The King Over All The Earth

Psalm 47

Ascension Day is on Thursday of this week, the day when the Lord Jesus left earth and returned to heaven.  Our Scripture for later this week will go more into that event.  However, since that event commemorates more than just His return to heaven, but also His exaltation as Lord, and His enthronement at the right hand of God the Father, let’s look at another Scripture that speaks of God as King, reigning over the world.

Psalm 47 is one of several psalms written by the Sons of Korah.  Korah was a man from the tribe of Levi who led a rebellion against Moses (Numbers 16:1-40).  God judged Korah and those in rebellion with him by opening the earth, which swallowed them alive.  However, his children and descendants weren’t harmed.  Later they worked in the Temple, particularly with worship music, and also writing several of the psalms.

Our psalm speaks of the universal kingship of Yahweh, how He is the sovereign King over all the earth, and how one day all nations will submit to His rule.  This will happen when Jesus returns and sets up His Millennium reign.  This psalm is both present - God reigns now, and prophetic - Jesus will reign visibly and universally in the future.

The Sons of Korah begin their psalm by calling out to everyone to clap and shout their praises to God (vs. 1).  These are to be expressions of victory for the Lord.  This is a call to everyone, not just Israel.  God’s kingship is not tribal or regional.  He is God of everyone, everywhere, and there is a day coming when all nations will acknowledge Jesus as Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).

The reason to shout and praise Yahweh is that He is awesome, inspiring wonder and worship (vs. 2).  He is also totally worthy of reverence.  God is not just Israel’s King, He is King over all the earth.  Most of the pagan gods worshiped in that time and place were regional deities.  They were the gods of this or that mountain, plain, or river.  They might have power over some specific weather event.  However, Yahweh’s dominion, power, and rule is absolute and universal.

The Sons of Korah look into the future with a prophetic promise (vs. 3).  This verse looks forward to the Millennial Kingdom, when Jesus rules, and His people are restored to a place of prominence (Isaiah 2:1-4; Zechariah 14:9, 16-17).  It is God Himself, not any human effort, that will bring the nations of the world into submission to Him.  We do not win people to the Lord by force, but the Holy Spirit’s intervention does.

Continuing on, we see that God gives His children their inheritance (vs. 4).  It is not self-earned.  His choices are rooted in grace, not in our own merit.  We can rest in the knowledge that God’s love for us is faithful, and all of His choices for us are perfect.

Now we come to the verses that relate to the Ascension (vs. 5).  This is royal coronation language, picturing God ascending to His throne after victory.  Prophetically it points to Jesus’ ascension spoken of in Acts 1:9-11, and then later to His return with the sound of the trumpet (I Thessalonians 4:16), and His enthronement in the Millennium.  Jesus is the victorious, exalted King.  Continuing, we are told five times to sing praises to God (vs. 6-7).  We are to be joyful to the Lord.  Our praise should be with understanding, intelligence, not just random babble, and it should be directed to God, not to ourselves, any preacher, or to any singer or musician.

As the Sons of Korah bring this psalm to a close, we see that God reigns over the nations of the world (vs. 8-9).  His rule is holy, not random or by chance.  Even now, though many nations are in rebellion against Him, He is still sovereign.  His reign is not threatened by human rebellion.  And in the future, Jesus will rule visibly and perfectly.  All earthly rulers and their people will gather to worship Jesus.  Their “shields”, which symbolize their authority, power, and military strength, will be given to God, as they ultimately belong to Him.

Approximately forty days after Easter, Jesus ascended and returned to heaven, where He is seated on His heavenly throne.  This psalm was one that anticipated His literal, earthly kingdom, where He will rule from Jerusalem.  God is not some tribal deity, but rules all nations, all peoples, and the whole universe.  Some may wonder where God is in all the mess that is happening throughout the world, and may wonder if He has somehow lost control, or has stepped back and is not involved in anything anymore.  We can trust God’s plan for the future.  History may seem like it is spiraling out of control, but it’s not.  It is moving towards the visible reign of Jesus Christ.

Ancient of Days

Daniel 7:9-14

When many people think of the Book of Daniel they immediately think of the account of Daniel in the lion’s den, or of his three friends being thrown into the fiery furnace and coming out unharmed.  Those are certainly the most familiar parts of the Book of Daniel.  However the majority of the book contains prophetic visions Daniel had, or interpretation of dreams that he gave of future events, particularly end-time events.  Today’s portion of Scripture from the Book of Daniel is one such passage.  It reveals the heavenly courtroom where God, the Ancient of Days, will judge the kingdoms of men, and will grant everlasting dominion to the Messiah, the Son of Man, who is clearly identified in the New Testament as Jesus Christ.  Let’s see what God’s Word has to say.

Chapter 7 begins with describing a dream and visions that Daniel had.  First he described four Gentile empires which would come.  Then, as our portion of Scripture describes, the vision moves from earth to heaven, where God will judge these kingdoms, and establish His own.  This Scripture gives a divine perspective on world history - that human empires rise and fall, but God’s kingdom is eternal.

As our Scripture begins, Daniel had a vision of God seated on His throne as the divine Judge (vs. 9-10).  Daniel used the name “Ancient of Days”, a name for God the Father which is found only in the Book of Daniel.  This name emphasizes His eternality.  The white hair symbolizes God’s wisdom, and His white clothes show His purity and holiness.  His fiery throne shows God’s majesty and authority.  A fiery stream comes forth from God’s throne.  When we read of fire in the Bible, it often symbolizes judgment (Hebrews 12:29), purity, and holiness.  Surrounding God’s throne of judgment are multiple thousands of angels.

The books of judgment are brought to God and opened.  God keeps a record of all that we as individuals do, and also what the nations do.  His judgment is deliberate, righteous, and final.  Later, in another book of the Bible which describes end-time events we read of the Great White Throne judgment where all mankind is judged (Revelation 20:11-12).  However, here we are focused on the judgment of world empires.  God is the sovereign Judge over all nations.  No empire will escape His scrutiny.  Everyone will be held accountable.

As we read on, we read about the fourth beast, which will be the ruler of the final Gentile empire before the Lord’s return (vs. 11-12).  This leader will have immense power in the world, and speak boldly and pompously.  However, this ungodly world leader’s destruction will be sudden and final.  He will be toppled and destroyed, not by any human effort, but by divine intervention.  We see that all human kingdoms, no matter how big or powerful, are only temporary.  God’s kingdom alone is eternal.

Daniel moves on in describing the vision he had, speaking about the Son of Man (vs. 13-14).  This is not an angel, nor merely a human.  This is the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, in His glorified humanity.  Jesus used this title for Himself more than any other, over eighty times in the Gospels.  He is described as “coming with the clouds of heaven.”  The Bible has frequently described God and the Lord Jesus as being surrounded by clouds, accompanying His presence (Psalm 104:3; Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:7).

This is not describing the Second Coming of Jesus to earth.  This is His heavenly coronation, where He receives authority from the Father.  Some parallel passages that also describe this are Psalm 2:6-9; Psalm 110:1; Matthew 28:18; and Revelation 5:6-14.  We see that the Lord Jesus will receive absolute authority and dominion, divine honor and glory, and a literal, earthly, and everlasting kingdom.

There are several characteristics of Jesus’ kingdom.  First, it is a universal kingdom, with people from all nations and languages.  It is also an indestructible kingdom, which shall not pass away.  Finally, Daniel described it as an eternal kingdom that shall not be destroyed.  This part of the prophetic vision will be fulfilled in the Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20:1-6), and then in the Eternal State (Revelation 21-22).  Jesus Christ is the rightful King of all creation.  His kingdom is literal, future, and everlasting.

