The Birth of Christ December 25 Readings: – Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2, John 1

 

Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022

This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened." Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT. 

Bible Readings:  Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2, John 1

Background:   

Merry Christmas. Read the story of Christ today and enjoy your day with your family. Remember to celebrate Jesus as you celebrate!

You can read the story as it appears or you can read it below in chronological order.

Daily Devotional:  

The Angel Appears to Mary  (Luke 1)

            26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." 

            29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

            34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

            35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God."

            38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

            46 And Mary said:

            "My soul glorifies the Lord

            47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

            48 for he has been mindful

                        of the humble state of his servant.

            From now on all generations will call me blessed,

            49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me --

                        holy is his name.

            50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,

                        from generation to generation.

The Angel Appears to Joseph (Matthew 1)

            18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

            20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

            22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" -- which means, "God with us."

            24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

The Birth of Jesus (Luke 2)

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register.

            4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Shepherds of Bethlehem  (Luke 2)

            8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

            13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

            14 "Glory to God in the highest,

                        and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

            15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

            16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

The Magi Visit from the East (Matthew 2)

            1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

            3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:

            6 "`But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

                        are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

            for out of you will come a ruler

                        who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"

            7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

            9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Christmas from Heaven's view - John 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name,13 who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.

14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified concerning him and exclaimed, “This was the one of whom I said, ‘The one coming after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’”) 16 Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, 17 for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side— he has revealed him.

Consider God's Word:

Have a very Merry Christmas.

"The Church's Biggest Failure" December 24 Readings: Revelation 6-9

 

Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022

This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened." Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT. 

Bible Readings:  Revelation 6-9  

Background:   

n chapter 6, Jesus begins to open the seals on the judgment scroll and wrath of God is poured out on the world. There are significant issues at stake here, far more than we can discuss in this brief statement - issues that will be argued until Jesus actually returns and settles all the discussions. But there are several significant items that appear here.

The first four seals bring out the famous "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse," and then we meet the 144,000 witnesses from the 12 tribes of Israel. Finally, the heavenly multitude from every tribe and language on earth is seen in the heavenly vision.

There is a pattern here. Jesus opens six of the seven seals, then there is an interlude in which God's grace is offered to sinful man and the hardness of the human heart is displayed. It is after this that the seventh seal is opened and it reveals seven trumpets which blow. The same pattern is followed between the sixth and seventh trumpets before that seventh trumpet reveals the final seven judgments, the bowls of God's wrath.

The second phase of God's program of judgment is initiated in chapter 8 - the seventh seal is opened revealing seven angels with seven trumpets. The judgments are increasingly harsh. The seals each destroyed 1/4 of the part of the earth they targeted. The trumpets bring judgment that destroys 1/3 of what is left. By my old-style math, I believe that would mean that about 1/2 of the world has been destroyed to this point.

God is cruel, you say?

I would argue that God is amazingly patient. He made this world for his glory and has put up with the sin of the world for thousands of years, giving mankind chance after chance to repent. He offered his only Son as payment for sins and displayed his grace and mercy in unimaginable ways. How did we respond? Humanity has spit in God's face over and over again.

Finally, in God's sovereign time, the judgment falls. It is not fair to blame the judge for the sentence passed down on the criminal, is it? God has given humanity every chance and we've rejected him. Now, the hammer falls. Now humanity sees and feels the weight of God's wrath - and it is terrifying. Still, there is a chance to repent but few do. 

Daily Devotional: The Church's Biggest Failure" 

It has been in the heart of God since the beginning of time but it has seldom been in the heart of God's people. When God called Abram and chose him to bless his seed, he told him that he would bless him and make him a blessing. God's choice of Israel was not meant to be simply a blessing to them but so that God could use them as a channel of blessing to the world.

We look at the Early Church, the Jerusalem church, as an ideal of all that is good and right. But the fact is that they never had God's heart for "the ends of the earth." They actually resisted the work of God every time the boundaries were pushed and Samaritans first, then later Gentiles, were saved and brought into the family of God. Even Peter had to have a vision from God before he'd go to share Christ with Cornelius. It took massive persecution to move the Jerusalem church outside of their home city to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth. It was the Antioch church that caught a vision of the heart of God to "make disciples of all nations." It was Barnabas and Saul who answered the call to go beyond the borders of the nation of Israel and go to the "ends of the earth."

