The Truth

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even the external power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

--Romans 1:18-21  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 31, 2013, Easter Sunday, of Psalm 67; Romans 1:18-32; Deuteronomy 3:21-4.

Paul penned his letter to the church in Rome while he was in Corinth shortly following his third missionary journey and well before he ever visited the church.  Most of Paul's epistles were written to and for churches he had started and then left in other hands, such as Timothy's, given to encourage them or to try to correct some bad habits that cropped up, like false teachings.  But not in this case.  Paul did not found the church in Rome and we're not really sure who did.  In fact, when Paul wrote to them, this church was already widely known in the region.  Paul was anxious to minister to that church and had every intention of traveling there and preaching to them the Gospel of Jesus.  Unfortunately, his plans changed somewhat when he was arrested in Jerusalem and taken to Caesarea, where he appealed to Caesar.  He did finally make it to Rome - in chains.  But he knew none of these events would unfold when he wrote his letter, which he likely intended as a means of introducing himself and his beliefs to that congregation.

In this passage, Paul points out that ungodly and unrighteous people actively suppress the truth of Jesus and of God because they are unrighteous.  In their ungodliness they don't want the truth to be known, they don't want other people to come to know Jesus as the Christ.  They do this not because they themselves don't know the truth.  No, God made the truth evident to them, even brought it to life within them.  In effect, Paul says that everything that is known about God, He Himself has made evident, within us and all around us.  Since the very beginning of creation, even though God is invisible to our human senses, His great power and supernatural nature can be clearly seen in all that He has crafted.  He brought the entire universe into being by simply uttering the words, "Let there me light."  We can definitely see the cosmos, and in that we see God.  All we have to do is look around us to see God's handiwork and know He exists.  Just look in a mirror to see His most beloved creation.  (You don't think yourself beloved of God?  Think of what He gave up just for you.  Think of what His Son suffered just for you.  You are His most beloved.)  God's word guides us, warns us, encourages and uplifts us.  Hundreds of eye-witnesses saw the risen Jesus and none stood to deny or contradict the accounts of His resurrection, so we know the words in our Bible regarding this historic event are true.  God's truth is given to us, made evident to us, in so many ways.  We need only believe, then act on that belief, share that belief so that others may come to believe and know the truth.

Even though they know God, the unrighteous do not honor Him, do not glorify Him, nor do they give thanks for all His many blessings.  They hide the truth, hoping none may know.  We know the truth, too.  But rather than suppress it, let's share it instead.  Amen.

Holy God, we know Your truth and believe in it.  We put our hope and faith in You.  Help us, please Father, to not be like the ungodly who hide the truth, but instead be among the faithful who gladly share it.  In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

Already Done

"And the Lord said to me, 'Do not fear him, for I have delivered him and all his people and his land into your hand; you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.'"

--Deuteronomy 3:2  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 30, 2013 of Psalm 66:8-20; Romans 1:1-17; Deuteronomy 2-3:20.

The entire nation of Israel is encamped in the plains of Moab just before they are to enter into the land promised to their fathers.  It has been forty years since they escaped Egypt.  But more to the point of this narration, it has been thirty-eight years since they were disobedient to God, when He promised that none among them of a fighting age would enter the promised land except for Joshua and Caleb.  And now, after those thirty-eight years of wandering in the wilderness, only Moses, Joshua, and Caleb survive of that generation, and Moses knows his last days are at hand.  Most of the people of Jacob alive at this time would have few or no memories of the long journey in the desert or the major events that occurred along the way.  Since he would not be with them much longer, Moses wants to be sure the people know their history and understand their relationship with God.  In today's verse, Moses is recalling their encounter with Og, the king of Bashan and the last of the remnant of giants.

Notice that God told Moses, "I have delivered him... into your hand".  Delivered - past tense, already done.  In this narration, the Israelis had not yet faced Og and his army, so for them this event awaited them in the future.  In their perspective and ours, we might have said, "God will deliver him into our hand".  Will deliver - future tense, not yet accomplished.  But for God, from His viewpoint, He had already made it happen.  God set everything in motion for a successful completion of His plan.  A sense of the passage of time is a construct for humans, so we can mark the progression of our lives.  For this reason God gave us day and night, the stars and the lights in the night sky to chart the seasons and the years.  (Please see Genesis 1.)  God Himself is outside of time.  For Him there is no past or present or future as we think of them.  He had already arranged that Og and his people were defeated, even though the children of Israel had not yet faced them.  And just as He said, Og was conquered and God's people prevailed and their reputation began to spread throughout the land, as was God's will.

Since long before the beginning of time, God has worked a plan for all of mankind, His most beloved creation.  And Jesus has been right by His side all along.  God delivered death itself unto Jesus so that all mankind might return home to live with Jesus and God for eternity.  He told us this through His prophets of the Old Testament, such as Isaiah and Daniel.  He told us this at Jesus' birth, with the declaration of the angel and the gift of myrrh.  He arranged (past tense) for everything to happen long before (future tense) we ever experienced it.  This God did and will do, all for us.  God delivered Og to the Israelis.  Jesus took all our sins and delivered us from death.  Praise God!  Praise Jesus!  Amen.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name!  You laid plans for our victory even before the foundations of time.  Every promise You made You've kept, everything You said will happen has come to pass.  We stand in awe at how magnificently You manage all this, far beyond even our imaginings.  Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your great sacrifice, for taking all our sins upon Yourself, You without sin, the spotless lamb, for carrying all the sins of the world into the grave and leaving them there so that we might truly and finally be free!  Thank You, Christ Jesus!  In Your name we pray.  Amen.

Praise His Name

"All the earth shall worship You and sing praises to You; they shall sing praises to Your name."  Selah

--Psalm 66:4  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 29, 2013 of Psalm 66:1-7; Acts 28:11-31; Numbers 36-Deuteronomy 1.

A thoughtful reader may find many instances where the Psalms provide a foreshadowing of things to come, glimpses into the New Testament, images of Jesus the Christ long before His birth.  Today's verse for reflection may be seen as one of these instances.

In his letter to the church in Philippi, Paul refers to the words of the prophet Isaiah when he proclaims, "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."  (Philippians 2:10-11.  Also please see Romans 14:11 and Isaiah 45:23.)  Paul says that everyone, whether in heaven or on earth or in hell (under the earth), even the angels (in heaven), will bow down and worship Jesus as Lord, all to glorify God our Father.  This is what David points to: all the earth worshiping Jesus, singing praises to His very name.  Jesus cautions that some will face Him on their final day and worship His name by crying out "Lord, Lord", but that Jesus will turn them away saying He never knew them for they did not do the Father's will and therefore they cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.  (Please see Matthew 7:21-23 and Luke 6:46.)  So even though both David and Paul declare that everyone will worship Christ as Lord and will praise the name of Jesus, Jesus Himself warns us that not all of those worshiping and praising Him will be granted salvation and eternal life.  David tells us what will happen, and Paul confirms what David says.  But Jesus takes care to let us know that worship and praise alone will not get us into heaven.  We must first and foremost remain obedient to God's will and do what Jesus tells us to do.

We should take this warning very seriously.  Certainly we can join David in joyously worshiping Jesus and singing His praises, we can join Paul in bowing down and openly confessing Jesus as our Lord, to better glorify God.  But we need to be careful not to think these acts alone will get us to heaven.  Perhaps this is why David included the word "Selah" at the end of this fourth verse.  Selah marks an interlude in a song, which a psalm is.  It gives the listener a brief span to contemplate the previous passage, to think about what they just heard or, in this case, read.  David wants us to stop and think about this for a few moments.  He knows Jesus, even long before our Christ was born, and he knows Jesus has more to add to this verse.  So believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, sing praises to His holy name.  Worship Him with all your being for the glory of God our Father.  But remember that the best way to truly honor and worship Him is to do what He would have us do and to obey His and our Father's will.  Amen.

