Has someone ever advocated for you? They spoke up for you? They defended you? They asked those in authority to open a door of opportunity for you? Perhaps, you only discovered years later that your advocate was not the person who you imagined it was.
During an extreme trial, one man lamented, “Oh, that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for his neighbor! For when a few years are finished, I shall go the way of no return.” [1] He felt his life was at its end. Could someone pray for him?
Someone was advocating for him. God was! At the end of his trial, he received a double blessing from God (See Job chapter 42).
God is our advocate. He is for us. Daily He is on our side.
Three simple and often repeated words in the Bible are: “Praise the Lord!”
Good advice! As we praise the Lord, His light brightens our day.
PRAISE THE LORD! He knit me together in my mother’s womb! [2]
PRAISE THE LORD! I am fearfully made! [3]
PRAISE THE LORD! He knows my name and the number of hairs on my head! [4]
PRAISE THE LORD! He meets my daily needs and gives me extra to share. [5]
PRAISE THE LORD! He walks and talks with me. [6]
PRAISE THE LORD! He sent His Son into the world to atone for my sins. [7]
PRAISE THE LORD! He gives His Spirit to advocate for me. [8]
PRAISE THE LORD! He has given me eternal life. [9]
I like what the Apostle James wrote: “Of His [God’s] own will He brought us forth by the Word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. Therefore… receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls.” [10] Praise the Lord! He brought me into His family by revealing Himself to me via His Word – the Bible.
Personal Testimony:
Once while my family was serving the Lord in Hong Kong, our financial resources were down to 100 Hong Kong dollars (US$12.50). We were a family of six. A fellow missionary noticed that I was looking downcast and asked me what was wrong. After I told her our situation, she remarked, “Well, let’s stop and thank God for that 100 Hong Kong dollars, that’s more than enough for today.” so, we did, and it was, and here I am more than 30 years later doing just fine. Praise the Lord!
[1] Job 16:21-22
[2] Psalm 139:13
[3] Psalm 139:14
[4] Matthew 10:30
[5] Matthew 6:25-33
[6] Luke 24:13-17
[7] 1 John 2:2
[8] John 14:26
[9] John 3:16
[10] James 1:18, 21
Bearing witness to the Word of God and to the testimony of Jesus!
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Tuesday, July 30, 2024
Face towards the SON
“Heavenly Father, please give us the grace to keep our eyes on Your Son, and please help us to help others focus on Your Son Jesus as well. It is in His Name, Jesus Christ, I pray this. Amen.”
Monday, July 29, 2024
Jesus is the Answer
“They said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.’” John 6:28-29
The One whom God sent to save us is His Son Jesus Christ.
The One whom God sent to save us is His Son Jesus Christ.
Saturday, July 27, 2024
Feed My Sheep
The God who is love wants to be loved. Loving Him is the first commandment. Loving people who He created in His image is the second commandment.
Jesus prepared Peter for ministry by asking Peter if Peter loved Him. When Peter affirmed to Jesus that He did, Jesus asked Peter to feed His lambs and sheep. Jesus wanted Peter to feed His flock the Word of God even as Jesus had fed Peter and His fellow disciples. Feed them the Word of God so that the sheep grow in their love for God and in their love others.
Later in his life, Peter wrote to church leaders, saying, “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” [1]
Peter got it. Peter passed on what Jesus had taught him to do. Toward the end of his life, Peter was still loving Jesus and still feeding the flock. Praise the Lord!
“When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Feed My lambs.’”
He said to him again a second time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Tend My sheep.’
He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ And he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep.’” [2]
[1] 1 Peter 5:2-3
[2] John 21:15-17
Jesus prepared Peter for ministry by asking Peter if Peter loved Him. When Peter affirmed to Jesus that He did, Jesus asked Peter to feed His lambs and sheep. Jesus wanted Peter to feed His flock the Word of God even as Jesus had fed Peter and His fellow disciples. Feed them the Word of God so that the sheep grow in their love for God and in their love others.
Later in his life, Peter wrote to church leaders, saying, “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” [1]
Peter got it. Peter passed on what Jesus had taught him to do. Toward the end of his life, Peter was still loving Jesus and still feeding the flock. Praise the Lord!
