The Immortal Dies
"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:17)
"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:17)
The second verse of "And Can It Be That I Should Gain?" poses and solves a great mystery:
T'is mystery all! the immortal dies!
Who can explain this strange design?
In vain the first-born seraph tries,
To sound the depths of love divine;
T'is mercy all! Let earth adore!
Let angel minds inquire no more.
Who can explain this strange design?
In vain the first-born seraph tries,
To sound the depths of love divine;
T'is mercy all! Let earth adore!
Let angel minds inquire no more.
Our text reminds us that God is immortal. And yet, "Christ died for our sins" (1 Corinthians 15:3) to bring us salvation. If this astounds us (and it should), we can take solace in that we are not alone. "Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things . . . which things the angels desire to look into" (1 Peter 1:10-12).
Think of it! The Creator, the Author of life, has died to offer eternal life to His creation, for "all have sinned" (Romans 3:23), and the "wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). He died so that we don't have to die! This grand plan remains beyond our full grasp, as it always was to the prophets and the angels.
The motive behind His plan is God's mercy. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us; . . . Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour" (Titus 3:5-6). "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out" (Romans 11:33). JDM
In June 2014 the Institute for Creation Research released Unlocking the Mysteries of Genesis, a groundbreaking 12-DVD series on the scientific evidence for the biblical account of creation. Since then, the response has been tremendous:
"Great cinematic quality and solid science. Great tool for creation apologetics." - G.H.
"This series will be a tremendous blessing for Christians by strengthening their faith and spreading the gospel." - D.M.
"Creation and.Genesis are of critical, foundational importance. You made this clear, and you dealt with the issues very well and respectfully." - J.F.
"After watching all of the episodes, I am very thankful.to support ICR in your endeavors to defend the Christian faith, educate laymen such as myself, and spread the gospel-all by glorifying our magnificent Lord God Creator." - D.A.
"This series will be a tremendous blessing for Christians by strengthening their faith and spreading the gospel." - D.M.
"Creation and.Genesis are of critical, foundational importance. You made this clear, and you dealt with the issues very well and respectfully." - J.F.
"After watching all of the episodes, I am very thankful.to support ICR in your endeavors to defend the Christian faith, educate laymen such as myself, and spread the gospel-all by glorifying our magnificent Lord God Creator." - D.A.
Hundreds of similar reviews clearly show the profound impact Unlocking the Mysteries of Genesis has made for the cause of our Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ. But this is only the beginning of the work we can do.
Please consider donating to ICR this Christmas season to produce more high-quality creation media resources to reach the world for Christ. The "fruit" borne will last for eternity.
Please consider donating to ICR this Christmas season to produce more high-quality creation media resources to reach the world for Christ. The "fruit" borne will last for eternity.
Can It Be?
"Christ also suffered for us. . . . Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (1 Peter 2:21-24)
Those who love good church music have come to love Charles Wesley's commitment to and knowledge of his Savior and the Scriptures, for he wove into his music and poetry deep insights which challenge and thrill us even today. One of his hymns, "And Can It Be That I Should Gain?," has unfortunately been abridged in modern hymnals. The original five verses are expressed:
And can it be that I should gain,
An interest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him, to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That thou, my God, should'st die for me?
Even the Old Testament saints wondered why God loves man so. "What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?" (Job 7:17). The New Testament contains many similar expressions of wonder. "Behold, what manner of love [literally 'what a different kind of love'] the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God" (1 John 3:1). "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. . . . And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement" (Romans 5:8-11).
The point is we were desperate sinners deserving His wrath. "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love [i.e., 'amazing love'] wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)" (Ephesians 2:4-5). JDM
"Christ also suffered for us. . . . Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (1 Peter 2:21-24)
An interest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him, to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That thou, my God, should'st die for me?
Giving and Receiving
"Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only." (Philippians 4:15)
"Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only." (Philippians 4:15)
As Paul went on his missionary journeys, he never asked for money for himself from the people to whom he preached. He later wrote to the Thessalonians "because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God" (1 Thessalonians 2:9). He did stress the teaching of Christ that "the labourer is worthy of his reward" (1 Timothy 5:18; Luke 10:7) and that "even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel" (1 Corinthians 9:14). But he himself said: "I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me" (1 Corinthians 9:15).
Thus, he was especially moved when the impoverished Christians at Philippi, without being asked, "sent once and again unto my necessity" (Philippians 4:16), and they were the only ones who did! This act of generous concern came about, Paul recognized, because they "first gave their own selves to the Lord" (2 Corinthians 8:5). As a result, Paul could assure them: "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). Not only their material need, but every need.
They had learned a wonderful truth that every Christian needs to learn. As Paul told the Ephesian elders: "Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). Therefore, let each of us give in His name, "not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:7-8). HMM
The Lake of Fire
"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:15)
Some people may not believe in hell, but God makes it clear that all "the fearful, the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone" (Revelation 21:8).
Actually, Jesus Christ said more about hell than anyone else in the Bible. To the unsaved, He will say: "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41).
The lake of fire is not here on the earth. The beast and the false prophet are to be cast into the lake of fire before the binding of Satan for a thousand years; then the present earth itself is to be removed, and finally Satan will be "cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever" (Revelation 20:10; see also 19:20; 20:2, 7, 10-11). Thus the lake of fire is in existence both before and after the removal of the present earth, and will continue to exist forever.
