Author: Bruce

I have been in Japan as a missionary since 1995. I'm currently going to a church called Crossroad Nishinomiya, an international church in Nishinomiya, a city right between Kobe and Osaka. Check out their website: www.crossroad-web.com. #crossroadnishinomiya

１９９５年に宣教師として日本に来ました。　今、西宮クロスロード教会という国際の教会に行っています。どうぞ、そのホームページを見てください：　www.crossroad-web.com. #西宮クロスロード教会

Categories
John Devotionals

Because Jesus went before us

John

This morning, I was meditating on verse 36, where Jesus told his disciples,

Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow later. (John 13:36)

Where was it that Jesus was going? And why couldn’t the disciples follow him at that time?

The answer, of course, was the cross. And the reason his disciples couldn’t follow him at that time was because no one, not they nor any other person, could ever pay the price for sin that Jesus paid when he died on the cross for us.

But because Jesus went before us, we now have a pathway to the Father.

As we walk down that path, we may be called to suffer for Christ’s sake (I Peter 2:21).

Peter and the other disciples certainly had to. But we do so not to earn our salvation. Rather we do so out of joy because our salvation has already been bought.

And the day will come when we will follow Jesus into glory.

That is why the writer of Hebrews could say,

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner, because he has become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:19-20)

Categories
John Devotionals

The fragrance of worship

John

Last Sunday, I was speaking in my church about being a living sacrifice.

One of the things I pointed out was that in the Old Testament, when sacrifices were made to God, they were described as a pleasing aroma to him.

In the same way, all our thoughts, all our words, all our actions are to be a pleasing aroma to God. That’s what a living sacrifice is.

Here in this passage, we see an example of this. Mary poured out perfume on Jesus’ feet and its fragrance filled the room.

I think it’s safe to say that her action was a pleasing aroma of worship to God.

Contrast that with Judas, who though he claimed to care for the poor, nevertheless thought only of himself.

As Paul would have put it, Judas’ “love” was filled with hypocrisy (Romans 12:9).

As such, it was a stench before God, and that stench filled the room as much as Mary’s perfume did.

Let us not be like Judas, but like Mary.

May our thoughts, our words, our actions, and our very lives be a pleasing aroma that rises up to God and fills this entire world.

Categories
John Devotionals

Running to Jesus

John

We don’t always understand why God does the things he does.

Martha and Mary certainly didn’t. Several days before, they had sent word to Jesus that their brother Lazarus was sick. But Jesus deliberately delayed in coming.

What would you do?

Many people would turn their backs on Jesus, bitter and angry.

But Martha and Mary went to him. In Mary’s case, she “rose quickly” and went to him.

They were upset. They were confused. But they still went to Jesus. And in doing so, they found out that he truly is faithful.

How about you? When you are angry and confused by what God does, do you turn from him? Or do you run to him?

Categories
John Devotionals

Because our time is short

John

Jesus knew his time was short. His ministry only lasted three years. And so he made the most of his time.

So he told his disciples,

We must do the works of him who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (John 9:4-5)

Here Jesus refers his life here on earth as day, and his death on the cross as night. And he said, “As long as I am here, I am the light of the world.”

As God’s Son, Jesus was uniquely the light of the world. He revealed God as no one ever had before him and no one ever will until he returns.

But as God’s children, we are to take Jesus’ attitude. Jesus said we too are the light of the world. (Matthew 5:14-16)

And as long as we have breath, we are to join in God’s work.

By God’s grace, let us do so, and be light to a world lost in darkness.

As Paul said,

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. (Ephesians 5:15-17)

Categories
John Devotionals

Never cast aside

John

The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him.” (John 8:29)

When I read these words, my first reaction was, “I wish I could say what Jesus did. I wish I could say I always do what pleases the Father.”

But the truth is, I often fall. I sin.

Recently, I often find myself questioning my motives. I question my thoughts, my words, my actions. “Are these things pleasing to you, God?”

And sometimes, I just don’t know.

But the amazing thing is I can say the same thing that Jesus did. The Father is still with me. He has not left me alone.

I can say that not because I always do what pleases the Father. Because many times I don’t.

I can say it because Jesus paid the price for all my sins on the cross. And each day, I stand in his grace.

As Paul once wrote,

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2)

Let us hold on to that truth today, and every day.

Categories
Romans Devotionals

A reason to rejoice

Romans

I think for almost all Americans, their eyes are on this presidential election. I have to admit, it’s been hard for me not to keep an eye on what’s been going on.

And honestly, I worry about the direction of our country. Though I have been telling myself, “God is in control,” my anxieties tell me that my heart still struggles with that reality.

But as I read Romans this morning, Paul’s words were a real encouragement to me.

Oh, the depth of the riches
and the wisdom and the knowledge of God!

How unsearchable his judgments
and untraceable his ways!

For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?

And who has ever given to God,
that he should be repaid?

For from him and through him
and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)

I remember wondering four years ago why God would allow Trump to win the presidency. I’m sure there are many Christians that still wonder that. 

But here’s the thing: I may not be able to understand God’s judgments. I may not be able to trace out the way he thinks. 

But the truth is, I don’t have to. God has been running this world for thousands of years. And he knows what he’s doing. 

In his day, Habakkuk couldn’t figure out why in the world God would let the Babylonians conquer Israel even though Babylon was more godless than Israel. (Habakkuk 1:13)

But Habakkuk learned that God’s ways, although inscrutable at times, are ultimately good, right, and just.

God didn’t need Habakkuk’s advice on how to do things. And he certainly doesn’t need mine. 

And so I choose to trust him. Whether Biden wins or Trump wins, whether the Republicans keep the Senate or lose it, God’s plans will not be frustrated. 

And that’s good enough for me. 

In many ways, Daniel’s words reflect Paul’s.

May the name of God
be praised forever and ever,
for wisdom and power belong to him.

He changes the times and seasons;
he removes kings and establishes kings.

He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those
who have understanding.

He reveals the deep and hidden things;
he knows what is in the darkness,
and light dwells with him. (Daniel 2:20-22)

And even Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged,

For his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom is from generation to generation.

All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing,
and he does what he wants with the army of heaven
and the inhabitants of the earth.

There is no one who can block his hand
or say to him, “What have you done?” (Daniel 4:34-35)

So let us turn our eyes to God, worshiping him as he alone deserves. 

To him be the glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36)

Categories
John Devotionals

Entering into the Father’s work

John

This is the famous story of Jesus encountering the Samaritan woman.

At that time, Jesus told the disciples,

My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. (John 4:34)

Jesus then called them to join in the work that the Father started. He noted that other people had already been participating in the Father’s work, and then he told his disciples,

Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor. (38, ESV)

Those words struck me as I read them.

The Father has been doing his work for thousands of years. Millions of people have already labored doing his work. Now we are called to enter that labor too.

How do we do that? Through our testimony (39). And through sharing the words of our Lord (41).

So let us lift up our eyes, see the harvest, and join in with our Father’s work.

Categories
John Devotionals

A new identity

John

When Jesus saw him, he said, “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated “Peter”). (John 1:42)

When Jesus sees us and calls us, he gives us a new name and identity, as he did with Peter. (See also Revelation 2:17)

But often times, we don’t live up to that new name and identity. Peter certainly didn’t. He was hardly a “Rock” that was steady and stable in his faith.

Yet Jesus sees beyond what we are now to what we will be.

The reason he can confidently call us by our new name is because he is the one working change in our lives. And what he starts, he will complete. (Philippians 1:6)

Do you feel like you’re not the Christian you should be?

Don’t focus on yourself and your failings. Focus on Jesus. And remember, what he has started, he will complete.

 

Categories
John Devotionals

The Word

John

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning…The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:1, 14)

As many of us know, when John talks about the Word, he’s referring to Jesus. He was with God in the beginning. And he is God himself. But why did John refer to Jesus as “the Word”? 

There are various theories, but here are some thoughts. 

In Psalm 33:6, the Psalmist says this,

The heavens were made by the word of the LORD,
and all the stars, by the breath of his mouth.

John also echoes this idea in verse 3. 

All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. (John 1:3)

Many times in the Old Testament, we see the Word of the Lord coming to the prophets revealing God and his message to the people. (Isaiah 38:4, Jeremiah 1:4 for example). 

John also talks about this in verse 18. 

No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him. (John 1:18)

The Psalmist further talks about how God sends his Word to bring healing and salvation.

He sent his word and healed them;
he rescued them from their traps. (Psalm 107:20)

And Isaiah talks about the power of the Word that he sends. 

For just as rain and snow fall from heaven
and do not return there
without saturating the earth
and making it germinate and sprout,
and providing seed to sow
and food to eat,
so my word that comes from my mouth
will not return to me empty,
but it will accomplish what I please
and will prosper in what I send it to do. (Isaiah 55:10-11)

And so John essentially says, “This Word who created all, who reveals the Father, who heals and saves, who accomplishes all of God’s purposes, he became flesh and dwelt among us.”

So take some time and meditate on these things. Meditate on who Jesus is. And worship him. 

Come, let us adore him!
Christ the Lord.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Our King, our Savior, our Intercessor

Psalms

In a lot of ways, Psalms 20-21 are connected. In Psalm 20, you see the king asking for God’s help. In Psalm 21, you see the king praising God for the help he was given.

Obviously, David was thinking of his own experience as he wrote these songs.

But in them we can also see Jesus in whom these words were ultimately fulfilled.

By raising Jesus from the dead and giving him life eternal (Psalm 21:4), we see that the Father remembered and accepted the sacrifice Jesus gave on the cross. (Psalm 20:3)

The Father has crowned him as King, and conferred on him majesty and splendor. (21:5)

And when Christ returns, he will rule over all. (21:8-12)

But one thing that strikes me is this word:

You have given him his heart’s desire
and have not denied the request of his lips. (21:2)

This matches with the earlier prayer found in Psalm 20.

May he give you what your heart desires
and fulfill your whole purpose. (20:4)

One of the wonderful truths that we have as Christians is that Jesus as our high priest intercedes for us. And when he prays for us, the Father always answers yes.

He answered yes concerning our salvation. And he will answer yes to Jesus when he prays for us in our struggles as Christians. (Hebrews 7:25-26)

So as the writer of Hebrews says,

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. (Hebrews 4:16)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

A prayer for holiness

Psalms

How do we respond to God’s word?

In this passage, we see both his unspoken word in creation, and his spoken word in the scripture.

Do we wonder at his unspoken word, the heavens he created? Do we marvel at his greatness and power? Do our hearts overflow with thanksgiving and worship?

Or do we simply take it all for granted?

When we look at his written word, what is our response?

Do we rejoice in it, seeing it as life-giving words? Does it make our heart glad and our eyes light up to see the truth in it? Do we desire it more than gold? Is it sweeter to us than honey?

Or is it a burden, a weight that drags us down?

Ultimately, our response to God’s word in creation and scripture should be one of worship. It should be a strong desire for holiness, a desire to be like our God who loves us.

And that’s what we see in David’s prayer at the end. May it be our prayer too.

Who perceives his unintentional sins?
Cleanse me from my hidden faults.

Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins;
do not let them rule me.

Then I will be blameless
and cleansed from blatant rebellion.

May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:12-14)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Heart searching

Psalms

I’ve been doing some heart searching the last several days, reflecting on my attitudes, my words, my actions.

I suppose that’s why verses 1-2 really struck me today.

Lord, who can dwell in our tent?
Who can live on your holy mountain?

The one who lives blamelessly,
practices righteousness,
and acknowledges the truth in his heart. (Psalm 15:1-2)

I always try to do right, think right, speak right. But I don’t always live up to that standard.

As Paul said, even when my conscience is clear, it doesn’t mean that my heart is completely right. (I Corinthians 4:4)

What’s my point?

We live each day by the grace of God. We strive to become more like him. We strive to be holy. But at the end of the day, we live by his grace.

And the good news is, his mercy is new every morning. Great is his faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

And when Satan or even our conscience accuses us?

God is greater than our hearts. He knows all things. He knows our failings. But he also knows our our love for him, and our desire to be more like him. (1 John 3:19-20).

He knows where we are as people. But he also knows what we will be. Peter found that out. (John 21:15-19).

So whenever we feel unworthy to dwell in his tent, to live on his holy mountain, let us go to Jesus and rest in his love and grace.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

The war over words

Psalms

As I read this psalm, I can’t help but think about the war over words that is going on in our culture.

For many in our culture, they say,

Through our tongues we have power;
our lips are our own–who can be our master? (Psalm 12:4)

And that is how they live. They transform culture through their tongues, all the while denying their rightful Lord.

We now live in a culture where “marriage” no longer necessarily means the joining of a man and woman before God.

We live in a culture where you can talk about there being a hundred different genders instead of two.

We live in a culture where a person can insist on being called “they” instead of “he” or “she.”

We live in a culture where abortion can be redefined as “reproductive health care.”

We live in a culture where “racism” no longer simply means having animus towards a person of another race. Now you need to possess “power” to be a racist, which means in America that a black person could never be racist.

And though you’ve always respected people of other races, you can still be called one if you refuse to capitulate to all the claims of woke culture.

Words are being redefined left and right to change the narrative in our culture.

In contrast, David says,

The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times. (6)

Unlike us, God doesn’t change. What he says, he holds to. And one day he will judge us all by those words. And all our attempts to change language will fall apart.

Or as the apostle Paul put it,

Let God be true, even though everyone is a liar, as it is written:
That you may be justified in your words and triumph when you judge. (Romans 3:4)

Let us not accept the redefinition of terms promulgated by our culture. Let us rather hold to the pure words of our God.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

The heart of the wicked

Psalms

So often, when we think of wicked people, we think merely of their actions. But what truly makes people wicked is their hearts. Even more than their actions, a person’s heart defines whether they are wicked or not.

What is the attitude of the wicked person?

1. They curse or despise the Lord in their hearts (Psalm 10:3). For some people they are openly hostile to God. For others, they simply don’t think he’s that important.

2. In their pride, they deny his existence. And even if some do acknowledge his existence, they refuse to seek him. (4)

3. They deny any accountablity to God. (11, 13)

All these are wicked attitudes in the sight of God. And he will judge people who hold them.

So often, we look at the people around us and think, “They are so nice. How could God possibly judge them?” And so we do not think it is necessary to share the gospel with them.

But how many of them hold these wicked attitudes in their heart? Let us not fool ourselves concerning their hearts and let us not allow them to deceive themselves either.

As Jeremiah said,

The heart is more deceitful than anything else,
and incurable—who can understand it?

I, the Lord, examine the mind,
I test the heart,
to give to each according to his way,
according to what his actions deserve. (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

Let’s share the gospel with them, that they may repent, be healed, and find true life in Jesus Christ.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Who am I?

Psalms

When I observe your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you set in place,
what is a human being that you remember him,
a son of man that you look after him? (Psalm 8:3-4)

This coming Sunday, I will be giving a message from Psalm 1.

One of the things I will note in that message is that when the psalmist says God knows us, he does not simply mean that God knows we exist. The psalmist means that God actually loves and cares for us.

How often do we wonder at that truth? The infinite God who created this vast universe…thinks about you.

Let that be your meditation today. Take the time to stop, be quiet, and reflect:

This infinite God who created this vast universe…thinks about me.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Though we may sorrow

prayer

Life is not always easy. David himself knew this and wrote many songs of lament, including this one, Psalm 5.

But though we sorrow in the midst of a broken world, here are some things to remember.

1. Who God is. Namely, who God is to us. He is our God. And he is our King (Psalm 5:2).

What does that mean practically? It means we are to honor him. And we are to obey.

Christians nowadays like to think of God as Father or Friend. And he is those things.

But in the midst of our complaints, let us not forget he is also our God and King. And he is worthy of our honor and obedience.

2. God’s character. Sometimes, we look at the evil around us, and we start to question God’s character. We wonder if he is truly good.

But remember that though he may sometimes seem “slow” when it comes to dealing with evil, he will ultimately bring justice (2 Peter 3:8-10).

And on that day, all will know the truth of David’s words.

You are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil cannot dwell with you. (Psalm 5:4)

No matter what evil we may see around us, let us never grow cynical about God’s character.

3. We too come before God only by his grace (7). We may get angry at the evil people around us, but let us remember with humility that without God’s grace, we’d be under God’s judgment as well.

4. Our need for God’s leading and his help to do what’s right. Especially when we’re in the midst of adversity. So with David, let’s pray,

Lord, lead me in your righteousness
because of my adversaries (or problems, as the case may be);
make your way straight before me. (8)

Finally, let us choose to rejoice and boast in our Lord (11).

It is so easy to fall into a spirit of complaining when troubles come.

Let us rather choose to take refuge in our God, and rejoice in him.

It will amaze you how much your perspective will change and how much smaller your problems will seem in the light of God’s greatness. 

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

My Glory

Psalms

Psalm 3 is one of my favorite psalms, and I’ve probably read it hundreds of times, but today, I was thinking about one thing David said.

He said, “God, you are my glory.”

What does that mean: “God is my glory”?

What do we glory in?

Many people glory in their physical beauty. Many others glory in their position or accomplishments. These are the things they boast about. These are the things they feel give them personal worth.

But for David, God was his glory.

Perhaps that truth hit home at the time when he was exiled from Jerusalem, with his own son Absalom trying to kill him.

All his “glory” had been stripped from him: his kingdom, his position as king, all gone. Only one thing remained: God. When everything else was gone, God was his glory.

David no longer boasted in his position or his accomplishments. His self-worth no longer came from these things. His self-worth came from one thing: His relationship with the God who loved him.

And so David said, “God, you are my glory.”

Paul said something similar hundreds of years later.

But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.

More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ. (Philippians 3:7-8)

So as God told Jeremiah,

The wise person should not boast in his wisdom;
the strong should not boast in his strength;
the wealthy should not boast in his wealth.

But the one who boasts should boast in this:
that he understands and knows me… (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

What is your glory?

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Who we walk with

Psalms

How happy is the one who does not
walk in the advice of the wicked
or stand in the pathway with sinners
or sit in the company of mockers!

Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction,
and he meditates on it day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2)

I wonder if the psalmist had Deuteronomy 6:6-7 as he penned those words. Moses had told the Israelites,

These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart.

Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

Who do we walk with?

Who do we stand and chat with?

Who do we sit in fellowship with?

Most importantly, what is the foundation of our conversations?

Are our beliefs, our thoughts, and our actions grounded in God’s words? Or are they coming from our culture? Are they coming from the opinions of the people around us?

Let’s choose to ground our thoughts in God’s words, making his thoughts our own, and basing our every decision and action on what he has said.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Keeping a right heart

Psalms

One thing God seems to constantly be reminding me is to keep a right heart before him.

So words like these always strike me:

Do not be agitated by evildoers;
do not envy those who do wrong. (Psalm 37:1-2)

I don’t typically have a problem envying those who do wrong. But agitation?

Try anger. Especially when I see the evil rampant in society and the corruption in government.

But time and again, God reminds me,

for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. (James 1:20)

Instead, when I see evil that would lead me to anger,

Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. (1-2, ESV)

In short, don’t worry about the evil others in society may be doing. Keep trusting God, keeping being faithful to him, and do the good he has asked you to do.

More,

Take delight in the Lord… (4)

If we make the Lord our joy, all other things that would normally anger or agitate us will pale in comparison.

And so God tells me,

Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for him;
do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way,
by the person who carries out evil plans.

Refrain from anger and give up your rage;
do not be agitated—it can only bring harm.

For evildoers will be destroyed,
but those who put their hope in the Lord
will inherit the land (7-9)

Instead of getting all worked up at the evil that I see, be still. Wait for him. If I let myself get angry, it will only lead me into sin.

And then there are these words:

The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom;
his tongue speaks what is just.

The instruction of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not falter. (30-31)

It’s kind of hard to utter words of wisdom and justice when my heart is ruled by anger. And so I want my heart to be reigned by God’s word.

More, I want each word I speak to be bathed in his grace and truth.

That’s hard to do in these times. But that’s what God is telling me. What is God telling you?

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

At all times

Worship

I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips. (Psalm 34:1)

How much would our lives be different if we lived this way?

How much would our attitudes in life be different if God’s praise was always on our lips?

How small would our problems seem if we remembered how big our God is?

And how much power would we know in our lives if we would spend less time complaining about the state of the world to each other and instead proclaimed God’s name and exalted him together to this world? (3)

We have a message that can bring hope to this world.

We have a message that can bring life to this world.

But we can easily forget that message ourselves if we lose a heart of worship.

I know I can.

So take some time today to worship today.

Think of things you can thank God for.

More than that, take time to worship him for who he is.

And each day, let us live by David’s words.

I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips. (1)

Categories
Romans Devotionals

A prayer for the church

Romans

One of the things that I do daily is pray for the church. Not just the one I go to, but for God’s church in this world.

In particular, I pray for God’s church in Japan (where I live), and God’s church in the States (where I am a citizen).

Perhaps that’s why Paul’s prayer for the church in Rome really stood out to me today.

Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, according to Christ Jesus, so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one mind and one voice. (Romans 15:5-6)

In chapters 14-15, Paul admonishes the church to strive for unity, and then wraps up his admonishment with that prayer.

In many ways, it echoes our Lord’s prayer for the church.

I pray not only for these (disciples), but also for those who believe in me through their word.

May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you.

May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me.

I have given them the glory you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one.

I am in them and you are in me, so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me. (John 17:20-23)

As I look in the world today, there is a lot of division in the church. We see division inside individual churches, and division between churches.

But Paul’s prayer and Jesus’ prayer was that we would be one. That we would glorify God with one mind and one voice.

Only then will we see this dying world be saved.

So let us welcome each other in love as Christ did with us. (7)

Let us build each other up, looking out for each other’s good. (2)

Let us instruct each other in God’s word. (14)

Let us strive together in prayer. (30)

And let us live in harmony with one another, glorifying God with one mind and one voice. (5-6)

That was Paul’s and Jesus’ prayer for the church in this dying world. Let’s make it ours as well.