As we close our study in Daniel 7, we should keep in mind that even when world events seem chaotic, as they certainly were in Daniel’s day, we must remember that God is on the throne.  Daniel lived under pagan empires, yet he remained faithful, and so must we.  We can endure suffering, knowing that Jesus will reign, and His justice will prevail.  We know that Jesus is our Savior, but we must also remember that He is the eternal King who deserves our obedience and our reverence.  Since Jesus is the coming Judge and King, we should do our best to warn others, inviting them to trust in Him now.

Which Way Leads Us Home?

John 14:1-11

Many years ago I used to work in downtown Chicago.  Since I lived in one of the city’s many suburbs, I would take a commuter train to and from work.  When I would leave work to return home, I would go to the massive train station where numerous trains were lined up on dozens of tracks.  It was very important that I would get on the correct train.  If I didn’t, I would end up miles from where I wanted to be.  The trains looked very similar, but only one was the correct train.  The same would be if I were to take a bus home.  Only the correct bus would get me to my destination.  Contrary to the popular saying that all roads lead to heaven, there is only one way to heaven.  As we look into our Gospel passage today, we will see what that one way is.

Our Scripture is part of the Upper Room discourse, a series of final teachings that the Lord gave His disciples on the night that He was betrayed.  The disciples were rather shaken at this time, as Jesus had just predicted His betrayal (John 13:21), Judas had abruptly left, Peter was told that he would deny Jesus, and He said that He was going away.  Jesus proceeded to comfort the troubled disciples by revealing three foundational truths - He is preparing a real place for believers, He is the exclusive way to the Father, and He is the full revelation of the Father because He is truly God.

Jesus begins by telling us to not be troubled, agitated or shaken by what is happening in the world (vs. 1).  When circumstances shake us, Jesus calls us to trust His character, not our understanding.  Here He places faith in Himself on the same level as faith in God, an implicit claim to deity.

Next He gives us one of the most comforting promises in the Bible (vs. 2-3).  Jesus promises His believers that He has prepared a place for them in heaven.  Heaven is not a vague spiritual state.  It is a prepared, permanent home for us, a real place, not just something symbolic.  Jesus has a place prepared for each one of us in heaven.  Our home here on earth might be quite humble, it may not be secure from month to month, it may have leaks and be drafty, too hot or too cold.  However, we can trust that the place that Jesus has for us will be perfect for us.  Jesus gave this promise and we can believe it, and wait confidently for that day.

Jesus said that we would know the way to where He was going.  Thomas then asked Him a question, that if we didn’t know where He was going, how could we know the way (vs. 4-5).  He wasn’t doubting, but seeking clarity.  His question set the stage for one of the most important statements that Jesus ever made.  He clearly stated that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one can come to God except through Him (vs. 6).  This is exclusive - there is no other path that leads to God.  Jesus doesn’t just show us the way, He is the way.  Salvation is through Jesus alone, by grace alone, through faith alone.  No other religion or faith can give us a valid path to truth or salvation.  Jesus is the only way.

Every major religion claims it is the only way, but only one can be right.  Absolute truth is absolute.  When religious truths conflict with each other, only one can be correct.  Even a cursory study of the various religions show that the Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and various pagan gods are different in character and purpose.  We are not all worshiping the same God.  These other religions are taking their members in a completely different, and wrong direction, rather than to heaven.  Only Jesus will get us to heaven.  Jesus took our place for the punishment of sin by suffering and dying on the cross so that we can have eternal life.  Apart from Jesus and His saving work on the cross there is no way home to God.  Look to the cross, and it will lead you home to God.

Philip then asked Jesus to show them the Father.  The Savior responded that those who see Him have seen the Father (vs. 7-9).  Jesus is not merely a representative of God, He is God in the flesh (John 1:1, 14; Colossians 1:15).  Jesus is the visible expression of the invisible God.  If we want to understand God’s heart, look at Jesus.  Everything that He did was an exact representation of His Father.

The last verses of this passage show the unity of the Father and the Son (vs. 10-11).  Jesus’ words are the Father’s words.  His works are the Father’s works.  God the Father is in Jesus, and He is in the Father.  They share the same divine nature.

In closing we see one of the clearest affirmations that Jesus is fully God.  They share one divine essence while remaining distinct Persons.  We also read the truth that salvation is exclusively through Jesus.  There is no other way.  When our heart is troubled, we need to anchor our faith in Jesus’ character.  We can be comforted with His promises of His peace, especially knowing that He has a place prepared personally for us in heaven.

His Chosen People

I Peter 2:1-10

Have you ever felt like you did not fit in with others, either at school or maybe at work?  Maybe you felt like you just weren’t wanted around by others.  Some people were an unwanted child, and ended up in an orphanage or foster home.  For others, though their parents kept them, they let them know they weren’t wanted.  Some children are the last to be picked for a team, or are never invited to join a club.  This sometimes continues on into the workplace or in social groups.  However, there is Someone who is eager to choose you for Himself.  This is one of the subjects that the Apostle Peter touches on in our Scripture today.  Let’s see what God has to teach us today.

In his first general letter to believers, Peter instructs us to put away sin from our life, to desire God’s Word, and live as His chosen people, built upon the Lord Jesus, the Cornerstone.  He begins by listing five sins for believers to get rid of in their life (vs. 1).  We might think that big things like murder, harming children, or robbing a bank would top the list.  However what he lists are malice (a desire to do evil), deceit, hypocrisy (pretending to be spiritual while hiding sin), envy, and evil speaking (slander and gossip).  These destroy our fellowship with God and our spiritual growth.  Contrary to what some may think, these are not respectable sins, and must be rooted out of our life in order to grow as a Christian.  God’s love for us should motivate us to reject these behaviors.

What will help us grow as Christians?  Newborn babies desire milk, which helps them grow.  For a believer, our “milk” is God’s Word (vs. 2-3).  We should be desiring it just like a baby does his milk.  Reading the Bible shouldn’t be something we just check off of a list of things to do.  We should want to get into God’s Word every day.  Peter says to desire the “pure milk of the Word”, which is the Bible, not just other “spiritual” literature.  They cannot replace the Bible, and one must be especially careful that they aren’t teaching false doctrine.  Just as a good mother is extremely careful of what her baby eats, so must we be very careful with what we take in spiritually.

As Peter continues, he speaks on how as believers we have come to Jesus, the Living Stone (vs. 4).  He was rejected by men, but was chosen by God.  He is “living”, emphasizing His resurrection.  A stone is strong, stable, and is used to build a foundation, which Jesus is in our life.  As believers, we share in His life as lively stones (vs. 5).  We are built up as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, offering to God spiritual sacrifices, such as worship, obedience, and praise.

Peter then quotes from Isaiah 28:16 and Psalm 118:22.  The Lord Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone.  Believers who trust in Him will not be put to shame.  Unbelievers will stumble because they disobey the Word of God.  Just as a building’s foundation is built on a strong rock so that it won’t move, our spiritual life needs to be built on the strong, solid foundation of Jesus.   Christ divides humanity into two groups - those who believe and are built upon Him, and those who reject Him and stumble into judgment.

