Jesus: Name Above Every Name

“Wherefore God has highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)

His name is more than a household word. One song says, “Jesus is the sweetest name I know.” God gave Him the name “Jesus” before He was conceived in the womb of Mary. He would be called Jesus because He would save His people from their sins.  We know Him as our Savior. He came into the world to save sinners.

Many a Christian has died with His name on their lips and they were repeating that name as they crossed over to the other side. Another song says, “Oh, how I love Jesus, Oh, how I love Jesus. Oh, how I love Jesus because He first loved me.”

Christians on every continent of the world lift their voices in joyful praise to that name above every name. Join in the great chorus of God’s people this coming Lord’s Day as followers of Jesus lift His name on high.

Perfect Peace

“And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isaiah 2:4)

In my lifetime of more than three score years and ten there has not been such a time on earth as Isaiah spoke of. Jesus made the statement in Matthew 24 in the Olivet discourse that there would be wars and rumors of wars, nation rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom.  But, the book of Revelation in chapter 20 speaks of a thousand years of peace on earth when the devil will have been cast into the bottomless pit. And Jesus will be ruling and reigning in what is called the millennial reign of Christ. Just think. A thousand years of perfect peace. Weapons of war will be turned into implements of agriculture. The Bible tells us in other places that the wolf and the lamb will lie down together. A little child can have a poisonous snake for a pet.  There will be unsurpassed agricultural production. 

This perfect peace will not come from peace summits among world powers. It will occur when Jesus comes again. Until then, even though the world is in turmoil you and I can have the peace that passes all understanding by placing our faith in Jesus and following Him.

Choices

“And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spoke unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day.” (Jeremiah 36:1-2)

Some people have a problem believing the Bible is the work of God and not the fabrication of men. Nine times in this thirty-sixth chapter of Jeremiah, we have the prophet stating that what he is hearing, what he is writing, what he is declaring to the king of Judah and what the king blatantly cut with his pen-knife and burned on the hearth is the word of the Lord.

We have some choices.  Only one of these is a valid choice. Either, 1) Jeremiah was a demented fool who simply thought he was hearing and thought he was writing the word of God, or 2) Jeremiah was a liar and a deceiver who knew he was not hearing and writing the word of the Lord, or, 3) Jeremiah was a prophet of God and knew he was hearing God speak, and knew he was writing the very word of God. This third view is what true Bible believers hold for the entire Bible.

If it is either of the first two choices, we can have the attitude of King Johoiakim and many others like him in today’s world toward the Bible. However, if it is the third choice we must not ignore the Bible but rather believe it, preach it, teach it, live by it and be comforted by it. I believe the Bible was written as “holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit,” (2 Peter 1:21) just as Jeremiah wrote his prophecy.

What is Your Permanent Address?

“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself. (Philippians 3:20-21)

The word, “conversation,” could better read “citizenship.” The Christian’s citizenship is in heaven.  One translation has verse 20 reading, “We are a colony from heaven on earth and we are anxiously looking for Him to come and get us.”

A colony from Mars residing in your community would stand out as being different. They would dress differently, talk differently and just act differently from the people of earth. They would be standing on tip-toe with their eyes trained toward the sky, looking for their leader to come and take them home.

An old song says, “This world is not my home, I’m just passing through; my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door, and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.”

If you are a Christian that song is so very true for you. You are not at home down here. Keep your eyes trained toward heaven as you wait anxiously for the Master’s return.

What Time is It?

“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till He come and rain righteousness upon you.”  (Hosea 10:12)

My wife and I went into a clock shop in Gatlinburg, Tennessee a few years ago.  There were huge Grandfather clocks, wall clocks, mantle clocks, cuckoo clocks, small travel clocks and clocks that hang from a ceiling. There was every kind and size of clock in every kind of case or cabinet imaginable. We happened to be in there about noon. Clocks started striking the hour.  This went on for nearly five minutes. No one in the store, the workers or the customers, knew what time it was. I looked at my $30 Timex and concluded that I was as well off as anyone in that store. 

In the prophet Hosea’s day, Israel had turned her back on God just as Hosea’s adulterous wife, Gomer, had spurned Hosea’s love and affection for her. He used his broken heart as an illustration of God’s broken heart as he preached to Israel telling them it was time to seek the Lord. He called the people of God to confession and repentance.