Jesus our Savior, we already bow before You and sing praises to Your holy name.  But sometimes we think that is enough, that You will know us when we come before You at the closing of our final day.  Please help us remember to honor You by following Your commandments and instructions, by being obedient to the will of God, to hold You in our hearts, and to know that You are God, our God.  In Your name, Lord Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Breaking Bread

And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat.

--Acts 27:35  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 28, 2013 of Psalm 65; Acts 27:27-28:10; Numbers 34:16-35.

Paul was being taken to Rome from Caesarea because he had appealed to Caesar rather than return to face charges from the Jews in Jerusalem who plotted to kill him along the route.  It was already a little late in the year when they set out and the weather was turning against them, making travel very difficult and dangerous. The wind changed direction, forcing them to alter their route.  Paul cautioned them not to go on lest they all perish, but the ship owner and captain didn't want to lose their profits so they pushed on.  And now they find themselves in what seems a hopeless situation, off course and nearly lost in a horrible storm.  But then God told Paul that he would indeed speak before Caesar in Rome, so if they all stick together they will be saved from the storm but the ship would be lost.  The sailors tried to escape in the skiff but the Roman guard stopped them because of what Paul had said.  It is night time, pitch dark with the moon and all the stars blotted out by the storm clouds and driving rain.  The winds and torrents swept across the decks.  The ship groaned and creaked under the constant battering, threatening to break apart at any time even while strengthened by ropes run underneath the keel.  They had not even eaten in fourteen days when Paul finally told them they must eat something to nourish them and keep their strength up.  So Paul took some bread, gave thanks to God, broke it and began to eat.  Encouraged by Paul, the others ate also.

When Jesus fed five thousand men (and perhaps an equal number of women and children) with nothing more than five loaves of bread and two fishes, He first gave thanks to the Father and then broke the bread before handing it to the disciples to pass out among the masses.  The situation appeared utterly hopeless, feeding so many people with so little food.  We would probably say the idea of even trying this is totally absurd if a human proposed it.  But nothing is hopeless when God is involved.  In a seemingly hopeless situation, Paul took some bread, broke it, and gave thanks to the Father.  In his first letter to the church in Thessalonica, Paul exhorts us to give thanks in everything, "for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  (1 Thessalonians 5:18)  Faced with the humanly impossible task of feeding thousands of people with what would barely make a decent meal for a couple, Jesus gave thanks and God made it happen.  Against a raging storm with humanly impossible odds of survival, Paul gave thanks and God delivered over two hundred men from the tempest.  Paul did not say to give thanks for all things, for unfortunately bad things do happen, but in all things.  We can always find something to be thankful for no matter how wild the storm that batters our life.  In both these cases, after first giving thanks, bread was broken, just as we do when we observe Holy Communion.  Just as the bread is broken before we use it for food, we must be broken before Christ can use us in His service.  Thanks to God.  In all things, give thanks.  Amen.

Heavenly Father, we are the bread in Your Son's hands.  We give You thanks for breaking us to Your use.  Please forgive us when we get caught up in our own situations and forget to thank You for all the many blessings You give us each day.  And forgive us when we take those blessings for granted when life is going good for us.  May we remember Paul and give thanks in all things.  In the mighty name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Following Instructions

"Then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their engraved stones, destroy all their molded images, and demolish all their high places."

--Numbers 33:52  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 27, 2013 of Psalm 64; Acts 27:1-26; Numbers 33:14-34:15.

The children of Israel were camped by the Jordan across from Jericho.  Aaron had died in the fortieth year after the house of Jacob left Egypt.  Only one man remained from that day who had been over the age of twenty when the Lord banned them from the promised land, one man who with Aaron had rebelled against God and was forbidden from leading his people into the land of Canaan, one man: Moses.  Under God's command, Moses had already inaugurated Joshua as his successor and God had granted Moses' authority to him.  But God still had some unfinished business for Moses, including giving His chosen people counsel and directions before they enter the land promised to their fathers.  Part of these instructions was that the people were to drive out the current inhabitants, to force them from all the land completely.  Not one person was to remain, or else they would forever be an irritant to the Israelis.  Then they were to destroy any and all idols and false gods that the former residents had made and worshiped, whether engraved or molded or crafted in any manner.  And they were to also destroy any temple or shrine erected to honor and worship those false gods.  This was to be carried out so they would not be tempted by these idols and idolatry, because they were to worship only the One True God.  We know the people did not fully obey these instructions, letting some remain and live among them, and they are still paying a price to this day.

Christ came to erase the slate and give all of mankind yet another chance for a fresh start.  He took all our sins upon His shoulders so we could be renewed in the eyes of God the Father.  All we have to do is believe, and if we believe we should gladly follow the instructions He gave us.  We should drive out the former self, the old person within us, completely and fully from the lands within our being.  We should not let any of that old self, the self that resided here before Jesus came into us, remain to live here with us.  We must destroy the old idols we once worshiped.  All those things we used to put ahead of God, that we would spend more time and energy and resources on than we would give serving Jesus, must be crushed and thrown away from us.  The temples of hatred, violence, lust, immorality, and other iniquities we erected in our hearts must be thoroughly demolished and removed from our lives.  Otherwise all of this will become an irritant to us forever, a stumbling block between us and God.  Jesus took on all the sins of the world for all time and carried them to the grave just for us.  Let's try hard to follow the few things He asks of us in return.  Amen.

Lord Jesus, forgive us for not completely destroying the false gods in our lives.  Forgive us for allowing part of the old self to remain within us even after You came to us.  Help us, please Lord, to turn aside from the idols we place ahead of You and to serve You more fully.  In Your name, precious Jesus, we pray.  Amen.

My Soul Thirsts

O God, You are my God; early I will seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.  So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory.

--Psalm 63:1-2  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 26, 2013 of Psalm 63; Acts 26:12-32; Numbers 32-33:13.

David wrote this psalm while fleeing from King Saul and his men.  He had taken his family to Moab for safekeeping when Gad the prophet spoke to him, telling David not to stay there in Moab but to go into the wilderness of Judah.  David heeded this advise and went into the forest of Hereth, near the western shore of the Dead Sea, a little below the mid-point and far south of his birth city of Bethlehem.  (See 1 Samuel 22:3-5 for a little of this history.)  On the run for his life, and probably more than a little worried about his folks back in Moab, David cries out to the Lord and declares Him as God.  Early in the morning, the first thing upon rising, he seeks out the Lord.  And he doesn't do this casually or out of some sense of duty.  It isn't a chore or some task he takes lightly.  No, it is as if he has no choice but to be with God.  His body longs for the Lord, his soul thirsts for Him.  Like a man dying of thirst in the parched desert would long for and search for water, this is how David wants and needs God.  Nothing is more important than to have Him near.  So David looked for God in His sanctuary, in the temporary place where the Ark of the Covenant was housed, and there found God's power and glory.

We should feel like David did there in the wilderness.  Even though we may not find ourselves being chased by any individual or army intent on doing us harm, we are indeed being relentlessly pursued by Satan and his evil forces with the sole intent of drawing us away from God.  Jesus Christ died for us so that we might have everlasting life with Him, but Satan would like nothing more than to negate and nullify Christ's efforts by taking our souls for himself.  So we should cry out to God, early in the morning and all throughout the day.  We should search out Jesus with the same sense of urgency as the person dying of thirst hunts for water or the one starving looks for food.  Only through Jesus can we be saved, so we need to be sure of where to find Him when our need comes.  We find Him where David did, in His sanctuary.  But this is not really a church or a house for religious artifacts or even a building at all.  When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He moves right in and dwells within us.  Seek the indwelling Lord Jesus Christ to find and see His power and His glory.  Amen.