As we continue on, Peter gives four titles for believers who follow Jesus - a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and His own special people (vs. 9).   You may be ignored or rejected by others, but when you follow Jesus, He has chosen you to be His redeemed people.  We are a royal priesthood, priests with kingly dignity, and access to God, with authority to represent Him.  As a holy nation we are set apart from the world, and as such we should be following God’s Word and not cultural trends.  As Christians we are God’s special people, His treasured possession purchased by the Blood of His Son.

As this Scripture passage comes to a close, Peter alludes to the first two chapters of the prophet Hosea.  We were once alienated from God, but are now adopted by Him (vs. 10).  We were once without mercy, but now we are recipients of His abundant mercy.

As we look back over these verses from I Peter, let’s be sure to continue growing as Christians, and not stay as babies.  We do that by taking generous portions of God’s Word each day.  We should also remember that none of us has to ever feel unwanted, abandoned or rejected, because God has called our names.  He has chosen us for His family.  Remember who you are in the Lord.  It is only when we remember who we are that we can call others out of darkness and into the light of Jesus.

Come and See

Psalm 66

When something special has happened to you, or you have seen something very special and exciting, one of the first things you want to do is tell others, and possibly also show them.  If they are doubting, you might urge them on by saying, “Come and see!”  There are some things that are just too good to keep to oneself.  Our unknown psalmist of today’s psalm felt that way.  He had much praise and worship for the Lord God that he wanted to share with everyone, which we can read today in our psalm.

Psalm 66 begins with universal praise of Yahweh from the whole earth.  Then it moves to national remembrance where the nation of Israel recounts God’s deliverance of them from captivity.  The psalm ends with the psalmist’s personal testimony of answered prayer in his life.  Each of these were things he wanted to share with others, calling them to come and see what God had done.

As our psalm opens, the author gives a universal call to worship Yahweh (vs. 1-4).  God deserves global worship, not just from Israel, but from all nations.  The praise is vocal and public from people, as they sing out and make His praise glorious.  God’s works show us exactly what His character is like.  His deeds are so mighty that even His enemies will eventually submit themselves to Him.  We don’t see that now, but there is coming the day when Jesus returns to earth, and then all nations will bow before Him (Philippians 2:10-11).

The psalmist next calls upon his people, the nation of Israel, to remember what God has done for them (vs. 5-7).  Two events that he particularly points out are the crossing of the Red Sea, and then forty years later, the crossing of the Jordan River, each time where God parted the waters, allowing the people to cross on dry land.  Some people believe that God is a remote God, who does not get involved in human events, and that after He created everything He just left that creation to get by on its own.  However, God is actively involved with all creation. He acts in history, He delivers His people, and He rules eternally.  We see this most personally with the Lord Jesus, the Son of God who came to earth, born as a human, to die upon the cross for our sins.  As the psalmist said, “Come and see!”

The next section of our psalm shifts from God’s mighty acts to that of His disciplining and refining His people (vs. 8-12).  Precious metals are put through a refining process to remove impurities, making the metal more valuable.  The same holds for believers.  God will often put His children through similar processes in order to remove sin.  He will test us, bringing us through figurative fire and water, in order to refine us just as silver is refined.  This discipline is purposeful, not punitive.  These trials are not signs of abandonment, but of refinement (Hebrews 12:5-11).  God allows us to go through times of testing to toughen our spiritual muscles and endurance.  He teaches us to rely on Him, and purifies us to be holy, so that we become more like Christ.  God will preserve us, purify us, and bring us to a place of abundance.

Proceeding on, the psalmist next speaks of his personal worship and vows that he had made to God (vs. 13-15).  Some time in his recent past he had made some vows to God in prayer for deliverance from various troubles that he was in.  Many people make vows and promises to God when they have problems in their life, or when they seek healing from a critical illness, but then when He delivers or heals them, that promise is forgotten.  Not so with our psalmist.  He brings his offerings to the Lord in sincere gratitude.  That should be the case with every Christian.  If we ever make a vow or promise to the Lord, we should be certain to fulfill those vows, and not conveniently forget.

Lastly, the psalmist gives a personal testimony of answered prayer (vs. 16-20).  He reminds the reader that if there is sin in one’s heart, God will not answer.  However, that is not the case with him, as God heard and answered his prayers for help.  God does not find worship acceptable from believers who cling unrepentantly to sin (vs. 18).  Some people choose to live in ungodliness, even after salvation.  If this is our choice, God will not respond to our prayers.  This doesn’t mean we can never make a mistake.  God understands our frailty.  But we must repent of all known sin, and avoid continuing in it.

How often are we, as Christians, calling upon others, both fellow believers and the unsaved, to come and see what mighty works God has done?  He deserves our praise.  Our testimony just might open up some lost person’s eyes and heart to the Lord, leading them to one day call upon the Lord Jesus for salvation.

Forgetting God in the Good Times

Deuteronomy 6:10-25

When are people more likely to pray - when things are going great in their life or when there are serious problems?  We all know that we are more likely to turn to God when we have troubles and we need His help, rather than when we are prosperous.  That seems to be human nature.  However, that shouldn’t be the case for Christians.  In our Scripture passage today from the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy, the people of Israel were about to enter into the land that the Lord had promised them.  This land was to be a blessing to them, an abundant and fruitful land.  On the eve of their entry into this land, Moses gave them a warning.  Let’s look at what that warning was.

For the past forty years the people of Israel had been traveling through and living in the wilderness.  That was a difficult existence, with a scarcity of food and water if it wasn’t for the Lord’s provisions.  Now they were going into a fruitful land, one blessed for farming and raising livestock, a land that had pre-existing cities and infrastructure.  This may seem like a great blessing, and it was.  However, with the blessings, Moses warned that there was a great danger.  Israel’s greatest danger had not been the wilderness that they were leaving.  It was Canaan’s prosperity.

In the wilderness the people had lived in tents, sleeping on the ground or on cots.  It was hot, it was dusty, provisions were scarce, and it was not very pleasant.  Now they were entering a land where the cities and houses were already built, where the wells were already dug, and the farmland was already prepared (vs. 10-12).  This was a blessing from the Lord, a gift of His grace.  The people needed to remember that, and not fall into pride and feelings of self-sufficiency.  God is the giver of every good thing, and they, along with us today, need to beware of forgetting that.

Forgetting God is not a memory lapse.  It is a spiritual drift that can lead to idolatry.  When life becomes easier, prayer often becomes weaker, as we might feel that we don’t need God’s help anymore.  Comfort can dull our spiritual vigilance.  The antidote for forgetting about God is having a grateful heart.

Moses instructed the people, and us as well, to continue to have a fear of God, to have a heart of reverence for Him, to serve Him in obedience, and to swear or show public allegiance to His Name (vs. 13-15).  God demands exclusive worship.  This includes the mixing of worship of Him, of true Christianity, with that of other false religions.  Some churches falsely teach that it is fine to mix into our faith the teachings and beliefs of other religions, however God’s Word warns against that.  Also, idolatry is not only the worship of false gods, but it is also the giving of one’s heart loyalty to anything other than God.  This could include our career, hobbies, entertainment, and relationships.  We must consciously choose God over everything else.

Reading further, Moses reminded the people of an event from their time in the wilderness, where they had tested God at Massah (Exodus 17:1-7), where they doubted God’s goodness and demanded proof from Him (vs. 16-19).  God never has to prove Himself to us in order to deserve our obedience.  Testing God is unbelief, and trusting Him is obedience.  We “tempt God” when we demand signs, manipulate circumstances, or obey only when it is convenient for us.  Faith will always obey, even when the path is unclear.