But God is relentless, determined that he will gather his people from all the earth. In spite of the reluctance of the church, God's power wins out and he accomplishes his purpose. Revelation 7:9 describes a "great multitude no one could number" standing before the throne of God. This is the church, the people of God, those redeemed by the blood of Christ. This is not a group of white Americans. It's not a Jewish group, to the consternation of some of the party of the Jews in the Early Church. It is a gathering of those from EVERY tribe, language, and people on earth.

God wins and the gospel goes out to everyone!

Unfortunately, the American church has not always been any better at this than the Jerusalem church was. We tend to confuse the purposes of the kingdom of God with the good fortunes of the USA. It is still true that the segregated hour of the week in the USA is Sunday morning church hour, and that cannot be a blessing to the heart of God who sent his Son to redeem a people from every tribe and language on earth.

We must develop the heart of God for the nations. God's heart is for rich and poor, black and white and every shade in between, powerful and inconsequential, male and female. The church of Jesus Christ must be about the things that are in the heart of God. We cannot live solely for our own comfort and happiness but must give ourselves that the world might know, that the rejected, the abused, the discriminated against, the dehumanized, the rejected - that they might know the amazing love of God in Jesus Christ.

That is the heart of God and that must be the heart of God's people.

Father, may my heart beat with your heart for the nations of the world and all its people. 

 

Consider God's Word:

Does your life give evidence of the heart of God for all nations or are you living in selfishness and focused on your own people, your own culture? 

"Worthy Is the Lamb" December 23 Readings: Revelation 4-5

 

Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022

This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened." Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT. 

Bible Readings:  Revelation 4-5  

Background:   

This is the beginning of the grand story of Revelation. Heaven opens and John is taken up, where a scroll appears on which is written all the judgments of God on the sinful world. No one is worthy to open the scroll and judge the world until the Lamb steps forward. Jesus by his death and resurrection earned the right to judge the world. The rest of the book is the unfolding of this plan of judgment and the glorious victory of Christ over the world.

Warning, the preacher goes a little long today!

Daily Devotional:  Worthy Is the Lamb

There are few passages more glorious, more majestic, than Revelation 4 and 5, in which true, heavenly worship is modeled. 

In chapter 4, John is transported to heaven in a vision, and he is allowed to see how things take place before God's glorious throne. He sees what we will see and experiences what we will experience one day when we are in the presence of God. 

First, John saw a throne in heaven, one Isaiah told us was high and exalted. Everyone and everything was focused toward it. We can only imagine the beauty and the glory of the heavenly throne room, though John tries to give us what information he can. But, in spite of all the beauty in the place, his focus was not on the throne or its beauty, but on the One seated on the throne. God is seated on the throne. He is not running for office or fighting to protect that throne. He is seated, at rest. His rule over the world is settled, and his sovereignty is secure. He has no rival for his kingdom, for no one can challenge his power and authority. 

John noticed that there were other thrones in heaven, lesser thrones but awesome nonetheless, and these 24 thrones encircled the great throne. On these were seated twenty-four elders, who represent the redeemed of the ages, perhaps the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles. In the world, they faced hardships and persecution, but in heaven, they are seated in places of honor and authority. They are clothed in white robes, sinless and righteous, having all their sins washed away, and they wear gold crowns on their heads, signifying that they have received all the rewards of their labor. They served faithfully on earth, many gave their very lives for the cause of Christ, and now they rule in heaven under the authority of the Great One on the great throne. 

John saw that lightning flashed from the throne, and peals of thunder rumbled through heaven.  Even those who are welcome in heaven cannot escape the fact that this is an awesome God, a God who inspires awe among his people and terror in his enemies.  Before the throne were seven burning torches, but this was no normal fire.  They were spiritual creatures, perhaps the Cherubim of the Old Testament, beings of light and glory.  Surrounding the throne is a sea of glass, shining like crystal. 

Around the throne, on each of its sides, he saw four living creatures with eyes in front and behind. One looked like a lion, another like an ox, the third looked human and the fourth like an eagle in flight. What do they signify? No one really knows, but perhaps they speak of God’s authority and power.  In Isaiah 6, they are called Seraphim. Two of their wings cover their eyes, two cover their feet and with two they fly. These are creatures more amazing than you could ever imagine, but they humble themselves in the presence of the Almighty. Day and night these creatures continue to speak words. 