Categories
Romans Devotionals

What we pursue

Romans

We’re living in a time when it is easy to criticize our fellow believers, especially when it comes to issues like politics and social justice.

I think that’s why Paul’s words really strike me.

So then, let us pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another. (Romans 15:19)

Paul was talking to a church divided by personal convictions and judgmental attitudes. Their reasons were different from ours to be sure. As a result, so are some of the practical applications we draw from Paul’s words.

But despite the difference in issues, the results were equally devastating: people in the church tearing each other apart.

So Paul says, “Pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another.”

Does this mean we avoid all discussions on politics and social issues? No. I think these things need to be discussed.

What I am saying is we need a lot more listening to each other and far less judging of each other and each other’s motives.

Remember that you are not your brother’s or sister’s Lord. Jesus is. All of us will stand before God’s judgment seat. All of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

God may very well have some words of rebuke for us on that day. But ultimately, we will stand because God is able to make us stand. (4, 7-12)

We all stand by God’s grace. We would do well to remember that.

So as we discuss these important issues, remember that ultimately we are not trying to win an argument. We’re trying to build each other up.

And by God’s grace, as we talk, search his Word, and pray with one another, we will reach his truth and his perspective together.

Categories
Romans Devotionals

Our response to troubled times

Romans

I truly love this passage. I could probably write 12 sermons based on it if not more. 🙂

But in these troubled times, the scripture that stood out to me was verse 12.

 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. (Romans 12:12)

Rejoice in hope.

The people around us don’t have a lot of hope. And because of that, they easily get angry and cynical when they look at the world around them.

But as Christians, we should never be that way. Why not? Because we have a hope that this world does not have.

We have hope that these troubles will not last forever. And we have hope that Jesus will come back and make all things right.

So let us remember that and choose to rejoice in that hope.

Be patient in affliction.

Again, sometimes our trials seem never-ending. Covid-19 certainly seems that way.

But because of the hope we have, let us keep our eyes focused on Him who is our hope and wait for his deliverance patiently with quietness and confidence. (Psalm 33 :20-21, Isaiah 30:15-18)

Finally, be persistent in prayer.

Pray for our leaders, especially. But also pray for those who are hurting around us and need Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:1-6)

More let us be a light to them in this darkened world.

 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.

Categories
Romans Devotionals

Creating our own standard of righteousness

Romans

Verse 3 stood out to me today.

…they are ignorant of the righteousness of God and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness. (Romans 10:3)

Paul here is talking about Jews who had rejected Jesus as Messiah and his atoning work on the cross which makes us righteous in God’s eyes. Instead, they tried to be justified by their own works.

Many people are like that today. They reject Jesus and try to find their own path to God.

But there is another sense in which people try to establish their own form of righteousness.

We see it in the book of Judges.

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever seemed right to him. (Judges 21:25)

How many people are like that today? They reject God is king and simply do whatever seems is right to them.

Some of them are merely ignorant of God’s righteousness. But as Paul noted in Romans 1, many people actively suppress it. (Romans 1:18)

They call what God calls evil, “good.”

Look at the list in Romans 1:22-31. I’m sure you agree that most of the things in that list is evil.

But are there any in there that make you think, “That’s not so bad?”

Or even, “That’s not sin at all”?

If there is anything in those lists you say, “That’s not so bad” or “That’s not sin at all,” you are suppressing God’s righteousness and establishing your own.

You may have “a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.” (Romans 10:2)

So let us not conform to the pattern of this world, but instead be transformed by the renewing of our mind through the Word of God.” (Romans 12:2)

Categories
Romans Devotionals

Though we may not all understand all the whys

Romans


When authors in the New Testament quote the Old Testament, it’s always a good idea to read the original passage.

In verse 36, Paul quotes from Psalm 44.

Psalm 44 is kind of a depressing psalm. It starts out by talking about God’s faithfulness and goodness, but suddenly changes to asking why they were suffering defeat against their enemies.

Unlike many psalms where the psalmist confess their sins, in Psalm 44, there seems to be no sin to confess. Rather, despite their faithfulness to God, the Israelites were struggling, leading them to say,

Because of you we are being put to death all day long;
we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. (Psalm 44:22)

The psalm ends by asking God why he was sleeping, and asking him to rise up and help them.

Sometimes we feel the same way. We feel abandoned by God. But are we? Are we doomed to defeat? Not according to Paul.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:37)

As Paul pointed out, God showed his love for us by predestining us, calling us, justifying us, and glorifying us. (29-30)

And in order to accomplish all this, he sent his Son to die for us. So Paul says,

What, then, are we to say about these things?

If God is for us, who is against us?

He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all.

How will he not also with him grant us everything? (Romans 8:31-32)

And that’s why we can conclude,

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

Like the psalmist, we may not understand the whys in our lives. We may not understand until heaven. Actually, by the time we get there, we may not even care anymore.

But in the meantime, let us hold on to these precious promises of God.

And remember: he is faithful.

Categories
Romans Devotionals

Struggling with Sin: Why It Doesn’t Make You a Bad Christian

Romans

All of us struggle with sin. And many of us feel that we must be bad Christians because of that struggle.

But struggling with sin doesn’t make you a bad Christian.

If that were true, you would have to say Paul was a bad Christian. (Romans 7:15-19)

What struggling with sin means is that you now have the Holy Spirit in your heart pointing out your sin and giving you a hatred for it.

Before we became Christians, many times we didn’t recognize our own sin, and even if we did, we were in love with it.

But when we became Christians, the Holy Spirit started the process of transforming our minds, helping us see sin as the evil thing it is while at the same time giving us a desire to do what is right.

More than that, if we ask him, he gives us the power to do what is right.

That’s something the law couldn’t do. The law could point out our sin. But it couldn’t give us the desire or the power to do right.

That’s the difference between living by the Spirit and living by the law. (6)

So I don’t worry so much about the Christian who struggles with sin.

If you hate your sin, and led by the Spirit, you keep taking the next step the Spirit gives you, you’ll be fine.

It’s the person who claims to be a Christian and yet loves their sin that I worry about.

What next step is God showing you?

Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my concerns.

See if there is any offensive way in me;
lead me in the everlasting way. (Psalm 139:23-24)

Categories
Romans Devotionals

Walking in the newness of life

Romans

Just meditating today on verse 4 where Paul says,

Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)

Prior to the cross, there was a certain heaviness that Jesus carried with him, the knowledge that a day of reckoning was coming. That he would be put on a cross, bearing our sin and shame.

And while he rejoiced in serving his Father, nevertheless, that heaviness remained reaching its peak at Gethsemane (Luke 12:50, John 12:27; Luke 22:42-44).

But when he rose from the dead, all that burden was lifted from him. Our sins that he came to die for were now paid for, and now he was free to live for the glory of his Father with complete joy.

It is the same with us.

Prior to becoming Christians, we carried the weight of our sin with all its shame and the certainty of judgment hanging over us.

But when we were baptized into Jesus, his death became ours. All our punishment was transferred to him. All our shame was transferred to him.

And as with Jesus, we have now been raised to new life. We no longer carry the burden of ours sins, the shame it brings, and the fear of judgment. Our sins have been completely paid for.

Now we are free to live for the glory of our Father with complete joy.

So let us live each day in that joy

Categories
Romans Devotionals

A reason to rejoice

Romans

I’m currently in the process of translating all my posts on Hebrews into Japanese, so as I read today’s passage, I saw a link between this chapter and Hebrews 10 that I had never seen before.

Paul says,

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2)

The writer of Hebrews says something very similar in chapter ten of his letter.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus— he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)— and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. (Hebrews 10:19-22)

The idea in both passages are the same. Through Jesus, we now have free access to God. We no longer have to stand in fear of God. Rather, we now have peace with him, standing in his grace.

In the Old Testament days, God manifested his glory in the tabernacle, particularly in a room called the Most Holy Place.

For this reason, only the high priest could come into that room, and he could only come in once a year.

For him, to stand in the presence of God’s glory was an awesome thing, but also a fearsome thing.

The Israelites themselves feared drawing anywhere near to God and his glory (Exodus 20:18-21), and God himself warned against it (Exodus 19:11-12; 20-22).

But through his death, Jesus tore down the barrier between us and God. We no longer need to be fearful as stand in the presence of God’s glory.

Rather, we can stand boldly by grace in his presence and rejoice in that glory.

The question is, do we truly understand the grace on which we stand?

Do we grasp it to the point that we understand the sufferings we go through are not punishments from God? Do we instead have hope in our sufferings?

What is the basis of our hope? The peace we have with God.

When we were still God’s enemies, Christ died for us. He didn’t wait for us to make ourselves good before he died for us. When we were still hostile toward him, he died for us.

And if Jesus did that for us while we are his enemies, how can we now think he has turned against us and is punishing us when we are his friends?

Rather, the same God who loved and saved us when we were his enemies, now pours out his love and mercy on us as his friends.

So whatever trials you may be facing, remember: we are at peace with God. Jesus made that peace possible 2000 years ago on a cross.

Let us now rest in that peace.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Though our world seems to be falling down around us

Psalms

God is our refuge and strength,
a helper who is always found
in times of trouble.

Therefore we will not be afraid (Psalm 46:1-2)

How often do we face situations in our lives where we are afraid?

We’re afraid because life seems crazy and out of control.

Or as the psalmist puts it,

the earth trembles
and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas,,,
its water roars and foams
and the mountains quake with its turmoil. (2b-3)

Do you ever feel like the world is like that? Do you ever feel your life is like that?

But the psalmist says in the midst of all the chaos, “We will not be afraid.”

Not because we are strong enough to handle it all. But because we have someone who is far greater than our problems, a Helper who is always found in times of trouble.

And it is because of Him, not because of how strong we are in ourselves, but because of Him, that we will not be afraid.

The psalmist continues,

There is a river—
its streams delight the city of God,
the holy dwelling place of the Most High.

God is within her; she will not be toppled.
God will help her when the morning dawns. (4-5)

The psalmist speaks here of Jerusalem, but it strikes me that as Christians, we ourselves are now the holy dwelling of the Most High.

God dwells within us, and streams of Living Water, the Holy Spirit himself flows within us to refresh and strengthen us. (John 7:38-39)

And because of this, we will not be toppled no matter what happens. God will help us. As Jeremiah wrote,

his mercies never end.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness! (Lamentations 3:22-23)

So often we struggle against our circumstances as if God has left us to flail around on our own.

But God says, “Stop fighting. Stop striving. Be still. Know that I am God.” (10)

So let us exalt him in our lives, as all the earth someday will. (11)

And remember,

The LORD of Armies is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold. (11)

Categories
Acts Devotionals

God’s man (or woman) in the storm

Acts

We are living in a time right now filled with much anger and fear.

What kind of people are we in this time? Are we ourselves controlled by anger and fear?

Paul himself was in such a situation. People saw the storm and were in a panic, thinking they were going to die.

Some people were probably angry at those in charge for not foreseeing the storm. As a result, there was probably utter chaos all over the boat.

And in the midst of it all stood Paul.

He brought wisdom to the situation. He brought peace. He brought encouragement.

Most importantly, he brought God’s presence.

Are we doing the same in this storm of Covid 19? Are we doing the same in the midst of political turmoil, police brutality, and riots?

What are we bringing into the storm?

Categories
Acts Devotionals

Why Jesus saved us

Acts

“For what purpose did Jesus save me?”

Have you ever thought about that?

Is it just to go to heaven someday? Is it just so that we can have a happy life here on earth?

I think we find the answer in Jesus’ words to Paul.

He said,

For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and a witness of what you have seen and will see of me…

I am sending you to them to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me. (Acts 26:16-18)

Jesus saved us that we might become his servants and his witnesses who share his gospel with others and tell them what God has done in our lives.

He sends us so that their eyes may be opened, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God.

He sends us that they too may receive forgiveness of sins and the inheritance we ourselves have received from God.

Some like Festus will call us crazy. Some like Herod will harden their hearts. But others will become Christians too.

Paul said concerning Jesus’ command, “I was not disobedient.”

By God’s grace, may we all be able to say the same.

Categories
Acts Devotionals

A prayer

Acts

And he said, ‘The God of our ancestors has appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the words from his mouth, since you will be a witness for him to all people of what you have seen and heard. (Acts 22:14-15)

Lord, you have chosen me for yourself. (Ephesians 1:3-14).

In these troubled times, I look forward to the day when you return, and I will see you face to face. (1 Corinthians 13:12, 1 John 3:2)

Now, let me hear your voice each day so that I may know your will. (Isaiah 30:20-21, Romans 12:2)

And let me be your witness in this dying world. (Acts 1:8, 2 Corinthians 5:13-21).

In Jesus’ name, amen.

Categories
Acts Devotionals

If we love the truth…

Acts

It’s been hard to read Acts recently concerning the riots that seemed to follow Paul, and not think about the riots going on in the States right now.

Obviously, we’re talking about two very different kinds of situations bringing about the riots, but there are some things that are the same.

A couple of weeks ago, a riot in Chicago was started because there were reports that an unarmed 15-year-old boy was shot by the police.

It turned out that the “victim” was actually a 20-year-old armed young man who had been shooting at the police.

Now as I write, there are reports and video of a man being shot by the police while entering his car.

At this point, details are kind of sketchy, particularly on why the police felt it necessary to shoot. There is no doubt that as things stand, things look bad.

And if indeed facts match appearances, the officers should be held accountable and prosecuted.

The result of this incident was yet another riot. But I will repeat once more, we still don’t have all the facts.

What’s my point?

Let’s look at what happened in the riot that took place in Acts 21.

First, the cause.

For they (the Jews) had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. (Acts 21:29)

This was a serious matter to the Jews. Clear warnings were written on signs in the temple area that any Gentiles that went beyond the “Court of the Gentiles” were subject to death.

The Jews saw Paul walking along with a Gentile in Jerusalem and automatically assumed that Paul had brought him into the restricted area. Thus, the riot.

The whole city was stirred up, and the people rushed together…word went up to the commander of the regiment that all Jerusalem was in chaos. (30-31)

Sound familiar?

He (the commander) asked who he (Paul) was and what he had done.

Some in the crowd were shouting one thing and some another. Since he was not able to get reliable information because of the uproar. (33-34)

I look at what’s going on in the States, and this is what I see. Lots of confusion. Lots of emotion. Very little reliable information.

Our Lord said this,

Stop judging according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment. (John 7:24)

There will be plenty of time to condemn these officers once all the facts come out. But let us not simply make assumptions based on appearances.

It was that kind of reaction which caused the unjustified riot in Chicago.

To be frank, I don’t think riots are ever justified. There are better ways to deal with injustice.

As followers of Jesus Christ, if we love the love truth, let us not just join in with the crowd in their anger, condemning people based on mere appearances.

Rather, let us make all our judgments based on truth. Our Lord demands no less.

Categories
Acts Devotionals

Active listening? Passive listening?

What is your attitude when you hear a message at church, read a Christian book, or listen to a Christian podcast?

The Bereans showed us what our attitude should be.

The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. (Acts 17:11)

What did they do?

1. They listened eagerly. They wanted to hear from God.

2. They examined the Scriptures for themselves to see if what the speakers were saying was true.

Do we do the same?

When we read or hear God’s word, do we come with a spirit of expectation that God will speak? And are our hearts, minds, and bodies prepared to hear from him? Or are we tired or distracted by other things?

Do we merely accept what the speakers or authors we listen to or read say? Or do we carefully compare what they say to what the Bible says?

Even more importantly, do we make his word a daily part of our lives?

When God speaks to our hearts through his word, do we put it into practice, or do we quickly forget it all? (Quick! Try to remember what last Sunday’s message was about!)

What is your attitude when it comes to God’s word?

Don’t get me wrong. My purpose is not to make you feel guilty by all of this.

The good news is that even when we fail in these things, God is there to pick us up. It is because we often fail, that Jesus died for us.

But it would be good for us to remember the words of Jesus.

Therefore take care how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him. (Luke 8:18)

Categories
Acts Devotionals

People are listening

Acts

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. (Acts 16:25)

In reading this story, we often think about Paul and Silas’ reaction to being thrown into prison wrongfully.

But today I was thinking about the prisoners’ reactions to Paul and Silas: they were listening.

In troubled times, people are listening to us. What are they hearing?

They are so used to hearing people complaining about the government, complaining about their circumstances, and worrying about the future.

Are they hearing the same from us? Or are they hearing something different?

The prisoners and the jailer heard something different from Paul and Silas. And because of that, they were willing to listen when Paul and Silas had something to say, especially concerning the gospel.

Would these people have been so willing to listen if Paul and Silas had been complaining about the unfairness of the world and how terrible life was?

Recently I’ve been thinking about my needing to be careful about what I post on social media and also about the things I say to my non-Christian coworkers. I don’t want to sound like this world.

What are people hearing from you?

Categories
Acts Devotionals

The Holy Spirit

Acts

Depending on the church you go to, it can be kind of rare to hear much about the Holy Spirit. We often talk about the Father and the Son and how we interact with them, but not much about the Holy Spirit.

But the Spirit himself is God as well, and we definitely interact with him too.

We see this in the first few verses of this chapter.

the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (Acts 13:2)

Notice a few things here.

1. The Holy Spirit speaks.

Not the Father. Not the Son. The Holy Spirit speaks.

2. The Holy Spirit says, “Set apart for me.”

Not, “Set apart for the Father.”

Not, “Set apart for Jesus.”

But “Set apart for me.”

3. The Holy Spirit says, “for the work to which I have called them.”

Not for the work the Father or the Son called them.

But for the work the Holy Spirit called them.

What do we learn from this?

1. The Spirit has personality. He is not just some kind of impersonal force.

2. As God, he calls us for his purposes.

So don’t ignore the Holy Spirit in your prayers. Ask him to fill you and empower you as he did Paul and the other disciples. (9, 52)

And say to him, “Here am I. Send me.”

Categories
Acts Devotionals

Receiving feedback

Acts

In last Sunday’s message, my pastor talked about the importance of receiving feedback from God and others.

As we look at today’s story, the Christians in Jerusalem thought Peter needed their feedback, criticizing him for entering the home of a Gentile.

But actually, they were the ones who needed the feedback, as God was teaching them the need to share the gospel with all people.

What was their response? First silence, as they thought about what Peter had said. And then,

they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has given repentance resulting in life even to the Gentiles.” (Acts 11:18)

Their response reminded me of a different story.

In Mark 3, Jesus challenged the Pharisees’ way of thinking concerning the Sabbath.

Their response?

They were silent too. But theirs was a different kind of silence. They hardened their hearts, and in doing so, they both angered and grieved Jesus. (Mark 3:1-6)

How about you? What is your response to feedback?

Does Jesus rejoice at our response, or does he grieve at our hardness of heart?

Categories
Acts Devotionals

No pity parties

Acts

If there was anyone who had a “right” to throw a pity party, it was the Christians in Acts chapter 8.

After the murder of Stephen, the Christians in Jerusalem were persecuted, being dragged off to prison, and in some cases even being executed.

As a result, they fled, scattering across the Roman empire. What did they do as they scattered? Throw pity parties, feeling sorry for themselves?

No.

So those who were scattered went on their way preaching the word. (Acts 8:4)

The result? Many people entered God’s kingdom, finding the joy that only comes from Jesus. (8, 39)

In these troubled times, it’s easy to throw pity parties for ourselves.

But as God’s people, we need to look outside of ourselves and our own problems to a world that is dying in their sin.

How about you? Where is your focus?

Categories
Acts Devotionals

Mega-power, mega-grace

Acts

In a world filled with all kinds of problems right now, the response of the early church to their troubles is really worth noting. What did they do?

1. They went to their Christian friends. (Acts 4:23)

They shared their problems with them. We aren’t meant to make it through this life in our own strength. We are to lean on each other and support one another.

2. Together with their friends, they lifted their voices together to God. (24a)

While it’s great to have the support of Christian friends, that is not enough. As friends we are to point each other to God, and approach his throne together.

3. They remembered who God is. (24b, 27-28)

They remembered that he is the Lord who is sovereign over everything. That he is the one who created all things with just a word. And he does whatever his hand and his will predestined before time began. Nothing is out of his control.

4. They prayed for strength to do what God had told them to do.

The result? The Holy Spirit fell upon them, and they were filled with great power and grace in their time of trouble. (31, 33)

The word for “great” in both cases is the Greek word “megas,” where we get our word “mega” from.

In short, they received not just power and grace from God, but “mega-power” and “mega-grace.”

In these times, don’t we all need more of both?

Categories
Acts Devotionals

God’s plans. Our part.

Acts

When the disciples asked Jesus when he would restore the kingdom of Israel, Jesus answered them,

It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. (Acts 1:7)

I don’t suppose a lot of people nowadays are asking when Jesus will restore the kingdom of Israel.

Probably the big question on a lot of people’s minds is when this whole Covid thing will come to an end.

But I suspect Jesus’ answer to us wouldn’t be much different from his answer to his disciples. “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.”

There is comfort in those words. God, by his own authority, has decided exactly how long this time will last. And when he says, “cease,” it will cease.

So what do we do in the meantime? Remember our mission.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (8)

It is so easy to become self-centered in these times. To get wrapped up in our own worries and concerns.

But God calls us to look outward to a dying world, and by the power of his Holy Spirit, to be his witnesses and make a difference.

So let us be praying, “Holy Spirit, fill me with your power. Help me to be your witness to those around me. And Father, may your kingdom come in their lives as I touch them.”

Categories
Luke Devotionals

Strengthened in our trials

Luke

This past Sunday, I gave a message at church on 2 Corinthians 1.

In that passage, I pointed out that God does sometimes give us more than we can bear…in our own strength. And he does that so that we learn to rely on him. As we do so, he imparts courage and strength to us.

We see that here in Jesus’ life. He told his disciples, “Pray that you may not fall into temptation.” (Luke 22:40)

I mentioned in my message that the words for “trial” and “temptation” are basically the same word in Greek.

And we see in the very next verse Jesus praying that he himself would not have to be tested.

