Seasonal Note: I’m beginning a new Three-Year Lectionary based on the Lutheran Book of Worship 3-year lectionary (for public worship), "Prayers of the Day..." (Propers), p. 13-41, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1978. It is based, with only minor variations, on the Revised Common Lectionary, used by many denominations, including the Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches:
http://www.commontexts.org/
and:
http://www.commontexts.org/rcl/usage.html
The daily readings are the Propers (Lections) for the following Sunday, so that the daily devotions can prepare us for worship. Additional lections are from Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, "Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers," United Lutheran Church of America, General Rubrics VIII. Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers, p. 299 - 304, Philadelphia, 1918.
The previous 2- year Bible Study based on the Lutheran Book of Worship, Daily Lectionary for personal devotions p.179-192, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1978, is available at:
http://shepboy.snow.prohosting.com
Please Note: I will post weekly by Saturday, noon, (with God's help), Pacific time (UTC-8:00) for the week of the Church Season which begins on Sunday. Please scroll down for the desired day, or save the week to your desktop/hard drive.
2 Pentecost - Sunday
May 25, 2008
Deuteronomy 11:18-21, 26-28 – Obedience;
Psalm 31:1-5 (6-18) 19-24 -- Trust in the Lord;
Romans 3:21-25a, 27-28 -- Salvation by Faith;
Matthew 7: (15-20) 21-29 -- Lordship of Jesus;
Deuteronomy:
As Israel was poised to enter the Promised Land from the east, after forty years of wilderness wandering, Moses, who was not allowed to enter, gave them his final instructions from God. Moses proclaimed God’s Word and he told them to remember and obey it in their hearts and souls. God’s Word was to be so constantly in their thinking that they should bind it on their hands (as we might tie a string around a finger), and as a headband with a packet between the eyes, so that God’s Word would be constantly within the edge of their vision. They were to use every opportunity to teach God’s Word to their children, when sitting in the home, and when walking to and froe, when going to bed and when arising. They were to write God’s Word on their doorposts and gates, so that they would be reminded as they came and went from their homes. Their long life in the Promised Land was dependent upon their obedience of God’s Word.
Moses told them that God’s Word contained both blessing and curse; promise and warning! They will be blessed if they obey God’s Word, and they will be cursed if they do not obey God’s Word. Moses told them that when they entered the Promised Land they were to affirm the covenant with God in a ceremony (at Sychar) between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, where Gerizim represented the blessing, and Ebal represented the curse (see Deuteronomy 27:11-26; Joshua 8:30-35).
Psalm:
Psalm 31 is attributed to David, the great shepherd-king, and is prophetic (God’s Word; by inspiration of the Holy Spirit). David, himself under attack by his enemies, took refuge in the Lord, trusting that he would not be put to shame. He prayed for the Lord’s deliverance; that the Lord would hear his request and rescue him at the perfect time. David took refuge in the Lord as behind a rock or in a fortress.
David asked the Lord to lead and guide him, not because David was worthy, but because of the Lord’s character and nature (as the One who has steadfast love, faithfulness and power to deliver). David trusted the Lord to deliver him from hidden snares set to entrap David. David committed his eternal being to the Lord, trusting that the Lord, who is completely faithful, would redeem him, as though it had already happened.
God’s unlimited goodness has been stored up for those who fear (have respect and awe for the power and authority of) and take refuge in God, publicly, in this world. God hides and shelters them from the schemes and false accusations of worldly people.
David blessed and praised the Lord God, who demonstrated his steadfast love when David had felt like a city under siege by his enemies. When David though he had been driven far from God, God was still able to hear his cries and respond with help.
All those who have committed themselves to the service of the Lord will love the Lord. They will know that the Lord preserves those who have faith in him, but will fully and abundantly punish those who are arrogant. All those who trust in the Lord are encouraged to be strong and courageous and to wait for the Lord.
Romans:
The Law and (the writings of) the prophets (that is, the Jewish Scriptures; the Old Testament), testify to the righteousness (doing what is good, right, and true) of God, but now his righteousness has been revealed to the world, separated from (works of; keeping of) the Law. Paul is referring to the righteousness of God which is attributed to all believers through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. God shows no partiality; since all have sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1;8-10), all may be declared righteous in God’s judgment by grace (unmerited favor) as a gift through the redemption (payment of penalty) which is (only) in Jesus Christ (God’s only “anointed” Savior and eternal King), whom God designed and created (John 1:1-5, 14) to extinguish guilt of sin (disobedience of God’s Word) to all who willingly receive it by faith (obedient trust; in Jesus).
