The Unstoppable Kingdom - June 30 Readings: 2 Chronicles 17-18, Acts 5:1–31, Psalm 78:26–32, Proverbs 16:12–14

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You had to feel just a little bit sorry for the Pharisees and other opponents of the work of Jesus Christ in the Early Church.

They seemed to have all the power, or they thought they did. The Temple authorities had arrested the Apostles in an attempt to intimidate them and keep them from preaching about Jesus Christ. But the next day when they got up, thinking the Apostles were where they had placed them, they found that the troublesome followers of Jesus were back out in the Temple courts proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ and stirring up more trouble.

There was nothing to do but to tighten the screws a little.  They arrested them again and upped the ante on the threats against them, warning them to stop their evangelistic work. This didn't work any better than their previous efforts had.

In Acts 5:29 the Apostles replied that they had to obey God and could not obey their commands. They continued to tell the world that Jesus Christ had risen from the dead no matter what anyone did to them. If they warned them, they proclaimed Christ. If they arrested them, they proclaimed Christ. If they beat them, they rejoiced and proclaimed Christ. If they killed them, those who were left continued to proclaim Christ.

The Pharisees could hate Jesus and could oppress those who sided with him, those who believed in and served him. But they could not stop the work of God in the church. They grew angrier, more frustrated, more aggressive, but nothing they did worked to stop the gospel story from spreading. Every attempt to stop the church only served to advance the kingdom.

We can rejoice that nothing can stop the work of God in us and in his church. Opposition will come, even perhaps persecution, but the gospel goes forward. Satan can sow lies, but the truth prevails. When we serve Christ we can overcome any obstacle and endure through any hardship that is put in our path.

Father, come what may, I thank you for your power and your victory. 

When the Spirit Fills Me - June 29 Readings: 2 Chronicles 15-16, Acts 4:23–37, Psalm 78:19–25, Proverbs 16:10–11

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Much theological discussion, debate and even disagreement has been devoted to the question of what marks the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Some have asserted, contrary to the observation of this pastor, that those who are full of the Spirit are no longer subject to sin, but attain perfection in this life. Would that it were so, but it is certainly not my experience. Of course, the debate has raged throughout my life as to whether tongues or any other manifestation of the Holy Spirit is a necessary evidence of the fullness of the Spirit. It is not the purpose of a devotional like this to address such a topic

But when we examine the book of Acts, there is one universal evidence of the fullness of the Spirit. Nothing else happens every single time the Spirit shows up in power except this one event.

"...they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness." 

Throughout Acts, one thing happened universally when the Spirit filled believers - they proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ boldly. At Pentecost, many things happened, but the Word of God was proclaimed in power. In Samaria, in Caesarea, in every place the Spirit's fullness appears, those filled with the Spirit proclaim Christ. 

I can remember a dear old man in my last church who would come up to me after a particularly stirring or enthusiastic service and say, "You could really feel the Spirit here tonight, couldn't you, Dave?" And I know what he meant. There was a sweet, sweet Spirit in the place. 

But not enthusiastic worship, vibrant music, stirring preaching, or any emotion produced by these is a true marker of the work of the Spirit among the people of God. The primary work of the Spirit is to glorify Christ and if I am filled with the Spirit then that will be my goal. If the Spirit is filling me, my soul will overflow with love for Christ and I will desire to make the gospel known to the entire world. More than that, all my fear - of rejection, of the reactions of people, of ridicule - will be overpowered and I will boldly speak of Christ. 

When the fullness of the Spirit falls, the name of Jesus rises!

Father, may the name of your Son rise on my lips as the Spirit fills every part of my being. May fear fall away in the desire to exalt the Name above all names. 

Pharisaical Anger - June 28 Readings: 2 Chronicles 13-14, Acts 4:1–22, Psalm 78:12–18, Proverbs 16:7–9

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Peter and John were arrested and brought before the Council to answer for their deeds. What was their crime? It all started in Acts 3 when they found a man who was lame since birth and they healed him.

He had been sitting outside the temple all his life begging alms and the best the Jewish leaders could do for him was perhaps put a couple of coins in his cup from time to time. But along came this uneducated fishermen from Galilee claiming that the Nazarene had risen from the dead and speaking with authority and power. And these country bumpkins didn't put any silver or gold into the man's cup. They did something else - they raised him up.

That was the source of all the anger and resentment. They were the men in charge. Everyone looked up to them and revered them, but their religion was empty, devoid of the truth of God and the Spirit's power. Peter and John had none of their reputation, their money, their power and influence or their social standing, but they had one thing that the leaders envied. They had power.

That was the unpardonable sin of the Apostles. They were not rebellious or disrespectful. They did not organize opposition or undermine the religious leaders. But in the name of Jesus Christ they demonstrated the real power of God.

Empty religion can never abide the reality of the power of God working through the disciples of Christ. So, they came against them, arrested them, and tried to pressure them to stop preaching about the resurrected Christ.

In a sinful world such as we live in, following Christ may not bring us popularity. People may be offended, especially when they see the power of God at work within us. They may tell us to stop acting so strange, to go along with everyone else and to fit in with their ways.

But there is no power in that. The work of God is done through those who walk in God's ways and give themselves completely to him. He then performs his acts of power through them in this world. Better to seek the presence and power of the living God than to seek the influence, status and approval of the world. Generally, you cannot seek both.

Father, forgive me for the way I tend seek the approval and pleasure of people. May I live for you and be a channel of your grace and power. 

For the Generations - June 27 Readings: 2 Chronicles 11-12, Acts 3, Psalm 78:5–11, Proverbs 16:5–6

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There is an old saw that says, "The Church is always one generation from extinction." The thing is, this one is true. Christianity must not only be passed from person to person, but from generation to generation. The children God gives to the families of the church must be raised to be warriors in the Kingdom of God, servants of the Most High and those who treasure eternal things over the temporal.

In Psalm 78:5-7, the Psalmist discusses the importance of raising children to serve God.

5 He established a testimony in Jacob    and appointed a law in Israel,    which he commanded our fathers    to teach to their children,6 that the next generation might know them,    the children yet unborn,    and arise and tell them to their children,7  so that they should set their hope in God    and not forget the works of God,    but keep his commandments;

As I grow older my life becomes less about what I will do or what I will be and more about what my children and grandchildren will become. I have no idea what the future will hold for any of them, but my prayer for them is the desire of the Psalmist's heart - that they might not "forget the works of God but keep his commandments."

There is no formula that magically produces children who love God, but neither is there a great mystery about the strategy. There are three things I would remind parents and grandparents who wish to influence future generations.

First, children will tend to mimic our behavior more than simply listening to our words. We must not only speak the words of God to our children but in our imperfect way we must walk the ways of God. The hypocrite who talks the faith but does not live it does irreparable damages to the future generations. Our model gives credibility to our message.

Second, we must relentlessly ground our children's lives in the Word of God. Biblical illiteracy is a huge problem even among kids raised in so-called "Bible-believing" churches. If we really believe the Bible we will make sure we teach it clearly to our kids.

Finally, we must fill our children with a sense that their lives are meant to have eternal import. They are not just here on earth to get an education, find a job, raise a family and have a happy life. They are here to serve Christ, to make Jesus known everywhere and to exalt him day by day.

Father, may the generations to come know you. May they not forget the good things you have done, but may they walk in your ways. Help me to be an influence on them for your kingdom. 

The Gap is TOO Big! June 26 Readings: 2 Chronicles 9-10, Acts 2:42–47, Psalm 78:1–4, Proverbs 16:2–4

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Yesterday we read about the fire of God falling on the people of God on the day of Pentecost. When we study Acts 2, we often get bogged down in sideline issues like the discussion of tongues and such things. But today's reading in Acts is a powerful one. Acts 2:42-47 describes the Early Church and what life was like in the church that was full of the Spirit of God.