“When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Feed My lambs.’”
He said to him again a second time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Tend My sheep.’
He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ And he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep.’” [2]
[1] 1 Peter 5:2-3
[2] John 21:15-17
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Mourning into Dancing
As Job grieved due to his losses, his friend Eliphaz spoke of a vision he had in the night. A scary spirit had made the hair on his body stand up, and his bones to shake. It spoke to him. It was from this spirit’s word that the trajectory of Job’s three friends got off on a wrong foot. This spirit led them to believe that Job was suffering for some crime he had committed against God. Their misinterpretation of Job’s suffering added greatly to his grief, and severely tested his faith in God.
Eliphaz: “Now a word was secretly brought to me, and my ear received a whisper of it. In disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair on my body stood up. It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was silence; then I heard a voice saying: ‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?” “Remember now, whoever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off?” [1]
Job was a type of the coming Messiah Jesus. His losses came not because of any crime before God on his part. The Lord had said of Job, “there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil.” Job was suffering from a satanic attack against him. “So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.” The suffering of Christ was also an attack from Satan. [2]
Yes, a Righteous One has suffered unjustly. “For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.” [3]
The sufferings of Christ were due to His love for us sinners.
“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” [4]
Job received a double blessing from the hand of God after his trial was over. He also had peace with God once again. This too is a foreshadowing of Christ, because after Christ’s death on the cross, after being momentarily forsaken by His Father for our sakes… Christ resurrected from the dead, ascended to heaven, and is enthroned in glory at the right hand of His Father. [5]
This is wonderful news for us! As we trust in Christ, we who are subject to death, shall also resurrect and enjoy eternal blessings with God forevermore. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [6]
“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness.” [7]
[1] Job 4:12-17; 4:7
[2] Job 2:3, 7; Luke 22:3, 53
[3] 1 Peter 3:17-18
[4] Romans 5:6-10
[5] Job 42:12-17; 1 Peter 3:22
[6] Romans 6:23
[7] Psalm 30:11
Eliphaz: “Now a word was secretly brought to me, and my ear received a whisper of it. In disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair on my body stood up. It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was silence; then I heard a voice saying: ‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?” “Remember now, whoever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off?” [1]
Job was a type of the coming Messiah Jesus. His losses came not because of any crime before God on his part. The Lord had said of Job, “there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil.” Job was suffering from a satanic attack against him. “So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.” The suffering of Christ was also an attack from Satan. [2]
Yes, a Righteous One has suffered unjustly. “For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.” [3]
The sufferings of Christ were due to His love for us sinners.
“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” [4]
Job received a double blessing from the hand of God after his trial was over. He also had peace with God once again. This too is a foreshadowing of Christ, because after Christ’s death on the cross, after being momentarily forsaken by His Father for our sakes… Christ resurrected from the dead, ascended to heaven, and is enthroned in glory at the right hand of His Father. [5]
This is wonderful news for us! As we trust in Christ, we who are subject to death, shall also resurrect and enjoy eternal blessings with God forevermore. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [6]
“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness.” [7]
[1] Job 4:12-17; 4:7
[2] Job 2:3, 7; Luke 22:3, 53
[3] 1 Peter 3:17-18
[4] Romans 5:6-10
[5] Job 42:12-17; 1 Peter 3:22
[6] Romans 6:23
[7] Psalm 30:11
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
My Redeemer Lives
A lone survivor of disaster number one told Job that robbers stole his oxen and donkeys and killed his servants. While he was still speaking, another arrived with news of another disaster. One disaster was followed by another until after four waves of destruction, Job tore his robe, shaved his head, fell to the ground and worshipped God. He declared: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the Name of the Lord.” [1]
In Leviticus 26:18-28, God speaks of four waves of disasters coming upon those who choose to defy obedience to His laws. In Matthew 24:20-22, Jesus speaks of the tribulations of the last days being shortened lest even in His elect would give up the faith. In Revelation 6-16, God speaks of three waves of judgments being executed against sin, namely, the seven seal, seven trumpet and seven bowl judgments. This is one wave of disasters short of the four waves of judgment that defiance against God deserves.