Many argue that the lake of fire is symbolic and should not be taken literally. If so, the reality must be so indescribable that it can only be symbolized by an eternal lake of fire. Perhaps it is some distant star, since stars are essentially lakes of fire, and those "that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" are to be "punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord" (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).
Rather than questioning the reality of hell, which is the just destiny of all who reject or ignore the free gift of salvation provided by the infinite love and sacrificial suffering of God Himself in Christ on their behalf, men and women should come to Christ in faith and "be saved from wrath through him" (Romans 5:9). HMM
"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:15)
Five Commands
"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:13)
"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:13)
In our text and the succeeding two verses, five commands are given to the believer striving to live a godly life. Let us look briefly at each one.
Gird up the loins of your mind: Using the long, flowing robes worn by most people in Greek societies as a word picture, Peter commands us to gird up our minds just as such a robe needed to be gathered up in preparation for strenuous activity. We need to discipline our minds for action.
Be sober: A drunken person has a disoriented mind, lacks self-control, and is not alert to his surroundings. We are commanded to maintain a calm and thoughtful state of mind, in full control of all our actions.
Hope to the end, or "patiently fix your hope": We must recognize that He is in control and patiently wait for Him. The focus of our expectation is His grace, which we presently experience but which will be fully granted us at His return.
Not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance (v. 14): This phrase is translated "be not conformed" in Romans 12:2 and commands us not to adopt the world's lifestyle and thought patterns, especially our "former lusts," which enslaved us before our conversion.
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy (v. 15): God is first and foremost a holy God, and we are called to "fashion" ourselves after Him. Complete holiness is out of our reach this side of glory, but it should be our goal.
All five are commands indeed, but commands three and five are in an emphatic position in the Greek, and these two hold the key to success in the others. Only by patiently fixing our hope on Him and His grace can we successfully strive for His holiness. JDM
An Introduction to Christ Revelation 1:4-8
The first chapter of Revelation gives a compact description of the Lord. In verses 4 to 8, John condenses the wonder of Jesus Christ to the bare but beautiful essentials of who He is:
Jesus Christ is the faithful witness. Jesus came to earth to more fully reveal the character and ways of the Father (John 14:9). The miracles He performed validated His claim to be the Son of God.
Jesus Christ is the first-born from the dead. The Savior bore our sins and died on the cross, was buried, and rose again on the third day. His resurrection proved that eternal life is possible for us, too, as Jesus taught in John 11:25: "He who believes in Me will live even if he dies."
Jesus Christ is the ruler of the kings of the earth. It is the Lord who raises men to power, just as it is He who removes them (John 19:11; Rom. 13:1). Meanwhile, believers have access to a higher authority. In God's throne room, we can beseech Him on behalf of our nations and lay claim to His promises.
Jesus Christ loves us and released us from our sins by His blood. Note the change of tense in John's writing. The Lord's love is ever-present, but He has freed believers from their past. Both the penalty and power of sin have been broken.
When people ask you about Jesus, introduce Him by guiding them through this mini-biography. In just a few sentences, John describes Christ's character, divinity, and authority. The disciple was not timid about proclaiming the Lord. We shouldn't be shy, either, when we serve so great a Savior.
Discovering Our True Identity
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Many Christians are experiencing an identity crisis. They know they're saved, but they don't really know what to think about themselves. Let's take a little test. Do you consider yourself a sinner saved by grace or a saint who occasionally sins? Both statements are true, but the first one dwells on your past identity, whereas the second focuses on the Lord's perception of you.
If you are a believer, God's Word says that you are a saint (v. 2). But too many of us still see ourselves as the same old sinner, who's been forgiven and patched up and yet is basically unchanged inside. But the Lord says anyone in Christ "is a new creature; the old things passed away" (2 Cor. 5:17). That's what being born again is all about. We can never go back to the way we were.
The solution to this identity crisis is to change the way we think about ourselves. If we don't, we'll rely on how we feel, and Satan will bombard us with reminders of our failures and sins. He wants to keep us focused on being a sinner, because he knows that the recognition of our sainthood will lead us to live like saints. We'll be motivated and empowered to obey God, and the Devil will lose his foothold in our lives.
Jesus didn't come just to save you from hell; He wants to live His life through you. In Christ, you have a new identity which has replaced your old one. If you will focus on who you are now, your actions will follow, and you'll experience the enjoyment of a victorious Christian life.
Our Righteousness
Ephesians 2:1-10
Anyone who thinks of himself as a pretty good person ought to take a look at God's assessment of humanity. He says we all come into the world spiritually dead and are ruled by Satan, his world system, and our own sin nature, or flesh. In the Lord's eyes, we are children of wrath who deserve only punishment.
On the other hand, God is so pure and holy that He is totally separated from all sin and cannot look upon it with any favor or approval (Hab. 1:13). Everything He does is appropriate and beneficial; by comparison, even mankind's righteous acts are like filthy rags (Isa. 64:6). Yet even though we have nothing of value to offer Him, the Lord wants us for His own and has done everything necessary to draw us close.