This is not the time for a theological treatise, so please forgive me for simply stating my conclusions. We ought, in our churches today, if we are filled with the Spirit of God, to see the kinds of things that are described in Acts 2:42-47. We might not see them to the same degree or with the same intensity that they saw them at the birth of the church - there always seems to be a unique outpouring of God's power at times like that - but we ought to see the things that are described here.

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

What are some of the things that happened there?

1. They were devoted to God's word. They didn't have Bibles like we do. All they had was the teaching of the Apostles that was later written down into what we have in our Bibles now, but they were devoted and obedient to all that God spoke to them.

2. They were devoted to one another. The church was not a place they went on Sunday; it was their life. Fellowship was real and powerful. Look at some of the descriptions of the fellowship. They prayed together and worshiped together. They blessed each other with supernatural generosity. Their fellowship was daily.

3. The power of God was evident in them in such a way that there was awe not only in the church, but also in the community.

4. As was mentioned above, they shared everything with one another. Holy Spirit empowered generosity.

5. They lived lives of constant praise and thanksgiving, in spite of the suffering and hardship they lived through.

6. Salvation was a regular act of God among them. Daily the Lord added to their number!

No, your church doesn't stack up to this. It was the Jerusalem church just after Pentecost and none of us is likely to ever match up completely. But the gap shouldn't be nearly as big as it is today! We ought not ignore God's word, treat fellowship as optional and a burden, find the power of God rare, find giving forced, live lives of complaining and find the salvation of the lost a rare occurence.

If there is a huge gap between the Jerusalem church and my church, the problem isn't God. "He just doesn't do those things any more." Nonsense. They problem isn't our programs or strategies. The problem is our lack of the one thing that caused them to be what they were.

They were what they were because they were full of the Spirit of God. If we would see more of what they saw we must be full of what filled them!

Not to be a broken record, but...

Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me. Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me. Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me. Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me. 

Let the Fire Fall - June 25 Readings: 2 Chronicles 7-8, Acts 2:1–41, Psalm 77:12–20, Proverbs 16:1

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What an odd coincidence (if you believe in that sort of thing) in today's readings. In 2 Chronicles, we have the story of Solomon building a temple for the glory of God, and when he finished building it all exactly as God commanded, after he prayed diligently for the power and presence of God to come on the people of God, we read this in verses 1-3.

As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2 And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord's house. 3 When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

The fire fell and the glory of God came down on the Temple of the Living God. God was among his people in power, ready to work among them as they obeyed him and served his purposes. 

Then we read Acts 2, where on the day of Pentecost the disciples were gathered in an upper room praying and waiting for the Spirit Jesus had promised to them. Verses 1-4 describe what happened. 

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested[a] on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The fire fell, this time in the form of a tongue, and the glory of God (the Spirit of God) came down on the Temple of the Living God (we are the Temple of God now, are we not?). God was among his people in power, ready to work among them as they obeyed his Great Commission and served his purpose to go into all the World. 

Oh, that God would write episode 3 on our hearts today! May the fire would fall on us, purifying us and kindling our zeal for him and his kingdom. May the glory of God that dwells within us, the Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on us. May we be renewed by the Spirit, filled for the work that God has for us, empowered to be conformed to the image of Christ, enlightened and purified by the Word, and encouraged and strengthened in all that we face in this world. As the fire fell on Solomon's temple and on the church of Jesus Christ, may it fall on us. As the glory of the Lord filled the temple and the Spirit of the Lord filled the people, may we be so full of Christ's Spirit that people see Jesus in us!

Father, may the fire of your Spirit fall on us anew today. Break us, melt us, mold us, fill us! Use us for your kingdom and the glory of your name. 

If You Don't Love Yourself...? June 24 Readings: 2 Chronicles 5-6, Acts 1:12–26, Psalm 77:4–11, Proverbs 15:30–33

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If you don't love yourself first, how can anyone else love you?
Be good to yourself, or no one else will.
You have to be aggressive, promote yourself.
Never let anyone step on you - you are no one's doormat.

We get so many messages in this world about putting ourselves first, loving ourselves, about self-esteem, and self-promotion. Much of that has even found its way into the Christian world, baptized and sanctified with Christian-sounding terms, but still as ungodly and unholy as ever.

I would issue the Miller Challenge here. Get your Bible out and read it cover to cover. That in and of itself will be a good thing. But take two markers - one green and one red. When you come to a passage that tells you to esteem yourself more highly, that encourages pride and self-confidence, or that demands that you love yourself first and foremost, mark it with a red marker. When you come to a verse that calls you to humble yourself, to deny yourself, to put others above yourself, to love others - mark that one with the green pen. When you are done with the Miller Challenge, simply flip back through the Bible. You will see a lot of green markings in your Bible. I'm not sure you will find anything marked in red. (Some might mark the words "love your neighbor as yourself" - but that isn't a command to love yourself, it's an assumption that you already do!)

Pay special attention to Proverbs as you read through it - it will have a strong green hue. It contains numerous admonitions against pride as well as calls to humble oneself before God and others. Notice Proverbs 15:33.

Humility comes before honor. 

It is when we humble ourselves before God and walk in the fear of the Lord that we attain true wisdom. Wisdom is rooted in humility and that humility produces honor. Pride produces folly which results in destruction and dishonor.

Don't listen to the false messages of the world - of course they are lies, Jesus promised us that! Pride is the path to spiritual powerlessness. We must humble ourselves before God and before one another to be used by him and honored by him.

Father, may I humble myself daily, reminding myself that I am weak and sinful and that all that I am is because of Christ and all that I have flows from your bounty of grace. 

The Song that Never Ends - June 23 Readings: 2 Chronicles 3-4, Acts 1:1–11, Psalm 77:1–3, Proverbs 15:28–29

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It is the song that never ends.
It just goes on and on my friends. 

That annoying song has been sung on young people's outings for decades, and truly it never ends, my friends. It has a beginning, but it has no end.

Just like the song, the story of Jesus goes on and on. When the religious leaders crucified him, they thought they were done with Jesus, but they could not have been more wrong. The end of his life was only the beginning of his work.

Luke opened the book of Acts with these words,

I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day He was taken up.

All that Jesus BEGAN to do. Began. The story of Jesus did not simply continue in his resurrection, but it continued in the lives of the Apostles in the book of Acts, as the Holy Spirit worked through them to spread the gospel. And that story continues today in us.

Our lives are the continuation of the story of Jesus Christ. He lives in us and he works through us. He displays his love in this world through us.

It is our duty to see that we sing that song well, that we bring honor to the Name and not disgrace. We must serve the gospel with our hearts and souls.

It is a song that never ends.

Father, may my life be a fitting and powerful continuation of the story of Jesus. 

Going Fishing - June 22 Readings: 2 Chronicles 1-2, John 21, Psalm 76, Proverbs 15:25–27

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Peter was a fisherman.  He had done it all his life, even when he was a disciple of John the Baptist.  Then, one day, Jesus walked by.  “Follow me, and I will make you a fisher of men.”  And Peter followed him.  He left the nets behind and followed Jesus for more than three years, throughout Galilee, to Jerusalem, to Gethsemane, and to the Sanhedrin.  There, it all ended. 

“I swear to you, I never knew this man.” 

With those words, Peter denied the Lord he had sworn to serve.  And even when the most glorious miracle of history occurred, even when Jesus was raised from the dead, even when Jesus appeared to the disciples, Peter could not forget the fact that he had failed. 