Human boasting is excluded, not by the principle of works (doing good deeds; keeping the Law) but by the principle of faith (obedient trust). “For we hold that a [person] is justified by faith (obedient trust) apart from (regardless of) works (keeping; obedience) of God’s Law (God’s Word).
Matthew:
The Gospel text is the conclusion of the “Sermon on the Mount,” a summary representative of Jesus’ teachings. Jesus warned his hearers to beware of false prophets and false teachers, who disguise themselves as “sheep” (God’s people) but who are inwardly, ravenous wolves (predators of sheep). Jesus told his hearers to examine the “fruit” of teachers and leaders, so that they could discern truth from error, and good from evil. As “bad” plants produce “bad” fruit, and “good” plants produce “good” fruit, so can we determine good and bad teachers and leaders by their “fruit.” It is impossible for plants to produce fruit contrary to their nature (but it can sometimes be hard to tell good fruit from bad).
Commentary:
Not everyone who claims that Jesus is their Lord is going to enter eternal life in God’s heavenly kingdom. On the Day of Judgment, there will be many who claim that they have done good deeds, have prophesied, have ministered to the ill, and have done miracles in Jesus’ name, but Jesus will deny knowing them, then declare them evildoers, and send them away from his presence (Matthew 7:21-27).
Jesus warned that those who hear Jesus’ teachings and trust and obey them in their daily lives are like a builder who builds on a rock. The result will be unshakable in any storm. But those who don’t listen to Jesus’ teaching, and don’t apply that teaching in their daily lives will be like one who builds on sand, without any foundation. The first storm that comes will destroy him.
The people were amazed at the authority of Jesus’ teaching, which was unlike the teaching of the scribes (the formally educated teachers of scripture of Judaism).
Faith is not getting whatever you believe if you believe “hard enough.” Faith is obedient trust in the One who is trustworthy. God has given us his Word in the Bible, and in Jesus Christ, the “living Word;” the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God’s Word lived in human flesh in this temporal world (John 1:1-5, 14), so that we can learn to know, trust and obey God.
God’s Word through Moses warned God’s people that the condition for entering and possessing the Promised Land was obedience of God’s Word. The reason that the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years was because they didn’t trust and obey the Lord to enter the Promised Land the first time they had the opportunity (Numbers 13:1-33). Their forty years in the wilderness was intended to teach them to trust and obey the Lord and rely of the Lord’s providence.
God’s Word is eternal and is fulfilled over and over, as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. Obedient trust in God’s Word was the condition for Israel’s entrance and possession of the Promised Land, and it is also the condition of our entrance and possession of eternal Promised Land of God’s kingdom in heaven. This lifetime is our “forty years” of “wilderness wandering,” during which we are to learn to trust and obey God’s Word and rely on his providence.
We are responsible to read and hear God’s Word, so that we can obey and learn to trust it, not only superficially, but in our hearts and souls. We are responsible to make God’s Word known, trusted and obeyed by our children.
God’s Word contains both blessing and curse; promise and warning. We will be blessed if we trust and obey God and we will be eternally destroyed if we do not learn to trust and obey God’s Word.
God does not desire sacrifices and ritual; he desires our obedient trust. Obedient trust is the sacrificial offering and act of worship that God desires.
We will either worship and serve the Lord or we will worship and serve the “god” of this world (Satan); we cannot worship and serve both (Mathew 6:24). Mount Gerizim represents the worship and service to God, and the accompanying blessing; Mount Ebal represents the worship and service to idols, and the curse and destruction which will result.
David is the example of obedient trust in God (Acts 13:22; Psalm 89:20-29). David learned to trust and obey God’s Word. When David was in danger from his enemies, he called upon the Lord to protect and deliver David. Psalm 31 describes David’s situation; but it also prophesies and describes the situation of Jesus Christ, the Son (descendant) of David, fulfilled by Jesus on the Cross. David is the intended forerunner of Christ, which God gave to illustrate the coming Messiah.
The enemies of David did not prevail, and neither did the enemies of Jesus Christ, because of their faith in the power, faithfulness and love of God. God is the source of inexhaustible blessings to those who acknowledge his sovereign authority and power and take refuge in the Lord. The Lord is never so far away that he can’t hear and respond in perfect timing with help to those who call upon him in faith.