Those of us who have placed faith in Jesus Christ have been made spiritually alive in Him, and all our sins have been forgiven. There's a striking contrast between what we were and who we now are in the Lord. But this change has nothing to do with how good we've been. Even the faith with which we respond to the Savior comes from God. We can never make ourselves righteous; it's all a gift from Him. And once He declares us justified, we will never be pronounced guilty again.
God has said that in the ages to come, He wants to show the "surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us" (Eph. 2:7). For all eternity, we will be showered with this awesome demonstration of His love. As great as our blessings are now, they'll pale in comparison to what awaits us in heaven.
Justice and Mercy
Romans 3:21-26
The sinful condition of mankind presents us with a dilemma: How can a holy, righteous God forgive our sins? If He deals with us only on the basis of His justice, every human being would suffer the eternal punishment of His wrath, which their sins deserve. But if He extends mercy instead of justice, no one would pay the penalty for sin, and God would then cease to be just.
There was only one way the Lord could stay true to His nature and at the same time forgive our sins. The solution was to satisfy His justice by pouring out His wrath on a substitute. Then the penalty for sin would be paid, and He would be free to extend mercy to sinners. This is the only plan that accommodates both aspects of His divine nature. So Christ came as our substitute; He took the punishment for our sin, enabling us to experience the Father's mercy. Now, by placing faith in Jesus, anyone can be justified-that is, declared legally righteous.
God's plan of salvation is simple enough for a child to understand. Yet at the same time, the complexities of the transaction that occurred at Calvary are far beyond human comprehension. Although we may not fully grasp what transpired there, we can know that the cross is the greatest possible display of the Lord's love for us.
Can you even imagine the cost of your salvation? The magnificent plan of the Father and the willing cooperation of the Son prove your tremendous value in God's eyes. From His perspective, you are worth all the pain and suffering that was necessary to secure your eternal presence with Him in heaven.
The Road of Discipleship
Galatians 1:11-17
After Paul's conversion, he disappeared into the desert for three years, during which time the Holy Spirit instructed him in the ways of God. He emerged, ready to communicate divine truth.
The Lord speaks to believers so that they will comprehend the truth, conform to the truth, and communicate the truth. These same steps form a roadmap to discipleship. What happened during Paul's desert years was only the beginning of a life-long process-God renewed his mind and transformed him into the image of Christ. For the apostle, that change began with connecting his rich biblical knowledge to the revelation that Jesus Christ was the Son of God.
Paul knew Scripture thoroughly, but the truth that Jesus was the promised Messiah made him reconsider the foundation he'd been trusting. Everything he knew about God had to be reevaluated in light of this new information. Paul had a history of wanting to please God, so the Holy Spirit no doubt found him a willing pupil.
The apostle's spirit had to be shaped according to the Father's will. And the Lord kept working on him long after Paul left the desert and began his ministry. Every person who reads his letters is a witness to the work of God in a submissive man.
The Lord's discipleship roadmap looks similar for every believer. Like Paul, you are the Holy Spirit's student, and the knowledge you reap from Scripture should be changing your life. Be like the apostle in this way to become a disciple maker by sharing what you learn with others.
You're Shining for Jesus Wherever You Are
HOLLEY GERTH
I don't know how some in today's church got the false idea that the preacher is a servant and the folks in the pews are just members. No one is a bystander in God's kingdom! All believers are in partnership with the Lord (2 Cor. 6:1). He chose to work through mankind to accomplish the gospel mission on earth. To borrow a biblical metaphor, we are the workers cultivating and harvesting His fields (Matt. 9:37-38).
God gave one or more spiritual gifts to every single believer to aid in the work for His kingdom. We each need this special "wiring" to carry out our unique role in His plan. He knits that spiritual gift into our personality and inborn talents to create a useful and effective servant. And just to be clear, there is no such thing as a non-gifted believer.
Believers are the Lord's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for the purpose of good works (Eph. 2:10). Spiritual gifts are not our own abilities. The Holy Spirit manifests them through us. Remember, it is the sap running from the vine into the branches that produces fruit (John 15:5). In the same way, the Spirit lives and works through God's followers to bring forth acts of service. The Lord's power is behind it all. Think of that when you are tempted to shy away from God-given opportunities.
God's awesome power is present in and available to every believer. The Holy Spirit equips us to obey the Lord in whatever He calls us to do. Don't waste your life sitting in a pew! Get busy using that spiritual gift. The fields of this world are ripe for harvest (John 4:35).
It's Okay if We Don't Understand the Whole Bible
WENDY POPE
The first chapter of Revelation gives a compact description of the Lord. In verses 4 to 8, John condenses the wonder of Jesus Christ to the bare but beautiful essentials of who He is:
Jesus Christ is the faithful witness. Jesus came to earth to more fully reveal the character and ways of the Father (John 14:9). The miracles He performed validated His claim to be the Son of God.
Jesus Christ is the first-born from the dead. The Savior bore our sins and died on the cross, was buried, and rose again on the third day. His resurrection proved that eternal life is possible for us, too, as Jesus taught in John 11:25: "He who believes in Me will live even if he dies."
