DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 9.2.23

 MakeIt as Sure as You Can “Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and madethe sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.” (Matthew27:65-66) Pilate had endured many strange experiences leading up to the crucifixion of Christ. Both he and some close to him (v. 19) had wanted to release Him, finding no fault in Him (v. 23). But, for political expediency, willing to pacify the Jewish leaders and quella potential riot, Pilate had agreed to the execution. But once Christ was dead and in the grave, Pilate’s troubles didn’t end. Perhaps we are justified in reading a tone of sarcasm and impatience in Pilate’s words “make it as sure as you can.” What is there to fear from a dead man? Guard the tomb if you want. But just perhaps Pilate was hounded by unexplained doubts; maybe a guardcould prevent the bizarre fears from becoming reality. From our perspective, however, we can see divine irony in these words. Satan had seemingly won a great victory on the cross, for the Heir had been slain. Thus, the one act that he had to prevent was that of the actual resurrection, for all of Christ’s messagedepended on His victory over death. Note the limitation in the words “as sure as you can.” How tightly sealed and well-guarded must a tomb be to contain the Creator of all things? If His purpose was to die and rise from the dead, would man’s or Satan’s efforts be able to thwart it? “As sure asyou can” was surely not sure enough! Today we know that the tomb’s sealed entrance was breached, not so much to allow Him out but to allow us to see inside. Satan’s henchmen still deny the resurrection, but their efforts are just as futile as those who tried to keep Him inside. The fact remains,He left the tomb, triumphantly offering eternal life to all who believe! JDM ---------------------- A Christ-like Fragrance - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who areperishing. �2 Corinthians 2:15 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/a-christ-like-fragrance/- Listen Some people like to wear a lot of cologne or perfume. And if they hug you, you will still smell like them hours later. But what is fragrant to one personmay not be fragrant to another. For instance, nothing smells better than when you walk into a kitchen where someone is making spaghetti sauce with garlic. And nothing smells worse thanthe breath of someone who just ate garlic. That is true of the gospel as well. The apostle Paul described it this way: �Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragranceis perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume� (2 Corinthians 2:15�16 NLT). Some churches have become a little too preoccupied with being the cook, and they�ve forgotten how important it is to confront people with the claims ofJesus Christ. Sometimes we have the delivery system in place, but we don�t have the message to deliver. And sometimes in our attempts to cross over, we fail to bring the cross over. But if we miss that, we have missed everything, because the gospel is the only hope for our nation and our world. It is the only hope for nonbelievers. When we share the message of the gospel, it will be a fragrant perfume to some. But to others it will be offensive and repulsive. Some people will respondfavorably. And others will respond unfavorably. But we still need to share the message. We still need to use every means possible to get the gospel out to as many people as we can. -------------------------------- Living the Gospel - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. �Matthew5:13 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/living-the-gospel/- Listen Nothing is worse than a hypocritical Christian. Now, we�ve all had moments of hypocrisy. We have not always practiced what we preach. That is called humanity. Every Christian will fall short. But there�s a difference between believers who struggle but are seeking to live godly lives and those who claim to be believers yet blatantly disregard what the Bible says. If someone who claims to be a Christian is living a lifestyle contrary to what the gospel teaches and what the Bible says, they would do other Christians a big favor if theyjust didn�t talk about Jesus. The world needs authenticity today. And before we can effectively tell others about Christ, we must first live it. Jesus said, �You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless� (Matthew 5:13 NLT). We don�t think of salt as a valuable commodity today, because it is relatively inexpensive. But in the first century, salt was a bigger deal. It was a form of currency, andit was a preservative that kept meat from spoiling in the absence of refrigeration like we have today. So, when Jesus said, �You are the salt of the earth,� people immediately would have understood the comparison. Jesus was saying they were a preserving factor in the culture. And that is what we are today. Christians are the ones who stand up for what is right. Christians speak out against what is wrong. And Christians are the ones who are alwaysat the forefront of efforts around the world to help hurting people. That is what Christians do. That is what Christians are. We are the salt of the earth. ------------------------------ Godlinessin Form Only �Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.