The most difficult lesson for us to learn is to wait for the Lord, instead of seeking immediate response elsewhere. We’re so used to immediate response. We flip a switch and the light comes on. We seek and obtain information by dialing the phone or by a click of the “mouse” on the computer. Especially in America we’ve been trained to believe that we can and must be self-sufficient.
The wonderful thing about learning to trust and obey the Lord is that, once we do, he’s available, able, willing and faithful to help us even in the wilderness, away from cellphone reception and internet connection (see Personal Testimonies, sidebar, top right). We will learn that the help that only the Lord can provide, is ultimately more eternal and satisfying than the help of humans, which will ultimately fail and disappoint (Psalms 146:3).
The Old Testament Law and prophets teach us that God is righteous, but Jesus Christ has revealed God’s righteousness to the world. The Law did not make us righteous; it just showed us our sinfulness. Jesus is the demonstration of God’s righteousness in human flesh in this world.
God is completely impartial. We have all sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). None of us is worthy of God’s favor and mercy. So God offers forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God’s Word) and salvation (from eternal condemnation and destruction) as a free gift. Jesus has paid with his life on the Cross for our forgiveness and salvation.
Jesus is God’s only “anointed” eternal Savior and King; there is salvation in no other person or thing (Acts 4:12; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). Any one willing to accept Jesus as Lord and to trust and obey Jesus (which is what it means for Jesus to be Lord; Luke 6:46; Matthew 7:21-27) is cleansed from guilt for sin.
God’s plan of salvation precludes human boasting and human pride. Salvation is not based on the principle of works (good deeds) but on the principle of faith (obedient trust). Salvation is by faith (obedient trust) by grace (unmerited favor) in Jesus Christ, not by works (keeping of) the Law (Ephesians 2:8-9).
There are two major heresies in the Church today that arose in the first century Church and are refuted in the New Testament of the Bible. One is “works righteousness,” earning salvation by doing good deeds; keeping the Law), and the other is “Cheap Grace,”* salvation by grace (unmerited favor; a free gift) without the requirement of discipleship and obedient trust in Jesus (see False Teachings, sidebar, top right).
Good deeds are not the means, but the evidence, of salvation (Ephesians 2:10). Jesus warns that we are not to follow false prophets who teach that we must do certain “good deeds” to earn salvation; nor are we to believe false teachers who say that we do not have to trust and obey God’s Word. We must, however, understand God’s Word from the prospective of Jesus Christ. Obedience to the indwelling Holy Spirit supersedes obedience to the letter of the Law of Moses (Romans 8:1-14).
In order to discern truth from error, we must know and remember God’s Word. Unless we know God’s Word we have no standard by which to discern true from false teachings, or good fruit from bad.
Jesus’ name is not a magic incantation. God is not obligated to answer our prayers just because we add Jesus’ name at the end. Jesus is not obligated to save us and give us eternal life just because we call out in his name.
If Jesus is truly our Lord we will trust and obey him. We will seek the infilling of his Holy Spirit, and be guided and empowered by him to know and do God’s will. We won’t be saved by church “membership” or church “ritual.” We aren’t saved by doing good deeds like church attendance, singing in the choir, or teaching Sunday School. Salvation is only by a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
*See: The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Collier Books, Macmillan Publishing Co., NY 1963 ISBN 0-02-083850-6
2 Pentecost - Monday
May 26, 2008
Psalm 50:1-15 -- God’s Coming Judgment;
God, the Lord, the all-powerful one speaks, calling the people of earth from daybreak to nightfall. God shines forth from Zion, God’s eternal kingdom, the ultimate of beauty and perfection.
Our God is coming, bringing devouring fire and a mighty tempest. God’s call goes forth through heaven and earth, summoning his people for his judgment. Let his faithful people, who have covenanted with the Lord by sacrifice, be gathered to the Lord. God alone is judge and heaven declares his righteousness.
God calls his people to listen to him. The Lord will testify against them, for he is their God. The Lord does not blame them for lack of sacrifices. They offer burn offerings continually, but God refuses to accept their sacrifices.
God refuses to accept their sacrifices, because all the cattle and every creature belongs to God. God has no need for mankind to provide him with food (through their sacrificial offerings). If God were hungry he wouldn’t have to ask mankind for food. God doesn’t eat the flesh or drink the blood of animals.
The sacrifice that God desires is the sacrifice of thanksgiving and obedient trust, keeping our covenant vows to the Lord, and relying on him for help in the day of trouble. Then the Lord will deliver them, and they will glorify the Lord.
