Category Archives: Sin

November 17; He Is Coming

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James 4-5; Acts 11:19-12:25

My pastor preached from I John 2 this morning. John warned that this is the last hour, that Jesus is coming again, and time as we know it will be no more. For those who know Jesus, it is a day to look forward to!

James, in chapter 5, is saying the same thing. Except he gives a different kind of warning. In fact, he says “weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.” How could John tell us to look forward to Jesus’ return, and James tell us to prepare for misery concerning it?

James goes on to talk about those who are ok with life as it is, who live in luxury, who live by their own rules. The Judge is at the door, he warns.

I don’t pretend to know when Jesus will return. Anyone who says they do are lying. The truth is I might die before that trumpet sounds. Or the clouds may part and Jesus appear before I’m done typing this today. I don’t know. No one does because Scripture doesn’t say.

But Scripture is clear that I – and you – will one day face the Judge. Everyone who has ever lived will be held accountable for the lives we lived on planet Earth. Until the day we stand before God Almighty, we have choice.

We can either align ourselves with God through the blood of Jesus, or we can live by our own rules, then stand before Him on that day on our own. I can absolutely tell you what to expect, without being your judge.

The Bible leaves no room for interpretation on this subject. With Jesus, you will go to heaven. Without Him, you will go to hell. Standing before the Judge, wearing Jesus’ righteousness, will usher you into a glorious eternity with God. Standing before Him wearing your pitiful attempt at goodness (which is nothing more than used menstrual pads) will usher you into an eternity more painful than anything our minds can even imagine.

There is no third option.

Jesus is coming again. When He does there will be no time to change your mind, no time to accept what He did on the cross when He paid for your sin. Oh, you can pay for them yourself with an eternity of hell if you choose. But I can’t imagine why you’d want to, when that debt has already been paid.

Jesus is coming again. It might be today. It might not. You may die today and face the Judge before the sun sets on your town. Or not. But are you ready to meet the Judge? You need to decide right this minute, my friend. Because when it’s over, it is truly over.

November 15; Even the Gentiles

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Acts 9:32-11:15

I am so thankful for the Jews. They were the ones through whom God chose to bring salvation to the world. God had stuck with them even when they disobeyed, protected them even when they put themselves in danger. They didn’t deserve His kindness, but God knew that He would come to earth through a Jewish woman. And in spite of the Jews who rebelled, Jesus was indeed born of Mary.

It’s no wonder the Jews felt Jesus was exclusively their’s. For centuries they knew they were chosen, set apart, and they felt superior to anyone not Jewish (known as Gentiles). The Holy Spirit had come to the Jews there in Jerusalem. Salvation through Jesus was their’s.

So Peter’s vision and subsequent encounter with Cornelius, a Gentile centurion, was met with criticism. “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.” (11:3)

What were you thinking, Peter?

But I love that when Peter explained his vision, shared what happened when the Holy Spirit was given to non-Jewish believers just as it had been give to them, the once horrified Jews “had no further objections.” Then this:

(they) praised God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.” (11:18)

Yes. Yes He did. Even Gentiles. Even me!

 

 

November 14; To Change or Not To Change, That Is The Question

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Acts 7:54-9:31

Simon believed he was someone great. He wasn’t the only one. It sounds like he had quite a following. His sorcery must have been amazing, because people even thought he was divine.

That is, until they heard Philip preach the “good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus.” Many believed in Jesus, and were baptized – including Simon. Simon ended up following Philip around after that. Being a sorcerer, he was amazed at the miracles he saw Philip do.

Then when Simon witnessed Peter and John placing their hands on believers who then received the Holy Spirit, he wanted in on the action. He was willing to buy that ability. Peter recognized Simon for who he really was, and addressed Simon’s sin in no uncertain terms. “You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right with God.”

Simon had believed in Jesus. But Simon was still the same old Simon. His heart had not changed.

Saul, on the other hand, was not only NOT a believer, he had dedicated his life to destroying the church by getting rid of anyone who did believe in Jesus. But his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus changed him.

Completely.

Saul became Paul who then dedicated his life to sharing Jesus with everyone, in hopes that everyone would believe. Paul’s belief in Jesus didn’t stop with the knowledge that Jesus is the Savior. Paul’s belief in Jesus changed his heart.

Do you believe? Scripture tells us even the demons believe, and shudder. (James 2:19). Belief is the first step, but it isn’t the only step.

If accepting Jesus as your Savior hasn’t changed you, let me suggest you check your heart. Is your belief head-knowledge, or a heart-changing, person-transforming, sin-defeating relationship with God Himself?