Our Scripture continues by instructing us to teach the next generation the meaning of redemption (vs. 20-25).  During the days of the Old Testament the people were to explain to their children how God had delivered them from slavery in Egypt, bringing them out and giving them the Promised Land.  Following Jesus’ resurrection, believers are to teach their children about the Savior’s redemption of us through His shed Blood upon the Cross, and the necessity of putting their faith and trust in Jesus.  We should share testimonies of God’s faithfulness, and teach our children His Word clearly, consistently, and joyfully.

As Moses warned, prosperity can become spiritually dangerous.  Forgetfulness of God’s blessings can lead to pride, idolatry, and sin.  Obedience to God’s Word is the only safe response to His redeeming grace.  This passage is a sober warning for believers today who live in a world full of comforts, distractions and competing loyalties.  Let’s remember to praise and thank God during our times of blessings, when things are going well, coming to Him often in worship and prayer, and not develop spiritual amnesia.

Which Door Do You Choose?

John 10:1-10

Every day each of us will likely go in and out of various doorways.  Throughout our homes there are several doorways.  Then as we go out for our day we go in and out of office doors, store doors, even our car doors.  We need to be careful that each of these doors are the correct ones.  We wouldn’t want to accidentally try to go through the wrong apartment or house door, or the wrong car door!  That might get us into trouble!  As important as it is to choose the correct doors in our life, it is even more important that the door we go through as we enter eternity is the correct one!  Our Scripture today from the Gospel of John speaks of the door that we need to make sure that we enter through.  Let’s see what door that is.

A common theme throughout the Bible is that of representing people as sheep with a shepherd looking after them.  The kings of Judah were sometimes spoken of as shepherds guiding the flock of God’s people.  King David was both a literal shepherd in his youth, and then a figurative one as king.  The prophets throughout the Old Testament were frequently referred to in Scripture as a type of spiritual shepherd, guiding the flock of God’s people into His ways.  Just like in life, there were good shepherds that genuinely cared for the sheep, and then there were bad shepherds who didn’t.  There were good kings and good religious leaders who led the people in following God, and bad ones who led the people astray into idolatry and false teachings.

Just prior to the beginning of our Scripture Jesus had healed the man who had been born blind, and the Pharisees in protest, cast him out of the synagogue for believing in Jesus, and then proceeded to challenge Him.  Jesus began to teach the people about false shepherds who lead the flock astray, as that is what the Pharisees were doing.  Sheep were kept in a fenced-in sheepfold overnight, which had a gate or doorway to enter.  There was only one proper way to enter the sheepfold, and that was through the gate, and anyone who tried to enter another way, was up to no good, he was a thief (vs. 1).  The flock was God’s people, and the proper door was God’s appointed way to eternal life which His proper shepherds were to lead to.  False spiritual leaders who claim authority but do not lead by God’s appointed ways, are thieves and robbers.  God alone determines the correct spiritual way.  Any leader who chooses some other teaching besides the Bible is a false shepherd.

A true, God-appointed shepherd will come through God’s appointed means (vs. 2).  Jesus is the Chief Shepherd, and the prophets of the Old Testament and true godly priests and preachers of today come through God’s approved way.  The Chief Shepherd calls the sheep by name. Just like sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd, genuine believers will recognize the voice of the Shepherd Jesus (vs. 3).  He personally cares for His sheep, His children, and knows them each intimately, knowing their name.

Shepherds in the Middle East during Biblical times would always lead their flock from the front, not from behind (vs. 4-5).  That is the way that Jesus leads His sheep, by His example, not by coercion.  His sheep will follow Him because they can trust Him, they know His character, and recognize His voice.  True believers have spiritual discernment.  They may be temporarily confused, but they will not ultimately follow false doctrine or false teachers.  Some of the people listening, including the Pharisees, refused to accept Jesus’ words (vs. 6).  They were spiritually blind, closing their hearts and minds to Him.

Jesus is not only our Shepherd, He is also the Door through whom we must enter to come to God’s Kingdom (vs 7).  Access to God is exclusively through Him, and salvation is only through Him.  This is consistent with John 14:6, where Jesus said He is the Way, and no one can come to the Father except through Him.  All of the false messiahs, the corrupt religious leaders, and self-appointed spiritual authorities, both then and now, are thieves and robbers (vs. 8).  They steal, taking what is not theirs.  They kill by destroying spiritual life, leading to eternal ruin.  How many of today’s false preachers continue to take money to live their lavish lifestyle, and preach their false messages which send their followers to eternal doom?

However, those who follow Jesus, going through His door, will be saved, finding spiritual nourishment (vs. 9-10).  He is not merely the beginning of salvation, He is the ongoing source of spiritual life.  The thief destroys, but Jesus gives eternal life more abundantly.

Whose voice are you following, that of Jesus or some other religious leader or philosophy?  Jesus is the only Door.  No other religion, ritual, or leader can replace Him.  True under-shepherds will lead those in the flock they are looking after through His Door, His way.  They won’t try to climb in some other way, which leads to destruction.  There is only one safe and true Door.  When we walk through the door of Jesus, we are promised eternal life.

Suffering for Righteousness

I Peter 2:19-25

Have you ever been wrongly accused of something that you had never done, and then been punished for it?  Perhaps as a child one of your teachers blamed you for something that another student had done.  As you get older, it could get more serious.  A police officer could claim you didn’t yield when driving, or speeding when you weren’t, and issue you a ticket.  More serious than that would be if your boss falsely accused you of something and you lost your job, and even worse you could be falsely accused of a crime and spend time in prison.  In the Apostle Peter’s first letter to Christians who were going through some seriously difficult times for their faith in Jesus, including many having to leave their homes, he spoke about such circumstances, and what their reaction should be.  Let’s see what God’s Word can teach us.

Peter was writing to give encouragement to Christians in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) who were being persecuted for their faith.  He explains here why righteous suffering matters, as it reflects the Lord Jesus to others.  Peter begins this segment of Scripture to say that God is pleased when believers endure unjust suffering, because they are conscious of Him (vs. 19).  It is commendable, as God looks with favor on their endurance when they don’t give up their faith in Him.  This, as Peter states, is if they are going through this suffering wrongfully, not because of sin or any wrongdoing that they have done.  The motive of the suffering is important for meriting God’s blessing and favor.  It must be for righteousness, not sin, stoicism, or self-glory.  Righteous suffering is meaningful because it is focused on the Lord.

Some suffering is deserved for the wrong that was done, and this suffering has no spiritual value (vs. 20).  If you were speeding, you deserve the ticket.  If you committed the crime you deserve the prison sentence.  However, often good people suffer for doing well.  The bad treatment they are enduring is undeserved.  Not all suffering is noble.  Only  the suffering endured for righteousness’ sake is commendable to God.  If a person does wrong and then suffers the consequences, even though they patiently endure the punishment, nobody applauds.  But when you do what is right and suffer for it with grace and patience, God applauds.

Now Peter gets to the heart of this passage.  Believers are called to righteous suffering (vs. 21).  This is not because God delights in pain, but rather because such suffering follows the example of Jesus Christ, and it displays Him to the world.  We are conformed to the image of Jesus because He also suffered unjustly.  His suffering was substitutionary because He suffered for us, and also left us an example to follow.

Verse 22 is a quote from Isaiah 53:9, which establishes that Jesus was sinless and perfectly righteous.  He alone was qualified to be the spotless Lamb of God, the substitutionary sacrifice for our sins.  Only a sinless substitute can bear the sins of others.