With all of our nation’s immorality, drugs, alcohol, homosexuality, abortion, murder, rape and all kinds of theft, Hosea has a message for America.  “It is time to seek the Lord.” As God spoke through Jeremiah long ago, “You have forgotten me days without number.” (Jeremiah 2:32)

Your Speech and Your Thoughts Are Part of the Evidence

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, Oh LORD, my strength and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)

Our Savior had told Peter that he would deny Jesus three times before the rooster would crow twice. Three times they pointed a finger of accusation at Peter and three times he denied that he knew Jesus.  However, on that third denial peter began to curse and to swear, saying, “I know not the man.”  Immediately the rooster crowed. After his accusers heard Peter cursing and swearing apparently they never accused him again that day of being a follower of Jesus (Matthew 26:69-75) 

I think it was Will Rogers who said, “I want to speak so that I won’t be afraid for my neighbor’s parrot to repeat what I say.”

As to the meditation of our hearts, the Bible says, “Whatsoever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praise worthy, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

Are the things you talk about, the words you use and are the things you meditate upon acceptable to God? While your speech may let others know who you are, your thought life and meditation will let you know who your are.

Someone said, “You may not be what you think you are, but, what you think, you are.”

Where Could I Go but to the Lord?

“From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, ‘Will ye also go away?’” (John 6:66-67)

Why would a disciple turn his back on Jesus and go away? The word “disciple” does not always mean nor imply a saved person or a Christian.  John the Baptist had disciples. John was the teacher, they were his learners. It was a school of John’s disciples. (Mt. 11:2; 14:12)  The Pharisees claimed to be Moses’ disciples. (John 9:28) Judas was named as a disciple of Jesus, but the Bible is very clear to point out in several places that he was not a believer.

So these disciples in John 6:66 who went away were superficial hangers-on. They followed Jesus for the free bread. They were never saved. They were what Paul called Ananias the high priest in Acts 23:2-3, “a white washed wall.” Notice, Jesus never ran after them begging them to please come back.  Today’s church-anity would have sent a delegation after them offering free pizza to all who returned. He asked the twelve, will you also go away?

Peter gives a confession here comparable to the one in Matthew 16:16.  Lord, there is no other place to go. “We believe and are sure that you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

Amazing Grace

“And He said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee. (II Corinthians 12:9)

 

I used this text a few days ago as we looked at the sufficiency of God’s grace in trials and suffering. Today I would like to share with you three or four additional areas where God’s grace is sufficient.

 

First of all, His grace is sufficient in salvation.  Ephesians 2:8-9, says, “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”

 

God’s grace is also sufficient in service, when we serve Him. The Bible says, “Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably.” (Hebrews 12:28)

 

His grace is sufficient in sorrow, when the tears are flowing and there seems no way out of the sadness, remember the statement, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13:5)

 

His grace is sufficient in separation, when our loved ones are taken from us in death or when we are taken from them.

 

To be sure, these are very brief summations of the sufficiency of God’s grace. As John Newton’s old hymn, “Amazing Grace,” suggests, God’s grace truly is amazing.

Spring is Coming

“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:22)

Someone asked, “Is spring ever going to get here?” Yes, spring will come.  God promised it in His Holy Word. God has made us many promises and He has never broken one of them.

“Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto His people Israel, according to all that He promised: there hath not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised by the hand of Moses His servant.”  (I Kings 8:56)

A much greater promise from God is the promise of eternal life. “And this is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life.” (1 John 2:25)

When the grass has turned green, all the trees are budding and bringing forth leaves, the flowers are blooming and the days and nights are warmer you will know that God has kept His promise one more time.  Will you have trusted His promise to give you eternal life?

Whiter Than Snow

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” (Psalm 51:7)

The occasion of David’s writing this psalm is the confession of his sins of adultery and murder. “Purge me with hyssop.” Hyssop was a small, slender plant growing to a height of 18 to 24 inches. When the first Passover lamb was killed in Egypt, the blood of the lamb was poured into a basin. A hyssop plant was dipped in the basin of blood and then using the blood soaked hyssop as an applicator, the blood was put on the lintel over the door and then the two side posts of the door. God said, “When I see the blood I will pass over you.” (Ex.12:13)

King David, born and raised in a Jewish home, knew the place of blood in cleansing from sin. Then David continues by saying, “Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.”  