Job is a type of Christ in the Old Testament. God said of Job, “There is none like My servant on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil.” Job was not suffering four waves of judgment because of a particular evil in his life, but because there is evil in the world, and sometimes God allows evil to test the faithfulness of His servants knowing that it will impact the lives of many people for His glory. Our Lord Jesus Christ was treated horribly in this world. He was beaten, spit on, scourged, verbally abused, and crucified between two criminals, yet He had done no wrong. His only crime per-se was to love God and people. Such love draws the ire of Satan.
Thus, Jesus says, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” [3]
The Apostle Peter wrote, “For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth. When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly.” [4]
Sherry and I work with small children at a school. Certain ones more than others struggle with not getting what they want when they want it to the point of falling on floor, curling up in a ball, and crying like a baby. Then, in our society there are adults who protest and commit acts of violence when forbidden do whatever evil they want to do against others. Where is love in all of this?
How did Job face his test? What bit of truth amidst lies and confusion helped him to keep going forward in his relationship with God? It was this truth, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” [5]
Knowing that God will make all things right when we see Him face to face, helps us to keep on loving Him and people. This world is passing away, but God’s kingdom is forever. Thanks be to Christ, our wonderful Redeemer, we also shall live with God forever.
[1] Job 1:13-21
[2] Job 1:8
[3] Matthew 16:24
[4] 1 Peter 2:19-23
[5] Job 19:25-27
In Leviticus 26:18-28, God speaks of four waves of disasters coming upon those who choose to defy obedience to His laws. In Matthew 24:20-22, Jesus speaks of the tribulations of the last days being shortened lest even in His elect would give up the faith. In Revelation 6-16, God speaks of three waves of judgments being executed against sin, namely, the seven seal, seven trumpet and seven bowl judgments. This is one wave of disasters short of the four waves of judgment that defiance against God deserves.
Job is a type of Christ in the Old Testament. God said of Job, “There is none like My servant on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil.” Job was not suffering four waves of judgment because of a particular evil in his life, but because there is evil in the world, and sometimes God allows evil to test the faithfulness of His servants knowing that it will impact the lives of many people for His glory. Our Lord Jesus Christ was treated horribly in this world. He was beaten, spit on, scourged, verbally abused, and crucified between two criminals, yet He had done no wrong. His only crime per-se was to love God and people. Such love draws the ire of Satan.
Thus, Jesus says, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” [3]
The Apostle Peter wrote, “For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth. When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly.” [4]
Sherry and I work with small children at a school. Certain ones more than others struggle with not getting what they want when they want it to the point of falling on floor, curling up in a ball, and crying like a baby. Then, in our society there are adults who protest and commit acts of violence when forbidden do whatever evil they want to do against others. Where is love in all of this?
How did Job face his test? What bit of truth amidst lies and confusion helped him to keep going forward in his relationship with God? It was this truth, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” [5]
Knowing that God will make all things right when we see Him face to face, helps us to keep on loving Him and people. This world is passing away, but God’s kingdom is forever. Thanks be to Christ, our wonderful Redeemer, we also shall live with God forever.
[1] Job 1:13-21
[2] Job 1:8
[3] Matthew 16:24
[4] 1 Peter 2:19-23
[5] Job 19:25-27
Monday, July 22, 2024
It Is Better
“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.” [1]
Let us pray that more and more people will invest in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He is the preeminent and ultimate ruler over all. He does not fail those who trust in Him. He is bringing us to the glorious Promised Land where there is an abundance of love, peace, safety, joy, gladness, singing and harmony among people from every tribe, nation, and language.
“Look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” [2]
[1] Psalm 118:9
[2] Luke 21:28
Let us pray that more and more people will invest in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He is the preeminent and ultimate ruler over all. He does not fail those who trust in Him. He is bringing us to the glorious Promised Land where there is an abundance of love, peace, safety, joy, gladness, singing and harmony among people from every tribe, nation, and language.
“Look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” [2]
[1] Psalm 118:9
[2] Luke 21:28
Saturday, July 20, 2024
The Day of the Lord
Imagine a vast army of soldiers marching in battle formation. They are fierce. Ready to conquer at any cost. This is the imagery that God gave us of an army that is prepared to carry out His judgment on a nation.