What was Jesus’ response to the unjust suffering that He endured?  So often when someone is wrongly accused and punished for something they didn’t do, they try to defend themselves, raising their voice in anger.  On that Good Friday, Jesus did not retaliate.  He did not answer back.  Instead, He left the judging to God.  He did not seek revenge (vs. 23)  This is the pattern for believers to follow.  We do not need to vindicate ourselves as God will do that for us.

Jesus bore our sins upon Himself, in His own Body, on the Cross (vs. 24).    Because He bore our sins, we are to die to sin and live for righteousness.  Following in Jesus’ steps means pursuing holiness and enduring suffering.  The Cross of Christ reveals man’s sin at its worst, but also God’s love at its deepest.  In taking our place on the Cross, Jesus experienced the wrath of God against our iniquities.  As a result, the penalty for our sins has been fully paid.

Peter closes with a pastoral reminder (vs. 25).  We were like wandering sheep (Isaiah 53:6).  However, Jesus’ substitutionary death brings us back into God’s fold.  He is now our Shepherd, protecting and providing for us.  He is also our Overseer or Bishop of our souls, guarding and taking care of us for all eternity.

As the day of Christ’s return draws closer, there will be more persecution and suffering of His followers.  As Peter has told us, suffering for doing right is never wasted.  It is precious to God.  We need to imitate Jesus’ humility, patience, and trust in God during any time of suffering we go through.  And now, the One who suffered before us and for us, watches over us.

Trusting in the Correct One

Psalm 20

Sometimes in life we find ourselves doing battle.  Of course there are literal, physical battles, whether it is a war that our country may get involved in, or if someone picks a fight with us.  Then there are figurative battles, such as battling an illness or disease, or economic or financial battles we deal with.  And then equally as serious are the spiritual battles we fight against Satan and his minions.  Our psalm for this week is a prayer for the king as he goes forth to battle, and can also be a prayer for us in any type of battle that we may face in our daily lives.

King David often went to battle against the enemies of both Israel and also of Yahweh.  When he would prepare for battle he and the people of Israel would pray for God’s protection and help.  They prayed that the Lord would answer David when danger comes, in “the day of trouble” (vs. 1).  This refers not only to a literal battle, but also can apply to any crisis we face.  Jesus told us that trouble is to be expected and should not be considered unusual (John 16:33), but that He will hear us when we pray to Him in time of trouble (Psalm 34:17).  We should always remember to pray for ourselves and each other before the crisis hits, not only while we are in it.

As the people prayed, they knew that help comes from God’s presence, not from any type of human strategy (vs. 2).  God is the source of our victories in any type of battle (Psalm 121:2).  The spiritual battles that we face require spiritual help (Ephesians 6:10-18).  God’s help should always be sought first, not as a last resort.

David had offered sacrifices before going into battle, and the people prayed that God would accept them (vs. 3).  When our worship is offered in obedience to His Word, God will respond.  Victory is connected to a life aligned with God, not just merely asking for His help.  The people prayed that God would fulfill David’s desires and plans (vs. 4).  God will bless the desires of ours that align with His will.  We need to pray that our desires will be shaped by the Bible so that God can bless them.

As we read further, the people anticipated a victory before the battle even began.  Faith will celebrate God’s deliverance before it arrives, and praise Him in advance for what He will do.  Next David spoke, giving testimony that he knew that God would save “His anointed”, which is what the word Messiah in Hebrew means (vs. 6).  David had been anointed king by the prophet Samuel, however Jesus Christ is the greater Anointed One.  God’s salvation is certain because it rests upon His covenant.

Where or in whom are we placing our trust when we encounter the battles that we face each day? (vs. 7).   What “chariots” do we trust in?  Our abilities, strength, human wisdom, friends or relatives?  Worldly goods are sometimes useful in daily life, but they don’t give us security in times of trouble.  If we place our trust in things, possessions, or wealth, we find that they eventually give way, and then we wonder why we fail, and why certain problems continue to affect us.  In a world of change, we can trust our unchanging God.

While God may use the resources of this world to help us, ultimately victory over our problems comes from Him.  Whether He gives us a resolution or the grace to endure, we can trust that He’ll be for us all that He says He is.  We don’t have to be overwhelmed by our troubles, but we can face them with His hope and peace.

Those who trust in theirs or others human strength will eventually collapse.  But those who trust in God will stand firm (vs. 8).  God promises to exalt the humble, and brings down the proud.  This victory is not always physical, but is spiritual.  Standing firm in trials is evidence of trust in God.  The psalm ends with a final prayer for God’s salvation and for the king’s success.

As we look back over our psalm of today, we realize that God is the source of both salvation and victory.  It is not in our human strength, planning, or resources. Prayer is always essential before any type of battle we face.  We also learn to pray before the crisis hits, not just during it.  Finally, we should examine where our trust lies - is it in God or in human strength?  As believers and followers of Jesus, our trust should be in Him rather than in any worldly security.

The Martyrdom of Stephen

Acts 7:51-60

We often remember the first person to do something, like Neil Armstrong being the first man on the moon, Edmund Hillary and Sherpa, Tenzing Norgay being the first to reach the summit of Mt. Everest, or Roald Amundsen being the first to reach the South Pole.  Countless other “firsts” were never recorded so we have no idea who would get the honor.  However, we do have a “first” recorded in our Scripture for today, that being the first martyr of the Christian Church.

Today we look at a pivotal event that happened in the very early Church, that of the martyrdom of St. Stephen.  Though the exact date is not given in the Book of Acts, most Biblical scholars place his death between two to four years after the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came down upon the believers, and the Christian Church began.  Stephen was one of seven men who were chosen by the Apostles to be deacons in the church in Jerusalem (Acts 6:1-6).  In addition to assisting in the day-to-day ministries for the needs of the poor, Stephen was also a very gifted preacher.  His teachings were very powerful and convicting, so much so that he quickly came to the attention of the Jewish religious leaders and the Sanhedrin (the Jewish court and legal council).  Stephen was promptly arrested and brought before these religious and legal leaders where he was questioned.

Our Scripture passage picks up just as Stephen ended a rather lengthy testimony, tracing Israel’s history of resisting God’s messengers.  He brought his message to a conclusion by stating that the leaders of the people now have repeated the sins of their fathers by rejecting the Messiah (vs. 51-53).  This would be the final rejection of the Gospel by the Sanhedrin.  Stephen called these religious leaders “stiffnecked”, as they stubbornly refused to bow to God, just as their fathers also refused. And they were “uncircumcised in heart and ears”.  They were outwardly religious, but inwardly they were disobedient.  They willfully rejected God’s revealed truth.  Israel had a history of rejecting God’s messengers.  Stephen pointed out that they prided themselves on possessing God’s Law, however, possession is not obedience.

The religious leaders were “cut to the heart” (vs. 54).  They knew that what Stephen said was true.  There was no denying it.  However, they did not repent.  Instead of yielding to the Holy Spirit, they responded with rage.  Stephen remained controlled, calm, and focused on Christ in contrast to the mob’s fury (vs. 55-56).  As he looked up he saw the Lord Jesus standing at God’s right hand.  This is the only time in Scripture that Jesus is described as standing at God’s right hand.  Jesus was standing as Stephen’s advocate (I John 2:1).  He was standing to receive His servant, the first of countless martyrs, into glory.

