Saturday, September 30, 2017

"Vive La Difference" September 30 Readings: Jeremiah 3-4, Galatians 2, Psalm 109:13–19, Proverbs 24:3–4



Today's Readings - Jeremiah 3-4, Galatians 2, Psalm 109:13–19, Proverbs 24:3–4


Devotional 


No, this time, the difference isn't between men and women, although that difference is an exquisite highlight of God's creation. This time, we are talking about the beauty of God's diversity built into the church of Jesus Christ. This was the key thrust of Paul's ministry. He proclaimed salvation by God's grace apart from the works of the law. From the day he met Jesus on the road to Damascus he knew that he had been called to a ministry that was different from that of the other Apostles. He was the light to the Gentiles, called to spearhead the spread of the gospel outside of its original Jewish environment.

And that really annoyed a lot of the Jews. They wanted everything to stay the same. The church should stay the same - same preaching to the same people with the same culture and the same rules - they wanted everything in the church to stay Jewish. But Paul was called by God to make things different. And that's okay.

In verse 7, Paul says,
On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised...
That's what God intended, from the very beginning. To the ends of the earth. God doesn't want the church to be young or old, he wants it to be young and old. He doesn't want the church to be white or black, but white and black. The church is supposed to be a smorgasbord, a rainbow, a variety of colors and styles and nationalities and languages and...well, and lots of stuff. We are united by one thing only - we have been brought to God by the blood of Christ. We are recipients of grace and have received a salvation we couldn't earn.

The sad fact is that the church has always tried to unite around things other than the gospel, other than Jesus, other than grace. We've united around skin color and culture. We've united around nationality and even where we come from in the United States. We've united around age and socio-economic status, and whether we are cowboys or bikers or hipsters or whatever other human division we could come up with.

Jesus died for a church with a difference - many differences. White, black and every shade in between. Young and old. Rich and poor. From every race, tribe, and tongue on earth. And we need to join with our Savior in saying, "Vive la difference." 
Father, may I be a man who so loves Jesus that he is the only characteristic I care about in others. Their color or wealth or anything else must pale before their standing in him - it must be Christ, and Christ alone!

Think and Pray


How much do the things that divide the world matter to you?
Are you motivated by culture and race, age and social standing?
Or are you a man or woman of Christ, and Christ alone?


Prayerfully consider this!

Friday, September 29, 2017

"Drifting Away" September 29 Readings: Jeremiah 1-2, Galatians 1, Psalm 109:6–12, Proverbs 24:1–2



Today's Readings - Jeremiah 1-2, Galatians 1, Psalm 109:6–12, Proverbs 24:1–2


Devotional 


Henry Blackaby said that all human beings, even those who have been redeemed, have a natural tendency to depart from God. We are held by God's grace and our salvation is secure in Christ, but we have that inborn tendency to drift from our walk with the Lord back into the ways of the world and into sin.

Paul recognized a similar problem among the Galatians - a tendency to drift away from the gospel of grace and return to some form of works-based, law-focused salvation.
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. Galatians 1:6-7
There is only one gospel that saves, Paul assured them, but they were still turning aside from the grace of Christ to a false gospel, one based on human works, one that could never save.

Deep inside of each of us is the idea that we ought to do something to earn the favor of God, that we need to change to please him, do something to make him love us more, or perform some heroic act to be worthy of God's grace.

But that is why we call it grace. You can't earn it and you will never deserve it. Nothing you can do will make God love you more and your sins do not make him love you less. That is not an excuse for sin, but a great comfort. It is by grace we are saved and it is by grace that we live.

Listen, my friend, your relationship with God is based on who Christ is and what he has done, not on who you are or your merit. You need to always resist that inner voice that says you've got to earn God's love. You ought to walk in holiness because God loves you, not so that he will love you. You need to fight that inner voice that says God must not love you anymore when you have failed. You resist sin out of gratitude for God's unmerited favor not out of a desire to earn it.

Like the Galatians, we have a constant tendency to slip away from grace and fall back into a works-based mentality. Since our salvation and our lives are all of grace, we must fight that tendency every day.
Father, I thank you that you have done for me what I could not do for myself. Help me to revel in your grace and never fall back into the works of the law. 

Think and Pray


Do you tend to depart from grace and live according to works of the law, trusting in yourself rather than in Christ?
Do you often forget that your "hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness?"
In prayer, thank God for your standing in Christ's grace and renounce the flesh!

Thursday, September 28, 2017

"My Greatest Enemy" September 28 Readings: Isaiah 66, 2 Corinthians 12–13, Psalm 109:1–5, Proverbs 23:34–35



Today's Readings - Isaiah 66, 2 Corinthians 12–13, Psalm 109:1–5, Proverbs 23:34–35


Devotional 


Armies spend a lot of time doing surveillance on their enemies, trying to figure out who they are, what their resources are and how they can be attacked. If you want to win, you need to know your enemy.

What is my greatest enemy in my Christian life - that one thing that will derail me? The "things that are in the world" are always with us - the lust of the eyes (greed), the lust of the flesh and the pride of of life. I am constantly at danger of each one of them.