And so, he told the other disciples, “I’m going fishing,” in John 21:3.  The way this verse is constructed gives the idea that he wasn't taking a day off to drown some worms. He wasn't getting away for some rest and relaxation. No, this was not recreation or a vacation. Peter was giving up. He was a fisherman before Jesus came to him beside Galilee. Now, he would be one again. He had failed - miserably and spectacularly - and he was through with this whole disciple thing. 

Ever felt that way?  It happens to me often, usually on a Monday morning.  When I fail, or when the pressures of life pile up, or trials and opposition come, I have the impulse to throw it all in, resign my job, and go fishing.  Metaphorically, at least.  Actual fishing is not a temptation to me. 

I bet sometimes you feel like giving up.  It may be because of your own failure, or because of the hurtful actions of someone else.  You gave your best, and no one recognized it.  You poured yourself into ministry, but nothing came from it.  The pressures of life have snowballed to the point you just can’t take it anymore.  Like Peter, and me, you want to go fishing. 

But Jesus won’t let that happen.  He appeared to Peter by the Sea of Tiberius.  He took Peter back to where it all began.  He renewed the miracle of his provision.  “Cast your net on the other side of the boat.”  Jesus did it all over again.  He took Peter right back to beginning, and renewed his faith and the wonder of God’s power.  That’s where healing begins with us.  We must return to the presence of the Lord and renew our minds and hearts in him.  The good news is that Jesus always begins the process of healing. 

Jesus did not ignore Peter’s failure, or sweep it under the rug.  He made him face it.  Three times Peter denied Jesus.  Three times Jesus asked him, “Do you love me?”  Jesus renews us by making us deal with the sin and failure that drew us away from him.  When we repent, the blood of Christ covers our sin and brings us renewal. 

Then, Jesus gave his command to Peter.  “Feed my sheep.”  God renewed Peter by giving him an assignment.  Take care of God’s sheep.  Jesus renewed Peter, then sent him out to serve.  The fallen soldier was back on the front lines.

Jesus will never let you give up.  As his child, he won’t let you go fishing.  He will come to you, inviting you back into his presence.  He will help you find forgiveness for your failure, and will restore you to a life of fruitful service. 

No, my friend, it is not time to go fishing. 

Father, I thank you that you never give up on me. I fail; you restore. I get discouraged; you renew. When I am ready to quit, you give me strength. Thank you God, for your renewing power. 

The Joy of Giving - June 21 Readings: 1 Chronicles 28-29, John 20, Psalm 75:7–10, Proverbs 15:23–24

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In the good old days, there would be one or two weeks a year when a preacher might preach a "stewardship" sermon, which was little more than an appeal for members to open their wallets and give - more. Churches have often struggled with money and pastors have given appeals to their people to be more generous, more faithful.

One thing that was often absent from these pulpit appeals was the spirit demonstrated by King David in 1 Chronicles 29:10-19, when Israel was overwhelmed with generosity for the building of the Temple. David did not whine or wheedle but set forth the joy and glory of giving, of investing in the things of God.

But who am I and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? (29:14)

Is there any privilege greater than that of giving money, which is so often an idol and a distraction, to invest in eternal things? David realized this. So did Paul when he told the Corinthians about cheerful, joyful giving (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).

David gives several reasons why giving is a great privilege and joy. In verse 14, he declares that since everything belongs to God we are just giving him what is his. Joyful, generous giving is a reminder to us that God in fact owns it all. It is a means of giving thanks and praise to God for his provision in all things.

In verse 17, David speaks of God testing our hearts. Giving - not the forced, manipulated, guilt-based kind that has been so often used in churches, but the joyful kind - is a marker of a pure heart of devotion for God. What greater privilege is there than to use our money to enable worship and the proclamation of God's glory?

Of course, the greatest reason to give is the reason David gave in verses 10-13.

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.

It is great to give because our God is great, exalted over all things and the rightful owner and Lord of all that is. Giving is an act of praise and worship that demonstrates that we know that God is great.

Father, I thank you for the privilege of giving faithfully to honor you and make Christ known in the world. 

THE Moment - June 20 Readings: 1 Chronicles 26-27, John 19:28–42, Psalm 75:1–6, Proverbs 15:20–22

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Three words. Simple words. But in all of this world's history they are the most important ever uttered. Or course, the three words are in English translations. In the Greek language, in which the New Testament was written, it was only one word. Frankly, in the Aramaic in which Jesus spoke, I have no idea how many words it is. But those three English words have changed everything.

It is finished.

John 19:30 records these words among the last Jesus ever spoke on the Cross. And they changed everything.

Jesus was hanging on the Cross to satisfy the eternal wrath of a Holy God against the sins of rebellious humanity. The wages of sin is death and God's righteousness demanded that he receive payment. Sins must be paid for. He could not simply ignore your sins or mine - there is a payment demanded. And Romans 6:23 makes it clear what that payment is.

"The wages of sin is death."

Someone had to die for my sins, and yours. We faced an eternity separated from God under his judgment because of our waywardness. The debt must be paid. And that is exactly what Jesus was doing on the Cross that day. He was paying the price, paying the wages that our sins demanded. Death.

As Jesus was prepared for crucifixion, Jesus experienced the evil of man. But on the Cross, hanging there bearing the sins of the world and standing in our place, Jesus experienced as no man ever had to that point, the eternal wrath of God against sin.

The sun grew dark as Jesus hung there.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

There is an answer to the question. You. And me. Why? Because Jesus was in our place and he was experiencing our hell. He was there for us and experienced all the horrors of hell in the hours he hung there, the full weight of God's wrath for our sins poured out on the sinless Lamb.

And then, when it was done, he uttered the words. "It is finished." It's done. Your sins are paid for. You atonement is complete. You are washed, cleansed, justified, redeemed, forgiven, and every other word you can imagine. Completely. Infinitely. Eternally. It is finished. Nothing else ever has to be done for  you to be saved forever!

So, when we come to Christ in repentance and faith the debt is paid. Done. I can add nothing to my salvation. I can only believe.

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel's veins, and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains. It is finished. Jesus paid it all. It is finished. Mercy there is great and grace was free, pardon there was multiplied to me. It is finished. Because Jesus spoke those words, because he paid for our sins, we are free.

Father, I am in awe of your grace and love, that you would punish your beloved Son for my sins. Why would you do that for a sinner like me? But you did, and I glory in Cross on which Jesus finished, completely, my eternal redemption. 

When the Worst Happens - June 19 Readings: 1 Chronicles 24-25, John 19:1–27, Psalm 74:17–23, Proverbs 15:18–19

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It is the most horrible story ever told, and also the greatest. John 19 recounts Jesus' trial before Pilate and his crucifixion. It is the historical act on which our eternal destiny depends.

It is painful to read of the brutal torture and crucifixion of Christ. Look at what human beings did to Jesus in these awful moments. First, Jesus was flogged in the horrifying Roman way. Then, to add insult to injury, the soldiers commenced to ridicule the beaten man. They put a crown of thorns on him, gave him a purple robe, slapped him and chanted "Hail, King of the Jews." The Lamb of God was giving himself for their sins and all they could do was mock. The priests and other religious leaders manipulated and schemed to get him convicted according to their laws and to bring him before Pilate. Time and again, Pilate tried to find a way to get him off the hook, but in his cowardice, he gave in to the pressure and gave the order for crucifixion.

It can be said that the day of the Cross was the low point in human history; that moment in which sinful human beings reach their moral nadir as they laid hands on the Creator himself and nailed him to a tree. It was an awful day.