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!
”Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!

They never cease to speak these words of praise. Day and night, month after month, year after year they give honor and glory to the God of Heaven. They are the heavenly ministers of worship.  

Their ceaseless worship moves the 24 Elders, those who have experienced God's redemption, the heroes of the faith, to join in the praise. They know that they unworthy sinners made holy by the grace of God.  So they get off their thrones, their places of honor, and they fall down before the one seated on the Great White Throne. They remove their crowns and cast them on the floor before the throne. They know that the only reason they rule in heaven is because of the mercy and power of the Lord of Hosts. 

They express their worship in powerful words, focusing on God’s character and glory. 

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” 

We are not worthy, you are worthy.  We should not receive glory, you should receive glory.  All of heaven gives glory to the Father, the greatest of the great, seated on the throne, high and exalted, glorious and powerful – the awesome King of kings.  It is my belief that one day each of us will mimic the actions of the 24 Elders.  Whatever crowns, whatever rewards we receive will be laid at the feet of the Father in heaven, in recognition of our total dependence on Him and His grace for all things, especially our successes here on earth. 

The Scroll and the Lamb

When chapter 5 opens, John sees something he has not seen before, a scroll in the hand of God, sealed with seven seals, containing the judgments of God on the sin of humanity. It is time, in the vision John was about to see, for the judgments of God to be poured out on earth.  A powerful angel inquired in a voice that all in heaven could hear, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”

           

Everyone looked around, hoping one would step forward who was worthy to pour out God’s judgment on earth, but no one came forward.  No one was worthy to take the scroll.   John broke down in tears because there was no one in all of heaven worthy to pronounce and pour out God’s righteous judgment.  But one of the elders looked at him and told him not to weep.  There was one who was worthy.  

“Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”  

That is when John saw him for the first time.  Between the throne and the four living creatures, among the 24 Elders, there he was.  A Lamb – the Lamb of God, looking as if he had been slain.  All of these glorious, heavenly creatures, awesome and powerful; yet the only one worthy to open the scroll of God was a crucified lamb, the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the earth.  In that room were mighty angels, living creatures, Cherubim and Seraphim, and the greatest servants of God that history could offer, but none of them were worthy to take the scroll.  The only one worthy was a Lamb, the one who humbled himself and died for the sins of the world.  He stood before the throne and took the scroll.  He was the one, the one worthy to carry out the eternal plan of God.  As he had carried out God’s plan of redemption, now He would carry out the plan of judgment. 

The Elders, along with the four living creatures, fell down before the Lamb.  They presented him bowls, filled with the prayers of believers.  And then, heaven broke out in song.  It is interesting to note that it was only when the Crucified and Risen Lamb stepped forward that the song of heaven began.  The truest music is the music of the Cross.  The Elders, the redeemed, those whose place in heaven was purchased by the blood of that crucified Lamb; they sang this new song,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

As the angels had worshiped the character of God, the elders worshiped the work of redemption that had purchased their place in heaven. 

Suddenly, all of heaven joined the worship.  All the heavenly hosts surrounding the throne, and the living creatures and the elders and myriads of angels, thousands upon thousands of angels began this chant of praise to the Lamb.  The words thundered throughout heaven.  

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

All of creation joined the refrain.  Praise swelled not only from heaven but also from every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea.  Every creature joined to praise the Lamb who was slain, saying 

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

This is how the world should be; every creature looking at the Creator giving praise; every redeemed heart thinking about the Lamb who brought redemption through his blood.  This is how life was meant to be.  Not the rat race of activity, materialism, and immorality that we live in.  This is creation was meant to live, and so the four living creatures said, “Amen.”  So be it. It is as it should be. 

And the Elders, the redeemed fell down before the one seated on the throne and the Lamb who now held the scroll of God, and they worshiped him.  Forever and forever their praise will swell.  One day, each of us, redeemed by the blood of Christ, will join that choir and sing,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.  The whole earth is full of His glory.”  

 “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.  The whole earth is full of His glory.” 

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

Lord, may I today, and every day, praise you as I one day will forever!

Consider God's Word:

Few passages move us to worship as this one does, pulling back the veil and giving us a glimpse of the worship of heaven. Take a few moments and worship with the songs of glory. 

"Sin's Progress" December 22 Readings: Revelation 2-3

 

Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022

This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened." Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT. 