Christ Jesus, when we accept You into our heart and into our life, acknowledging You as our personal Lord and our only Salvation, You choose to dwell within us so that we might never again be alone.  When we need You, we need only close our eyes and pray, for You are always there, always with us.  Thank You, dear Lord, for giving us such a wonderful gift!  In Your name, dear Jesus, we pray.  Amen.

Misspent Youth

"My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know.  They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee."

--Acts 26:4-5  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 25, 2013 of Psalm 62; Acts 25:23-26:11; Numbers 31.

Under arrest in Caesarea and falsely accused by the Jewish leaders, the Roman governor gives Paul the chance to present his case to King Agrippa, the great-grandson of Herod the Great.  Festus had his own reason for allowing this audience, which Agrippa had requested.  He had nothing for the guards to carry to Rome with Paul - no charges or allegations or commendations - nothing.  He hoped Agrippa could help provide some words adequate to describe the situation.  Paul, for his part, did not have to go through this or defend himself since he had appealed to Caesar as a Roman citizen, but he gladly took the opportunity to witness for Jesus Christ to the Jewish king and his sister-consort.  Paul begins by saying that all the religious leaders, even all the Jews, know him and know of his upbringing.  They know that he was raised in Jerusalem and studied at the feet of the great teacher Gamaliel.  They knew he was a Pharisee, a member of the strictest religious sect, who eagerly persecuted those that followed Jesus of Nazareth.  This is a story Paul told often, the story of his youth and his conversion.  He wanted everyone to understand that God could take someone even as violent and hate-filled as he and turn them and use them for the greatest good for all humanity.

I bet many of us have a history similar in nature to Paul's.  I know I do.  While not very religious in any sense, I was filled with hate and rage and quite often turned violent.  My tongue and quick, thoughtless words inflicted injury on the innocents, even those I loved dearly.  Like Paul before his conversion, I was a good soldier for Satan, serving well in his army of darkness.  And not just in my youth but well into my adulthood.  And then, when I'd probably fallen as low as I could go, in my darkest hour I finally noticed the light shining all around me.  A hand reached down and pulled me from that pit, from utter despair.  Love and hope flooded through me.  Christ saved me, on the cross and from the hole I dug myself into, and now I am His.  I may not be able to have anywhere near as great an impact on humanity as Paul, but I'm okay with that.  Any good I may do is to the glory of Jesus Christ and in His service.  Like Paul, I tell my story so that others may know that no situation is hopeless as long as we have Jesus in our life.  In Him all things can happen, even the conversion and salvation of reprobates like Paul and me.  Amen.

Dearest Lord Jesus, You reached out to a young man named Saul and gave Him a better purpose and eternal salvation.  And You reached out to me and filled me with hope and Your love until overflowing.  You saved me and now I can share what You have done for me, what You have given me, with others.  I can give from my overflowing and never have want for more.  Thank You, blessed Savior!  In Your name, my Jesus I pray.  Amen.

Real Authority

"Therefore", he said, "let those who have authority among you go down with me and accuse this man, to see if there is any fault in him."

--Acts 25:5  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 24, 2013 of Psalm 61; Acts 25:1-22; Numbers 29-30.

There's that word "authority" again.  We've seen where God granted Moses' authority to Joshua, and granted His own authority to Jesus.  But here, the new governor Festus sought those among the Jewish religious leadership who held some position of authority from which to accuse Paul.  Paul had been taken into custody in Jerusalem to protect him when the Jews kicked up a huge fuss over him.  The garrison commander had Paul spirited off to Caesarea in the middle of the night when a plot to murder him was exposed, there to meet with his accusers among the Jews before Felix the governor.  Felix listened to the accusers and listened to Paul and basically did nothing.  He didn't want to upset the Jews but Paul scared him a little, so he simply kept Paul under house arrest, hoping Paul would eventually pay for his release.  This drug on for two years, until Festus replaced Felix as governor.  Seeing another opportunity to get to Paul, the Jews petitioned Festus to send Paul to Jerusalem to face their accusations.  Of course, they had an ambush planned to kill Paul along the route, but fortunately Festus was a dutiful Roman official and would not release Paul to them without a proper hearing of the charges against him.  So Festus told the Jews to assemble a delegation of those among them who had the authority to stand and accuse Paul.  As it turned out, the Jews in authority still had to seek "justice" from Festus, the Roman governor, who found their accusations baseless.  Nonetheless, Festus asked Paul if he would go back to Jerusalem to answer the charges.  Paul declined the invitation and instead appealed to Caesar as was his right as a Roman citizen, thus leading to his first trip in chains to Rome.

The Jews of this age had a history of this sort of thing.  They wanted Jesus dead but their law would not permit them to exact that punishment.  So they got a few men to lie and trumped up some charges, had Jesus arrested, beaten up a bit, and hauled off to face Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who could order an execution.  Just as Paul's accusers had no real authority against him and had to seek the intervention of a Roman official, Jesus' accusers had no real authority and had to turn to another Roman official to do their dirty work.  God granted Jesus all authority, and none to the Jewish leadership.  But God's plan had to be carried out, as Jesus Himself knew, so Pilate was given the authority to crucify our Lord.  Fortunately, we know how this story turned out, with Jesus victorious over death and reigning at the Father's side with real authority.  Amen.

Blessed Jesus, at Satan's bidding, a group of men thought themselves very clever and plotted against You.  They thought their plans had succeeded, but You proved that Satan would not win even that battle.  While man took Your earthly life from You, God our Father restored You to life and placed You at His side to reign with true authority for eternity.  All glory to God!  In Your name, dear Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Sheep Without a Shepherd

"Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be like sheep which have no shepherd."

--Numbers 27:16-17  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 23, 2013 of Psalm 60; Acts 24; Numbers 27-28.

God told Moses that his time was very close to an end.  The Lord was ready to deliver His chosen people into the promised land, except that Moses would not be allowed to enter because he had disobeyed God (please see Numbers 20:8-12 and 27:14).  But Moses, always thinking of God's people first, pleaded with the Lord to assign someone to take his place as the head of the children of Israel so they would not be without leadership going into this new land, so they would not be like sheep without a shepherd.  God, in His mercy, told Moses to take Joshua and appoint him as his successor, to inaugurate Joshua in front of all the people so that they would see and obey him.  This Moses did to Joshua before the whole house of Jacob, and God granted authority to Joshua.

A scene very similar to this occurred one other very significant time as recorded in our Bible.  As Jesus matured into a young man, He left home and began His long walk that would end at Calvary.  When He was baptized by John in the Jordan River, a voice came from heaven saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."  (Please see Matthew 3:17.)  As He traveled about the region, gathering disciples and followers to Him, He preached and taught and healed and cast out demons.  He performed miracles and all manner of signs showing that God was clearly working through Him.  We later realize, though, that it isn't so much God working through Jesus but that God had granted His authority to Jesus in much the same way as when He granted Moses' authority to Joshua.  Jesus confirmed this Himself, after His resurrection but before His ascension, when He appeared to the disciples in Galilee.  Matthew recorded Jesus' words in 28:18 when He said, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."  And God gave Jesus His authority for much the same reason as He did for Joshua.  In Matthew 9:36 we read that Jesus was moved with compassion when He saw all the multitudes seeking His help, "because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd."  Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  When He ascended into heaven, He charged His disciples to tend His sheep.  Many today still follow this commission, tending flocks of all sizes.  Pray for Jesus' shepherds.  Pray for His sheep.  Amen.

Lord, we are amazed when we see how clearly Your words in our Old Testament foreshadow our Savior Jesus Christ.  Granting Joshua the authority You originally gave Moses mirrors in a lesser degree giving Your Son all authority in heaven and on earth.  May the name of Jesus be praised by every tongue, and may His reign endure forever.  In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

Deliver Me

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; defend me from those who rise up against me.  To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; for God is my defense, my God of mercy.

