Spiritual warfare is real and Christ-followers have been given authority, but we are not to glory in this. We are to “rejoice” that we are saved and that our names are in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Spiritual warfare is real and Christ-followers have been given authority, but we are not to glory in this. We are to “rejoice” that we are saved and that our names are in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Practically, if you want to plow a straight furrow, you have to keep your eyes forward. Plowing requires forward focus. Following Jesus is similar. If you want to be His follower, you must keep your eyes on Him. Clinging to your past, you will lose sight of where Jesus leads. Following Jesus requires total surrender to His leading.
As believers we are called to steward God’s creation. This includes the way we treat both God’s creation and His creatures. Those who have a biblical worldview have an appropriate regard and balanced respect for all that God has made. Ironically, even today’s Deuteronomy reading includes instruction on not destroying fruit trees when taking possession of the promised land. A biblical worldview also gives a wise order of priority to our stewardship, rightly placing humanity as the crown of creation and therefore deserving of our highest respect.
Jesus predicted his own death, burial and resurrection. The disciples didn’t understand Christ’s claims until after his resurrection. It was on the basis of this historical event that the disciples went from frightened, unschooled followers to courageous, emboldened proclaimers of the gospel. And so we greet one another even until this day with, “He is risen!” He is risen indeed!
Before Christ raised the 12-year old daughter of Jairus the synagogue ruler from the dead, he comforted him saying that she was not dead, only sleeping. The mourners laughed at Jesus, but He answered their unbelief by saying, “Child, arise.” When death encounters Life, death looks like sleep. Death is defeated, when Life says to us “Come forth!”
The demoniac whom Christ had set free immediately began witnessing to the “whole city” what Christ had “done for him.” On this Good Friday may we all bear witness to what Christ has done for us. For on this day over 2000 years ago, Christ was crucified between two thieves on a hill called Golgotha. Christ died for our sins, so that we could inherit eternal life. Now, let’s go tell the “whole city how much” Jesus has done for us!
Of the four soils that Jesus described in his parable about receptivity to God’s Word, the thorny soil probably best resembles American hearts. There has never been a generation so blessed with access to the Bible and the gospel message. Yet, American believers have a stunted spiritual maturity. They spend their days distracted by so many things that they fail to focus on the important. Are you cultivating the seed of God’s Word or is your spiritual life getting lost in the weeds?
The Lord warned the Israelites not to forget Him after they possessed the promised land. As long as they were wandering in the wilderness, they were dependent on God, but soon they would have houses, lands, vineyards, flocks and wealth. Would God’s blessing actually result in them forgetting the One who gave them this bounty? Yes. Within a generation after those who had experienced Egypt and the wilderness had died, they forgot the Lord (read the book of Judges). Can you think of a nation that has experienced more of God’s blessing in modern history than ours? Where is the generation that remembers from where this blessing came? Do you remember?
Every day we awake to a new day never expecting otherwise. Yet, we have no control over the sun’s rising nor setting. We haven’t even any authority over our heart’s beating or lung’s breathing. Even the faithless atheist counts on such things remaining constant, setting his alarm and marking his calendar as if there were some galactic guarantee. But the Psalmist “blessed the Lord,” recognizing that it is God who gives us life and daily sustains us, awakening us to a new day.
Near the end of his days, Moses reminded the Israelites of all that the Lord had revealed and done for them since bringing them out of Egypt. He explained that God wanted a people that “might know” Him, a people confidently convinced of His existence and trustworthiness. Moses also made it clear that they were from that day forward accountable for this knowledge. How has God made Himself to known to you? How have you responded to God’s revelation?