Bible Readings:  Revelation 2-3

Background:   

This is a tough one for me! I preached a series of sermons on these two chapters - 12 messages! Now I have to write 1 devotional that encapsulates what I taught in 12 sermons of 30 (okay 40 to 45) minutes each. 

These 7 churches form an arch starting from Ephesus and appear in the order one might deliver the letters. John wrote them while exiled on Patmos, just southwest of Ephesus.  Efforts have been made through the years to see these letters as a prophetic history of the church but that stands on weak ground exegetically. They can be viewed as seven separate letters giving standards for churches, but there is also a definite progression in the churches that go bad. 

Two churches have nothing but good things said about them - Smyrna and Philadelphia. It is helpful to look at what Jesus commends about them. They are suffering churches, under the gun of intense persecution. The other five churches have a combination of good and bad. But from Ephesus to Laodicea, what is noticeable is that the good diminishes as the bad grows.

It is my theory that there is a progression in these churches. What happens in Ephesus if left unchecked causes the Pergamum problem which will lead to the Thyatira troubles. If not dealt with, that will cause the Sardis issue which will culminate in the Laodicean effect. Each builds on the other. Ephesus was a good church with a small but significant problem. Laodicea was a church with a huge problem and little good left in it. 

Daily Devotional:  Sin's Progress

Did you love report card time? To be honest, I liked it more as a parent than as a child. I liked knowing how my kids were doing, and what progress they were making. How do we know how our church is doing? In the modern American church, we have our standard - numbers! How big is your budget and are you making it? How many people attend? Have you built any buildings? How many have you baptized? Budgets - buildings - baptisms. But is that how God measures our effectiveness?

Seven churches in Asia Minor received a report card from Jesus Christ himself. He appeared to the Apostle John and had him write down a word. "Here's what I think of your church." Two churches had nothing but good said about them - A+ - while five of the churches had grades ranging from B to F. These five churches show us something about how evil progresses in our lives and in a church.

The problem in Ephesus seemed so minor. They'd "left their first love." Jesus was no longer occupying first place and was no longer their highest passion. They were still a doctrinally sound, hard-working, persevering church - you'd love to be a member of First Baptist, Ephesus! But it was anything but minor to Jesus. Of course, he wants to be first in our lives, but he also knew that when we lose our love for him, it opens the door to so many other things.

Next, after A+ Smyrna, came Pergamum. They were another good church, but they had begun to tolerate the presence of false teachers and false practices. As soon as our love for Jesus wanes we find ourselves tolerating those things we'd have never tolerated when Christ was our primary passion. The teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans were finding a foothold. Things were worse in Thyatira, one step down the road. They were no longer just tolerating the false teachers, they'd become dominated by them. When we tolerate sin it tends to take over and take charge. So, the lies that were creeping in at Pergamum were dominating Thyatira and only a remnant of truth was left.

False teaching saps the power of God from a church and leaves it empty. That's what was happening at Sardis. They were pretending to be something they were not, more concerned with appearing to be alive than with actual spiritual life. Does that seem like our churches? We spend time polishing the outside of the apple not caring that inside is rotten and decayed! We must seek Jesus in repentance and rebuild the inside.

All of this ends at lukewarm Laodicea. What does this mean? Nearby Hierapolis had hot, mineral springs that had medicinal powers. Colossae, only a few miles away had cold, clean water to drink. But Laodicea had bad water. By the time water flowed from Hieropolis or Colosse it had lost its properties. This speaks of Christians who are neither effective in ministry or have a life-giving, refreshing ministry! In other words, when Jesus is kept outside the church (he's standing at the door of the church and knocking)  that church has no life-giving water - no healing hot water or refreshing cold water. Jesus wishes we were either hot or cold, but our lukewarm ineffectiveness - ministry done in the flesh without his power - is offensive to him.

We cannot afford to walk that walk. The good news is that no matter where we are in the process the solution is the same. Repent and return to a full passion for Christ. If we've wandered down the path of sin, the return might be more difficult, but the solution is the same. Repent and return.

The real solution is to daily keep the flame of passion for Jesus fanned high!

May our passion for you, Lord, burn brightly every day. May you never look at us or our church and say that we've left our first love, tolerated evil, that we are pretending to be alive, or that we are lukewarm and ineffective. 