Commentary:
God has appointed a day when he will judge all people who have ever lived, by his only begotten Son, his “anointed” (Christ and Messiah both mean “anointed” in Greek and Hebrew, respectively; Matthew 25:31-46) eternal Savior and Righteous Judge. God is the only God, and he has the sovereign power and authority to judge Creation, and has given that authority to Jesus (Matthew 28:18).
Jesus is the righteous judge, because Jesus lived in this temporal world in human flesh, and experienced every temptation but without sinning (disobeying God’s Word). Jesus trusted and obeyed God’s Word unto physical death on the Cross, and his resurrection demonstrates that he has been judged righteous by God; God has raised Jesus from physical death to eternal life.
The Day of Judgment will be like a destroying fire, and a devastating storm to the people who have rejected God’s Word, fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in Jesus Christ, the “living” Word (John 1:1-5, 14) and have refused to trust and obey Jesus. But the people of God, who have trusted and obeyed God’s Word, will rejoice, because the Lord is bringing justice and reward for them.
God’s people are the people who have entered into the New Covenant of forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God’s Word) and salvation from eternal condemnation and destruction by Grace (God’s unmerited favor; a free gift), through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). They have promised to trust and obey Jesus. They are no longer under the condemnation of God’s Word, provided that they live in obedient trust in Jesus through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-9), which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
The people of Israel thought they could have God’s favor by offering animal sacrifices to God, without thankfulness and obedient trust in God’s Word. Christians are the “New Israel,” the “New People of God.” Many nominal “Christians” today have the same problem. They think that they can appease and manipulate God to do their will, by “religious” ritual.
God doesn’t need our religious ritual any more than he needs animal sacrifice. What God desires is people who acknowledge and give thanks to God for the many great things he has done for us, beginning with forgiveness and salvation as a free gift, through Jesus Christ; and to love the Lord enough that we are willing to trust and obey him (John 14:23-34).
God is God, whether we acknowledge him or not. God has given us the freedom to choose whether or not to trust and obey him. But God has no obligation to be all that being an all-powerful, faithful, loving God implies, unless we are willing to be appreciative of what he does for us and willing to trust and obey his Word. If we will be God's People, he will be our God: Jeremiah 7:23; Ezekiel 11:20; Leviticus 26:3-4, 12; see also Jeremiah 11:4-5. God can hear our cries to him, when we are in trouble, but he is not obligated to listen and answer our prayers unless we are willing to hear and keep his Word (see Conditions for Answered Prayer, sidebar, top right)
We have the freedom to choose, but there is a day coming, when we will no longer be able to reject and disobey God’s Word. In the Day of Judgment, everyone will acknowledge that Jesus is Lord and we will have no choice but to accept his judgment (Philippians 2:10-11).
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
2 Pentecost - Tuesday
May 27, 2008
Hosea 5:15-6:6 -- Judgment and Restoration;
The Lord will depart from his people until they acknowledge their guilt and seek his presence. In their distress they may seek the Lord and return to him, realizing that the Lord who tears also mends, and he afflicts but he will also heal. “After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him” (Hosea 6:2). We should endeavor to know the Lord, for his presence is as certain as the dawn. He will come to us and refresh us as certainly as the spring rains water the earth.
The Lord declares that the love of Ephraim and Judah (patriarchs of two of the twelve tribes; Judah became the remnant of Israel) for the Lord is as transient as the morning fog and dew which quickly dries. So the Lord declares that he has hewn them by his prophets and slain them by God’s Word, and God’s judgment goes forth like a flash of light. “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice; the knowledge of God, rather than burnt offering” (Hosea 6:6).
Commentary:
Repeatedly in the history of Israel, God’s people forgot the great things God had done for them and turned away from obedient trust in the Lord to disobedience and idolatry. Then the Lord would withdraw his providence and protection from them and allow them to experience trouble, so that they would turn again to the Lord and seek his presence and blessing. One example is the exile of Judah to Babylon for seventy years. The wilderness wandering is a similar example.
Judah, the Southern Kingdom of the divided monarchy was the remnant of Israel. The Northern Kingdom of the ten tribes had refused to heed the warning of God’s Word by the prophets, and did not return to obedient trust in the Lord, although they had opportunity right up to the fall of Samaria to the Assyrians. The Northern Kingdom was destroyed and the ten tribes were scattered throughout the Assyrian kingdom (present day Syria and Northern Iraq) and effectively ceased to exist.