Jesus Christ is the ruler of the kings of the earth. It is the Lord who raises men to power, just as it is He who removes them (John 19:11; Rom. 13:1). Meanwhile, believers have access to a higher authority. In God's throne room, we can beseech Him on behalf of our nations and lay claim to His promises.
Jesus Christ loves us and released us from our sins by His blood. Note the change of tense in John's writing. The Lord's love is ever-present, but He has freed believers from their past. Both the penalty and power of sin have been broken.
When people ask you about Jesus, introduce Him by guiding them through this mini-biography. In just a few sentences, John describes Christ's character, divinity, and authority. The disciple was not timid about proclaiming the Lord. We shouldn't be shy, either, when we serve so great a Savior.
Discovering Our True Identity
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Many Christians are experiencing an identity crisis. They know they're saved, but they don't really know what to think about themselves. Let's take a little test. Do you consider yourself a sinner saved by grace or a saint who occasionally sins? Both statements are true, but the first one dwells on your past identity, whereas the second focuses on the Lord's perception of you.
If you are a believer, God's Word says that you are a saint (v. 2). But too many of us still see ourselves as the same old sinner, who's been forgiven and patched up and yet is basically unchanged inside. But the Lord says anyone in Christ "is a new creature; the old things passed away" (2 Cor. 5:17). That's what being born again is all about. We can never go back to the way we were.
The solution to this identity crisis is to change the way we think about ourselves. If we don't, we'll rely on how we feel, and Satan will bombard us with reminders of our failures and sins. He wants to keep us focused on being a sinner, because he knows that the recognition of our sainthood will lead us to live like saints. We'll be motivated and empowered to obey God, and the Devil will lose his foothold in our lives.
Jesus didn't come just to save you from hell; He wants to live His life through you. In Christ, you have a new identity which has replaced your old one. If you will focus on who you are now, your actions will follow, and you'll experience the enjoyment of a victorious Christian life.
Our Righteousness
Ephesians 2:1-10
Anyone who thinks of himself as a pretty good person ought to take a look at God's assessment of humanity. He says we all come into the world spiritually dead and are ruled by Satan, his world system, and our own sin nature, or flesh. In the Lord's eyes, we are children of wrath who deserve only punishment.
On the other hand, God is so pure and holy that He is totally separated from all sin and cannot look upon it with any favor or approval (Hab. 1:13). Everything He does is appropriate and beneficial; by comparison, even mankind's righteous acts are like filthy rags (Isa. 64:6). Yet even though we have nothing of value to offer Him, the Lord wants us for His own and has done everything necessary to draw us close.
Those of us who have placed faith in Jesus Christ have been made spiritually alive in Him, and all our sins have been forgiven. There's a striking contrast between what we were and who we now are in the Lord. But this change has nothing to do with how good we've been. Even the faith with which we respond to the Savior comes from God. We can never make ourselves righteous; it's all a gift from Him. And once He declares us justified, we will never be pronounced guilty again.
God has said that in the ages to come, He wants to show the "surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us" (Eph. 2:7). For all eternity, we will be showered with this awesome demonstration of His love. As great as our blessings are now, they'll pale in comparison to what awaits us in heaven.
Justice and Mercy
Romans 3:21-26
The sinful condition of mankind presents us with a dilemma: How can a holy, righteous God forgive our sins? If He deals with us only on the basis of His justice, every human being would suffer the eternal punishment of His wrath, which their sins deserve. But if He extends mercy instead of justice, no one would pay the penalty for sin, and God would then cease to be just.
There was only one way the Lord could stay true to His nature and at the same time forgive our sins. The solution was to satisfy His justice by pouring out His wrath on a substitute. Then the penalty for sin would be paid, and He would be free to extend mercy to sinners. This is the only plan that accommodates both aspects of His divine nature. So Christ came as our substitute; He took the punishment for our sin, enabling us to experience the Father's mercy. Now, by placing faith in Jesus, anyone can be justified-that is, declared legally righteous.
God's plan of salvation is simple enough for a child to understand. Yet at the same time, the complexities of the transaction that occurred at Calvary are far beyond human comprehension. Although we may not fully grasp what transpired there, we can know that the cross is the greatest possible display of the Lord's love for us.
Can you even imagine the cost of your salvation? The magnificent plan of the Father and the willing cooperation of the Son prove your tremendous value in God's eyes. From His perspective, you are worth all the pain and suffering that was necessary to secure your eternal presence with Him in heaven.
The Road of Discipleship
Galatians 1:11-17
After Paul's conversion, he disappeared into the desert for three years, during which time the Holy Spirit instructed him in the ways of God. He emerged, ready to communicate divine truth.
The Lord speaks to believers so that they will comprehend the truth, conform to the truth, and communicate the truth. These same steps form a roadmap to discipleship. What happened during Paul's desert years was only the beginning of a life-long process-God renewed his mind and transformed him into the image of Christ. For the apostle, that change began with connecting his rich biblical knowledge to the revelation that Jesus Christ was the Son of God.
Paul knew Scripture thoroughly, but the truth that Jesus was the promised Messiah made him reconsider the foundation he'd been trusting. Everything he knew about God had to be reevaluated in light of this new information. Paul had a history of wanting to please God, so the Holy Spirit no doubt found him a willing pupil.
