Baby Christians Fight - April 30 Readings: 1 Corinthians 3

Today’s Readings

Context

Perhaps the best way to picture this book is to see Paul as a fireman and this book as the red truck. Some of the more faithful members of the church at Corinth wrote Paul to tell him of the serious issues going on and he hopped on the truck, started up the siren, and tried to hose down the errors.

In chapter 3 we find out that one of the biggest problems was schism. They had broken down into little groups - Paul, Apollos, Peter, Jesus. Each group lay claim to being God's favorite children. In this chapter Paul makes it clear that this schismatic impulse is a sign of immaturity and a lack of understanding of God's work.

The passage also includes a wonderful teaching, rooted in that concept, about the importance of building using the right materials because our works as Christians will one day be reviewed by the Savior - not for heaven or hell but for reward.

Devotional - Baby Christians Fight

My precious granddaughter has a habit of getting into fights and throwing fits when she plays with her cousins. They fight over toys. They grab and get upset. That is the nature of toddlers. They bicker. It is also the nature of toddler Christians. Unfortunately, many Christians never move beyond the toddler phase.

What is it that marks a mature Christian? Is it a deep knowledge of the Bible and theology? It is a conformity to a certain set of lifestyle guidelines? Can it be measured by a level of activity in the church - leadership positions, teaching, service? Of course each of these has its place. A knowledge of the Bible is foundational to all Christian growth. We should be conformed to Christ and live in obedience to him. We ought to be devoted to the people of God. But Paul had something else in mind when he spoke of spiritual maturity, in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3. 

Brothers, I was not able to speak to you as spiritual people but as people of the flesh, as babies in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, because you were not yet ready for it. In fact, you are still not ready, because you are still fleshly.

After leading off with encouragement in chapter 1, Paul said some harsh things to the Corinthians about their sinful attitudes. Here he accused them of being immature Christians who lacked spiritual patterns of thinking. We are born with a mind bound to the flesh and to sin. Christ comes in and begins to reprogram us, to give us "the mind of Christ" so that we think biblically, spiritually, in accord with the character and purposes of God. 

That had not yet happened in the Corinthians. They were still immature in their thinking, unspiritual, fleshly. But what was the marker of that immaturity? Paul makes that clear in verses 3-4. 

For since there is envy and strife among you, are you not fleshly and living like unbelievers? For whenever someone says, “I’m with Paul,” and another, “I’m with Apollos,” are you not unspiritual people?

Envy. Strife. Division. Dissension. Schism. Immature Christians tend to divide over secondary issues, especially personalities. I like this preacher. I like that. I'm into this teaching. I'm into that. I'm loyal to this. I'm loyal to that. Some of the Corinthians were followers of Paul. Some followed Apollos. Paul identified this as immaturity. 

Let me make this as plain as I can. A divisive, angry, schismatic spirit is a marker of spiritual immaturity. Mature Christians seek unity with other believers, even those with whom they disagree, who have different backgrounds, loyalties and preferences. The tendency for schism comes from the flesh and is evidence of spiritual immaturity. 

It is one of the most amazing moments in history, as Jesus looked down from the cross at the soldiers who had nailed him there and were now casting lots to divide his garments. "Father, forgive them," he prayed. Jesus, even in his pain, was about forgiveness and mercy.

Mature Christians mimic the grace of Jesus Christ. They seek to love and forgive and serve. They do not let little things, secondary issues, personal loyalties or preferences to become points of division in the Body of Christ. 

Father,  thank you for dealing with me on the basis of grace and not according to my own works. I have received life I didn't deserve instead of the death I did. May I also live in maturity, seeking unity in the Body of Christ instead of schism. 

Think and Pray

 Do your relationships with other believers exhibit more maturity - unity, kindness, humility - or more of the schismatic, bickering, self-centeredness that marks baby Christians? 

Why Don't They Understand? April 29 Readings: 1 Corinthians 3-4

Today’s Readings

Context

In verses 1-5 of 1 Corinthians 2, Paul describes his entrance into Corinth. Leaving the academic debates of Athens he determined to know nothing but Christ crucified. He entered Corinth without fancy rhetoric but with a simple message and with the demonstration of the Spirit's power. The goal of this was that their faith would rest not on Paul but on the power of Christ. 

The rest of the chapter discusses the natural and the spiritual and explains how only those who have the Spirit's power at work within can understand spiritual things. 

Devotional - Why Don't They Understand? 

Why can't he understand? Why won't she listen?

Have you ever beat your head against the wall wondering why someone you love can't seem to get the beauty of your faith in Jesus Christ? You share the gospel and they either just don't get it or they think it is some kind of fairy tale. To you, it is everything - Jesus is life and hope and joy. And he is very real. But for this person you love and care about, nothing seems to sink in.

There is a reason for this, one that Paul explained in detail in 1 Corinthians 2. The message we share, the gospel we preach, the truth we proclaim from the Word we believe - it is "God's hidden wisdom." (Verse 7) We are not talking about some kind of gnostic secret only known to the initiated. This wisdom has been publicly proclaimed and it is clearly revealed in the Scriptures. But God reveals these things by the Spirit (verse 10) and only those who have received the Spirit (verse 12) can understand and process this truth from God.

It is not that we who believe are smarter or more noble than those who do not believe. That was made clear in chapter 1. The difference is that we have received the Spirit of God through the grace of Jesus Christ and the Spirit has opened our minds to the truth of God.

He is the Spirit of Truth, the one who reveals the things of God to the people of God. The disciples went everywhere with Jesus but never understood him. They were constantly falling all over themselves in confusion, saying foolish things and misunderstanding even Jesus' simplest teachings. Then, at Pentecost, the Spirit fell on them and suddenly they understood it all. Peter, the disciple voted "Most Likely to Say Something Stupid" three years running, suddenly stood up before the hostile crowd, delivered the gospel with clarity and power and 3000 souls were saved.

It is not that your lost friend or family member will not listen and believe. The minds of the unbelieving have been blinded by Satan and are in slavery to his lies. It is only when the Spirit of God opens our minds and hearts that we are able to understand the truth, believe God and follow his word.

Our job is to proclaim God's truth clearly, consistently, and comprehensively. We must tell everyone the truth of Jesus Christ. We must love them with the love of Christ and live in the power of Christ that they might see. But ultimately, we cannot coerce or even convince people. Only the Spirit of God can open the sinful mind. We preach and then we pray, "Lord, may your Spirit convince them of your truth."

Father, thank you for your Spirit who guides us into all truth. May he not only teach me that truth, but use me to proclaim that truth as he opens the eyes and hearts of those who need you. 

Think and Pray

 Thank God for the inner work of the Spirit who gives you the ability to understand the things of God. 

What are the signs that God is at work in someone and that they are ready to receive God's word? 

