Month: December 2023

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“JOY to the World”

Philippians: We read in James to have joy in all of our trials and temptations that come our way. In Philippians, Paul reminds his audience that joy is internal and leads to our external. It must begin there before we can share it outside, and Paul is our example, even amidst the persecution he faced in that city. He is now in prison writing these thoughts to encourage his fledgling church. 

Paul says, “Complete my joy.” Be unified in spirit and purpose. As you seek to complete the gift of joy, do it humbly. Look at the Savior as your role model who proclaimed joy wherever he went and in whatever he did. The result? God exalted him and honored him with a name above every name. The prophet Isaiah gave us that name, along with other names given to him:

Isa 9:6 For a child has been born to us; a son has been given to us. He shoulders responsibility and is called: Amazing Adviser, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Celebrate this season with joy!  

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God’s Surpassing Power

Lord of Lords

Ephesians 1-6 As Paul sat in prison, he had much time to ponder not only his own conversion but the conversion of his precious Ephesian church. Paul began by reminding them that they, like all believers, have been chosen from the foundation of the world. Stop and think about that and wonder: as God was creating this marvelous earth upon which we walk and live, He was thinking ahead to each one of us. Why did He do that? He desired our fellowship with Him in eternity. Therefore, when God chose us, He gave us the blessing of the Holy Spirit to reside in us and seal us. Now, we can live holy and blameless lives.

As we enter the week before Christmas, ponder these thoughts as you go about shopping, gifting, cleaning, baking, and other things. May God be praised!

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The Work has just begun…

In the darkness look up..

In Acts 28, we find that God may have allowed the loss of the cargo, but He preserved the precious souls just as Paul had said to those accompanying him: “Do not be afraid, Paul! God has graciously granted you the safety of all who are sailing with you.”

On the island of Malta, Paul became a servant to show the gospel in living color! Paul served by picking up sticks to add to the bonfire. Paul had learned well, “The greatest among you will be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” [Matt 23]

God does the same for us today, using ordinary people to carry out His divinely appointed plans. As we close the pages of this marvelous historical record, we are left with this thought: The Work has just begun— and “that until the fulfillment of the angels’ prophecy that ‘this same Jesus’ shall return even as He went away, the Work of evangelization for this age will not be completed. We are to heed the Word—’ Occupy till I come.’ [Ironside]

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No Excuses!

Acts 26 King Agrippa has passed from our scene in history. He rose and ruled Israel, but just like us all, he died and is in eternity. Where is he today? Is he standing before God, hearing words all of us should fear? “I never knew you.” He is the example of everyone who denies the Christ. Paul clearly laid out the gospel message, and like many others, King Agrippa answered: “In a short time, you will persuade me to become a Christian.” [Acts 26:28]

It always astounds me that people will choose to deny Christ rather than accept His invitation to life, joy, and peace. Some may say what the king said, and others will say it is good for you but not for me. Others may say another day, another time. What is our excuse as we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ? Will we hear, well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord or the words “I never knew you.”

Today, echo the words of Joshua: as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. [Joshua 24:15]

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Footprints

Acts 20 The Ephesians were incredibly saddened when Paul said they would not see him again. Yet, even in their sorrow, they were encouraged that although they would remain in Ephesus and Paul would be “on the go” once again, the ministry would go forward, and the book of Revelation reveals to us how that took place as the Apostle John recalls their footprints. Twice, John noted that they labored steadfastly, endured, and did tolerate evil. They even put to the test those who referred to themselves as apostles (but were not) when they discovered that they were false. This was their footprint for us…even though later Jesus notes that they had left their first love.

Beloved, whether you live in one place from birth to death or are like Paul, living out of a suitcase, always on the go from place to place, you are leaving your footprint in the sands of time. Be encouraged to remain steadfast, enduring to the end that one day you may hear from the Savior: You have been faithful to the end; enter into my joy and my kingdom!

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Peace and Joy

God loved


Rom 14 Do you have the Christmas spirit yet? There are only a few shopping days left, but is that what is essential? Paul may not have been reminding his readers about Christmas, but today, we are reminded to have peace and joy as we celebrate. There are songs and scripture readings galore. We have parties and church plays. People dress in their finest reds and greens.

Dr. Luke gave us the story of the shepherds and the angelic choir, reminding us that Christmas is not about parties and other things but the birth of the Messiah. The angelic choir sang: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” [Luke 2:14] Paul captured that theme as he wrote to the Romans. Messiah has ushered in the kingdom of peace: ” for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” [Rom 14:17]

Hoping you are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ this season.