The apostle's spirit had to be shaped according to the Father's will. And the Lord kept working on him long after Paul left the desert and began his ministry. Every person who reads his letters is a witness to the work of God in a submissive man.
The Lord's discipleship roadmap looks similar for every believer. Like Paul, you are the Holy Spirit's student, and the knowledge you reap from Scripture should be changing your life. Be like the apostle in this way to become a disciple maker by sharing what you learn with others.
You're Shining for Jesus Wherever You Are
HOLLEY GERTH
"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
The news headlines drifted in from the living room as I sat at my desk. The story of yet another tragedy contrasted so sharply with what I was writing that I stopped, sighed and leaned back in my chair. A sense of despair washed over me.
"Lord," I silently prayed, "is there anything I can do about the darkness in this world? It seems so overwhelming."
I sensed a gentle whisper within my heart replying, "The only way to get rid of the darkness is to add more light."
Darkness is the absence of light. Trying to go after it directly is like chasing your shadow. You can't bag it up and throw it away. Only light is powerful enough to make the darkness disappear. During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus made it clear that we are the light of the world. We are called to shine. But the light we share is not our own.
From the very beginning of creation, God has been the source of light both spiritually and literally. Genesis 1:2b-3 says, "Darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light" (NIV).
Imagine a world full of darkness. Then with four small words, light blazes forth. Every living thing in our world relies on light for its existence - plants, animals and people. The God who brought light to the world also brings it to our lives. As 2 Corinthians 4:6a says, "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts"(NIV).
The best part of all is that we don't have to be like the light bulb that said, "I have to find a way to shine!" The light bulb went to a self-help meeting to learn about its inner capacity for light. It read books about how to get brighter. Each morning the light bulb would get up and recite positive affirmations. "I am a light bulb. I believe in myself. I will shine!" But nothing happened.
Eventually the light bulb became weary and discouraged. It began to doubt who it was and what it could do. It almost burned out completely. Fortunately, one day the light bulb was carefully placed in a fixture. Light burst forth and filled the room. The light bulb finally understood. The key was not to try harder but to plug into the source.
Trying to shine on our own can be exhausting. Instead, we're simply called to be closely connected to God and remain in Him. When we do, His light pours forth through us in powerful, brilliant ways that change the world. The ways we shine might not make the news, but they make even more of a difference than we can see.
Lord, thank You for being the light within us so we can shine brightly for the world around us. When it seems darkness is crowding in, use us to make a difference. We ask that You will help us share Your love, joy and peace - especially this time of year. You are the hope we need and the One light that will never burn out, be overcome or fade away. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
"... Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?'" John 21:15a (NIV)
Do you ever wish God would appear in the flesh and tell you exactly what He wants you to do in a situation? I do.
Sometimes I wish He'd hand me a piece of paper with clear, step-by-step instructions written out and personalized for my specific circumstance. And then He'd stay for a little Q&A session where He'd tenderly answer all my questions with deep reassurances.
I guess some people would say that demonstrates my lack of faith. And maybe it does. Or maybe my heart just feels incredibly vulnerable with some decisions I have to make, and I desperately want to get it right.
I love the Lord so much.
I want to honor Him with my life.
But sometimes I feel Him stirring me to do something that's terrifyingly opposite of what I want to do. Left to my own choosing, I want to take the safe, certain and comfortable route. And then Scriptures march right up to my limited perspective and challenge me to walk a path I'd never choose on my own.
This question forces my eyes to glance toward that path: More than anything else, do you want to follow God and live His message?
Or even more deeply: Do you love Jesus and want Him more than anything else?
It's this question the resurrected Jesus asked Peter at a crucial crossroads in Peter's life. And gracious, do I ever relate to Peter.
He'd been following Jesus for years.
Then things got hard, just like Jesus told the disciples they would. Jesus gave them the clear hope to hold onto:
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world," (John 16:33, NIV).
But isn't it hard when what you see with your physical eyes seems contrary to what you believe in your heart?
Problems beg us to forget God's promises.
Peter denied Jesus because he feared the cost of following Him.
Then circumstances got really hard. Jesus was crucified and Peter took his eyes off that hard path of continuing in ministry. He went back to what felt safe, certain and comfortable ... fishing.
Then Peter got one of those visits from Jesus I wish I could have. Resurrected Jesus appeared in the flesh and could not have made it any clearer what He wanted Peter to ponder. With one question, He ruined Peter's justifications to stay safe.
"... Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?'" (John 21:15).
Do you love me more than these?
We've all got our own "these."
They are anything that make us look away from the less chosen path of following God with everything we've got.
So, back to my decision.
Last year, I wanted to quit ministry. Proverbs 31 Ministries had experienced tremendous growth and suddenly I felt enormous pressure that I wasn't smart enough, capable enough or resourced enough to lead this ministry.
Everything was bigger, which made me feel like everything was scarier.
The staffing needs.
The budget.
The worries.
Gathering up my fears, I presented a strong case to the Lord to give this assignment to someone else and let me quietly slip away. I set my sights on what felt more comfortable and safe and certain.
But Jesus' question ruined all my quitting plans: "Do you love me more than these ... more than your fears ... more than your desire to do something easier and less scary?"