Not Many Wise - April 28 Readings: 1 Corinthians 1

Today’s Readings

Context

 Paul started a lot of churches. He had great churches like Philippi and Ephesus, who brought him constant joy, who demonstrated the fruit of the Spirit and a passion for the gospel. He had the Bereans who searched the Scriptures to see if what he preached was true. He started churches in Thessalonica, Galatia and all over the Roman world.

And then there was Corinth, the dysfunctional family of God. We can deduce that Paul wrote 4 letters to Corinth, two in addition to two we have in the New Testament. One he referred to as his "painful letter" - which is amazing because 1 and 2 Corinthians were hardly Hallmark Cards.

But in his greeting, which opened the letter of 1 Corinthians, Paul made some amazing statements about the Corinthian church.

I always thank my God for you because of God’s grace given to you in Christ Jesus, 5 that by Him you were enriched in everything—in all speech and all knowledge. 6 In this way, the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you, 7 so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful; you were called by Him into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:4-9

Paul spent the rest of the book confronting the sin of the church at Corinth.

• He confronted the disunity and schism that was so prevalent among the Corinthians in chapters 1-4. 
• Chapter 5 addressed the immorality that was not only permitted, but even prized. They were so full of "grace" they arrogantly accepted unrepentant sinners into their fellowship. 
• They brought shame to Christ by taking one another to court, in chapter 6. 
• In the same chapter, Paul returned to the embrace of sexual immorality within the church. 
• Chapter 7 discusses problems in their views of marriage and chapters 8-10 talk about their attitudes toward disputable issues. 
• In chapter 11, Paul discusses both the impropriety in worship at Corinth, especially in regard to gender roles and he also gives a powerful rebuke about their how they profaned the Lord's Supper. 
• Chapters 12-14 delve into their dysfunctional appropriation of spiritual gifts, focusing on self-aggrandizement instead of building up the Body of Christ. 
• Chapter 15 regales the importance of the resurrection in the face of the fact that Corinth was tolerating those who denied this fundamental truth. 

1 Corinthians is all about correcting problems in the church. But in verses 4-9, he affirmed them and the work that God was doing in them. He was thankful for the grace God had given them, which had enriched them in every way. Every problem they had was solvable, not because of their potential but because of the riches of God's grace at work within them. He was confident that they had the spiritual resources that they needed and that God would be faithful and would strengthen them in every way.

He was confident in the work that God was going to do in them. Even in his rebuke, he was encouraging. He was not disdaining them or trying to savage them but was simply trying to help them take a step toward something better. Encouragement is always the foundation for rebuke and correction.

Devotional - Not Many Wise

Wouldn't it be great if LeBron James got saved? Or Angelina Jolie? Or Derek Jeter? Or Bill Gates? Somehow, it makes us feel better when the rich, the famous, the talented or the powerful come to Christ. And it would be great.

But it is not the way that the kingdom of God works. Yes, God has saved some important people - politicians, celebrities, athletes, business - and has used them in his work. But that is not his usual mode of operation.

He is a redeemer, not a talent scout. God does not go around looking for the best and the brightest who can do great things to help him. God selects ordinary people and does extraordinary things through them - by his grace and for his glory.

In one of my favorite passages of Scripture, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, and it spells out exactly who God chooses for his kingdom, and why.

Brothers, consider your calling: Not many are wise from a human perspective, not many powerful,not many of noble birth. 27 Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, 29 so that no one can boast in His presence. 30 But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became God-given wisdom for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, 31 in order that, as it is written: The one who boasts must boast in the Lord.

It was really not a great compliment to the Corinthians, but it is an important point. Not many of them were highly educated or intelligent. God wasn't looking for college professors to populate his kingdom. Not many were powerful. God has all the power the kingdom needs and ours is irrelevant to him. God did not choose many among the nobility. Human distinctions tend to lead to pride and that hinders the work of God. 

No, God chose the foolish things to make the smart look stupid. He chose what is weak so that he could demonstrate his power through them. He chose that which the world disdains as insignificant and used them to bring the rich and influential to their knees. 

He makes his reasons for this clear as well, listing two reasons that are actually sides of the same coin. He designs things so that we, his redeemed, are left totally without cause for boasting. I am nothing except what God makes me and can do nothing except that which he empowers. Why would I boast? It all comes from God and he deserves the praise. 

But boasting should take place in the lives of the redeemed - boasting in Christ and about Christ. It borders on the blasphemous for me to boast in myself, but it is also wrong to fail to brag on the amazing work of Christ's grace. 

The kingdom of God is not about us, our talents, abilities and efforts. It is about God and what he can do in us and through us. 

Father, it is all about your Son! He paid for my sins and gave me life. You chose me for your glory, to doing your work in me. For that I praise you today.

Think and Pray

Do you judge people on human terms or as Jesus did, on the basis of Christ's work?
Do you boast in yourself or the work of Christ in you?

Do Demons Know My Name? April 27 Readings: Acts 18:23-19:40

Today’s Readings

Context

We are back into the book of Acts for one day as start Paul's third missionary journey. As you might recall, Paul wrote three books on the third journey (one on the first - Galatians, two on the second - 1 & 2 Thessalonians). He wrote to a church he had visited which gave him a lot of trouble, the Corinthian church and he also wrote to Rome, where he'd never been but intended to go. Those letters were written on this trip. After today's reading we will spend a few weeks reading those three books (Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians). 

The bulk of Paul's time on this journey and all of today's stories took place in Ephesus.  This church was one of his two greatest success stories (Philippi was the other) from his missionary work. Corinth, though beloved, was his problem child. 

Devotional - Do Demons Know My Name? 

Sometimes we can find humor even in tragic circumstances. But even more importantly, we can find life lessons. The story of the seven sons of Sceva in Acts 19:13-19 is one such story.

We know precious little about them, except that they were itinerant Jewish exorcists. Were they charlatans? Sincere but misguided? We will not know until heaven. But we do know that they saw something happening in Paul's ministry and were deeply impressed. In verses 11-12, we find that this time in Ephesus was a time of amazing miraculous works for Paul. He was teaching in the Hall of Tyrannus (no one knows for sure what that is) and he was performing miracles galore. He was also casting out demons for those who came to him. That impressed Sceva's seven sons.

So, when confronted with a man who was possessed by a demon, they decided to invoke the name of Jesus whom they had heard Paul preach.

"I command you by the Jesus that Paul preaches!" 

They thought that they could tap into that extraordinary power that was at work in Paul's ministry. It did not work out that way though. Instead, the demonic spirit turned on them and said something interesting.

"I know Jesus, and I recognize Paul - but who are you?" 

The rest of the story is sad, scary, but also intriguing. The man with the evil spirit attacked them, beat them up and they went running away naked from the scene. Demons are real and are not to be messed with. We have no power over them except that of our Savior and Lord. They did not realize this and it was a lesson painfully learned.