But I recently preached from Revelation 4 and 5, in which Jesus is described as worthy of all worship and praise. Why? Because he was slain. It was his humility, his death, his sacrifice that was magnified in the heavenly worship. Jesus changed history the day the worst thing happened to him. He took the most evil act in history and used it to forever conquer evil, to redeem a people for himself and to secure redemption for us. We are forgiven and given eternal life in Christ.

When terrible things happen to you or in your life, or even when you fail in a monumental, shameful way, remember the power of this God. The God of the Cross is not fazed by the wickedness of the wicked. He takes it and uses it to accomplish his glorious purposes.

It is an amazing God that we serve. If he can turn the crucifixion into glory, he can take whatever struggles, trials or even tragedies that you are facing and turn them to blessing.

Father, I confess that you are an great God, one who is able to turn even the most awful things of life into your glory. I thank you for doing that in my life. 

Why, God, Why? June 18 Readings: 1 Chronicles 22-23, John 18:25–40, Psalm 74:10–16, Proverbs 15:15–17

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For the believer, there is a deep sense that this world is not as it should be.

As I traveled last night, I had the radio on to occupy my mind, listening to an oldies station (no surprise, I guess). A song came on I'd never heard before, but its words offended me - there were several disrespectful references to Jesus. Why do people have to go out of their way to insult my savior?

That kind of thing is all too common in this world. People ridicule God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They live as scoffers, mockers. And we wonder why God lets them get away with it.

Others perpetuate evil in this world and do so with seeming impunity. They oppress the poor, abuse the innocent and cause untold harm against others - seemingly without consequence. There is injustice everywhere.

Where is God in all of this? Why does he not act? Why does he turn a blind eye toward sinners? That is the ultimate frustration of those who love God and walk in his ways. And it is most common theme of the writers of the Psalms. Why, God? Why does this world operate as it does?

In Psalm 74:10-11, the Psalmist asks the question that has been asked so many times.

How long, O God, is the foe to scoff?

    Is the enemy to revile your name forever?

Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?

The answer to this question is never easy. God is in control and is at work. Eventually, justice and righteousness will come. It may be in this world, it might be in the next, but vengeance belongs to God and he will repay. His justice is perfect. 

But God seldom answers the question why. He just responds "who." Trust me. I'm handling it. The wicked may prosper for a season and the righteous may suffer. Things may seem upside down in this world, but know that God is in control and he will settle the books perfectly. Our perfect God will mete out perfect justice. 

And in the end, when the last page of history has been written, God will stand supreme as Sovereign Lord. All will bow before Jesus. The flag of God's glory will be unfurled and all will see his perfection. 

In that day, the question "why?" will be fully, eternally, and overwhelmingly answered by God's justice and righteous power. 

Father, I thank you that you are in control. Help me to trust you even when I cannot understand your plan or your purpose. 

You Are What You Eat - June 17 Readings: 1 Chronicles 20-21, John 18:1–24, Psalm 74:1–9, Proverbs 15:13–14

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"You are what you eat."
"Garbage in; garbage out."

These are modern day proverbs that draw life principles from our observation of everyday life. We see that people who eat well tend to feel good and be healthy, while those who gorge on the wrong foods tend to feel those effects. If the data we feed into a computer is garbage, the results we get from that computation will also be garbage. What we feed our bodies or our computers has consequences.

But what we feed our minds and our hearts is just as consequential. Solomon knew that nearly 3000 years ago and reminded us of the principle in Proverbs 15:14.

The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,

    but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

The discerning mind, the mind focused on knowing God's word, distinguishing right and  wrong and doing the will of God, is going to seek out knowledge - not only general knowledge but specifically the knowledge of the God learned through his word.

But the fool, the one who is intent on going his own way, doing his own thing and living for himself, is going to feed on the foolishness of life. He will listen to the wisdom of the world instead of the truth of God.

These two people will both learn the truth of the principle of this proverb. Garbage in and garbage out. The mind that is fed the world's garbage will produce a harvest of sin and folly. The mind that is focused on Christ and on the word will produce a harvest of righteousness.

I know that I need to watch my diet and choose my food more carefully. But much more importantly, I need to guard my mind and my heart, focus them on the word of God and resist feeding them the refuse of this sinful world.

Father, may my mind and heart be your sanctuary. May I so feed on your word that I truly "become what I eat." 

Jesus Prayed for ME! June 16 Readings: 1 Chronicles 18-19, John 17, Psalm 73:25–28, Proverbs 15:10–12

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The night before Jesus died, just before he agonized in the Garden, before he was arrested and put on trial, Jesus prayed - he prayed for YOU! Yes, my friend, he prayed for you and he prayed for me. Think about that. In his hour of agony, of pain and of stress, when the most awful moment of history awaited him, he interceded with the Father on our behalf.

John 17 is the real "Lord's Prayer." The prayer to which we've assigned that name is the one he gave to his disciples to pray. It is the "Disciples' Prayer." But the prayer that reveals the heart of Jesus is John 17 - it shows what he really thought and felt. Verse 20 makes it clear that this prayer was not just for the men who were with him in the Upper Room.

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.”

He prayed for you and for me. Whatever you are going through today, whatever your pain, you can rest assured that you are infinitely loved by one who when hell marshaled all its forces against him and when the entire world was crashing around him, still his thought was to pray for you. That is an eternal and unshakable love. 

The list of blessings in this passage is long and wonderful, but there are two in particular that I would point out. There are two things that Jesus prayed that sometimes stand in slight contrast, even conflict with one another. First, in verse 17 he prayed, 

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 

Jesus prayed that we would be made holy, conformed to the image of Christ, that our sins would not dominate and control us but that we would become like Christ. What is the primary tool that God uses in that process? The Word - the truth of God that the Spirit uses to accomplish that work. The Word can be harsh and convicting as it calls us to repentance, to change, to abandon our sin and to become like Christ. But that we must do. The Christian life is a daily process of the Spirit working in us, through the Word, to make us more like Jesus. 

Along the way, there is something else that God wants for us. This is seem in verse 21. 

...that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Jesus wanted his disciples to walk in unity and in oneness. In fact, the unity of the Body of Christ was meant to reflect and demonstrate the unity that existed among the members of the Trinity.

To my shame, I have failed often in walking in the holiness of Christ, in the process of sanctification by the Word. But just as often I've failed in my relationships to reflect the divine oneness that Jesus Christ called us to demonstrate. I've failed more than I've succeeded.

But here's the good news. Jesus prayed for me! I know his prayers will not fail. The process may be slow and the answer may not be complete, but I know that God will answer and I will be all that God wants me to be, all that Jesus prayed that I would become! Jesus' prayer will be answered!

Father, I thank you for the confidence I have in Christ that one day I will be fully sanctified in Christ and that I will experience perfect unity in the Body of Christ. I thank you that this depends on the work of Christ in me!

Bitter Folly - June 15 Readings: 1 Chronicles 16-17, John 16:16–33, Psalm 73:18–24, Proverbs 15:8–9

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Life can be pretty tough in this sinful world. We encounter hardships, tragedies, and disappointments regularly. But perhaps the greatest struggle comes when people do us wrong; when they treat us badly or hurt us deeply.

Psalm 73 was written for just such a situation. The entire Psalm has been about the general unfairness of life in a world where the evil sometimes prosper and good people are left to suffer. God's justice will one day rule every aspect of this world, but this is not that day. In this day those who walk with God can often experience terrible suffering and pain.

All too often, those who experience that pain find themselves angry and bitter over their suffering. Life isn't fair! How could he (or she)? I didn't deserve that! It's just not right. The unfairness of it all builds up in our spirits and we become angry. Eventually that anger, if not properly dealt with, can turn to a bitterness of spirit - the poison of the soul.