But then he said, “nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” (42)

Just as God allows trials into our lives, he allowed Jesus to go through the greatest trial a human ever endured: the cross.

But as God did with Paul, God did with his Son. He imparted courage and strength to Jesus so that he could endure the cross. (43)

That’s why the writer of Hebrews could say,

During [Jesus’] earthly life, he offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.

Although he was the Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.

After he was perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, and he was declared by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 5:7-10)

It is also why the writer could also say,

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.

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. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

So when we are going through trials, let us look to Jesus. He understands what it means to go through trials that are too much for us. And as our high priest, he will pray for us, strengthen us, and encourage us.

Categories
Luke Devotionals

Until our Lord comes back

Luke

Engage in business until I come back. (Luke 19:13)

Those were the words of the master in Jesus’ parable.

But those are Jesus’ words to us.

What business are we to engage in? Our own? No, we are to engage in our Lord’s business.

What’s our Lord’s business?

We see it in verse 10.

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost. (10)

There are so many people of whom Jesus would say,

If you knew this day what would bring peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. (42)

So many people in this age hate Jesus and say of him,

We don’t want this man to rule over us. (14)

But as our Lord’s ambassadors, we are to engage in his business pleading with people,

Be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

God has committed the message of reconciliation to us. (2 Corinthians 5:19)

So until our Lord returns, let us not be careful not to simply engage in our own business, but let us also go about doing our Lord’s business as well.

Categories
Luke Devotionals

The grace by which we live

Luke

As I read this passage, it reminds me of the importance of remembering the grace by which we live.

We see it first in Jesus’ talk concerning forgiveness. Jesus makes it crystal clear: when a person repents, you must forgive. (Luke 17:4)

To which his disciples replied, “Lord increase our faith.” (5)

In other words, “We can’t do it. We’re not strong enough spiritually.”

But Jesus replied,

If you have faith the size of a mustard seed…you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you. (6)

The reality is, we only need only the tiniest amount of faith to do what God calls us to do, even forgive.

Why? Because of who we are putting our faith in. By his grace, he empowers us to do what he asks.

He doesn’t just tell us what to do and then stand back to see whether we’ll succeed or not.

Instead, if we come to him saying, “I choose to trust you. I choose to believe you are good. I choose to believe you want my best,” and we take the smallest step of faith to obey, by his grace, he will move mountains, even the mountains of bitterness and unforgiveness in our lives.

But again, remembering the grace we have received is the key to forgiveness.

In choosing to forgive, it is that same grace which causes us to say, “We are unworthy servants; we’ve only done our duty.”

Like the prodigal son, we are unworthy even to be God’s servants. Rather, what we deserve is to be punished for all our sins.

So when we forgive others, we are only doing what we should in light of all God has forgiven us. It is our duty.

And the more we remember the grace we’ve received though we are unworthy of God’s forgiveness, the easier it will be for us to forgive others when they hurt us.

But there’s one more thing in this chapter that points to our need to remember grace.

When the ten lepers were healed, only one came back to thank Jesus. An important part of remembering grace is having a heart filled with gratitude.

How often, though, do we just take God’s grace for granted? Or worse, we actually come to think we deserve it because of “all we’ve done for him?”

Let us cast aside that way of thinking. Rather, let us instead always have an attitude of gratitude, remembering the grace we’ve received and continue to receive every day.

If we do so, not only will we be able to forgive, but mountains will start to move in our lives as we take the steps of faith God has called us to take.

Categories
Luke Devotionals

Justifying ourselves

Luke

In the world we live in today, these words of Jesus truly stand out.

You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

We as humans can make so many excuses for our sins. And the people of this world may accept those excuses and even praise and celebrate our sins.

But God knows our hearts. He knows the guilt that many feel for their sins. He knows the guilt that others have buried so deeply that they no longer feel it. And while this world may even celebrate certain sins in this world, they are still abominations in God’s sight.

The question is, what do we do with the sins in our heart? Are we making excuses? Are we working hard to bury our feelings of guilt?

We can fool others into thinking we’re doing right. We can fool others. But we’re not fooling God.

Let us not sear our consciences by making excuses (I Timothy 4:2). Instead let us confess them before God and in his grace and his strength, deal with them.

As John said,

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9)

Categories
Luke Devotionals

A missing message

Luke

In the States, we are living in troubled times.

One can’t avoid the stories of violence and racism rampant in our society. Stories of police brutality. Stories of looting and rioting. Stories of murder.

One side decries systemic problems. The other side decries the multiple problems in the black community.

What would Jesus say to all this?

I think we get a pretty good idea from this passage.

Some people had brought up the latest news story to Jesus. The governor of Judea Pontius Pilate had murdered some Jews mingling their blood with their own sacrifices.

What kind of reaction did they expect from Jesus?

One would have thought that their reaction would be, “Say something against the systemic injustice in this nation! Criticize Pilate!”

Strangely enough, though, it seems from Jesus’ answer that those who brought the news were thinking, “Man, these Jews must have been pretty bad to deserve such a death.”

Jesus refused to criticize those men, at least directly. On the other hand, he also didn’t criticize Pilate, calling for social justice.

What did he say?

Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all the other Galileans because they suffered these things? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well. (Luke 13:2-3)

He then brought up another tragic news story, a tower seemingly randomly falling on a bunch of other Jews, killing them all. And he said of them,

…do you think they were more sinful than all the other people who live in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well. (4)

What was Jesus doing with those words? He was getting people to get their eyes off the sin of others and onto themselves.

What would he say in today’s situation?

I think he would say something like this.

“Do you think Derek Chauvin is more sinful than all others in America because he is being put on trial for murder? No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will be judged in a much higher court than even Chauvin is in.

“Do you think that George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks were more sinful than all the other people living in Minneapolis and Atlanta? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well.

“Do you think those who are looting, rioting, and killing are more sinful than all other Americans? No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you too will be judged.

“Do you think those in the black community are more sinful than all other Americans? No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you too will be judged.

“Do you think those in the white community are more sinful than all other Americans? No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you too will be judged.”

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think by any means that Jesus was disregarding the sins of Pilate or those who were killed in those tragedies 2000 years ago.

Nor does he disregard the sins of Floyd, Brooks, Chauvin, or all those who are looting, rioting, and killing.

He doesn’t disregard the sins of the black community, the white community, the Asian community, or any other community.

One day, they will all stand before his judgment seat to be judged.

But so must we.

And if we have not repented, we will all perish.

As the apostle Paul put it,

There is no one righteous, not even one.

There is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.

All have turned away;
all alike have become worthless.

There is no one who does what is good,
not even one.

Their throat is an open grave;
they deceive with their tongues.

Vipers’ venom is under their lips.
Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.

Their feet are swift to shed blood;
ruin and wretchedness are in their paths,
and the path of peace they have not known.

There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are subject to the law, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment.

For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law. (Romans 3:10-20)

So before you decry the sins of the black community or the white community, before you decry the sins of the people around you, look at yourself. For unless you repent, you yourself will perish.

The only hope you and I have is in Jesus.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:23-24)

Categories
Luke Devotionals

What a disciple looks like

Luke

Luke 11:2-4 is often called the Lord’s prayer.

More accurately, it’s called the disciple’s prayer.

Jesus has called us to make disciples of all nations. But what does a disciple look like?

I think this prayer shows us.

  1. Disciples recognize God as their loving Father. They are not afraid of him. They understand in their heart of hearts that God loves and accepts them, and because of that they joyfully and confidently draw near to him.
  2. Disciples honor their Father’s name. By the way they think. By the way they speak. By the way they act.
  3. The kingdom of God is their top priority, even above their own needs. And their desire is that all the world would honor God as they do.
  4. Disciples are dependent on their Father, both for their physical needs and spiritual protection. Linked with this is an utter trust in their Father.
  5. Disciples realize their need for God’s mercy and grace every day. And because of that, they extend that mercy and grace to the people around them.

Is this you? And is this the kind of people we’re raising in our families, our churches, and our small groups?

By God’s grace may we all become true disciples of Christ. And may we make this prayer truly our own.

Categories
Luke Devotionals

What God desires

Luke

Years ago, I read a book called “Shadow of the Almighty” which recorded many of the thoughts of a missionary named Jim Elliot.

It was probably one of the most influential books I have ever read in my life and has shaped my thinking in so many ways over the years.

As I read today’s passage about Mary and Martha, I thought once again of something that Elliot said that impacted me then and impacts me to this day.

How well I see now that He is wanting to do something in me!

So many missionaries, intent on doing something, forget that His main work is to make something of them, not just to do a work by their stiff and bungling fingers.

In short, God is not so interested in what I can do. He is interested in me.

So often we forget that. We think we have to impress him by what we do.

But while certainly God desires to work through us, let us never forget that he is more interested in us than what he can do through us.

And so I pray with Elliot,

Teach me, Lord Jesus, to live simply and love purely, like a child, and to know that You are unchanged in Your attitudes and actions toward me.

Categories
Luke Devotionals

Sent out to proclaim and to heal

Luke

The tragedy in the States continues. I just read of an 8-year old girl that was shot in Atlanta in the same neighborhood where Rayshard Brooks was killed.

75 shootings have occurred in Atlanta in the last few weeks, and killings in cities across the United States are up dramatically. And as in Atlanta, this is not police shootings we’re talking about.

As the Atlanta mayor said, “We’re fighting the enemy within when we are shooting each other up in our streets.”

Or as a famous cartoonist once put it, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”

And it’s not just the black community that is hurting in all this. It’s this entire world that is hurting.

What do we do?

And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. (Luke 9:1-2, ESV)

We may not have the same power to heal sicknesses that the apostles had.

But we do have the same power and authority over the satanic powers in this world.

And we are called to proclaim God’s kingdom and to bring healing to those whose lives are broken by sin.

We are living in a broken world. It’s broken because people have rejected their King. And so to proclaim God’s kingdom is to bring people back to their King. Because only when people submit to their King can true healing begin.

Racial healing. Marital and family healing. Emotional and spiritual healing. The healing of our communities, cities, and our nations.

We are sent to proclaim and heal. Let’s get to work.

Categories
Luke Devotionals

The more we minister

Luke

Today verses 15-16 struck me.

But the news about [Jesus] spread even more, and large crowds would come together to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. Yet he often withdrew to deserted places and prayed. (Luke 5:15-16)

Every day, Jesus touched the lives of thousands of people. But the more time he spent ministering, the more time he needed time with his Father.

If Jesus needed that time, how much more do we?

If we are not filled with the love, wisdom, and peace of God, how can we then minister to others?

If we are tired mentally and spiritually, eventually we will burn out.

So let’s not neglect our time with God. Especially if we are ministering to people, let’s be sure to spend our own time with God.

Recently, I’ve been thinking I need to wrap up my day with prayer and being quiet before the Lord myself.

Remember: The more you minister, the more time you need with God.

Categories
Luke Devotionals

Our message

Luke

I ended last week by talking about the real problem in society and the only true solution.

The real problem in society is not systemic racism or injustice, but sin in the hearts of individuals.

Unless you deal with the sin in the hearts of individuals, all the reform of the world’s systems will not make any substantial change.

And so our message needs to be the message Jesus gave.

The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me
to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. (Luke 4:18-19)

Jesus then said,

Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled. (21)

What kind of good news was Jesus preaching?

What kind of release was he proclaiming? What kind of sight was he restoring? What kind of oppression was he dealing with? In what way was he proclaiming the Lord’s favor?

Was he talking about all the problems we see in society?

No. Jesus dealt with none of the societal problems of his day when it came to the oppression the Jews were facing from the Romans during his three-year ministry. Neither did the apostles after they took over his ministry.

Instead, he was talking about release for the spiritual prisoners, restoration of their spiritual sight (although he did restore physical sight too), and freedom from their spiritual oppression.

When he talked about God’s favor, he meant God showering down his grace upon us so that our sins may be forgiven and that we might receive new life, a life restored from the brokenness of sin.

That’s the message of hope we proclaim.

Am I saying then that we just let our society fall apart around us? That we don’t care when we see injustice around us?

No. Get involved in your community. Get involved in politics. At the very least, vote. Let your voice be heard.

But never forget your primary mission: to proclaim his gospel.

If any other message is exchanged for it, no matter how good the cause, we will eventually lose sight of our true mission.

What message are you proclaiming?

Categories
Luke Devotionals

The real problem, the real solution

Luke

In the States, we hear the terms “systemic racism” or  “systemic injustice” being thrown around left and right. And even within the church, people debate how systemic these problems really are.

As I read Luke chapter 3 today, however, it seems crystal clear where the real problem lies and what the real solution is.

John the Baptist came onto the scene in Israel and made an instant impact.

What was he pointing to in his preaching? Systemic racism and oppression against the Jews? Systemic injustice in Rome?

No. He pointed to individuals and their sin, and he called them to repent.

And John was not one to mince his words.

Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. (Luke 3:7-8)

John wasn’t speaking to the Roman government. Nor was he speaking primarily to those in power among the Jews. He was talking to the people.

What did he preach?

  1. God’s wrath is coming upon you because of your sin.
  2. Repent, not just in your words, but in your actions.

Even for those in the corrupt “system,” the tax collectors and the soldiers, John did not call on them to reform the system, much as the system needed reform. He called on them to repent as individuals. To change their own actions.

But this is a lost message in many churches.

We no longer preach sin, no less accountability for it.

No doubt there are problems in the system. And there is no doubt that there is some degree of oppression in them, although I would argue there is a lot less of it than there was 50 years ago.

Does that mean we then stop working for reform? Of course not.

But all the reform of the world’s systems will never solve the true problem: the human heart.

Let’s assume for a moment that all racism is completely eradicated from the system. Will that then eliminate all of society’s problems?

No. Because sin will still reign in the hearts of people.

You already see that in the hearts of many who are calling for reform.

They aren’t calling for justice as defined by the Bible. Their concept of sin is so far from the concept as found in the Bible, that we’ll end up in Sodom and Gomorrah if we follow them to their logical conclusion.

True God-honoring societal change will not come from systemic reform, especially as it is defined by many of the current “reformers.”

It will only come when we start calling individuals to repent of their sin.

We need to tell them what sin is. We need to tell them what the ultimate consequences of their sin are. And we need to tell them what God has done to rescue us from this problem.

And if we fail to do that, if we instead make systemic reform our “gospel,” we will have failed in the commission God has given us. (See Ezekiel 33 and Acts 20:21, 24-27).

The gospel of Jesus Christ, the gospel that God loves us and desires to save us has no meaning apart from the concept of sin and repentance.

After all, if people cannot even recognize their own sin, what are they being saved from? Racial oppression? Poverty? Disease?

All these are important, but they are secondary to the primary problem of the human race: their own personal sin.

Make no mistake, though. The world does not want to hear that message.

For all their cries for justice, they want nothing to do with God’s justice. They want nothing to do with hearing about their own personal sin and their accountability to God for that sin.

Just look at John the Baptist. Herod sinned by marrying his brother’s wife. And when John rebuked him for this one sin (although there were apparently others as well), Herod imprisoned him, and eventually executed him.

We the church will be persecuted if we preach sin. But we can’t be faithful to our call unless we do.

Question: when will we not only call for people in the system to repent, but for people among the “reformers” to repent?

There are Christian leaders who rightfully call for systemic reform. But where are those same leaders when it comes to calling for repentance among the “reformers?”

When we see injustice, let’s fight against it. If you want to march or sign petitions for it, great. If you want to post your opinions on social media, fine.

But more importantly, let’s start with the individuals we know and start preaching repentance and faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21).

Because only when the hearts of individuals change will we see true societal change.

Categories
Luke Devotionals

Doing our Father’s work

Luke

As I looked at the story of the adolescent Jesus, his words to his parents struck me.

Didn’t you know that it was necessary for me to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49)

Jesus probably isn’t saying here, “I needed to be here in the temple to worship my Father.”

Actually, in the Greek, the word “house” is not even there. It literally says, “Didn’t you know it was necessary for me to be in the …. of my Father.”

Obviously, he was in the temple, so the word “house” gets put in there by translators. But in the KJV and the footnotes of most translations, it says, “it was necessary for me to be doing my Father’s business.”

And that was probably Jesus’s ultimate meaning: “I need to be involved with the things my Father is doing.”

As God’s children, so do we.

That doesn’t necessarily mean we need to be serving at the church every day. It does mean that wherever we are, we need to see what God is doing around us.

Whenever we touch people with his love, that’s doing ministry. That’s getting involved with our Father’s business.

How about you? Are you involved with your Father’s business?

Categories
James Devotionals

James and social media

James

My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.” (James 1:19-20)

When I read these words, I thought about our uses of social media.

Recently throughout the world, but especially in the U.S., we’ve been hearing a lot of horrific news.

And when we read these things, or we read people’s opinions on these things, it’s easy to get angry and think, “I’ve got to respond to this on social media!”

But when we use social media, we should heed James’s words. Do we know all the facts? And where is our anger coming from? Is our anger accomplishing God’s righteousness?

For that matter, are our words and our anger actually accomplishing anything at all?

Before posting things on SNS, we should think about such things.

That includes me, by the way.

We should also think about these things when it comes to email. Sometimes we receive emails that make us angry, and we need to think very carefully about how we respond.

99.9999% of the time, email is not the way to respond. Rather, we should talk to that person directly.

So when it comes to social media and email, let’s be careful.

Categories
Matthew Devotionals

Though we live in crazy times

Matthew

I don’t know about you, but when I look at what’s going on in the world, and particularly in the United States, it seems this world is going mad.

But I took heart from the last few verses of this chapter.

Jesus said,

All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. (Matthew 28:18)

People sometimes abuse their power. Others try to tear down power structures.

But ultimately, all authority has been given to Jesus. He still rules, and no one can ever strip him of his power.

Jesus final words also bring me comfort.

And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (20)

Sometimes, it’s hard to see Jesus through the eyes of faith. But just because our faith falters at times and we can’t seem to find him doesn’t mean he has abandoned us.

He promised to be with us until the end of time. And he will keep that promise.

So what does this mean for us? Do we just relax then in the comfort of God’s love?

No. We do what Jesus told us to do.

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. (19-20)

We’re living in a broken world, and there’s a lot of work to do.

Let’s get to it.

Categories
Matthew Devotionals

When love grows cold

Matthew

In talking about the last days, Jesus says something pretty chilling.

Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. (Matthew 24:12)

The scary thing is, he says this of those who profess to be God’s people.

When it says lawlessness will multiply, I wonder exactly what that means.

Does it mean that lawlessness will multiply in the world to such an extent that some among God’s people will start to despair. They lose faith that God is good and their cynicism towards him and others turns their love cold?

Or does it mean that they themselves will be swept into lawlessness, rejecting God’s word  and living for themselves, thus turning their love for God and others cold?

I don’t know. But either way, we need to guard our hearts.

Guard your hearts against sin. Don’t let yourself slip into sin by making excuses for it.

When you harden your heart by making excuses for your sin, your love for God and others will inevitably grow cold.

And when you see the evil around you and everything looks beyond hope, don’t lose your faith in God.

Keep believing he is good. Know in your heart that the day is coming when Jesus will return and make all things right.

Jesus promises us,

…the one who endures to the end will be saved. (13)

So remember your hope.

This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (14)

The evil we see in this world will not last forever.

So by God’s grace, let us endure with hearts overflowing with his love, and proclaiming his gospel to this dying world.

Categories
Matthew Devotionals

Ignorant of the scriptures

When the Sadducees asked Jesus an asinine question, he responded,

You are mistaken, because you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God. (Matthew 22:29)

Could Jesus say this of us?

How wrong is our worldview because we don’t really know the scriptures?

How often do we make foolish decisions because we really don’t know the scriptures?

And how often do we put God in a box, making him smaller than really is, because we don’t really know the scriptures?

May Jesus never say of us what he said of the Sadducees.

Instead, let us develop a love for God’s word, so that we may truly know him, and so that his way of thinking may shape ours.

Categories
Matthew Devotionals

Your king is coming to you

Matthew

Say to the daughter of Zion,
Behold, your king is coming to you. (Matthew 21:5, ESV)

Those words struck me this morning.

“Behold, your king is coming to you.”

The first time Jesus came, he came humbly and mounted on a donkey, for the purpose of dying for our sins.

The next time he comes, it will be in power, to judge and to save. (Hebrews 9:27-28)

We see that throughout this chapter.

He brought judgment on those rejected him and his authority. But to the sinners who repented of their sins and believed in him, he gave salvation.

That is the message we need to preach.

“Your King is coming. He is coming to reap the fruit of faith, repentance, and righteousness. And if you do not produce that fruit, you will be judged.”

Lord, may we be people that bear your fruit each day, and preach your gospel to this lost and dying world.

Categories
Matthew Devotionals

Making a difference in an unbelieving and perverse world

Matthew

I don’t know how we can look at the world today and not mourn.

As I write this, we have not only the Covid-19 virus still lingering, but in the U.S., we’ve also seen police brutality, violent protests, riots, and looting.

I can’t help but think Jesus would say the same thing to this world that he said while he walked this earth.

You unbelieving and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? (Matthew 17:17)

The sad thing is that while Jesus no doubt was chiding a broken world which had turned its back on God, he was specifically addressing his disciples and their inability to make a difference in such a world.

Why were they so powerless? Because they had so little faith.

The ultimate solution to this unbelieving and perverse world?

Bring [them] here to me. (17b)

But how many of us truly trust in Jesus’ power to save the world through the gospel which he has entrusted to us?

We may say we believe the gospel is enough to save, but our actions often say we believe otherwise, either by watering it down or failing to preach it at all.

The result? We fail as miserably as the disciples did to make a difference.

Do we preach the message that Jesus gave us?

“Repent of your sins! Stop going your own way!

“The Kingdom of God is near! Submit yourself to your King! He gave his life for you that you might find life! You are only destroying yourselves by going your way! Stop choosing death! Choose life!”

Is this the message we’re preaching? Or are we preaching something else?

We are so quick to preach the love of God.

In times like these, we are also quick to preach the need for justice in the world.

But how quick are we to preach repentance?