But return to the statement of the demon. What is amazing in the New Testament is how much truth demons speak! The clearest confessions of the person of Christ in the gospels are made by demons in the terror at coming face to face with the Son of God. (Note: proper doctrine is not all that is necessary. The best doctrine in the gospels comes from demons! It must be accompanied by faith!) But here, the demon gave us a thought we ought to remember.

He admitted that he knew Jesus. Demons are evil and awful and powerful and terrifying, but make no mistake about it; they know who Jesus is. Twice in my life I've had encounters with the demonic and both times the power of Jesus Christ (certainly not my power) prevailed. Jesus reigns over demons and they know it. That is why they cried out when they saw him. They knew who he was and that they were no match for his truth and his power. Demons know Jesus and they are terrified of him. It is silly for Christians to live in fear of demons and the demonic. They fear the Jesus who dwells in us!

But the second part of that is what we need to hear. "I recognize Paul." The demons knew Jesus and they feared him. But they were also aware of Paul. Paul had been a pain in the neck to the forces of darkness! They knew he was a servant of the Jesus they feared so much.

I wonder if the demonic forces that hang out in Sioux City (and I have no doubt there are many!) know who I am. I am no Paul, but am I one of the seven sons of whom they had no knowledge? Has my life, my ministry, made enough of a difference in this city that the forces of darkness have been made aware of what Christ is doing through me? These are not questions only for preachers or church leaders, but for every one of us.

It ought to be our goal to walk so much in the power of Christ that the demons who know and fear him would take notice of us.

Father, may you work in my life in such power that the servants of the enemy in this sinful city know who I am - a servant of the Jesus who will one day destroy them and send them to the Lake of Fire!

 Think and Pray

 Is your life lived in such a way that you are a daily threat to the forces of darkness? 

Never Give Up - April 26 Readings: 2 Thessalonians 3

Today’s Readings

Context

Paul's letters to the Thessalonians end with a renewal of his admonition against idleness. This was likely not a simple problem of laziness, but a misapplication of the teaching of the end times. Have you heard of groups that dropped out of society to await the coming of Christ? That is what the Thessalonians were doing. Paul wanted them to continue to work and live and have normal lives - normal lives devoted to Christ.

That exhortation is sandwiched by an appeal to pray as he relies on God's faithfulness to proclaim the word and a closing warning to watch out for those who do not live in obedience to God's word through Paul. Paul closes the letter with a handwritten message to demonstrate that it is genuine. 

Devotional - Never Give Up

I'm tired right now. Really tired. Brutally tired. We traveled to Ohio last weekend for a fairly big family event - my daughter's wedding. Every free moment when we could have rested was devoted to playing with my grandkids who I get so little opportunity to spend time with. Sunday, about 3:30 pm, we headed west and drove till 3 am when we got home. A few hours of sleep did not take the edge off of my exhaustion.

I've never been hit by a train, but I imagine it feels just a little bit like this.

Exhaustion tends to make us want to give up, turn back - it turns us into cowards and lazy slugs. And life in this world has a way of bringing us spiritual exhaustion and discouragement. It can be relentless and overwhelming - temptation and hardship and opposition and obstacles. We have a tendency to want to give up, to walk away, to throw in the towel on our walk with the Lord and our mission for him.

So Paul constantly reminds us, as in verse 13, not to give up, not to become weary in well-doing, not to turn aside. Often he couples this with reminders of the end-time victory of Jesus and the justice he will bring. Sometimes it is associated with the assurance of the completion of the work of salvation that Jesus Christ is going to complete in us. And sometimes it's just a verse like this one, a word of encouragement to suffering, persecuted Christians against whom Satan had thrown his best pitches.

Don't give up, Christian friend. It may be hard today. Maybe it's someone who has let you down or made you angry. Maybe your life circumstances are overwhelming. But Jesus is at work, your sins are forgiven, your destiny is settled, your hope is sure, you are empowered by the indwelling Spirit, you will never be abandoned by your Savior, and the process God has begun in you will be finished by Christ. Don't give up. 

May I never give up, Father, as long as you continue to work in and through me. 

Think and Pray

What is it that is discouraging you and making you want to give up?
Remember those spiritual realities that give you hope, joy and strength to go on. 

Embracing the Darkness - April 25 Readings: 2 Thessalonians 2

Today’s Readings

Context

Today's readings focus primarily on the great deception which accompanies the coming of the antichrist at the time of the end. It is notable that Paul does not teach on the end times to foster morbid curiosity or arouse some kind of imbalanced interest in details. His teachings on the end times always seem to be accompanied by admonitions to stand firm or hold fast - to realize that it is worth it because Jesus is going to reward us in due time 

Devotional - Embracing the Darkness

In these devotionals, I do not delve often into the end times. There are two reasons for that. Those who read this come from different perspectives on the end times and there is no reason to unnecessarily focus on that topic. The other reason is similar, but a bigger concern. Some people develop an unhealthy and morbid curiosity about the end times.

In today's passage, 2 Thessalonians 2, we see great truths and one that is often misunderstood. I believe this principle is pretty much universal regardless of your view of the end times. 2 Thessalonians 2 describes the rise and reign of the Antichrist, the one who comes to stand against the work of Christ and lead the world against him. There is a perception about the Antichrist which is seen in some of the fiction that has been produced attempting to depict the events of the tribulation. The Antichrist schemes his way to power and brutally represses and oppresses the people of the earth. By crushing people into submission, he unites the world under his evil rule.

That is not the idea that is given in this passage. Look at verses 9-12.

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

This last great work of Satan is in accord with all the works of Satan. He did not force Adam and Eve into sin. He lied to them and they willingly embraced the deception. They believed the lie and took pleasure in unrighteousness. Thus it was and thus it always has been. Yes, at times Satan possesses sinners in extreme circumstances, but it is not his normal strategy. He lies. When men are deceived they willingly and enthusiastically embrace the unrighteous wickedness that will be their destruction. Human beings always celebrate the sin the that brings them low.  

The Antichrist will not conquer the world, he will be carried to the throne on the shoulders of those he will one day crush. The world will believe the lie because it wants to, because it rejoices in the victory of wickedness. Mankind refuses to love truth and instead takes pleasure in unrighteousness. Yes, one day the Antichrist will pull back the cloak and reveal himself for the man of evil he is. Men will regret their choices when it is too late. But he will rise to power celebrated by sinners who hail him as the hope of the world. 

Satan lies and deceives and the sinful world cheers those lies. That is why the truth is so important. The greatest thing we can do in this dark and darkening world is to shine the light of Jesus Christ. The prescription for the lie is the truth. Jesus is truth. God's truth. And he blows the lies of Satan out of the water. 

We look at this wicked world and see the encroachment of evil. It bothers us, stresses us, even causes us to quake and fear. But it need not. The lie cannot stand in the presence of the truth. Darkness flees when the light shines. And in his coming, Jesus will bring low all the works of the Antichrist and the forces of darkness with him. Jesus will reign supreme. 