So, here I stand, a girl with trembling hands wearing boots dusty from that uncommon path. I stand and proclaim, "Yes, Jesus, I love You more than these. I will live out the charge presented in Your Holy Word to, "Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching," (2 Timothy 4:2, HCSB).
I realize your struggles and decisions might not look like mine, but whatever they are, my team at Proverbs 31 Ministries and I are committed to meeting you at your point of need with the Truth that points you to God's best pathway for you.
I pray this devotion and all the others we send each day help you hold God's Truth close and more clearly discern God's direction for your day.
I'm determined to persevere. But I'm also determined to recognize I can't do this alone. Will you join us with your prayers and financial support?
This is so hard and honestly awkward for me to ask. But if I don't, you won't know Proverbs 31 Ministries depends on your support to do what we do each day.
I need your help and I thank you for letting me ask. Oh, how I wish we could have this conversation over coffee ... maybe one day. I would love that. But for now, if you can join us, please click here for more information. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Dear Lord, I want to declare today that I love You more than my "these." Thank You for reminding me to follow You even when it's difficult. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
"At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth." Luke 1:39-40 (NIV)
When I was pregnant with our firstborn, I carried around a well-marked copy of the book, What to Expect When You're Expecting, counting on its practical wisdom to get me through those scary (yet exciting) months.
With our next child, I turned to a close friend who was also expecting her second. We exchanged advice, discussed at length the many joys and discomforts of pregnancy, and cheered each other on as our delivery dates drew near. If you need a listening ear, a friend who is walking the same path is a great place to turn.
Surely that was the case 2,000 years ago for Mary and Elizabeth, who didn't even expect to be expecting. Mary was a virgin, betrothed to Joseph. Elizabeth was an older, barren woman, married to Zechariah the priest. When we first meet them in the Bible, neither woman could imagine being pregnant. But God was already on the move.
When Gabriel brought Mary the good news of the Son she would bear, the angel offered this word of encouragement: "Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month" (Luke 1:36, NIV).
No wonder Mary took off for Zechariah's house! Elizabeth might actually believe her miraculous story. Today's key verse assures us young Mary "got ready and hurried," eager to connect with the one person who would understand her situation: a pregnant kinswoman who shared Mary's faith in a wonder-working God.
If you're bursting with news about something the Lord has done in your life - an answer to prayer, a long-awaited blessing, a surprising provision - you don't want to spill the beans to just anyone. Like Mary, you long to tell somebody who will get it. A friend who will say, "Praise God!" instead of, "Lucky you."
Besides, who else could Mary tell? Her young friends? Her neighbors in Nazareth? "Hey, I just had a visit from an angel, and I'll be giving birth to God's Son."
Right. Not happening. Mary needed Elizabeth, just as we need a friend who will listen without judgment and offer wise counsel because she's been there - or is there right now.
The moment Mary arrived, another miracle occurred. "When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb" (Luke 1:41a, NIV). If a mom-to-be eats something sweet or drinks something cold, an unborn child often responds with a swift kick. But this was different: "and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit," (Luke 1:41b, NIV).
Can you fathom the emotions and sensations that must have washed over Elizabeth? An urge to laugh and cry at once, a sense of being flooded with sunlight and fresh air, an overwhelming desire to shout with joy. And shout she did. "In a loud voice she exclaimed: 'Blessed are you among women ...'" (Luke 1:42a, NIV).
Think of it! Two ordinary women bound together by an extraordinary God, empowered by His Holy Spirit.
Mary and Elizabeth had a friendship that shines through the ages. Shared faith, shared joy, shared experience. If you need someone to listen, advise and empathize, consider a woman you know who could use that same kind of support from you. When encouragement flows both directions and honors the Lord, that's a friendship that will go the distance.
Lord, You will always be our closest friend, our best source of counsel, the first place we turn. Thank You for also providing earthly friends who help us keep our focus on You, every season of the year. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
"Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble." Psalm 119:165 (NIV)
Tick. Tick. Tick. The waiting room clock drew my attention to the obvious: I wished we weren't there. Me in the silence and she surrounded by machines. Yesterday, laughing in the coffee shop had been a happier day for my friend and me.
When I heard her voice coming down the hall, I was thrown off by her tone. Her voice was not that of a fearful woman facing the unknown results of the test she'd just taken. And as her face came into view, her expression was not that of a woman filled with uncertainty.
Her countenance radiated one thing: peace. Complete and utter peace.
As I drew near to offer my support, hope spilled through her words, "Before we go, please let me share with you the words Jesus has been whispering to me."
Taking a seat in that hospital lounge, my friend knew just where to go in God's Word. She had been soaking her heart in the familiar passage all week. Pouring her faith into me, it was all I could do to hold back the tears. Wasn't I there to support her? Yet, it was her words, filled with God's words that were the life-giving ones.
My friend was living out today's verse, "Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble" (Psalm 119:165).
There is something otherworldly about being in the presence of one who has faced what we all may fear. Who has touched God there, and is no longer afraid of the pain this life might hold. I haven't experienced that level of fear before. I haven't paid the price to grasp the peace she holds today. But I want it. I want the peace she has. I want my heart to be ok with anything that comes my way because my heart is peacefully resting in a God I know is good.
No matter what.