“They do not push one another; every one marches in his own column. Though they lunge between the weapons, they are not cut down. They run to and fro in the city, they run on the wall; they climb into the houses, they enter at the windows like a thief. The earth quakes before them, the heavens tremble; the sun and moon grow dark, and the stars diminish their brightness. The Lord gives voice before His army, for His camp is very great; for strong is the One who executes His Word. For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; who can endure it? [1]
How should the recipient of this warning respond?
“’Now, therefore,’ says the Lord, ‘Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.’ So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm. Who knows if He will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him—a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God?”
“Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and nursing babes; let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, and the bride from her dressing room. Let the priests, who minister to the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar; let them say, ‘Spare Your people, O Lord, and do not give Your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, where is their God?’” [2]
The Lord advises such a people to turn to Him with all their hearts with fasting, weeping and mourning. Sound the alarm! Pray! Ask the Lord to intervene and rescue!
“Then the Lord will be zealous for His land and pity His people. The Lord will answer and say to His people, ‘Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil, and you will be satisfied by them; I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations. But I will remove far from you the northern army and will drive him away into a barren and desolate land, with his face toward the eastern sea and his back toward the western sea; his stench will come up, and his foul odor will rise, because he has done monstrous things.’” [3]
The Lord will bless the resources of those who seek Him and rebuke the devouring nation from their land. What’s more, He will send His Spirit on that nation and bless them with ability to speak for Him, and to dream and envision the possibilities in Him that they previously lacked.
“And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” [4]
“It shall come to pass that whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved.” [5]
[1] Joel 2:8-11
[2] Joel 2:12-17
[3] Joel 2:18-20
[4] Joel 2:28-29
[5] Joel 2:32
“They do not push one another; every one marches in his own column. Though they lunge between the weapons, they are not cut down. They run to and fro in the city, they run on the wall; they climb into the houses, they enter at the windows like a thief. The earth quakes before them, the heavens tremble; the sun and moon grow dark, and the stars diminish their brightness. The Lord gives voice before His army, for His camp is very great; for strong is the One who executes His Word. For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; who can endure it? [1]
How should the recipient of this warning respond?
“’Now, therefore,’ says the Lord, ‘Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.’ So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm. Who knows if He will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him—a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God?”
“Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and nursing babes; let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, and the bride from her dressing room. Let the priests, who minister to the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar; let them say, ‘Spare Your people, O Lord, and do not give Your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, where is their God?’” [2]
The Lord advises such a people to turn to Him with all their hearts with fasting, weeping and mourning. Sound the alarm! Pray! Ask the Lord to intervene and rescue!
“Then the Lord will be zealous for His land and pity His people. The Lord will answer and say to His people, ‘Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil, and you will be satisfied by them; I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations. But I will remove far from you the northern army and will drive him away into a barren and desolate land, with his face toward the eastern sea and his back toward the western sea; his stench will come up, and his foul odor will rise, because he has done monstrous things.’” [3]
The Lord will bless the resources of those who seek Him and rebuke the devouring nation from their land. What’s more, He will send His Spirit on that nation and bless them with ability to speak for Him, and to dream and envision the possibilities in Him that they previously lacked.
“And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” [4]
“It shall come to pass that whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved.” [5]
[1] Joel 2:8-11
[2] Joel 2:12-17
[3] Joel 2:18-20
[4] Joel 2:28-29
[5] Joel 2:32
Love God
The first commandment is to love God.
How often in the context of examining our wins and losses in life are we asking ourselves, “Have I loved God?” “Do I love God?”
Yes, I do, but I want to be more focused on this character trait than I have been in the past.
I am asking the Lord to help me be a better lover of people as well since Jesus said that this is the second commandment, and is like unto the first.
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40
How often in the context of examining our wins and losses in life are we asking ourselves, “Have I loved God?” “Do I love God?”
Yes, I do, but I want to be more focused on this character trait than I have been in the past.
I am asking the Lord to help me be a better lover of people as well since Jesus said that this is the second commandment, and is like unto the first.
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40
Friday, July 19, 2024
In Messiah Preserved from Assassination Attempts
“In all things He [Jesus] had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” [1]
The Devil has tried to sabotage God’s wonderful plans for people from the beginning. He sought to destroy God’s Messiah when he led misinformed people to crucify Jesus, but Jesus resurrected from the dead on the third day. Jesus Christ now lives and reigns on high and intercedes for us.