And so, Paul tells the Thessalonians (and us), in verse 15, to stand firm. Isn't that interesting? That's what he always says in passages about the future. Not panic, or develop a morbid interest, or set dates, or develop charts. Stand firm. Just keep serving Jesus, proclaiming the truth, and shining the light until the trumpet sounds and the dead in Christ rise first!

Father, thank  you that the light of Christ dispels all the enemy's lies. Help me to walk in your truth every day.  

Think and Pray

Are you struggling to stand firm in Christ? Are life's problems mounting?
Remember the ultimate victory of Christ and his provision of victory for us.
Also, refuse to listen to Satan's lies as you pore over God's word and inculcate its truths daily into your life. 

He Who Laughs Last - April 24 Readings: 2 Thessalonians 1

Today’s Readings

Context

2 Thessalonians was written not long after the first letter and it continues the same themes. This book deals extensively with issues related to the end of time and the coming of Christ.

Devotional - He Who Laughs Last

Paul wrote to a people who were suffering deeply because of their faith in Christ, and he wished to encourage them by reminding them that the people who were persecuting and abusing them would not always have the upper hand. Yes, today it is often true that evil men have the power to do evil things. They can gain control of governments and businesses and work their wicked schemes successfully. But such would not always be the case, Paul assured them.

In fact, he said in verse 6, there would come a time when God would afflict the people who afflcted them. The tables would be turned. The sufferings would be exalted by God's grace and those who have inflicted that suffering would find themselves on the wrong end of the wrath of God.

They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from[b] the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. 2 Thessalonians 1:9-10

Paul's message is simple. Yes, it can be hard to serve Jesus in these sinful days, but it is worth it. Why? Because these sinful days are not the end of it all. There is a day of reckoning when the glory of God is revealed and those who trust Christ and serve him will be rewarded and those who oppose him will face the horror of the error of their ways. We need only hold on and stand strong. In the end, our savior will make it worth it all

Father, when days are hard and things are discouraging, help me to remember that you will return and bring righteousness to this world. 

Think and Pray

Remember today that even when things are hard, there is a day more important than today. Jesus is coming again to bring complete justice and to reward those who serve him. He will also punish those who persecute or mistreat us. Remember this and rejoice in Christ.

He Will Do It April 23 Readings: 1 Thessalonians 5

Today’s Readings

Context

This passage concludes the book of 1 Thessalonians with several powerful teachings. It begins with a section about the "day of the Lord" - a general reference to the end times. Because we do not know when the Lord is coming, we are admonished always to be ready.

The final section contains a rapid-fire series of commands from Paul to the church, containing many brief but powerful teachings. Verses 16-19 are especially memorable.

The closing benediction in verse 23-24 is a powerful reminder of the goodness of God.

Devotional - He Will Do It 

This is a moment of confession. I forgot about this devotional. I'm in Ohio and my daughter is getting married today. I was about to go to bed and realized I hadn't done this. So, let me just ask you to read the passage on your own.

All I will give you is a reminder of one verse, often ignored. In the benediction that closes the book, Paul wishes great blessings on the church (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24). In verse 23, he prays his blessing.

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

That is a big prayer. "Sanctified completely." Not just part but "your whole spirit and soul and body" kept blameless. That's hard. 

But the good news is that God did not leave you to work this up on your own. No! Verse 24 is incredibly comforting. 

He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. 

It is not your might and power that gets the job done, my friend, but his. What he demands he provides What he calls you to do he empowers you to do. He is faithful!

Thank you, Father, for you power that strengthens me to do what you have called me to do and sanctifies me to make me blameless in your eyes. 

Think and Pray

Give thanks to God for his provision of power and grace. 

Finding God's Will - April 22 Readings: 1 Thessalonians 4

Today’s Readings

Context

Paul turns from personal remarks to teaching important truths to the Thessalonians, though still with a personal perspective. He admonishes the Thessalonians to obey God's will in abstaining from sexual immorality, to live quiet, godly, and productive lives, and to have the proper attitude about the coming of the Lord.

It seems likely that some "second coming fever" had hit the church and some were dropping out of life to await the Lord's coming. That is why Paul told them to live quiet lives and to work hard (verse 11). Then, the well-known passage about the appearing of Christ is designed to teach people to avoid controversy and unhealthy interest, but to let the fact of Christ's coming lead them to be comforted and confident. They were likely upset when Christians died, expecting that they would all live to see the end times. Paul put it all in perspective.

Devotional - Finding God's Will

"I just don't know what God's will is for my life. I'm praying and trying to seek his will and find it."

That is a noble goal, and I believe that God, by his Spirit, will lead each of us where he wants to be and to do what he wants us to do, as he guided Paul throughout Acts. But sometimes we get so focused on seeking these individual leadings that we fail to see some specific things that the Bible reveals are most definitely the will of God for you. It is not healthy to seek to know the specific will of God if you are ignoring God's revealed and eternal word and what it tells us about the will of God.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (which we will read tomorrow) tells us that God's will is that we give thanks in everything. Couldn't be clearer. If I am not giving thanks, I am not following God's will. There are several verses that indicate that God's will for our lives is to endure with joy and strength even through intense suffering.

Our first priority is to do God's will as revealed in God's Word before we seek specific direction from the Spirit.

In this passage, part of God's will is revealed unequivocally, but it is a command that is increasingly difficult to obey in the world in which we live. Look at verses 3 through 5.

For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality, so that each of you knows how to control his own body in sanctification and honor, not with lustful desires, like the Gentiles who don’t know God.

What is God's will for my life? Plain. Clear. Not debatable. that I abstain from any form of sexual immorality and that I live in control of my body not giving in to the lustful desires of the flesh. I don't really need to pray about this. I don't need to ask God what his will is on the matter. He's made that abundantly clear.

• I am to remain absolutely faithful to my wife - not just "technically" in body, but also in my soul and in my spiritual. 
• I am to control my body in honor. It is the dwelling of God and I should not defile it with trash, with smut and filth. When Jesus died for me and saved me, he gained ownership rights over my body (1 Corinthians 6) and I lost the right to indulge the flesh. 
• If someone monitored what I watch on TV and where I go on the internet, they should see that I honor God and that I do not indulge the flesh. 
• I must resist the relentless attack of pornography on my mind and heart. 
• I must guard my heart and my thoughts, not indulging lustful fantasies. 
• I must guard my tongue, that I do not speak the kind of filth I would not act on. 

These are not options. This is God's will for my life, as plain as could be. And the good news is that the power of the Spirit dwells within and because of that, we can rely on God to empower us to accomplish his will. He can strengthen us to say no to temptation, cleanse us from sin, purify our hearts and minds, and give us zeal to follow the will of God.

Father, I thank you for you power at work in me through Christ to purify me. I testify that my body belongs to you and I ask for your power to obey your will and abstain from immorality, impurity and every form of uncleanness - of the body, of the  mind, of the mouth, of the soul. 

Think and Pray

Are you walking in purity or do you have a secret life of sin?

