Author: Rick Henderson

Rick Henderson is the Associate Pastor for Students.

Two Turtledoves

Re:Verse passage – Luke 2:21-38 (day seven)

and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” Luke 2:24

In the words of Kevin McCallister in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, “I never knew that. I thought they were just part of a song.” Kevin was given his turtledoves to become a token of eternal friendship, but the two turtledoves in the Bible were actually the Offering of the Poor.

Leviticus 12:8  “But if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, the one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she will be clean.”

The King of Kings stepped down into poverty. We would expect a coming King to be born in a palace or to be followed with grandeur (Wisemen have not yet arrived), but our King needed to sympathize with us. He came to be the God for the poor, not just for the rich. He showed us that He is the God for all of us. The faithfulness of Mary and Joseph to bring Him to the temple shows us their heart. The humbleness of Mary and Joseph to admit that they couldn’t afford a lamb shows us their character. Little did they know, they brought the Lamb that would atone for their sins and the sins of the entire world. Jesus is the Lamb of God and our friend for eternity!

Deaf and Dumb

Re:Verse passage – Luke 1:57-80 (day seven)

But his mother answered and said, “No indeed; but he shall be called John.” […] and they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. Luke 1:60, 62

We know that Zacharias was mute, but was it more? As the community implored Elizabeth to name the child Zacharias, they begin to try to get his attention with signals. Mute people can hear just fine; why didn’t they just speak? It would appear that he was deaf and dumb (or at least to them), which makes the fact that Elizabeth knew the name of the child all the more miraculous. Whether he had written it for her previously, or if the Holy Spirit revealed the name of the child to her through discernment, it is clear that Elizabeth was listening to the Lord!

Elizabeth was not a passive recipient in Zacharias’ calling. She had the authority and boldness to proclaim John’s name as a fact. It wasn’t the priest who was the primary theological voice in this moment; it was the faithful mother. This is only the beginning of how the Messiah is going to flip the world upside down.  God has called us all to be a part of His plan for eternity. Will you join Him?

Response

Re:Verse passage – Luke 1:26-38 (day seven)

 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” Luke 1:34

Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” Luke 1:18

Same angel. Similar message. Very different responses. On paper, it almost looks the same. “How can this be? This is why it shouldn’t work.” What our english translation has trouble properly conveying is tone. Zacahrias was doubting the Lord’s ability and asked for God to prove it. Zacharias’ heart posture was “I don’t think this is possible.” For that, he was struck mute. Mary on the other hand, was filled with wonder and curiosity. She asked how, not if. Mary’s heart posture was “I don’t understand, but I trust God.” Mary’s response led to surrender.

When you hear the Lord call you to do something, how do you respond? Do you enter into skepticism and make excuses, or do you become curious and search His will? Do you ask for proof, or do you offer surrender? Your heart posture matters. Doubt closes doors while faith opens doors to the fullness of God’s plan. How will you respond today?

He Hears

Re:Verse passage – Luke 1:5-17 (day seven)

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard… vs 13a

Do not be afraid. Easier said than done. This isn’t a pale winged man holding a harp, nor a flying baby with a bow and arrow. The angel of the Lord strikes fear into the soul of every person that comes into contact with him (as we will see throughout this series). This is a representative of the King of the Universe, a manifestation of the power of the Living God. We should be afraid. Just as Isaiah repented as he came into the presence of the Lord, we recognize how insignificant we are when we are compared to heavenly grandeur.

Yet, the angel says, “Your prayer has been heard.” The power of the universe on display before our eyes as this manifestation reaches into the deepest chasm of our soul to provide the validation we so desperately need, God hears you! How long have you prayed? How long have you waited? The prayer is not unanswered, nor unheard, but the King of the Universe is working us into His plan through our prayers. Like Zacharias, we pray, we wait, we enter His presence humbly and faithfully, and we will see how powerful our God really is. That is a promise.

Will it float?

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 3:10-18 (day seven)

be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness. vs 17

Will it float? The question we will not forget from this series. Thank you Pastor Jimmy for bringing an illustration that challenges even us adults to test everything we hear against the word of God. Just like the world that Peter was living in when he wrote this letter, we are in a battle against false teachers and false doctrines. Our world is at a severe risk due to the platform that has been created for these doctrines to perpetuate (i.e. the internet/social media). That is why it is of the utmost importance to test everything we hear against the Word of God.  Also, test it against church history. Has it been taught faithfully in the church over time? There is no such thing as new doctrine. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He may reveal new insights to us. His mercies are new every morning, but His nature will never change.