But Paul knew what the greatest danger was, that which keeps us from effective ministry and kingdom success. It is pride. In 2 Corinthians 12 he says some things that go directly against our normal way of thinking. Though he had received great promises from God and had even been blessed to be a witness of heavenly glory in a vision, he refused to boast about any of that. Instead, he turned that around and he boasted in his weaknesses.
I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses.  2 Corinthians 12:5
He recognized that the greatest enemy of Christian success is pride. As soon as we become entangled in our own arrogance and self-centeredness, we lose our effectiveness and become spiritually impotent.

To avoid arrogance, God gave Paul a thorn in the flesh (verses 7-8) that would keep him humble. No one knows what this thorn in the flesh was - a physical pain, a constant source of temptation, a person who irritated him - but we know that Paul cried out to God that the thorn might be removed. God refused.

Why? Why would the God who healed so many through Paul not heal Paul of this thorn? Paul explains that. It was "so I would not exalt myself." Paul's thorn reminded him daily that it was all of God and not of him - a lesson we so often forget.

God was willing to allow his beloved servant Paul to experience ongoing, persistent pain and aggravation so that he would remain humble.

In the middle of that pain, that humiliation, Paul learned something wonderful and life-changing, which he expressed in 2 Corinthians 12:9.

 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness. Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.
 In our weakness, we learn of the strength of God. In our pain, we learn of the power of his grace. In our humility, we experience his glory.

And so, we don't need to pretend we are more than we are, or to hide our weaknesses. God's goodness and grace flow to the weak, not to those who pretend to be strong.

Father, my weakness is a reality I often forget. May I boast in your power that resides in me, and nothing else. 

Think and Pray


Do you hide your weaknesses, or do you admit them and revel in the strength God gives you?


Wednesday, September 27, 2017

"God Wins" September 27 Readings: Isaiah 64-65, 2 Corinthians 11:16–33, Psalm 108:6–13, Proverbs 23:31–33



Today's Readings -  Isaiah 64-65, 2 Corinthians 11:16–33, Psalm 108:6–13, Proverbs 23:31–33 


Devotional 


History is a tragic story. God created this world as a paradise. It was filled with beauty, natural wonders we cannot even imagine. It was a place of true joy and pleasure, meant for a man and woman to enjoy each other and to raise a family in peace. And best of all, God was there. He walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the Garden. That was the world as God intended.

But we came along and messed everything up. The first human pair rejected the God who made them and who placed them in a beautiful world. They chose the path of darkness instead of light, of destruction rather than glory.

We rejected God, but he did not reject us. He could have destroyed this world or he perhaps just turned us over to our own devices, to suffer the consequences of our sin. But that is not what God did. He went to work to reverse the curse of sin and to restore the beauty of his creation.

That is what the millennium is; a time when Christ rules this world bodily for a thousand years. It is described in Isaiah 65.
“For I will create a new heaven and a new earth;
the past events will not be remembered or come to mind.
 18 Then be glad and rejoice forever
in what I am creating;
for I will create Jerusalem to be a joy
and its people to be a delight. Isaiah 65:17-18
After he comes again in glory, Jesus will renew this world. The times of sin and suffering will be forgotten as God creates a new world for his people to enjoy. 

As sin's curse is done away with, long life returns.

In her, a nursing infant will no longer live
only a few days,
or an old man not live out his days.
Indeed, the one who dies at a hundred years old
will be mourned as a young man,
and the one who misses a hundred years
will be considered cursed.. 65:20
Labor will no longer be cursed as it was after the fall, but life will be blessed by God in every way. 
They will not labor without success
or bear children destined for disaster,
for they will be a people blessed by the Lord
along with their descendants.. 65:23
Nature will be restored. Natural disasters and dangers will be done away with. 

The wolf and the lamb will feed together,and the lion will eat straw like cattle. 65:25
Herbivorous lions? Things will be very different. Wolves and lambs feeding together, safely!

The most important and wonderful aspect of this millennial reign is that God's nearness and intimacy will be restored. The wall of separation between God and man erected by our sin will have been torn down. 


Even before they call, I will answer;while they are still speaking, I will hear. 65:24
The millennium is God's victory in world history. His original design, his glorious intent for this world, for nature, for humanity, will be restored. We may have messed up the world that God created, but his power is so great he can recreate it. What we break, he fixes. That is how amazing our God is. 

Our God is greater than our sin. In the grand scheme of world history,

God wins.

Father, I rejoice that no matter how bad things get today, I can be confident in your ultimate victory over sin - mine and this world's. 

Think and Pray


Jesus will rule the world in glory and power.
If he will do such a great job of ruling the world, will he not do a great job of ruling your life?
Trust the God of Heaven!