When God created humanity, He made us according to His image. Yet Satan led Adam and Eve to sin. Even so, God promised Eve that her Seed [Christ] would crush the serpent’s head. [2]
Satan attempted to corrupt the human race to the point where God would destroy us, but God gave grace to Noah and saved him and his family. Thus, the human race was preserved and so was the human linage of Christ. [3]
God promised to Abraham that through his Seed all nations would be blessed.
“Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ.” [4] Thus, the devil tried to destroy the linage of Abraham ever since then.
When Pharaoh thought to destroy the Israelites whose backs were to the Red Sea, he didn’t realize that God would open up the sea to preserve the race through whom Messiah would come. [5]
When King Saul employed his army to destroy his son-in-law David, he did not realize that God was going to preserve David because Messiah would come through the family line of David. [6]
When Haman sought to destroy all descendants of Abraham during the days of Esther, he did not realize that God would flip his plan on his own head because they were destined to give birth to Messiah. [7]
When King Herod sought to kill Messiah by destroying the babies of Bethlehem, he didn’t realize that God had sent an angel to warn the earthly father of Messiah to get out of town before it could happen. [8]
God preserves people who embrace Messiah Jesus as Savior. Jesus said He would build His church and nothing would stop it…
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” [9]
God has used an imperfect man named Donald Trump to fight for Christians in America. At 6:11 pm on July 13, an assassin tried to kill him. Last night, a preacher at the RNC proclaimed that God divinely protected former President Trump. His church had prayed for him. He quoted Ephesians 6:11 – “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
The kingdom of Christ is forever. It shall not end. [10] However, until we reach those eternal shores to be with our Savior and Lord, we must be on our guard against all the wiles of the devil to sabotage our witness for Christ. It is in Christ that we are preserved.
[1] Hebrews 2:17-18
[2] Genesis 3:16
[3] Genesis 6:1-6
[4] Galatians 3:16
[5] Exodus 14
[6] 1 Samuel 23:9-14
[7] Esther 3:6 – 7:10
[8] Matthew 2:13-18
[9] Matthew 16:18
[10] Revelation 11:15
The Devil has tried to sabotage God’s wonderful plans for people from the beginning. He sought to destroy God’s Messiah when he led misinformed people to crucify Jesus, but Jesus resurrected from the dead on the third day. Jesus Christ now lives and reigns on high and intercedes for us.
When God created humanity, He made us according to His image. Yet Satan led Adam and Eve to sin. Even so, God promised Eve that her Seed [Christ] would crush the serpent’s head. [2]
Satan attempted to corrupt the human race to the point where God would destroy us, but God gave grace to Noah and saved him and his family. Thus, the human race was preserved and so was the human linage of Christ. [3]
God promised to Abraham that through his Seed all nations would be blessed.
“Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ.” [4] Thus, the devil tried to destroy the linage of Abraham ever since then.
When Pharaoh thought to destroy the Israelites whose backs were to the Red Sea, he didn’t realize that God would open up the sea to preserve the race through whom Messiah would come. [5]
When King Saul employed his army to destroy his son-in-law David, he did not realize that God was going to preserve David because Messiah would come through the family line of David. [6]
When Haman sought to destroy all descendants of Abraham during the days of Esther, he did not realize that God would flip his plan on his own head because they were destined to give birth to Messiah. [7]
When King Herod sought to kill Messiah by destroying the babies of Bethlehem, he didn’t realize that God had sent an angel to warn the earthly father of Messiah to get out of town before it could happen. [8]
God preserves people who embrace Messiah Jesus as Savior. Jesus said He would build His church and nothing would stop it…
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” [9]
God has used an imperfect man named Donald Trump to fight for Christians in America. At 6:11 pm on July 13, an assassin tried to kill him. Last night, a preacher at the RNC proclaimed that God divinely protected former President Trump. His church had prayed for him. He quoted Ephesians 6:11 – “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
The kingdom of Christ is forever. It shall not end. [10] However, until we reach those eternal shores to be with our Savior and Lord, we must be on our guard against all the wiles of the devil to sabotage our witness for Christ. It is in Christ that we are preserved.