Why do we fail to make a difference in this unbelieving and perverse world?

Because of your little faith…For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.

Nothing will be impossible for you. (20-21)

Lord, increase the faith of your people. And let us be faithful to your Word you have given us to preach and live out.

Categories
Matthew Devotionals

Little faith, great faith

prayer

Then Jesus replied to her, “Woman, your faith is great. (Matthew 15:28)

As I read Jesus’ praise of the Canaanite woman, I wondered how the disciples felt.

Not just because they had asked Jesus to send her away, but because Jesus had said to them numerous times, “O you of little faith!”

In fact, the woman’s story is sandwiched by two other stories of Jesus rebuking his disciples in this way. (Matthew 14:31, Matthew 16:8).

What was great about this woman’s faith?

Even when it seemed that Jesus was slow to respond, even though Jesus at first acted as though he didn’t care, she still believed in him. She believed in his goodness. And she believed that he would help.

It reminds me of the story Jesus told in Luke 18.

In Jesus’ story, a widow pleads with a judge who is corrupt and doesn’t want to help her, but because of her persistence, he helps her.

Jesus then contrasts that judge with our heavenly Father. Sometimes our Father seems slow to answer. Sometimes it seems as if he doesn’t care.

But he does care and he will help if we’ll only be persistent in our faith and pray. But as Jesus said,

When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:8)

When we’re facing the storms of life, will he find faith?

When we’re facing Satanic attack, will Jesus find faith?

When we’re facing need, will he find faith?

When we’re facing injustice, will he find faith?

May Jesus say of us, “How great is your faith!”

Categories
Matthew Devotionals

Closing our eyes and ears to God’s truth

Man with eyes shut to the Word

Let’s be honest. God’s truth is sometimes hard to hear. Sometimes it stings. The question is: what do we do with it?

Some people, as in today’s passage, close their eyes and ears to the truth. The result? Calloused hearts that can no longer hear from God.

That’s the danger with hearing truth. If you do nothing about it, your heart becomes calloused.

How about you? Have you read or heard something from God’s word recently that stung your heart? What did you do with it?

Did you say, “Yes, Lord. By your grace and strength, I will obey. Help me”?

Or did you close your eyes and ears to the truth?

God wants to heal your broken life. But you will never know that healing if you close your eyes and ears to his Word.

What will you do?

Categories
Matthew Devotionals

True Sabbath worship

Matthew

Here in Japan and in the States, it looks like we’re all going to start returning to church soon.

But it would be well for us to remember what true Sabbath worship is.

It’s not just going to church. It’s not just singing praise songs, listening to the Bible message, and giving our offerings.

Jesus told the Pharisees, “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” (Matthew 12:7)

This did not mean that God didn’t want sacrifices. God had in fact commanded them. But God doesn’t merely want our religious rituals and actions.

He wants us to show mercy to people. How often do we go to church thinking, “Who can I show mercy to today?”

There are many people who are weary and burdened (Matthew 11:28).

Who are distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. (9:36).

Do we have compassion for them? Do we show mercy to them?

Let Jesus be the Lord of your Sabbath.

Don’t just go to church. Don’t just sing songs and listen to the message.

Look for who you can show mercy to.

Categories
Matthew Devotionals

Kicked out of our comfort zones

Matthew

Today I read a passage very familiar to me.

When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:36-38)

Two things struck me that I had never thought of before. Matthew says that the people were distressed and dejected like sheep without a shepherd.

The words “distressed and dejected” have the idea of being torn and cast down.

As I thought of that image, I then recalled what Jesus had said to the Pharisees earlier in the chapter.

Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. (13)

Many of the sheep the shepherds raised in Israel were meant to be used as sacrifices. But in Jesus’ eyes, these torn and cast down sheep were not just meant for the sacrificial altar.

Jesus had a heart filled with compassion for these sheep and he longed to show mercy to them. To care for them. To heal their wounds.

And that’s what he did.

But living as a man on earth, there was a limit to what he could do.

And so he sent out his disciples to reach out to the mass of lost sheep scattered throughout Israel. And then he sent 72 more people out so that they could reach even more sheep.

But before doing so, he told his disciples to pray that God would send out more workers.

That word “send” is a very interesting one. It literally means, “drive out.” It’s the word that is often used for driving out demons.

Interestingly enough, it’s the same word that is used for the Holy Spirit driving Jesus out into the wilderness to be tempted.

And here, Jesus says, “Pray to the Lord of the harvest that he would drive more workers out into the harvest field.”

It’s what God did with the early church when they got too comfortable doing “church” in Jerusalem.

Jesus had told them to go out into the whole world and preach the gospel. They hadn’t even gotten as far as Samaria yet. Many of them were still stuck in Jerusalem.

So God used persecution to drive them out of Jerusalem. The result? They started sharing the gospel everywhere they went. (Acts 8:1-4).

Is it possible that God needs to do that to his people again?

How many of us, (and I include myself in this), are far too comfortable with our lives? How many of us lack the compassion for the torn and cast down as Jesus was?

Lord of the harvest, drive out more workers out of their comfort zones and into the harvest field. Give them your heart.

Give me your heart. Here am I. Send me.

Categories
Matthew Devotionals

Following Jesus

Matthew

If there’s one word you see in this passage, it’s “follow.”

You see it five times in this chapter, but not all are used in the same sense.

The crowds literally followed Jesus, but not all of their hearts belonged to him.

One man said he would follow Jesus, but it seems he had never thought about how hard it could be.

Jesus called another man to follow him, but that man seemed unwilling to leave his old life behind.

One thing I noticed is when the word “follow” was not used. After Jesus healed the demon-possessed man, the people in his town didn’t want to follow Jesus. They in fact asked him to leave.

But perhaps the most encouraging use of “follow” was in regard to his disciples.

They had followed Jesus for some time. Yet even then, they didn’t truly understand who he was. And instead of living by faith, they sometimes were ruled by their fear.

And yet, Jesus didn’t chase them away. Even when they would later fail him, he did not chase them away. Instead, he still let them continue as his disciples.

In short, they were his disciples by grace.

Sometimes, we fail as Jesus’ disciples. Sometimes we have little faith. Sometimes our priorities get messed up. Sometimes we sin.

But Jesus doesn’t give up on us. All he asks us to do is to get up and keep following him.

We are saved by his grace. And we follow him by his grace.

May we live each day by that truth.

Categories
Matthew Devotionals

If the church is ever to change the world

Matthew

I have often read the beatitudes as things applying to individual Christians.

As I read it today, though, I thought about the church? Can we say these things of the church today?

Are we a church of the poor in spirit, people living each day in humble dependence on the grace of God?

Are we a church of people who have known and do know mourning, but also know Christ’s comfort?

Are we a church of the humble and gentle? Or of the proud and combative?

Are we a church that hungers and thirsts for righteousness? That weeps at and repents of its sin and rejoices in what is good?

Are we a church that is merciful? Or simply a church that rails at the sin around it?

Are we a church that is pure in heart, wholly devoted to our Savior?

Are we a church of peacemakers? People who reconcile people with their God and people with each other?

Are we a church of those who are sometimes persecuted for righteousness’ sake? Or does the world love us all the time because we think just like them?

If not, consider the words of Jesus.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty?

It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. (Matthew 5:13)

How many churches have lost their taste and no longer flavor the world?

Is it any wonder that the world is in the shape it is in?

You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.

No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. (14-16)

Categories
Matthew Devotionals

Because of the cross

Matthew

According to Matthew, when Jesus was baptized,

The heavens suddenly opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him.

And a voice from heaven said: ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.’ (Matthew 3:16-17)

Three years later, Jesus underwent a different kind of baptism. Jesus compared his death on the cross to baptism. (Luke 12:50, Mark 10:38)

Unlike how it was at Jesus’ first baptism, however, heaven was shut to him as he hung on that cross, and all of God’s wrath toward us for our sin was poured out on him.

But three days later, Jesus rose again. What was the result of all this?

Heaven was opened up to us. That is, we who are Christians now have free access to God.

The Holy Spirit has descended upon us like a dove, and now when the Father looks at us, he says, “This is my beloved child with whom I am well-pleased.”

Recently, at my church, we’ve been hearing a series of messages from Hebrews 10:19-23.

I memorized it when I was in high school or university, and it’s always meant a lot to me. If you haven’t already, I recommend that you do so too.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus— he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)— and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.

Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:19-23)

Categories
Matthew Devotionals

A heart of worship

Matthew

“How passionate am I to come worship Jesus?”

That was my thought as I read this passage.

The wise men were definitely passionate about coming to worship Jesus. They left their country and left no stone unturned in order to find him.

And when they found the star of the Savior hovering over Bethlehem, “they were overwhelmed with joy.”  (Matthew 2:10)

Finding the Savior, they fell to their knees and worshiped him, offering him costly gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Contrast their response with that of the chief priests and scribes.

For whatever reason, their hearts were not stirred in the least to find and worship their Messiah. Instead, they went back to the temple to read their scrolls and perform their religious duties.

What about us? Do we daily have a passion to worship our Messiah? Are we overwhelmed with joy that he is near and that we have access to him?

Does that passion make us willing to sacrifice our time and our money simply for the privilege of coming before him and worshiping him?

Or are we…indifferent?

Categories
Matthew Devotionals

The God who accomplishes his will

Matthew

In these difficult times, we often hear from pastors, “God is still in control.”

But do we believe it?

One thing I think we see from this passage is that God is in control, even when we can’t always see it.

He made his intentions clear from the very beginning, promising to Abraham that through him, all nations would be blessed.

He then promised to David that one of his descendants would reign forever.

How did this all happen? Through one unbroken line of blessing?

Actually no. When you look at the family line of the Messiah, you see a people corrupted and broken by sin.

You see Judah and his brothers who initially tried to kill their brother Joseph, before eventually sending him off into slavery in Egypt.

Yet God had not lost control. He used Joseph to save not only his family, but the Egyptians themselves, as well as the surrounding peoples.

You see times of God’s judgment in the form of famine, because of his people’s sin. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes, but in the process, they became utterly corrupt.

In the midst of that corruption, people like Naomi suffered great sorrow. Perhaps in her bitterness over losing her husband and sons, she wondered if God had lost control.

But instead, God used all this to bring a foreigner named Ruth into the family line of Jesus, showing that he already was keeping his promise to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him.

You also see the good kings and the bad kings throughout Israel’s history.

David’s family threatened to tear itself apart because of his failures as a husband and a father.

Rehoboam actually did tear the nation apart because of his foolish decisions. The result was civil war, idolatry, the murder of innocent children, and all manner of atrocities ultimately leading to exile. Had God lost control?

No, even in all that, God had not lost control. He brought his people back.

Foreign nations opposed them, oppressed them, and even tried to annihilate them. But though all that, God kept that line of Messiah alive.

And then Jesus was born. His very name expresses God’s plan and purpose through all of history. “Yahweh saves.”

That’s our hope in the midst of all the chaos around us.

What God has promised, he will bring about. And nothing and no one can keep him from accomplishing his purpose.

Categories
1 Peter Devotionals

Facing troubled times (2)

1 Peter

I wrote last week about facing troubled times. In this passage, Peter concludes his thoughts on facing such times. What do we do?

First, humble yourself before God.

In troubled times, what does that mean we should do? It means casting your anxieties on him (1 Peter 5:6-7).

Don’t in your pride attempt to handle your anxieties on your own. Cast your anxieties on him. Choose to believe even through these hard times that he cares for you.

Second, be alert to Satan’s attacks (8-9).

In these times, Satan will try to discourage you, making you question God and his goodness.

He’ll try to get you to indulge in sin as a relief from the stress you’re feeling.

He’ll try to turn your stress into fights with your husband, your wife, your children, or those around you.

Be alert to what Satan is doing. And resist him.

Third, stand firm in God’s grace.

By his grace, he will restore you, mending what’s broken in your life.

By his grace, he will give you the strength to stand.

By his grace, he will stabilize you when you’re about to fall.

And by his grace, will set you on a sure foundation (10).

We were saved by his grace. Now let us walk in that grace daily.

Finally, worship him, remembering who he is.

“To him be dominion forever!” Peter sings (11).

God is the king. Though we suffer, he has not lost control of this world. He reigns even now.

So after watching the news seeing all that’s going on in this world, turn off the TV, turn off social media, turn off the internet, and worship God.

In these troubled times, peace to all of you who are in Christ. (14)

Categories
1 Peter Devotionals

Facing troubled times

1 Peter

We are facing troubled times in this world with the Corona virus and all it’s doing to people’s health and finances.

How do we face it?

The people Peter was writing to faced a different kind of problem: persecution. But his words to them are still quite applicable to us. What did he say?

Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble, not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing. (1 Peter 3:8-9)

Again, Peter here is talking about persecution and our response to it.

But in these times, people can get easily get edgy towards each other.

Other people rail at the government for not doing enough, or ironically for going too far in their restrictions on our movements.

But we are not to be this way. Rather we are called to bless others. Even when we feel ill-treated, we are to be sympathetic, loving, compassionate, and humble.

And again, we are to bless others, keeping our tongues from evil (10), whether it’s cursing, complaining, or whatever else it may be.

Peter then says,

Do not fear what they fear or be intimidated, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. (14-15)

In encouraging those Christians facing persecution, Peter told them not to fear the things those around them feared, nor to fear the threats of others. Instead, they were to regard Christ as holy in their lives.

What does that mean?

Peter was quoting from Isaiah 8:12-14.

The Israelites of that time were terrified of being attacked by the Assyrian army. But God told Isaiah,

Do not fear what they fear;
do not be terrified.

You are to regard only the LORD of Armies as holy.
Only he should be feared;
only he should be held in awe.
He will be a sanctuary…(Isaiah 8:12-14)

What does it mean to honor God as holy? Fear him alone. Hold him in awe over anyone or anything else.

And if we do, he will be our sanctuary, whether we’re being attacked by people…or by the Corona virus.

We are not to fear what others fear. We are not to fear the virus. We are not to fear the financial difficulties that come from being unemployed.

Instead, we are to stand in awe of God and worship him. And he will be our sanctuary in the storm.

Does this mean that we won’t get sick? That we won’t struggle financially?

No. Some of us may go bankrupt. Some of us may even die because of the virus.

But maybe God is reminding us through all of this: “This world is not your home. You are only temporary residents here .(1 Peter 1:1)

You have a more permanent home, a more permanent inheritance awaiting you.”

That’s our hope.

And it’s the hope we are to pass on to others. If we refuse to give into anger or fear, if instead we are a blessing to those who are hurting now, people will ask why.

And should that time come, as Peter says, “be ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” (1 Peter 3:15).

And if you yourself are starting to lose hope, remember the basis for our hope.

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit. (18)

Or as Bill Gaither once put it,

Because he lives I can face tomorrow.
Because he lives, all fear is gone.
Because I know he holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because he lives.

Categories
1 Peter Devotionals

Proclaiming the praises of the one who called us

1 Peter

Yesterday, we talked about who we are in Christ. Peter expands on that even more in this chapter.

He says in verses 9-10,

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession…

Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

As Christians, we are to reflect on these things. Reflect on the grace and mercy God has given you, but also on who has he called you to be: his people and his priests.

And as his people and priests, remember why God in his grace and mercy chose us:

…so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (9b)

We are not meant to keep our salvation to ourselves. We aren’t meant to simply say, “I’m so glad I’m a child of God.”

We live now in a world darkened by sin and all the pain that comes from it. The people around us need hope.

So as God’s people, as God’s priests, let us proclaim God’s praises to those around us that they too may come out of darkness into God’s marvelous light.

Categories
1 Peter Devotionals

Remembering who we are

1 Peter

As we live in these troubled times, it’s important to remember who we are and what we have in Jesus Christ. That’s what Peter reminds us of in this letter.

Who are we?

1. We are “the chosen.”

Before he created this world, God already knew us with all our sins, faults, and weaknesses, and yet for reasons that are beyond our understanding, he chose us anyway.

Why in the world God would choose me to be his own? I don’t know. But by his grace, he did.

2. We are exiles.

We don’t belong to this world anymore. Our inheritance is not here.

Thank goodness for that. Think of the inheritance of this world: sin, and the pain and suffering that comes from it. Even the good that we inherit here does not last.

But now we have the hope of an eternal inheritance, an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us (4).

We have the hope of life! Because Jesus lives, we also shall live. (John 14:19)

3. We are people sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

By the blood of Jesus, the guilt of our sin has been washed away. And each day, we are being made more like Jesus (Romans 8:29).

4. We are people set apart for Jesus, and for his service. (2)

In the Old Testament, people and the objects in the tabernacle were sprinkled with blood to purify them and dedicate them to God.

In the same way, we were sprinkled with the blood of Jesus and are now dedicated to him. (Hebrews 9:19-22)

How then should we live each day?

1. Set our hope fully on the grace of God. (13)

By his grace he saves you and has given you an eternal inheritance. And by his grace he will see you through the hard times of this life.

Don’t set your hope on the government. Don’t set it on money or anything else. Set it on God.

2. Live for Jesus.

As he is holy, so be holy in everything you do (15-16). Imitate him, especially in his love for others (22).

In these troubled times, may God’s grace and peace be multiplied to you. (2)

Categories
Mark Devotionals

A living Savior

Mark

It’s so easy to just gloss over these verses and not really think about them because we’ve read them so often.

But think about the angel’s words to the women that first resurrection morning.

“What are you doing here? You came here to visit a dead corpse, but I’m telling you: Jesus is alive! He’s risen! He isn’t here. Look for yourself!

“Now go tell his disciples. He’s going on ahead of you. You will see him again.”

We too do not serve a dead, rotting corpse, but a living, vibrant Savior.

And now his message to us is the same as his message to the women:

“I go ahead of you, like a shepherd goes ahead of his sheep. If you look for me, you will find me.

“And you will see me face to face.

“So go! Tell the people around you that I am alive! And bring hope to this lost and dying world.”

Categories
Mark Devotionals Psalms Devotionals

The one who understands our suffering

Psalms

As I was reading Mark 15 this morning, I thought about Jesus’ words “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Jesus was of course quoting from Psalm 22, and as I read it, I came across these words.

For he has not despised or abhorred the torment of the oppressed. He did not hide his face from him but listened when he cried to him for help. (Psalm 22:24)

Jesus knows what it’s like to have the Father hide his face from him. To feel abandoned. (Although the Father never truly abandoned Jesus).

And it is for that reason that he does not despise or abhor those who are suffering.

Although we may feel abandoned by God at times, or feel as if he is ignoring our prayers, he does not hide his face from us. And he does turn his ears to our prayers.

So whatever you’re going through now, turn to him. And remember the words of the writer to the Hebrews.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.

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. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Categories
Mark Devotionals

Because we are his elect

Mark

We are obviously going through difficult times right now with the Covid-19 pandemic going on.

Jesus did warn about difficult times. He warned about wars, natural disasters, and persecution.

But the good news is that because we are his elect, his chosen ones, we have no reason to fear.

In the last days, he cuts short the days of tribulation for the sake of his elect (Mark 13:20).

He warns us as his elect to watch out for false prophets and Messiahs so that we will not be deceived, though the rest of the world will be. (21-23)

And when things are at their worst, he will gather his elect to himself. (27)

In short, no wars, no natural disasters or disease (including Covid-19), no persecution…absolutely nothing can separate us, his elect, from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:35-39)

All things will work together for the good of us who love him, and have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

For those he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified. (Romans 8:29)

That’s our hope. In these troubled times, let us rest in that hope.

Categories
Mark Devotionals

Recognizing our Lord

Mark

Jesus’ opening words to the parable of the tenants really struck me today.

A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug out a pit for a winepress, and built a watchtower. (Mark 12:1)

The owner, of course, represents God. God is the one who created us, created the environment we live in, and provided work for us to do. Our very ability to work and produce anything comes from him.

We are mere tenants in this world. Because of that, we owe to our Lord the fruit of our lives. Nothing really belongs to us. It all belongs to him.

But like the tenants in the story, so many reject God’s rightful lordship over their lives.

“My money! My body! My life!”

Do these words sound at all familiar? Do those words ever come out of your mouth?

Those were essentially the words of the tenants. And so they rejected the One who is the very cornerstone of our lives.

Do you?

We were made in the very image of God. Like Caesar’s image was imprinted on the Roman coins showing his authority over all who used them, God’s image is imprinted on all of us. We are accountable to him.

Do we give to God what is rightfully his? Do we give to God our very lives?

Categories
Mark Devotionals

Forgiveness

Mark

And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing. (Mark 11:25)

Powerful words, to say the least.

But how often do they cross our minds as we pray?

If there’s one thing that Jesus makes crystal clear, it’s that our horizontal relationships with each other have a definite impact on our vertical relationship with God.

We cannot separate the two.

And if we don’t make every effort to make things right with those who have wronged us, it will cause a block in our relationship with God.

After all, how can we say, “I can’t forgive that person,” and then say in the next moment, “God, please forgive me.”

Is it always easy to forgive? No. More often than not, it can be extremely painful to do.

But the good news is that we have a High Priest that intercedes for us, and he will help us forgive if we’ll just ask.

And so if when you’re praying, you remember someone that you have yet to forgive, pray, “Lord have mercy on me. And help me forgive.”

Better yet, pray, “Lord have mercy on this person that has hurt me.”

And by his grace, the One who forgave his enemies (including us) on the cross, will give us the ability to forgive those who have wronged us.

Categories
Mark Devotionals

Hardened and dulled hearts

Mark

As I look at these passages, I see so many cases of hardened and dulled hearts.

The Pharisees had hardened and dulled hearts, asking for signs from heaven, despite the numerous miracles Jesus had already performed. (Mark 8:11-13).