Tuesday, September 26, 2017

"Dark Angel of Light" September 26 Readings: Isaiah 62-63, 2 Corinthians 11:1–15, Psalm 108:1–5, Proverbs 23:29–30



Today's Readings -  Isaiah 62-63, 2 Corinthians 11:1–15, Psalm 108:1–5, Proverbs 23:29–30


Devotional 



In Genesis 3, when the Serpent tempts Adam and Eve, it uses (abuses) the words of God to do so. When Satan tempts Jesus he quotes (misquotes) Scriptures in the attempt. Our enemy is a "scholar" of God's word who uses it freely. The problem is that he always twists it.

In 2 Corinthians 11, we are told about false teachers in the church of Jesus. Guess what. They don't preach from the Bhagavad Gita! Like Satan, they use and abuse God's word and the people of God need to be wary of their presence. 

Almost every Scripture that speaks of the end times warns us of the proliferation of false Christs (who would claim to be God’s new representative on earth), false apostles (claiming new authority over God’s church), false prophets (claiming new revelation to add to or clarify what God’s perfect Word already says) and false teachers (who lead God’s people astray by twisting truth for their own reasons – generally money and power). We are duly warned that such will always be within the church (yes, that is right – INSIDE the church) trying to lead God’s people astray from the inside.

But this spirit of antichrist was already at work in the church of Corinth. There were those who had come in among the brethren there and tried to undermine Paul’s authority and call the gospel of grace he proclaimed into question. It was the presence of these men, these false apostles, that caused Paul to deal so harshly with the Corinthian church. He was worried that they would follow the lies into spiritual destruction.

Wouldn’t it be great if liars and deceivers wore signs and marked themselves clearly? I was reading today of a well-known “evangelical” writer who has now compromised on pretty much every doctrine and moral standard that we hold dear. Yet he never says, “I’ve left the faith and am no longer a Christian.” He continues to maintain that he is both a Christian and faithful to God’s Word. He is pleasant, a great writer, charismatic (in the personality sense) – seems all around like a nice guy. But his doctrine is increasingly poisonous. Wouldn’t it be nice if he owned his doctrine deviation and admitted it, so that no one would be confused?

That is not the way of false teachers, false prophets, false apostles or false Christs. Paul addressed this in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. He begins by describing those against whom he contended, in verse 13
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.”
Then, in verse 14, he explains the reason for this.
“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”
He makes this conclusion in verse 15.
“So, it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.”
Satan is not a hideous creature of with grotesque features – like he is presented in fiction. He is aa being of light who presents his ways as beautiful, wonderful and happy. “God wants you to be happy,” he whispers as you try to decide whether to do the right thing or not.  “It’s all about you.” “Just follow your heart and do what you feel is best.” Satan whispers sweet things to us and tells us what we want to hear.

It is all a masquerade. His purpose is to kill and to destroy. From the beginning of time his strategy has been to lie to God’s creation and to get us human beings to choose what is wrong instead of choosing obedience. By shining his lying light on us, he induces us to choose the wrong path and bring the consequences of sin on our lives.

He seems fair and happy and beautiful but he pays off in death and destruction. Don’t be fooled by the light. It can be simply a means of being drawn into the darkness.

When his false teachers enter the church, they follow his pattern. They tell us nice things, things we want to hear. They tell us to stop talking about sin, to ignore biblical standards that might make us or others unhappy, to cast off the yoke of Christ and to maintain control of our own lives. It all sounds so good but it is a mirage, a lie. It brings the death of the church instead of the blessing of God.

We must be deep in the Word of God and sensitive to the Spirit of God so that we can identify these false workmen who would lead us astray from the inside.

Father, help me to be a proclaimer of truth and righteousness, to identify and expose those who would lead the Body of Christ astray.

Think and Pray


Do you assume that every person who quotes God's word is a true man or woman of God?
Do you exercise discernment, judging teachings against the clear teachings of God's word or do you just accept what you are taught and assume that there is no such thing as a false teacher?

Monday, September 25, 2017

"The Weapons of Our Warfare" September 25 Readings: Isaiah 60-61, 2 Corinthians 10, Psalm 107:36–43, Proverbs 23:26–28



Today's Readings - Isaiah 60-61, 2 Corinthians 10, Psalm 107:36–43, Proverbs 23:26–28


Devotional 

I find the story of Simon Peter drawing a sword to protect Jesus one of the great ironies of the Bible. Has anyone ever been that clueless? Perhaps his heart was in the right place, but nothing else was working! God was sending his Son to the cross to pay for our sins and Peter stood up in the flesh too stop it! Had he succeeded, he would have sealed his own eternal fate.

But the core of Peter's problem that day was simple. He was laboring under the mistaken impression that Jesus was unarmed. He had no sword, no spear, so he was helpless. But nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus was fighting with the most powerful weapon in this world - the life-transforming love of God.

Paul took up a similar theme in 2 Corinthians 10. Peter looked silly because he tried to fight a spiritual battle with fleshly weapons. He assumed that Jesus was unarmed because he lacked those fleshly weapons. But he had to learn the lesson that Paul would later teach, a lesson he learned based on the life of Jesus.

The weapons of our warfare are spiritual.

Look at 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 to see what it says. 

