50ȼ; $2; $3; or $6

I read these words on my son’s FB page:

“A bottle of water can be 50ȼ at a supermarket; $2 at a gym; $3 at the theatre; and $6 on a plane. Same water. The only thing that changed its value was the place. So, the next time you feel your worth nothing to those around you, maybe you’re at the wrong place.”

How often has God felt misplaced due to the kind of response He received from the fields where He labored…

“’I raised up some of your sons as prophets, and some of your young men as Nazirites. Is it not so, O you children of Israel?’ says the Lord. But you gave the Nazirites wine to drink, and commanded the prophets saying, ‘Do not prophesy!’” [1]

Nevertheless, God and His servants the prophets plowed forward knowing that people needed to hear the Word of the Lord…

“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law.” “He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” [2]

Where are those people who welcome revelation from God’s Word? Where are they who are happy to keep His law? Where are those who appreciate the man or woman who holds them accountable?

“So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” [3]

“Yes, Heavenly Father, please grant us hearts of wisdom to love You, worship You, and to always speak of Your goodness. For You ARE worthy! In the Name of Jesus Your Son, I pray, Amen.”

[1] Amos 2:11-12
[2] Proverbs 29:18; 29:1
[3] Psalm 90:12

True Prophets of God

The worst judgment is for God to stop contending with us to believe in Him, and to abandon us so that we live for sin. In the days of Noah, God said, “My Spirit shall not always strive with man.” [1] Martin Luther wrote, “Sin is the disease, the Gospel is the remedy.” We need to be convicted of sin so that we thirst for healing. We need to receive Christ and all He has done for our salvation so that our thirst for rescue and salvation from sin is quenched.

I’m praying that every believer in Christ will function in the true sense of a prophet of God, that is, to point people to God’s Messiah, Jesus Christ, for salvation.

“The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” [2]

[1] Genesis 6:3
[2] Revelation 19:10

Doing What Is Right

“Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.” [1]

Those who want to do what is right like the Lord’s way because the Lord Jesus always does what is right. He is without sin.

Transgressors don’t flow with the Lord’s way due to their desire to sin, and therefore feel His way hinders them from reaching their goal.

Thankfully, Jesus is gracious and merciful to sinners. He is willing to help us with Scripture and His Holy Spirit to have new hearts and a will to do what is right in God’s sight.

“It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” [2]

Amen! May it be so.

[1] Hosea 14:9
[2] Philippians 2:13

The Loving Rebuke of Christ that Save Sinners

Those who collected sea shells along the seashore rejoiced when the waters receded greatly. That was until a giant tsunami wave came rolling in and took them away. I wonder how many people are rejoicing that there is little conviction of sin, little repentance of sin and fewer people drawing near to God. It is a not a good sign when sinning is increasing, and conviction of it is decreasing.

Let us pray for our loved ones and acquaintances that the Lord Jesus by His Word and His Spirit will replace distance from God with closeness to God.

“Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.” (Hosea 10:12)

Invitation to Dine with the King of Kings & Lord of Lords

“He brought me to the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love.” [1]

I would not be at the King of King’s table except for His love for me. He initiated this grace. I am totally unworthy of such an honor except that He who created me chose to redeem me, save me, and bring me to His marriage feast.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” [2]

My Good Shepherd treats me royally amidst those who hate me and want to destroy me. I pray that I will do the same for Him. I’m looking forward to being with Him.

“Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!” [3]

“Many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” [4]

Praise the Lord! Around the banqueting table I see people I have read about and talked about for many years. Now, we are feasting and talking together.

“They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” [5]

I look forward to seeing the Lamb who considers my life so valuable that He died for me on a cross to atone for my sins. He resurrected and ascended to heaven to assure me that He has made a way for me to do so the same.

“’As for Mephibosheth,’ said the king, ‘he shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons.’” [6]

Mephibosheth was a lame man. King David invited him to feast at his royal table all the days of his life. Mephibosheth means “Destroyer of Shame.” His method of destroying shame was to rest under the grace of a generous king. The king gave, he received. He is a metaphor for me who will sit at the marriage feast of the Lamb. I got there despite my obvious character flaws due to the goodness of God.

Praise to the King of Kings and Lords of Lords for His marvelous lovingkindness and grace towards me and towards all who trust in His glorious grace!

[1] Song of Solomon 2:4
[2] Psalm 23:5-6
[3] Revelation 19:9
[4] Matthew 8:11
[5] Revelation 7:16-17
[6] 2 Samuel 9:11

The Atoning Sacrifice

“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” [1]

“For My [the Lord’s] sake.”