Walking the Tightrope - April 21 Readings: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-3:13

Today’s Readings

Context

Paul continues his personal testimony of concern for the Thessalonians. He reminds them of his diligent labor for them and lauds their response to what he preached - that they received it not as simply Paul's words, but as the word of God. He explains how he sent Timothy to see them and has now received an encouraging word from him on his return that has lifted his spirits. He ends this section with a benediction, a prayer of blessing for their continued spiritual prosperity. 

Devotional - Walking the Tightrope

I watched with wonder and some sense of disbelief as Nik Wallenda walked across the Grand Canyon back in 2013. One thing is certain, a man needs to avoid straying either to the right or the left when he undertakes a task like that. It doesn't much matter whether he falls to the left or to the right, the effects are pretty much the same.

Throughout the New Testament, there is a constant balance being struck between two sides of the character of God. He is good and loving and he is holy. God's holiness demanded a payment for sins and God's love moved him to redeem and forgive us. His solution, of course, was Christ. Jesus paid the price for our sins so we could experience the love of God.

Now, as God is, so must we become. The church and its people must be holy, walking in purity day by day. The church that tolerates sin does not honor God. But it is also called to be a place of love, where people are accepted with their faults and loved in their imperfections. We must be a people who balance grace and holiness.

In 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 Paul prayed for the people of Thessalonica, and his prayer was that they would walk the tightrope carefully.

Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Paul prayed that their love would increase and abound for one another - for a man as prickly and sometimes harsh as Paul, he emphasized love and unity as much as anything in his writings. But it was not a squishy love, one that ignored truth or holiness. It was a unity built on a common experience of war! Joining together on the battlefield in the cause of Christ, the church needed to love one another. 

But they also needed to walk in holiness. He asked the Lord to establish their hearts as "blameless in holiness" even to the coming of the Lord. 

This is a constant struggle. Love will sometimes move us to be overly permissive, to ignore God's holiness and his righteous standards. Holiness can sometimes cause us to be harsh and judgmental, superior and condescending. We must avoid both faults as we seek to love one another and grow in holiness. 

The good news is that we are not Nik Wallenda walking the tightrope across the Grand Canyon. One slip and he would have been dead. I've slipped often - sometimes this way, sometimes that. But God catches me, restores me and then renews my walk. 

Thank you, Lord, for constantly helping me to balance those competing qualities of love and holiness. May my walk and my ministry be a representative of both your love and your purity. 

Think and Pray

Do you tend to fall to one side or the other in this? Do you tend to stray toward permissive love or judgmentalism?
Think and pray through what it means to find the balance between love and holiness.

Caring for Souls - April 20 Readings: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-2:8

Today’s Readings

Context

Remembering the books that Paul wrote on his missionary journeys is easier than you think.

• On his first journey, Paul wrote ONE letter. Galatians. 
• On his second journey, Paul wrote TWO letters. First and Second Thessalonians. 
• On his third journey, Paul wrote (guess) THREE letters. Romans. First and Second Corinthians. 
• On his fourth journey (the prison trip), Paul wrong FOUR letters. Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. 
• After his release, during his second imprisonment, and just before his execution, Paul wrote three more letters to individuals. Titus, First and Second Timothy. 

That's thirteen in all. I am convinced that Paul did not write Hebrews. Though I am no Greek scholar, the style of the Greek in Hebrews is not that which Paul wrote. It is more formal - I suspect it might be Apollos, but no one knows for sure. I'm only sure it's NOT Paul.

Paul visited Thessalonica after he left Philippi, and was there only a brief time. His desire to write them these two letters was because he had not had the time to disciple them before persecution drove them away. Paul was not satisfied that his converts just make an initial decision, but that they follow Christ on the path of righteousness. We can pinpoint to a fair degree of precision when he wrote 1 Thessalonians. Acts 18:5 references Timothy joining Paul in Corinth and 1 Thessalonians 3:6 speaks of that same moment as a trigger for Paul's writing of the book.

The book is very personal; an effort by Paul to disciple in writing those young Christians who were suffering such dire persecution.

Devotional - Caring for Souls

Imagine a father driven away from his children  when they are still young and you see the attitude that Paul has toward the Thessalonians. He entered their city and led them to Christ but within little more than three weeks the persecution exploded and he had to flee. He left Timothy and Silas there to lead them in the ways of Christ, but Paul still felt a deep burden for the believers of this city, and so he sent them this letter to continue his ministry.

It is a passionate and personal letter, one that expresses deep feelings of gratitude and love for them, and a desire that they would continue in the ways of Christ. In the introductory section that we read today, Paul makes some strong statements about himself, his attitude toward the Thessalonicans and his approach to ministering to them. These statements speak to how we should treat one another as we minister and serve.

1. In 1:2-3, he made it clear he was a man of prayer, praying regularly for the church at Thessalonica, as well as for all those churches he had planted. 
2. Verse 5 asserts that there was more than mere words in their ministry, but also a demonstration of the power of God at work. 
3. Paul describes, in 2:2, how that in spite of their suffering in Philippi they entered Thessalonica with boldness, determined to declare the gospel regardless of any hindrance or obstacle. 
4. They completely, according to 2:5, rejected flatter and greed of any sort among the Thessalonians, since they were serving God and not their own purposes. 
5. Verse 7 goes on to say they did not seek the glory and honor of people, but only the pleasure of serving God. 
6. The final statement, in verse 8, is perhaps the oddest. Paul says that he treated them like a nursing mother treats her baby. If you've ever seen the care a mother gives her newborn, you realize what a startling illustration this is. Paul treated his spiritual chldren with that kind of compassion, love, and spiritual concern. 

Paul wasn't about money or building his brand or growing his own kingdom. He was about glorifying God by caring for others in Christ!

Father, may the love and care Paul showed for others mark my life as well. 

Think and Pray

Do you live your life for yourself, or in the complete unselfishness and servant heart that Paul showed according to these chapters?

An Offensive Gospel - April 19 Readings: Acts 17:16-18:22

Today’s Readings

Context

One of the papers I did in my fourth year of Greek in seminary was on 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. In that passage, Paul says that he entered Corinth determined to know nothing but Christ and Christ crucified. It has been assumed by many that this was the result of Paul's "failure" Athens, in which he attempted to debate with the philosophers in Athens. As the theory goes, he realized his mistake in trying the intellectual approach and entered Corinth determined to preach the gospel pure and simple.

But is that what really happened? Others debate that simple theory and maintain that Paul was not a failure at all. He debated with the philosophers because that was what was required with the philosophers - it's called contextualization. If you speak to a group of religious people, you start by quoting scripture, but it you are speaking to an atheist group your approach may need to be different. Wherever Paul started - the Jewish law in a synagogue or the philosophical wranglings in Athens - he ended up in the same place. He preached Christ. And, as Acts 17:34 tells us, Athens was not a complete failure - some believed.