For although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh, since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ  2 Corinthians 10:3-6
Frankly, I’m not sure that we in the Christian world understand this.  I forget it way too often.  We have weapons, but they are not the weapons of the flesh.  Anger.  Vitriol.  Scheming.  Political organization. Gossip.  Slander.  These are the weapons people in the world use to accomplish that which they desire.  But those are not our weapons.  We have different weapons – better weapons – weapons that actually accomplish mighty and powerful works.

I would like to point out three things about these weapons.

1)  Our Weapons are Not Worldly

We do not fight with the weapons of the world.  Power politics won’t get the job done.  Legalism is pointless.  Trying to follow the rules of religion in the power of the flesh is futile.  And we don’t do battle with anger and condemnation.  These fleshly weapons have no power.  They seem effective but they accomplish nothing of eternal significance.

2) Our Weapons are Spiritual and Powerful

When we use the weapons of God, we fight with “divine power.” Did you get that?  When I use God’s weapons, I fight Satan with God’s power.  Wouldn’t that wipe the smirk off the devil’s face?  We are so used to doing much and accomplishing little.  We jump in with a great splash but we are seeing little real spiritual transformation.  Could it be that we are using the wrong weapons, fighting with the force of the flesh instead of the power of the Spirit.

3)  Our Warfare focuses on the Mind

Satan works to spread lies and deceive us into defeat.  God speaks truth to our spirits and casts down the strongholds of Satan’s lies.   It is not religion that will change us, nor our good works.  We cannot try our hardest and succeed.  Victory comes when the Word of God casts down the lies of Satan in our minds and we begin to walk in the victory of God.

Our Weapons

Paul makes it clear what kind of weapons we have.
 ”By purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left.” 2 Corinthians 6:6-7
The purity that is produced in us by the Spirit, the knowledge that banishes Satan’s lies, the spiritual fruit of patience and kindness which replaces anger and vengeance, the truth of God applied to our lives – these are the weapons of warfare that the Spirit of Christ gives us that have real power to make a real difference.

May we stop fighting the right battles with the wrong weapons.

Think and Pray


Do you wage your spiritual battles with the weapons of the Spirit or with fleshly weapons.
Read Galatians 5:19-23, which contrasts the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. We fight our battles with love and joy and peace, not with the works of the flesh!

Sunday, September 24, 2017

"Cheerful Givers" September 24 Readings: Isaiah 58-59, 2 Corinthians 8:16–9:15, Psalm 107:29–35, Proverbs 23:24–25



Today's Readings - Isaiah 58-59, 2 Corinthians 8:16–9:15, Psalm 107:29–35, Proverbs 23:24–25


Devotional 


It was at one time a tradition in Baptist churches that annually the pastor would preach a stewardship sermon in which he begged, pleaded, and cajoled the membership to tithe. It was called "Stewardship Sunday." When you read 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 you see a completely different attitude about giving than was often on display on Stewardship Sunday. There were no rules, no emotional manipulation, no guilt trips, just a passion to invest in the work of God's kingdom.

In 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, Paul holds up the giving patterns of the Macedonian church (Philippi was chief among them). Out of overwhelming poverty the Spirit produced in them a rich generosity. They gave as much as they were able and even beyond their ability.

Why? Did someone put the pressure on them to give? No. They had a deep and sincere love for Jesus Christ and gladly gave their money and possessions to help others in Jesus' name and to further the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They gave themselves completely and unreservedly to Jesus Christ and their earthly possessions naturally followed.

Christians today don't have a giving problem, they have a heart problem. When people don't give it is not a money management issue, but an issue of spiritual priorities. When we love our own lives and our comforts more than we love Jesus, we will be stingy and resist sacrificial giving. It's all about the heart.

In 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 Paul gives the basics of New Testament giving. It's not about rules or coercion or guilt. It's about joy and about Jesus.
The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver. And God is ableto make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work. 
Paul emphasizes three things in this passage. First of all, though this passage is badly abused by televangelists and word of faith practitioners, Paul affirms that the principle of reaping and sowing is in effect in terms of giving. Those who give generously reap generously, not (only) financially but in all the blessings of God. Those who are stingy and selfish reap sparingly.

In verse 7, the basis of giving is described. We are to decide in our hearts what we want to give, voluntarily and joyfully. Giving is to be an act of passion, a joy, an enthusiastic investment in the gospel and the kingdom of God. Giving is so much more than moving a decimal point and begrudgingly writing a check. It is giving all we can and even more to make Jesus known in this world.

Finally, verse 8 reminds us that God can take care of us when we give, even if we give sacrificially, to his work and to people in need. He can provide all we need so that we can do all he has called us to do. As he said to the Philippian church, God will provide all our needs (those who give generously) according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Father, fire my heart with a zeal for your kingdom that opens my wallet and focuses my life and my possessions on your kingdom work in this world. 


Think and Pray


Read through 2 Corinthians 8 and identify some of the things Paul says about the giving habits of the Macedonians.
Do you give cheerfully and generously, or are you stingy and reluctant?
How does your giving match up to the giving of Macedonians? 



