Fear of the Lord is wisdom. Fear of the Lord is an essential condition allowing the formation of wisdom. God’s holy word leads to wisdom. Jesus is the Word. He is the way, the truth and the life. He is wisdom for us. As we grow closer to Him, evidence of our wisdom will be evident to people around us through our purity, peacefulness, gentleness, mercy and love. Wisdom is not intellectual, it is spiritual.
Read MoreAs I recently read accounts of the prophet Elisha’s many adventures in 2 Kings, I once again saw this remarkable story of Elisha’s faith while he was surrounded by the Syrian army sent to capture (or kill?) him. The threat was real, tangible and imminent. It took the form of soldiers, horses, chariots, swords, bows and arrows, all focused on Elisha, yet he trusted God and he asked God to open his servant’s eyes so that his servant might see and have faith as well. And God responded in remarkable ways.
Read MoreThe parable involves trees planted to bear fruit but are barren. Barren fruit trees are removed and replaced with fruitful trees. In the context of the conversation about sudden death and judgment, and Jesus urging His listeners to repent, the message is clear. God plants us here on earth to bear fruit, so we should serve His will with every breath He grants us.
Read MoreThe parable involves trees planted to bear fruit but are barren. Barren fruit trees are removed and replaced with fruitful trees. In the context of the conversation about sudden death and judgment, and Jesus urging His listeners to repent, the message is clear. God plants us here on earth to bear fruit, so we should serve His will with every breath He grants us.
Read MoreThe Sabbath is a gift from God. It is the seventh day set aside as a holy day of rest, worship and communion with God. He gives us a break from the world to commune with Him. But how do we view it? Are we like the shop owners in Amos’ day begrudgingly going along with the rules, reluctantly going to church and refraining from work for so long as the law requires? Or do we long for and delight in the opportunity to gather worshiping God, relishing our time of truly entering God’s holy rest, basking in His glory? What is the Sabbath to you?
Read MoreThe gospel is the line separating humanity. Paul refers to one side of the line as the world – natural people, those who are perishing, those who do not hear, are unable to hear, or intentionally reject the word of the cross. Those on the other side of the line are spiritual people, brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, the church,, the redeemed, the bearers of new life, those who are being saved through the gospel by the power of God.
God delivers people from bondage for a purpose. He has plans for you and me. Throughout Scripture, God explains that He delivers people from bondage so that they, we, you might enjoy relationship with Him. God explains this time and time again.
Read MoreJesus explains in detail how religious leaders of the day served themselves at the expense of the people they should have been serving. Jesus knew they were not beyond redemption. They needed to hear the truth and perhaps, after they saw all the miraculous signs of Good Friday – the darkness at midday, the earthquake, the tombs open – and after they saw His resurrection that would come that Sunday, perhaps they would gain eyes to see. He was planting seeds that would possibly grow, as He does with us.
Through Christ’s blood, we have redemption, we are reconciled with God, we gain eternal life, we are cleansed from sin, we are forgiven. All of this was foreshadowed in the Torah, and Jesus directly referred to two of the images by sharing in the Passover feast and referring to His cup as blood of the new covenant. “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” Amen.
God loves you so much. He truly desires that we each experience His life abundant, His joy, His peace, His rest, Him. He desires that we move along the spectrum from where we are toward Him. He died for us while we were yet sinners, but He does not want us to stay in the darkness. He wants to transform us. He wants to make dead people alive.
Read MoreBoth Saul and David made horrific choices. In fact, David’s choices look far worse than Saul’s, yet God rejected Saul not David because David sought God’s heart. If God required perfection before humans could taste His favor, He would have only favored one, His unique Son, Christ Jesus. But perfection is not the requirement. According to His holy word, “The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart…” (1 Samuel 13:14). God seeks those who long for Him.
Read MoreTwo events recently caused me to consider whether I fear God and, moreover, whether we should fear God. They caused me to stop and consider my worldview God’s place in it. Do I fear Him? My initial reaction was “no, not to the extent I should,” and I suspected that I had become desensitized to His awesomeness. Had I become enamored with the concept of relationship with Him, perhaps overly so, without really thinking of Him in terms of respect, awe, or fear?
Read MoreHe prays for our glorious transformation with specific purposes in mind. Twice in the passage above Jesus says, “so that the world… so that the world….” To help us along that incredible path, Jesus gives us His glory. The glory that God the Father gave to Jesus, Jesus gives to us for three purposes: 1) so that we might be one, 2) so that we might dwell in God the Father and Christ Jesus, and 3) “so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me” (John 17:23).
Read MoreAfter the Last Supper, before walking across the Kidron Valley to the garden where Jesus will surrender to guards, Jesus pauses to pray the amazing chapter-long prayer recorded as John 17, and His prayer is all about the glory and its purposes. Jesus asks God the Father to glorify Him for the world to see and know and believe. Jesus gives His glory to believers for their unification, and He wants them to be one so the world will see and know and believe. It is all about God’s great mission here on earth.
Read MoreEarlier that week Jesus explained, “ Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:31-32). By saying “lifted up from the earth,” Jesus knew He would soon be crucified. And now, as Jesus starts praying, He says, “Father, the hour has come….” His incarceration, trial, torture, crucifixion, death, resurrection … none of it was a surprise. God used evil people fulfilling their evil intent to accomplish His holy will.
Read MoreJesus explains that He is God in a variety of ways. He claims to be owner of the sheep, He says He has authority over life, He says “I and the Father are one,” and He says “the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” But they simply cannot see that He is God. They see Him as a blasphemous man who was either crazy or demon-possessed, but certainly not God. And those are really the options we are left with. Was He a madman during His earthly ministry or is He God? Who do you see Him to be?
Read MoreThe good news of Christ Jesus changes everyone who hears it. Some seek and worship. Others are curious. Some respond with evil intent. Jesus says, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock” (Matthew 7:24). What is your response?
Read MoreMy three-year-old grandson likely has no idea that God’s holy word urges us to rejoice, but he knows joy. He exudes joy through his beautiful smile, the way he sings and the happy way he carries himself through the world. May we each be infected with his spirit of joy. May our spirit rejoice like Mary’s. May we rejoice in all circumstances like Paul. May we know the joy of his holy jolly season today and always. Amen.
Read MoreAs you consider the world around you and God’s desire to capture our attention, please know that He is in control. He is sovereign. He has all power and authority everywhere. Turn to Him. Pray. Study His holy word. Serve the holy One by showing His love, light and life to everyone you encounter. And always be ready to share the good news of Christ Jesus to people around you.
Read MoreDuring the Exodus we see a remarkable event foreshadowing God’s release of the Holy Spirit during the Pentecost described in Acts 2.
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