 

Consider God's Word:

Which of these 7 churches is most like your life? Your church?
Using these "spiritual report cards" as guides, where are you in your walk and where is your church in its? 

"The REAL Jesus" December 21 Readings: Revelation 1

 

Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022

This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened." Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT. 

Bible Readings:  Revelation 1

Background:   

My NT professor in seminary said that he hoped that he would get far enough behind in class that there would be no time for the study of Revelation. It seems that people either become morbidly interested with Revelation and the details of the end times or they disdain it. As we read the book, we will seek to look at the broad brushstrokes of the book, the flow of its grand story, without getting fascinated in the details of how many hairs are on the wart on the Antichrist's nose. 

I will take a futurist approach to the book - it teaches a view of the end times, not simply a stylized view of history presented symbolically (as Amillennialists and Preterists teach). I am a premillennialist and also pretribulational, but we are not going to look at the book so much from that perspective as to see the grand flow. 

Chapter 1 describes Jesus in all his glory, the chapters 2-3 are his letters to the 7 churches of Asia Minor. In chapters 4 and 5 there is a glorious scene of worship in heaven in which Jesus is shown as the one who has the right to judge all the earth and is given the scroll with the judgments of God written on it. He opens the seals on the scroll and the judgments begin. Then come the seven trumpets and seven final bowls of judgment. The key in all of this is not to get bogged down with morbid curiosity, but to see the overarching truth - this world is God's and Jesus is its judge. He is going to wrap it up in glory, defeat Satan, establish his rule and reign eternally. 

Permit me a personal gripe here. This book is the Revelation, not "Revelations." It reveals ONE thing - singular - the glorious victory of Jesus. It is the revelation of Jesus, not a bunch of interesting facts about the end times to be debated. This is THE Revelation, not a bunch of revelations. Rant over!

Today, in chapter 1, we get the best verbal painting of the real Jesus any of us will ever see, from the vision of John on Patmos. 

Daily Devotional:  The REAL Jesus

Gentle Jesus, meek and mild, 
Look upon a little child;
Pity my simplicity,
Suffer me to come to Thee.

Charles Wesley penned these words to this beautiful hymn in 1742. We love this Christmas season because of the cute little baby in the manger, bathed in the star's soft light, surrounded by his mother, the shepherds, and the Magi (a misunderstanding - they didn't leave until Jesus was born and arrived many months later). It is sweet and sentimental. 

And potentially deceptive. 

Yes, Jesus was everything I have mentioned. He was gentle Jesus, meek and mild, come to seek and to save the lost. He emptied himself of heavenly glory and cloaked his divinity in human frailty. He made himself a lowly servant to accomplish the Father's purposes. That is why he was born as a baby - not just as a photo op to keep the Christmas card vendors in business. 

But it is a mistake to see Jesus only as he was in his first coming. Philippians 2:6-8 tells us that Jesus emptied himself to come to earth and become a man. He revealed God's character and grace to us. But there is more to Jesus than that. Those who only see Jesus as the meek, the servant, those who fail to understand the real Jesus as he exists now need to open their eyes!

Ever wished there was a picture of Jesus or an accurate painting that showed us exactly what he looked like? Nothing like that exists - we only have the imagination of medieval painters. But there is a description of Jesus, the real Jesus, the Jesus who is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven, in Revelation 1:9-20. This is Jesus unveiled, in all his glory. 

There are key differences between the Jesus who walked the earth and the Jesus whose picture is painted verbally in Romans 1. 

• In his first coming, Jesus was born in obscurity. The Jesus of Revelation will come in glory and all the world will see. 
• In his first coming, Jesus cloaked his glory, but the Jesus of Revelation has removed that cloak, and his glory is on full display. 
• Jesus came the first time to seek and to save. But the Jesus of Revelation comes to judge the living and the dead and establish his kingdom on earth. He will not come a second time to serve, but to rule. 
• Jesus endured scorn, ridicule, and abuse in his first coming, but the Jesus of Revelation will strike down rebellious nations with the Sword which proceeds from his mouth. 
• In his first coming, Jesus offered himself to mankind, but the Jesus of Revelation no man can resist. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess - some to their eternal reward and some to eternal punishment. None can escape this glorious Jesus. 

In Revelation 1, the glorious Jesus walks among the churches (golden lampstands), the powerful presence of God to accomplish God's work. Jesus is at work in the church. It may have flaws and impurities, but Jesus is here and the gold will be refined!