The disciples, despite twice seeing Jesus provide bread for huge crowds, had hardened and dulled hearts, not understanding that Jesus would take care of their needs. (Mark 8:17-21)

Peter and the disciples had hardened and dulled hearts, not understanding that Jesus had to die. Peter went so far as to rebuke Jesus for saying that He did. (Mark 8:31-33, 9:31-33)

The father of the demon-possessed child had a hardened and dulled heart, one moment saying he believed, and the next admitting that he still couldn’t completely believe. (Mark 9:24)

It was because of dull and hardened hearts that God allows for divorce. Far better, for example, for a wife to get a divorce than to suffer abuse from a husband with a hardened heart.

But God’s ideal was that husband and wife become one in a loving union. (Mark 10:5-8)

The rich young man had a hardened and dulled heart, unwilling to let go of his riches in order to follow Jesus. (Mark 10:17-23)

How often are our hearts hardened and dull?

Despite seeing all Jesus has done for us, we still fail to believe that he will provide our needs. Instead, we keep asking for visible signs that he is with us. “God if you’re really with me, do this for me. Do that for me.”

Or Jesus tells us the same truth over and over, and we still can’t grasp it.

We struggle with our faith, one moment believing, one moment not.

Or because of our hardened hearts, we settle for second best instead of God’s ideal.

Because of our hardened hearts, some of us are unwilling to let go of this world in order to follow Jesus. We may do a lot of “good things”, but we never truly give our hearts to him.

What is the medicine for a dull and hardened heart?

God’s grace.

By his grace, God did what was impossible for us: he saved us. (Mark 10:26-27)

And by that same grace, he can soften all the remnants of our dull and hardened hearts.

All we have to do is ask.

To be like that father who said, “I do believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)

Or like Bartimaeus who said, “Lord, I want to see.” (Mark 10:51)

Lord, help my unbelief. Help me to see and grasp the truth that you love me and want my best. Heal my hardened heart, and help me to trust you completely. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Categories
Mark Devotionals

Who does your heart belong to?

Mark

Jesus’ words to the Pharisees really hit me today.

He said to them,

This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me.
They worship me in vain… (Mark 7:6-7)

I can teach all the right things, I can say all the right things, I can even do a lot of good things.

But does my heart truly belong to God? Is my heart truly his? If not, all my acts of “worship” are empty and fruitless in His eyes.

Lord, search me and know my heart. May it truly belong to you in every way. Amen.

Categories
Mark Devotionals

Remembering who Jesus is

Mark

In this story of Jesus walking on the water, two things really strike me.

Amazingly enough, the fact that Jesus walked on water isn’t one of those two things.

I suppose it’s due to the fact that I’ve read this story hundreds of times, that Jesus walking on water doesn’t really strike me anymore. Maybe I need to recapture that wonder.

Anyway, first, Mark tells us that as Jesus approached the boat, he meant to pass by his disciples. Pass by them?!?

Not help them?

But Mark is very clear: Jesus wanted to pass by them. Why?

I think we find the answer in two Old Testament stories. One in Exodus 33:18-34:7, and the other in I Kings 19:11-12.

In both cases, God passed by first Moses and then Elijah, displaying his glory to them.

And I think that was Jesus’ intention, that in seeing him walk on water, they would see his glory and trust him.

I think that’s especially clear in his words to them when they thought they were seeing a ghost. He said to them,

Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid. (Mark 6:50)

“It is I.”

I suppose Jesus could have simply been saying “It’s me.” But remember also that when God identified himself to Moses, he said,

I AM WHO I AM., This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you. (Exodus 3:14)

When “I AM” was translated into Greek, it was translated “eigo eimi.”

The Jews would later try to kill Jesus for applying those words to himself, because they knew he was identifying himself as God. (John 8:58-59)

Now when Jesus identifies himself to his disciples, he uses those exact words: “I AM.”

“I AM the God who controls the seas. I AM the God who showed himself to Moses and Elijah. Don’t be afraid.”

That’s probably what Jesus meant. But even after his disciples realized it was Jesus, they still didn’t understand what he meant by “I AM.”

And that leads to the second thing that strikes me: their response. Mark says of them,

They were completely astounded… (51)

Why?

…because they had not understood about the loaves (52)

Remember that this incident happened right after Jesus had fed the 5000. What had the disciples not understood about the loaves?

That the same “I AM” who miraculously provided manna in the desert for the Israelites was walking among them, providing bread for his people once again.

Christian tradition holds that Peter was Mark’s source for this gospel. And I can just imagine him saying this to Mark as he related this story:

“You know, even after Jesus fed the 5000, it never struck us who we were really dealing with. We were like Job.

“Do you remember what Job said, Mark? ‘Yahweh alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea…If he passed me by, I wouldn’t see him, if he went by, I wouldn’t recognize him.’ (Job 9:8, 11)

“That was us, Mark! Jesus was about to pass us by, and we didn’t recognize him. Even when he got into the boat, we didn’t recognize who he really was.

“But we should have. If only we had understood the significance of the loaves, we would have grasped then and there who he really was!”

How about you? What storms are you going through now? Are you “straining at the oars, with the wind against you?”

Remember who Jesus is. Remember he is the “I AM.”

And know that the same God who showed his glory to Moses, the same God who showed his glory to Elijah, and the same God who showed his glory to his disciples, will show his glory to you, and he will help you.

Don’t miss him when he passes by!

Categories
Mark Devotionals

Tell them!

Mark

Happy Good Friday everyone!

Today Jesus’ words to the man who had been demon-possessed really struck me.

Go home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you. (Mark 5:19)

Sometimes we wonder how to share the gospel with people. Often times the best way is to do what Jesus told this man to do. Tell others what the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.

So on this Good Friday, think about that. What has the Lord done for you, not just on that Friday 2000 years ago, but from the time you first met him? And in what ways has he had mercy on you?

Then practice sharing your testimony by telling it to your family and friends who are Christians. It will definitely be an encouragement to them. Be especially sure to share your story with your children if they haven’t heard it yet.

And then pray for opportunities to share your testimony with those around you who don’t know him. There are so many people now who need to hear words of hope.

But most of all, take time to thank God today for all he has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.

Categories
Mark Devotionals

If we truly want to understand God’s word

Understanding the Bible

How many Christians say,  “I wish I could understand my Bible better”?

In this passage, Jesus tells us how to do so.

First, have an open heart to what God says.

You see, Jesus teaches us as much as we can understand. (Mark 4:33)

But more than once, he says in this passage, “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.” (9, 23)

The problem with many people is that they don’t truly welcome the word they do understand. (20)

Instead they argue with it. Or they simply ignore it.

And so Jesus says,

Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure you use, it will be measured to you–and more will be added to you.

For whoever has, more will be given to him, and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. (Mark 4:24-25)

The key to understanding your Bible is not merely learning things you have never heard before. The key is putting into practice what you already do understand.

Again, the problem with most Christians is not that they don’t understand a lot of things the Bible says. The problem is that they don’t do anything about what they do understand. Or worse, they rebel against it.

If you put into practice what you do understand, Jesus says you will be given even more understanding.

If you don’t, however, you’ll end up like those people Jesus talked about, “seeing, but never perceiving, hearing but never understanding.” (12)

Do you truly wish to understood your Bible better? How much are you putting into practice what you do understand?

Categories
Mark Devotionals

Driven out

Mark

Sometimes, looking at the same story in different gospels can be very interesting.

In Matthew 4, it says after Jesus was baptized, the Spirit “led him” into the desert.

In Mark 1, it says the Spirit “drove him out into the desert.” It’s the same word Mark uses when he talks about Jesus “driving out” demons.

And this just one verse after God had told Jesus, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased.”

Sometimes we go through times of testing. You may be feeling that way now. We feel driven out by God, and we wonder, “Does God really love me?”

Yes he does. Remember this: the times of testing God puts his children through are not to destroy them, but to strengthen them.

He is not hoping we will be defeated. He is cheering for our victory.

And though we may be surrounded by “beasts” at times, his angels are always with us, supporting us as well.

Jesus himself knew what like to be “driven out.” So if you feel driven out, turn to him, your high priest.

As the writer of Hebrews said,

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.

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. (Hebrews 4:15-16)

Categories
Jeremiah Devotionals

The song that must always be on our lips

Jeremiah

If there is one song that is repeated over and over again in the Bible, it is this one:

Give thanks to the Lord of Armies,
for the Lord is good;
his faithful love endures forever. (Jeremiah 33:11)

The first time we see it is in 1 Chronicles 16:34.

Then you see it in 2 Chronicles 5:13 and 7:3, in Ezra 3:11, Psalm 100:5, 106:1, 107:1, Psalm 117, and Psalm 118 verses 1-4 and 29.

Psalm 136 is a song completely devoted to that theme.

The words come from God’s own description of himself when he spoke to Moses.

The Lord—the Lord is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. (Exodus 34:6-7)

How often in these troubled times are we giving thanks to the Lord?

Do we say with confidence, “The Lord is good! His faithful love endures forever!”

He proved it on the cross. Jesus suffered and died there to take the punishment for our sin.

He did so at a time when we were not even seeking him. Before we loved him, he loved us, and gave himself for us. (Romans 5:6-8)

So if in these times you ever find yourself doubting God’s goodness and faithful love to you, look to the cross in wonder, and worship God, singing,

Give thanks to the Lord. For he is good!
His faithful love endures forever!

Categories
Jeremiah Devotionals

A prayer

Jeremiah

It’s always good not only to read scriptures, but to pray them. And as I read this passage today, it led me to pray. May it be your prayer today as well.

Father,

You are my God, and I am your child.

Give me integrity of heart and action so that I will fear you always, for my good, and the good of the next generation.

Thank you for the new permanent covenant we have in Jesus. Because of this new covenant, you will never turn away from doing good to me.

Put the fear of you in my heart, so that I will never again turn away from you.

In your faithfulness, and with all your heart and mind, plant me in this land. And today, may I bear fruit for you. May I be a channel of your love to those around me today.

In Jesus name, amen.

Categories
Jeremiah Devotionals

The faithfulness of our Shepherd

Jeremiah

As I look at this passage, I can’t help but see the faithfulness of our Shepherd.

You see it in his faithfulness to Israel. He told them,

The people who survived the sword
found favor in the wilderness.

When Israel went to find rest,
the Lord appeared to him from far away.

I have loved you with an everlasting love;
therefore, I have continued to extend faithful love to you. (Jeremiah 31:2-3)

Jeremiah seems to be referring to all the people returning from Babylon, but you could also point to Jacob (whom God named “Israel”) and the nation of Israel as they came out of Egypt.

Jacob survived the sword of his brother Esau and was forced to flee his home. But in a time when Jacob was fearful and broken, the Lord appeared to him showing him faithful love.

Why? Because Jacob deserved it?

No, he was a con man who was constantly deceiving people and taking advantage of them.

Rather, God was faithful to him because out of His everlasting love, He had chosen Jacob before he was even born.

The same can be said of the Israelites when they escaped from the sword of Egypt.

God didn’t save them from the Egyptian army because of their faithfulness to him, but because of his faithfulness to them and the promises he had made to their ancestor Abraham hundreds of years earlier.

And now, though God was disciplining his people because of their sin, because of his everlasting love toward them, he promised to show them grace once again and bring them back to their own land.

I almost think that Jeremiah remembered Psalm 23 as he wrote this passage. You can see many of the themes in that Psalm in this passage.

God brings his sheep back to himself. (One meaning of “he restores my soul” is “he brings me back.”) (Jeremiah 31:8-13)

He gives his sheep rest, refreshing their weary souls. (25)

He leads them to water and down paths of righteousness, not because they deserve it, but for his name’s sake. (9)

His rod of protection delivers them from the enemy. (11)

He prepares a table filled with abundance for his sheep, and God’s goodness follows them (12-14).

And though they walk through the valley of the shadow of death, he walks with them and gives them hope. (15-17)

Jeremiah then essentially finishes this chapter the same way he started it: by talking about the faithfulness of God.

He promised a day when God would make a new covenant with us, a covenant not based on our ability to keep the law in our own strength, but on God’s grace.

A covenant in which he puts his law into our hearts, forgiving our sins and remembering them no more. And once again God says of us,

I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them”—this is the LORD’s declaration. (Jeremiah 31:33-34)

So in times of trouble like we’re going through now, let us remember the faithfulness of our Shepherd, and rejoice! 

Categories
Jeremiah Devotionals

Is God punishing us?

Jeremiah

In the midst of this Corona virus crisis, I occasionally hear from Christian circles that this is God’s judgment on people for their sin.

Is that true? Is God punishing us?

I wouldn’t rule out that there is some aspect to God’s judgment in all this. He has used plague in the past as judgment (see Egypt in the book of Exodus, for example), and he will use it in the future (see Revelation).

That said, I wouldn’t dogmatically say, “This is God’s judgment on the world!”

What I will say is that we Christians, as God’s people, should never think that God is punishing us in order to destroy us.

One thing you see in this passage is that there is a clear distinction between judgment to destroy and judgment to discipline. God will sometimes punish his people in order to discipline them. 

That he makes clear in verse 11 where he says,

I will bring destruction on all the nations
where I have scattered you;
however, I will not bring destruction on you.

I will discipline you justly,
and I will by no means leave you unpunished. (Jeremiah 30:11)

Here you see the clear distinction between those who are God’s people and those who are not.

Just as God ultimately judged Israel’s conquerors Assyria and Babylon for all their sins, so he will judge all those who reject him.

But God’s promise to Israel, and to all who are all God’s people, is that though he may discipline us, he will not destroy us. And ultimately, he will restore us. (17)

How is it possible that he shows us such grace? Because of Jesus. And in this passage, we see the promise of his first coming.

God told the Israelites,

Jacob’s leader will be one of them;
his ruler will issue from him.

I will invite him to me, and he will approach me,
for who would otherwise risk his life to approach me?

This is the LORD’s declaration. (Jeremiah 30:21)

The interesting thing about this leader is that he would act not only as king, but as priest.

The language of approaching God is the same that God uses of a priest approaching him.

With rare exception, none but the high priest ever did dare approach God in the Old Testament.

And as the high priest did on the Day of Atonement (Levlticus 17), Jesus approached the Father with blood to atone for all our sins.

But Jesus didn’t come with the blood of bulls and goats. He came with his own blood shed on the cross.

And because of that, God can now say the same thing of us that he said of the Israelites,

You will be my people,
and I will be your God. (Jeremiah 30:22)

One final thing on God’s wrath. Jeremiah said concerning the nations that had conquered Israel,

Look, a storm from the LORD!

Wrath has gone out,
a churning storm.

The LORD’s burning anger will not turn back
until he has completely fulfilled the purposes of his heart. (Jeremiah 30:23-24)

Again, both Assyria and Babylon faced God’s full wrath and were overthrown.

But remember this: the Lord’s burning anger did eventually turn back when he completely fulfilled the purposes of his heart.

God’s wrath turned back after the full storm of it was poured out on Jesus on the cross.

And when it was done, Jesus said, “It is finished. All your purposes have been fulfilled, Father. I have paid the price for sin.”

So as God’s people, even if you may be struggling in these difficult times, remember that God is not punishing you. Jesus took all of the Father’s wrath on himself, and there is no wrath left for you.

God may discipline you, and you may go through the fire of refinement. But remember the words of Job, and hold on to them.

Yet he knows the way I have taken;
when he has tested me, I will emerge as pure gold. (Job 23:10) 

Categories
Jeremiah Devotionals

Praying for our cities

Jeremiah

In this passage, Jeremiah was writing to a people who had just been exiled to Babylon. Many of them were scared and discouraged. Perhaps some of them even wanted to rebel against their captors.

But God told them this,

Pursue the well-being (Hebrew: “Shalom,” meaning among other things “peace”, “prosperity,” “safety,” and “health”) of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the LORD on its behalf, for when it thrives, you will thrive. (Jeremiah 29:7)

God tells us to do the same thing. In fact, perhaps Paul was thinking of this passage when he wrote these words to Timothy.

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 

This is good, and it pleases God our Savior,  who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

In these often scary and discouraging times, let us take the words of Jeremiah and Paul to heart. Pray to the Lord for our cities. There are a lot of hurting people out there.

Pursue our cities’ well-being.

Part of that means social distancing, which is why we’re not meeting on Sundays.

But at the same time, pursue individual people’s well-being. Touch the people you know, both inside and outside the church. Call them. Encourage them. Pray for them. In whatever way you can, try to meet their needs.

And pray for our leaders. I often read criticism of our leaders as they make decisions for our countries.

But let me ask you something: are you obeying Paul’s words? Are you praying for your leaders? Or are you merely complaining about them, to God and to anyone else who will listen?

Don’t complain about them. Pray for them.

And let us pray that through all this Corona craziness that people will be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

Categories
Jeremiah Devotionals

Speaking God’s word faithfully

Jeremiah

How faithfully do we speak God’s word to those around us?

The prophets and priests in Jeremiah’s day didn’t. Nothing they said turned people away from their sin and to God.

How about our words? Do they turn people away from their sin and to God?

God told the prophets and priests,

For who has stood in the council of the LORD
to see and hear his word?

Who has paid attention to his word and obeyed? (Jeremiah 23:18)

And again,

If they had really stood in my council,
they would have enabled my people to hear my words
and would have turned them from their evil ways
and their evil deeds. (22)

He then says,

but the one who has my word should speak my word truthfully (NIV – “faithfully”),

for what is straw compared to grain?”—this is the LORD’s declaration. (28)

We have received words that give life.

Do we speak them faithfully to those who are dying spiritually?

Are we feeding people straw that does them no good, or grain that feeds their soul and gives them life?

Lord, you have given us your word. Help us, your people, to speak it truthfully and faithfully to a dying world.

Categories
Isaiah Devotionals Jeremiah Devotionals

A prayer for the nation

Isaiah

I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, working away at the wheel.

But the jar that he was making from the clay became flawed in the potter’s hand, so he made it into another jar, as it seemed right for him to do.

The word of the LORD came to me: “House of Israel, can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay?”—this is the LORD’s declaration.

“Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, house of Israel. (Jeremiah 18:3-6)

As I read these words, I couldn’t help but think about Japan, where I live.

Because of the sin in this country, we, like Israel, are broken vessels. But there is hope for us, because like the potter, God can reshape this country into something good. If the people of this nation repent, God will forgive us.

So pray for Japan.

But how exactly should we pray?

In reading Jeremiah’s words, I thought of another passage. In that passage, the prophet Isaiah also used the metaphor of a potter in his prayer.

You can find his prayer in Isaiah 64:1-9. So read that passage and pray for Japan.

And of course, feel free to pray for whatever country you’re from, because all I said goes for America, Australia, and all the nations around the world as well.

Categories
Jeremiah Devotionals

Verses to remember

Jeremiah

In a time when many people are living in fear and worry, Jeremiah 17:5-8 is a great passage to remember.

May I make a suggestion? Memorize this passage.

If you belong to a small group, have all your group members memorize it. Then on Sunday, contact each other by phone or video chat and check if you were able to memorize it.

Then encourage each other and pray with each other.

Even if you don’t belong to a small group, call a friend and encourage them, “Let’s memorize this passage together.”

If you think it’s a bit too long, just memorize verses 7-8

One more idea is to memorize it with your family.

Anyway, note the contrasts in these verses.

Cursed is the one who trusts in man. who draws strength from mere flesh (Jeremiah 17:5)

But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD (7)

For the person who trusts in man, his/her heart turns away from the LORD. (5)

The person who trusts in the Lord has his/her confidence is in Him. (7)

The person who trusts in man will be like a bush in the wastelands…They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. (6)

The person who trusts in the Lord will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. (8)

The person who trusts in man will not see prosperity when it comes. (6)

The person who trusts in the Lord does not fear when heat comes; His/her leaves are always green, has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. (8)

Quite a contrast don’t you think?

So let us put our trust in Him!

Categories
Jeremiah Devotionals

Our hope for a lost world

Jeremiah

Jeremiah had a pretty depressing job.

He was preaching to a nation that was being judged for their sin, and God had outright told him to stop praying for the nation. That even if Moses or Samuel prayed for Israel, God would not listen. (Jeremiah 15:1)

What was the nation’s problem? They couldn’t even recognize their own sin. (16:10)

Namely, they had:

  1. Abandoned the Lord.
  2. Followed and worshiped other gods.
  3. Followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts. (Jeremiah 16:11-12)

And yet there was still a sliver of hope. Though God would punish his people, he would bring them back. (Jeremiah 16:14-15)

The interesting thing is that right after saying that, God said he would send fishermen to fish for the Israelites, and hunters to gather them in.

That was actually a word of judgment. The Babylonians would gather in the people of Israel and the Israelites would pay for their own sin by suffering exile for 70 years.

But hundreds of years later, after God kept his promise and graciously returned his people to their land, Jesus came and called his first disciples, saying,

“Follow me…and I will make you fish for people.” (Matthew 4:19)

This time, though, he would send out fishers not to punish people, but to save them.

Why was that possible? Because Jesus himself would be punished in our place. He took all of God’s wrath toward us upon himself.

And now, he calls all of us as his disciples to fish for people.

So let us go out and do that.

And especially in this time when fear seems to reign, let us pray for the nations.

Pray as Jeremiah did. I’m an American, living in Japan. But feel free to adjust this prayer to wherever you live.

Lord, my strength and my stronghold,
my refuge in a time of distress,
the nations will come to you from the ends of the earth.

Japan will come to you.
The U.S. will come to you.
All the nations.

And they will say,
“Our fathers inherited only lies,
worthless idols of no benefit at all.”

O God, can one make gods for himself?
People have tried, worshiping all manner of things.
But these things are not gods. Forgive them.

Lord, through us, inform them
and make them know your power and might.
Then they will know that your name is Yahweh.

(Based on Jeremiah 16:19-21)

Categories
Jeremiah Devotionals

Listen!

Jeremiah

Last Sunday, I preached a message by the same title as this article. I was preaching from Mark 4, where Jesus commanded the crowds, “Listen!”

Here we see God saying the same thing to the Israelites.

But here’s what I found interesting.

God said,

For as a belt is bound around the waist, so I bound all the people of Israel and all the people of Judah to me…to be my people for my renown and praise and honor. (Jeremiah 13:11a, NIV)

In the same way, we are called to be God’s people for his renown, praise, and honor.