To talk about Jesus as the only Lord and Savior of people is to speak prophetically. To speak up for Jesus for the sake of people’s salvation and for His glory is often regarded as offensive and evil in this world, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong to do so. In fact, our Lord urges us to rejoice and be exceedingly glad when we experience conflict for His sake because our rewards in heaven will be great.

May our Heavenly Father grant us the grace and compassion to reveal Jesus to those around the table this thanksgiving that have not yet experienced what it is like to know and walk with Him. That they too would be assured of a place at the banquet table of heaven not based on their own goodness or deeds but based on the merits of what Jesus did for their salvation on the cross.

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” [2]

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” [3]

Seeing our loved ones in heaven would be an exceedingly great reward.

[1] Matthew 5:11-12

[2] 1John 2:2

[3] 1 John 4:10

The Lord Supplies According to His Riches

In who or what are we trusting? Ourselves? Some business model?

The Lord Jesus gives the gold (faith to move mountains) that has been refined by fire. The Lord Jesus clothes with the garments of righteousness by which we can serve the Heavenly Father acceptably. The Lord Jesus gives the eye salve that opens our eyes to see as He sees. His supply far surpasses the world's.

Christ Rules & Reigns Forevermore

Lions, Bears and Eagles! The names of NFL football teams! But also emblems of nations who take on the spirit of the anti-Christ, which by the way, “anti” in this context refers to “instead” of Christ. Nations whose leaders and followers are deceived to think they can be the lord and savior of the world! They prevail for a time, like that mighty tower of Babel that Nimrod built so long ago, but ultimately, crumble into dust before the Kingdom of Christ.

“I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.” [1]

“I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. I came near to one of those who stood by and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things: ‘Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth. But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’” [2]

The saints of the Most High win because God is greater than the devil.

The last beast that reigns before the Lord returns speaks pompous words. He makes war against the saints and prevails against them, “until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.” [3] That last beast was a demon clothed in human form. He persecuted the saints. He intention was to change the times and law to reflect his image, but he was dethroned and destroyed, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, is given to the saints of the Most High. “His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.” [4]

One characteristic of the anti-Christ is to cast truth down. He prospers for a time, but his days are numbered. [5] He grows in strength as the will of people to live contrary to God’s laws increases. “When the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise, having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes. His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; he shall destroy fearfully and shall prosper and thrive; he shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people.” Deception prospers under his rule, but he is broken without human means. The Lord defeats him and casts him into the lake of fire. [6]

Those who doubted the Messiah who came and fulfilled all that was written about Him… the One who resurrected from the dead on the third day… those who denied that He lives in His people by His Spirit… were scammed by the anti-Christ. They joined his evil army of predators against good people, but ultimately, they perished with the devil and his false messiah. Christ rules and reigns with His followers forevermore. Amen.

[1] Daniel 7:1-14
[2] Daniel 7:15-18
[3] Daniel 7:20-22
[4] Daniel 7:25-27
[5] Daniel 8:12
[6] Daniel 8:23-25; Revelation 20:10

Jesus Christ is the King of Kings

He had a dream of an image that represented his kingdom, the kingdoms of the ruling empires to follow his, and of the kingdom of God. [1] He made an idol ninety feet tall of the image and demanded that people worship it. [2] Three men refused to bow to it. He threw them into a fiery furnace, but they did not die. In fact, he saw someone with the form of the Son of God in the fire with them. They came out of the fire unharmed thanks to God. [3] He blessed the God of the three men and made a new decree that anyone who did not worship their God would be cut in pieces, and their houses destroyed. [4]

God, in His great mercy, brought Nebuchadnezzar the king of kings to his knees before Him. Nebuchadnezzar sent messages to all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me. How great are His signs, and how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation.” “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.” [5]

The psalmist David knew the Lord well. He wrote, “Hear this, all peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world… Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the multitude of their riches, none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him—for the redemption of their souls is costly, and it shall cease forever—that he should continue to live eternally, and not see the Pit.” [6]

In other words, “I am a king, but only God’s Redeemer (the Messiah) can redeem you from your sins and save you from the pit of hell.” He warned, “Man, though in honor, does not remain; he is like the beasts that perish. But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for He shall receive me.” [7] David’s hope for eternal salvation was in God.

“Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.” [8]

To place a higher trust in anyone or anything, above trust in the resurrected Son of God is a fatal mistake. Only those who heed His warnings and follow His leadings will partake of the tree of life in His eternal city. Only the Savior saves from sin!