That is exactly what happened to the Psalmist here in verses 21-22.

When my soul was embittered,

    when I was pricked in heart,

 I was brutish and ignorant;

    I was like a beast toward you.

Because his spirit was wounded, he became bitter. The result of that is expressed in stark terms - "I was brutish and ignorant." That is not a compliment, of course, but it is accurate as a description of the embittered person. When I allow bitterness to overcome my soul, several things happen.

• I end up punishing myself for the sins and wrongdoings of another. 
• I allow that person to control my future even as he or she has damaged my past. 
• I lose the capacity to enjoy life and to grow spiritually. 

There are many more effects I could mention. To put it simply, bitterness is foolish and self-destructive.

It also, according to verse 22, turns us into animals. An animal reacts on instinct to situations. He does not think or consider what is best. When we are bitter, we react like animals, controlled by our anger and hate rather than by the love of Jesus Christ.

The Psalmist makes it clear what the solution is to bitterness. In verses 23-28 he describes how he sought God and found refuge in him. Verse 28 sums it all up.

But for me it is good to be near God;

    I have made the Lord God my refuge,

    that I may tell of all your works.

 Instead of resorting to bitterness, which is self-destructive and stupid (according to verse 22), look to God for strength, joy, comfort, peace and love. 

Father, I thank you that you there with me even when others treat me badly or life is hard. 

In Enemy Territory - June 14 Readings: 1 Chronicles 14-15, John 15:18–16:15, Psalm 73:11–17, Proverbs 15:5–7

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Notice two verses from our readings today, one in John 15, and one in Psalm 73. It is easy to forget that we, as Christians, live in hostile territory. This world is not our home. American Christians have too long been lulled to sleep by a society that was at least nominally supportive of our values and beliefs. We are just now waking up to the reality that we live in enemy territory and are loyal to a kingdom distinct from any in this world.

John 15:18-25 makes it clear that it is the norm for God's people to be hated in the world. Jesus tells his disciples that he was hated and that they would receive the same treatment if they served him. If we walk in Christ and in his ways, we will face hostility, ridicule, and disdain from this world. That is just part of living for Jesus in a world that is living in rebellion against him.

We get bothered at the first sign of any suffering in the name of Christ. Perhaps it ought to cause us more consternation when we do not suffer. Perhaps that is a sign that we have become too much a part of this world, shaped by its values and walking in its ways. We fit in so well the world hardly sees the distinctions that would make it reject and hate us.

In Psalm 73:11-12, the Psalmist asks a question. Why do the wicked act as if there is no God? They live their lives as if the God of Heaven does not see what they are doing and does not know their actions. They live their lives to please themselves and forget that there is a God to whom each of us must answer.

That is the other side of the John passage. We live in hostile territory and can expect to face suffering and disdain in the world. But the world must be reminded that there is a God in heaven to whom they must answer. So, while our sufferings in this world might be increasingly strong, they do not compare at all to the sufferings in eternity of those who forget God and live their lives as if he did not exist.

Father, I thank you that you have brought me into your kingdom. May I live for you regardless of what anyone in this sin saturated world thinks about it or says about me. 

Abiding - June 13 Readings: 1 Chronicles 12-13, John 15:1–17, Psalm 73:4–10, Proverbs 15:3–4

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I love Christmas trees. A couple of years ago, because we were traveling at Christmastime, we did not even have a tree and it was sad. I love decorating the tree with lights and ornaments - one of my favorite aspects of the Christmas season.

But the trees we get have a problem. They have been severed from the roots. They are nice and green when we get them, but as the weeks go on they begin to turn brown and brittle, and the needles begin to fall to the ground. Right now, our Christmas tree is in a gully beside our home, brown and ugly.

There is a reason for this, a pretty obvious one. It has been cut. The roots are severed. Even though it looks good for a while, once it is disconnected from the roots the process of death has begun. The tree cannot survive without connections to the root.

Jesus used an illustration like this, except that he used a vine and its branches. A branch that is attached to the vine will bear fruit and produce grapes. But if the branch is not attached to the vine there will be no fruit and no life - like my Christmas tree.

Jesus is life and life flows from him. When we are properly abiding in Jesus Christ his life will flow through us and we will see the fruit of Christ produced in our lives and through us in this world. But, as Jesus made clear in John 15:5,

"...apart from me you can do nothing."

It is a truth we all to often forget as we try to do the best we can for God, relying on our own strength, power and resources. It is the power of Jesus through us that produces Christlike fruit in our lives.

So, what does it mean to abide? Of course, it all begins with being born from above, with putting your faith in Christ and receiving his salvation. That connects us with God. But the abiding Jesus spoke of here also includes a daily walk of seeking him (starting here, with the Word and prayer is a great beginning) and walking in him. Relying on and trusting him for all things is also crucial.

But what is most important is that we realize that the measure of the Christian life is not what we do for Christ on our own, but the fruit that he produces in us.

Lord, prune my life and work in me that I might bear much fruit as I abide in Christ and he reproduces his life in me.  

The Peace of Jesus - June 12 Readings: 1 Chronicles 10-11, John 14, Psalm 73:1–3, Proverbs 15:1–2

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I was a senior in high school, ready to graduate from DeLand High School, and our youth group took a bus trip - the coolest thing ever. It was called a Lynx bus. This ministry had converted buses to sleep 40 or 50 teens. We'd sleep on the bus and wake up each day at a new place to do fun and exciting things. The first morning, we awoke at Chimney Mountain a few miles outside of Gatlinburg. We started climbing. Back then, I was in pretty good shape and before long I was out in front of everyone else. I reached the top of the mountain 5 or 10 minutes before anyone else arrived. It was awe-inspiring - a "religious experience" for a guy who wasn't really walking with the Lord back then!

John 14 is a scriptural mountaintop. The last couple of days we've been reading 1 Chronicles 1-9 and the genealogies. They are inspired, important, but not necessarily inspiring. That is not the problem here. Jesus, the night he was betrayed, hours before he died, gathered his disciples together and gave them his "Farewell Discourse" (John 14-16) which gave them the spiritual resources needed to handle the turbulent and terrible days that lay ahead. With Romans 8, Psalm 23, 1 Corinthians 13, John 3 and several other passages, it is among the breathtaking Himalayan peaks of Scripture. It is almost a shame to read it all in one day!

The entire sermon is about the peace that God gives in tough times. He knew the disciples lives were about to be shattered into a million pieces and so he wanted to give them peace - real peace, God's peace. Is peace possible when storms rage all around? Do we have resources beyond those of our circumstances? According to Jesus, we do.

First, Jesus told them that he was going to prepare a place for them - one of the most misunderstood passages in the Bible. People assume that Jesus is in heaven working on a home improvement problem. But he was going to the Cross when he said that, not to Heaven. He was going to the Cross to prepare a place for us in eternal Heaven. You have an eternal home that nothing in this world can shake because of what Jesus did on Calvary. Take heart, my friend. No matter how bad the storms, you have a glorious future ahead regardless of how difficult the road is that lies ahead.

Second, Jesus let them know that he was all they needed. "I am the way, the truth and the life." (14:6) Jesus is not the means by which we attain these things. He IS these things.

Third, Jesus assured us that in his name we could pray and the Father would hear and respond to our requests. What a blessing that is. God, the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, hears my prayers when I pray in the name of Jesus. He hears and he cares. (14:13).

One of the most common themes throughout the entire sermon is the present ministry of the Holy Spirit - the comforter, our counselor, our Helper sent from God. When Jesus left he would be sent to the disciples. Jesus makes the remarkable point that we are actually better off having the Spirit in us than having Jesus with us.