But what was the problem with the Jews?

But they have not listened. (11b)

He explains further earlier in verse 10.

These wicked people, who refuse, to listen to my words, who follow the stubbornness of their hearts and go after false gods to serve and worship them, will be like this (ruined) belt–completely useless.

How about us? When people see us, do they praise and honor God? Do they themselves want to turn to God and become his people too?

We can only be a people for God’s renown, praise, and honor if we listen to him. If our hearts are soft to him.

So remember God’s words to the Jews. They are for us too.

Hear and pay attention, do not be arrogant, for the Lord has spoken. Give glory to the Lord your God… (Jeremiah 13:15)

Categories
Jeremiah Devotionals

Our response in times of crisis

Jeremiah

As I write this, many people around the world are panicking because of the Corona virus.

How do we respond as Christians? I think we learn the answer through this chapter.

Do not learn the way of the nations or be terrified by signs in the heavens, although the nations are terrified by them, for the customs of the peoples are worthless. (Jeremiah 10:2-3)

These “signs” probably had to do with astrological predictions of disaster. People looked at the stars, saw disaster, and feared.

Perhaps the majority of people don’t think that way anymore, but people look at things like this virus and fear what will happen.

But we are not to be like the people of this world, fearing what they fear.

Instead, we should have three responses: worship, humility, and trust.

Lord, there is no one like you.
You are great;
your name is great in power.

Who should not fear you,
King of the nations.

For among all the wise people of the nations
and among all their kingdoms, there is no one like you. (Jeremiah 10:6-7)

Meditate on these words. Pray these words today. Meditate on and pray Jeremiah’s words in verses 10, 12-13, and 16 too.

Then with humility and trust, pray,

I know, Lord,
that a person’s way of life is not his own;
no one who walks determines his own steps.

Discipline me, Lord, but with justice–
not in your anger,
or you will reduce me to nothing. (Jeremiah 10:23-24)

Of course, be cautious in times like these. But let us not live in panic and terror.

Remember that we serve an awesome Lord. And in humility, let us trust him. 

Categories
Jeremiah Devotionals

To know the Lord

Jeremiah

A little different style today. Instead of explaining this passage, I’d like you to read and think about it yourself .

As you look at Jeremiah 9, focus on verses 2-6, and 12-14.

After that, take a look at verses 23-24 and then ask yourself:

“What does knowing the Lord mean? Is it mere head knowledge about him? If I truly know the Lord, how should that change my way of thinking and the way I live? Do I truly know the Lord in that sense?”

May we all be people who truly know the Lord.

Categories
Proverbs Devotionals

A simple prayer

A king’s heart is like channeled water in the LORD’s hand:
He directs it wherever he chooses.

All a person’s ways seem right to him,
but the LORD weighs hearts. (Proverbs 21:1-2)

Oh Lord, may my heart be like channeled water in your hand. Direct it where you choose.

For Lord, all my ways seem right to me. But you weigh my heart.

Categories
Jeremiah Devotionals

Ears to hear

Jeremiah

Next Sunday at my church, we’ll be looking at Mark 4:1-20. One of the themes of that passage is, “Do we have ears to hear God’s word?”

That in fact is a major theme of Jeremiah 5-6. Unfortunately, the Israelites didn’t have ears to hear.

God said these things about them.

“Hear this,
you foolish and senseless people.
They have eyes, but they don’t see.
They have ears, but they don’t hear. (Jeremiah 5:21)

“But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts.
They have turned aside and have gone away.” (Jeremiah 5:23)

“Who can I speak to and give such a warning
that they will listen?

Look, their ear is uncircumcised,so they cannot pay attention.

See, the word of the Lord has become contemptible to them—
they find no pleasure in it.” (Jeremiah 6:10-11)

“This is what the Lord says:

“Stand by the roadways and look.
Ask about the ancient paths,
“Which is the way to what is good?”

Then take it
and find rest for yourselves.

But they protested, “We won’t!”

I appointed watchmen over you
and said, “Listen for the sound of the ram’s horn.”

But they protested, “We won’t listen!”” (Jeremiah 6:16-17)

What about us? Do we have ears that are open?

As we read the Bible or hear the Sunday message, when we hear or read something that hurts, do we simply close our eyes and our ears to it?

Or do we welcome that word and receive it?

What kind of ears to do you have?

Categories
Jeremiah Devotionals

If we want revival

Jeremiah

We live in a world that seems to be wandering further and further away from God.

It’s easy to get depressed and mourn over that fact. But the truth is, if we want revival, it starts with us.

Throughout chapter 3, God called his people to return to him. To that point, their return to him had been mere pretense. (Jeremiah 3:10)

His people seemed to show a repentant heart (Jeremiah 3:22-25), but God again tells them in chapter 4 that he is not interested in mere words. Rather he says,

Break up the unplowed ground;
do not sow among the thorns. (Jeremiah 4:3)

What is the state of our hearts? Is it something that God’s word can easily penetrate and bear fruit in?

Or is his word falling on hard ground, rocky ground, or thorny ground? (Mark 4:3-20)

Too many times, I think his word is falling on thorny ground in my heart. I let other things choke out its growth in my life.

And so I pray, “Lord, heal my faithlessness to you.” (Jeremiah 3:22).

But the words that really strike me are 4:1-2.

“If you return, Israel—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
you will return to me,
if you remove your abhorrent idols
from my presence
and do not waver,
then you can swear, “As the Lord lives,”
in truth, in justice, and in righteousness,
then the nations will be blessed by him
and will pride themselves in him.”

Do we want to see revival in our land? Then we who are God’s people need to return to him, removing the idols from our hearts and living lives faithful to him.

O Lord, heal your people’s faithlessness to you. And heal your land.

Categories
Jeremiah Devotionals

What sin is

Jeremiah

In this passage, God is essentially taking his people to court, and bringing his charges against them. And in doing so, we get a clear picture of what sin is.

I live in Japan, and to many people here, they hear the word sin, and they associate it with crime.

But while crime is sin, sin itself is something much deeper: a turning away from God and the turning to something else.

You see this time and again in this passage.

What fault did your fathers find in me
that they went so far from me
followed worthless idols
and became worthless themselves.

They stopped asking, “Where is the Lord…”(Jeremiah 2:5-6)

Has a nation ever exchanged its gods?
(But they were not gods!)
Yet my people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols. (11)

For my people have committed a double evil:
They have abandoned me,
the fountain of living water,
and dug cisterns for themselves–cracked cisterns that cannot hold water. (13)

Have you not brought this upon yourself
by abandoning the Lord your God
while he was leading you along the way? (17)

Recognize how evil and bitter it is
for you to abandon the Lord your God
and to have no fear of me. (19)

For long ago I broke your yoke;
I tore off your chains.
You insisted, “I will not serve!” (20)

But you say, “It is hopeless;
I love strangers,
and I will continue to follow them.” (25)

For they have turned their back to me
and not their face (27)

Why do you bring a case against me?
All of you have rebelled against me. (29)

Why do my people claim,
“We will go where we want;
we will no longer come to you”?

Can a young woman forget her jewelry
or a bride her wedding sash?

Yet my people have forgotten me
for countless days. (31-32)

But in spite of all these things
you claim, “I am innocent.
His anger is sure to turn away from me.”

But I will certainly judge you
because you have said, “I have not  sinned.” (34-35)

These attitudes are the heart of sin.

Sure, murder, rape, stealing, hurting others, cheating on your husband or wife, and lying are all sins.

But it ultimately comes down to this: you turn our back on God and go your own way.

And so when we preach the gospel, that is what we need to explain to people when talking about sin.

So many, like the Israelites, can’t see their own sin because they don’t understand what it is or how bad it is.

But as we look at our lives, how often can these things be said of us?

Are we abandoning the fountain of living water and digging cracked cisterns for ourselves?

Where are we going to get the love we desire? Where are we going to find satisfaction in life?

Are we turning our face toward God? Or are we seeking other things?

Where is your heart today?

Categories
Jeremiah Devotionals

A prayer

Jeremiah

O Lord, you chose me before you formed me in the womb.

You knew me, and set me apart before I was born.

You called me as your child, and as your priest, declaring your praises to the nations. (John 1:12; 1 Peter 2:9)

I will go to everyone you send me and speak whatever you tell me.

Fill my mouth with your words.

Use me to uproot and tear down Satan’s strongholds, to destroy and demolish them. (2 Corinthians 10:4:5)

Use me to build and plant your kingdom in the lives of those around me.

For I believe you will watch over your word to fulfill it. What you say, you will do.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

Categories
Proverbs Devotionals

A fountain of life

This chapter in Proverbs has a lot to say about the words that come from our mouth.

Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning. (Proverbs 10:13)

The tongue of the righteous is pure silver. (20)

The lips of the righteous feed many. (21)

The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom. (30)

The lips of the righteous know what is appropriate. (31)

But I suppose the words that sum all of this up is found in verse 11.

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life.

Or as the NLT puts it,

The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain.

That is what our words should be: a life-giving fountain.

To our wives. To our husbands. To our children. To our friends. To our coworkers. To our neighbors. To those around us who don’t know Christ.

Do our words in speech overflow with life to those who hear? Do our words in social media?

And if they don’t, what does that say about our hearts? (Matthew 12:34; James 3:11-12)

O Lord, purify the spring in my heart that my mouth may become a life-giving fountain.

Categories
2 Chronicles Devotionals

Living according to the Word

2 Chronicles

It’s amazing to think about how the book of the Law had apparently been lost for years.  (The book of the law was the Jewish Bible of the time which comprised of Genesis to Deuteronomy.)

Apparently, during the time of Amon (and perhaps Manasseh), worship of God had so deteriorated that even the priests didn’t have a copy of God’s word.

What in the world were they teaching the people at that time?

Probably what they remembered being taught by their fathers and grandfathers.

But even then, a lot was apparently forgotten.

Even when Josiah became king and started to lead the nation back to God, people were worshiping God and living as they thought was right.

Then the Book of the Law was found, and Josiah and the people realized how far off track they had gotten.

And by reading God’s word and following it, not only did their lives change, but also their worship of God, specifically the Passover.

No longer did they do things as they saw fit, but they did things according to God’s word (2 Chronicles 34:31, 35:6, 12).

How about you? Are you living according to God’s word?

Are your morals and values coming from it?

Are your ideas about God and how to please him coming from what he has said?

Or, because you’re not reading God’s word regularly, are you just living by what you think is right?

Let us not merely follow our culture or our own ideas on the best way to live.

Rather, let us make God’s word the center of our lives and live by it.

Categories
2 Chronicles Devotionals

What’s in your temple?

2 Chronicles

Sometimes people wonder why we need both Chronicles and Kings in our Bible, considering the fact that they cover much of the same material in Israel’s history.

Just as the putting the gospels together gives us a fuller picture of Jesus’ story, putting together Kings and Chronicles helps us to get the fuller picture of Israel’s history.

And while there is overlap in the stories, we do get more details by putting the accounts together.

In this passage, for example, you see the repentance of Manasseh. You don’t see that in the Kings’ account.  (2 Kings 21)

Beyond that, there are two key differences between Kings and Chronicles.

After Solomon died, the kingdom of Israel split into two kingdoms, the northern kingdom of Israel, and the southern kingdom of Judah.

The kings of Israel were all bad, following idols.

The kings of Judah had many bad kings, but they also had a few good kings who served the Lord.

Kings gives us information about both kingdoms.

Chronicles primarily focuses on Judah.

The other thing about Chronicles is it tends to put more emphasis on the temple and worship at the temple.

You see this in today’s story. Manasseh had wrecked worship at the temple.

It’s absolutely amazing to think that he would put idols of other gods in God’s temple.

Can you imagine setting up a statue of Buddha in your church and worshiping it?

That’s essentially what Manasseh did.

But think about this:  We are called temples of God (1Corinthians 6:18-20).

What do you put into your temple?

What kind of music do you listen to?

What kind of things do you watch on TV or on the internet?

What kind of books and magazines do you read?

Are these things pleasing to God?

Is your whole life an expression of worship to God?

Categories
2 Kings Devotionals

Why evil people succeed

2 Kings

Why do evil people succeed?

Certainly, the Assyrians were evil people. And yet we find that God allowed them to succeed. That in fact, it was a part of his plan (probably to judge other evil nations).

How could that be?

It’s hard to understand God’s ways sometimes. But what is also clear is that God ultimately will bring justice. And that’s what we see in Isaiah’s prophesy against the Assyrians (2 Kings 19:22-28).

I did find one other thing interesting. Verse 27 is very similar to Psalm 139:3-4.

The difference?

The Assyrians raged against God and were judged.

David loved God, and found comfort in his presence.

When we see evil in this world, let us not rage against God, questioning his wisdom.

Rather, like David, let us trust God, knowing that he will ultimately bring justice.

 

Categories
2 Kings Devotionals

Satan’s oft-repeated lie

2 Kings

In Assyria’s attack on Judah, we see Satan speaking his oft-repeated lie through the Assyrian Rabshakeh (the king’s official).

What was the lie?

“Don’t trust God. He’s trying to rob you of life.” (2 Kings 18:27, 30)

“Come to me. I will give you true life.” (31-32)

That lie goes all the way back to the garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:1-3)

How much do we trust God? Do we believe his way leads to life?

God does not promise a happy life with no problems. Hezekiah was serving God, and yet this attack came.

What will you do when problems come and life gets hard? Will you continue to trust and follow God?

Sometimes we are tempted to compromise what we believe because we think life will become easier if we do.

Hezekiah thought so at first. Instead of trusting God, he trusted the Egyptians. (Isaiah 30:1-5)

And when that didn’t work, he tried to appease the Assyrians by taking silver and gold that belonged to God.

But life didn’t get better by compromising. It got harder.

Satan is not satisfied with getting you to compromise. He wants to destroy you.

But when we put our trust in God, we ultimately find life. That’s what Hezekiah learned in the end.

What problems are you facing now? Are you feeling tempted to compromise your faith because of these problems?

Or will you trust God and follow him?

Categories
2 Chronicles Devotionals

Seeking the Lord

2 Chronicles

As we read about the imminent attack on Judah, it’s hard to miss what Jehoshaphat’s response was.

Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he resolved to seek the Lord. Then he proclaimed a fast for all Judah, who gathered to seek the Lord. They even came from all the cities of Judah to seek him. (2 Chronicles 20:3-4)

Three times, we see Jehoshaphat’s response: he sought God.

He resolved to seek God.

The people gathered to seek God.

In fact, they came from all over to seek God.

How often do we do the same?

What does it mean to seek the Lord?

It means we seek his will.

It means we seek his help.

But more than all that, we seek a close relationship with him.

How often do we do that?

When we read our Bibles, is it just a habit, or are we seeking God?

When we fast, is it just a religious discipline, or are we seeking God?

When we gather at church, is it just a social club, or are we seeking God?

When we meet for our small groups, are we just hanging out with friends, or are we seeking God?

Let us not be like most of the people of Judah, who sought God in their time of need, but never really gave their hearts to him. (2 Chronicles 20:33)

Instead, let us be like Jehoshaphat, and truly seek God with all our hearts. (2 Chronicles 19:3; 20:32)

Categories
2 Chronicles Devotionals

Unequally yoked

2 Chronicles

The apostle Paul wrote,

Don’t become partners with those who do not believe. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness?

Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

What agreement does Christ have with Belial?

Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? (2 Corinthians 6:14-15)

While most times, we associate this passage with dating and marriage, this is true about any relationship where an unbeliever has too much influence in our lives.

We see this in the life of Jehoshaphat. He allowed Ahab far too much influence in his life, and it nearly cost him his life.

And while God showed grace to Jehoshaphat by sparing his life, nevertheless, God severely chastised him for his decision.

We, of course, cannot simply cut off all relationships with the people of this world.

Nevertheless, we need to be wise about who we build relationships with.

The biggest question is, are they influencing us, or are we influencing them?

If they are influencing us and causing us to make bad decisions as Ahab did with Jehoshaphat, we are unequally yoked, and we need to “unyoke” ourselves from them.

So let us heed the words of Paul.

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 Corinthians 6:17-18)

Categories
2 Kings Devotionals

When we fail to believe. When we fail to share.

2 Kings

This passage starts and ends with the story of the king’s captain.

He failed to believe in the salvation God promised to provide, and as a result, he perished.

The same is true for people today. If they fail to believe in the salvation God provides through Jesus Christ, they will perish.

But in Romans, the apostle Paul asks us a very important question:

How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in?

And how can they believe without hearing about him?

And how can they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14).

Answer: they can’t.

And for many people you know, you are the only “preacher” they will ever meet.

So as with the lepers in this story, we too have a responsibility to share this salvation we have received.

It is not enough for us to enjoy our salvation. We must share the good news with others.

And if we don’t, God will hold us accountable.

Paul himself understood that from scripture. (Ezekiel 3:16-21, Acts 20:26-27)

Again, for many of the people you know, you are the only Christian they will ever meet.

So if you don’t share the good news of God’s salvation with them, who will?

Categories
2 Kings Devotionals Psalms Devotionals

Thankfulness and worship

2 Kings

Today, I was reading 2 Kings 4 as part of my Bible reading plan, but I was also reading Psalm 145-146.

And I could just imagine all the people God helped in 2 Kings 4 worshiping him with those two psalms.

We often ask for God’s help. But how often do we thank him and praise him when he does?

Has God answered one of your prayers recently? Has he helped you in your time of trouble?

If so, have you spent time thanking him and praising him for it?

Categories
1 Kings Devotionals Psalms Devotionals

Two questions

Kings & Psalms

Very short and sweet today.

Read 1 Kings 20:42-43, 21:20, 25-29. Then take a look at Psalm 141 and ask yourself these two questions.

1. Who has influence in my life?

2. How do I respond when I am rebuked?

May God speak to your heart today.

Categories
1 Kings Devotionals

Though we may not see

1 Kings

I’ve read this story dozens, if not hundreds of times. Today I saw something new.

Here is Elijah, fresh off an incredible victory in which God answered his prayer with literal fire, and people are proclaiming, “The Lord, he is God!”

But now we see him on the run from Jezebel, afraid and discouraged.

He goes to Mount Horeb (also known as Sinai), where Moses had met with God hundreds of years before.

How does God greet him?

“What are you doing here?”

Simply put, “You’re not supposed to be here. Why are you here?”

Elijah then complains that despite all his work, he is the only one left in Israel who is faithful to God.

God then passes by three times, but as he does, his presence is not found in spectacular displays.

Elijah’s eyes are captured by the strong wind, the earthquake, and the fire because they naturally draw one’s eyes.

But God was not in any of them. In focusing on those things, he missed seeing God.

Instead, God was in place where Elijah least expected: in the silence.

Most translations say, “a still small voice.”

But the word can also be translated, “a thin silence.”

The NASB puts it, “a sound of a gentle blowing” and the CEV puts it, “a gentle breeze.”

It makes me think of Jesus’ words concerning the Holy Spirit and his work.

The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going.

So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)

God then tells Elijah to get back to work. And he leaves him with these words of encouragement.

But I will leave seven thousand in Israel—every knee that has not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him. (1 Kings 19:18)

Seven thousand are not a lot of people when you consider the millions living in Israel at that time. But I’m not sure that number was meant to be literal.  Seven is a number symbolizing completeness in the Bible.

And so what God was probably saying was, “I have my people here in Israel. And all that are mine will come to me.” (John 6:37)

Here in Japan, Christians pray for revival. And in so praying, many want to see a mighty work which is loud and visible. I would like to see that.

But when we don’t see it, people get discouraged. Many have dropped out of ministry because of it.

But God tells us, “My presence and my work is not always in the loud and visible. Many times, I’m working quietly where you can’t see. Your work is not in vain.

“Even in Japan, I have my people. I know those who are mine.”  (2 Timothy 2:19).

“So get back to work. I will save my people.” 

Categories
1 Kings Devotionals

Praying for our nation

1 Kings

As I read this passage today, I thought about Japan, where I live.

Like Israel, the Japanese worship gods with no voice, gods that do not answer, gods that do not pay attention.

And so I pray for Japan, and for those I love in Japan who don’t know him. My wife’s family. My coworkers. My students.

O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Japan. That you are God of the whole earth.

Let it be clear to them that I am your servant, and that everything I do is for you.

Oh, Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.

And when they see it, may they too fall on their faces and say, “The Lord, he is God. The Lord, he is God.”

Categories
Hebrews Devotionals

Trusting the Lord and heeding his voice.

Hebrews

The danger of reading the Bible one chapter at a time is that you can lose the overall message of what is being said.

And the overall message of Hebrews  is to put your trust in the Lord, paying heed his voice.

As I mentioned in an earlier article, there were Jews that were tempted to turn their backs on Christ, and to go back to Judaism because of the persecution they were facing.

So from the very beginning of this letter, the author urges the people to heed the Lord’s voice. And when we say “Heed the Lord’s voice,” we’re talking about God in Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The writer of Hebrews spends the whole first chapter talking about how though God spoke through the prophets in the Old Testament, Jesus is the final word, testified to by God the Father and the Holy Spirit.

For that reason, we are to heed Jesus and not drift away from him (2:2-4).

And he gives us warning from the Holy Spirit in chapter 3 and 4,

Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. (Hebrews 3:7-8, 15, 4:7).

Why? Because apart from Jesus, we will never find true rest. Rather we will be condemned for all eternity. (3:12, 16-19).

The author of Hebrews then warns us against having dull or lazy ears, and thus being immature. (5:11-6:3, 9-12)

All this leads to the climax in chapters 10-12.

He says in chapter 10 that people who disregarded the word of God given to Moses were put to death.

How much more should one who disregards Jesus? These people trample not only on what Jesus said concerning salvation, but all he did to accomplish it.

And so the writer warns, “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

But then he encourages us, “Hang in there. Don’t turn back. For if you endure, if you will continue to trust God and heed his voice, you will be saved.”

Chapter 11 then goes into a whole list of people who did just that, some of whom who did so under great pressure, even to the point of death. And as we saw yesterday, God testified of them all, “These are the ones who please me.”