� (2Timothy 3:5) Those with a �form of godliness� are much more difficult to recognize than those who are openly wicked. Jesus gave His most harsh criticism to the hypocritical leaders of the religious sects of His day. Jesus also warned of �false prophets, which come to youin sheep�s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves� (Matthew7:15). On another occasion, Jesus illustrated the challenge of identifying those who looked like God�s people but were really �tares� that the Enemy had sown among the wheat. In His parable, Jesus indicated that even the �servants of the householder� might uprootthe wheat along with the tares (Matthew13:24-30). The Corinthian church was warned about the same problem when they were told that �Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light� (2Corinthians 11:14). We are strongly urged to �turn away� from these kinds of people. They have the ability to cause serious damage among the churches. They will �creep� into �houses� (a metaphor for churches�1Timothy 3:15) and will lead �silly women� away with many different desires (2Timothy 3:6). They will resist the truth and will have power like the magicians of Egypt who deceived Pharaoh and opposed Moses. And like those magicians, their minds are corrupt (focused on sin) and are already condemned (2Timothy 3:8). The good news is that they will be forcibly stopped and exposed as foolish (2Timothy 3:9). Peter notes that they will have swift destruction (2Peter 2:1-3) and will utterly perish in corruption (2Peter 2:12-13). Like the magicians who produced snakes, blood for water, and frogs aplenty (Exodus7-8), they will be unable to go any further and will be forced to say, �This is the finger of God� (Exodus8:19). HMM III ---------------------------- Decaf Disciples - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. �Hebrews 10:24 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/decaf-disciples/- Listen Do you know certain Christians who, after you spend time around them, make you want to be more godly? There�s something about their lifestyle that causes you to say, �I wantto be more like that. I want to walk with God like that, worship like that, and share my faith like that.� Those Christians are doing their jobs because they�re stimulating a thirst for Christ in others. The greatest compliment a nonbeliever can pay to a believer is when they say, �Why are you the way that you are? I want what you have.� However, we cannot be an influence for purity in the world if we are compromised in our purity. Jesus said, �You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless� (Matthew 5:13 NLT). These are some heavy-duty words from Jesus about unsalty Christians. Essentially, He�s saying that if we�re not making a difference, then what good are we? We can�t sting the world�s conscience if we go against our own. We cannot stimulate spiritual thirst in others if we have lost our own. And God cannot use us to stop the corruptionof sin in others if sin has corrupted us. According to Jesus, if we are unsalty salt, we are good for nothing. A Christian should have flavor�zest, zing, edge. Christians aren�t supposed to be bland. They aren�t supposed to go along with everything. They are to be salt, stopping thespread of evil and stimulating thirst for Christ in others. They are there to make a difference. Otherwise, they are like tepid coffee, uncarbonated cola, or a nonfat, decaf latte. In short, they�re not living the life that God called them to live. ---------------------------- TheJewels of the Lord �And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will sparethem, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.� (Malachi 3:17) The jewels of the Lord are not rubies and diamonds but rather are �they that feared the LORD� and who �spake often one to another.� Instead of being mounted in a crown or other adornment as precious stones would be, these jewels will be listed in a very specialbook. �A book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name� (v. 16). What a blessing it would be if, when we get to heaven, we should find our names written in that special book of God�s memories! Goddoes take note of our times of spiritual fellowship with other believers�especially, no doubt, when they occur during times of stress and worldly opposition. This word (Hebrew cegullah) is not the usual word for �jewels,� more commonly being rendered �peculiar treasures.� For example, Psalm 135:4 says that �the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.� The word suggests treasure carefully guarded in a safe place. The word is translated simply �special� in Deuteronomy 7:6, �a special people unto himself.� Note in particular Exodus 19:5-6: �Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.� Peter uses the same language in writing to prepare Christians for imminent times of persecution. �But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out ofdarkness into his marvellous light� (1 Peter 2:9). HMM ----------------------- Inescapable Light - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. �Matthew 5:15 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/inescapable-light/- Listen When you are living for Jesus Christ, your very presence sometimes will bother others because His light is shining out of you. You may even try to hide it. But it shouldn�t be that way. Just let His light shine for people to see. Jesus said, �You are the light of the world�like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placedon a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house� (Matthew 5:14�15 NLT). We�ve all heard the