Bearing witness to the Word of God and to the testimony of Jesus!
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Wednesday, January 25, 2023
GRACE, LOVE, FELLOWSHIP
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of
God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” ~ 2 Corinthians
13:14
Friday, January 20, 2023
Thursday, January 19, 2023
Faithful Despite Betrayal
Israel loved Joseph more than all his children. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.
The Lord showed Joseph in a dream that one day his brothers and even his parents would bow down to him. In this way, he was a type of Christ. Our Messiah was born into the human race but was hated for being the favored one of His Heavenly Father more than any other son born to people.
Pontius Pilate perceived the reason the religious leaders betrayed Jesus: “For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.” [1]
Joseph’s brothers hated him because of his dreams and his words. [2]
One day, Joseph’s brothers conspired to kill him. However, his oldest brother, Reuben, overheard their plot and urged them to throw Joseph into a pit instead. Reuben’s secret plan was to return to the pit later when his brothers were not around and rescue Joseph. The hateful brothers heeded Reuben’s advice, but while Reuben was gone, Judah advised them to sell Joseph to slave traders.
Here again Joseph is a type of Christ. Judas Iscariot, a disciple of Jesus, betrayed Jesus to the priests of Jerusalem for thirty pieces of silver. Jesus referred to His disciples as brothers. So, His “brother” sold Him out for thirty pieces of silver. Thirty pieces of silver was the going price of a slave. Thus, Judas Iscariot was shocked when he discovered that the priests planned to kill Jesus, and not sell Him off as a slave. Judas returned the thirty pieces of silver to the priests and hung himself. Judas is the New Testament name for the Old Testament name Judah. Judah sold Joseph for a slave. Judas sold Jesus presumably to be a slave.
“Judah said to his brothers, ‘What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.’ And his brothers listened.” [3]
The next story in the Bible after this one is the story of Judah’s wicked sons and his scandalous relationship with Tamar his daughter-in-law. The Lord slew the first two of Judah’s three sons. Judah deprived his father Israel of a son and was himself deprived of two of his sons.
After Judah’s wife died, he found a harlot and went into her. What Judah did not realize was that this veiled harlot that he had intimacy with was not a stranger, she was Tamar, his daughter-in-law. Judah’s third son was obligated to impregnate Tamar when his first two sons failed to do so before they died. Without a son, Tamar would have no one to provide for her in her old age. Judah had promised to give his third son to Tamar when he was old enough to marry but did not do so. Tamar felt obligated to deceive Judah into having intimacy with her because she wanted a son, and he did not keep his promise to her.
Judah sold his brother Joseph to slavers. He deceived his father into believing that Joseph had been slain by wild animals. Afterwards, Judah grieved the loss of two of his sons. He was also deceived by Tamar to bring about the sons she needed to survive in her old age. Judah should not have betrayed Joseph or lied to his father.
Joseph was the brother that God had chosen to save his family and the world from death during a worldwide famine. He was the son who was reported by his brothers be dead, but then, after a period of mourning, was discovered to be alive. In this way, he was also a type of the Messiah that was to come.
Jesus was also betrayed by one whom He treated as a brother. John the Apostle quoted Psalm 41:9 as being fulfilled in Jesus:
“I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.” [4]
“Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” [5]
Jesus Messiah was betrayed by His brothers, but praise God, He came back from the pit they had thrown Him in and redeemed us from our sins.
To be like Jesus. To faithfully reflect Him after a trusted brother’s betrayal: “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” [6]
[1] Mark 15:10
[2] Genesis 37:8
[3] Genesis 37:26-27
[4] John 13:18
[5] Psalm 41:9
[6] Psalm 55:22
The Lord showed Joseph in a dream that one day his brothers and even his parents would bow down to him. In this way, he was a type of Christ. Our Messiah was born into the human race but was hated for being the favored one of His Heavenly Father more than any other son born to people.