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. Revelation 1:12-16

Jesus wears a long robe with a golden sash, representing his office as Great High Priest, one who makes atone for our sins (Hebrews 2:17-18), one who understands our temptations (Hebrews 4:14-15), and who always lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25). 

His head and hair are of brilliant white. This likely calls to mind Daniel's description of the "Ancient of Days" in Daniel 7:9, asserting Jesus' deity. It also speaks of his holiness and purity. This is the sinless Son of God in whom there is no stain, in whom there is no transgression. He is the Holy God. 

His eyes are as a fiery flame. Hebrews 4:13 tells us that no creature can hide from the sight of God. Jesus has eyes that pierce through the haze of deception and the fog of worldliness to see clearly and truly. He sees everything and judges rightly. Nothing is beyond him. Nothing gets past him. 

His feet are like refined bronze, having been fired in a furnace. This is no novice testing out his glory. No, this person has walked through the fires and now has a refined authority, gained through suffering, which has established his position of honor. Before these feet, all will fall in recognition of his Lordship. 

His voice is like the sound of rushing waters, like the roar of Niagara Falls. It is a powerful voice, a voice of truth and authority, one that speaks words of hope to his people and warning to his enemies. 

It is Christ who is in charge, especially of his church. He holds the leaders of the church (here described as stars) in his hands, speaking to his authority over them and his work through them. Out of his mouth comes the two-edged Sword, the Word of God, which is the rock upon which his church is founded. It is our hope and strength. And his face shines like the noonday sun. He is the glory of God in the church. The church doesn't have to do anything but let Christ shine!

This is the Jesus who sits today at the right hand of God and who one of these days will ride out of heaven. He is the glorious, pure, powerful, Sovereign Lord, our Great High Priest, the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Glory of the church who is at work among us today. 

Father, may I see Jesus, not just as he WAS, but as he IS. I bow before him and acknowledge him as the rightful Lord of all. 

Consider God's Word:

 Do you tend to see Jesus more as the "meek and mild" Jesus of the gospels or do you understand him as the glorious conqueror that Revelation presents him to be? 

What are the effects of our view of Jesus? 

"Marking False Teachers" December 20 Readings: Jude

 

Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022

This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened." Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT. 

Bible Readings:  Jude

Background:   

Jude is one of the shortest and least familiar books of the New Testament. It was likely written by the Jude who was one of Jesus' earthly brothers, as indicated by Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3. It is interesting that he identifies himself as a brother of James but only as a servant of Jesus. He was a brother of Jesus but did not "name names" - instead, he used the humble form of "servant."

The similarities of this letter and 2 Peter are striking, especially 2 Peter 2. It is likely that either both used a common source or one used the other as a source for their writings.

The common theme is all these letters written in the last apostolic era is the warning against the rise of false teachers. 

Daily Devotional:  Marking False Teachers

Jude wrote this letter to tell us to fight! No, we are not to fight against one another, but we must "contend for the faith" because "certain people" have crept into the church and are seeking to cause trouble. It is utter folly to fail to accept this. There are wolves among the sheep - predators posing as pastors, liars claiming to speak truth, servants of darkness shining an artificial light. They are everywhere.

The question is simple for us. How do we identify them? How can we know who these "certain people" are? Jude's short letter gives us a series of ideas. If you see these character qualities and behaviors in someone you should be wary. Each of these deserves greater development, but I am simply going to list them with brief commentary.