Jesus sums it all up this way.

"Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful."

Father, thank you for providing all I need to have peace in this troubled world.

Boring? Maybe. But Crucial! June 11 Readings: 1 Chronicles 6-9, John 13:21–38, Psalm 72:11–20, Proverbs 14:33–35

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Okay, let's admit it. The genealogies of 1 Chronicles 1-9 we've been reading the last couple of days are not exactly the most riveting and soul-stirring portions of scripture. When my soul is discouraged, when my heart is heavy, I seldom think to myself, "What I really need is to focus my heart and soul on the 'begats' and find the blessings there."

Of course, there are some nuggets woven into the genealogical records that people have found interesting. The most notable, of course, was the story of Jabez' prayer in 4:10, which may be one of the most overblown teachings on prayer ever! It's an interesting story and a reminder that God answers prayer, but it may not be the central teaching on prayer that some have made it out to be.

Reading through these chapters can become wearisome. If you read every word of these 9 chapters, God bless you. I tend to skim! People who get through the infectious skin diseases and mildew of Leviticus can find their commitment to read through the Bible bog down in these chapters. I am guessing that in all the "favorite scriptures" testimony services in history the genealogies of 1 Chronicles have never been identified. as a person's most favored text.

But do not mistake the lack of excitement these chapters provide to mean that they have no meaning or purpose. There is an important lesson to be learned from this passage, one that is buttressed and reinforced by the detailed genealogies of these chapters.

The Bible is not a book of fables and fiction. "It doesn't matter if God really created the world." "It doesn't matter if Moses really parted the Red Sea." "It doesn't matter if Jesus really walked on water." Even, "it doesn't matter if Jesus really rose from the dead." All that matters to some people is that the Bible tells great stories with good morals. It teaches us about God and helps us understand life better. Does it really matter if all the stories are really true?

Yes, my friend, it does. The Bible is not a religious Aesop's Fairy Tales! It is a record of the work of the sovereign God in human history. Every major act of God is grounded in history. Stories are not introduced with "Once upon a time," but with "In the year that King Uzziah died." It's not "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far, away," but "this was the time of the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria."

The Bible isn't a history textbook, but it is rooted in solid, accurate history. God really created the world. Adam and Eve were really the first humans. Moses really led the people from Egypt. David really fought Goliath and Elijah really faced the false prophets. Jesus really was born of a virgin in Bethlehem, lived in Nazareth and ministered in Galilee. It's a true story.

That's why the genealogies matter. These are not fictional characters in a movie of the week. These were flesh and blood people who lived and died, and through whom God worked his redemptive plan. The genealogies will never be exciting reading, perhaps, but that does not mean that they are not crucial Scripture. They matter. They remind us that God worked in history to redeem real people like us through real people like them. The Bible rests on a solid historical foundation.

Father, I thank you that your Word is not fiction or fairy tales, but the true story of your work in history to redeem sinners and bring us into your kingdom. Thank you!

Cleansed by Christ - June 10 Readings: 1 Chronicles 1-5 , John 13:1–20, Psalm 72:4–10, Proverbs 14:31–32

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Peter did it again. Once more he put his foot in his mouth as he reacted to Jesus Christ. This time, in John 13:1-11, his response was to Jesus washing his feet. At first, he was horrified that the Master would do something so degrading as to take a cloth and wash the disciples' feet. That was lowly, for the servants, beneath him. No matter how many times Jesus had taught about servant-leadership it just never seemed to get through to these guys.

But Jesus spoke, in verse 8, of the necessity of the kind of cleansing Jesus was doing. Peter would "have no part in me" if he did not submit to the cleansing.

To his credit, Peter wanted what Jesus was offering. In fact, in verse 9 he took it one step farther.

"Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head." 

I want it all! Wash me from head to toe, Jesus. That was a noble sentiment, but Jesus told him that it was as wrong as the first thought. He needed to be cleansed, but not to be bathed.

"One who has bathed does not need to wash anything except his feet." 

Have you ever wondered why we preach that our sins have all been forgiven in Christ, and yet we also tell folks that they need to confess their sins regularly, daily? Jesus' words here draw that distinction pretty well.

I have been bathed in the cleansing power of Christ, plunged into the fountain drawn from Immanuel's vein, and like all sinners, have lost all my guilty stain. At the moment I trusted Christ as my Savior, so many years ago, I received complete, full and unmeasured forgiveness for all my sins - those I had committed previously and every sin I would ever commit until the day I die. I was washed in the blood of the Lamb and no other sacrifice for sin is every needed to pay completely for my transgressions.

But still, as I walk through the day, I get some of the dirt of this world on my feet. I'm still a sinner after all. So, having been bathed, I go to Jesus to have my feet washed. I confess my sin and he is faithful and just to forgive my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.

The forgiveness of sin is both eternal and temporal. I am forgiven in Christ of all my sins, but I still need forgiveness from Christ on a daily basis.

Father, I thank you that my sins are paid for and that I have been bathed in the blood of Christ that never loses its power to save. Thank you, Lord. But I also confess my sin to you today and ask for your forgiveness and grace for this day. Lord, you have bathed me in your grace. Now, with that same grace, I ask you to wash my feet. 

Loving God's Glory, not Man's - June 9 Readings: 2 Kings 24-25, John 12:27–50, Psalm 72:1–3, Proverbs 14:29-30

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As Jesus marched closer to the end of his earthly ministry, to his death, sides began to form. Many loved him and were excited about the things he was saying and doing. Others were plotting his demise, scheming to have him betrayed and planning his execution. But there was a third group, a large group, but a sad group as well.

Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue. (John 12:42)

There was a large group among the powerful and influential of Jerusalem, among the rulers of the city, who believed that Jesus was the Christ, God's chosen one for his people. But these were the silent saints who put their power and prestige ahead of their beliefs. They did not want to lose their places of honor or be kicked out of the synagogue, so they shut up about Jesus.

While the religious leaders plotted and planned, they did nothing. While they schemed against Jesus, these men did not whisper a complaint. They cared too much about themselves.

Were they true disciples? I do not know and cannot say. Perhaps later they made complete commitments to Christ and stood for him. We will only know in heaven. But this we know - at this point they put their own needs, status and reputation ahead of Christ. Look at the indictment John gave against them in verse 43.

For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

They cared more about what other people thought of them than what God thought of them. They lived to please others instead of God. Their lives were defined by the opinions of others more than God's. And that is sin!

May we never be those who live for self and according to the opinions of man for the praise of man. May we be those who live for God's glory and to hear heaven's applause.

Father, you know that my heart loves to hear the applause of man and that all too often I am controlled by the opinions of others about me. Break me, Lord, of that sinful slavery and give me the freedom to live for your pleasure and yours alone. 

The Horror of God's Word! June 8 Readings: 2 Kings 21-23, John 12:1–26, Psalm 71:15–24, Proverbs 14:27-28

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Christians today have bought into the "everything has to be positive and encouraging" message more than we like to admit. When we read the Bible, we ignore the hard truths and simply skip to the verses that make us feel good, that give us promises we want to claim or that fit into our simplified world view. Have you ever seen a "Bible Promises" booklet - one that culls some of the great promises of God's Word? They can be helpful, but by definition they overlook many of the less palatable truths of Scripture.

The truth is that sometimes, God's word is harsh, it is painful and it can be downright horrifying. It reveals us as we are and shows us the truth that we want to ignore or hide. King Josiah found this out in 2 Kings 22:11-13.