Pontius Pilate perceived the reason the religious leaders betrayed Jesus: “For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.” [1]
Joseph’s brothers hated him because of his dreams and his words. [2]
One day, Joseph’s brothers conspired to kill him. However, his oldest brother, Reuben, overheard their plot and urged them to throw Joseph into a pit instead. Reuben’s secret plan was to return to the pit later when his brothers were not around and rescue Joseph. The hateful brothers heeded Reuben’s advice, but while Reuben was gone, Judah advised them to sell Joseph to slave traders.
Here again Joseph is a type of Christ. Judas Iscariot, a disciple of Jesus, betrayed Jesus to the priests of Jerusalem for thirty pieces of silver. Jesus referred to His disciples as brothers. So, His “brother” sold Him out for thirty pieces of silver. Thirty pieces of silver was the going price of a slave. Thus, Judas Iscariot was shocked when he discovered that the priests planned to kill Jesus, and not sell Him off as a slave. Judas returned the thirty pieces of silver to the priests and hung himself. Judas is the New Testament name for the Old Testament name Judah. Judah sold Joseph for a slave. Judas sold Jesus presumably to be a slave.
“Judah said to his brothers, ‘What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.’ And his brothers listened.” [3]
The next story in the Bible after this one is the story of Judah’s wicked sons and his scandalous relationship with Tamar his daughter-in-law. The Lord slew the first two of Judah’s three sons. Judah deprived his father Israel of a son and was himself deprived of two of his sons.
After Judah’s wife died, he found a harlot and went into her. What Judah did not realize was that this veiled harlot that he had intimacy with was not a stranger, she was Tamar, his daughter-in-law. Judah’s third son was obligated to impregnate Tamar when his first two sons failed to do so before they died. Without a son, Tamar would have no one to provide for her in her old age. Judah had promised to give his third son to Tamar when he was old enough to marry but did not do so. Tamar felt obligated to deceive Judah into having intimacy with her because she wanted a son, and he did not keep his promise to her.
Judah sold his brother Joseph to slavers. He deceived his father into believing that Joseph had been slain by wild animals. Afterwards, Judah grieved the loss of two of his sons. He was also deceived by Tamar to bring about the sons she needed to survive in her old age. Judah should not have betrayed Joseph or lied to his father.
Joseph was the brother that God had chosen to save his family and the world from death during a worldwide famine. He was the son who was reported by his brothers be dead, but then, after a period of mourning, was discovered to be alive. In this way, he was also a type of the Messiah that was to come.
Jesus was also betrayed by one whom He treated as a brother. John the Apostle quoted Psalm 41:9 as being fulfilled in Jesus:
“I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.” [4]
“Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” [5]
Jesus Messiah was betrayed by His brothers, but praise God, He came back from the pit they had thrown Him in and redeemed us from our sins.
To be like Jesus. To faithfully reflect Him after a trusted brother’s betrayal: “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” [6]
[1] Mark 15:10
[2] Genesis 37:8
[3] Genesis 37:26-27
[4] John 13:18
[5] Psalm 41:9
[6] Psalm 55:22
Friday, January 13, 2023
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
God’s Goodness that Leads to Repentance
Let God’s conviction of sin strike your conscience with lightning force. Let it drive you to desperation. On Pentecost Day, the people who were convicted of their sin, cried out, saying, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Peter pointed them to Christ. When the Philippian jailer was convicted of his sin, he asked Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul pointed him to Christ. When Jesus convicted Paul of his sin, he asked Jesus, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” [1] God’s goodness leads people to repent of sin and believe in the Savior.
When God gives you the grace to be alarmed on account of your sins, then, you are ripe to approach the throne of God’s grace. God’s throne of grace is where you can ask God to forgive your sins. His forgiveness is the remedy for what ails you. Be contrite, not to acquire some merit by it, but in order that you may gladly accept what Jesus offers you, namely salvation. [2]
Drink the cup of Christ’s forgiveness. Avoid the cup of God’s wrath on sin.