Saturday, September 23, 2017

"Fat, Lazy Shepherds" September 23 Readings: Isaiah 56-57, 2 Corinthians 8:1–15, Psalm 107:22–28, Proverbs 23:22–23



Today's Readings -  Isaiah 56-57, 2 Corinthians 8:1–15, Psalm 107:22–28, Proverbs 23:22–23


Devotional 


I was preaching in Africa back in 1988, teaching Tanzanian church leaders basic principles of ministry. I was trying to explain the pastor's role to them, so I thought I would use an illustration they could identify with. "A pastor is a shepherd," I said. Jonathan, my interpreter, look at me quizzically. "In Swahili," he said. "They are the same word." If we spoke Swahili, I would be the Senior Shepherd of Southern Hills Baptist Church. That is actually very common. The word pastor comes from a root word that means shepherd.

The Bible has a lot to say about shepherds, both good and bad. Shepherds who lead their people faithfully are worthy of honor and respect. But in the Old Testament, God reserved his harshest words not for the sinful people of Israel and Judah but for the shepherds, the leaders, the false prophets and unfaithful priests who failed to shepherd the people in the ways of God. The judgment on the sinful nation was magnified and multiplied onto the shepherds because they did not do their jobs.

Sheep are helpless prey and must be protected from the spiritual predators who wish to devour them. They must be fed and guided on the paths of righteousness. A godly shepherd must be unselfish, willing to sacrifice his own needs for the needs of the sheep, to give of himself, even to lay down his life for them.

Not so the shepherds of Israel. Look at Isaiah 56:9-12, in which God levels a series of charges against those who should have been leading Israel toward God, but had abandoned their duty. Verse 9 drips with sarcasm.
All you animals of the field and forest,
come and eat!
The chief role of the shepherd is to protect the sheep, but these "watchmen" were asleep on the job. Israel had become prey, a smorgasbord for anyone who would lead them astray. Too many pastors today are afraid to identify sin or expose false teaching. We've bought into the false message of tolerance that says we ought never criticize another's beliefs or doctrines. When we refuse to hold up the biblical standard of truth, we are inviting the beasts of the field to devour the flock of God.

Verse 11 vividly identifies the source of the problem.
These dogs have fierce appetites;
they never have enough.
And they are shepherds
who have no discernment;
all of them turn to their own way,
every last one for his own profit.
A shepherd of God's people must be a man of understanding, one who operates on the Divine agenda for the good of God's sheep. But these are "dogs" - a word usually used to describe people who operate by their instincts and passions. They seek to exploit the sheep instead of serving the sheep. They don't understand the will and ways of God, but only their own desires and passions. They serve their own needs, their own gain, 

And the end result of that is always disastrous. Israel suffered because its shepherds were selfish, without understanding of the ways of God, and unwilling to stand up to protect them from spiritual predators. They fell prey to sin. 

I realize that this lesson applies more to the author of this devotional than it does to most of the readers. But if you are a leader, serve God and serve the people. If you have a shepherd who serves faithfully, thank God and lift up that shepherd before the Lord. 

Raise up, O Lord, for the churches of this land, faithful shepherds to lead your people. 

Think and Pray

If God has given you authority or leadership over anyone, are you "shepherding" them carefully, using your authority to bless and help?
Remember that God holds leaders accountable!

Friday, September 22, 2017

"OT Gospel" September 22 Readings: Isaiah 54-55, 2 Corinthians 6–7, Psalm 107:15–21, Proverbs 23:19–21



Today's Readings - Isaiah 54-55, 2 Corinthians 6–7, Psalm 107:15–21, Proverbs 23:19–21


Devotional 


The entire prophecy of Isaiah is filled with messianic prophecies, verses that are familiar because they are applied to our Lord and Savior in the New Testament. Isaiah 7's "Immanuel" prophecy. Isaiah 9 and the names of Jesus. Dozens of others.

But the pinnacle, perhaps, is reached in chapters 52 and 53, which gives a remarkable prophecy of the death of Christ by crucifixion. Chapters 55-56, our readings for today, continue this theme by emphasizing, in a prophetic way, some of the elements of the gospel.

Isaiah 55:1 speaks to the principle of grace.
Come, everyone who is thirsty,
come to the water;
and you without silver,
come, buy, and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without silver and without cost!
The root of the gospel is the recognition of sin. Jesus said that it was the poor in spirit who would be blessed. To experience the goodness of God, we must recognize our sin, our absolute inability to provide our own spiritual sustenance. We must recognize our thirst and hunger for God and come to him for what only he can give. 

This is a beautiful picture of grace. We buy what we need to survive, but we buy it "without cost." That which we need for righteousness and eternal life is ours in Christ - and it doesn't cost us a thing. Why? Because "Jesus paid it all!"

Verses 6 and 7 are an OT invitation. 
Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call to him while he is near.
 Let the wicked one abandon his way
and the sinful one his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord,
so he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will freely forgive.
Throughout the New Testament, sinners are admonished to do two things - repent and believe. Here, sinful Israel is called on to seek God with all their hearts and to abandon their sin in repentance. Whether for sinners coming to faith in Christ or for believers who are seeking greater intimacy, repentance is a necessary part of the process of seeking God. 