And so the writer concludes in chapter 12, “You see all these people who came before you. They trusted God. They heeded Jesus, the final word, the source and perfecter of our faith.

“Do the same. Consider Jesus and all he did for you on the cross.

“And when the Lord disciplines you by letting you go through trials, don’t get bitter or angry. Trust him. Believe that he truly wants your best.”

He then says to this tired, persecuted people.

Therefore, strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but healed instead. (Hebrews 12:13).

Finally, after more instruction and exhortation, he concludes with this word.

Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus — the great Shepherd of the sheep — through the blood of the everlasting covenant, equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21)

So, beloved people of God, whatever you may be going through, whatever trials or heartache, trust the Lord. Heed his voice. And you will find rest.

Categories
Hebrews Devotionals

Commended

Hebrews

As I read this passage, the word “approved” or in some translations “commended” strikes me. You see it in Hebrews 11:2, 4, 5, and 38.

The word also has the idea of someone testifying to something. The question is, “who is testifying” and “what are they saying?”

The answer in Hebrews is clear: God is testifying concerning his people. And he says, “These people please me.”

On what basis does he say that?

Not for their actions, at least not primarily. But for their faith.

God testifies of them “These people please me, not because they are perfect, but because they trust me.”

They trusted that God was truly there and would reward them if they seek him. They believed that regardless of what was being offered to them by others, God had something better for them. (Hebrews 11:6, 15-16, 24-26, 35, 40).

They didn’t see this world as their permanent home. Rather, they saw themselves as foreigners, as temporary residents.

As a result, when they faced suffering and even death, they still kept trusting God and following him.

These are the people God commended. These are the people of whom God said, “They please me.”

It makes me think, “What does God say of me? What does he testify about me?”

We stand before a cloud of witnesses, all of whom stand approved of before God. Will we stand with them some day?

Lord God, like those who came before me, I am not perfect. I stand by your grace alone.

But let my life be marked by a deep trust in you. And may the day come when you will say of me also, “Bruce was one who pleased me.”

Categories
Hebrews Devotionals

Better

Hebrews

It’s worth noting that the letter to the Hebrews were written to Jews who because of persecution by their own people, were being tempted to turn their backs on Jesus and return to Judaism.

And so the whole theme throughout this letter is that in Jesus we have something better, superior to anything Judaism had to offer.

You actually see that word several times.

In Jesus, we have a better hope (7:19), a better covenant (7:22; 8:6) that is based on better promises (8:6). As a result Jesus has a superior ministry to that of the Levitical priests (8:6).

Not only that, he himself is a better priest because he is sinless and lives forever, in contrast to priests that were sinful and ultimately died (7:23-28).

He ministers in a greater and more perfect tabernacle (9:11).

And the sacrifice he offered was better than any bull or goat (9:23), because his sacrifice actually could cleanse our hearts and consciences before God.

The sacrifices of bulls and goats couldn’t do that. That’s why the priests’ work in offering sacrifices never stopped.

But after Jesus offered himself on the cross, he sat down at the right hand of God. (9:9-10, 13-14, 10:4-12, 14)

In the tabernacle, only priests could enter the Holy Place, and only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place. (9:1-8)

But now, we who belong to Jesus have access into the holy places and our Father who dwells there. (10:19)

Best of all, our relationship does not depend on how faithful we are to him. It depends on his faithfulness to us. (Hebrews 8:10-13, 10:23).

That’s why we can have confidence before him. Not because of who we are. But because of who he is.

So what?

I can put it no better than the writer to the Hebrews.

Therefore brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus–he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through is flesh)–, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodes washed in pure water.

Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. (10:19-23)

Categories
Hebrews Devotionals

The reason for our hope

Hebrews

Sometimes, because of our weakness, we wonder if God can truly accept us as his children. We look at all our sins and failures, and as a result, our faith starts to shake.

But thankfully, our salvation is not based on our performance, nor on our feelings. What is it based on? God’s unchangeable purpose and his oath.

We see the purpose God had in mind from the beginning of time in Romans 8:29-30, to make a people who are like his Son. And that purpose doesn’t change. He foreknew us, he predestined us, he called us, he justified us, and he glorifies us.

That was the promise God was making to Abraham. That through Abraham, God would make a people that belonged to Himself. And that is not only the Jews, but us. (Romans 4:16-17).

For that reason, Jesus went into the inner sanctuary before God the Father, carrying the blood he shed on the cross. And now he intercedes for us as a sympathetic high priest. (Hebrews 2:17-18, 4:14-16).

So if you’re ever feeling like your faith is shaking, remember that Jesus himself is our anchor of hope that we truly belong to God.  For what God promised, what God had purposed from the beginning, is accomplished not by what we do, but by what Jesus did and does for us even now. 

Let us rest our hope, then, not in ourselves, but in Jesus. He alone is the anchor of our hope.

 

 

Categories
Ecclesiastes Devotionals

A time for everything

Ecclesiastes

There is a time for everything in life.

The question is, during the hard times, will we rage against God?

Or will we keep trusting God? Will we keep trusting that there is a plan? That this life is not all vanity? That he truly does make everything beautiful in its time?

We know that there is more to this life. But right now, we see the end imperfectly, “like puzzling reflections in a mirror” (I Corinthians 13:12, NLT).

We cannot see what God has done from beginning to end clearly, only what he has revealed.

So in the meantime, do we believe that whatever God does endures forever? That nothing can disrupt his plan?

Will we choose to be joyful and do good as long as we live, fearing God, and taking each day as a gift from him?

 

Categories
Matthew Devotionals

Receiving our King

Let earth receive her King

Today is the “Feast of Epiphany,” the day when many Christians remember the visit of the three wise men. (Though honestly, I have never been in a church that has celebrated this feast or thought about its significance).

But reading this story again, I think of the words of Simon who talked to Mary and Joseph on the day they brought Jesus to the temple to be circumcised.

Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. (Luke 2:34-35)

“That the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

The thoughts of the chief priests certainly were. You would think they had heard the rumors that the Messiah was born. (Matthew 2:3)

And yet it doesn’t seem to have occurred to them to seek him out. How that could be is beyond me.

King Herod, of course, wanted to kill this threat to the throne.

And the wise men came to worship him.

Even today, Jesus reveals the thoughts of people.

Most people feel unthreatened by thoughts of baby Jesus in a manger.

But when it comes to a Jesus who claims to be their king, that’s where their hearts are revealed.

Many dismiss the thought out of hand.

Others become hostile.

And others bow before him.

What response does Jesus spark in your heart?

Categories
2 Corinthians Devotionals

A new start?

Happy New Year all!

With the new year, often comes New Year resolutions for a lot of people. The idea is, “Let’s have a new start, a fresh start.”

But the truth is, we don’t need a new start. We have already been given a new start in Jesus. As Paul wrote,

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Note something: a lot of “fresh starts” we try to embark upon are based on our efforts, on what we do.

But our fresh start is by grace. As Paul says in verse 18, “Everything is from God.”

Our salvation, our cleansing, our being made more like Jesus…all this is from God.

We do not start the Christian life by grace and then live the rest of it based on our own efforts and willpower.

So remember: when we fall, when we sin, when we fail, we don’t have to go back to the very beginning and start all over again, looking for a “fresh start.”

Wherever we are at, Jesus is ahead of us, and showing us the next step. All we have to do is take that next step.

As you look at Jesus from where you’re at, what is the next step he is calling you to?

Categories
2 John Devotionals

Bending God’s truth

Truth vs. Love

I’m not sure, but this may be my last blog article of the year.

And as we end this year, and look into the next, it’s good to remember the truths John sets forth here. Namely. each day we are to walk in truth and love.

Too often, Christians nowadays stress love, but in the name of love, they start bending the truth, especially concerning the truth about righteousness. They go beyond what Jesus and the apostles teach, saying things like “Well, Jesus and his apostles may have taught this or that, but this is the ‘trajectory’ his teaching was going in.”

But by going down that supposed “trajectory,” they stop abiding in truth and actually end up nullifying it.

Yes, we should love sinners. But love does not mean bending God’s truth and telling them what is evil is good.

So let us not simply live in “love.” But let us have a love based in truth.

Through Jesus came grace and truth (John 1:14, 17). Let both of these things flow through our lives each day.

Categories
Judges Devotionals

Losing that which we cannot possibly keep

Judges

A missionary named Jim Elliot once wrote, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

Sadly, Samson was a man who gave up what God had intended for him to gain what he couldn’t possibly keep.

Samson was a Nazirite, a person dedicated to God, and in Samson’s case, for life. With that came God’s blessing and leading. (Judges 13:23-24)

But in this passage, he sought a woman forbidden by the law of Moses.

God used Samson’s action to accomplish His own purposes and begin saving His people from the Philistines. But at the end of the day, Samson gained nothing, losing the woman he had sought.

How often, I wonder, does God accomplish his goals through me, and yet I gain nothing because my heart is wrong before him.

Instead of seeking Him and His kingdom, I seek what I cannot keep, whether it’s the things of this world, the praise of people, the pride of life, or whatever it may be?

Lord, let me be as Jim Elliot, not Samson. Let me give up what I cannot keep, to gain what I cannot lose.

Categories
Judges Devotionals

Imperfect savior. Perfect Savior

Judges

As I read the story of Samson at Christmas time, I can’t help but notice the similarities in the announcements of Samson’s birth, and Jesus’.

You will conceive and give birth to a son…he will begin to save Israel from the power of the Philistines. (Judges 13:3, 5)

You will conceive and give birth to as son, and you will name him Jesus. (Luke 1:31)

She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)

There are two huge differences, of course, between Jesus and Samson.

First, the scope of the salvation they were to bring. Samson saved the Israelites from the Philistines, while Jesus saved us from our sins.

More importantly, as you look at his life, you find that Samson was a very flawed savior. Jesus, on the other hand, was a perfect Savior.

But one more point: the word “angel” in the Bible, simply means “messenger.” And it seems very likely that the messenger that came to Manoah and his wife was actually Jesus.

Notice the exchange between Manoah and this messenger.

“What is your name, so that, when your words come true, we may honor you?”

“Why do ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?” (Judges 13:17-18, ESV)

And after the messenger ascended into heaven, Manoah recognized, “we have seen God!” (22)

Years later, the prophet Isaiah would say these words,

For a child will be born for us,
a son will be given to us,
and the government will be on his shoulders,

He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6）

Let us worship God today for our wonderful, perfect Savior.

Categories
Isaiah Devotionals

Recognizing our Owner and Master

Isaiah

The ox knows its owner,
and the donkey its master’s feeding trough,
but Israel does not know;
my people do not understand. (Isaiah 1:3)

Here at Christmas time, we often see Nativity scenes, with Jesus in the manger.

But how many people recognize their Owner and Master in that manger?

How many, instead, are weighed down by their own sin, evildoers and depraved children, and they don’t even realize it?

How many have abandoned the Lord, despising him, and turning their backs on him? (4)

At this time of year, some even make token sacrifices, going to church, and putting a few coins or bills in the offering basket.

But God doesn’t accept any of these actions from those who take him so lightly. These things are useless offerings, detestable to him. They are a burden to him.

And he will not look at or listen to people who offer them and yet all the while refuse to recognize him as their Owner and Master. (11-15)

And so he says,

Come, let us settle this…

Though your sins are scarlet,
they will be as white as snow;
though they are crimson red,
they will be like wool. (18)

God indeed did settle this dispute between himself and us. He sent his Son to die on a cross and shed his blood for us. And by his blood, we are made clean. (1 John 1:7)

So let us recognize our Owner and Master. Two thousand years ago, the ox and the donkey did so. How much more should we?

Categories
Matthew Devotionals

Why Jesus came

Matthew

As I was reading this passage today, I saw it in a slightly different way.

This man comes to Jesus and says, “What good must I do to have eternal life?”

Jesus answered, “Why do you ask me about what is good. There is only one who is good.”

What was Jesus’ point in saying that?

One point he was making is that only one person is truly qualified to be called “good,” and that’s God.

This makes your view of Jesus very important. If he is not truly God, you cannot say Jesus is truly good.

But more than that, perhaps what Jesus was saying was this: “You think it’s possible for you to become good? There is only One that can make the claim to be good. Do you really think you can become the second person who can make that claim?”

Jesus then challenges the man to keep the commandments if he thinks himself truly good. Amazingly, the man claims to have kept all of them. And yet, he still detects there is something lacking.

And so Jesus challenges him with the two most important commandments: to love his neighbor (sell all he has and give to the poor), and to love God (follow Jesus).

At this, the man walks away sadly because he was not willing to part with his riches.

Jesus’ words, like a double-edged sword pierced the man’s soul and showed him the truth that was there: that he was not as good as he had thought he was.

Why did Jesus come?

Unlike what the man may have thought, Jesus didn’t come simply to teach the commandments of God. If the commandments were all we needed to be saved, there would have been no need for the cross.

Rather Jesus came for one important reason: with man, woman, and child, salvation is impossible. We are all sinners. We all fall short of God’s goodness.

But with God, salvation is possible for us all, sinners though we are.

Jesus perfectly kept the law we were unable to keep. And then he paid the price for our sin on the cross.

Still, it seems Peter missed the point Jesus was making. Peter asked, “What about us? Look at what we have done for you.”

But if salvation were based on what we did for God, we’d all be doomed. Our salvation is based on what Jesus did. Peter would learn that later. (I Peter 1:1-5)

How about you? Do you think yourself good? Only one is good. And if you think you’re the second person who make that claim, you’re deceiving yourself. We all need a Savior. And that’s why Jesus came.

Categories
Judges Devotionals

Our true king

Judges

We often think of Saul as the first “king” in Israel’s history. But actually, Abimelech was.

The problem was, he was not appointed by God, who was Israel’s true King. Rather certain Israelites appointed him as king on their own. As a result, Abimelech recognized no accountability to the true King of Israel. (Deuteronomy 17:14-20).

For that matter, neither did the people who made Abimelech king. They were worshiping a false god (Judges 8:33, 9:4).

The result? Disaster.

The truth is, we can find true peace only when our true King rules. That King came 2000 years ago to the town of Bethlehem.

But our King is no longer a baby in a manger. He is a King that deserves our love, loyalty, and obedience.

So let us receive our King in our hearts, and joyously submit to his authority each day.

Joy to the world!
The Lord is come!
Let Earth receive her King!

Categories
Judges Devotionals

The Lord is peace

Judges

I’ve been preparing a message on Luke 2 for my church, so I couldn’t help but notice some parallels between this story and the story of the shepherds.

As with Gideon, the shepherds must have been wondering why God had abandoned Israel. They were under Roman occupation, and even worse, God had not spoken to them in over 400 years.

But just as the angel told Gideon, “God is with you,” the angel told the shepherds, “Immanuel is born! God is truly with you!”

Gideon and the shepherds are also both told, “Do not be afraid.”

The angels also gave both of them a sign showing God’s favor to them.

Most importantly, in both cases, God then proclaims peace to his people.

Gideon, in fact, says, “Yahweh is peace.”

Hundreds of years later, the prophet Micah would say of Messiah, “He is our peace.”  (Micah 5:5)

So this Christmas season, whatever trials you may be facing, remember:

Don’t be afraid. God has shown his favor to us in his Son. And through his Son, we now have peace with God.

More than that, Jesus himself is our peace.

Categories
Isaiah Devotionals Luke Devotionals

For you

For a child will be born for us,
a son will be given to us,
and the government will be on his shoulders.

He will be named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

“A child will be born for us.”

As I reflected on those words, I thought about what the angels said to the shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth.

Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:11)

I can’t help but wonder. Did the angel say what he did with Isaiah’s words in mind? I think he did.

He could have simply said, “A Savior was born.”

Or, “A Savior was born for Israel.”

But he says, “A Savior has been born for you all. Not just for the influential and powerful. But for the ordinary person as well. He is born for you.”

And then he invites these shepherds to be the first visitors to the newborn King.

This King was not in a palace surrounded by soldiers. He was accessible to even the shepherds, lying in a manger in Bethlehem, surrounded only by his father, his mother, and perhaps some animals.

A Savior has been born for you.

You may feel like the shepherds. You may feel insignificant. Unimportant.

But Jesus was born for you.

For you.

Categories
Judges Devotionals

What your faith is leaning on

Judges

What is your faith leaning on?

On your pastor’s faith? On your spouse’s? On your friends’?

Or do you yourself truly trust in God?

For Barak, his faith rested on Deborah’s. He was confident God was with Deborah. He wasn’t confident God was with him. He certainly wasn’t confident enough to obey God without Deborah by his side.

How about you?

Let us not rest our faith on another’s. Rather, let us all mature, learning to trust in God and obey him ourselves.

As Peter said,

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18)

Categories
Judges Devotionals

Failing to drive out evil in our lives

Judges

One of the things God commanded the Israelites to do as to completely drive out the Canaanites from the land, and make no compromise with them.

Why? Because of all their evil. And if they did not drive them out, their sin would eventually spread to the Israelites. (Leviticus 18, Deuteronomy 7:1-5).

But in this chapter, we see time and again the Israelites failing to do this.

In some cases, it was because it was hard. (Judges 1:19, 27, 34).

But that was no excuse. In the days of Joshua, they overcame enemies stronger than they. And in chapter 4 of Judges, we see that enemies having iron chariots were no match for Israel when they followed God.

More, we see that when they sought God’s counsel and they worked together, they could overcome anyone (1:1-5).

So what was the real issue?

In most cases, they just couldn’t be bothered to drive the Canaanites out. They could have. They were strong enough to do so. They simply didn’t.

How about us? God calls us to drive out sin and evil in our lives. But how important is that to us? Do we think that there are certain sins that are no big deal? A quick temper. Selfishness. Pornography.

Or are there sins that we’re finding hard to get rid of, and so we just don’t bother to try anymore?

Don’t make excuses for your sin. God has given his Spirit and each other to help us overcome sin in our lives. (Romans 8:13, James 5:15-16).

One day Jesus will return and we will be like him. So let us strive each day to be pure as he is pure. (1 John 3:2-3)

Categories
Romans Devotionals

Glorifying God and showing him gratitude

Romans

It is Thanksgiving Day in the United States.

Here in Japan where I live, we don’t have such a day, unfortunately. But even in the States, it seems many people have lost sight of what Thanksgiving is about.

Namely, who are we giving thanks to?

It makes me think of Paul’s words to the Romans. He said concerning unbelievers,

For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude.

Instead, their thinking became worthless and their senseless hearts were darkened. (Romans 1:21)

Again, Paul is talking about unbelievers here, but how often do we act like unbelievers? How often do we fail to glorify God in our lives? How often do we fail to show him gratitude to him?

When we fail to do these things, our thinking becomes worthless and our hearts become darkened. Instead of pursuing God, we start pursuing other things, worthless things.

But as Jeremiah put it, when we do that, we become worthless ourselves. (Jeremiah 2:5)

Let us not live that way. Instead, let us always remember to glorify God in our lives, never failing to give him thanks.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his faithful love endures forever. (Psalm 118:1)

Categories
2 Corinthians Devotionals

Living by grace

2 Corinthians

I was thinking on a passage I was reading with my small group yesterday. It’s a pretty famous passage in which Paul talks about his “thorn in the flesh.”

Three times Paul asked that it be taken from him, and three times, God refused, answering,

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Paul, looking back on the experience, then said,

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (9b-10)

Truth be told, I hate being in places of weakness, where I don’t feel like I’m in control.

I suppose few people do.

My dad talked about it being like walking on a tightrope with no safety net below.

Not a comfortable feeling.

But if I don’t experience weakness, I’ll never truly experience God’s grace.

That was true when God saved me. (Romans 5:6)

It remains true even now.

So maybe I need to do a little more stepping out, reveling in my weakness.

I’m not exactly sure what that means for me now. But I’m sure it won’t be long before God starts telling me.

Categories
Joshua Devotionals

Following God, seeking his will.

Joshua

As I was reading today’s passage, I thought about prayer.

In this passage, the commander of the army of the Lord appears to Joshua. Most likely, that was Jesus himself, hundreds of years before he came to this earth as a baby.

Anyway, when the commander appears, Joshua challenges him asking, “Are you for us, or for our enemies?”

The commander answered. Neither. “But as the commander of the Lord’s armies, I have come.”

What was he saying? Essentially he was saying, “You’re asking the wrong question. I’m the one in charge, not you. The question is not whether I am for you, but whether you are for me.”

Sometimes in prayer, we ask the Lord, “Are you really for me? Then do this for me. Do that for me.”

But that’s the wrong attitude toward prayer. In prayer, we are not trying to draw God to ourselves and make him do our will. We are drawing near to him, seeking his will.

Jesus said, “When you pray, say, ‘Your kingdom come, your will be done.'” (Matthew 6:10)

So when you pray, remember: We are not seeking to make God align to our will. Rather, we are aligning ourselves to his.”

Categories
Joshua Devotionals

Crossing the river

Joshua

Short and sweet today.

As I was reading Joshua 3 today, I couldn’t help but remember the words of Isaiah.

Now this is what the Lord says—
the one who created you, Jacob,
and the one who formed you, Israel—

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name; you are mine.

I will be with you
when you pass through the waters,
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not overwhelm you.

You will not be scorched
when you walk through the fire,
and the flame will not burn you.

For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior.” (Isaiah 43:1-3)

I’m so glad that the God of Joshua and the God of Isaiah is our God too.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

In a world where wrong is called right

Psalms

We live in a world now where wrong is called right.

Where people think the greatest happiness is in living as they desire.

Where things that were once called sinful are now celebrated.

The scary thing is that many in the church are falling into that trap.

But look at the attitude of David.

How happy are those whose way is blameless,
who walk according to the LORD’s instruction!

Happy are those who keep his decrees
and seek him with all their heart. (Psalm 119:1-2)

David doesn’t say, “Happy are those who live as they wish (just so long as they’re not hurting anyone else).”

He says, “Happy are those whose ways is blameless.”

