Tag Archives: salvation

November 14

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Acts 7:54-9:31

The early followers of Christ lived in danger. Many were beaten and others were killed because they loved Jesus and identified with him through baptism. Thousands of believers fled Jerusalem to save themselves and their families and settled in other towns. And you know what happened? They started talking about Jesus to their new neighbors and thousands more were saved. The Church actually grew through its persecution!

Isn’t it true we can kind of get comfortable where we are? We go to a job we like, we get along with our co-workers, we’re used to our boss. We sit in the same seat every Sunday and greet the same people. We mow our lawns and wave to our neighbors as they mow their lawns. And our opportunities to share Christ get fewer and fewer.

What happens when the company you work for down-sizes and you find yourself looking for work? What happens when you are transferred to another city or feel the need to move closer to an ailing parent? 

We in America don’t know as yet what it is like to have to run for our lives because of our faith. But God does nudge us at times to get out of our comfort zones. Why? There are people who need to hear your testimony, to see Christ living in you so that they come to know him, too. When you are a Christian, everything that happens in your life happens for one reason only. And that is so that you can be a witness to people who need the Savior. 

Is God asking you to get out of your comfort zone? Probably. Go where he wants you to go. Do or say what it is he is asking of you. The Church still has room to grow.

Father, forgive us when we are comfortable. Give your people the courage to step out, to reach out, to be uncomfortable for a time so that someone can meet you. You are going to give us opportunities today. May you find us willing to do that hard thing for Jesus’ sake.

November 8

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

Jesus died. He willingly, lovingly, painfully died on the cross that day. So many prophesies were fulfilled during those precious hours. Nothing that happened was a surprise or contrary to what God had planned before creation. The Lamb of God paid for the sins of the world once and for all.

From the sixth hour to the ninth, the sun stopped shining. Did all of creation mourn as Jesus took upon himself one sin, then another, and another? Then something amazing happened (as if Jesus giving his life wasn’t amazing enough). The curtain in the temple ripped in two, exposing the Holy of Holies. The curtain that had kept the common people separate from the presence of God was destroyed. Jesus’ death granted us entrance into the throne room of God Almighty. And we can stand before our Holy God clothed in Jesus’ holiness. No more need of a priest. No more ceremony required. When Jesus died God became accessible to anyone who calls on the name of the Lord.

As I read these scriptures today I can’t help but say with the centurion, “Surely this man was the Son of God.”

Dear Jesus, Savior, Lamb of God. I have no doubt that you are who you said you are. You are the Son of God and you died for me that day. May all who read these Scriptures today realize what it cost you. And may that knowledge change us. Thank you for the privilege of going boldly to your throne room where once I was forbidden. Thank you that because you died, there is no more need of a curtain to keep me out. I am your child. I am forgiven and my sins are covered by your precious blood. Clothe me with your righteousness and may I be one who serves you well from a heart of thankfulness and love.

November 7

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

What they did to Jesus that day is unimaginable. The taunts, the beatings, the humiliation are magnified in the light of his complete innocence.

He could have called 10,000 angels or turned his tormenters into vapor. But he stood there and took every blow because he loved me and knew I would accept his forgiveness 2,000 years later.

I hope you read these passages today in God’s word. Nothing I can say can bring justice to what is written there already. Jesus suffered for me. He suffered for you.

How can I help but love him when he loved me so?

Jesus, as I read these words this morning I am reminded what it cost you to provide salvation for all people everywhere. You paid what we cannot so that we can stand before the Father, faultless, cleansed, pure and holy as you are. I am sorry for every drop of blood you had to shed because of my sin. Forgive me for selfishness, jealousy, laziness, an unrepentant heart, disobedience, unbelief. Cleanse me today,Lord. I don’t want what you went through for me to have been in vain.

November 5

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Mark 14:43-72; Matthew 26:47-75; Luke 22:54-71; John 18:1-27

I like Peter. I guess maybe I see myself in him in some ways. Peter often speaks without thinking and acts before considering the consequences and I’ve been known to do the same. Peter and I are both pretty emotional people. 

Peter, on the Mount of Transfiguration, was ready to build a shrine on the spot where Jesus spoke to Moses and Elijah. He was so excited about what he had seen. But Jesus just kinda said, ‘calm down, Peter’.