The proverb says that there is a way that seems right to a man, but it ends in death. It seems to us that we should earn the favor of God, that our good works should contribute to things. We have all sorts of human assumptions about the way of the world that we make. But Isaiah 55:8-9 (one of my favorite passages) says, 
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
and your ways are not my ways.”
This is the Lord’s declaration.
 “For as heaven is higher than earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
God is smarter than we are and has designed a system of salvation and sanctification based on his logic, not ours. My destiny is not based on my good works (or sins) as I naturally think it should be, but only on the grace of God, who does for me what I cannot do for myself. 

There is one more part of this passage we need to remember, extending to tomorrow's reading. Isaiah 56:10, which reveals the heart of God. 
“This is because my Temple will be called 
    a house for prayer for people from all nations.”
God's work in us always has an international focus. He saves us because of his love for us, but also because of his love for the entire world. The temple was supposed to be a house of prayer, but not just for me and mine - for the NATIONS! God has his eyes on the world. And our lives, redeemed and sanctified by the grace of God are called to reflect God's heart for the whole world. 



Father, I thank you that I am saved by your grace and made holy in it. May I live by your wisdom and let my life be a beacon to the world. 

Think and Pray


Take time today to remember the salvation you have in Christ and to seek his forgiveness for any sin that is hindering your walk.
Is there anything going on in your life you can't figure out? Remember, God asks us to trust him, not understand him!!

Thursday, September 21, 2017

"New in Christ" September 21 Readings: Isaiah 52-53, 2 Corinthians 5, Psalm 107:8–14, Proverbs 23:15–18



Today's Readings - Isaiah 52-53, 2 Corinthians 5, Psalm 107:8–14, Proverbs 23:15–18


Devotional 


Seldom do we pack two such powerful passages into one day's readings!

In Isaiah 52-53 we have one of the great passages of the Old Testament, a prophetic tour of the Cross of Christ. It is hard to imagine that a passage written hundreds of years before Christ was born could so accurately describe the sufferings of Jesus as he bore our sins so that by his stripes our sins could be healed.
4 Yet he himself bore our sicknesses,
and he carried our pains;
but we in turn regarded him stricken,
struck down by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced because of our rebellion,
crushed because of our iniquities;
punishment for our peace was on him,
and we are healed by his wounds.
6 We all went astray like sheep;
we all have turned to our own way;
and the Lord has punished him
for the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:4-6

I committed the sin, he took the punishment. 
He was wounded, I was healed. 
I went astray, he brought me to the Father in peace. 

It is the most amazing story of grace, love, mercy and restoration ever, and it was promised to Israel and to us hundreds of years before the events took place. 

But the story continues in 2 Corinthians 5. That same work that was prophesied in Isaiah 53 is discussed there. Paul speaks not only of the fact that we have been reconciled to God through the forgiveness of sin, but he tells us in verse 17 that we have been made new in Christ. 
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
The work of Christ in us makes us brand new people, new creations. Not only that, but Paul says in verse 18 that being new creations, reconciled to God, gives to us the ministry of reconciliation. God saves us through the blood of Christ, makes us new, then assigns us the duty of making that blessed news known in this world. 



Thank you, Father, for the truth of these passages, and the joy of being forgiven, made new in Christ, and given the ministry of reconciliation in this world. 

Think and Pray

Read through 2 Corinthians 5 and write down everything this passage says about you as a believer - who you are in Christ.
These truths are essential to building a biblical self-image - one based not on who I am, but who Christ is and who I am in Christ!

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

"Jars of Clay; Treasures of Christ" September 20 Readings Isaiah 50-51, 2 Corinthians 4, Psalm 107:1–7, Proverbs 23:13–14



Today's Readings - Isaiah 50-51, 2 Corinthians 4, Psalm 107:1–7, Proverbs 23:13–14


Devotional 


Do you have a favorite passage of Scripture? I've always maintained that the Mt. Everest of the Bible is Romans 8. There are other great chapters as well - Psalm 23, Acts 2, 1 Corinthians 13, too many to count. But in my book, 2 Corinthians 4 deserves a place in any listing of great passages of Scripture, especially if you include chapter 5 with it. There are so many amazing truths in this passage. This passage is a deep well and we could never draw all the sustenance from it, but here is some cold water for your soul.

Let's examine a few of the gems from this wonderful chapter.

1) "But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways"(4:2)

Other translations talk about "secret, shameful things." The church is all too often filled with secret things - behind the scenes power struggles, manipulation by leaders, phone calling campaigns to enlist support, lies, gossip, schemes. The life of faith rejects all of these. We trust in God and do what is right. There is no need for church politics or manipulation, because we trust the Holy Spirit to do his work.

2) "In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ." (4:4)

Ever gotten frustrated because someone you care about just won't receive the gospel? You share and share but they just don't get it. They find the gospel ridiculous or are unwilling to yield their lives to Christ. It is sad when that happens, but it ought not be a surprise.