When these religious leaders and members of the Sanhedrin heard Stephen speak of seeing Jesus at God’s right hand, they flew into a murderous fury (vs. 57-58).  They stopped their ears and rushed upon him, casting him out of the city.  There they began to stone Stephen.  This was not a legal execution, but instead a lynching driven by their religious fury.

As Stephen fell down dying, he prayed to Jesus, repeating some of the same words that the Savior did as He died upon the Cross (vs. 59-60).  He asked Jesus to receive his spirit (Luke 23:46), and also asked Him to forgive those who had killed him (Luke 23:34).  As we can all imagine, stoning is a very brutal form of death, yet Stephen forgave them.  Would we be able to do the same?  This was evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work in Stephen, even in his suffering.

In this Scripture passage we are first introduced to Paul, who at this time was known as Saul (vs. 58).  Saul was a devout Pharisee, and was possibly also connected to the Sanhedrin.  As one who at this time strongly opposed this new faith of those who followed Jesus, he approved of the death of Stephen.  The blood of the first martyr watered the tiny seeds of faith that would, in a couple of years, bring forth fruit in the heart of Saul with his conversion, which we read of in Acts 9.

As we close, we see that Stephen boldly spoke the truth, even when it was unpopular, and even when he knew the danger of doing so in front of the Jewish religious leaders and Sanhedrin.  We must do the same today.  There are many different groups which are hostile to true, genuine Christians today.  However, like Stephen, we need to stand for Biblical truth, and refuse to compromise anything under pressure. Stephen’s eyes were on Jesus, not on his circumstances.  Because of that, he was able to see the Savior clearly.  He valued eternity over comfort, and so must we, living with heaven in view.  This passage challenges us to forgive our enemies.  We need to release all bitterness, and instead pray for our persecutors.  Finally, as we look, we see Saul off in the corner.  His presence there shows God’s hidden purposes.  What looks like tragedy may be the seeds of future triumph, as we know how God used Saul/Paul in a mighty way to spread the Gospel he once fought against.

Marks of a Spirit-Filled Church

Acts 2:36-47

If someone from the very early Church were to time-travel to today and visit any number of churches, would they feel that they could recognize where they were?  Aside from the language difference, and modern technology, would there be any key marks or similarities that they would recognize, or would it feel like some public social gathering where some music was played and a speaker gave a message?  In our Scripture passage taken from the second chapter of Acts, we read about the very early beginnings of the Church, and what some of the birthmarks of that early New Testament Church were.

The setting for our Scripture is immediately following the first sermon that the Apostle Peter gave on the Day of Pentecost, the people’s reaction, and the establishment of the Church in the weeks that followed.  The immediate results of that first sermon was conviction brought on by the Holy Spirit, repentance, faith in the Lord Jesus, believer’s baptism, and the formation of a Spirit-filled, Scripture-centered Church.  The Holy Spirit had just descended upon the believers who had gathered together, and Peter had just given a message.  In his first sermon he proclaimed that Jesus is the promised Messiah, that the people of Israel had the Messiah crucified, that God had raised Him from the dead, and now Jesus is exalted at God’s right hand.  Now as we come to our opening verses, we see what the crowd’s response was.

In Peter’s closing statement to his sermon, he proclaimed the deity of the Lord Jesus, that He is both Lord and Christ (vs. 36).  “Lord” is a divine title, stating that He has power and authority over us, and “Christ” is the Greek word for Anointed One, which is what the word Messiah means.  He also stated their human responsibility for the crucifixion.  Peter did not soften the truth.  Instead, he preached sin, responsibility, and the exaltation of Christ.  Would our time-traveling 1st century visitor hear that in our churches today?  All too many churches today never mention sin, that we are all sinners who need salvation, or any mention of repentance.  However, a faithful Gospel presentation must include the identity of Jesus Christ, that we are guilty sinners, and the necessity of responding to this truth.

When Peter presented this message to the crowds, the Holy Spirit brought conviction (vs. 37).  When our preachers give this type of message today, He will also come in power as He did then.  True conviction will include an awareness of their sin before God, taking responsibility for that sin, and also recognizing who Jesus truly is.  No one is saved without conviction.

Once they had received and believed the truth, the crowds asked Peter what they needed to do.  Peter responded for them to repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Spirit (vs. 38).  Repentance is a change of mind about sin and who Jesus truly is.  It is a turning from unbelief to faith, and is a necessary part of salvation.  Being baptized does not save us.  It is not a part of salvation.  It is the public identification of ourselves with the Lord Jesus. Salvation is by grace through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Baptism is the first act of obedience, not a means of receiving forgiveness.   Then after one is saved, the Holy Spirit comes to indwell the believer.  This is the permanent indwelling promised to all believers (Ephesians 1:13-14).

This message that Peter preached, and the promises therein was for everyone (vs. 39-40).  The Gospel is for everyone - for the Jewish people “you”, for the Gentiles “all who are afar off”, and to each’s descendants “your children”.  Are our churches today welcoming to everyone, regardless of race or national origin, educational level, or income?  This message was urgent.  It was urgent back then, and it is even more so today.  Do our preachers have that same earnestness and sense of urgency to see people in their neighborhood saved?  Do they warn of judgment to come and to turn to Jesus for salvation, or are their messages only feel-good, motivational talks?  The response to Peter’s sermon was the salvation of at least 3,000 people! (vs. 41).

Next we read a brief description of what the early church was like - the teaching was grounded in Scripture, the “apostle’s doctrine”, in fellowship with mutual care for each other, the breaking of bread - both Communion and likely shared meals, and in prayer (vs. 42).  Are our churches like that?  Do we have frequent Holy Communion, frequently praying together, have doctrinally sound preaching, and genuinely caring about each other and their needs.

The early believers had a fear of the Lord, a holy reverence for Him, not a casualness too often seen today (vs. 43).  They voluntarily shared their possessions to meet the needs of everyone (vs. 44-47).  This wasn’t socialism or communal ownership, nor was it forced.  It was voluntary and motivated by love.  Some species of trees, when planted near each other, allow their roots to intertwine and sometimes even fuse together.  They share water, nutrients, and support in storms.  God designed Christians to support one another through all of life’s storms.

So how would our Early Church visitor feel in the churches of today?  Is your church like that of the Church in the immediate years following Pentecost?  Is it marked by unity, generosity, reverent worship, prayer, and Biblical preaching and teaching?  Those were the birthmarks of the New Testament Church.

The Precious Blood of Jesus

I Peter 1:17-23

If you had to make a list for your homeowners or apartment insurance of what you considered valuable or precious, what would you put on that list?  Probably any expensive jewelry you might have.  If you had some special collection of items or antiques, they might go on the list. Perhaps important documents.  The reason we insure these items is because they can be destroyed or stolen.  If a fire, flood, tornado, or hurricane happens, they are likely gone or ruined.  Or if a thief breaks into your house, they will be stolen.  If there is an economic collapse, your possessions might end up losing value, and the insurance is useless.  Their worth is gone or lost.  What about something which is worth far more than anything we insure, something that can never lose its value or be lost or destroyed?  Our Scripture today speaks of something that is the most precious thing in all of the universe for believers, something that will never lose its value, that we can never lose, nor can it be taken from us, and because of that, how we should respond.  Let’s look into God’s Word.

