Tag: Lord

Saved

Re: Verse reading– Acts 4:32-37; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Galatians 6:9-10; Hebrews 10:24-25 (day three)

“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’” When the human body experiences an organ transplant, massive doses of anti-rejection drugs soon follow. A body cannot fight itself and live. The human race cannot fight one another and live. The church is the sole representative of the kingdom of God on earth. Its mission consists of living the way Jesus taught us to live with one another—which is the only way to stay alive. If the church will not live that way, if the church fights itself, death comes, no one gets saved, and the human race is doomed. Loving one another in the church of our Lord is not only obedience, it’s life support for the whole world.

We the People…

Re: Verse reading–Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-4 (day two)

Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. Isaiah 9:7

Can you tell that I’ve been listening to Christmas music lately? This Messianic prophecy from Isaiah tells us that there will be an incorruptible everlasting form of government, but not one ruled or established by men. Our best thoughts, our greatest minds have tried to construct ways to fairly govern people since the beginning of civilization. Most educators would agree that students need some sort of structure to succeed. What is acceptable and what is not. How to behave and the consequence for disobedience. In exchange students should feel reasonably safe, they should expect a quality education. This is what we should expect from our government. A system to follow with the expectation of safety. However, even in the most enlightened societies, they are run by fallen people. Even fallen people with the best ideals are still fallen. God’s system is flawless. His promise to be just and righteous is made to all. We must model our lives, our actions, and our obedience to await that perfect government.

Let it go

RE Verse reading–Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:22-25; 1 Timothy 6:1-2; Titus 2:9-11 (day seven)  “Six days shall you labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God.”–Exodus 20:9-10.  Unless you’ve been on another planet for the past few years, you have heard (or heard of) the Disney movie, “Frozen” and the featured song, “Let it go”.  As Queen Elsa “lets go” of her fears to embrace her strengths, believers “let go” of our fears to discover our strength in union with Christ.  It is a weekly spiritual rhythm called sabbath.  WORK for six days!  This is the command of God.  Get up!  Think! Innovate!  Achieve!  Subdue!  Rule! (see Genesis 1)  But, on the sabbath learn a different skill.  Let it go! Rest!  Pray! Seek His face!  Engage the world with courage, then retreat from it to declare your trust in Something higher.  We are double-sided creations, dual-natured.  God commands us to work, and then to let it go.

Perspective

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:22-25; 1 Timothy 6:1-2; Titus 2:9-11 (day four)  In each of these letters, Paul drives home the same point…our lives relate directly to God rather than man.  In a slave relationship…or, in today’s world, an employer relationship…we are not to resent or argue or deceive our authority.  We are reminded that our work is unto the Lord, not to man.  We can escape the notice or knowledge of our employer, but God sees our every action and knows our heart and intentions.  We get away with nothing.  Paul tells us in the Titus passage that when we respond properly to our employers (masters), we adorn the doctrine of God.  ‘Adorn’ means to make more pleasing; beautify, embellish, enhance, enrich, and grace.  We add glory to God when we serve Him over our petty, worldly desires and passions.  Our goals need to change…we should not be seeking what is best for ourselves, we should be seeking to adorn the doctrine of God.  Give glory to God by rightly serving your authority!

Faith and WORK

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:22-25; 1 Timothy 6:1-2; Titus 2:9-11 (day one)

Christianity declares that faith and works are opposite approaches to salvation.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith. . .it is a gift of God; not of works, lest any may should boast.”–Ephesians 2:8-9.  “No one will be declared righteous. . . by the works of the law”–Romans 3:20.  Given this gospel truth, a common mistake is to suggest that our faith is critical or negative toward work itself (industry, effort, even ambition)  It isn’t!  “I labored even more than all of them”, Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15 (and without a hint of caution that he might, by saying so, drift back into legalism).  “Faith without works is dead” echoes James 2.  “Work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for men.” says Colossians 3.  One assignment common to every Christian is that we become steady, hard, dependable, honest, and effective WORKERS!  We owe it to Christ because we trust Him.