This world is governed by a sinful mindset, one that is under the dominion of the lies of Satan. Unbelieving minds are enslaved by these lies until the Word of God comes to them and the Spirit opens their hearts. Pray that God's spirit will open the hearts and minds of those with whom you share. That is their only hope.

3) "The light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (4:6) 

That is what God does in our lives; he shines the light of Christ in the darkness of our hearts. Christianity is not just a religion, or a set of doctrines, or a list of rules. It is the light of Jesus Christ shining in us and through us. It is Jesus, invading our lives with all of his glory.

4) "We have this treasure in jars of clay." (4:7) 

What a wonderful statement of true biblical self-esteem. We are simply clay jars. Simple, normal, average pots made of clay. But inside of us is a treasure - the glory of God. Our worth, our value, our esteem comes not from who we are but who dwells within us.  We are not treasures, but as believers we contain a treasure. Jesus dwells in us.

5) "Persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed."  (4:9)

Those who understand that they are jars of clay indwelled by the treasure of Jesus Christ are able to hang on and persevere, even when evil people or unfortunate circumstances attack their clay. Life, for the believer, is not about the comfort of the clay but the display of the glorious light of the treasure within. So, when suffering comes, the jar of clay continues for the sake of the treasure within.

6) "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." (4:17)

What an amazing statement, especially when you consider that Paul's afflictions would be called light by no one who understood them. He was pursued, persecuted, beaten, abandoned, and worse. But he had also been granted a visit into heaven and he knew that the glory of that place would make the suffering of this world seem insignificant for those jars of clay containing the treasures of Christ.

7) Therefore we do not lose heart. (4:16) 

Though this is actually out of order, it is perhaps the key teaching of this entire chapter. We don't give up, don't lose heart when the hard times come, because we know we contain the treasure of Christ and we await an incomparable weight of glory that will be eternal.

You are probably thinking right now, "Dave, you missed the best one!" I might have. I admitted from the start that this would not be exhaustive, but incomplete. Feel free to share your insights in the comments.
Father, thank you for placing in me, a simple jar of clay, the treasure of Christ. May I remember who dwells in me and live in light of that. I long for that day when the eternal weight of glory will be mine. 

Think and Pray


Does one of these 7 gems of truth strike you today? Does one of these truths meet a particular need or speak to a specific situation in your life? 






Tuesday, September 19, 2017

"Genuine" September 19 Readings: Isaiah 49, 2 Corinthians 3, Psalm 106:42–48, Proverbs 23:11–12



Today's Readings - Isaiah 49, 2 Corinthians 3, Psalm 106:42–48, Proverbs 23:11–12


Devotional 


As a pastor, I have been asked to write letters of recommendation frequently over the years - for a student applying to a college, for someone seeking a ministry position, for a variety of reasons. I write these letters of recommendation to (within the boundaries of honesty) extol the character and potential of the person who asked for the letter.

In 2 Corinthians 3:1-3, Paul describes his letter of recommendation. How did he commend himself to others as genuine, as a true servant of God. There is a fact of life in ministry and in service to God - someone will question you, accuse you, belittle you, denigrate you, and say that your faith is not genuine. It was a problem even in the Early Church. False teachers rose up and went to the churches Paul established seeking to gain followers for their own ends. How was Paul to prove that he was truly from God? The false teachers often brought letters of commendation from others praising them. Paul had no such thing.

But, in 2 Corinthians 3:1-3, Paul claimed he had something much more.

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. 3 You show that you are Christ’s letter, delivered by us, not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God—not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
Paul was not concerned with the opinions and commendations of others - it was not the approval of man that he craved. Paul had one and only one letter of recommendation that proved his faith and his ministry genuine. Throughout the world and especially in Corinth were many people whose lives had been radically changed by the Jesus whose gospel Paul preached. Others could persuade them with rhetoric and human manipulation, but Paul was the one God used to change their eternity.

Christian success (an inherently dubious term) is measured by faithfulness to God and impact in the lives of others. Paul's proof was the lives the Corinthians lived, their memories of his service to them, and the work he had done among them.

The measure of a man or woman of God is seen in the lives of others.

Father, may my life and ministry be a success, because you use me to make a difference in many people's lives!

Think and Pray


View your life as a "letter of recommendation" - a demonstration that God is working through you. What spiritual impact are you having on the lives of those around you?
What changes might God be making in you to increase that impact?

Monday, September 18, 2017

'Defeated by Christ" September 18 Readings: Isaiah 47-48, 2 Corinthians 1:12–2:17, Psalm 106:35–41, Proverbs 23:9–10



Today's Readings - Isaiah 47-48, 2 Corinthians 1:12–2:17, Psalm 106:35–41, Proverbs 23:9–10


Devotional 


Unfortunately, 2 Corinthians 2:14 is often misunderstood and misapplied, because we are not familiar with the background that would have immediately come to the minds of the people of Corinth when they heard these words.
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.
Sounds great, doesn't it? Life in Jesus is one victory after another; a life of triumph over every problem life throws at us. Maybe the televangelists were right after all. It's all about winning, about getting everything you want! Right?