[1] Hebrews 2:17-18
[2] Genesis 3:16
[3] Genesis 6:1-6
[4] Galatians 3:16
[5] Exodus 14
[6] 1 Samuel 23:9-14
[7] Esther 3:6 – 7:10
[8] Matthew 2:13-18
[9] Matthew 16:18
[10] Revelation 11:15
Saturday, July 13, 2024
Be With God
“Know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” [1]
Lovers of everything except God and God’s ways! The Bible says to turn from such. Remove yourself their movement! They are building on dangerous ground. Soon, their towers will collapse into dust and they will be lost eternally. “Their folly will be manifest to all.” [2]
“Evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” [3]
What imposters and deceivers fail to realize is that the same spirit that works through them to deceive and defraud others is deceiving and defrauding them. Their gains are temporary. Their losses are eternal.
“The Holy Scriptures are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” [4]
Moor your ship to the Word of God so you don’t drift from God. Be with God! Love Him! Dump overboard worthless wastes of your time, treasure, and talent! Jesus is Messiah. He is loving, peaceful and full of joy! Hang with Him! Hang with His disciples! Make disciples! Let His light shine! Let your life-song be that you glorified the only sinless One who died on the cross to save your soul.
[1] 2 Timothy 3:1-5
[2] 2 Timothy 3: 9
[3] 2 Timothy 3:13
[4] 2 Timothy 3:15-17
Lovers of everything except God and God’s ways! The Bible says to turn from such. Remove yourself their movement! They are building on dangerous ground. Soon, their towers will collapse into dust and they will be lost eternally. “Their folly will be manifest to all.” [2]
“Evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” [3]
What imposters and deceivers fail to realize is that the same spirit that works through them to deceive and defraud others is deceiving and defrauding them. Their gains are temporary. Their losses are eternal.
“The Holy Scriptures are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” [4]
Moor your ship to the Word of God so you don’t drift from God. Be with God! Love Him! Dump overboard worthless wastes of your time, treasure, and talent! Jesus is Messiah. He is loving, peaceful and full of joy! Hang with Him! Hang with His disciples! Make disciples! Let His light shine! Let your life-song be that you glorified the only sinless One who died on the cross to save your soul.
[1] 2 Timothy 3:1-5
[2] 2 Timothy 3: 9
[3] 2 Timothy 3:13
[4] 2 Timothy 3:15-17
Thursday, July 11, 2024
Glory to You God!
Glory to You God!
Other high places? No.
Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit…
You provide, guide, deliver, and love me.
Are there imposters in my life?
Anything or anyone diverting my praise from You?
I worship You: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
I love You!
You have the highest place!
I live to worship and serve You alone!
Sunday, July 7, 2024
The Passover and The Lord’s Supper
Amidst the nineteen kings of Judah mentioned in Chronicles, God affirms Hezekiah and Josiah for keeping the Passover and for making the Passover celebration glorious. [1]
The Passover Feast celebrates God’s miraculous rescue of the people Israel from slavery in Egypt. It celebrates the angel of death passing over the homes of the people who placed lamb’s blood on their external door posts. Those who recognized their need for a blood sacrifice due to the sin that they had committed against God were spared from the loss of their firstborn son as the angel of death passed over Egypt. [2]
Jesus Messiah introduced a new covenant just before He died on the cross for our sins. The new covenant involved a new meal.
“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.’” [3]
Luke’s Gospel also records Jesus as saying, “Do this in remembrance of Me,’ and, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.’” [4]
Disciples of Jesus Messiah have a new and better meal to remember and celebrate God’s great love and deliverance for us, than did the Israelites. The Israelites celebrated a deliverance event that had relevance for them in this temporary life, namely freedom from subjugation by a foreign nation on earth. We, as believers and professors of Christ, celebrate deliverance from an eternal subjugation to hell with the devil and his demons. Christ, by His sinless blood sacrifice for us on the cross, delivered us from the power of sin, death, and the devil.
“You, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” [5]
Satan has no more claims against the person whose sin has been washed away by the blood of Christ. Jesus our wonderful Redeemer has redeemed us. Our Savior has saved us. God does not condemn us. He saves us! Praise the Lord!
