 4:13-18), and in 2 Thess. 1:10 how Christ “comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed.” Of course, near his death, he comforted Timothy by reminding him, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen” (2 Tim. 4:18).

 

While we have examined some of Paul’s thoughts of his focus on eternity, we could add what the Lord Himself said in the gospels, as well as the Hebrew writer, James, Peter, John, and Jude. Indeed, the whole focus of Scripture is to get us to focus on the unseen. While we live in the flesh today, we must keep uppermost in our thoughts how we live today impacts where we will live afterwards. As Scripture considers it serious to live life from a spiritual perspective, so should we. We must think and live eternally. “Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Cor. 5:9-10).

 

As you start each new day, be mindful of eternity. As you go through the events of each day, be mindful of eternity. When you end your day, be mindful of eternity. Why? Because one day the flesh will fail, and we will pass into the spiritual realm, to be judged either for eternal life or eternal condemnation. If living for the spiritual, for the unseen, eternal life, is not your focus today, it will not be what awaits you in eternity. Do you live for what you see, or what is unseen? “We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18). Think and live eternally.

 

μαράνα θᾶ

Robert

 Message from Scripture: 3/13/2021

Our message from Scripture today is Acts 17:11. “These were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all eagerness, and examined the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”

On Paul's second missionary journey, he and Silas went to Berea, a town of southwestern Macedonia. The Bereans are described as more noble, or noble-minded, than those of Thessalonica, where Paul was before he came to Berea (Acts 17:11). The term noble in the Greek had the meaning of "well-born, of noble descent."

These Bereans were not deemed noble due to their birth or ancestry, but because they "received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so." They checked his message considering Scripture, and only then would they accept or reject it. From such a careful examination, many of them believed the gospel, receiving it with eagerness and zeal. It was their attitude toward the word of God, and the life-changing response it prompted, which caused them to be described as noble, or noble-minded.

Most of us today can’t trace our roots to nobility. We have no claim to royalty or its privileged status. It is an honor, however, to be considered noble by God. It comes by seeking the God of Scripture, to know Him, His will for us, and the life He offers through His Son. If we imitate the example of those Bereans, to be noble-minded, we will be open to what Scripture says about God’s way for salvation. If we imitate the example of those Bereans, we will be open to what Scripture says about how to worship God acceptably. If we imitate the example of those Bereans, we will be open to what Scripture says about how to live the Christian life daily. Are you trying to be noble-minded today? Spend time in Scripture, and you will find God’s blessings. Have a great day.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 3/11/2021

Our message from Scripture today is Matt. 21:28-31. “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.”

How important are good intentions? They are indispensable! However, as fundamental as good intentions are, they must be carried out to accomplish anything good.  One may have all the good intentions possible, but if they are never acted upon, the end result is no different than the one who has no good intentions at all. As Jesus emphasized in the parable from Matt. 21, nothing positive is accomplished either way. It was not the son who said he would work that did the will of his father, but the one who actually served (although he had originally said he would not).  No matter the good intentions of the one son who said he would serve, they lay empty in his heart, unfulfilled and unproductive.  In the end, he was the one, even with good intentions, who was considered disobedient.

Most of us have good intentions. As recipients of God's mercy, our desire is to live and serve faithfully from a loving heart. The question is what do we do with those good intentions, those noble desires we have for God? They should be the springboards from which good works proceed (Eph. 2:10). If not, then no matter how much potential we have, our life will remain idle and wasted, accomplishing nothing. We glorify God when our words and deeds join together in His service. May we never stop thinking about what we can do for the Lord, and may we never stop trying to make such goals a reality. Have a great day today. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 3/9/2021

Our message from Scripture today is Rev. 1:8. “’I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’”

When we speak of God as Almighty, it is more than just a title; it is descriptive of His nature, of His being.  God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient; there is no one like Him. Understanding this essential characteristic of our Creator gives us a proper perspective of who we are as His creation, of what our relationship to Him as God must be. America must trust in God as Almighty, then, when it comes to morals. Humankind has shown a propensity, when left to our own devices, to allow selfish desires to become the rule for living, only to our own hurt and ultimately our own destruction.  As God is our Creator and Sustainer, He knows what is best for us, how best we should live, and the kind of life that builds up instead of tears down.

By turning our back on the principles God has established in Scripture, we are creating a culture that is destructive to itself. All moral decisions, when not made by God’s standards, are based on sin, and sin only causes problems, for individuals, society, and our nation.  To borrow a phrase from Hosea, we have sown the wind but are now reaping the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7). Scripture rightly states, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov. 14:34).  To put ourselves in God’s place is to put our finite wisdom in place of the Almighty’s infinite wisdom, to substitute sin for His right way for life, to bring problems to our existence instead of His blessings.

It’s time for us to again acknowledge God as Sovereign over life, the Almighty, and we as His people, if we will find life as it should be. May those of us who claim to be Christians live by our Savior’s will, and know God as Almighty will be with us. Without this, we are indeed doomed.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 3/8/2021

Our message from Scripture today is Luke 13:3, 5, both of which say, “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Jesus reminded the people of His day, using the exact words in these two verses, of the need of repenting if one desires to be saved. Some equate sorrow with repentance. While repenting does involve a godly sorrow, repentance is more than simply being sorry for doing something wrong. To repent of something is to engage the entire person in making a change in one’s entire self. It is a change of mind, which creates a change of heart, which brings about a change of life. Paul reminded the church in Thessalonica how so many knew they had “turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God” (1 Thess. 1:9), which is a great example of repentance.

The very nature of repentance demands one abandon a life of sin to seek the righteousness of God instead, if one would find salvation in Christ. On the day of Pentecost, those who realized they had killed the Messiah asked Peter and the rest of the apostles what they should do (Acts 2:37). Peter responded, “Repent, and be immersed every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the forgiveness of your sins” (2:38).