Judah didn’t heed the example of the Northern Kingdom or God’s Word spoken by the prophets, so again God withdrew his providence and protection from them and allowed them to be conquered and exiled to Babylon (present-day Iraq) by the Chaldeans. Seventy years exile in Babylon was virtually a death sentence for people who were adults at the time of the deportation. The Lord brought back Judah from Babylon, but it was a renewed people, who had learned to trust and obey the Lord during their exile.
The Exile in Babylon was similar to the forty years of Israel’s wilderness wandering, which was the result of Israel’s disobedience of God’s Word commanding them to enter and possess the Promised Land. God lifted his providence and protection from them, and when they tried on their own to enter they were repulsed by the occupants of the Land, and were forced to wander in the wilderness until that generation of Israelites perished in the wilderness.
The people who returned from Babylonian Exile had turned to the Lord and had learned to trust and obey his Word, but the remnant of Israel forgot the lesson learned in the Exile and again fell away from obedient trust in God’s Word. As a result they were unprepared to receive the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Because they rejected Jesus, the Messiah, the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God’s Word, lived in human flesh in this world (John 1:1-5, 14), God again removed his providence and protection from them. In 70 A.D. Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed by the Romans and the Jews were scattered throughout the world, as the northern kingdom had been. At the destruction of the temple, Judaism effectively ceased to exist. The veil of the temple had been torn in two from top to bottom at the crucifixion of Jesus (Luke 23:45b), symbolizing that Jesus has become the new and better way into the presence of God.
At the resurrection of Jesus, the Church has become the “New Israel,” the “New People of God,” the “New Jerusalem.” The condition of the Church today is very similar to that of Judaism at the time of Jesus’ first advent (coming).
At the time of Jesus, Judaism had ceased to be a covenant relationship with God and had become a human institution, which the religious leaders used to their personal advantage. They used “religion” to confirm their “righteousness” and their status in the society, and to serve their own interests, instead of seeking to serve the will of God. In much of the nominal “Church” that is the same situation today. “Religion” is man’s attempt to manipulate God to man’s will, and that’s what the “Church” has become in many instances.
The Lord lifts his providence and protection from his people who have turned away from obedient trust in the Lord, and allows them to experience tragedy and disaster, so that they can realize that they need the Lord to protect and bless them, and so they can learn the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord. The Lord allows them to learn by trial and error so that they will return to him in obedient trust and receive restoration and eternal life in his kingdom in heaven. God disciplines us for our good, as a good parent, so that we will not perish eternally.
I personally testify that I had been raised in the Church, but when I became an adult I turned away from obedient trust in the Lord and pursued my own interests. My interests were idolatrous; I pursued and served them more than I cared for seeking and serving the Lord. The Lord removed his providence and protection from me and allowed me to experience great troubles. The result was that I was compelled to examine my Christian beliefs and seek truth.
I began to read the entire Bible and read it daily to find truth, and by the time I finished reading it completely, I knew that Jesus is the truth. I asked him to be my Lord. I returned to Church, and the Lord began “discipling” me, and led me through a number of experiences to show me that he was able and faithful to provide for and protect me. He guided me to seek the fulfillment of the promise of “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Since I’ve been “reborn’ (John 3:3, 5-8), he has continued to disciple and lead me daily by his Word and his Spirit within me for more than twenty-five years.
America today has also turned away from the Lord to pursue worldly goals and idolatry. During our colonial and wilderness periods Americans learned to seek the Lord’s providence and protection, but since we’ve become rich and successful, we’ve forgotten the lessons learned in the “wilderness” and “exile.” Notice that the “enemies” that threaten America today are the same, geographically, culturally and spiritually as those who historically threatened Israel.
American culture has glorified values “self-reliance” and stubborn determinism; if one fails, one keeps on trying until one succeeds. Those attitudes lead to repeating the same mistakes over and over, and never learning the lessons the Lord wants us to learn.
The meaning and purpose of life in this world is to seek and come to know the Lord God our Creator (Acts 17:26-27). Jesus is God’s only “anointed” Savior and eternal King. Jesus is the only way to God’s presence, the only way to know God and God’s eternal truth, the only way to be spiritually “born-again” to eternal life (Acts 4:12; 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).