When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying, “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”

Josiah was leading Judah back to God and was restoring the Temple that had fallen into such disrepair under the abominable reigns of his father and grandfather. As they worked, one of the priests found the Book of the Law and it was brought to Josiah. As the Law was read, Josiah did not pick out an encouraging promise here or a pithy saying there. He listened as the full weight of God's truth fell on him.

Then, he tore his clothes.

He realized how far his nation was from the standard set in the Law, from the life God had commanded for them. He came face to face with a Holy God and saw just how far short they had all fallen. God's Word was a mirror which showed him exactly how dirty the nation had become.

He listened to the Word and restored the Temple and, at least for a time, God brought revival to the land. If we would seek revival, we must stare deeply into the Word and see ourselves for who we are. We must submit ourselves fully to God's Word and let him restore us to become again what we are supposed to be.

Father, show me who you are and who I am and what you want to make me. May your Word restore me completely and revive me again. 

Hezekiah's Folly - June 7 Readings: 2 Kings 19-20, John 11:45–57, Psalm 71:7–14, Proverbs 14:25-26

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Up to the point when Isaiah appeared before him and announced that he would be dying, Hezekiah was on track to rival David as Judah's greatest king. He had rid Jerusalem of the remnants of his father's idolatry and had seen God bring great victories for the people.

Now Isaiah brought him the sad news that it was time to put his affairs in order because his illness was going to result in death. (2 Kings 20:1) Hezekiah poured his heart out to the Lord and God gave Isaiah a message. Hezekiah would receive 15 more years of life. He even received a miraculous sign confirming this.

It was a moment of joy for the king, when God heard his prayer and spared his life. It was also a turning point for him as he grew arrogant and self-glorying. He began to think he was something exceptional for whom God had done this mighty act, forgetting the grace and mercy of God.

It all came to a head when emissaries from Babylon came to see him and he let his pride get the best of him. He gave them the palace tour and displayed his own wealth for all to see.

Now, the God who preserved him was angry at him. Nothing offends God more than our human pride, when we take credit for that which God has done for us. We are products of the grace of God and should glory in the Cross of Christ. But that excludes boasting in ourselves or believing that we have merited the blessings of God.

Hezekiah ruined his chances to be among the greatest of kings when he let pride and arrogance choke out the glory of God in his life.

May we never let that happen to us.

Father, I am what you have made me. You have blessed me and changed me in so many ways. But whatever I am is your gift. Help me to remember that all I am is through Christ. 

Angry Jesus - June 6 Readings: 2 Kings 17-18, John 11:28–44, Psalm 71:1–6, Proverbs 14:23-24

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It was something I've never seen before, the description of Jesus' mood in John 11:38, as he strode over to Lazarus' tomb and looked at the ultimate fruit of human sinfulness.

Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb.

Most translations give this translation, that Jesus was "deeply moved" - feeling emotional about the death of his friend. After all, he has just wept at the grave. But the word seems to have a meaning stronger than simple emotion. Jesus was angry, agitated, enraged, indignant. It was more than just sorrow that was in Jesus' heart that day. He knew that he would see Lazarus again in a few moments and all would be well.

Jesus was angry deep within. 

Jesus was angry, upset, indignant at the horror that sin had wrought upon his glorious creation. God created this world glorious and idyllic, without sin, sorrow and certainly without death. Then the Serpent showed up in the Garden and started whispering in Adam's and Eve's ears. God is just holding you down, trying to keep you from reaching your full potential. If you would just throw off the yoke of his oppressive rules, rebel, and what you want you will find joy, contentment and peace beyond your wildest dreams. They bought into his lies, sin broke the beauty of God's perfect world and death came through sin.

Death was not part of God's plan, not part of the creation he called "very good." And standing there staring at the enemy of life, the last enemy to be destroy, the wages of all sin, Jesus was indignant. This was not what he wanted for us and it provoked him to see what our sin had done to his plan.

But he was also excited, a concept carried within the meaning of that word as well. In a few minutes he would give a brief glimpse into the purpose of his life. People thought he came to establish a political kingdom and defeat Rome. Jesus came to do much more than that. He came to defeat death eternally and redeem a people who, through him, would never face death. In a moment he would give one man a brief reprieve from death. Lazarus would be restored to life and to his family for a time - how long we do not know; nothing is known of Lazarus from this moment on.

But bringing Lazarus to life was just a hint, a foretaste of the glory that awaited in the future. Not long from that day, Jesus would be led to death at the cross and brutally murdered. He would be placed in the tomb and then, the death of death would come. Jesus would burst forth from the tomb never to taste death again. And, he was the firstfruits of those who would believe on him.

Because of Jesus Christ, death has been ultimately, completely, radically, and eternally defeated.

That's what Jesus came to do, and as he stood at Lazarus' tomb he was both angry at the effects of sin that brought him to that point and excited about the work he was about to do by his resurrection.

Father, I thank you that Jesus defeated death for me. I have the sure and certain hope of the resurrection through his work on the Cross. Death is defeated, Jesus is victorious, I am bound for life and nothing in this world can stop that work. Praise your holy name. 

In 200 Years - June 5 Readings: 2 Kings 15-16, John 11:1–27, Psalm 70, Proverbs 14:21-22

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A while back, I walked with my oldest son and my wife through the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord, Massachusetts. As I walked around reading tombstones, many 200 or more years old, I was struck with the brevity of life. For most of these people, the only memory that remains is their name engraved on a tombstone. Of course, that cemetery also has "Author's Ridge" where famous writers like Louisa May Alcott, Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Nathaniel Hawthorne are buried with their families. People come to see those graves (and leave pens and pencils at the graves as a tribute) and still read their books. But they, like the unknown masses, are still gone and still buried.

Life is short. Death awaits each of us at the end of life and there is nothing we can do about that. "It has been given to man to die once and after that to face judgment." There is nothing you can do about.

But Jesus changed everything.

In two hundred years, if this world continues, I will be laying in a grave somewhere, unknown except for what is chiseled on the marker. Perhaps someone will pass and wonder about my life as we wondered about those folks whose graves we walked past today.

But I will not be in that grave that day. Oh, my body still will be (perhaps). But I will be in the presence of the Lord, in glory, awaiting the resurrection of the dead. And it is all because of Jesus.

Jesus was called to the graveside of a loved one, a friend named Lazarus. Mary and Martha were grieving, and Martha even spoke some accusatory words to the Savior. "If only you'd been here..." Is it reading too much in to hear the words, "Where were you when we needed you?" But Jesus assured here that something wonderful was about to happen (it did) and then he said this (verses 25-26):

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

The Bible does not tell us simply that Jesus will raise us from the dead. No. It tells us that he IS the resurrection from the dead. He does not simply GIVE us life. Jesus IS life. Everything we want and need comes to us through him. 

In 200 years I will be forgotten on earth, a memory only to someone who might perhaps be tracing his genealogy or who is examining old graveyards. But I will not be forgotten by the God of heaven. I will be experiencing life I could never imagine here on earth because Jesus took me as his own, because I have been included in Christ and because I am his. 

That changes everything. 

Father, I thank you for your son, my Savior, who is my life eternal and abundant. Because of him I have life and hope not only for this world, but for all of time and all of eternity. 

The Jesus They Hated - June 4 Readings: 2 Kings 13-14, John 10:22–42, Psalm 69:28–36, Proverbs 14:19-20

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John 10:22-39 is a continuation of the conflict between Jesus Christ and the Jewish leaders. From John 6:66, his popularity is waning and some who followed him are turning aside. But verses 40-42 show what Jesus was all about.

