Tag: Jesus is Lord

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Acts Devotionals 2

Proclaiming Jesus

Messiah, Son of God, Christ, King

Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “He is the Son of God”…

But Saul grew stronger and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. (Acts 9:20, 22)

It’s easy to just glance over these verses without a second thought.

But as I’ve mentioned before, one thing that we see in Acts is that the heart of the gospel is “Jesus is Lord.”

We see that in Paul’s messages right from the start.

“Jesus is the Son of God,” “Jesus is the Messiah,” were different ways of saying the exact same thing: “Jesus is God’s anointed King.”

The implication?

“It’s time to submit yourself to your good King’s reign.”

So as we tell people about who Jesus is, yes, it’s important to talk about how he is God who became human and dwelt among us. Yes, it’s important to tell people that he’s our Savior.

But the most important thing to tell them is, “He’s your rightful King. Come back under his good reign.”

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Acts Devotionals 2

The heart of the gospel

Empty tomb

With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus… (Acts 4:33)

At my church, we’ve recently been rethinking what the message of the gospel is.

And as we have, some passages that have always puzzled me have started to become crystal clear.

For example, why is it that in passages like the above, the death of Jesus on the cross for our sins is skipped? That would seem to be a crucial part of the gospel message.

Certainly, Jesus dying for our sins is true and important. But it seems whenever the cross is mentioned in Acts, the apostles focused instead on how the people rejected their rightful King. (Acts 2:23, 36; 3:14-15; 4:10-12, 25-28; 5:30-31)

Then there’s this famous passage:

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

Again, the cross is completely skipped over in favor of the resurrection? Why?

I think it’s because of what the resurrection means. Paul tells us in at the beginning of Romans,

[Jesus] was appointed to be the powerful Son of God according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection of the dead. (Romans 1:4)

We often think of the term “Son of God” in terms of Jesus’ deity. But in Jewish thought, kings were considered “sons of God.” By his resurrection from the dead, Jesus was appointed the ultimate “Son of God”, King of kings and Lord of lords.

So when Paul says, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved,” he’s really saying the same thing twice: Salvation comes as we confess Jesus as Lord, believing that God appointed him as our rightful King through his resurrection from the dead.

We see all this in the first gospel message in Acts where Peter said,

God has raised this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this. Therefore, since he has been exalted to the right hand of God…

Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” (Acts 2:32-33, 36)

Keep in mind, that “Messiah” and “Christ” both mean God’s anointed King.

What am I trying to say?

The heart of the gospel is not, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life,” true though those words may be.

The heart of the gospel is not, “Jesus died for your sins to save you so that you could go to heaven,” though through Jesus’ death, we now do have the promise of eternal life in his Kingdom.

The heart of the gospel is “Jesus is Lord — your rightful Lord.”

So when we call people to repent, we’re not simply saying, “Tell God you’re sorry for your sins.”

We’re saying, “Come back under his good reign. Be saved from this corrupt generation that has rejected its rightful King.” (Acts 2:23, 36-40; 3:13-15, 19-20)

As we go through this book, look for that theme. Because it will come up time and again, especially in the gospel messages the apostles preached.

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—
the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:12-13, NIV)

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John Devotionals

I’ll be the branch. You be the vine.

Vine and the branches

I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. (John 15:5)

There’s a song I’ve been listening to of late based on this chapter.

It says,

I’ll be the branch.
You be the vine. — Mark Gersmehl

I’m reflecting on that today.

“I’ll be the branch. You be the vine.”

What does that mean?

I think it means, “You be the Lord. I’ll just be me, fully trusting and following you.

As Peter once told Jesus, “Yours are the words that bring life.” (John 6:68)

So I let his words remain in me. I no longer fight them or argue with them.

Instead, I let them wash and transform me, knowing that as I do, I’ll see even more clearly just how good and life-giving those words are, and how much my Father truly loves me.

And filled with his love, I will bear much fruit.

I don’t know about you, but I long to know more and more every day the joy that comes with being the branch and letting Jesus be the vine.

I feel so free
When you are my Lord,
And I am just me. — Mark Gersmehl

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Luke Devotionals

Where is your faith?

Ocean after storm

He said to them, “Where is your faith?” (Luke 8:25)

“Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” (Luke 8:48)

“Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be saved.” (Luke 8:50)

Lord, this world is a mess. You warned us that it would be. (Matthew 24:6-13)

But you tell me the same thing that you told that girl’s parents, “Don’t be afraid. Just believe. And you will see my salvation.”

Lord, I believe.

You are Lord of the wind and waves.

You are Lord over the demons.

You are Lord over sickness.

You are Lord over death.

And despite all that’s going on in this world, you are Lord of all the nations and its rulers.

So today, I choose to sing,

Indeed, God is my salvation;
I will trust him and not be afraid,
for the Lord, the Lord himself,
is my strength and my song.
He has become my salvation.” (Isaiah 12:2)

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Matthew Devotionals 2

What really matters

temple ruins

As Jesus left and was going out of the temple, his disciples came up and called his attention to its buildings.

He replied to them, “Do you see all these things? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down.” (Matthew 24:1-2)

I was thinking this morning about how proud the Jews were of their temple, of how beautiful it was.