• "They pervert the grace of God into sensuality" (verse 4) - God's grace is amazing, but false teachers use it as an excuse to sin, to live for worldly pleasures instead of eternal things. The false teacher will tend to focus on enjoying this world instead of God's eternal glory. 
• "Deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." (4) - Christianity is about the Lordship of Christ, the sinless God-man. False teachers always deny some aspect of that. 
• "Relying on their dreams." (8) God did speak through dreams, but he revealed himself through his perfect word. Relying on their dreams speaks of someone who refuses to be guided by sound exegesis of the word of God but founds his ministry on his own ideas. 
• "Reject authority." (8) They refuse to submit to God-ordained authority - the word or any other authority God has placed in this world. 
• "Blaspheme the glorious ones." (8) This seems to mean that they act in disrespectful and arrogant ways toward spiritual powers. 
• "They walked in the way of Cain." (11) Cain attempted to make a sacrifice on his own terms - a bloodless sacrifice. If a man ignores the fact that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness, if he ignores the Cross of Christ, he is false. 
• "Abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error." (11) There is nothing wrong with making a living from preaching God's word, but Balaam was a profit for the money. He was not in it for the truth or to serve God, but to make money. If money is a high priority in a man's life, it is a blinking red warning light. 
• "Perished in Korah's rebellion." (11) This likely speaks of men who do not submit to God's authority but instead usurp it and attempt to rule the church their own way. They are rebellious and self-willed. 
• "These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted." (12) There're some metaphors for you, eh? In general, they mean that these men are predators among the people of God who produce no real spiritual fruit but instead destroy and damage the church. 
• "They are grumblers and malcontents." (16) Griping, complaining - that is their normal fare. They lack the joy of the Lord and hearts of thanksgiving. Mostly, they complain about anything that is not controlled by or calls attention to them. 
• "They are loud-mouthed boasters." (16) Arrogant and self-centered, their favorite topic is themselves and they will trumpet their own greatness with enthusiasm. 
• "Showing favoritism to gain an advantage." (16) James warned us that favoritism had no place in the church of Jesus Christ, but these men ignore that. They will show favoritism who can do them favors. It's not about Christ but about how you can help and advance HIM. 
• "Cause division." (19) They love to divide the Body of Christ for their personal advantage. 
• "Devoid of the Spirit." (19) They are not led by the power of God's Spirit, but by ego and selfish ambition. 

Jude ends with a couple of balancing comments. In verse 22, we are told to have mercy on those who doubt, and in verse 23, to seek to help those who live in fear. Jude wants us to be aware of the false teachers but that should not make us over-aggressive heresy-hunters; eager to assign anyone who doesn't conform to our ideas to the category of false brethren. Only those who fail the biblical test should be categorized as part of the "certain people." There are people who are weak, needy, fearful - they are not false brethren and should not be treated as such.

Father, give us wisdom in identifying false brethren as well as in ministering to the weak and needy. 

Consider God's Word:

Do you have a tendency to fall out of balance on one side or the other - either you fail to show discernment or you tend to condemn people too quickly?
As you read through the list of qualities of false brethren, did names come to mind?
What should you do if someone does come to mind? 

"Healing Prayers" December 19 Readings: 3 John

Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022

This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened." Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT. 

Bible Readings:   3 John 

Background:   

It is clear that 2 John and 3 John have the same author and the most likely candidate is John the Apostle. This letter is written to Gaius and may have been carried by the hand of Demetrius, who was given a strong recommendation by "the elder." John warns about Diotrephes who loves to put himself first - continuing the theme of warnings about false teachers. t is clear that 2 John and 3 John have the same author and the most likely candidate is John the Apostle. This letter is written to Gaius and may have been carried by the hand of Demetrius, who was given a strong recommendation by "the elder." John warns about Diotrephes who loves to put himself first - continuing the theme of warnings about false teachers. 

Daily Devotional: Healing Prayers 

3 John 2 is a favorite verse among those who hold to the false prosperity gospel - John prays that it would go well with them and their health would prosper in the same way their souls prosper. See, they say, God wants us to be healthy and happy just as much as he wants us to be holy.

But that's not what this verse is saying. John is simply expressing a prayer; a hope to God on behalf of people he loved and cared about. This verse is no universal guarantee that all of John's prayers would be answered or that every believer has a right to perfect health. We don't. Life can be hard and suffering is part of it. Sometimes the diagnosis comes and it is bad. Sometimes God heals. We don't know why he answers some prayers with healing and refuses others.

But the takeaway for us is simple. Pray. Ask. Remember the warning in James - "you have not because you ask not." A few years back there was a big foofaraw about the "Prayer of Jabez." It was a bit of a tempest in a teapot, but the lesson of that prayer is the same as this one. Pray. Ask God. Ask God for big things. Never be afraid to ask God for things that boggle your mind because they will not stress him in the least. God is big and strong - able to do exceedingly more than we can ask or imagine.

God can handle it! Don't be afraid to ask.

Father, I ask you to fill me with the faith to ask you for things I've never asked before - things that stretch my faith but do not strain your power!

Consider God's Word:

Do you pray in faith, believing in a God who can do more than you can ask or imagine?