When Jesus told them he was going to die Peter spoke up and said, ‘No way!!!’. Jesus said, ‘Way’.

When Jesus washed the disciples’ feet Peter first refused. When Jesus explained the importance Peter said, ‘not just my feet then. Wash my all of me, too’. Jesus said, ‘no Peter. I’m washing feet.’

So it comes as no surprise that it was Peter who grabbed a sword and chopped off an ear of one who came to arrest Jesus when Jesus could have called 10,000 angels to protect him. Jesus put the ear back on the man.

It was Peter who boldly proclaimed, “I will never deny you, Jesus!”, then only a few hours later denied Jesus three times. And this is what breaks my heart every time I read it: after denying he even knew Jesus, the rooster crowed and Peter caught Jesus’ eye. Did he see condemnation there? Was Jesus saying, ‘I told you so’?

I think what he saw in Jesus’ eyes that morning was unconditional love. Peter, faced with his sin, was overcome with God’s love. And he wept bitterly. I can only imagine the depth of his shame and the intensity of his tears. I think he cried from a place so deep within himself he had never known existed before.

God is telling me today that coming to know him is an emotional thing for many of us. When we are faced with our own sin, Peter’s reaction doesn’t seem that far wrong. Our helpless estate, our total depravity, our sin is met with grace. Jesus forgives us. We look into his eyes and see acceptance and forgiveness and more love than we have ever experienced in this lifetime. A natural reaction is to cry out, weep bitterly as we lay it all at his feet and realize how much he has done for us.

But if we remain there, if we expect our relationship with Christ to be based on that emotion, we will look like Peter looked in the Gospels. We will say and do things that are not necessarily wrong, but perhaps a bit misguided. As we read on in the New Testament we’ll find that this emotional Peter grew up in the Lord. He became the pillar of the church just like Jesus predicted. 

May we, like Peter, learn to balance the emotional and the practical sides of our relationship with Jesus. May we serve him, thoughtfully and purposefully. And may we love him passionately. 

 

November 4

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

Jesus prayed for me the night he was betrayed. I am one who has believed in Jesus through the disciples’ message. Jesus prayed that I would be one with him, he in me so that the world will recognize Jesus through me. He prayed that I would be one with fellow believers to let the world know that God sent Jesus and loves us like he loves his own Son. Jesus prayed for me. And he prayed for you, too.

Then he went to Gethsemane and prayed some more. He was deeply distressed and troubled, overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. He was in anguish and his sweat poured out like drops of blood. Exhausted, feverish, with no strength left he prayed, Father let this hour pass. Don’t let me die here. Give me the strength to get through the next few hours so I can go to the cross and save these people I love so much. But that’s what I want, Father If you want me to die here so be it. Not my will but Thine.

Are you a parent? When you held your son or daughter in your arms for the first time, did the realization hit you that you would absolutely die for that precious one? Have you knelt at the bedside of your critically ill child and begged God to let you change places? Would you have gladly taken the cancer that is killing your child into your own body so that your child could live?

I believe that is what we are witnessing here as Jesus is praying to the Father in Gethsemane. I don’t believe Jesus was having second thoughts about going to the cross or getting anxious about what was in store for him. I don’t believe he was talking about the cross at all. I think he was praying for himself in that moment, right there in the garden. If we, as imperfect parents would willingly trade places with our dying children, how much more Jesus. He knew that if he didn’t go to the cross to pay for our sins, we would have to pay for them ourselves. And he wanted to spare us the pain. He loved us that much.

God answered Jesus’ prayer that night and sent an angel to strengthen him for what lay ahead. Jesus rose from his place of prayer, woke his disciples, and faced his betrayer.

Dearest Jesus, words cannot express what is in my heart right now. Thank you doesn’t come close to saying what I want to say about what you did for me that night so long ago. And to think that as you were facing unspeakable cruelty at the hands of those who wanted you dead, you stopped and prayed for me. I love you for taking my place, for paying what I could not pay, for loving me all the way to the cross. I praise you. I adore you. I gladly accept you into my heart. And, Jesus, I look forward to telling you that face to face some day.