The Apostle Peter wrote his two epistles to believers who had been scattered from their homes and neighborhoods, and were suffering persecution for their faith.  He wanted to strengthen their identity in Christ, and to call them to holy living while they remain in a hostile world.  As our Scripture begins, Peter was reminding these believers to continue to live in reverent fear of the Lord.  He is not only their Father, but He is also the impartial Judge (vs. 17).  When we are saved, we do obtain an intimacy with God that the unsaved do not have, but that should not mean that we treat Him with casualness.  He will judge each believer’s works with fairness.  This isn’t works that one might do to be saved, as works don’t and can’t save us, but speaks of works for the Lord that we do out of love for Him after salvation.  This fear Peter speaks of is not terror of losing our salvation, but is a sober awareness that God sees, knows, and evaluates our conduct.

Peter then reminded his readers, and us as well, of the cost of our redemption (vs. 18-19).  Because of our sins, we were all destined to an eternity in hell, and there was no amount of earthly wealth that could purchase our salvation.  However, the Precious Blood of Jesus did just that.  It was the highest possible price, as Jesus is the perfect, sinless sacrifice.  Our redemption is substitutionary, blood-based, and rooted in Jesus’ sinlessness.  It didn’t cost us anything, but it cost Jesus the shedding of His life-blood.

Again, we consider what we think of as precious.  When it comes to our Christian faith, often people think of grace, forgiveness, and God’s love.  However, with our sanitized Christian culture today, we don’t speak much of the Blood of Jesus.  Yet His Blood is the only basis for our salvation.  What do you have if you remove the blood from a body?  You just have a lifeless corpse.  The same is true of the Bible.  Scripture would be no more than historical literature if we edited all of the "unpleasant" parts regarding the blood sacrifice, Jesus dying on the cross, or the power of His Blood.

As we continue to read, Jesus Christ’s sacrifice was foreordained before creation  (vs. 20).  The cross was not an accident.  It wasn’t that the religious leaders in Jerusalem somehow got the upper hand and crucified Jesus, taking God by surprise, and then He had to resort to Plan B, by raising Him from the dead.  No, this was God’s eternal plan from the start.  Jesus came to earth for the sole purpose of dying for our sins.

Peter continued by explaining that our faith and hope in God comes through the Lord Jesus Christ (vs. 21).  He is the Mediator through whom we come to God.  The resurrection of Jesus validates that His death was adequate and sufficient for our salvation.  We can have confidence in God’s completed work.  Knowing the price that was paid for our salvation, Peter closes this segment of Scripture by admonishing us to obey the Gospel, applying God’s Word to our heart (vs. 22-23).

As we look back over this Scripture passage, let us remember the cost of our redemption, and let it shape our choices in life.  The Blood of the Lord Jesus is too precious for us to live carelessly.  God sees every motive and action, so let us pursue holiness with reverent fear.  And let us stay rooted in the Bible, God’s Word.  Our new life came through the Word, and our growth depends on it.

A Cry of Desperation

Psalm 116

A frequent theme in movies or TV shows is someone in a life or death situation who, even if they aren’t religious, will make a desperate prayer to God.  They pray that if He will rescue them, they will start going to church, or read their Bible, or otherwise amend their life, a sort of frantic bargain.  Even genuine Christians, when in a desperate life or death situation make similar promises to God.  However, if they come out of these situations alright, these promises to God are often forgotten about.  The psalmist of today’s psalm was in a critical situation, enough that he despaired of his life.  However, as we will read, he had all full intention of keeping the vows he made to God.  Let’s take a look and see what God’s Word can teach us.

Psalm 116 is a personal testimony of our psalmist’s deliverance by the Lord from a near-death crisis.  This is a testimony of a believer who has been brought back from the brink.  He praised God for His rescue, and then vowed to commit himself to giving thanksgiving, obedience, and public worship throughout the rest of his life.  This psalm is also one of the Hallel Psalms (Psalms 113-118), which were traditionally sung at Passover.  Thus, it is likely that Jesus and His disciples sang this psalm after the Last Supper, right before His sacrificial death (Matthew 26:30).

Once rescued, the psalmist openly proclaimed his love for Yahweh because He heard his cry for help, and responded (vs. 1-2).  He called upon Him, and the Lord proved to be faithful.  God’s hearing of our prayers is not passive.  He bends down and inclines His ear to hear His children’s cries.  Unlike the pagan’s futile prayers to their false gods, our prayers to Yahweh are effective because He is personal, attentive, and near.  Our love for Him should grow as we remember His past mercies and answers to prayer.

The next several verses describe our psalmist’s brush with death (vs. 3-4).  We don’t know the details of this crisis in his life, perhaps a critical illness, or some bad accident.  He described the “pains of death”, the “pangs of Sheol” or the realm of the dead, along with “trouble and sorrow”.  Death is our enemy (I Corinthians 15:26), and it is a believer’s instinct to call upon the Lord when we are in a deadly crisis.  The psalmist didn’t give a long, deeply theological prayer, as that is not necessary.  He called out in desperation, and God responded to his sincere, humble cry.

In the psalmist’s tribute to the Lord following his rescue, he mentions three of His attributes - gracious, righteous, and merciful (vs. 5-7).  God is gracious in that He gives us what we do not deserve.  He is righteous in that His actions are always just.  And the Lord is merciful in that He withholds from us what we do deserve.  He also praises the Lord because his soul can now rest since Yahweh has brought him peace.

The psalmist returns again to speaking of the crisis that he was in, describing his deliverance (vs. 8-11).  The author speaks of being delivered from death.  Whatever his situation was, there was physical danger and a near-death experience.  He was in emotional anguish with tears.  He also spoke of falling, which could either speak of actually physically falling, or refer to a moral or spiritual collapse.  He spoke out to others about his deliverance because his renewed faith in the Lord produced such a testimony.  Because of the fallenness of humanity, such as mankind being liars, we know that trust must be placed in God alone.

What can he give or do for the Lord in payment for his deliverance?  (vs. 12-14).  He will take the cup of salvation from the Lord.  He does that by receiving God’s salvation with gratitude, and not trying to repay it.  He will also call upon the Name of the Lord, not worshiping or praying to any of the false gods around.  He will fulfill the vows and promises he made, in obedience and with integrity in front of people in public worship.

Verse 15 is a beloved verse of many, as it affirms how God values the death of His children, those who have put their faith in the Lord Jesus.  He is not indifferent to their suffering.  Their passing is not a tragic loss, but a precious transition from their life here on earth into the realm of His presence and kingdom.  We can have confidence in eternal security and God’s tender care at our life’s end.

As the psalm comes to a close, the writer declares that since the Lord “loosened his bonds” bringing him freedom from the crisis, he will give Him service, not just living his life like he might want.  He gives the Lord a sacrifice of thanksgiving in public worship.

If we truly have gratitude for what God has done for us we will express it in obedience to His Word, in public testimony by telling others what He has done, in giving joyful worship, and living a life filled with service to Him.  When we cry out to God in desperate times, He will hear, answer, and act on our behalf.  His deliverance is complete, in both body and soul. 

Fear Not, You Are Mine

Isaiah 43:1-13

Imagine going through a very devastating disaster.  Perhaps your home was completely flooded, with everything you own being washed away.  Or maybe a fire burned everything to the ground, or a tornado flattened everything.  There are other tragedies we could face, such as the sudden, unexpected death of one or more members of our family.  During such times, it can be comforting, and emotionally strengthening to have a dear friend come alongside us, and walk with us through these tragedies.  Some friends, though, disappear when the difficult times come.  Others are there temporarily, but as they have their own needs and families, they leave and you are left alone again.  Is there anyone who will always be there to comfort us, and take our hand and walk with us, or will we always be alone?  We find an answer in our Scripture today from the prophet Isaiah.