And yet it would be torn down for one important reason: they had rejected their Lord. (Matthew 23:29-39)

It made me think: What foundation are my “accomplishments” built on? The things I am proud of, are they built on the foundation of Christ? That he is my Lord? Is he the one I love and am trying to please?

Jesus, let all I do be built on this foundation: You are Lord. My life is yours and I love you. Let me be that faithful servant, every day doing what you’ve told me to do.

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Psalms Devotionals 2

The joy of calling Jesus “Lord”

Jesus is Lord

I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have nothing good besides you.” (Psalm 16:2)

I was reflecting on David’s words this morning and thinking that there is a joy to calling Jesus “Lord.”

But we only know that joy if we believe he is good. That he cares about us. And that he deeply loves us.

Without that confidence, calling Jesus “Lord” can be frightening.

David had definitely tasted the joy of calling God “Lord.” You see it throughout this psalm.

I’ve tasted that joy too.

But I want to fill up on that joy more every day.

How about you?

Do you know the joy of calling Jesus “Lord”?

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Philippians Devotionals

With fear and trembling

Awe of God

Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12)

With fear and trembling.

I was meditating on those words this morning.

What do they mean?

Three times, Paul uses that exact phrase, and each time it’s in the context of obedience to the Lord.

In 2 Corinthians 7:15, the Corinthians received Timothy with fear and trembling because of Jesus who he represented and who they obeyed.

In Ephesians 6:5, Paul told slaves to obey their masters with fear and trembling just as they obeyed Jesus with fear and trembling.

And here in Philippians 2:12, he tells the Philippians that as they have always obeyed, to work out their salvation with fear and trembling.

Of course, Jesus fully accomplished our salvation on the cross, but as we follow and serve him, we more fully experience the benefits of that salvation. And the greatest benefit is a restored relationship with the God who deeply loves us.

So a large part of working out our salvation is learning to walk in that restored relationship with God, moment to moment, day to day.

But why do so with fear and trembling?

Because Jesus has been given the name above all names. Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that he is Lord.

I can’t help but think that Paul was not only thinking of Isaiah 45:23 which he quotes, but Psalm 2.

Psalm 2 is a Messianic psalm in which God essentially does what Paul talks about in Philippians 2: he establishes Jesus as king over all. And all who rage against him and rebel will be destroyed. Such people should be afraid of his wrath.

But on the other hand, all who take refuge in Jesus will find joy. (Psalm 2:12)

And so, the psalmist writes,

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. (Psalm 2:11, ESV)

Sound familiar? I think that’s what Paul is alluding to when he says work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

We are not Jesus’ equals. Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is worthy of our obedience. And he will judge all those who rebel against him.

Because of that, we dare not take him lightly.

And yet, when we acknowledge his lordship in our lives, we need not live in constant fear of his punishment. Punishment is for his enemies, not us.

Rather with reverential awe, not only that, with gladness and joyful songs, we serve him. (Psalm 2:11 (CSB), Philippians 2:13 NLT, Psalm 100:2)

In our trembling, we rejoice at the grace God has given us. We rejoice that he works in us to will and work according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13)

I think another psalmist sums up the meaning of working out our salvation with fear and trembling.

Acknowledge that the LORD is God. He made us, and we are his— his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name.

For the LORD is good, and his faithful love endures forever; his faithfulness, through all generations. (Psalm 100:3-5)

So this year, let us not take our Lord or the salvation he has given us lightly. Rather, let us work out our salvation with fear and trembling. And rejoicing.

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Isaiah

That they may know Me and be saved

Isaiah

The ways of God are hard to grasp sometimes.

Why would he use the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians to punish his people, when these people were just as bad, if not worse than the Israelites?

I don’t know, but perhaps Isaiah and the people of Israel were asking the same thing, because God said to them,

Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker, to him who is but a potsherd among the potsherds on the ground.

Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’…

Concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands?

It is I who made the earth and created mankind upon it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts. (Isaiah 45:9, 11–12)

In other words, “I created everything. I stretched out the heavens and created all that is in it. What have you done recently? When you’ve done anything to compare, then we can talk.”

We can’t always understand the reasoning of God, but one thing that we can see is that it’s his desire that all would know him and be saved.

He makes that clear when talking about Cyrus. He basically says, “You don’t know me or acknowledge me Cyrus, but I will make you great and nations will fall before you. Why do I do this?”

So that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other…

They (the peoples you conquer) will bow down before you and plead with you, saying, ‘Surely God is with you, and there is no other; there is no other god.’ (6, 14)

By using the Persians to punish and then restore Israel, God was able to make his name great among the nations, particularly when Cyrus himself acknowledged God’s hand in all that he had done. (2 Chronicles 36:23)

And now that God had everyone’s attention, he told them,

Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the Lord?

And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.

“Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.

By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.” (Isaiah 45:21–23)

What was God’s message to the people?

I am God. There is no other. There is no other Savior. Turn from your gods that are not even gods at all. Turn instead to me and be saved.

God’s message hasn’t changed in thousands of years. He still calls us to turn from the gods of this world, and to turn to him for our salvation.

The day will come when every knee will bow before God and every tongue will swear. What will they swear?

Paul answers that question as he quotes and expands on Isaiah 45 in Philippians 2:10–11.

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Some day everyone will confess Jesus as Lord. Some will do it with heartfelt love and awe. Others will say it grudgingly with clenched teeth. But all will confess it.

So why not confess it now before it’s too late?