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Sadness and Hope

We pray

Romans 11 Do you have someone you love and pray for, yet they have refused to believe as of this date? As Paul writes to the Roman church, he inserts his heart, which is sad beyond words. Listen to what he penned regarding his Israelite family: “As it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.[Deut 29:4 and Is 29:10] Yet, even amidst this sad note, he is encouraged that one day they would turn and believe. To help us understand this, he writes using the illustration of pure dough: “If the dough offered as first fruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.” [Rom 11:16]

By the branches, he means the Gentiles, and we are proof of that even while the Jewish people remain in darkness, refusing to believe Jesus is the Messiah. Continuing on, Paul reminds us Gentiles that we are not to become arrogant in what we believe but to remain steadfast in our prayers for them to accept Jesus as Messiah. Paul reminds the Romans and us, in turn, that their hardening is only for a while until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

Precious reader, continue to pray for the softening of hearts, both Jew and Gentile.

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War and Peace

Romans 8-10 “Therefore there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” because you are free from the law of sin and death and are alive in Christ.”]Rom 8:1]

Beloved, remember this truth; as we noted in Rom 7, the unbeliever “does not get it and never will get it” because they are in a battle against God, not against you. Remember, they do not have the Holy Spirit within, so they are unwilling to agree with God. Therefore, they are at war with themselves and God and are hostile to God. This is the truth according to Rom 1 and Gal 5. We need this list before us when unbelievers persecute us, and we are asking why. They don’t know any different because they are governed by their flesh, which is governed by the prince and power of the air, Satan himself. PRAY FOR THEM/ WITNESS TO THEM.

Remember the words of Jesus and Peter, “Do not think it strange when you are reviled and persecuted.” This is the battle of the flesh against the Spirit. It is a spiritual battle [Eph 6], and because it is a spiritual battle, those who do not know Him will lose in the end without the intervention of our witness and the power of the Holy Spirit to bring them to the saving knowledge of Christ and His work of redemption.

So how, then, do we find the peace that passes all understanding? We must have the desire of the heart to pray for their salvation. For whom are you praying today that is under the dominion of the evil one?

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Saved by works or faith?

Romans 4: “What About Him?”
How often are we like Peter, asked the Lord, “What about him , meaning John?” Paul anticipated that question from the Jews regarding salvation for the Gentiles. What about them? Since they did not have the Law, how could they be righteous? “Paul has devoted the first three chapters to prove that the whole world is guilty before God. He has most recently made the point that “by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified” (3:20), that “none are righteous” (3:10) and that “all fall short of the glory of God” (3:23). But God in His graciousness provided justification through Jesus (3:26). Therefore, the only way to be justified in the eyes of God is by faith (3:28).” [H. Keathley IV]

Jews would revere Abraham’s obedience as his way of “earning” salvation. However, Paul noted Abraham was not counted as righteous AFTER the Law was given but BEFORE! Like the Jew, we carry about the false notion that our works count “for something.” But, God is clear; all our works are like filthy rags regardless if we are Jew or Gentile.

So the bottom line question is this: are we still trying to be justified in the eyes of God on our balance scale of works or just trusting God’s way of faith alone? When we stand before God in eternity, we cannot look back at the line behind us and ask, “What about him.”
Trust God today!

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“Called and Chosen”

Choose Life

Romans 1 – Acts 20:1-3 We all love to hear our name being called. So imagine how beautiful it is to know that God called us, each one of us. He loved us from eternity past and called us from eternity past. Paul was called to be an apostle; like him, you were called to belong to Jesus Christ and be saints. Each of us who has believed the report and the news of the gospel message has received our call.

But calling is just one step. God not only called us but also saved us as part of that calling. And he accomplished all of this before eternity began. Jeremiah is an example of one called, and the Lord’s message came to him saying, “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb, I chose you.” From this and Psalm 139:13-16, we know that from eternity past, God formed each of us and put His mark upon us. The psalmist wrote, “You wove me together in my mother’s womb.” Think about this when you hear people talk about abortion as if it is just something simple. Instead, remember, a child is being formed in that womb, created by God, loved by God before time began.

And, like Jeremiah, the Holy Spirit appoints us to the task of going and making disciples of all nations. Meditate on this powerful reminder of who you are in Christ today and every day!

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