--Psalm 59:1,17  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 22, 2013 of Psalm 59; Acts 23:12-35; Numbers 26:35-65.

King Saul's men lie in wait outside David's house, watching for him to come out so they can kill him.  David knows his enemies have set this ambush for him, so he turns to God as he always does in times of great trouble.  He asks God to defend him, to deliver him from those who would harm and kill him.  And then at the closing of this psalm, although we have no indication that David's situation has changed in the least, he offers God praise for being his defense, for having mercy on him, even though his deliverance hasn't happened yet.  He is thanking God for something God has yet to accomplish.

This sets the example for how we should react to dire circumstances in our life.  First, we should turn to God in prayer, asking for His deliverance from the situation.  Then we must trust in Him to do so since He shows great mercy to us.  Finally, we should praise Him and thank Him for doing what we have asked even before He has done it!  This shows our faith in Him in all things.  Jesus Himself told us this, as recorded in the twenty-fourth verse of the eleventh chapter of the Gospel of Mark (reference Mark 11:24), to believe we have already received what we are asking for in prayer.

We need also remember that our true enemies are not of man or any earthly thing, they are Satan and his forces of evil.  Only God can deliver us from Satan's ambushes.  Only God can rescue us and provide our salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Father in heaven, thank You for always being there for us, for always standing by our side.  Thank You for delivering us from the devil's temptations, for shedding Your Light on all the dark places.  Thank You for the blood of Jesus that gives us eternal life.  In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

Citizenship

The commander answered, "With a large sum I obtained this citizenship."  And Paul said, "But I was born a citizen."

--Acts 22:28  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 21, 2013 of Psalm 58; Acts 22:22-23:11; Numbers 26:1-34.

Back in Jerusalem, Paul once again found himself in trouble, accused by the local Jews and held by the Roman soldiers.  The Jews incited the city against him and they fell upon Paul and were beating him.  The commander of the Roman guard in the region heard the commotion and brought his men down to investigate.  Seeing a man being beaten, he had Paul taken into what we might call "protective custody".  As he was being led away, Paul asked to address the crowd.  But as he tried to talk the people again shouted him down and threatened him, so the commander had him taken to the barracks for questioning, to find out what these people had against him.  He ordered Paul be scourged in preparation, to soften him up a bit, when Paul asked if it was lawful to scourge a Roman citizen who had not been condemned of any crime.  A centurion told the commander that Paul was a Roman, so the commander went to ask Paul if this was true, to which Paul replied yes.  Paul was born in Tarsus of Roman parents, granting him citizenship by birth.  The commander commented that he had paid a large sum to purchase his citizenship, what would have been a huge amount in those days for a soldier to come up with.  Paul responded that he was born a citizen, the implication being that he had certain rights as a birthright.

When we consider the kingdom of God, we are more like that Roman commander than Paul.  We cannot be born into the kingdom because we are born into the original sin.  Adam and Eve did enjoy a birthright into God's presence, but even they lost their rights to their sin of disobedience.  Our citizenship into God's heaven can be bought, though.  But the cost is enormous, so huge none of us could ever hope to pay it if we lived a thousand thousand lifetimes.  Fortunately for us, we don't have to come up with the payment.  Jesus paid the price for us, with His body broken and His blood poured out.  He paid the price we could never hope to pay, just because He loves us.  God loves us.  Thank You, Jesus!  Amen.

Wonderful Savior, thank You for paying the price of our citizenship into our Father's kingdom!  The cost was so great, only You could pay it.  It cost You Your body, Your blood, Your life.  God rewarded You for Your sacrifice, and He will reward us for our belief in You.  Thank You, Jesus!  Thank You, God our Father!  In Jesus' glorious name we pray.  Amen.

The Scepter of Israel

"I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; a Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult."

--Numbers 24:17  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 20, 2013 of Psalm 57; Acts 22:1-21; Numbers 23:13-25.

With the entire people of Israel camped in his plains, Balak, the king of the Moabites, grew fearful because of how the Israelis had dealt with the Amorites.  He sought an alliance with Midian and sent for Balaam to come and curse the Israelis so that Balak might defeat them.  This was apparently Balaam's business, to curse or bless on demand for pay.  But he also truly had an ear for God and could hear His voice and prophesy for Him, and in this case God told him not to curse His chosen people.  So no matter what Balak offered or tried, Balaam not only refused to curse the children of Israel, he blessed them three times.  As he readied himself to return home, Balaam made four predictions, the first of which we have here in verse seventeen.  This clearly foresees the coming of the Messiah, of Jesus the Christ.

Even in the days of Moses, as the house of Jacob traveled about through the wilderness before being delivered to the land promised their fathers, God made known to mankind glimpses of His grand plan for man's salvation.  Balaam prophesied for Balak and saw the coming of the Son of God who will defeat death and eventually conquer and destroy all evil.  Jesus our Savior, was shown to us in the Old Testament.  The old writings serve as a herald to our risen Lord.  Praise God for His word.  Praise Jesus for His great sacrifice on our behalf.  Amen.

Heavenly Father, you amaze us with how You planned everything from before time even began.  We are awed by how You showed our far distant ancestors what You had planned for our salvation even to the end of time.  Please help us always remember that You provided the old texts as a guide to the new and to what is to come.  Thank You, Lord Jesus, for being God's true Word.  In Your name, Christ Jesus, we pray.  Amen.

Welcome Home!

And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.

--Acts 21:17  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 19, 2013 of Psalm 56; Acts 21:17-40; Numbers 22-23:12.

Paul had just completed his third missionary journey and returned to Jerusalem accompanied by Luke and others.  He and Luke had been away a long time, around three years for Paul.  The scripture tells us when they returned they were received gladly.  After a long time away and having endured many hardships, they were welcomed home with open arms by their brothers.

It's always good to get back home after we've been away for a while.  Nothing seems quite so comfortable as our own bed or favorite chair.  And it is especially good to get back to our home church after an extended absence.  We are warmly greeted with hugs before and after the service.  As Luke described the homecoming he and Paul felt, we are received gladly.

We Christians are usually pretty good at welcoming people back who've not been in church for a period of time.  Whether they've been gone due to an illness or vacation or work demands, we try our best to let them know they were missed, and in that way show them that they are loved.  We sometimes even do a good job of welcoming visitors, folks we don't even know and may never see again.  But what about those brothers and sisters in Christ that we see week in and week out?  These are the same good people, maybe even dear friends, that fill the pews every Sunday, that bring a dish and a dessert to every covered dish dinner, that serve on committees and help do the dirty work of the church.  Do we welcome them when we see them?  How do we show them our love?  Let's all try to make an extra effort to do just that, to show everyone in our church family just how much we truly love them.  Let's not wait until they've been gone for a while.  Let's start today.  Amen.

Jesus Lord and Savior, we know how much You love us.  And we know You want us to return Your love by loving each other just as You love us.  But sometimes, Lord, we tend to take each other for granted, especially when we're around each other all the time.  Help us, please, to remember just how dear others in our church family are to us, how much we appreciate everything they do for our church, how much they truly mean to us.  And help us show that love in a way they will recognize and feel.  In Your sweet name, Jesus, we pray.  Amen.

Morning, Noon and Night

As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me.  Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.

--Psalm 55:16-17  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 18, 2013 of Psalm 55:12-23; Acts 21:1-16; Numbers 20:14-21.

David endured some extremely tough times in his life, usually of his own making but not always.  In this psalm he acknowledges being betrayed by one he considered a close friend.  His prayer shows anguish for himself, anger for his treacherous friend, and trust in God.  This last is our message, that like David, we can find assurance in God no matter what happens to us.  David says that even though this evil was done against him, he will still call out and pray to the Lord, morning, noon, and night.