Jesus is the only one who “baptizes” with the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
Jesus fulfilled and demonstrated the truth of the promise that the Lord will revive his people and raise them on the third day, from physical death to eternal life in the Lord’s presence (Hosea 6:2; Matthew 16:21; Acts 10:40). God’s Word is eternal and is fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. What God did for Jesus he will do for those who trust and obey Jesus.
The Lord wants us to turn to him, to seek him, and to learn to trust and obey him, so that we can have eternal life with him in his eternal kingdom in paradise restored. If we seek him we will find him; if we turn to him he will revive, renew and refresh us, as individuals, as the Church, as a nation, and as the world.
The Lord has given his Word in the Bible and through his prophets so that we can be warned and “sculpted” into the kind of loving, obedient, trusting people that God wants for his kingdom.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
2 Pentecost - Wednesday
May 28, 2008
Romans 4:18-25 -- Justification by Faith;
In faith, Abraham believed what seemed hopeless, from a human perspective, that he would become the father of many nations, by the Lord’s promise, “So shall your descendants be” (as numerous as the stars in the heavens; Genesis 15:5). Abraham didn’t waver in faith, when he considered that he was at the end of his life, since he was about a hundred years old, and that Sarah was past childbearing age and had never conceived. Abraham never doubted God’s promise, but was completely convinced that the Lord was able to do as he had promised, and his faith grew strong as he gave glory to the Lord. So the Lord accounted Abraham as righteous because of Abraham’s faith in God’s Word (Genesis 15:6), and it was recorded in the Bible for our benefit. We will also be accounted righteous if we believe in God who raised, from the dead, our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and was raised from the dead so that we could be acquitted of sin.
Commentary:
The Lord intends to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey him. He has designed this temporal world to allow us free choice to trust and obey his Word or not, and to learn by trial and error; but he will not allow rebellion and disobedience in his eternal kingdom. He knew that if he gave us free choice we would choose to do our will rather than his. So we are all guilty of sin (disobedience of God’s will; Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8-10), and the penalty for sin is (eternal) death (Romans 6:23). But God loves us and doesn’t want us to perish eternally (Romans 5:8; John 3:16).
Jesus is God’s only provision for forgiveness of our sin and for salvation from eternal condemnation and destruction (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). God has promised to forgive and save all who believe his promise in Jesus Christ. Salvation is by grace (a free gift; unmerited favor) to be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Abraham was the father of the nation of Israel, and also the spiritual father of all who believe God’s Word in the Bible, fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in Jesus Christ (John 1:1-5, 14), the “living Word.” Since the coming of Jesus Christ, the Church is the “New Israel,” the “New People of God.”
There is a Day of Judgment coming for each one of us at the end of our lifetime on this earth. We will all be accountable to the Lord for what we have done in this lifetime. Those who have trusted and obeyed Jesus will have been spiritually “reborn” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life during this lifetime and will enter God’s eternal kingdom in heaven. Those who have rejected Jesus and have refused to trust and obey him will be condemned to eternal destruction in Hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
Abraham was accounted righteous in God’s judgment because Abraham believed (trusted and obeyed) God’s Word. We who believe God’s Word will similarly be accounted righteous (justified; vindicated; acquitted) in the Day of Judgment.
Saving faith is not merely intellectual assent. Believing in Jesus isn’t just adding his name to the end of our prayers, and claiming him as our Lord when trouble happens (Luke 6:46; Matthew 7:21-27). Saving faith is trusting and obeying Jesus.
Faith begins like a tiny “mustard seed” (Luke 13:19; Matthew 17:20), simply our “yes” to trust and obey the Lord. As we begin to trust and obey, the Lord will show us that he is able and faithful to do what he promises, and will cause our faith to grow to spiritual maturity.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
2 Pentecost - Thursday
May 29, 2008
Matthew 9:9-13 – Call of Matthew;
Jesus passed the office of a tax collector named Matthew, and Jesus called to him and said, “Follow me.” And Matthew got up and followed Jesus.
At dinner at Matthew’s house, many other tax collectors came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees (legalistic Jewish religious leaders) criticized Jesus to his disciples for eating with tax collectors and sinners. When Jesus heard them he told them that those who are healthy have no need of a physician, but only those who are sick. Jesus told them to go and learn the meaning of God’s Word that God desires mercy and not sacrifice (Hosea 6:6). Jesus told them that he had come to call sinners, not those who are righteous.