Uh...no. The passage does not say that God always gives us everything we want or causes us win all the time. It says that he leads us in a "triumphal procession." What on earth is that?

When a Roman general would go off to battle and come home victorious, he would receive a "triumph" when he returned home, a victory parade. He would go on a celebratory procession through the town with crowds cheering him along the way. With him, in the parade, would be representatives of the defeated army, who would be marched through the town to their shame. Often, at the end of the triumph, they were executed.
A triumphal procession is a parade in which the conquering general leads the defeated armies through the city and receives honor and glory for his exploits. 
That leaves only the question, who are we in this scenario? Of course, we'd like to cast ourselves as the conquering general, but that's not what's going on. The conqueror is Jesus Christ, who through his death and resurrection conquered all of humanity's true enemies - death, hell, sin, and Satan.

But here's the key, folks. There was one other group defeated that day - sinful human beings! We had set ourselves against God, rebelling against his authority, but he defeated sin and death so that we could be restored to him.

Who are we in the "triumph?" We are the defeated army! That's right. I was defeated by Jesus. My sin was defeated. My rebellion. My wickedness. I was conquered by Christ. My stubborn and sinful will was subdued and brought under obedience to Christ. I was conquered by his love and now he is parading me through this world to display his glorious victory!

For the rest of my life and all of eternal my greatest joy, my eternal hope, my only glory is that I was defeated, conquered, beaten by Jesus! I was led to death, as the Roman generals often did to their defeated foes. I was crucified with Christ, but that is not the end of the story. But God's grace and power I have been raised to walk a new life in Christ!

Now, as I am paraded through this world, the second half of the verse takes place.
And through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere
As the triumphal procession went through the town, incense was lit to give off an aroma, so that even after the general and his caravan had passed, the aroma would remain and remind people of his glory.

That's what we are in this world! We are not only the defeated army brought under obedience to Christ, but we are the aroma of Christ in this world. Paul never minded mixing a metaphor, and here the defeated army becomes the fragrant incense.
Our job is to go out in this world and smell like Jesus. 
We are to bring the fragrance of Christ into this world, that sweet, pleasing aroma of his love, his mercy, his holiness, his righteousness, his faithfulness, his goodness - every aspect of his character. Having been brought to Christ, we are to spread his fragrance in this world.

Everywhere we go and in everything we do, we are to be the aroma of Christ in this sin-polluted world. We must yield completely to him and represent him well.
Father, I thank you for defeating me. My sinful will stood in rebellion against you, but Christ crushed my sin with his glory and now I belong to you. May I spread the fragrant aroma of Christ in this wicked world. 

Think and Pray


Consider two things today. 1. Who are you impacting and serving in Christ's name? Who is your "letter of recommendation?"
2. Think through the truth that being defeated by Christ, having your will, your ambitions, your selfish and sinful heart conquered by his grace - that is the path to all things good and glorious.

Sunday, September 17, 2017

"Comforted Comforters" September 17 Readings: Isaiah 45-46, 2 Corinthians 1:1–11, Psalm 106:28–34, Proverbs 23:6–8



Today's Readings -  Isaiah 45-46, 2 Corinthians 1:1–11, Psalm 106:28–34, Proverbs 23:6–8


Devotional 

Not only do I have a long way to go to be like Jesus, I have a long way to go to be like the Apostle Paul. He suffered so much for the cause of Christ. In today's reading, we begin the book of 2 Corinthians, a book that contains a detailed description (in chapter 11) of the horrors inflicted on Paul in the service of Savior.

And I go into a fetal position when someone complains that one of my sermons was too long!

So many of Paul's teachings are about how God uses sufferings to grow us, strengthen us, and use us in his service. Even in the midst of pain and hurt, he was looking for a way to glorify God and spread the truth of Christ. He did not whine, moan, or turn aside; he relied on the strength of God in the weakness he felt.

In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Paul made another in his series of his astounding statements.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
In the persecution, hardship, and suffering he endured, Paul sought God the Father and found him worthy of praise. He is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort who is the One who truly comforts us when we are afflicted. These were not just cliches for Paul; it was a testimony! He had experienced that comfort when he was beaten, when he was arrested, when they attempted to put him to death. He sought God and God comforted him with his presence and power.

But Paul's hope in that was not just that he would receive that comfort, but that he would pass the comfort he received from the Lord on to those who needed that same comfort. Paul was not only comforted for himself but also for those whom he could comfort as a result of what God had done in him.

This is a fundamental truth of Christianity. What God does in me is done not only for me but for those around me whom God will affect through me. God blesses me so that I will bless others. God comforts me so that I can comfort others.

Father, bless me so that I may be a blessing. Grant me your grace, your presence, and your strength so that I can be a source of your grace, your presence, and your strength in the lives of others. 

Think and Pray


How can you pass on your blessings, giving that which you have received from God to others?