I fear that we Christians may not pray very often, if at all.  Maybe once a month or so, or just when times are harsh and we want help.  Maybe once a week in church, or even daily if we are a little more serious about our relationship with God.  But how many pray all day long?  The Apostle Paul echos David's sentiments when he instructs us to "pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks" (reference 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18a).  We should give thanks in all things.  Even when we find ourselves at wit's end or against insurmountable odds or if we've been betrayed by our best friend, we can still find something to thank God for, to give Him praise, even if it's only the breath and strength to face a new hour.  David does this.  He's been chased by his enemies and double-crossed by a friend but he still trusts God and thanks Him for what He will do.  David anticipates and awaits God's salvation.  He knows God will hear his voice and save him.  We should follow this example, and the Lord's grace will pour out on us as it did on David.  Thank the Lord!  Amen.

Merciful Lord, we pray to You and ask that You hear our voice.  We may not always come to You all day long, or even daily.  And we may not always give You thanks and glory.  Please forgive us these lapses and know we love You.  We do want to be closer to You.  Please help us to remember we can build a stronger and closer relationship with You through prayer.  All praise to You, Lord of all!  In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

All Glory to God

Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them."

--Numbers 20:12  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 17, 2013 of Psalm 55:1-11; Acts 20:13-38; Numbers 18:8-20:13.

Once again the children of Israel were complaining to Moses about dying of thirst in the wilderness.  God had a plan that would provide water for them and their herds and flocks and at the same time show His power so that He would be glorified and hallowed in their eyes.  He told Moses to take his rod with him and Aaron to the rock before them and water would come forth.  But Moses did a repeat performance of the first time this all happened (reference Exodus 17:1-7) and struck the rock with his staff instead of just speaking to it as God instructed, so that he would get some of the glory and vent some of his anger with the people.  God was upset that He was not hallowed when He should have been, and punished Moses and Aaron for not listening to Him by not allowing them to enter the promised land.

God has a plan for each of us, a very specific set of instructions He wants us to follow.  Everything God does is ultimately for our good, but some things He makes happen are for His glory, too.  If we remember to give Him the credit for the great and wonderful things He does through us, then He can receive the glory He deserves and others can see God through us.  If we fail to follow His instructions, we may be punished.  If we are trying to do something counter to what He wishes, He may simply block our actions, unless we persist strongly enough.  Then He may hamper our efforts in a more severe manner.  His punishment may be light, or it may be harsh.  Let's not take the chance.  Let's be sure to do just what our Lord would have us do and be doubly sure to give all the glory and honor to him.  To God be the glory!  Amen.

Heavenly Father, You have great and wonderful things in store for those who love You.  Your plans are for our good because You love us.  But because You love us, You also punish us when we stray from Your plan, when we insist we know better than You and do things the way we want to do them rather than how You would have us do them.  Forgive us, please Father, when our arrogance or anger become a stumbling block to the path Your Son laid for us to follow.  In holy name of Jesus we pray.   Amen.

He Lives

And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.

--Acts 20:12  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 16, 2013 of Psalm 54; Acts 20:1-12; Numbers 16:36-18:7.

Paul, Luke, Timothy, Aristarchus, Secundus, Tychicus, Sopater, Gaius, and Trophimus all met up and gathered together with some number of locals at Troas in Asia.  Some of these men we know, some are new, but all are brethren, disciples, followers of Christ.  The scripture tells us that many lamps lighted the upper room where they gathered, so there must have been quite a crowd.  Paul took advantage of having so many brothers together at one time and in one place and talked with them late into the night and even into the morning, continuing on until daybreak when he departed.  One young man in their company, named Eutychus, struggled to stay awake after midnight.  As Paul talked on, Eutychus lost his battle and fell asleep, literally falling out of the third story window.  Everyone rushed down and thought he was dead, except Paul who embraced him and proclaimed him still alive.  And indeed he was, a seeming miracle that proved to be a great comfort to all assembled there.

This, in a way, reminds us of Jesus' resurrection.  Everyone knew He was dead.  His lifeless body was taken from the cross, cleaned, prepared, and buried in a sealed tomb.  God did not leave Him there, but instead embraced Him and proclaimed Him alive by His resurrection.  After Jesus rose from the grave, He appeared to many and proved to be a great comfort to them.  He still provides a tremendous comfort to us today because we know He still lives and because of Him so may we.  He defeated death so that we might not suffer eternal death but also have endless life with Him.  Jesus lives!  Amen.

Lord Jesus, we take so much comfort simply knowing that You still live.  Because of You, we can be assured of our future.  With Your strength, we can face any challenge.  Thank You, Jesus, for Your great sacrifice.  In Your holy name, Lord Jesus, we pray.   Amen.

Do You Get It?

God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God.

--Psalm 53:2  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 15, 2013 of Psalm 53; Acts 19:23-41; Numbers 15:22-16:35.

God wants to know if anyone gets it.  David, in a contemplative moment, considers those who don't believe in God and all the sinful acts they commit.  In his mind, all non-believers are corrupt, none do good.  He bemoans the suffering they inflict on his people.  Yet he exalts at the last, anticipating salvation, the Messiah, when all of Israel will rejoice and be glad.  But perhaps the most poignant remark David makes is found in today's verse.  God searches men's hearts to see who understands, to find out who is seeking Him.

It is outside the bounds of our capabilities to ever fully understand God and His mysteries -- His thoughts are beyond our thoughts, His knowledge far beyond ours.  But we can understand His message, especially as delivered through Christ His Son.  First we must love God above and before everything else.  And we must recognize, acknowledge, and truly believe that Jesus is His Son, who died for our sin and was resurrected and in body rose into heaven.  Then we must love one another as we love ourselves, as Jesus loves us.  And we must daily, continually strive to know God better, to build a stronger relationship with Jesus, to renew His Spirit within us.  We must constantly seek God and rejoice in His grace and our salvation.

Do you get it?  Do you understand?  Seek God.  Amen.

Heavenly Father, we know that You see all and that You search our hearts to see if we understand.  Forgive us when we pause in our walk with You and seek those things in this world that we think may fulfill us.  May we always remember that we are only truly filled and fulfilled by Your Son Jesus.  May we seek You with every breath, all the days of our life.  In Jesus' holy name we pray.   Amen.

Don't Be Left Out

"Because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice,  they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it.  But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it."

--Numbers 14:22-24  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 14, 2013 of Psalm 52; Acts 18:18-19:22; Numbers 14:13-15:21.

God, in His word, provides us with a cautionary tale here.  The children of Israel were camped just outside the promised land.  God told them to scout out the land in preparation for entering and taking it.  The scouts brought back exaggerated reports of a huge, well-defended people that they could never defeat, even though God said they would because He would be with them.  They spread these falsehoods and fear throughout the camp.  Except for Caleb and Joshua.  They alone believed the Lord and were sure they could defeat any enemy that came before them.  God wanted to kill all the people right then and there, but Moses convinced Him that would make Him look bad, even weak, before all the other nations.  So instead, He decreed that everyone over the age of twenty years would perish in the wilderness and not enter the land promised to their fathers.  Only Caleb and Joshua would be allowed to enter of their generation, and their descendants would inherit that beautiful land, because they alone followed God fully, trusted in Him, and were faithful.

By this God tells us that, like Caleb and Joshua, we must follow God, trust in Him fully, if we are to enter into the land promised us: heaven.  To follow God, we need simply to believe in Jesus as His risen Son (Jesus did all the dirty work for us), love God our Father above any other, and love each other as we love ourselves.  If we do this, then like Caleb and Joshua, we will be blessed and allowed to enter the land Jesus Christ promised us and live with Him forever.  Amen.

Dearest Lord, thank You for not only preparing a beautiful and wondrous land for us, but also for showing us how we may possess that land.  Thank You for this warning example of why we must trust in You fully, and keep Your Holy Spirit within us.  May we never disappoint You and be left to wander in the wilderness until we perish there.  In the blessed name of Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Converting Sinners

Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You.