We will likely always wonder whether Paul's approach in Athens was a failure. It seems to me that it was more a contextual strategy, one that was less successful than in other places - but highly intellectual people have always had trouble humbling themselves before God.

It is interesting and ironic that Paul ended the second journey in Ephesus. He wanted to start the journey there, after he strengthened the churches in Galatia, but God prevented him. Now, when the time was right he went there and eventually had a productive and powerful ministry there. In God's work, timing is key. Paul wanted to go early, but God said no. When the time was right, Paul had fruitful labor there. 

Devotional - An Offensive Gospel

Paul was a brilliant man; in fact, there are some who believe he would have been a known quantity in history even had he not met Jesus on the road to Damascus. When he wandered into Athens and began to debate with the Epicureans and Stoics, he was more than able to hold his own. He was not intimidated or overwhelmed by them or their philosophical intricacies.

But then he came to that moment that every gospel presentation comes to - no matter what. You can be tactful, but there is a moment where tact goes out the window. You can be intellectual, but there is a moment at which you abandon sight and walk by faith. There is always a moment of offense every time the truth of Jesus' work on the cross is shared.

It came in Athens when Paul mentioned the resurrection of Jesus Christ (17:31). His intelligence might have impressed them to that point, but as soon as he talked about Jesus rising from the dead he lost them. What an idiot! Seriously? You believe this guy Jesus came back from the dead? You have a screw loose!

The gospel is good news (that's what gospel means). It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. It is truth. But it is also an offense. It tells people that they are sinners who cannot save themselves. It tells them that who they are is not good enough. It tells them they cannot just "be themselves" but that they must humble themselves and repent before God. It tells them that God's judgment and eternal hell awaits those who do not trust Christ. It asks people to believe things that reasonable people do not believe - creation, miracles, resurrection, and a long list of other things.

You can try to be tactful as you share the gospel - and you should. There's no reason to stand on the street corner and shout at people that they are going to hell, as if you are glad about that! You can be loving and kind and build relationships and build bridges and contextualize and do all those things. But there comes a point where you have to drop the bomb!

An inoffensive gospel is no gospel at all. If you are worried most about what people think of you and whether they like you, you will stay silent as sinners march inexorably toward hell. To honor Christ and proclaim truth you must be willing to speak the unpopular truth and offend sinners with the gospel of Jesus :Christ. 

Father, may we be willing to speak the clear and unvarnished truth, even at the risk of offense. 

Think and Pray

Do you shy away from speaking truth that will offend?
Do you care more about what people think of you, or whether they are right with God? 

Barnabas to Paul to Timothy - April 18 Readings: Acts 16:1-17:15

Today’s Readings

Context

After splitting from Barnabas, Paul took Silas and went back out on his second missionary journey. Paul headed by to Galatia, where at Lystra he met a young man who would become his key assistant, Timothy. He tried to go first to Asia (Asia Minor - Ephesus and surrounding areas), then to Bithynia, but was redirected by the Spirit both times. Then in a dream, he was called to go to Macedonia. There he planted churches in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. He moved down the coast into Greece, ministering first in Athens and then in the city of Corinth.

Today's readings focus on Paul's entry into Philippi and the very familiar story of the conversion of Lydia and the Jailer, as well as his short time in Thessalonica and Berea.

Devotional - Barnabas to Paul to Timothy

There is an old adage that Christianity is always one generation from extinction. It is, in reality, true, though if we believe the church is founded by Christ for God's eternal purposes, we also believe that hell cannot stand against it and though its success may ebb and flow, it will never be completely stopped. The thought behind the adage is still a good one. If we want the church to continue we must pass it along to younger folks who will continue the work.

Chapter divisions can be unfortunate, causing us miss the continuation of important ideas. In Acts 16, it may prevent us from seeing an interesting juxtaposition. When Paul was Saul of Tarsus, enemy of the Cross, converted on the road to Damascus, one man stood beside him, put his arm around him, and brought him into the fellowship of the church. When young Saul went off by himself to learn the things of God it was Barnabas who went and found him and brought him to Antioch to get him involved in the ministry of that church. Barnabas and Saul headed out into the Galatian region to share Christ and plant churches. Paul became what Paul became because of the discipling and encouragement of Joseph, known as Barnabas, the son of encouragement.

Then, the sad events of the end of chapter 15 took place which separated Paul and Barnabas, at least for a time, and led to two missionary teams instead of one going out. Paul took Silas and headed back to the areas they had gone before and Barnabas told Mark, "Let's go west, young man."

So, as Paul's ministry partnership with Barnabas is being severed, what is the first thing he does? Acts 16:1-3.

Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

Paul, having absented himself from his mentor, found a young man whom he could mentor. This is conjecture, but perhaps Barnabas convinced him of the need to train young men. Paul was unwilling to make Mark that trainee, but in Derbe and Lystra he found Timothy and in him he found a young man into whom he could pour his life, a young man who could carry on the work when he was gone. A wise man is always looking for a younger man he can train to carry on the work when he is gone. Is that a lesson he learned from Barnabas? We'll have to ask him when we see him in glory, I suppose. 

What I do know is that there is truth in the old line:

Every man of God needs a Barnabas and a Timothy! (Women, it's true for you too!)

Actually, like Paul, we should seek several Timothy-types. Read through Acts and note that everywhere Paul went he took someone with him. I'm a ministry-loner. I study by myself. I work by myself. I visit by myself (most of the time). It's a failing in my ministry. Paul did everything in a group. 

Why? There are a number of reasons. It's great for accountability and mutual encouragement. There's less temptation in a group than there is when someone is by himself. When one person is blue, or upset, or discouraged, the others can lift him up. They can pray together and learn from one another. But more than anything, these young men got to watch Paul and learn. He was able not just to pass on some doctrines and teachings, but his very life. 

There is no greater heritage any of us can leave in this world than a small army of well-trained kingdom warriors who will carry on the work when we are gone. I can only fight the good fight for so long. But if I find a Timothy and a Titus, I can keep fighting through them even when I have gone to glory.

Father, may my life count in the lives of others. 

Think and Pray

Are you pouring your life into the lives of others who are growing in Christ? Do you have a Timothy whom you are leading and discipling?

No Superheroes Needed - April 17 Readings: Acts 15

Today’s Readings

Context

Irresistible force, meet immovable object!

When Saul of Tarsus met Jesus the passion with which he persecuted the church became the force with which he proclaimed Christ and nothing was going to stop him, not even his Jewish critics. Paul's first journey was a great success as many Gentiles came to Christ but he also encountered growing opposition from the circumcision party. He wrote the book of Galatians to forcefully confront their false teachings and to remind the Jewish leaders that the gospel was meant for the world, not just for the Jews.

Things came to a head in Acts 15, as Paul returned from his trip and went to Jerusalem to meet with the Apostles and figure out a unified approach to bringing together Jewish and Gentile elements of the church. They sought God, reached a compromise that unified the church and protected the gospel, and they moved the work of Christ forward.