The governing authorities of China are attempting to rewrite the Bible, and to recast the communist party instead of Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus Christ knew this would happen. He warned, “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” [9]

Eventually, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Heavenly Father. Thus, the last verse of the Bible speaks of our need of His grace: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” [10]

[1] Daniel 2:36-45
[2] Daniel 3:1-7
[3] Daniel 3:8-27
[4] Daniel 3:28-29
[5] Daniel 4:1-3, 37
[6] Psalm 49:1, 6-9

[7] Psalm 49:12, 15

[8] Revelation 22:14-15

[9] Revelation 22:18-19

[10] Philippians 2:9-11; Revelation 22:21

Keep Truthing & Loving the Lord

“If I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15

The Church of the living God exists to convey truth to those who are being deceived by lies. We do this by dependence on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Jesus was tried for telling the truth in accordance with the Word of God...

“Pilate therefore said to Him, ‘Are You a king then?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.’” John 18:37

Let us love the Lord and His truth even though the contradictions against truth-tellers is intensifying.

To Him Who Overcomes

Our Lord Jesus Christ repeats the following lines to the churches of Revelation 2 and 3:

“I know your works.”

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

“To Him who overcomes I will give…”

He wants us to overcome the temptations and hardships of these last days. He says to put our faith in Him. He will empower us to cross the finish line and He will reward us.

“This is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5:4-5

No Fool

“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have done abominable works there is none who does good.” [1]

Who has been fooled to think there is no God. or into treating God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit as less than God?

Jesus said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” [2]

God wants all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of truth. [3] Jesus Christ is the truth that we must come to for salvation. To follow anyone else, or to behave as though you can save yourself or save others, is to follow a false god.

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” [4]

The One who imputes justness before God is Jesus the Messiah. He grants His righteous status before God to us when we believe in Him for salvation. The One who imparts just behavior to us is Jesus the Messiah. He does this by giving us His Holy Spirit.

Jesus the Messiah is our source of hope for eternal life with God, and He is the source of our ability to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before God. All the glory be unto Him!

[1] Psalm 14:1
[2] Matthew 10:28
[3] 1 Timothy 2:4
[4] Micah 6:8

Love God Love Your Neighbor

The commands to love God and neighbor are from the Bible. [1] Loving God and loving our neighbor should be normal behavior among us since that is the type of people God created us to be. As I read the Bible this morning, I identified ways to be a lover of God and neighbor, as well as ways to fail this commission.

For example, I read of warning people of impending harm to them as a way to love your neighbor, and to refrain from warning people as a love-failure. I read of expressing love with the mouth but pursuing selfish gain with one’s heart as a love-failure. The Lord says that service providers (shepherds) who exploit those they serve are love-failures. The Lord favors the service providers who seek out the lost, bring back those who were driven away, bind up the broken and who strengthen what was sick. Love-givers help people to recognize God’s Messiah as the transformer of people from love-failures to love-givers. Our Heavenly Father’s desire is to bring people to a place of peace and safety; to rain on them showers of blessing; to bring forth abundant food for us; and to be our God and have us as His people. He is a love-giver. [2]

Jesus Messiah is a love-giver. He was willingly pierced, despised, and ridiculed for our sakes to bring us to eternal salvation. He is the standard bearer for love-givers. He brings people to green pastures. He leads people in paths of righteousness. He restores people’s lost souls. He stays with people when they are passing through the valley of the shadow of death. He comforts people. He prepares a feast for people in the presence of their enemies to demonstrate His solidarity with them. He brings people into His house to live with Him permanently.

Evil empires are not built on the foundation of love for God and neighbor. Jesus described them as a beast that rises out of the sea to blaspheme God and make war with God’s people. They are comparable to the worst of predators. To a leopard, a bear, a lion, and a dragon! All whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world succumb to these evil empires. The Lord says that victory over these evil empires requires patience and faith in Him. [4]

So, how should we love God and our neighbor? How about in our business practices? Should we produce and sell products that destroy people’s lives? Should we get rich and live comfortably by deceiving and manipulating people? Or should we ask the Lord to show us how to produce goods and services that demonstrate love for God and our neighbor? Should we learn and work not only for our well-being but also for the well-being of those around us as well?

[1] Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 5:43; 19:19; 22:39; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8
[2] Ezekiel 33-34 “My servant David” of Ezekiel 34:23-24 refers to Jesus Christ
[3] Psalms 22-23
[4] Revelation 13:1-10