November 3

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Mark 14:22-31; Matthew 26:26-35; Luke 22:15-20, 31-38; John 13:31-35, 14:1-15:17

Reading about Jesus’ last hours on earth with his disciples is so precious. How he loved them! I can hear the tenderness in his voice even as he told Peter he would deny Jesus three times before morning. I can imagine him looking into the eyes of each of them as he told them he had to go, but that he was going to prepare a place for them to come to him.

Jesus kept repeating the phrase: I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Then he promised the Counselor would come, the Holy Spirit would live in them and cause them to do even greater things than they had seen Jesus do. What could be greater than healing lepers, calming stormy seas, feeding thousands, or raising the dead?

Jesus tells one more parable. The Vine and the Branches paint a picture about soul-winning. He tells us the bearing of fruit is that which is so much greater than any of his miracles. And he says if we ask, he will answer and hearts will change, lives will be saved.

Have you witnessed the transformation knowing Jesus makes in a life? There is something about forgiveness, about realizing how much you are loved, about recognizing the God of the Universe lives in you that changes how we look at life, other people, and sin. Now that is a miracle above all miracles.

When you are a healthy branch attached to the Vine you can’t help but bear fruit. May it be so in me.

My Dear Vine, I thank you for attaching me to you. I thank you for the day I recognized my sinfulness and accepted you as my Savior. I pray that I will allow you to nourish me, to dwell within me, and to produce fruit for your kingdom. Others need you, Lord. I would like the privilege of leading them to where they will find life and love and forgiveness.

October 25

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Mark 10:23-31; Luke 18:24-30; Matthew 20:1-16; John 10:22-11:16

“With God all things are possible.” Have you ever heard that before? It’s been used as a mantra for some health and wealth theologies and the power of positive thinking. Do these words suggest that God can give us what we want if we believe as some have claimed? Do these words pertain to winning football games, defeating cancer, getting a promotion at work, or getting that special person to fall in love with you?

In the context of Scripture, Jesus is talking about the salvation of souls. He just got done telling his disciples that it is really hard for rich people to go to heaven. Remember, the rich young ruler just walked away from him when Jesus told him he needed to give away his wealth. The disciples asked him, “Who then can be saved?” to which Jesus replied: “…all things are possible with God.”

What God wants us to know is that no one is too lost to find forgiveness. God is able to save the vilest offender who truly believes.

Maybe you are reading this today and you have not accepted God’s grace for yourself. Maybe you think you’ve gone too far, done too many bad things, hurt too many people to have God love you. Maybe you think you don’t deserve God’s forgiveness and, in that you are exactly right. But Jesus is saying to you today that he is able to save even you.

Has God laid on your heart the name of someone who seems so far from him it’s unlikely he or she will ever believe? Don’t give up. God hasn’t. Pray. Reach out to that person. WIth God, it is possible that that soul will come to him.

Dear God, I thank you that Jesus died for all of mankind. I thank you that there is no one living who can’t come to you in Jesus’ name and receive forgiveness for a multitude of sin. I pray that your children will be faithful to pray, that we will allow you to use us to draw all people to you. I pray that we won’t give up praying for that loved one who so openly is rejecting you right now. Thank you for reminding us that even that dear one isn’t too tough for you. With you it is possible that he or she will accept you as their Savior.

October 24

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John 9:35-10:21; Mark 10:2-22; Matthew 19:3-15; Luke 16:18, 18:15-23

Jesus made it pretty clear that he wanted to go to the cross. Very plainly he said no one can take his life from him, but he is going to lay it down of his own accord. He has the authority to die and live again.

He was talking about the sheep and painted a picture of the New Testament church. As the Good Shepherd he loves the sheep. He brings in sheep from other pens and makes them one flock. (As a non-Jew that thrills me!). The Good Shepherd protects his sheep with his life.

Jesus calls himself the gate and reminds us that he is the only way into the pen. There just is no other way. Salvation is inside the pen where Jesus promises to give abundant life to the sheep.

As Christians we realize that we are the sheep, that salvation comes only through Jesus and his work on the cross, and that he gives us more than we could ask or think in this life and in eternity.