Acts 15 ends with the sad chapter of the split between Paul and Barnabas over their ongoing missionary work and the role Mark would play. Barnabas, always the encourager, wanted to give Mark another chance and Paul was unwilling to do so. They could not agree and so went their separate ways. While they ministered apart it is not clear that they broke their fellowship or friendship. Sometimes the best path to unity is to bless each other and go your separate ways. We hear nothing more of Barnabas but we know that Mark became a great help to Paul later in his ministry. 

Devotional - No Superheroes Needed

In one sense, the story makes me happy, in another, it makes me very sad. After the conference in Jerusalem that dealt with the conflict over Gentiles coming into the church, and how Jewish the church would be, Paul and Barnabas decided the time was right to head out on another mission trip to visit the churches they had already planted and to extend the gospel even further.

Then, according to Acts 15:36-41, a problem arose, having to do with Mark. Barnabas, always the encourager, wanted to bring him along and give him another chance - let him succeed this time. Paul was having none of it. The momma's boy had cut and run when they needed him and could not be trusted. This was important business they were doing and there was no way that they could trust a man like this again, at least not this soon. And the argument became pretty heated.

36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

 It is clear what makes me sad about this story.  Two great men, great friends, great servants of God, came to a parting of the ways because they could not work this issue out. Barnabas was the man who stood by Paul when no one else would and had been Paul's mentor, his discipler. Now, they were on the outs. It is a tragic story. 

But what makes me happy? It makes me happy that the Word of God is REAL. It is not fictional make-believe in which people never make mistakes. Ever read a biography of a great Christian? We have a tendency when writing the life stories of great men or women to build them up into spiritual superheroes who could leap tall buildings in a single bound. 

The Bible never does that. It tells us the real stories of real people. Jesus was perfect but the people who served him were not. Paul was a man - a man of God but also a sinner who had a temper and got his feelings hurt and struggled to forgive and - well, a man who was messed up just like me. Moses made mistakes. Elijah got discouraged. Abraham's faith failed him a time or two. David, the man after God's own heart, fell into grievous sin. 

I love that the Bible is not about spiritual superheroes but people like me who struggle to keep it together, who fail and start over and who do things they wish they hadn't. 

Fortunately, this story has a happy ending. Mark eventually became a useful friend and coworker, laboring with Paul in the gospel. We can hope that Barnabas and Saul's friendship survived this and thrived in the days ahead, though they ministered separately. God used even this sad episode to work his grace and to extend the kingdom. 

The good news for you and me today is simple - God is not looking for spiritual superheroes to accomplish his kingdom work. He takes people like  you and me, and Paul and Barnabas and he uses us - regular, ordinary, flesh and blood, sinful folks! God infuses us with the power of Christ and fills us with his Spirit to accomplish his mighty work through us. 

Father, thank you for your grace. I am weak, but you are strong. Thank you that the only superhero in your kingdom is the One who rose from the grave and who is my Savior and Lord. 

Think and Pray

Are you a perfectionist, thinking that you are required to be faultless to be useful to God?
It is Christ who is sinless and Christ alone.
Be thankful today that, while sin is never "okay," it is the goodness of Christ and his perfection that matters, not ours. 

Bragging about Jesus - April 16 Readings: Galatians 6

Today’s Readings

Context

The letter to the Galatian Christians ends with a series of final instructions, then a last exhortation written in Paul's own hand - the rest of the book was likely dictated to a scribe.

His first instruction can seem odd after his harsh words in chapter 5. How can he advocate for gentle rebuke when he was so harsh? The difference, of course, was that he had been talking about false teachers who led others astray, not errant brothers who struggled. False teachers got harsh treatment, erring brothers were dealt with in patience. He goes on to indicate that we are to lift one another up and seek mutual encouragement.

He then gives a key teaching in verse 7 - you reap what you sow. One of the basic principles of farming is also a life-principle. Life is choices and choices have consequences. Paul takes this beyond the simple teachings of Proverbs about making wise choices to choosing the eternal things of Christ.

He wraps up with a handwritten finale to the letter, passionately reinforcing all that he taught and warning them about anyone who would distract them from the cross of Christ.

Devotional - Bragging about Jesus

Paul was a smart man, quick witted with a quick tongue. There are some who have suggested that he would have become a figure of historical import even had he not come to Christ and become the apostle to the Gentiles. He had a respectable heritage as a Jew, observed the law strictly in the manner of the Pharisees, was zealous in his faith and well-educated in his religion. He had a lot of things that he could brag about.

And once he became a Christian, after a few years of training, he was God's chosen emissary to carry the gospel to the world. He went from place to place preaching Christ and leading many to faith. God gave him astounding visions and through him performed many miracles. Paul could have become pretty impressed with himself as a BMOC - Big Man on Christianity.

But Paul had a commitment, one which he lived out and proclaimed often. In 1 Corinthians, he said he preached Christ and him crucified. In Philippians, we will read that for him, "to live is Christ and to die is gain." Here, in Galatians 6:14, Paul lets us know that there is only one thing he will ever boast about.

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 

There was one and only one thing that brought Paul to boasting - the Cross of Christ. His entire life revolved around the Cross. He preached the Cross. He lived the Cross. He patterned his life after the pattern of the Cross. Because of his love for the Cross of Christ, the things of this world meant nothing to him. It all paled into nothing compared to the glory of the Cross of Christ.

What is my boast? From what do I gain my identity? My family? My role as a pastor? A writer? If it is anything other than the Cross of Christ, I've missed the mark.B

Father, may my life be focus on Christ and Christ alone, crucified, risen and coming again. 

Think and Pray

What is your boast, the thing you live for and focus on in life?
Is it your flesh - your talents, abilities, ambitions - or is it the cross and the work of Christ in you?

Spirit vs. Flesh - April 15 Readings: Galatians 5

Today’s Readings

Context

Galatians 5 is one of those mountaintops of the Bible and one of the formative texts for my ministry. It begins with a strong rebuke to the Galatians who had begun so well, being saved by grace but had now turned toward the law of God to try to live in the flesh. Verse 12 is probably the strongest thing Paul says in any of his letters, wishing those who pushed circumcision and the Jewish law would just go ahead go all the way - emasculating themselves. It shows how strongly Paul feels about the works of the law.

He then turns to a contrast between the life of the Spirit and that of the flesh, that which the law produces. The life of the Spirit leads us away from the works of the flesh.

Devotional - Spirit vs. Flesh

 Paul articulates, in Galatians 5, the clear difference between walking in the flesh and walking in the Spirit of God. Those who have been redeemed are called to walk in the freedom of Christ and not under the power of the flesh.

In verse 1, Paul warns the Galatians against regressing from the high standing they have achieved by God's grace to a life lived by the works of the law and the slavery that brings. In verses 2-15, Paul explains the tragedy of such a choice - having experienced God's grace and then returning to walking in the flesh and living by works.