Thus, we should regularly and happily remember and observe the Lord’s Supper.
[1] 2 Chronicles 29-30 – Hezekiah’s Passover observance; 2 Chronicles 35 – Josiah’s Passover observance
[2] Exodus 12
[3] Matthew 26:26-28
[4] Luke 22:19-20
[5] Colossians 2:13-15
The Passover Feast celebrates God’s miraculous rescue of the people Israel from slavery in Egypt. It celebrates the angel of death passing over the homes of the people who placed lamb’s blood on their external door posts. Those who recognized their need for a blood sacrifice due to the sin that they had committed against God were spared from the loss of their firstborn son as the angel of death passed over Egypt. [2]
Jesus Messiah introduced a new covenant just before He died on the cross for our sins. The new covenant involved a new meal.
“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.’” [3]
Luke’s Gospel also records Jesus as saying, “Do this in remembrance of Me,’ and, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.’” [4]
Disciples of Jesus Messiah have a new and better meal to remember and celebrate God’s great love and deliverance for us, than did the Israelites. The Israelites celebrated a deliverance event that had relevance for them in this temporary life, namely freedom from subjugation by a foreign nation on earth. We, as believers and professors of Christ, celebrate deliverance from an eternal subjugation to hell with the devil and his demons. Christ, by His sinless blood sacrifice for us on the cross, delivered us from the power of sin, death, and the devil.
“You, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” [5]
Satan has no more claims against the person whose sin has been washed away by the blood of Christ. Jesus our wonderful Redeemer has redeemed us. Our Savior has saved us. God does not condemn us. He saves us! Praise the Lord!
Thus, we should regularly and happily remember and observe the Lord’s Supper.
[1] 2 Chronicles 29-30 – Hezekiah’s Passover observance; 2 Chronicles 35 – Josiah’s Passover observance
[2] Exodus 12
[3] Matthew 26:26-28
[4] Luke 22:19-20
[5] Colossians 2:13-15
Saturday, July 6, 2024
The Prophetic Voice
I’m A major portion of the Bible is prophetic in nature. Before the New Testament came into being, the people of God called the Bible the Tanakh. The word Tanakh is derived from the three major divisions of the book, namely:
T - Torah - The Law
N - Nevi’im - The Prophets
K - Ketuvim - The Writings
To ignore the prophetic writings recorded in the Bible is to do like the failed kings and leaders did in the last days of Judah before they were conquered by a foreign nation.
“And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.” [1]
The Lord warns us against deception and corrects our missteps because He has compassion on us and would rather deal with the pain of confrontation with us than see us experience the pain that comes to people who incur the consequences of bad choices.
I’m asking the Lord to help me and all His people to learn from the prophets.
When Jesus walked the earth in the flesh, the consensus of those who heard Him speak was that He was a prophet.
“When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’ So they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’” [2]
And, indeed, Jesus did speak a lot about sin and judgment as the prophets did before Him.
His disciples knew Jesus was the Son of God, and so do all who receive Him and believe in Him. Praise the Lord!
In fact, those who reject the Gospel of Christ face a worse judgment than did the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.
“And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” [3]
As the writer of Hebrews said, “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.” [4]
[1] 2 Chronicles 36:15-16
[2] Matthew 16:13-14
[3] Mark 6:11
[4] Hebrews 2:1, 3
T - Torah - The Law
N - Nevi’im - The Prophets
K - Ketuvim - The Writings
To ignore the prophetic writings recorded in the Bible is to do like the failed kings and leaders did in the last days of Judah before they were conquered by a foreign nation.
“And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.” [1]
The Lord warns us against deception and corrects our missteps because He has compassion on us and would rather deal with the pain of confrontation with us than see us experience the pain that comes to people who incur the consequences of bad choices.
I’m asking the Lord to help me and all His people to learn from the prophets.
When Jesus walked the earth in the flesh, the consensus of those who heard Him speak was that He was a prophet.
“When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’ So they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’” [2]
And, indeed, Jesus did speak a lot about sin and judgment as the prophets did before Him.
His disciples knew Jesus was the Son of God, and so do all who receive Him and believe in Him. Praise the Lord!