Jesus says He will give us a peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). I saw that peace. Literally saw it with my eyes, in my gorgeous friend that morning. I witnessed the beauty that can only come when a woman is daily saturated in the Word of God. It's a beauty so gorgeous it's much more than a face in the mirror. It's a beauty I want.
Most likely, I will not experience the exact pain she has experienced. But I can still become beautiful like her.
I know what to do to get it ... to be like my friend.
I become beautiful like my friend by practicing being in God's presence as she does, learning to daily love His law as the psalmist said.
Getting alone. Going to that place, every day, where His Word gets in me because I get into His Word. Setting aside all else, so His peace can seep into every inch of my heart. Allowing His peace to wedge out all fear.
My friend isn't beautiful because of her oh-so-cute hairstyle or her trendy outfit, though she has those too. My friend is lovely because she has found Jesus' peace in spite of the pain. I want true beauty like that.
Father, this world tries to daily define beauty for us. Magazines and makeup ads constantly scream at us "more, more, more." Your beauty, though, is a gentle peace, even when our world may be spinning. Lord, may we be desperate to become the women You long for us to be; women who radiate You to all we meet. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
One of the Most Important Principles in Reading the BibleJohn Piper
Sometimes readers of the Bible see the conditions that God lays down for his blessing and they conclude from these conditions that our action is first and decisive, then God responds to bless us.
That is not right.
There are indeed real conditions that God often commands. We must meet them for the promised blessing to come. But that does not mean that we are left to ourselves to meet the conditions or that our action is first and decisive.
Here is one example to show what I mean.
In Jeremiah 29:13 God says to the exiles in Babylon, "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." So there is a condition: When you seek me with all your heart, then you will find me. So we must seek the Lord. That is the condition of finding him.
True.
But does that mean that we are left to ourselves to seek the Lord? Does it mean that our action of seeking him is first and decisive? Does it mean that God only acts after our seeking?
No.
Listen to what God says in Jeremiah 24:7 to those same exiles in Babylon: "I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart."
So the people will meet the condition of returning to God with their whole heart. God will respond by being their God in the fullest blessing. But the reason they returned with their whole heart is that God gave them a heart to know him. His action was first and decisive.
So now connect that with Jeremiah 29:13. The condition there was that they seek the Lord with their whole heart. Then God will be found by them. But now we see that the promise in Jeremiah 24:7 is that God himself will give them such a heart so that they will return to him with their whole heart.
This is one of the most basic things people need to see about the Bible. It is full of conditions we must meet for God's blessings. But God does not leave us to meet them on our own. The first and decisive work before and in our willing is God's prior grace. Without this insight, hundreds of conditional statements in the Bible will lead us astray.
Let this be the key to all Biblical conditions and commands: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:12-13). Yes, we work. But our work is not first or decisive. God's is. "I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me" (1 Corinthians 15:10).
His Mercy Found Me
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8)
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8)
The third verse of the hymn "And Can It Be That I Should Gain?" sets the stage for the implementation of His majestic plan.
He left His father's throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace!
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race;
T'is mercy all! Immense and free,
For, O my God, it found out me!
So free, so infinite His grace!
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race;
T'is mercy all! Immense and free,
For, O my God, it found out me!
The plan involved the death of God the Son. The Creator dying for the creation. The righteous Judge taking on Himself the penalty of the condemned. The rejected Holy One becoming sin on behalf of the true sinner. The convicted ones, powerless to alter the situation, simply receiving the offered grace through faith (see our text).
First, God had to take on Himself the nature of the condemned, live a guiltless life so that He could die as a substitutionary sacrifice. To do so, God the Son had to leave His Father's throne. And, although "being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God [i.e., was willing to give up his kingly status]: But made himself of no reputation [literally, 'emptied himself'], and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: . . . and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:6-8).
Adam had rebelled against his Creator's authority, and all of mankind suffered. "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12), yet Christ's work on the cross changed all that. "For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many" (v. 15). Amazing love! JDM
Our Partnership with God
1 Corinthians 12:4-11I don't know how some in today's church got the false idea that the preacher is a servant and the folks in the pews are just members. No one is a bystander in God's kingdom! All believers are in partnership with the Lord (2 Cor. 6:1). He chose to work through mankind to accomplish the gospel mission on earth. To borrow a biblical metaphor, we are the workers cultivating and harvesting His fields (Matt. 9:37-38).
God gave one or more spiritual gifts to every single believer to aid in the work for His kingdom. We each need this special "wiring" to carry out our unique role in His plan. He knits that spiritual gift into our personality and inborn talents to create a useful and effective servant. And just to be clear, there is no such thing as a non-gifted believer.
Believers are the Lord's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for the purpose of good works (Eph. 2:10). Spiritual gifts are not our own abilities. The Holy Spirit manifests them through us. Remember, it is the sap running from the vine into the branches that produces fruit (John 15:5). In the same way, the Spirit lives and works through God's followers to bring forth acts of service. The Lord's power is behind it all. Think of that when you are tempted to shy away from God-given opportunities.
God's awesome power is present in and available to every believer. The Holy Spirit equips us to obey the Lord in whatever He calls us to do. Don't waste your life sitting in a pew! Get busy using that spiritual gift. The fields of this world are ripe for harvest (John 4:35).