--Psalm 51:13  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 13, 2013 of Psalm 51; Acts 18:1-17; Numbers 12-14:12.

King David, the great ruler of the land, had just committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband sent on a suicide mission so he would be killed in battle.  When confronted by Nathan, David is contrite and confesses his sins before God.  He seeks God's forgiveness and asks God to make his heart clean, to even create a new heart within him.  He asks that his spirit be renewed and made steadfast.  He wants desperately  to be right with God again.  He pleads that God not turn His back on him, or take His Holy Spirit away from him.  This is a great fear for David, to fall from God's grace and lose the Holy Spirit.  He promises to teach other sinners God's redemptive ways so that they will be converted.

Here is a model for all Christians.  We've all done something displeasing to God.  The way man views it, some of us have done far worse than others.  Our sins can run the gamut, from gossiping and lying through drug or alcohol dependency to rape and murder, and everything in between.  Each of us has done something in our lives that God disapproves of, that we needed forgiveness for.  We can use these experiences, our misdeeds coupled with God's redeeming and undeserved grace, to relate to others, to approach them and get close enough to them to teach them of God's goodness and how they can also receive what we have been given.  We can share Jesus with them and they can be converted and saved.  We can use our contrite heart as a sacrifice to God, as David says, and help break their sinful spirit so that we might also share in the joy of their salvation.  All glory to God the Father, and to Jesus His Son!  Amen.

Father in heaven, thank You for touching David's heart and creating it anew, for giving him the spirit to teach other sinners, such as us, how we might also be saved.  Thank You for accepting the sacrifice of our contrite hearts and broken spirits, so that we might be redeemed through the blood of Your spotless Lamb.  In the wonderful name of Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Temples Made With Hands

"God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands."

--Acts 17:24  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 12, 2013 of Psalm 50:16-23; Acts 17:16-34; Numbers 10:11-11.

Luke stayed behind in Philippi, and Silas and Timothy remained in Berea for a while before heeding Paul's call to come to him in Athens.  So Paul found himself alone in that great Greek metropolis.  As he walked the city he noticed all the temples and idols.  And as was his wont, he took to the synagogues and the marketplace, preaching and sharing the Gospel.  Certain Athenians asked him to address the Aeropagus, a court of appeals of sorts and the body that met there.  During his speech there, Paul remarked how religious the Athenians must be, even worshiping an "unknown god".  This, he said, even though they didn't know Him, was the One true God, the maker of everything.  He lives in no temple, is bound by no temple crafted by human hands, nor is He made by human hands.  He goes on to ask what need would God have of anything we mortals could provide when He is the creator of everything we depend upon for our very life.  If God ever needed anything, He could simply think it into existence, just as He did the heavens and the earth.

God has no need of any home we could build, no matter how large or fancy, when heaven is His home and the earth His footstool.  No, the One true God cannot be fashioned by us; we are fashioned by Him.  Our temples and synagogues and tabernacles and church buildings do not house Him, they provide us shelter while we worship Him as a corporate body.  But we can provide a dwelling place for His Holy Spirit.  Within us.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, He sends the Holy Spirit down to dwell within us.  One of the Three Persons of God lives inside of us.  God chooses the ones He formed in His own image to be the home of one of His Holy Spirit.  Praise the Lord.  Amen.

Lord God, please forgive us when we erect mighty edifices and think they will find enough favor in Your sight that You will choose to dwell among us within them.  Forgive us when we try to find favor with You by our works rather than by simply believing in Jesus Christ Your Son.  Thank You for the words of Paul who tells us that You do not dwell in temples made by hands, but that Your Holy Spirit dwells within us thanks to Jesus Christ our Lord.  In His sacred name we pray.   Amen.

Reach Out and Touch Someone

"And you shall bring the Levites before the tabernacle of meeting, and you shall gather together the whole congregation of the children of Israel.  So you shall bring the Levites before the Lord, and the children of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites."

--Numbers 8:9-10  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 11, 2013 of Psalm 50:1-15; Acts 17:1-15; Numbers 8-10:10.

It isn't real clear here whether God commanded that all the tens of thousands of people of the house of Levi were to be brought together for the cleansing ceremony, or its 22,000 males over the age of one month (see Numbers 3:39), or just the 8580 males from the age of thirty to fifty that were assigned to do the work of the tabernacle (see Numbers 4:48).  Either way, this was a large number of people to be gathered in one place, in the center of their mobile city, just outside the tabernacle.  Nor is it clear if all the children of Israel or just the sons (traditionally, the males stood for the houses) or just representatives from each house, be it hundreds of thousands or tens of thousands or maybe just thousands, but an additional huge throng was to be gathered around the Levites in the middle.  A sea of humanity in the desert, with one center point.  I envision Moses standing with Aaron at his side and Aaron's sons at his side, each of them touching one another with one hand and reaching down to touch a Levite kneeling before them with the other hand, each Levite reaching out to their brother (or sister) around them, the first row of the Israelis, also kneeling, touching the Levite before them and the Israeli beside, and behind these the children of Israel, all kneeling, touching the one in front and the one beside.  People as far as the eye can see, hands reaching outward in a never ending circle, straining forward toward a central focus, a center point.  Hands to the side and hands to the front, starting way at the rear at the fringes of our vision and surging forward, all joined in common purpose.

The power emanating forward toward the center would be incredible.  I have been the focal point of a much smaller circle of friends and brothers, once when elected and appointed as a Deacon and once when ordained as a minister of our Lord.  The feeling of power coming from those hands, reaching in from all directions, was immense.  I could not feel any individual hand, nor individual touch, just the one overwhelming all encompassing touch of God flowing from my friends.

What a picture this vision paints of Christian cooperation and purpose.  Each of us should be laying our hands on each other, supporting each other, holding each other up.  From way at the back, each of us straining forward, helping and encouraging a brother or sister to our side but ever reaching forward toward the center.  And there, at the center, at the very core of our faith, with hundreds of thousands and thousands of millions of hands reaching out to touch Him, stands Jesus, reaching down to touch each and every one of us.  More hands than can be counted surging, grasping forward, unconditional love radiating back.  With Jesus our Savior at our center, we have more than the world can ever provide.  Amen.

Lord Jesus, too often we get caught up with the busyness of our earthly life and fail to keep You at our center, at our core.  When we do so, we forfeit all the strength and energy and power You can give us with a simple touch.  Please help us stay focused on what truly matters to us, help us keep You at the center of our lives.  In Your blessed name, Lord Jesus we pray.   Amen.

You Can't Take It With You

But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for He shall receive me.

--Psalm 49:15  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 10, 2013 of Psalm 49:12-20; Acts 16:16-40; Numbers 7:30-89.

The sons of Korah speak at length in Psalm 49 as to the futility of accumulating earthly treasure and influence and their inability to provide salvation.  They remark that wise men and fools alike will die and rot and have to leave all their earthly wealth to others because they can't take it with them.  In this regard they are no different from any other animal that perishes.  But those who put their faith in God will find their treasures amassed in heaven, beginning with the salvation the Lord gives.  So the sons tell us not to worry when someone else strikes it rich or their name is glorified by man.  When they die, none of that will go with them.  But those rewards and riches stored up in heaven await the faithful and will never be taken away.

The fifteenth verse gives a very clear message Christian's should recognize.  God will redeem us, He will receive us.  God our Father sent His Son Jesus to earth to free mankind from the grip of sin, to save us from eternal damnation, to defeat even death and redeem our souls from the very power of the grave.  It is through Jesus that God redeems us, and only through Jesus does He receive us and accept us as His own.    Jesus tells us the only way to the Father is through the Son so the only way the Father can receive us is through His Son Jesus.  Jesus also assures us that God has adopted us as His very own and wants us to call Him Abba, Daddy, Father.  Because of the sacrifice Jesus made for us, because of the price He paid on our behalf, we don't have to worry about not taking anything with us.  It's already there waiting on us.  Thank You, Jesus!  Thank You, Father!  Amen.

