Month: December 2022

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The Law vs. God’s Grace

the Law reveals who we are

1Timothy 1-3 Satan says we are not good enough for God to save us, and he is right. Paul knew that his life was a sham. He was just as he described it to Timothy, his beloved son in the faith. He knew the Law perfectly, and it revealed how far he was from God’s righteous and perfect standard because the Law is for lawless and rebellious people, the ungodly and sinners. He would later say he was the chief of sinners! People today look at the Law and see precisely what Paul saw. He was and would never be righteous enough, but God’s grace was then and is today greater than all our sin.

Paul relates his testimony: I was a blasphemer and a persecutor. Read the book of Acts to see that. Yet, he says, “I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief.” [1Tim 1:13] Like many today, they see themselves just as Paul. Yet that is why God saved him for the ministry of sharing this testimony with the unrighteous. In Paul’s words: “so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life.” [1Tim 1:16]

Do you know of someone today who has believed the words of Satan? Yes, we are never “good enough,” but that is why Christ came. God’s grace is greater than all of our sins.

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Encourage Another Today!

Be encouraged!

2Thess 1-3: Paul sends his second message to encourage the Thessalonians. They were facing persecution and tribulation, so he sent them a second message filled with words of encouragement. How thankful Paul was for their endurance because he heard their faith was blossoming. How often is that true! We are in the midst of suffering; in that time, our faith flourishes and grows exponentially! That is what Paul has noted. Their faith has grown, and their love for one another has also increased. Yet, it is in those times we must be on guard because the evil one takes that opportunity to try to undermine our faith with deception and delusional ideas.

Paul wanted to share a simple message with them as he had shared with the Corinthians; “Be firm. Do not be moved! Always be abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” [1Cor 15:58]

Who today needs this message? Who is facing hard times and needs a word of encouragement? Who is facing a difficult time, and yet their faith is flourishing? Praise God for them.

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The Gospel of God

Encourage the suffering

1 Thess 1-5 Paul had brought the message of salvation to the Thessalonians, suffered for it, and had to leave. The Judaizers thought they had won by his absence, but then they heard he was preaching that same gospel of God in Berea. So they sent a delegation to destroy his message there. When the gospel is preached, the enemy Satan seeks to kill and destroy however he can. In his letter to the fledgling church, Paul reminded them that the believers in Judea whom they had never met were also facing this same suffering. What happened in the first century is happening today around our world. Satan is the adversary and will continue his work until Christ returns. Recently some converts in Pakistan faced extreme suffering when the government destroyed an entire village of believers for that reason alone.

As Paul did then, we must do today: pray that their faith endures and remain steadfast. You think your suffering is yours alone, but others are also facing some suffering. Remember the words of Peter: “do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you.” [1 Peter 4:12] Instead,  “admonish the undisciplined, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient toward all.” [1 Thess 5:14]

Who today is suffering and needs words of encouragement?  

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Letters of Encouragement

A letter of encouragement

Phil 1-4 Paul, as a prisoner in Rome, received a visitor who had traveled from the city of Philippi to bring a gift to him. Imagine his joy to receive not just a physical gift but to receive words of encouragement from the Philippian believers. There is no greater gift than receiving one who comes bearing gifts of love from those we miss. Unfortunately, Paul’s visitor, Epaphroditus, took ill as he visited Paul. Yet, this dear fellow believer did recover, and Paul earnestly wrote a letter to let the Philippian believers know how he was faring. He was not only sending Epaphroditus back to them but also Timothy.

Paul’s letter to them must have encouraged them beyond belief! It had been some time since their beloved friend had left them, and they had heard not a word. Now they received not just their friend but also a dear letter to remind them to love one another deeply. In his letter, Paul reminded them to be gentle and be anxious for nothing.  Even more, Paul wanted them to know that God is using this imprisonment here in Rome, and the message of His love was being poured out amongst the guards who serve Caesar. Many were hearing the good news of Christ. 