Commentary:
Jewish tax collectors were hated by the Jews because they were collaborators with the occupying Roman government. The Pharisees, as religious leaders, were to care for the spiritual conditions of the people, but instead they were cutting off from forgiveness and restoration people they regarded as sinners, and making themselves appear to be righteous.
We’re all sinners and fall short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The Pharisees needed spiritual healing as much as the people they regarded as sinners, but the “sinners” recognized and acknowledged their sinfulness and trusted and obeyed Jesus. Their sins were forgiven and their sinfulness healed, but the Pharisees refused to recognize and acknowledge their sinfulness and refused to receive the spiritual healing which only Jesus can provide (Acts 4:12; John 14:6).
God is merciful. We don’t deserve to be saved from eternal condemnation, but he is willing to forgive and save us as a free gift, which we receive only by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).
God is the Creator of everything, and he has no need for us to do anything for him. He wants to do something for us. What he desires is our obedient trust. The sacrifice he desires is our sacrifice of our will, and submission to his. No religious “ritual” can substitute for our obedient trust in his Word.
If we recognize our need for forgiveness and salvation, we will be thankful to God for what he has done for us through Jesus Christ, and we will be loving and merciful to others. We will care about the spiritual condition of others and will offer them the opportunity for forgiveness and salvation which we have received.
As we go about our daily lives, Jesus is passing by. He calls us to follow him, and if we accept and act on his invitation he will come into our hearts as Jesus entered Matthew’s home. He will have fellowship with us as he shared a meal with Matthew (Revelation 3:20; John 14:23-24). Jesus doesn’t come to us to criticize and condemn us. He knows our spiritual need and he wants to heal us and give us eternal life in paradise with him.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
2 Pentecost - Friday
May 30, 2008
Isaiah 25:6-9 -- Messianic Feast;
Revelation 3:14-22 -- Christ’s Reign;
Isaiah:
On Zion, the mountain of the Lord, the Lord will provide a great banquet of rich food and fine aged wine for all people. He will remove and destroy the veil that is over all nations and people. “He will swallow up death for ever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth; for the Lord has spoken” (Isaiah 25:8). In that day it will be said that the Lord is our God; we have waited for his salvation. He is our Lord for whom we have waited; let us celebrate and rejoice in his salvation.
Revelation:
John was given messages from Jesus to be sent to seven churches. The seventh message was to the church at Laodicea, a wealthy city near Corinth. Jesus is “the Amen, the fulfillment of God’s promises (2 Corinthians 1:20), the faithful and true witness (who testified to the Gospel), the beginning of God’s creation” (John 1:1-5, 14).
The Lord knows the spiritual condition of the church at Laodicea, and rebukes them as nauseating because they are lukewarm; neither hot nor cold. The congregation thinks they are rich and have prospered and need nothing, not realizing that they are wretched, poor, blind and naked. Jesus warns them to buy from Jesus gold refined by fire, so that they will be truly rich, white robes to cover the shame of their nakedness and salve to heal their blind eyes.
The Lord rebukes and corrects those whom he loves, so they should be eager to hear and repent. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). Jesus will share his throne in glory with those who overcome the world, as God has shared his throne with Christ. Those who can hear should pay attention to what the Spirit says to the Churches.
Commentary:
Isaiah foretold the fulfillment of the Messianic feast of Christ and his Church in heaven. It is the fulfillment of the Messianic feast which Christ initiated on the night of his betrayal at the “Last Supper” (Matthew 26:26-28), and which he promised his disciples would share with him in heaven (Matthew 26:29).
There is a veil over the minds of all people which keeps them from understanding God’s Word (2 Corinthians 3:13-16), until they are “reborn” (John 3:3, 5-8) by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The indwelling Holy Spirit opens our minds to understand God’s Word (John 14:26; 16:13; Luke 24:45).
Disciples of Jesus Christ who trust and obey Jesus are spiritually “reborn” to eternal life by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). One can know with certainty for oneself whether or not one has been “born-again” by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2).
In the day when we are reunited with our Lord in heaven we will live eternally with him in a New Creation restored to paradise. There will be no more sorrow, trouble, pain, sickness or decay (see Revelation 21:4). In that day the reproach that the people of God have endured in this world will be removed, and we will rejoice and celebrate our salvation with our Lord. Then we will know that the waiting we’ve endured in this lifetime has been well worthwhile.
The seven churches of Asia of whom John wrote are typical of the types of churches in the world today. The congregation at Laodicea is representative of many churches in America today. There are many “lukewarm” members in our churches. Many are rich and successful in their worldly lives and don’t realize how spiritually poor, blind, naked and wretched they really are.