God our Father and Jesus our Brother, we could never even begin to thank You for all the gifts and blessings you have poured over us, and especially for the greatest gift of redemption and salvation!  Thank You for showing us so many times in Your holy word how much You care for us and what is in store for us if we only believe.  In the dear name of Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Encouragement and Support

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night.  A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."  Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

--Acts 16:9-10  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 9, 2013 of Psalm 49:1-11; Acts 15:36-16:15; Numbers 6-7:29.

Two aspects of this passage bear noting.  First is the term "man of Macedonia", the image that appeared to Paul in his vision.  Macedonia was the region of Greek influence, so this "man" represented all the culture, intelligence, achievements, and even religion of the Greek civilization.  Yet "he" was asking for help because "he", in other words, the entire civilization, was spiritually bankrupt.  This is our cue.  The Holy Spirit was leading Paul to spread the Gospel there, in Macedonia, just as He leads us to share the Good News with those who are spiritually and morally bereft here in the natural world around us.

But perhaps more interesting are the two words "we" and "us" appearing in the narrative where they have not been used up to this point.  The Apostle Luke is the author of the Books of Acts, and by this inclusion we know he joined up with Paul in Troas and went with him to Philippi.  In verse one of this chapter we learn of the young man Timothy, who Paul took along with him and Silas on what we now call this second missionary journey.  So now the brothers number four, and include two apostles and a "leading man among the brethren".  What were they planning?  "We sought to go to" the spiritually lost.  Why?  Because "the Lord called us to preach the Gospel to them."  How exciting this must have been for the small churches this group visited in their travels, how encouraging for them to have four strong believers come among them at once!  And how much strength it must have given each other, to have so much love and support with them, all four working closely together in service to the Lord!  This should serve as a model for us, to strengthen, encourage, and support one another every hour of the day, to work together toward a common goal of expanding the kingdom of God and the realm of Jesus.  Amen.

Lord Jesus, may we always strive to live the examples You give us in Your Holy word.  May we strengthen each other and build one another up, rather than trying to put each other down.  May our joy in serving You call others to our side that want to experience the same joy in Your service.  In Your name, dear Jesus, we pray.   Amen.

Staying Well Centered

According to the commandment of the Lord they were numbered by the hand of Moses, each according to his service and according to his task; thus they were numbered by him, as the Lord commanded Moses.

--Numbers 4:49  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 8, 2013 of Psalm 48; Acts 15:22-35; Numbers 4:29-5.

A few years into their wilderness journey, God started creating a little order from the mass of humanity in the desert.  He started by having Moses and Aaron conduct a census of all males of an age to go to war, to be counted by the houses of their forefathers, the sons of Jacob.  Only the sons of the house of Levi were not included in the count, with the two sons of Joseph being used to keep the twelve houses.  Each house was then assigned a position to set up camp around the tabernacle when the nation was at rest, with three houses to each compass direction of east, south, west, and north.  The children of the house of Levi were set aside and dedicated to God and to His service.  The Levite males from thirty to fifty years of age were counted in a second census, and assigned very specific tasks for tending to the tabernacle and carrying it piece by piece when the camp moved.  All of the children of Israel were assigned their position to camp around the tabernacle, with the children of Levi being encamped closest to it, including Moses and Aaron as the very closest.

Note that the tabernacle, where God would dwell among them while encamped and at rest, served as the very center of their mobile nation.  So it should be for us today.  Jesus should be at the very center of our lives, no matter how mobile and busy we may be.  Just like the camp of the children of Israel in the desert, everything should spread outward from Christ our Lord.  Service to Him and His church should come first, before any other consideration.  Ball games, fishing trips, shopping expeditions, or auto races should never  be given higher priority than spending time with our Lord.  May we always place Him at the center of our lives.  Amen.

Dearest Jesus, You are always faithful to us even when we are not faithful to You, even when we fail to put You first.  Please forgive us when we let the busyness of our day to day lives put serving you at the bottom of our to-do list.  In Your holy name, sweet Jesus, we pray.   Amen.

Shout in Triumph

Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples!  Shout to God with the voice of triumph!  For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth.

--Psalm 47:1-2  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 7, 2013 of Psalm 47; Acts 15:1-21; Numbers 3:21-4:28.

Many of the psalms written by the sons of Korah are happy, joyous songs filled with lots of noise and rejoicing.  If you don't have a musical instrument to play, just clap your hands and shout!  Lift your voice in loud adoration and praising to God, our Lord Most High, because He is an awesome God.  He created everything around us, from the smallest nuclear particle to the largest star and the very entirety of the universe itself.  He knows everything that happens and will happen long before it actually does happen.  He knows the count of every hair on every head.  He is a Sovereign God, Ruler of all the cosmos, yet He allows us free will to do whatever we wish, fully understanding the consequences of our actions.

But notice the sons of Korah tell us to shout with a voice of triumph.  Even though this and all psalms are considered part of the Old Testament, written centuries before Christ's birth, Christians should understand that this refers to Jesus' triumph over death for our sake.  We know the outcome of the great and final battle between good and evil.  We know Jesus reigns victorious and we get to share in the victory.  Clap your hands and shout in triumph!  Jesus reigns!  Amen.

Awesome God, creator of the heavens and the earth, may we lift our voices to You in shouts of triumph!  May we sing Your praises with great gladness and joy.  Thank you, Lord Jesus, for taking our sins upon You who were sinless and for defeating death on our behalf.  We know the final outcome thanks to Your word given us and we sing of victory and triumph!  In the glorious name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Through Hardship and Tribulation

And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."

--Acts 14:21-22  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 6, 2013 of Psalm 46; Acts 14; Numbers 2-3:20.

Over the centuries and still today, some preach that God wants us to prosper here on earth, if we would just have enough faith and patience.  Paul makes it pretty clear that this might not be the case, that we may never prosper in this world.  On his first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas found opposition to their teachings and had to flee Iconium because they feared being attacked.  They ventured on to Lystra, where the Jews and Gentiles who had risen against them in Antioch and Iconium came there and incited the people of Lystra against Paul.  The mob that grew from this stoned Paul and left him outside the city for dead.  But he survived that ordeal and with Barnabas continued on with his mission, stopping first in Derbe where they brought many to Christ, then finally returning to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch.  Paul encourages the disciples he had made there by telling them that yes, just like he just did, they will have to endure many hardships, even beatings and death at the hands of the non-believers, before they may be allowed to enter the kingdom of God.

We may not consider these very encouraging words, being assured that we must face hardships and tribulations.  If we look at the lives of the Apostles, none of those closest to Jesus prospered in a worldly sense.  None of them enjoyed the fruits of their labors here in earth unless they considered the many lives they brought to Christ.  Nor should we expect any better, not as long as we stand for Jesus.  Satan and the forces of evil will make sure of it.  But we must continue the mission Jesus set before us, continue to make the Gospel known far and wide, continue to advance the kingdom of God.  Our prosperity, as did that of the Apostles and the martyrs for Christ over the generations, will come later, in God's kingdom.  Praise the Lord!  Amen.

Merciful Father, we know that we may be called upon to suffer in the name of Jesus.  We may have to face ordeals on any given day.  We may see great hardships, trials, and tribulations as we strive to following Jesus Christ and make our way toward Your kingdom.  We pray that You deliver us from evil and that You prepare a room for us in Your mansion for when our time comes to depart this earth.  In the  name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Taking Count

So all who were numbered of the children of Israel, by their fathers' houses, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war in Israel -- all who were numbered were six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty.

--Numbers 1:45-46  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 5, 2013 of Psalm 45; Acts 13:26-52; Numbers 1.