Repentance is not a onetime act, something one only does to obey the gospel. It is part of a lifestyle in Christ, something done throughout one’s life to have a spiritual walk that pleases God. We are faced with many temptations throughout our lives, and we should always examine ourselves, repenting of those things in our lives that do not please God. Repentance must be a constant part of Christian living, as we seek to become less like the sin around us, and more like the Father in His holiness (1 Pet. 1:16). Let’s encourage each other to do better today than yesterday, and even better tomorrow. Have a great day. God bless.

Robert

 

Immersion Revisited

When Peter confessed to Jesus He was the Son of God, our Lord made this interesting statement to Peter and the rest of the apostles. “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven” (Matt. 16:19). The phrases “shall have been bound,” and “shall have been loosed” are a more accurate translation of the Greek text. The apostles didn’t have the authority to decide doctrine, but they did have the authority to declare doctrine, what God had bound and what He had loosed. When we read God’s commands in Scripture, it is not human interpretation or tradition, but God’s will for us.

This principle is important for us to understand, as there are those today who would have us believe the clear commands of Scripture are merely human tradition.  Baptism (βαπτίζω) is one doctrine being interpreted this way. The word baptize is what we call a transliteration, or a word invented using the closest corresponding letters of a different alphabet or language, which in this instance is Koine Greek. It should be translated immerse, plunge, or submerge. While a dictionary definition may also include pour or sprinkle, such is inaccurate. This is why I, so there is no mistake as to its biblical meaning, prefer to translate it immerse.

“You don’t have to be baptized to be saved; it’s just a tradition,” many say.  It is tradition, in the sense it’s been handed down to us. Scripture, though, makes clear it’s divine tradition, not of human origin. Wasn’t it Jesus who said, “He who has believed and has been immersed shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16)? And what about His words in Matthew 28:19; “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, immersing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”  Of course, Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, states it plainly in 1 Peter 3:21. “Immersion now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

If we accept Scripture as the Word of God, the only logical conclusion one can reach is that immersion is essential for the forgiveness of sin. If, for the sake of appealing to modern culture, we can wave our hands and use the magical word “tradition” to eliminate the necessity of baptism, we can also discard anything else others might object to. However, that is faulty reasoning and won’t stand a genuine inspection of Scripture.  Just saying something doesn’t make it so.

Jesus makes it clear it is not those who offer lip service to Him that please Him, but those who obey His will (Matt. 7:21).  The teaching of Scripture on baptism is so clear, one well known denominational commentator wrote, “From this and other references to baptism in Paul’s writings, it is certain that he did not regard baptism as an ‘optional extra’ in the Christian life, and that he would not have contemplated the phenomenon of an ‘unbaptized believer.’  We may agree or disagree with Paul, but we must do him the justice of letting him hold and teach his own beliefs, and not distort his beliefs into conformity with what we should prefer him to have said” (F.F. Bruce, The Epistle to the Romans, chapter 6).  As Paul was inspired, I will agree with what I find in the word of God (1 Thess. 2:13).  Can anyone safely choose anything else, either on this or any other subject taught in Scripture? “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:20-21).

μαράνα θᾶ

 Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 3/5/2021

Our message from Scripture today is Col. 2:6. “As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.”

The White Sands National Park in New Mexico is well known for its history. During the ice age, a giant body of water called Lake Otero existed. The climate was wetter, and the vegetation was abundant. This paradise of lush green life naturally captured the attention of the larger animals of the ice age. Plant eaters of all kinds came to Lake Otero to feast on the grasses and trees. Throughout the ice age, these animals left their footprints along the wetlands of Lake Otero.

Today. scattered along the now dried lakebed are trackways and trample grounds of ancient camels and Columbian Mammoths. These fossilized footprints appear to gather around what may be ancient pools of water. It sounds a lot like Longfellow’s poem: “Lives of great men all remind us, We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us, Footprints on the sands of time.”

This poem reminds me of what the psalmist said in Psa. 119:133, “Establish my footsteps in Your word, and do not let any iniquity have dominion over me.” Even before the coming of our Lord, the value of keeping in step with God through His word had eternal importance. Peter wrote, “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” (1 Pet. 2:21).

Every day we live, we leave footprints in the sands of time, for those who follow to see where we’ve been, how we lived, and what was important to us. God see these tracks as well. Do they walk by His side? Do they lead to heaven? You still have time to make course corrections. Jesus leads us in His steps where we want to go, and who knows what influence that may have in times to come? Think and live eternally. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 3/4/2021

Today our message from Scripture comes from John 8:10-11; “Jesus stood up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.’”

It is interesting how deceived so many have become about the nature of Christ and His stand on sin. It is true that Jesus did associate with sinners, which drew the ire of the religious leaders of His time. However, Jesus did so to bring them out of their sin, not to justify their sin. His remark to the woman taken in adultery reveals His motives; “go, and from now on sin no more.”

Jesus came to offer forgiveness to those who would repent and seek to do the will of God. As Peter said of Jesus’ life, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed” (1 Pet. 2:24). Scripture is the word of God (Rom. 10:17), and reveals right from wrong, the way that leads from condemnation to eternal life (2 Tim. 3:16-17). The grace of God in Christ does not justify living a sinful lifestyle, but calls one to know and live in his righteousness. “What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? (Rom. 6:1-2).

Any attempt to appeal to Jesus for approval of sin and living sinfully is misguided and wrong. We need to discern what Jesus taught about sin and about the righteousness of God. We need to stand with Jesus on sin, and promote what is right and good, as He did and still does. Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son does remain forever. So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free” (John 8:34-36). God bless.

Robert