well-worn excuses and the so-called reasons as to why people don�t come to Christ. But here�s the reason that most people don�t come to Him. This, by theway, is according to Jesus Himself: �God�s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil� (John 3:19 NLT). The reason people don�t believe is they don�t want their sin exposed. They don�t want to acknowledge their shortcomings. And the more godly a Christian is, the more obviouslythis will take place just by that believer�s great example. Jesus went on to say, �All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so otherscan see that they are doing what God wants� (verses 20�21 NLT). Few things are harder to put up with than a good example. And when you live it, it really gets people�s attention. Light not only exposes what the darkness hides, but light also shows the way out. And in the same way, the light that shines from us not only shows people their shortcomingsand their sins, but it also shows them the way out. It shows them the way to Jesus Christ. -------------------------------- Authorof Peace �For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.� (1Corinthians 14:33) Although these words were written with respect to church order, they express a general principle. �This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdomthat is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated....And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace� (James3:15-18). Our world and our natural lives seem perpetually in confusion, turmoil, and strife, and the source is the evil one��the god of this world� (2Corinthians 4:4). The only one who can bring true peace is the Author of peace. This is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, for only �he is our peace� (Ephesians2:14). He is the Author of peace, just as the devil is the author of all confusion and strife. Note the other titles of our great Author of peace. He is called �the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus� (Hebrews13:20). He is also �The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace� (Isaiah9:6). Melchizedek, who was at least a type of Christ, if not an actual pre-incarnate theophany of Christ Himself, is called �King of Salem, which is, King of peace� (Hebrews7:2). In 2 Thessalonians 3:16, He is �the Lord of peace.� He is the Author of peace, the Lord of peace, the Prince of peace, the King of peace, the very God of peace! He is our peace! Someday, �he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the endsof the earth� (Zechariah9:10). In that day, �the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly� (Romans16:20), and �of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end� (Isaiah9:7). HMM ---------------------------- Accustomed to the Dark - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org And the judgment is based on this fact: God�s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. �John 3:19 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/accustomed-to-the-dark/- Listen English cleric William Farrar wrote, �I am only one, but I am one; I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do. And what I ought to do, bythe grace of God, I will do.� What can one person do? A lot. The Bible tells the story of one woman who saved a nation. Esther may not have been the first woman people would have imagined for this assignment. After she won a beautycontest, she became queen in the Medo-Persian Empire. And in that position of influence, Esther, who was Jewish, discovered that her people faced a serious threat. A wicked man named Haman had devised a plot to exterminate everyJewish person in the empire. Esther considered appealing to King Xerxes on behalf of her people. But by doing so, she would be risking her own life. The king could have her executed for approaching himwithout his invitation. But her cousin Mordecai sent her a message, which said, �Don�t think for a moment that because you�re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If youkeep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?� (Esther 4:13�14 NLT). In other words, �Esther, God doesn�t depend solely on you. But He can use you in a powerful way. Will you step up?� Esther did, and as a result, the Jewish people survived.One person made a difference. You, too, can make a difference. So make the decision to be the godly representative that Jesus called you to be. He said, �You are the light of the world�like a city on ahilltop that cannot be hidden� (Matthew 5:14 NLT). We live in a dark world where people are comfortable in darkness. They have become accustomed to the dark. But a little light can go a long way. After the capture of the Bastille in 1789, a story emerged about a prisoner who had been confined to a dark, dingy dungeon for years. When he was released and led outsideinto the Paris sunlight, he begged to return to the prison. His eyes could not endure the sun�s brightness. His only desire was to die in the very darkness where he had been a captive. That is how a lot of people are today. They live in darkness, and they are comfortable there. But the Bible says that when we come to Christ, we �turn from darkness to lightand from the power of Satan to God� (Acts 26:18 NLT). We need to shine the light of Jesus Christ into our dark world. We must take it seriously and seek to make a difference in our culture wherever we go, whenever we can. You make a difference. You have a strategic and important part to play.