Then, in verses 16-24, Paul clearly differentiates the life of the flesh and the life of the Spirit. He begins with a warning against gratifying the desires of the flesh because they stand in opposition to the fruit of the Spirit.

Simply put, there is a clear and unmistakable difference between how someone acts when they are walking in the flesh and walking in the Spirit. It's one or the other. Paul lists the things that mark those who are walking in the flesh.

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (19-21)

But the Spirit produces a different kind of fruit. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (22-23)

Are you walking in the flesh or in the Spirit? It's not that hard to discern. If your life is marked by the behaviors on the first list, you are squandering the grace of God by walking in the power of the flesh, the old nature that Jesus died to defeat. If you are walking in the Spirit, your life will evidence love and joy and peace and all the rest. 

Father, may your Spirit produce fruit in my life, the fruit of Christ, that the works of the flesh might be destroyed. 

Think and Pray

Read through the two lists - the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. Which list bests describes your life? Are you walking in the power of the flesh or the fullness of the Spirit?

Adopted! April 14 Readings: Galatians 4

Today’s Readings

Context

Galatians 4 continues the argument of chapter 3, the superiority of grace over the law, but here there is a series of metaphors related to our standing as sons and heirs of God through that grace. 

Devotional - Adopted!

The Bible has many metaphors of salvation, each of which tells a grand truth and is a unique part of the work of Christ in us. God SAVES us - rescuing us from the threat brought on by our own sin, which separated us from God and destined us for eternal hell. He also REDEEMED us, purchasing our lives with the blood of his Son, Jesus Christ. That blood CLEANSES us from sin. We are BORN AGAIN by God's grace - given new life and made new creatures in Christ. 

Then, in Galatians 4:4-6. Paul used another metaphor for the grace of God that brings salvation - ADOPTION. 

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

Adoption is not a difficult concept. A child is born into one family, then another family comes along, for a variety of reasons, and adopts the child. That child now is a part of the new family and ties to the old family are generally severed. You cannot get a better picture of salvation than that. 

Because of sin, we are born into the family of this world - this sinful, fallen, hell-bent world. We are part of the family - looking like our family, acting like our family, living like our family. Then along comes God the Father, who says, "I want you to be part of my family." He sent Jesus Christ into the world (at just the right time - see below) to do everything that needed to be done to secure our salvation. Then, he sent the Holy Spirit to woo us and invite us to join God's family. When we repent and believe in Jesus Christ, the adoption papers are signed and we who were part of the family of sinners are now part of God's family of grace. 

And that carries with it a beautiful privilege. We get to call God our "Father." Abba. God is not some distant ruler who cannot be accessed or approached. He is our Abba, our Father in heaven, who loves us and receives us and provides for us and...well, so much more. 

Oh, and one more thing, revealed in verse 7. 

So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. 

We are not only part of God's family, but we are heirs of the Father, destined to inherit what belongs to him. Think about that - Dave Miller, a sinner, weak, unworthy, flawed in so many ways, destined to inherit the world because I have been adopted by grace into the Father's family. 

Wow. Wow. Wow. Did I mention, wow? 

Imagine a child born to a family of impoverished, low-class thieves and con artists. His destiny is to grow up and join the family business. But one day a rich man traveling through town sees the poor child and "redeems" him from his family. He adopts the child and brings him to live in his glorious home, in a place of privilege. He instructs him about how things are in this new home, using love and discipline to cause him to leave behind the dishonest ways of his birth family and to adopt the ways of his new home. He is an heir to all that his new father has and slowly becomes a part of his new family, living out their values. 

That is pretty much what salvation in Christ is like. Thank God, today, that he took you from your birth family - the world of sin - and brought you into his glorious family through adoption. 

Father. Father. Father! The privilege of calling you that is beyond anything I deserve. Thank you for adopting me, for including me in Christ and in your family. May I, every day, became more like you and live out the values of my heavenly home!

Think and Pray

Thank God today that you are adopted in Christ, that you are a joint-heir with him and part of God's eternal family through the grace of God.

The Curse of the Law - April 13 Readings: Galatians 3

Today’s Readings

Context

Galatians 3 contrasts the way of the law and the way of grace. Paul confronts the false reliance of the circumcision party on Jewish law and rituals, demanding they come to God through faith and faith alone.

Devotional - The Curse of the Law

It seems a strange statement when you realize that God himself inscribed the Ten Commandments on a stone tablet. They were not a human creation but divine revelation. How, then, can Paul look at the Law of God and call it a curse?

For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse. Galatians 3:10

The Law of God, written by God's finger, becomes a curse to those who rely on it and live their lives by it - the words of God are a curse to those who hear them. Strange and strange.

Fortunately, Paul explains exactly what he means by this statement, in the second half of verse 10.

“Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 

There is no flaw in the Law - it reveals the character of God and his commands for how human beings ought to live. If you want to earn the favor of God and work for a ticket to heaven, all you have to do is follow the law. Verse 12 says, "the one who does them shall live by them." The Law presented a path to human salvation by works. Follow the Law and you can earn heaven.

But that is the curse! You can't do it and neither can I. If you do not continue on a daily basis to do everything that is written in the book of the law, that which was a path of life becomes a source of condemnation.

Imagine that I have a million dollars (it will take some imagining!) and I offer that million to you. All you have to do is walk across the Grand Canyon on a tightrope like that guy did a while back. If you can walk across without falling, you get the million. One of you takes off and only makes it about 3 or 4 steps. Splat. Another walks 50 feet. Thunk. A third person walks a quarter of a mile. Plop. A fourth person walks all the way across the canyon until he is within 25 feet of the other side before he loses his balance. Is he any better off than the others? He made it farther but his fate is still sealed. Unless you can walk ALL THE WAY across the canyon, it doesn't much matter just how far across you can go.

You may be a better person than I and keep the law more carefully. But unless you can make it all the way, unless you can keep the law perfectly all of your life, the law is a curse. It condemns you not because it is wrong but because it reveals your sin and shows that you do, in fact, fall short of the glory of God.

But there is a reason for praise today, not despair. None of us stacks up against the Law, but "the righteous live by faith." God devised a plan in which we could receive salvation by grace and not by works. In fact, Paul makes it clear that not only are we saved by God's grace, but we live by it daily. Look back at verse 3.

Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

The same God who saves us by grace through faith helps us to live daily by his grace through faith, by the power of the Spirit who dwells within.

That is the goodness of our God. He knew we couldn't make it across the Canyon, so he sent his perfect Son to walk across for us and give us grace - grace to live by now and forevermore.

Father, thank you for grace that saves me when my flesh failed. The law was a curse because of my sin, but you, through Christ, destroyed the curse and gave me life. praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Think and Pray

Do you seek to please God in the flesh, in your own power, or do you rely on the power of Christ?
Thank God today that you have been freed from the curse of the law and been given life through the work of Christ on the cross.