What is his definition of blameless?

It’s those who walk according to the Lord’s instruction. Who seek the Lord with all their heart.

And there is no way to separate “seeking the Lord with all your heart” from keeping his decrees.

Many people say, “I love the Lord!” But when it comes to keeping his word, they say, “Well, that part is not relevant to me.”

To be sure, there are commandments in the Old Testament that are not directly relevant to us in that Jesus and the apostles specifically tell us they are not (Mark 7:14-19, Colossians 2:16-17, Hebrews 9-10 are some examples).

Even in the Old Testament itself, God would sometimes say, “this is unclean for you.” Not, “This is unclean or sinful.” But “This is unclean…for you.” (See Leviticus 11).

The implication being that it was okay for other nations, but not for the Israelites.

God gave the Israelites certain commandments that they were to keep as a sign that they were different from other peoples, as a sign that God was separating the Israelites for himself.

But there were things that God clearly said were evil for all people. (See Leviticus 18).

But when many people say, “That part is not relevant to me,” they don’t mean what I’ve just laid out.

They mean, “I don’t agree with God’s word, and so I’m just going to live how I want.”

And they (and unfortunately their churches) follow the wave the culture is on.

But look at what David said.

How can a young man keep his way pure? (Psalm 119:9a)

How? By following the cultural wave? No.

By keeping your word. (9b)

More than that, David treasured God’s word (11).

David proclaimed God’s word (13).

David rejoiced in God’s word (14).

David meditated on God’s word (15).

David delighted on God’s word (16).

How about you? Is that your attitude toward God’s word?

If it isn’t, you need to take a close look at whether you truly are a Christian or not.

How do you see God’s word?

Categories
Deuteronomy Devotionals

Beloved and righteous in his sight

Deuteronomy

I suppose I’ve known for some time that the name Jeshurun was another name for the nation of Israel. But until today, I never thought to actually look up what it means.

It basically means “upright” or “righteous.”

But when the Old Testament was translated into Greek, it was translated as “beloved.”

It is the same word used in the New Testament to describe Jesus (Matthew 3:17), and Christians (2 Thessalonians 2:13).

Israel didn’t always live up to the name “upright one.” (32:15)

And because of their sin, God did not always treat them as “beloved ones”. (Deuteronomy 32:19-21)

Nevertheless, he ultimately showed his grace to them. (Deuteronomy 32:36)

In the same way, we don’t always live up to the name of “upright one,” and God will discipline us when we sin.

And yet, because of Jesus’ work on the cross, we are beloved by God, holy, faultless, and blameless before him. (Colossians 1:21-22)

So let us remember Moses’ words.

There is none like the God of Jeshurun,
who rides the heavens to your aid,
the clouds in his majesty.

The God of old is your dwelling place,
and underneath are the everlasting arms. (Deuteronomy 33:26-27)

Categories
Deuteronomy Devotionals

Empty words?

Deuteronomy

After singing a song warning the Israelites not to turn against God, Moses said them,

Take to heart all these words I am giving as a warning to you today, so that you may command your children to follow all the words of this law carefully.

For they are not meaningless words to you but they are your life…(Deuteronomy 32:46-47)

How do we see God’s words in our lives? Do we see them as words we can take or leave as we see fit?

Too many Christians live that way. The parts they like, they accept. The parts they don’t like, they reject.

But Moses tells us, “These are not just meaningless, empty words. They are your life.”

To reject God’s word turns us into people lacking sense, with no understanding at all. We think we are wise, but in fact we become fools. (28)

So let us take God’s words to heart. Follow them, no matter what our culture or others may try to teach us.

And even more importantly, let us pass his words on to our children.

His words are our life.

Categories
Deuteronomy Devotionals

A bitter root

Deuteronomy

The writer to the Hebrews wrote this:

Pursue…holiness—without it no one will see the Lord.

Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many. (Hebrews 12:14-15)

A lot of people, when they see the phrase “root of bitterness,” think that God is warning against holding bitterness in your heart.

Of course, we shouldn’t hold bitterness in our hearts, but actually, the author of Hebrews is referring to Moses’ words in Deuteronomy 29, where he said,

Be sure there is no man, woman, clan, or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the Lord our God to go and worship the gods of those nations.

Be sure there is no root among you bearing poisonous and bitter fruit.

When someone hears the words of this oath, he may consider himself exempt, thinking, ‘I will have peace even though I follow my own stubborn heart.’

This will lead to the destruction of the well-watered land as well as the dry land. (Deuteronomy 29:18-19)

According to Moses, what is a root bearing poisonous or bitter fruit?

It’s a heart that instead of fearing God, willfully turns away from him and goes its own way.

Moses warned the Israelites against people like that, saying that such an attitude could spread among the Israelites and destroy them.

The writer of Hebrews takes Moses’ words and warns the church against the same attitude.

That attitude can show itself in many ways, but particularly in idolatry, which is Moses’ primary concern.

Idolatry is not just worshiping other gods, but putting anything in front of God, whether it’s money, things, pleasure, or whatever else it may be.

Anything you put before God is your idol.

But as God’s people, we now serve him. We cannot say, “I’ll just live as I want to, serving other idols.”

God has not taught us everything he knows, but what he has taught us, we are accountable for (Deuteronomy 29:29).

And an attitude of willful rebellion will cause you to fall short of the grace of God in your life.

The grace of God gives us a heart of thanksgiving and a desire to please him.

If you don’t have that kind of heart, you don’t really know God’s grace at all.

Categories
Job

To truly know God

Job

I had heard rumors about You,
but now my eyes have seen You. (Job 42:5)

I’ve been thinking about these words of Job recently, as I’ve been reflecting on what it means to truly know God.

Paul prayed in Colossians 1:10 that we would grow in our knowledge of God. But what does that mean?

It’s certainly not just head knowledge, important as that is.

It’s actually seeing his work in our lives. It’s actually hearing his voice as we read his Word, as we pray, and as we live our daily lives.

It’s experiencing his love, grace, and power firsthand in our lives, not just hearing about these things in the lives of other people.

Is that you? Do you truly know God?

May we all be able to say like Job, “I had heard rumors about you, but now my eyes have seen you.”

Categories
Deuteronomy Devotionals

Muzzling oxes? What does this have to do with me?

Deuteronomy

One thing I have tried to do as we go through Deuteronomy is show the relevance of these laws to us.

And again, an important principle to keep in mind is what Jesus and the apostles say about it.

In verse 4, it says,

Do not muzzle an ox while it treads out grain.

The idea is that while an ox was working in the field, it should be able to eat grain that had fallen to the ground.

What does this have to do with us? Are any of us farmers?

Paul tells us.

For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.”

Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not certainly speak for our sake…

In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. (1 Corinthians 9:9-10, 14).

Paul makes the exact same application in I Timothy 5:17-18.

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”

One of the main reasons for tithes in the Old Testament was to support the priests and those who worked in the temple. And Paul says that in the same way, we should support our pastors financially.

God felt in the Old Testament that 10% was sufficient for the support of the priests in the ministry they did, and that’s one reason why we encourage tithing today.

If you haven’t been tithing to your church, I really encourage you to pray about it and see what God will tell you to do.

But one more thing, on a totally different topic.

God told the Jews not to give more than 40 lashes to a criminal, so that the person would not be degraded in their eyes.

It made me think of Jesus. The Romans didn’t follow Jewish law.

How much was Jesus degraded for our sake when he was beaten and crucified?

In a prophesy of Jesus, Isaiah said this,

See, my servant will be successful;
he will be raised and lifted up and greatly exalted.

Just as many were appalled at you—
his appearance was so disfigured
that he did not look like a man,
and his form did not resemble a human being—
so he will sprinkle many nations. (Isaiah 52:13-15)

Lord Jesus, thank you for the price you paid for us.

Categories
Deuteronomy Devotionals

Remembering the mercy we have received

Deuteronomy

When life is good, it’s easy to forget the times it wasn’t. All our previous struggles are just a distant memory to us.

Of course, it’s great when we see God’s work in our lives and how he has delivered us.

But we should never forget the mercy we received from him when we were hurting.

That’s what God was telling the people in this passage.

God told them to give justice to “the resident alien, fatherless child, and widow,” and to show them mercy.

Why? God gives them the reason in verse 18.

Remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and the Lord you God redeemed you from there.

Therefore I am commanding you to do this. (Deuteronomy 24:18)

And again in verse 22.

Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt.

Therefore I am commanding you to do this.

In short, “Remember your times of pain. Remember the times you suffered injustice. And remember how the Lord showed you mercy and saved you.

“Now you do the same. Show mercy and grant justice to those who are hurting.”

We have all received great mercy from God.

How can we not show that same mercy to those who are hurting around us? 

Categories
Deuteronomy Devotionals

Applying the Old Testament to ourselves

Deuteronomy

I mentioned a couple of days ago that when we apply the Old Testament to ourselves, we should see how Jesus and the apostles did  so.

We see a perfect example here.

In the context of judicial law, where God tells the judges how to hand down sentences, he says,

Do not show pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot. (Deuteronomy 19:21)

In other words, judges were not just to let people who willfully broke God’s law go unpunished. Rather they were to give a just punishment that matched the crime.

Even then, it was not usually a literal “eye for eye” or “tooth for tooth” punishment. (See Exodus 21:23-27).

But when Jesus taught on this passage, he told the people, “Don’t take this judicial law and use it as an excuse to take revenge.  Rather, love and forgive the person who hurts you.” (Matthew 5:38-39, 43-48).

Please notice that Jesus is not talking to judges about how to execute justice. He would have told judges to do justice.

But when Jesus taught on this passage, he was talking to ordinary people who had been hurt.

And he says to them, “forgive.”

Again, though, my main point is this: when it comes to applying the Old Testament to yourselves, always look to the words of Jesus and the apostles.

Categories
Deuteronomy Devotionals

Applying the Old Testament to ourselves

Deuteronomy

All of the Bible is relevant to us. All of it was meant to to teach us something. (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

But not everything in the Bible is equally applicable.

We see that in this passage. We see how the Israelite courts were supposed to work.

But we are not in Israel. And things that were crimes in Israel are not crimes in Japan, America, or most other countries.

Nor do we have the power to execute justice when God’s law is broken.

Even the apostles faced that reality. And yet in this passage, we see three principles that the apostles did apply to the church.

One is the need for two or more witnesses when accusing someone. Paul told Timothy,

Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. (1 Timothy 5:19)

Those words come directly from Deuteronomy 17, verse 6.

In Deuteronomy 17:12, when people were arrogant in their sin, they were to be executed publicly. Why? So that others would hear about it and be afraid, and no longer act arrogantly. (13)

In Paul’s day, it was not in their power to execute people, but Paul did take that principle from God’s law, saying,

Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will be afraid. (1 Timothy 5:20)

We also see Paul’s use of these words,

You must purge the evil from you. (Deuteronomy 17:7, 12)

He uses it of a man who was sleeping with his father’s wife.

The Corinthian church, however, refused to do anything about him.

So quoting this passage from Deuteronomy, Paul told them, “If anyone claims to be a Christian, and yet unrepentantly sins, remove that evil person from among you.” (1 Corinthians 5:11-13)

Paul did not mean to kill the man. Paul meant to kick the man out of the church until he repented.

So again, when it comes to the Old Testament law and how it applies to us, not all of it applies to us equally.

Nevertheless, there are principles that we get from those laws, and the best way to see what they are is to study what Jesus and the apostles have said about the law, and how they applied it.

Remember: all that Jesus and the apostles taught didn’t come out of thin air.

Rather, it all came from the Old Testament.

That’s why it’s important for us to read even passages like this one.

Categories
Deuteronomy Devotionals

Remember and rejoice

Deuteronomy

If you’ve been paying attention, the theme of “rejoice” has been popping up a lot in these blogs lately.

I’ve never thought of Deuteronomy being a book that teaches “rejoicing,” but not only does it teach about rejoicing, it commands it.

Again and again, you see God saying not, “It might be a good thing to rejoice” or “Try to remember to rejoice once a while,” but “You shall rejoice.” (Deuteronomy 12:7, 8, 18, 14:26, 16:11, 16:14, 26:11, 27:7).

And rejoicing is almost always linked to remembering.

We remember his daily blessings. (Deuteronomy 15:14)

More importantly, we remember how we have been redeemed from slavery to Satan’s kingdom. (Deuteronomy 15:15, 16:3, 16:12)

That remembering and rejoicing should shape our lives.

It should make us be generous to those around us (Deuteronomy 15:7-15).

It should cause us to trust God and obey him (Deuteronomy 16:11-12).

It should cause us to desire to worship, not just at home, but with God’s people.

In those days, it was at the tabernacle. In our days, it is at church. (Deuteronomy 16:2, 5, 11, 15, 16).

It should cause us to want to give what we have to God, because we remember it all came from God in the first place. (Deuteronomy 16:16-17)

How often do you remember and rejoice?

How does it shape your life?

Categories
Deuteronomy Devotionals

Rejoice!

Deuteronomy

Whenever you read the Bible, it’s always good to look for words and ideas that are repeated.

Of course, even if God says something only once, we should pay attention. But when he repeats something, we know it’s something really important to him.

What words do we see repeated again and again in this passage?

“Rejoice.”

The word sometimes also has the idea of “enjoy” and you see this in some translations.

“You will eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice with our household in everything you do, because the Lord your God has blessed you.” (Deuteronomy 12:7)

“You will rejoice before the LORD your God.” (12)

“Rejoice before the LORD your God in everything you do.” (18)

God wants us to enjoy the blessings he has given us. More than that, he wants us to rejoice in the Giver of those blessings.

It reminds me of Philippians 4:4 where Paul says,

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

If there is one cure to spiritual amnesia in our lives, it’s rejoicing in the Lord.

So take time today to rejoice.

Rejoice in the cross.

Rejoice in Christ’s resurrection.

Rejoice in your salvation.

Rejoice in God’s provision.

Rejoice!

Categories
Deuteronomy Devotionals

Our calling

Deuteronomy

The calling of the Levites as described in verse 8 really strikes me. Moses said,

At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the Lord’s covenant, to stand before the Lord to serve him, and to pronounce blessings in his name, as it is today. (Deuteronomy 10:8)

How does this apply to us in the modern day?

The ark of the covenant was a symbol of God’s presence. And just as the Levites carried with them the presence of God, we as Christians do the same.

But we have something even better than an ark. God the Holy Spirit actually dwells within us. And everywhere we go, people should see Him in us.

The Levites were to stand before the Lord to serve him. The picture there is of a servant standing at his master’s side, just waiting for his command.

That is the attitude we are to have every moment of every day. We are to have eyes and ears turned to our Lord, remembering that we are not doing mere ordinary work. We are serving the King, doing kingdom work.

Finally, we are to bless people in His name.

What does that mean? More than anything else, it means bringing people into the presence of God.

Again, God dwells in us. And our words and our actions as we interact with them should bring them into contact with the living God.

Do mine? I hope so.

But there are many times I fail in that. There are also times I fail to hear my Lord’s direction and commands.

Lord, you have set me apart for yourself. Forgive me for the times I have failed you. Thank you for your grace that picks me up.

Give me eyes to see what you’re doing around me, and ears to hear what you want me to do.

Let others see you in me, and may they too come to know the blessing that comes from being in your presence. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Categories
Deuteronomy Devotionals

Our motive for holiness

Deuteronomy

God’s words here seem very harsh.

“Devote the nations in Canaan to complete destruction. Make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them.”

Why so harsh? Because they hated God and were in rebellion against him, their Creator and rightful ruler. (10)

He had given them over 400 years to repent, and yet they had only gotten worse. (Deuteronomy 7:25, Genesis 15:16, Leviticus 18)

God is patient, but those who unrepentantly shake their fist at God will ultimately be judged.

The amazing thing, though, is that we were in rebellion against God too.

But while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

And though there was nothing special about us, God set his love on us and chose us, making us his people. (1 Peter 2:9-10, Ephesians 2:11-22)

That is our motivation for holiness.

Not to earn God’s love and acceptance.

Not to become his child.

But because we already have God’s love and acceptance as a child of God.

So let us not be ensnared by the things God hates.

Let us not allow anything he hates into our houses. Not porn, nor sexual sin, nor anything else that leads to spiritual death.

Make no covenant with sin, but by the Spirit’s power, let us vanquish these things from our homes.

And out of gratefulness and love for God, let us live holy lives that are pleasing to him. 

Categories
Deuteronomy Devotionals

Our testimony to the next generation

Deuteronomy

There is so much in this passage that is worth talking about.

God warned the people, “Don’t take me and what I’ve done for you for granted. Don’t forget, especially when things are good in your life.” (Deuteronomy 6:10-13)

And “Don’t take a rebellious attitude toward me, questioning my love and loyalty to you.” (16)

But the thing I want to focus on is verse 20-24.

When your children, the next generation asks you, “Why do you follow God? Why do you do what he says,” what will you say?

What is your testimony of how God has worked in your life?

It’s good to think about these things.

For one thing, it helps us keep a heart of thanksgiving.

But for another, our kids, the next generation needs to know what God did for us.

They need to know that God is not just someone who did things 2000 years ago. They need to know God is alive and active today.

Do you share with your children and others of the next generation what God has done in your life?

For that matter, do you share with your friends, coworkers, and relatives all he has done for you?

What is your testimony?

Categories
Deuteronomy Devotionals

Resting to remember

Deuteronomy

I talked last week about the danger of taking God for granted.

It is a danger that the Israelites definitely fell into time and again. It was for that reason that God instituted the Sabbath.

In recounting the Ten Commandments, Moses told the Israelites this.

Be careful to remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy as the Lord your God has commanded you…

Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out of there with a strong hand and an outstretched arm.

That is why the Lord your God has commanded you to keep the Sabbath day. (Deuteronomy 5:12, 15)

Why did God command the Sabbath?

So that the Israelites would remember God’s goodness to them. To remember how he had freed them from slavery in Egypt. To remember all the great miracles he performed to deliver them.

But I think you can say that God didn’t want them to just remember.

He wanted them to rejoice.

As Christians, the Sabbath itself is no longer binding on us. (Colossians 2:16)

That said, it is good to set aside one day a week to go to church, not out of mere habit or duty, but to remember and rejoice.

To remember what Jesus did on a cross two thousand years ago.

To think about all God did to call us to himself.

And to rejoice that God has rescued us from the domain of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, redeeming us, and forgiving all our sins. (Colossians 1:11-14)

What is Sunday to you?

Just a day to relax? A day to serve God?

Those are good things.

But let us also be sure to make it a day to remember and rejoice.

Categories
Deuteronomy Devotionals

Taking God for granted

Deuteronomy

One of the main themes we see in these two chapters is the rebellion of the Israelites, refusing to enter the land God had promised them.

As a result, they wandered around in the wilderness until the generation who had rebelled died.

What really is amazing about it all is their complete lack of trust.

Consider.

God had set the Israelites free from slavery through miracle after miracle.

Every day, God provided them food to eat, literally giving them bread from heaven.

Night and day, they could see the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire which represented God’s presence.

And yet they would not trust him. In fact, they utterly rebelled against him.

Sometimes people wonder why God doesn’t make himself more visible to us. If he did, more people would believe in him, right?

But if the history of the Israelites teaches us one thing, it wouldn’t matter.

People still wouldn’t believe. People would still rebel against God.

I still have to ask the question, though.

How could the Israelites fail to trust God after all he had done?

How is it they could rebel against him?

Perhaps the best answer is: they took God for granted.

The pillar of cloud and pillar of fire may have been special at first.

But after a while, they got used to seeing it, not really thinking about what it really meant: that God was with them, leading them, watching over them, and protecting them.

At first the manna was something special. They said in wonder, “What is this?”

But after days of gathering and eating it, the manna too became something much less special. They forgot what it meant: God was miraculously providing their needs.

The result? They lost their gratitude. They lost their wonder of God.

How about you?

Do you take God for granted? Have you lost your gratitude toward God? Have you lost your wonder of God?

At best, losing our gratitude and wonder steals away all our passion toward God.

At worst, it causes us to rebel against him.

When you think about God and all he’s done for you, especially, the cross, do you still have a heart of gratitude and wonder?

Categories
Philippians Devotionals

When we rejoice

PhilippiansHope

I wrote last week about how we are commanded to rejoice.

We see it again in this passage.

And as I read it, it made me think, “What happens when we rejoice?”

First and foremost, it gets our eyes on Jesus and all the good that we have in him.

The result?

It helps us be more gracious to those who are hard to get along with. (Philippians 4:1-3, 5)

It reminds us that the Lord is near. (4)

It takes away anxiety in our lives and reminds us that God is worthy of our trust. (5-6)

It gives us peace. (7)

So as Paul said, let us rejoice in the Lord. Let us rejoice in the Lord who is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. (8)

Or as David put it,

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his faithful love endures forever. (Psalm 118:1)

Categories
Philippians Devotionals

Because Christ took hold of me.

PhilippiansHope

As I read this passage, it made me think about a wrong way of thinking that many Christians have.

What is that way of thinking?

“I need to get God to accept me. I’m not worthy of his love, so I have to prove it to him.”

As a result, when they fall (and we all fall), many Christians get discouraged.

But Paul says something very important in verse 12. He indeed strove for perfection in his life. His desire was to become like Jesus in every way.

But why? To earn God’s favor?

No. Because Jesus had already taken hold of him (Philippians 3:12). Because Jesus already loved him and saved him. Because Jesus had already clothed Paul with His righteousness (9).

And that’s why Paul didn’t get discouraged when he sinned. That’s why he didn’t just give up despite his struggles to be like Jesus.

Instead, he could say,

Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. (Philipians 3:13-14)

Because God already accepted and loved him, whenever Paul fell, he just kept getting up and pushing forward.

That’s the Christian life. We don’t have to wonder if we’ll ever “arrive” as Christians. That’s guaranteed. Not because of what we do. But because of what Jesus has already done.

So like Paul, don’t get discouraged by your sin and your failures. Simply get up, dust yourself off, and keep pushing forward.