His focus was never on his popularity. How often did he warn people not to tell others about the miracles he had done? Had he been politically motivated, he could have turned his fame into fortune and status. But that never motivated Jesus Christ. The leaders of Israel hated Jesus, passionately. Fervently. When, in John 10:30, Jesus claimed unity with the Father and in verse 31, they picked up stones to stone him. It was not his time, though, so he simply left them and went to the Jordan.

Jesus was not trying to worm his way into the halls of power to hob-knob with the rich and powerful and to curry their favor. He was not impressed by wealth and earthly success. These things meant nothing to him.

In his conversations with the religious leaders he pulled no punches and was often confrontational and direct with them, to which they did not respond well. But Jesus was about the Father's work and the truth and was not trying to make influential friends.

He did not define himself by the opinions of others. He cared only about the Father's view of him and was not enslaved to what others said or thought about him.

But John 10:40-42 reveals what he was all about.

"And many believed in him there."

Jesus was about proclaiming the truth that would bring people to a right relationship with the Father by believing in him. Jesus was about the work of the gospel, about bringing people to believe in him as the Messiah, the anointed of God.

That must be our work as well. We must not live by what people say about us, whether people like us or how popular we are in this world. We must be about the Father's work - proclaiming Christ and calling people to faith in him.

Father, may my life be about what your Son's life was about! May others see Jesus through me. 

Our Good Shepherd - June 3 Readings: 2 Kings 11-12, John 10:1–21, Psalm 69:21–27, Proverbs 14:17-18

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John 10 describes Jesus as the Good Shepherd who takes care of his sheep, even laying down his life for them. He calls us by name and we follow him. He leads us to pastures where we can find the food we need and protects us from the thieves and predators who seek our destruction. He gives life to his sheep - eternal and abundant.

And it is a good thing, because we are sheep. When we are described as sheep in the Bible it ought never to be taken as a compliment. Sheep cannot survive without a shepherd and we cannot live without our Savior, Jesus Christ. Think about the conditions of sheep and why we need a shepherd.

Sheep are prey. Just about every predatory, carnivorous animal in the world loves the taste of mutton. If sheep were not watched over, they would quickly become lunch. This world is full of spiritual predators who would seek to deceive us, distract us, divert us and destroy us. False apostles and false teachers abound who seek to use the sheep for their own purposes. We need a shepherd. We need a Good Shepherd.

Sheep are wayward and not that bright. Sheep are not like other creatures. They do not have a great sense of danger or direction. They wander off into trouble when left to themselves. It is interesting that we are so prone to seek independence when, as sheep, that is the last thing we need. We require a shepherd to guide us and keep us from harm - a Good Shepherd.

Sheep are defenseless. Most animals have some sort of defense mechanism to protect themselves. Some can run fast to escape danger. Some have sharp claws to fight. Some have hard shells or quills or, like the skunk, the ability to make predators pay through the nose. Sheep have no such defenses. They are not fast, they cannot jump and bound away. They don't have hard shells or bad smells to protect them. They are helpless. We are helpless in this world without the help of our Savior and Lord, without defense against all those spiritual predators.

Sheep need a shepherd. We need a Good Shepherd. That's the bad news. The good news is that we have one - Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

Father, thank you for my Good Shepherd who leads me to green pastures and calms me beside still waters. He protects me from the predators who would destroy me loves me enough to lay down his life for me. I need him, oh, I need him. Every hour I need him. 

True Blindness - June 2 Readings: 2 Kings 9-10, John 9:19–41, Psalm 69:14–20, Proverbs 14:15-16

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In John 9, Jesus healed a man who had been born blind, and just to annoy the Pharisees and their ilk, he had done it on the Sabbath day. Jesus loved the Father and would never think of doing a thing that would violate any of the Father's laws, but he took special glee in poking holes in the system of self-righteousness created by the Temple leaders. Most of the great miracles he did recorded in the New Testament were performed on the Sabbath for good measure.

It's an amusing story. In their fury at Jesus' work in healing the man, they harassed the man's parents, who passed the buck to the man himself. They bullied the man who had been healed, calling him names and insulting him. The man had been healed and all they could do was try to tear him down! But there was nothing funny about their sinful, selfish, evil hearts.

The Pharisees revealed their true blindness in response to this miracle. They did not rejoice that a man was healed. They were angered that their control was threatened, that their petty rules were broken. They were not concerned with the glory of God or the good of the people of God, but with their own control over those people and their status and standing in the nation.

That is true blindness. It is blindness to think that life is about me, about my standing in the world. When God opens our eyes we see that it is about him, about his work in this world and about the wonderful things that he is doing in us and through us. We are here to serve him. God does not serve our agendas, we are here to advance his kingdom.

There is no greater blindness than self-glory and self-centeredness. I am not the creator of the world. I do not rule the world. I cannot govern the world or bring justice to it. I am not capable of consummating the world's history in glory. Only God can do that. For me to forget that, to put myself in the place of God, to take the focus off of God's work and put it on me - that is real blindness.

Father, open my eyes to your greatness, your sovereign glory, and to the work that you are doing. May I never be blinded by self-centeredness and the desire for control and power. 

Absorbed by the World - June 1 Readings: 2 Kings 7-8, John 9:1–18, Psalm 69:7–13, Proverbs 14:13-14

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Jehoshaphat was a good king, a man who followed the ways of God and honored him, but he made a huge mistake in his life. He also befriended and partnered with Ahab, the wicked king of Israel.

A few days ago we read the story of Ahab's death, how Jehoshaphat went with him into battle against the enemy. Ahab surrounded himself with false prophets who told him exactly what he wanted to hear. Go up to victory, Ahab. Nothing can stop a great man like you. Jehoshaphat knew it was a setup and he asked to hear from a prophet of God. Micaiah was the prophet who spoke the truth Ahab didn't want to hear and refused to heed. He died for that mistake.

Jehoshaphat was a good king but he made a very bad friend. He stepped across a line that we face on a daily basis. We cannot isolate ourselves in this world. We have to engage a sinful society - we live in it, shop in it, drive in it, study in it, and work in it. In fact, the sinful people we engage on a daily basis are the purpose of our existence. We are here to bring them to the Cross for salvation.

But there is a line we must not cross. We are commanded not to be conformed to the ways of this world, but instead to be transformed, to be like Christ. While we engage this world in the name of Christ, we can never adopt its values, love its pleasures and the things it provides. We must walk circumspectly (how old-fashioned that sounds) and focus our lives on the glory of God. That is the line we must not cross.

Somewhere along the line, Jehoshaphat crossed that line and he paid a dear price for it. In 2 Kings 8:16 we are introduced to Jehoram, Jehoshaphat's son who succeeded him to the throne. He did not follow in his father's ways but adopted the ways of his father-in-law, Ahab. Verse 18 says it all.

And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. 

He married Ahab's daughter, molded himself to the ways of Ahab and did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Jehoshaphat's compromise and his partnership with Ahab produced a bitter fruit in his son's life.

It only got worse with his grandson, Ahaziah. 2 Kings 8:27 gives the divine judgment on his life.

He also walked in the way of the house of Ahab and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done, for he was son-in-law to the house of Ahab.

He continued the spiritual absorption of the kings of Judah into the sinful ways of the kings of Israel and received the judgment of God for it.

The lesson here today is a difficult one. We must not be legalists, living by specific rules we have made up. Nor ought we isolate ourselves from sinners who need Jesus. But our values, our spiritual life, needs to flow from Christ, the Cross, the Word and Spirit of God, not from the sinful world.

When we allow ourselves to be absorbed into the world's ways, the price will be high, not only in our own lives, but in those of our children and grandchildren.

Father, may I engage this world, but live for you. May I love sinful people enough to love you first and to live for your glory and nothing else.