How have you been encouraged by this series?

Outside of Time

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 3:8-9 (day seven)

[…] that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. vs 8b

We are linear. It is impossible for us to comprehend and understand how a day for God is the same as a thousand years. The comparison in and of itself can become problematic for the modern reader because of how linearly we think. Those reading Peter’s letter in the first century would have heard this much the way we today hear it in the words of C.S. Lewis:

“If you picture Time as a straight line along which we have to travel, then you must picture God as the whole page on which the line is drawn. We come to the parts of the line one by one: we have to leave A behind before we get to B, and cannot reach C until we leave B behind. God, from above or outside or all round, contains the whole line, and sees it all.” – Mere Christianity 

God is outside of time. If it ever feels that He is not working or moving too slow, we must remember that He is with us now and He is already with us tomorrow. He comforts us in the present, and He holds the future in His hands. We are patient, even in the midst of the Storm, because we know that the Sovereign Lord is in complete control.

Desires of the Heart

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 3:1-7 (day seven)

following after their own lusts… vs 3b

The issue with these scoffers was not that they denied the existence of Christ, but that they denied the authority of Christ. As it was then, so it is now. Modern scoffers will not blatantly say they reject the Lordship of Christ, but their priorities prove it.

The word “lusts” in this instance is not exclusively sexual but is used to convey the desires of one’s heart. For the scoffer, the desires of their heart are on things that feel freeing in the here and now. What they do not realize is that their own desires are the very thing holding them hostage from finding true freedom in Christ. In an attempt to appear resilient and self-reliant, they have made themselves lord over their own life – thus, denying the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The truth is, when we submit to Jesus as Lord and chase after His will instead of our will, He will give us the desires of our heart – because it is in that moment that the desires of our heart are intertwined with His heart.

Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Eternal Security

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 2:17-22 (day seven)

For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. vs 21

Will there be false teachers in heaven? To say yes is to diminish the importance of teaching sound doctrine. To say no is to deny that these pastors or teachers ever knew the Lord at all. There are some false teachers who vehemently and un-repentantly are leading people astray. Others appear to have known the Lord at some point and have found themselves straying off course. It causes us to reframe the question: is it possible for someone to stray in their faith so far as to lose their salvation?

To put it bluntly: can you lose your salvation?

My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. John 10:29

When you make Jesus the Lord of your life, and the Holy Spirit regenerates your soul, there is nothing anyone can do to steal your salvation. Not even the devil himself. If you have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, you will never be the same again. It is possible to slip up. It is possible to fall into sin, but a person who has truly tasted the goodness of God will never forget that taste and will always be drawn back for more.

Masses or Master

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 2:10-16 (day seven)

[…] to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,  and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. vs 9-10

False teachers are wolves in sheep’s clothing. They are crafty and cunning. They say things that make you feel good. They tickle your ears and scratch your itch. They will have a large following and will seem prosperous, but God tells us that their judgment is coming!

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. James 3:1

But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. Matthew 18:6

God takes His teaching seriously. Teaching to tickle ears may please the masses, but they are not pleasing the Master. All of us as Christians should not take this warning lightly. We are all called to lead and teach. Whether it is a small group, large group, or just our family, we are all responsible for passing on the Promises of God. Who are you aiming to please through your teachings?

Play Doh Jesus

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 2:4-9 (day seven)

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment. vs 4

One of the illustrations I have been using with our youth recently is “Play Doh Jesus.” Why do kids (and let’s be honest, adults) like play doh so much? It is because we have control to make the object look the way we want it. There are many people in modern society that like Jesus because what they are following is not the Jesus of the Bible. It is a Jesus that they have molded to be someone they are comfortable with.

“My Jesus cares about the things I care about.”

“My Jesus would be in my political party.”

“My Jesus doesn’t judge me for my actions.”

They like this Jesus so much more because it feels like they are in control instead of Jesus being in control. They have created an idol out of play doh instead of allowing the Creator to mold them into what He wants them to be.

Jesus wants you to care about what He cares about.

Jesus wants you to be Kingdom minded.

Jesus is The Judge.