It takes the blood of the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us at Calvary, to cleanse us from sin. Trust Him today for that cleansing.

Whiter Than Snow

Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole; 

I want Thee forever to live in my soul;

Break down every idol, cast out every foe; 

now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Chorus:

Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow; 

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Lyrics:  James Nicholson

God’s Word Will Not Return to Him Void

“For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

(Isaiah 55:10-11)

Snow is sometimes a terrible inconvenience, especially if one is past thirty-five years. But, if you are a school kid looking for a snow day you welcome it with open arms.  Above the surface it looks beautiful but then with time, turns ugly.  But snow is part of the hydrological cycle just as rain is. God has a purpose for both rain and snow, and neither returns to Him in the continuation of the hydrological cycle of watering the land, filling the lakes for public drinking water, and being evaporated back into the atmosphere to start the journey all over, without fulfilling its purpose.

God says in the same way His word will not return to Him without it doing what He intends for it to do. I have always counted it a privilege to study His word and to share it with others, knowing that, even though I may have made a mess in the presentation, His intended purpose for His Word will be fulfilled. 

Excuses

“Benaiah…went down and slew a lion in a pit on a snowy day.” (I Chronicles 11:22)

I once heard of a man who wanted to borrow his neighbor’s axe. The neighbor said, “No, I can’t loan you my axe because I’m going to town.”  When the man who needed the axe inquired as to what going to town had to do with loaning the axe, the owner said, “When you don’t want to do something one excuse is as good as another.”

The Bible says that Benaiah was one of the three mightiest men in King David’s army.  When the king had desired water from the well at Bethlehem, Benaiah and the two others broke through the army of the Philistines and drew water from the well at Bethlehem and brought it to their king.  Courageous Benaiah would not let a snowy day be an excuse to keep him from killing a lion. 

We Christians have responsibilities in the kingdom of heaven. Let us not look for excuses to keep us from doing God’s will.

As White as Snow

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

I love to see fresh snow on the ground.  I remember as a child my mother, and then as a grown man my wife, making “Snow Cream” from the second snowfall of the season.  The old folks thought the first snowfall had impurities in it. Snow cream came from clean, fresh, pure white snow.

As I got older I thought of the clean, white snow as a picture of the sinner having been cleansed by the blood of Jesus.  Even if one’s sins are vile as in the case of the nation of Judah, they could be as white as snow.  I have seen coal yards where front end loaders were working to fill trucks.  Then a few inches of snow would fall overnight, transforming that black coal yard into pure white. This is the picture God has given to Isaiah to paint for his readers. Even in the depths of sin there is hope.  Accept God’s invitation. Come to Him and be made clean.

God’s Grace is Sufficient

“And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (II Corinthians 12:9)

Paul, writing to the Christians in Corinth, is telling them of a “thorn in the flesh,” the “messenger of Satan” who was buffeting him.  He prayed three times that this unwelcome guest be taken from him. Instead, the response from the Lord was, “My grace is sufficient for you.  My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Paul’s attitude in trials should be ours, “I take pleasure in my problems, because when I am weak, then I am strong.

We do our best praying when we are facing sickness, or some other affliction, either in ourselves or our family. We have more faith when the only direction we can look is up.

“Lord, teach us to trust you and to believe that your grace is always sufficient, always enough.”

A True Confession

“…whom do men say that I the Son of man am” And they said, ‘Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.’ He saith unto them, ‘But whom say ye that I am?’ And Simon Peter answered and said, ‘Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.’” (Matt. 16:13-16)

A parrot can be taught to talk, or at least say words.  My Dad took my brothers and me to visit a neighbor with a parrot.  The poor thing must have had lock-jaw. It embarrassed the bird’s keeper. As we were leaving the man kept saying to his parrot, “Tell ‘em ‘bye.  Tell ‘em bye.” Finally as we got in the car we heard the old parrot say, ‘Tell em bye. Tell em bye, saying exactly what his master had said.  The Christian confession is not “parrot talk.”  Jesus said, “But whom say ye that I am?”

While driving around one night looking at Christmas decorations my wife and I came up on one of the most decorated houses and yards we had ever seen. Lights were everywhere. Across the road from that house someone had one lighted sign in his yard. It had one word, “DITTO,” with an arrow pointing across the road toward the decorated house.