Change, or no change? That’s the question. And the answer is the difference between being a child of God, and being someone who has no part in His ministry, His kingdom.

Let your belief in Jesus change you.

November 11; It’s Thrilling

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Mark 16:9-20; Acts 1-2

Yesterday’s Scripture had me reaffirming my belief in the resurrected Jesus. Today Peter reminded me of the Old Testament Scriptures, prophecies that were perfectly fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

It must have been thrilling to have been part of those first few days at the beginning of the Church; the dramatic coming of the Holy Spirit, 3,000 people accepting Jesus in one day, then boldly being baptized in a public declaration of their faith in Him.

That act of baptism in itself is amazing considering they were aligning themselves with the very Man the Jews had just crucified a few short weeks before. Talk about thrilling!

But it is also thrilling to be part of God’s Church in 2019. Sometimes we get caught up in the negative, we lament the sin in our world, and wring our hands at the seemingly weakening of the Church.

But God is reminding me today that He is still alive and well and working in the hearts of all men and women in every corner of the world. Jesus still lives! The Holy Spirit is still present! Hearts are still being changed, and eternity is won every day.

Now that’s thrilling!

November 9; He’s Alive!

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Mark 15:42-16:8; Matthew 27:57-28:10; Luke 23:50-24:12; John 19:38-20:18

He’s alive. Jesus is alive. The real flesh and blood body of Jesus got up from that grave and lives once again.

The public had watched Him die. The centurion had made sure He wasn’t faking it. Pilate had turned over a corpse to Joseph of Arimathia. The man Jesus was dead, then buried, then sealed inside the tomb carved out of a mountain, guarded by soldiers.

But He didn’t stay there!

No one revived Him. No one put the AED paddles on His heart. Jesus gave up His life, and He took it back again.

No one, not any god or prophet or guru has ever or will ever do what Jesus did. Because not any god or prophet or guru is God, except Jesus!

I serve a risen Savior!

November 8; Zero Balance

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Mark 15:22-41; Matthew 27:33-56; Luke 23:33-49; John 19:17-37

The cross. The place where criminals died a slow and painful death. The place of humiliation and disgrace. The place where Satan and the Jewish leaders thought they could get rid of Jesus.

But it was on the cross where Jesus, though sinless, became sin for me. It’s where Jesus paid my death sentence. It is finished. Paid in full. Zero balance.

I remember when I first started teaching in the early 70’s, making a whopping $3,500 a year, there were months when I was unable to pay all my bills. I dreaded getting mail because there was always an envelope with a notice inside threatening to turn off my power or turn my account over to a collection agency.

I hated answering the phone. Remember, it was way before caller ID so you never knew who you were going to be forced to speak with when you answered. And sometimes there were very unfriendly voices on the line telling me I needed to pay my bills or else.

They weren’t wrong. I owed them money. They had every right to demand payment. I just didn’t have the means to pay them.

I was reminded of that today as I considered what Jesus did for me on the cross. He paid what I could not pay. He satisfied my debt so that I need never fear God or dread His presence.

My sin debt, and believe me it was sizable, was something I had no means of paying. But Jesus took my debt, became my sin, and paid it all. I am debt-free because of the cross.

When God looks at the ledger of my life, He only sees a zero balance! I am so thankful for the cross!

November 7; Four Days

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Mark 15:6-21; Matthew 27:15-32; Luke 23:13-32; John 18:39-19:17

It was four days from the Triumphal Entry to what we read in today’s passages. Four days from when the people had shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” to when they cried, “Crucify Him!”

Four days.

Jesus had done nothing out of the ordinary in that time. He had not committed a heinous crime during the week. But the people had listened to the lies, they got sucked into the negativity. In four days.

Sounds hard to believe that such a drastic change could occur in such a short time. But as I sit here I am reminded of times in my life when I had experienced an euphoric worship and praise of God, when I promised I would always love and obey Him, only to end up listening to Satan’s lies and negativity and commit a sin I never thought I would again.

“That’s not fair,” Satan would whisper, and feelings of resentment would pour over me.

“You deserve what she has,” and jealousy would take root.

And most of the time it didn’t take four days for that to happen. Four minutes, maybe.

Today, God is encouraging me to make my relationship with Him personal, not based on an experience, but grounded in His Word; not dependent on popular opinion, but on the Truth that is Jesus.

The lies and negativity are out there as much as they were that week in Jerusalem. May we all stand firm, to hold on to the Truth, and to resist what Satan would do to destroy our relationship with our Lord.

Because that Man we read about today is my Savior and yours. He loved us all the way to the cross. And what He did there is available to all of us who believe. A relationship with Jesus is so worth protecting!

