October 22, 2014
What causes us to feel shame to speak of Jesus? There are at least three reasons: 1) Lack of spiritual zeal. We don’t feel worthy to talk about Jesus because we are not living as we should. 2) Believing the enemy’s lies. These lies tells us that people aren’t interested in Jesus or that they will reject us or make fun of us. Our politically correct culture lies to us that it is inappropriate to speak of Jesus. 3) Lack of knowledge. We feel that we don’t know enough to be able to witness. Yet, witnessing is just telling others what Christ has done for you. Paul told Timothy to “never be ashamed.” Are you able to say, “I’m not ashamed to tell others about Jesus?”
October 21, 2014
Money is a means of exchange, a morally neutral thing that is useful when rightly used. Yet, the love of money is idolatry. It puts money in the place of God. Rather than saying “in God we trust,” it puts its trust in money. The one who loves money sees serving God as a means to get more money, rather than money being a means to serve God. How can we tell if the love of money has infected our hearts? When we feel unable to give to His ministry, or to go on His mission, we may be suffering from the love of money. Giving is the antidote to greed.
October 20, 2014
Up until that time, all of the prophecies that the Lord had given Jeremiah had been delivered orally. So the Lord instructed Jeremiah to get a scroll and have every message recorded in writing. Jeremiah enlisted Baruch to be his secretary and repeated every message for him to write down. Later, when the scroll containing all these prophecies was read to King Jehoiakim, the king burned the scroll in his fireplace and ordered Jeremiah arrested. Yet, this did not stop God’s Word. For God hid Jeremiah from the king and had him repeat all the messages once again for Baruch to write down. In the end, King Jehoiakim was killed by the Babylonians as Jeremiah prophesied, but the writings of Jeremiah remain to this day. Heaven and earth may pass away, but the Word of God remains forever.
October 19, 2014
We are born with a body, yet physical training is necessary to make it strong. When we are born again we receive eternal life, yet in like manner, we are to “train” to grow up in our salvation. Both the physical life and this new spiritual life are gifts from God. We cannot earn them. But we can yield ourselves to the Spirit’s work in us by certain spiritual disciplines that aid in our growth. Training the body is good for today. Training to grow in our salvation is better both today and tomorrow.
October 18, 2014
God told the prophet Jeremiah of a new covenant that He would make with His people in the future. That future is now. The law is no longer written on stone tablets, but it is written by grace on the hearts of those who have believed and received the righteousness of Christ.
October 17, 2014
Jesus Christ is unique. He is God incarnate, fully human and fully divine. He is the only One able to reconcile us to the Father through His sacrificial death and resurrection. He is both our Advocate and Lamb, standing before the Father in our place of judgment. He took our sin, separation and death. And offers His righteousness, sonship and eternal life in exchange. Without Christ, a great chasm of spiritual separation continues to exist between God and man. With Christ this chasm is bridged. This is our message: Christ, our only hope!
October 16, 2014
Paul taught Timothy the importance of guarding the gospel against those who would misuse the law, claiming its necessity for salvation. Human effort at law-keeping does not save, only believing the gospel saves. Those that teach law-keeping as a means of salvation are not using the law “correctly.” Yet, the law is not useless when used rightly. In fact, there are at least three right uses of the Law:
The Law is to… (3 “R”s – Gal. 3:19-26)
1. Restrain our sinful behavior (Like a guard rail).
2. Reflect our guilt (Like a mirror).
3. Reveal God’s righteous way (Like a teacher).
The law is useful when “used correctly,” but only faith in Christ saves.
October 15, 2014
God told the prophet Jeremiah to preach the “entire message.” God’s purpose was to warn His people of their sins, so that they might repent, not to tickle their ears. God’s instruction to Jeremiah is the same to those who would preach God’s Word today. We are to preach the whole Word, not leaving out the unpleasant parts. Medicine is ineffective absent its active ingredients. Preaching the entire gospel message is what opens people’s hearts to repentance and salvation.
October 14, 2014
Paul told the Thessalonian believers to “stand firm” and to keep a “strong grip” on the Word of God that he had taught them. Standing firm on God’s Word we build our life on its gospel truth and instruction. Keeping a strong grip on the Word, we cling to its promises in times of trouble. Do not let skeptics nor suffering snatch the Word of God from you. Base your life on it. Fill your mind with it. Cling to it at all times.
October 13, 2014
Paul prayed for the persecuted believers in Thessalonica that the God who called them would also “enable” them to live for Him. When we answer God’s call our faith begins to “prompt” us to act. This prompting comes from our new nature in Christ which gives us the will to do good. Yet, this new will power always moves us to attempt things so beyond our ability that we must totally rely on God’s power to accomplish them. The time between the prompting and the accomplishing of God’s call is a time of testing. It is a time when we finally die to self-effort and live to total dependence on God’s enabling power. As the missionary pioneer, William Carey said, “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.”