It's Okay if We Don't Understand the Whole Bible
WENDY POPE
"The LORD our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them." Deuteronomy 29:29a (NLT)
Read the Bible? The whole thing? From cover to cover? Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy? I've heard they're hard. Do I have to read the Old Testament? Jesus wasn't even born then. What if I don't understand everything?
These concerns plagued me as I sensed God nudging me to read the entire Bible. I'd grown up in the church and attended Sunday School and mid-week Bible study every week. But the thought of reading the whole Bible intimidated me. My greatest fears were failure to finish and not being able to understand what I read.
To ease my anxiety, I went to my local Christian bookstore with this thought: If I'm going to read the whole Bible, certainly I need a new Bible.
I previewed various types of Bibles in an array of colors, styles and formats. It seemed like hours had passed. And just when I was about to give up, I pulled the One Year Chronological Bible from the shelf.
The format intrigued me. Short readings. An easy-to-follow daily plan. An attractive cover. The best part to me was knowing I would read the Bible in the order the events occurred. Yes! This is the Bible for me.
That year I read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. I stumbled some, but I also learned a lot. I learned Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy really are difficult to read. They are full of laws, actual numbers and more laws. But through those books and the rest of the Old Testament, I learned to really appreciate the wonderful sacrifice Jesus made for me (because there's no way any human on the planet could keep all of those laws). And, I learned it's okay if I don't understand the whole Bible.
What a relief! You see, I thought a Christian should be able to understand the Bible completely. And because I didn't, I thought something must be wrong with me.
Truth is, we're not meant to understand everything in the Bible the first time we read it. If we were, we could read it once and put it on our shelf.
The Bible is unlike any other book. Hebrews describes God's Word as living and active (Hebrews 4:12). It is meant to help us live life. Therefore, it's necessary to have it as a part of our daily living.
Our key verse says, "The LORD our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them." God reveals the truths He wants us to understand when He feels we are ready to understand and apply them.
When we don't understand something, it doesn't mean we are less of a Christian or not as smart as another. God, in His infinite wisdom, keeps some things hidden from us until just the right time.
With this truth in mind I set out to read the Bible one day at a time. Now many years later, I've read the Bible in its entirety year after year. Not because I'm a super Christian, but because my first reading of the entire Bible taught me that amazing truth ... and I wanted more.
What about you? Have you ever thought about reading the entire Bible but were too intimidated to get started? If so, now is your chance. Let's be women who read God's Book. I promise it will be a life-changer.
Dear Lord, thank You for giving us Your Word to help us through life. Give me the desire to read the Bible every day. Will You teach me Your truths and keep me from becoming overwhelmed with what I don't understand? In Jesus' Name, Amen.
When I Lose My Patience with God
CHRISTY MOBLEY
CHRISTY MOBLEY
"or it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." Phillippians 2:13 (NIV)
ON YOUR MARK ... GET SET ... GO!
Hearing those words, I was always first off the starting block. Actually they were more like pieces of wood taped to the asphalt, but it was junior high; we made do.
It didn't matter to me because I was the fastest kid in our seventh-grade class. I could out-run the girls and the boys any day of the week ... except when it came to the 600-meter run.
Every year we had to go through something called the Presidential Physical Fitness Test. It consisted of a series of strength and endurance tests to determine each student's level of physical fitness. Those who finished the assessment in a certain percentile earned the coveted Presidential Physical Fitness Award.
I wanted that award in the worst kind of way. I knew I could ace the other tests, but year after year one eluded me. The 600-meter run. It seems like such a short distance now, but for this lanky seventh-grader, it was a marathon.
Before we started, the coach gave us instructions to set our pace to finish the race. I thought, Yeah, I know how to pace myself. Fast! I'll be around that track and done before the other kids hear the O in GO! Or, so I thought.
I figured I didn't need to heed the advice of our PE coach. What did he know? I'd set my own pace. And I did.
After running my heart out for about 100 meters, my legs suddenly felt like rubber and my lungs like lead. I couldn't go a second longer. Bent over and gasping for air, I watched out of the corner of my eye as each classmate plodded past me to victory.
Looking back, ignoring guidance and running as fast I could wasn't the best approach. As an adult, I can still run too fast and get ahead of God's plans. Instead of prayerfully asking God where He wants me, I speed ahead with my own agenda. And when I do, I'm like a fast-burning candle with a short wick. I burn out fast.
Our key verse, Philippians 2:13, tells us God has a plan and purpose for us, and He'll get us where He needs us to go. In His timing. We need not try to beat Him to the finish.
I've heard that patience is slowing down to the speed of someone else. I've also learned I need to have a little more patience with God and slow down to His pace - the pace He has set for me.
I have to admit I was disappointed every year that I didn't receive the Presidential Physical Fitness Award. But today, I'd rather finish my race at God's pace and have the reward of hearing Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Dear Heavenly Father, I have spent my life racing ahead, and I'm exhausted. My desire is to be in step with You. Help me slow down to Your pace, so I don't run past the place and purpose You have set for me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY ALL NEW PROPHECY AND CREATION DESIGN WEBSITES. THERE IS A LOT TO SEE AND DO..........
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