 

 

November 6: The Man Standing Before Rulers

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Matthew 27:1-10; Luke 23:1-12; Mark 15:1-5; John 18:28-38

You do know Jesus could have stopped this, don’t you? He could have defended Himself against the lies being told about Him. He could have easily convinced both Pilate and Herod He wasn’t guilty of anything. But He just stood there, like a sheep before the slaughter.

Don’t kid yourself. Jesus was NOT a sheep before the slaughter. He knew exactly what He was doing and where His silence would take Him. And He wanted to go there.

I know there are many who are convinced that Jesus, while in the garden, asked His Dad for an alternate plan at the last minute, that He went to the cross out of stoic obedience. But I look at the Man standing before rulers, hearing the lies and slander, feeling the force of blows to His body, and I know He didn’t want to be anywhere else.

It’s what He’d come for.

As I look at the Man standing before rulers, knowing He had the power to pulverize His accusers, understanding He stood there absolutely guiltless, I realize how loved I am. With every blow, Jesus expressed love and grace. With every lash, every lie, every insult, He was saying loudly and clearly: “I love you!”

As I look at the Man standing before rulers, I can almost see the pain in His eyes. He felt the blows. He felt the rejection. I imagine His body, His heart and soul ached, cried out in pain. But my salvation was more important to Him than the pain. He walked through that abuse so He could get to the cross because my sin debt needed to be paid there.

As I look at the Man standing before rulers, my heart is filled with love. No one has loved me like that. No one could except Jesus.

I love the Man standing before rulers.

November 5; Betrayed

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Mark 14:43-72; Matthew 26:47-75; Luke 22:47-71; John 18:1-27

Judas walked right up to Jesus and gave Him a kiss. He didn’t stand at a distance and just point a finger. He got about as close as two people could get and then he betrayed the Lord. What was he thinking?

Scripture tells us Satan had entered Judas, so we know he could not have been thinking anything good. Did Satan fill Judas with hate? Is that what motivated the betrayal? Or was it something else? Jealousy? Greed? Did he think he could force Jesus’ hand to start the rebellion against Rome?

We don’t know what Judas was thinking when he walked up to the Lord, looked Him straight in the eye, and betrayed Him with a kiss. Scripture doesn’t let us in on the thought process. So evidently the “why” behind what Judas did doesn’t matter. But it makes me wonder.

I have never said the words, “I don’t believe in Jesus.” But I will admit there were times in the past when I took His name in vain. I have never denied the cross, but there have been occasion when I have knowingly and willingly sinned. There have been times when, in effect, I have looked Jesus straight in the eye, and betrayed him.

Do I betray my Lord when people around me use vulgar language, catch themselves and apologize, and I say, “It’s ok?” Do I betray Him when I blend in with the world so that people don’t recognize me as His child? Do I betray Jesus when I go through the motions of worship with a heart that is unrepentant?

It’s easy to condemn Judas for what seems to be the ultimate betrayal of the Savior. But is my betrayal of Him any less sinful? Does my betrayal hurt Him less than Judas’?

The “why” behind my sinful actions aren’t important any more than it was behind what Judas did. The fact that I can betray my Savior grieves me.

Precious Jesus, forgive me. I can point a finger at Judas and condemn what he did, and rightfully so. What he did to You was inexcusable. But I thank You that today, You have shown me that being horrified at Judas’ sin, and not horrified at mine is wrong. I’m sorry for the times I have denied You, sinned against You, betrayed You. I want only to honor You today with every thought, word, and deed. May people know without a doubt that this woman is totally, intentionally, happily standing with You.

 

 

November 4; Tears

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John 15:18-17:16; Mark 14:32-42; Matthew 26:36-46; Luke 22:39-46

It’s hard for me to read about the last few hours of Jesus’ life on earth. I find myself wanting to sit with Him, to hold His hands, to put a cool cloth on His fevered brow. I want to pray with Him, and wipe His tears.

But I know had I lived at that time, I would have been just like Peter, James, and John. I wouldn’t get it anymore than they did.

You know how I know that? Because even as I sit here with tears running down my face for love of that hurting Man who loved me enough to die for me, I have slept while He is grieved over sin in my life, in the lives of my loved ones, and over sin in the world.

Jesus didn’t die, then return to heaven to sit on a throne and say, “Glad that’s over. Now it’s up to them.” He is still working, still praying, still grieving over sin in our lives.

I know the Bible says one day He will wipe the tears from our eyes. But who is wiping His tears?

Oh, may I see sin like He sees it, how He faced it there in the Garden. May I live to please and not grieve Him. May I have the privilege of wiping His tears, and bringing Him only joy.