Being all alone in a tragedy and having no one to be there with us is discouraging.  However Christians never have to be in that position, as our Scripture tells us.  We don’t need to be afraid of facing a time like that, as the Lord tells us that, not only did He create us and redeem us, but He personally knows us by our name, and we belong to Him (vs. 1).  Jesus redeemed us, bought us back from our sinful inheritance, and saved us from the consequences of sin (I Peter 1:18-19).  God tells us not to be afraid, no matter what comes against us.  If God cares when a sparrow falls, He will care for us (Matthew 10:31).  God is not going to fail us, disappoint us, or allow us to be put to shame.  We belong to Him.

God has promised His children that He will be with us through the deep waters and the fire and flames, whether literal floods and fires or figurative ones (vs. 2).  This echoes His carrying His people through the Red Sea and later the Jordan River on dry ground, along with the fiery furnace in the Book of Daniel.  It is assumed that these trials will happen.  God said “when”, not “if”.  However we do not need to fear, as His presence is guaranteed.  He promises to be with us.  God has also set the limits of our suffering, as “they shall not overflow you.”

No matter how deep the water we wade in, or how raging the river that comes against us in life, we will not be overwhelmed, for God is with us.  His love for us is stronger than anything that would try to come against us and overtake us.  No matter the size of the opposition coming against our lives or those we love, God is bigger.  God does not promise the absence of trials, but He has promised His presence in them.

Reading on, we see that God moved nations and empires to preserve Israel (vs. 3-4).  His love is not sentimental, but covenantal, sacrificial, sovereign, and purposeful.  He sent His only Son to die, not only for Israel, but also for all mankind.  If we have ever doubted our own worth, remember, that God believed us important enough to Him to justify the death of His Son.

Next we read of God’s prophetic promise that He will gather again the people of Israel, which have been scattered around the world since the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 (vs. 5-7).  They have been in worldwide dispersion since then, but God has now begun regathering them, and this will ultimately be fulfilled in the Millennial Kingdom.  He lets us know that their existence is tied to His glory not their merit.  Currently, as a whole, they are spiritually blind, yet chosen to testify of God's works (vs. 8-9).  Nations and idols cannot predict or explain history.  God alone foretells and fulfills prophecy.

As the prophet Isaiah proclaims, God is an exclusive God (vs. 10-11).  Only one true God exists, that being Yahweh.  There has been none before nor will there be any after Him, and only the Lord Jesus Christ can save us.  The Apostle Peter also echoed this truth in Acts 4:12.  He is self-existent, all-powerful and supreme (vs. 12-13).  No one can reverse the intentions and objectives He has for His people.

As we close, we learn that though trials in our life are real, God’s presence is more real.  Despite our failures, God will always remain faithful to the promises He has made to His people, those who have put their faith in the Lord Jesus.  Remember, we are not abandoned, and are not alone in the universe.  The God who made everything has chosen us to be His very own.  He has called us by our own names, so there is no danger that He might have mistaken us for someone else.  We are safe forever, no matter what may happen to us.

The Nailprints in His Hands

John 20:19-31

It had been a very difficult past three days for Thomas.  It started late Thursday night with the arrest of Jesus by the religious authorities.  Then a mockery of a trial overnight, followed by His crucifixion on Friday.  Thomas chose to spend the next couple of days by himself.  His grief was such that he preferred to be by himself, rather than with the other disciples.  Then later in the day on Sunday, the other ten disciples were telling him some unbelievable news, that Jesus was risen from the dead, and that they all had seen Him!  This is the setting for our Scripture from the Gospel of John today.

As mentioned above, ten of the disciples were gathered together.  The betrayer Judas was dead, and Thomas was not among them.  Some people like to be with friends and loved ones when they are grieving and troubled.  Others prefer to be alone, and Thomas was probably one of the latter.  Some of the women who also followed Jesus had told them earlier that day that they had gone to the tomb and that Jesus was not there.  They told of angels and of His resurrection.  Mary Magdalene had even seen and spoken to Jesus.  However, they were still quite afraid of the authorities and continued to keep the doors locked and bolted.  That evening as they were gathered together, puzzled and afraid, Jesus appeared standing among them (vs. 19-20).

Jesus now had a glorified body, and He was able to come into a locked room.  Though His body was glorified, it was still a physical body, as He showed them the wounds in His hands and side.  This was not a spirit or ghost of Jesus.  The wounds were proof of His bodily resurrection and proof that the atonement was complete. Jesus’ first words to them were a blessing of peace.  It is the peace purchased by His death (John 14:27; Romans 5:1).  The disciples were now glad, as fear turns to joy when Jesus is present.

Jesus proceeded to give them a commission (vs. 21).  This was not the same event as the Great Commission of Matthew 28, but is consistent with it.  They have a mission to reveal God and proclaim the truth to the world.  Jesus also breathed on the disciples, bestowing the Holy Spirit (vs. 22).  This was not Pentecost, which would happen in a little over a month, but was a symbolic, anticipatory act.  This was a pledge of the Holy Spirit, a preparation for the coming empowerment.  Then the disciples were authorized to declare God’s terms of forgiveness (vs 23).  When they preach the gospel, they can confidently say that those who believe in Jesus will be forgiven their sins, but those who reject the Gospel will remain in their sins.  We are admonished to be forgiving of others who sin against us.  If we withhold forgiveness, we will be denied forgiveness, as well.  Don’t stand in the way of your own relationship with God by denying forgiveness to someone else.

These ten disciples then told their missing brother Thomas that Jesus had come and appeared to them (vs. 24-25).  However, Thomas did not believe, and even said that he would only believe if he put his fingers into the nail prints, and his hand into the wound on Jesus’ side.  We shouldn’t be too hard on Thomas, as he honestly struggled with believing.  He wanted to know with certainty, and was slow to accept the testimony of the others.  Jesus didn’t condemn him, He met him where he was in faith.

A week later, on the following Sunday evening, Jesus appeared again, repeating the blessing of peace (vs. 26-27).  Then He turned to Thomas and invited him to touch the wounds, telling him to not be faithless, but to believe.  Jesus’ encounter with Thomas shows that the Lord has patience with those who struggle with faith.  He is willing to give evidence, and desires to bring people to faith in Him, not to shame them for their doubts.

Thomas then responded with one of the clearest declarations of Christ’s deity (vs. 28).  By calling Jesus “Lord” he was declaring that Jesus was His Master, and Thomas also proclaimed Jesus’ deity, that He was God.  Jesus accepted this worship, giving proof that He is truly God.  He responded with a blessing to Thomas who saw and believed, and also with a blessing to those who believe without even seeing (vs. 29).  This blessing is for all future believers, to you and me, and everyone who trusts the Gospel.

John concluded with the statement that Jesus did many signs, which were never recorded (vs. 30-31).  John recorded what he did so that we all would believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.  By believing the testimony of John we can have life in Jesus’ Name.

One final look at the wounds which the Risen Savior has in His hands, feet, and side.  When you and I get to heaven, God will take away all of the scars that we have, both physical scars and emotional ones.  However, Jesus will eternally bear the scars of our sins, the scars that purchased our salvation.  We are engraved onto God’s hands (Isaiah 49:15-16).  We are like an open wound on the hand of God, unforgettable, always before His eyes.  We are engraved as scars on Jesus’ hands.  They are a reminder of God’s incredible love for us, more tender than even a mother’s love for her baby.