The Lord rebukes and disciplines us in love, for our own good. It is not loving to let someone do what is going to injure and destroy them. We should be willing to hear the Lord’s rebuke, so that we correct what is harmful and be restored to what God intends for us.
Jesus is the only true source of spiritual wealth, and spiritual enlightenment, and only Jesus can provide the robes of salvation. The only way we can obtain these spiritual necessities is by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Jesus is the “Amen,” the “yes” to all the promises of God’s Word. Jesus is the beginning of God’s Creation and its fulfillment (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus has been designed into this Creation by God from the very start.
Jesus promises that he is standing and knocking at the door of our hearts. If we will listen and open that door, he will come in and live with us in close personal fellowship (Revelation 3:20; compare John 14:15-17, 21, 23-24).
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
2 Pentecost - Saturday
May 31, 2008
Luke14:25-35 -- Costly Discipleship
Large crowds were following Jesus and he turned and told them that anyone who wants to follow Jesus and become his disciple must “hate” father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, and even his own life. Everyone who follows Jesus as his disciple must carry his own cross.
Jesus said that a person who plans to build a tower should calculate the cost of construction before he begins. Otherwise, he might run out of money and be ridiculed because he was unable to finish the building. Likewise, a king preparing to do battle against another king must consider whether his army is sufficient to prevail against an army twice as large. Otherwise, he should send an emissary to the other king seeking peace while the adversary is far off. Similarly, one must renounce all that he has in order to be Jesus’ disciple.
Jesus said that salt is good, but if it were to loose its saltiness, how could it be restored? Without its savor it would be good for nothing and would be thrown away. Those who can hear spiritual truth should pay attention to what Jesus is saying.
Commentary:
People were willing to follow Jesus when they were receiving free food and free medical care. But Jesus wanted them to understand that following Jesus requires discipleship and self-denial. Jesus deliberately exaggerated his illustrations in order to make the point. Disciples are not literally to hate their friends and relatives, but they must love Jesus so much more that the difference is that great.
Jesus’ crucifixion is the illustration of what discipleship costs. Jesus’ obedient trust in God’s Word is the example we are to follow. Worldly people hated and crucified Jesus because of the Gospel he proclaimed, and his disciples cannot expect the world to treat them better. The Gospel is still hated by many today.
Disciples must be willing to “die” to themselves, renouncing their lives, their self-wills, their possessions and even their families, if necessary, to follow Jesus’ example and teaching. Disciples must be willing to endure and persevere despite hardships and persecutions.
Obedient trust in Jesus Christ is the requirement, the cost, of discipleship. One of several major false teachings in the Church today, which was present from the very beginning of the Church and is refuted in the New Testament is “Cheap Grace,”* the teaching that salvation is by grace (unmerited favor) without the requirement of discipleship and obedience (see False Teachings, sidebar, top right).
In many Churches, particularly in America today, leaders are failing to make disciples of Jesus Christ, settling for making “members” instead. Discipleship is not an optional category of super-Christian. “Christian” is the name given to Jesus’ disciples (Acts 11:26d).
Jesus said that in order to see the kingdom of God, which is all around us now, and to “see” (enter and dwell in) it in eternity, one must be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8). We are all born physically alive but spiritually dead. This lifetime is our opportunity to seek and know the Lord (Acts 17:26-27), and to be spiritually “reborn.” This is only possible by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, by the gift (“baptism”) of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit is a discernible ongoing event, which one experiences for oneself (Acts 19:2).
Many churches today have adopted the “Church Growth” movement, are trying to “market” themselves as “consumer-friendly,” and trying to be “entertaining,” offering programs to appeal to every interest.
Many church members are interested in the benefits they receive from the church program. They attend if the air conditioning isn’t too hot or cold, and if the seats are padded, and if the pastor’s message is brief, entertaining and makes them feel good, and if there isn’t some secular activity that’s more interesting and fun to do.
Jesus’ disciples are to be “salt.” They are to keep the distinctive characteristic of Christian disciples: obedient trust in Jesus’ teaching and example. Their influence on others is as great as is salt’s ability to add savor to much greater portions of food. If “Christians” don’t live any differently than worldly people they aren’t doing what they were called in Jesus Christ to do, and they’re liable to being discarded.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
*See: The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Collier Books, Macmillan Publishing Co., NY 1963 ISBN 0-02-083850-6