Early in their second year of wandering through the wilderness, God ordered a census of all men of an age that could go to war, to be listed by each house of Jacob.  The total was over six hundred thousand!  This was just the men from twenty years old and above.  If you add in the women, the children (including the males under 20), and those men too old to go off to war, the total count of the children of Israel was very likely near two million!  Maybe more.  And they had their flocks and their herds with them.  It challenges the mind to imagine this large company breaking camp and moving everything to a new location on a regular basis.  This would be considered quite a large city even by today's standards.  Back then it would have been huge, with a fighting force that would have been the envy of every nation in the region.  The logistics of feeding, supplying water to, providing for the needs of, and moving this enormous mass humanity, beasts and birds, and personal possessions would be a nightmare!  Yet one man, one very old man (over 82 at this point in the story), kept a fairly tight rein over all this.

Of course, Moses did none of this on his own.  Not even considering the help he received from his brother Aaron.  No, for any man or even a group of men, this would have been an impossible undertaking.  But Moses didn't really do any of this.  God orchestrated every move this mobile nation made.  God did it all, using Moses as His tool.  Moses, and Aaron, served the Lord and He made all this possible.  With man alone, this could not have been done.  With God, nothing is impossible.  Praise the Lord!  Amen.

Lord, we know that through You all things can be done.  Your holy word gives us example after example of how man alone would have faltered had it not been for You.  In You, the impossible is made possible.  Paul tells us that all things are possible through Christ, who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).  Thank You, Lord, for doing for us what we could never do for ourselves, and especially for our salvation.  In that holiest of  names, Jesus, we pray.  Amen.

They Prayed

Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

--Acts 13:3  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 4, 2013 of Psalm 44:17-26; Acts 13:1-25; Leviticus 26:14-27.

The Holy Spirit spoke to the group of disciples gathered at Antioch and told them to separate Barnabas and Saul apart from the group and set them to the task God had assigned them.  The way it was recorded, this instruction was likely very clear and concise, leaving no room for question nor interpretation.  Yet, what did the disciples do first, before obeying the Holy Spirit's order?  They fasted and prayed.  Fasting is a way to prepare ourselves to approach the Lord, a means of clearing ourselves internally, in a manner of speaking.  And prayer is that approach, our direct communication channel with our God in heaven.  So before following the instruction given by the Holy Spirit, they came before the Father, perhaps simply to pay homage to His will.  We don't know for sure what they prayed for or about, the record is not that detailed.  We just know they prayed.

The disciples did this frequently, praying before they acted.  Before casting lots, their means of voting, for the brother who would replace Judas Iscariot, they prayed to God for guidance in their decision.  They prayed to honor God, to acknowledge His sovereign authority over them, to seek His guidance, to discern His will in the next steps they were about to take.  We should follow their example and pray before we act, seek God's guidance before we make a move, ask for temperance before we speak.  He will hear us, and respond.

Ever-present God, too often we fail to come to You seeking Your advise before we make a decision that could have great impact on our lives and the lives of others.  Too often we rely upon our own resources, our own flawed abilities to discern what the best course of action may be.  Please forgive us when we forget just how much we need You and Your help.  Please remind us to come to You when we have tough choices to make.  In Jesus' beautiful name we pray.  Amen.

A Byword Among the Nations

You make us a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and a derision to those all around us.  You make us a byword among the nations, a shaking of the head among the peoples.

--Psalm 44:13-14  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 3, 2013 of Psalm 44:9-16; Acts 12; Leviticus 25:8-26:13.

God often found it necessary to teach His chosen people the wisdom of obeying His commandments and following His laws.  Sometimes this meant defeat at the hands of their enemies, exile from their lands, enslavement, or maybe just wandering around in the wilderness for a few generations.  For less serious offenses they may have simply been made to seem weak by other peoples, a laughingstock on the world stage, eyed skeptically by those who wondered why they thought themselves so special.  Their arrogance sometimes led to God bringing them down a notch or two, even turning His back on them when they needed Him to make them more humble.

Are we, the United States, now receiving similar treatment?  Have we become too arrogant, thinking ourselves so much better or more blessed than the rest of the world, putting our needs ahead of the needs of others, seeking to be served rather than to serve?  Do we believe we no longer have need of a God or a Jesus or a Holy Spirit?  We must return to our origins, as a nation and a people brought together under God, before the Lord of all creation turns His face from us and slowly walks away.

Patient Lord, Father God, sometimes we just don't know what's good for us, we don't realize that You have our best interests at heart and that You try to turn us toward the direction we should walk to be with You.  Please forgive us when we strain against You.  Forgive us when we think ourselves somehow above reproach, above Your creation.  Please hear our fervent prayers and grant us Your forgiveness.  In the name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Atonement: One Day At A Time

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: "Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement.  It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the Lord.  And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God.

--Leviticus 23:26-28  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 2, 2013 of Psalm 44:1-8; Acts 11:19-30; Leviticus 23:23-25:7.

God set aside one day each year for the children of Israel to atone for their sins, to afflict themselves, and make an offering to the Lord.  This was to be a holy day and, by its very nature, quite somber.  But before this, on the first day of that same month, they were to have a holy day of Sabbath-rest, to include "a memorial of blowing of trumpets" (reference vs. 24).  This sounds a little more joyous, almost a celebration, bringing to mind scenes of David dancing and playing musical instruments in the streets.  But joyous or somber, the people were to take a day to rest before afflicting themselves and atoning for their sins.

Like the Israelites, we should also reserve time to make atonement ourselves.  But rather than one day a year, we should try to set aside a few minutes each day to reflect on all the good God has done for us, for the sacrifice Jesus made, to remember our sins and atone for them, seeking forgiveness for displeasing our Lord.  Jesus made the greatest offering for us, but we still need to confess our sins to Him and make atonement.  Every day should be our Day of Atonement.   Amen.

Ever faithful and forgiving Father, like Your chosen people, we know we have done wrong in Your eyes and need to examine our deeds and our words in light of what You would have us do.  We need to humble ourselves before You, confessing all our sins and those things which trouble our souls.  Please hear us when we atone, and grant us forgiveness.  In the name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Repentance to Life

When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life."

--Acts 11:18  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on March 1, 2013 of Psalm 43; Acts 11:1-18; Leviticus 22-23:22.

In chapter 10 of the book of the Acts of the Apostles, Luke describes what has since become referred to by many as the Gentile Pentecost.  After receiving a vision from God and a message from an Angel of the Lord, Peter and a few other disciples traveled to Caesarea to see the centurion Cornelius.  As Peter spoke to Cornelius and those gathered with him, the Holy Spirit descended upon them.  Peter and the disciples saw the signs and witnessed to this happening, and so baptized them all.When they returned to Jerusalem, Peter was questioned by those who believed circumcision to be a necessary step for conversion.  They accused him of being with and even baptizing the uncircumcised men in Caesarea.  Peter told them the whole story, including the vision and message from God and the signs of the Holy Spirit's presence on Cornelius and those gathered with him.  Then Peter asked them how could he withstand God's will.  With this, they all understood that God meant for His salvation through belief in Jesus Christ His Son to be for all people, not just the Jews.

This marked a huge leap in the spread of Christianity and the strengthening of the early church, expanding the community of faith to include anyone who believes, Jew or Gentile.  It also saw the beginning of lessening the importance and dependency on the laws of Moses as a means to salvation, with the understanding that neither adherence to the laws nor any act on our part can ever save us.  Only by God's grace and our belief in Jesus Christ as His Son can we be redeemed.  Just as the disciples did, may we glorify God for His grace and mercy!  Amen.

God of grace and God of mercy, thank You so much for sending the Holy Spirit down upon those uncircumcised men of Caesarea and setting the precedent for all of us to be included in Jesus' community of faith.  Thank You for granting us redemption through our repentance of sins and belief in Your Son.  In the name of Jesus we glorify You and we pray.  Amen.