Ready

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 20:13-17; Leviticus 19:16-18; Zechariah 7:8-10; Matthew 5:13-16 (day three)

“I am the Lord.”  If God is in fact the Lord, then you are not.  That’s more than an exercise in basic logic.  It’s a statement of your place in this universe under God.  Paul reveals that we will each stand before the judgment seat of Christ.  Jesus says that time of standing before the Lord will take into account the way that we have lived with one another: “What you have done to the least of these, you have done to me.”  Therefore, each moment that we encounter our neighbor is a moment that we encounter the Lord.  It is a moment in which he reminds us: I am the Lord.  If you’re not ready to stand before your neighbor, you won’t be ready to stand before God.

Case

Re: Verse reading–Luke 6:27-36, Romans 12:17-21 (day three)

“Leave room for God’s wrath.”  When an enemy has hurt you, that offending party must be brought to justice.  But if you’re the one in charge of jurisprudence, is there much chance for thoughtful and wise remedy?  You would have to answer to God for any judicial malpractice.  You are not without recourse, though.  Here’s what the psalmists learned: Hash it out with God.  Now we see why the Psalms contain such violent imagery: Break the arm of the wicked, happy is he who dashes your infants against the rocks, etc.  These are people pouring out their case to the Lord—all the anger, all the rage, all the pain.  You will find no one who takes you as seriously as the Lord.  He will judge.

Family Business

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 20:12; Luke 2:45-52; John 19:25-27 (day two)  And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must about my father’s business? Luke 2:49

Did you know that Johann Sebastian Bach had 20 children, and that most of them became great composers or performers? Did you know that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s father Leopold was a first-rate musician? Is this because these families were predisposed to be great composers? Perhaps, but more often than not, it was just the family business. Bach’s children would likely have the task of copying manuscripts ad nauseam which was a common way of picking up the trade. Even today we often find this familial occupational tendencies. My parents were both teachers, so it made sense. I never felt compelled by them, but I was clearly influenced by how they helped people. I saw the leader that my dad was to his team, and to the school. These were things I wanted to emulate. When Jesus responded that his place was in his father’s house tending to his father’s business it just made sense.

Beyond setting a possible career track for our children, consider what else they may want to retain from our example. How do you love the Lord? Is it in full view of your children, or would they be hard pressed to notice. How do you love your spouse, treat your friends, the lost?

It’s not too late to be the example that will make a difference.

Ears of clay

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 20:12; Luke 2:45-52; John 19:25-27 (day one)

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”–Ephesians 6:1.  The Bible describes God’s plan for a child with an unusual word.  Hypakouo.  (Hypo=under, thus a hypodermic needle goes under the skin, and akouo=to hear, thus acoustics.)  Hypakouo was both action and attitude.  It described a child who listens as one “under” authority, with the intention and expectation of obedience.  Ever hear someone described as having “feet of clay”?  It is not a compliment!  It means a person who takes a stand/makes a commitment that eventually crumbles away with time.  “Ears of clay”, however,  is a good thing.  Sharp ears.  Soft heart.  Children who learn this suppression of self-will find it easier (later) to take this life-giving attitude toward God.  “Lord, have Thine own way.  Thou art the potter, I am the clay.  Mold me and make me after Thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.”–George C. Stebbins.

Home field advantage

Re: Verse reading–Psalm 127:3-5; Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:1-9 (day seven)

“Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him.  Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are the sons born in one’s youth.”–Psalm 127:3-4.  These words stand in stark contrast to the way moderns think and speak.  Children to the ancients were possessions (heritage), wages (reward) and weapons (arrows).  Our fathers in the faith perceived, sometimes more honestly than we do, the conflict and struggle that life is. . .between good and evil. . .between God’s kingdom and man’s pride.  And children are our secret weapon. No single factor has influenced history more than the Jewish (and then Christian) home.  Parents who carefully and prayerfully shape children for the service of God do, indeed, send them out as arrows aimed at “enemies in the gate.”–v 5. Like the old baseball manager said after an away game defeat.  “They got the best of us tonight, but we will beat them at home.”