When we are far away and hear that others are praying, it encourages our hearts. Who today needs that message of encouragement?

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What do we say?

are you prepared

Ephesians 4-6 What message would Paul say about today? He said the days were evil then, and today we see evil amongst us. How do we encourage another who is facing those evil traits of the enemy? Our battle is not against flesh and blood; those are just the outward pieces of evidence of a darkened heart. As Paul sat in a darkened prison cell or from his rented house as his prison, what did he recall and how should he encourage, and how can he get this message to them? Enter Tychicus, a beloved and faithful servant. He would craft a letter to the Ephesian church to remain steadfast in the midst of a troubled environment. Who would we trust to carry our message to those who need encouragement? What message would we want them to know?

He wanted the Ephesians to know that he was praying for them and seeking their prayers for him to be bold. He reminded them that their lives are a mirror of a transformed life. The world is watching; what do they see in our families and churches? Take a page out of this Ephesian letter to help you craft words of encouragement to others.

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Keep that love fresh!

Keep that love fresh

Ephesians 1-3 Paul wrote to encourage the Ephesians to stand fast. About 25 yrs. later under the inspiration of Christ, John wrote to encourage these precious believers to return to their first love. Paul told them they were saints, set apart for God, faithful in Christ. John said you were faithful and enduring. What had happened? Why did you lose that first initial love and depart from your first love? John’s words from Christ remind us that even though we may be earnestly and steadfastly faithful in our works, if not done with love, it is as if we were a gonging cymbal. [1Cor 13:1]

Paul reminded them that their great gift of God’s forgiveness of sin was given to redeem them from their trespasses and sins. It was done through the blood sacrifice of Christ. Now they were forgiven their trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.

Just like the Ephesians, we were chosen before the world was founded. He predestined us to be His children because of His will’s pleasure. Peter emphasized this same point: his divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness. [2Pet 1:3]

Keep that love fresh!

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Galatians in a nutshell

Galatians in a nutshell

Gal 4-6 Again, I ask…

Paul again comes back to his original argument: why do you seek to be under the constraints of the Law? Do you not realize to be under the Law means you must obey that outward confirmation? It means that you are acting as a son of the flesh rather than a son of the Spirit. Those who insist on that want you to obey them so they can boast. But, I want to boast that you know and serve Christ only.

Listen you, Galatians. Look at my life. I am being persecuted, and why? Because I taught you and continue to teach you to be free in Christ, you are no longer indebted to the Law. Christ came to free us from those rules of doing this and not doing that. The Spirit frees us to love one another, share in their sufferings, and bear one another’s burdens. This is our outward evidence of being a son and no longer an enslaved person.

Before you came to Christ, you were in bondage to the Law or the traditions of paganism. But, now, in Christ, you are free to serve Him and Him only. But, you are not acting as free men but as men in bondage.

Which will you choose?

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What do you believe?

Do you believe this?

Gal 1 to 3 “Let Me Ask You”

Paul traveled and founded the fledgling church in Galatia, teaching them the principle of justification by faith. With some dismay, he was astonished to learn that they had started deserting the faith and returning to the works of the Law in his absence. He asks why they had not remained steadfast in their faith. Paul asks them to reevaluate; is salvation based on: faith or works of the Law? Jesus had reminded the Jews, you search the scripture because you think that in them you have eternal life, [yet] they testify of Me.[John 5:39] 

Paul reminds them that the purpose of Christ’s life was to show that God had fulfilled His promise, so any who believes as Abraham might be saved. The Law was given to show us the standard of God and our sinful nature. Remember this; Abraham didn’t have the Law! Moses wrote: “Then he believed in the Lord, and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.” [Gen 15:6; Rom 4:3] Men are justified by faith, not by the works of the Law. 

Thus, Paul reminded them that we live by faith, not by works, so that no one can boast. [Eph 2:8-9] Therefore, be steadfast in your faith! 

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