In fact, those who reject the Gospel of Christ face a worse judgment than did the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.
“And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” [3]
As the writer of Hebrews said, “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.” [4]
[1] 2 Chronicles 36:15-16
[2] Matthew 16:13-14
[3] Mark 6:11
[4] Hebrews 2:1, 3
Tuesday, July 2, 2024
Being in a Relationship with God
Since the beginning, the devil has sought to sabotage our relationship with God.
In the Garden of Eden, the devil questioned Eve regarding God’s law about not eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. When Eve told the devil the Word of the Lord, he suggested that God lied to her, but in fact, it was he who was lying to her not God. She listened to the devil and acted upon his lie. So, did her husband Adam. That faith brought about a loss that was way farther than they could ever have imagined. Their children, including you and me, have been subject to suffering and death ever since.
Don’t let anything come between you and your relationship with God.
“Pekah the son of Remaliah killed 120,000 in Judah in one day, all valiant men, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.” [2]
The people of Judah failed to see the importance of a relationship with God. Perhaps, they thought that God only cared if they kept a few of His laws, and gave Him lip service by sayings things like, “May God bless our nation.” No, God wanted a relationship with them. The first commandment is to love God. God loved them and wanted to be loved by them.
Once, after a civil war battle, the victors were warned by the prophet Oded not to mistreat their fellow countrymen. The leaders listened to him and told the people, “You shall not bring the captives here, for we already have offended the Lord. You intend to add to our sins and to our guilt; for our guilt is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.” They offended the Lord by not observing the second great commandment which is to love their neighbor as themselves. The point here is that God is love and our love for Him and our love for people matters to Him. [3]
A nation falls when its love for God falls. “The Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had encouraged moral decline in Judah and had been continually unfaithful to the Lord.” [4]
Those who know God testify that He gives victories in times of distress: “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us alive, when their wrath was kindled against us; then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul; then the swollen waters would have gone over our soul. Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the Name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” [5]
In regards to those who abandon the Lord and seek to destroy those who don’t, the Bible says, “It is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe...” [6]
“Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by Word or our epistle.” [7]
[1] Genesis 3
[2] 2 Chronicles 28:6
[3] 2 Chronicles 28:9-16
[4] 2 Chronicles 28:19
[5] Psalm 124:2-8
[6] 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10
[7] 2 Thessalonians 2:15
In the Garden of Eden, the devil questioned Eve regarding God’s law about not eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. When Eve told the devil the Word of the Lord, he suggested that God lied to her, but in fact, it was he who was lying to her not God. She listened to the devil and acted upon his lie. So, did her husband Adam. That faith brought about a loss that was way farther than they could ever have imagined. Their children, including you and me, have been subject to suffering and death ever since.
Don’t let anything come between you and your relationship with God.
“Pekah the son of Remaliah killed 120,000 in Judah in one day, all valiant men, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.” [2]
The people of Judah failed to see the importance of a relationship with God. Perhaps, they thought that God only cared if they kept a few of His laws, and gave Him lip service by sayings things like, “May God bless our nation.” No, God wanted a relationship with them. The first commandment is to love God. God loved them and wanted to be loved by them.
Once, after a civil war battle, the victors were warned by the prophet Oded not to mistreat their fellow countrymen. The leaders listened to him and told the people, “You shall not bring the captives here, for we already have offended the Lord. You intend to add to our sins and to our guilt; for our guilt is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.” They offended the Lord by not observing the second great commandment which is to love their neighbor as themselves. The point here is that God is love and our love for Him and our love for people matters to Him. [3]
A nation falls when its love for God falls. “The Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had encouraged moral decline in Judah and had been continually unfaithful to the Lord.” [4]
Those who know God testify that He gives victories in times of distress: “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us alive, when their wrath was kindled against us; then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul; then the swollen waters would have gone over our soul. Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the Name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” [5]
In regards to those who abandon the Lord and seek to destroy those who don’t, the Bible says, “It is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe...” [6]
“Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by Word or our epistle.” [7]
[1] Genesis 3
[2] 2 Chronicles 28:6
[3] 2 Chronicles 28:9-16
[4] 2 Chronicles 28:19
[5] Psalm 124:2-8
[6] 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10
[7] 2 Thessalonians 2:15
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