On the night that Jesus was betrayed, “He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, ‘All of you drink it, for this is My blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.’” [3] “…Apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.” [4] Praise God, He offers to you and to me a cup of salvation in Christ. A cup full of divine goodness, forgiveness, and salvation.
“Do you despise the riches of His [God’s] goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” [5]
“Thank You Heavenly Father for Your goodness that led us to repent and believe Jesus Christ Your Son.”
[1] Based on words from a book by C.F.W. Walther, The Proper Distinction between Law and Gospel, Concordia Publishing House, 1929, pp. 193-196 (Acts 2:37; Acts 16:30; Acts 9:6)
[2] Ibid, pp. 195-196
[3] Matthew 26:27-28
[4] Hebrews 9:22
[5] Romans 2:4
When God gives you the grace to be alarmed on account of your sins, then, you are ripe to approach the throne of God’s grace. God’s throne of grace is where you can ask God to forgive your sins. His forgiveness is the remedy for what ails you. Be contrite, not to acquire some merit by it, but in order that you may gladly accept what Jesus offers you, namely salvation. [2]
Drink the cup of Christ’s forgiveness. Avoid the cup of God’s wrath on sin.
On the night that Jesus was betrayed, “He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, ‘All of you drink it, for this is My blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.’” [3] “…Apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.” [4] Praise God, He offers to you and to me a cup of salvation in Christ. A cup full of divine goodness, forgiveness, and salvation.
“Do you despise the riches of His [God’s] goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” [5]
“Thank You Heavenly Father for Your goodness that led us to repent and believe Jesus Christ Your Son.”
[1] Based on words from a book by C.F.W. Walther, The Proper Distinction between Law and Gospel, Concordia Publishing House, 1929, pp. 193-196 (Acts 2:37; Acts 16:30; Acts 9:6)
[2] Ibid, pp. 195-196
[3] Matthew 26:27-28
[4] Hebrews 9:22
[5] Romans 2:4
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
Monday, January 9, 2023
Being Quivered and Polished Arrows in God’s Hand
There is quiver time and polishing time before God chooses His next arrow. [1]
Speaking the right Word at the right time to the right people is what it means to hit the target for God.
This principle is true with child-rearing as well. [2]
Please see the pictures below.
[1] Isaiah 49:1-2
[2] Psalm 127:3-5
Speaking the right Word at the right time to the right people is what it means to hit the target for God.
This principle is true with child-rearing as well. [2]
Please see the pictures below.
[1] Isaiah 49:1-2
[2] Psalm 127:3-5
Saturday, January 7, 2023
Friday, January 6, 2023
Thursday, January 5, 2023
Fiery Judgment on All that is Evil
Our Heavenly Father grieved over the violence and hatred He saw among those made in His image in Noah’s day. How must He feel as He looks at what is happening now? “Heavenly Father, please help us to be ready for the moment that You tell Your Son Jesus Christ that it is time to return to the earth. This time, not to die on a cross for our sins, but to bring fiery judgment and the wrath of God on all that is evil.”
Tuesday, January 3, 2023
Thank You Lord Jesus for victories today in Your Name
Denying all that competes with faith in Christ:
“The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” [1]
Receiving power, love and sound-mind from God:
“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.” [2]
Looking to God and being saved by God:
“Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” [3]
“Thank You Lord Jesus for victories today in Your Name!”
[1] 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
[2] 2 Timothy 1:7
[3] Isaiah 45:22
“The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” [1]
Receiving power, love and sound-mind from God:
“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.” [2]
Looking to God and being saved by God:
“Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” [3]
“Thank You Lord Jesus for victories today in Your Name!”
[1] 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
[2] 2 Timothy 1:7
[3] Isaiah 45:22
Sunday, January 1, 2023
True Prophets Testify for Jesus
“Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.” (1 Peter 1:10-11)
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