When the rich young ruler asked Jesus what he could do to earn eternal life Jesus, knowing that eternal life cannot be earned, listed the criteria. Don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t commit adultery, etc. The young man said something like, ‘Got that covered, Jesus. I’m golden’.

It touches me that Jesus looked at the young man and loved him (Mark 10:21). Then he said, ‘go sell everything, give it to the poor, and follow me’. In other words, ‘Ok, so you’ve succeeded in playing the I’m a Good Person game. Let’s check your heart’s condition.’

We read the man left disappointed. Maybe he thought Jesus was asking too much. I’m not sure. But the young man left knowing that earning eternal life was more than just loving his neighbor and being a good guy.

I do know that our Good Shepherd loves us, that he willingly laid down his life for us, and that he is alive today. I know that he is the only way to the Father, that he cares for us and blesses us when we give our lives to him. And I know that eternal life is his gift to us, paid for by his blood and nothing I do can earn it on my own.

Good Shepherd, thank you for your provision of abundant life on this earth and eternal life with the Father. Thank you for showing us again and again that you are the only way, that your work on the cross is available to all people, and that the ticket to eternal life comes with accepting it on your terms. Thank you for willingly going to the cross so that we can walk through the gate and experience the sweet fellowship we have with you. I like being a sheep in your flock, Lord.

October 20

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Luke 12:22-13:17, !3:22-14:24

Sometimes I think God gets a bad rap. I read a blog the other day questioning why God would stand by and watch people destroy the earth. God gets blamed when someone shoots up a mall or when a loved one gets cancer. Many of those same people who point an angry finger at God when bad things happen neglect to acknowledge him in good times.

So what is God’s reaction to the human race? Read what he said about Jerusalem in Luke 13:34. Hear in his voice the pain of a father who watches a son turn his back and walk away.

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.”

That’s what God thinks about us. He is not up there, angrily trying to get even with those who reject him. His heart is broken. He longs to take the worst of us and gather us into his arms. Jesus, in Luke 12:49-50 tells us that going to the cross is something he was anxious to do. He was eager to complete that work so that God could draw us to himself like a hen gathers her chicks.

But, Jesus tells us, we were not willing.

The state of the world is on us. And hear me when I say, dear Christian, rampant sin is on us, too. Unsaved people are going to act like unsaved people. If we continue to hide our heads in the sand, if we sit comfortably in our pews each Sunday but don’t share Christ with lost people during the week, we are the ones to blame for the moral decline of our world, the acceptance of sin as normal, the evil that would drive a person to kill another. 

It’s not God’s fault. It’s ours who know him and don’t do anything about it.

Father, I am convicted this morning. I am one who will shake my head at the sin on TV or complain about the ungodliness in our society, the corruption in our government. But you are asking me today to look at what I am doing about it. Am I just complaining? Or am I sharing the Gospel with the people in my world? Am I planting seed? Am I praying with someone to confess sin and accept you as Savior? I pray for your church today, Lord. May we do what you intended for us to do all along. May we be willing to be gathered under your wings and bring our neighbors and friends along, too. Save our world, Lord. One soul at a time.

September 13

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Esther 1-4

Why is the book of Esther included in Scripture? God isn’t even mentioned in its chapters. Yet Esther’s life paints a beautiful picture of some important spiritual truths.

For instance, Vashti refused to obey the King so her position as  queen was snatched from her and given to someone else. Could this be a picture of the nation of Israel who refused to obey God or accept Jesus only to see their position given over to the New Testament Church?

Is Hamar a picture of Satan who would try to trick us into honoring him? And in the next few chapters will we be encouraged by his defeat?

Are we to learn to depend on God, to go to him boldly after spending time fasting and praying? At the end of chapter 4 Esther is ready to do whatever it takes, even if it results in her death. Can we learn the same determination to obey God?

Esther’s story is a good one and it has even inspired several movies, including one of my favorite movies. But while we read this story of love and bravery, let’s ask God what he wants each of us to learn. There are lessons here for us in 2013.

Dear God, I thank you for including Esther’s story among those you’ve preserved as Scripture. As we read this book I pray that you would speak to each of us and teach us what you would have us learn. May we love you, trust you, stand up against Satan, and be the Queen… the people… who make a difference in our world. And may you get the glory!