Jesus' response to Peter was, “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” Jesus indicated that Simon’s confession of the person of Jesus was real. It was his, given to him by the Father. Know Jesus. Spend time with Him. Read of Him in the Bible. Trust Him.

The Hairs of Your Head

“But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” (Matthew 10:30)

Our text is in context with our Savior’s words about an almost worthless sparrow not falling to the ground without your Father.  Then he assures us that we are of more value than many sparrows.

God not only knows about us, the Scriptures teach us that He cares about us.  He is concerned about you and the things that concern you, that might cause you to lose sleep, or cause you to fret and worry.

As I get older and my hair gets thinner with less for Him to have numbered, God still knows all about me and cares as much as ever. Praise His name.

Are You Suffering for Jesus?

“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Some American Christians were engaged in conversation with some Christians from North Korea.  The Americans began to talk about the Great Tribulation described in the book of Revelation, coming on the world after the after the Second Coming of Christ.  The Koreans responded by saying, “we practice our Christian faith under terrible tribulation and persecution today.  We do not know what it is like to have the freedom to practice our faith openly as you Americans do.”

Down through the ages since that first handful of believers following Pentecost, those who practice open opposition to the world and to false religions have been persecuted, beginning with Stephen, the first Christian martyr mentioned in Acts chapters 6 and 7. The Bible says, “All that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12)

In our text Jesus teaches that there will be tribulation for the Christian who lives his faith, not to be confused with the Great Tribulation, known as “the time of Jacob’s trouble.” He invites us to Himself, who knows first hand about opposition and persecution.

Why Trade Good Spring Water for Stagnant Cistern Water?

“For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living water, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” (Jeremiah 2:13)

God has likened Himself to a clear, flowing, fresh, never ending, spring or fountain of living water.  We see that as a reference to the provision of Jesus in His encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. (John 4:17-18)  We see it again in John 7:37-39, in speaking of the Holy Spirit living within.  In our text above God spoke through Jeremiah and said the Jews had forsaken Him the fountain of living water and hewed out broken cisterns that could not hold water.  He was speaking of their idolatrous practices and sinful ways.

A cistern, even if it is not broken and doesn’t leak, has stale or stagnant water. I have experienced such cisterns. It usually contains run-off water from the roof of the house, barn or perhaps a tool shed. The water is repugnant to drink.  It is good only for watering livestock or doing laundry. What a vivid picture He gives of the difference in the two. Many people have rejected Christ as their Savior and Lord and have turned to the world’s broken cisterns of alcohol, drugs, pornography, illicit or extra marital sex, money, things and false religion.  Any substitute we put in place of God is always going to be a disappointment. Nothing nor no one can satisfy as God satisfies.

The Worst Famine Ever

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.” (Amos 8:11-12)

The sins of Israel and Judah were very similar.  Faith had faded into formalism. The people turned a deaf ear to the prophets and priests, who themselves had ceased proclaiming the Word of God as, “thus saith the Lord.” Amos the prophet had been told by Amaziah, the priest of Bethel to cease preaching in Israel and go back to Judah and prophesy there.  Amos had one more message, found in the above text.

We read of famines and see the horrible sights on television of famines in many countries around the world, with children dying of starvation and thirst. In the days after the resurrection of the saints and the rapture of the church there will be world-wide famine spoken of in Revelation 6.

With a church house on every corner, the Bible continuing to be on the “best seller” book list, with religious activities abounding, it is difficult to imagine a famine of hearing the Word of God.  It is a very real possibility that such a famine as Amos described could happen in this country simply from the neglect of God’s Word in our lives, in our churches and in the halls of government. It takes very little observation to see spiritually emaciated people in our churches today. Answering correctly all the questions at the end of a “study course” doesn’t necessarily mean that we are living according to God’s Word.

Make The Time to Pray

“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” (Mark 1:35)

Someone said, “With my busy work schedule and the time it takes to get to work, it’s just hard to find the time for Bible reading, prayer or devotions of any kind.”

When men go fishing it is not uncommon for them to get out of bed in time to be on the water before daylight.  Deer hunters are up in a tree in their deer stands before daylight, having gotten out of bed and driving some distance to the woods.  When I was a child at home many times I was awakened long before daylight with the smell of bacon frying that my mother had put on the stove after getting everything else ready. Perhaps you recall those days.

We get out of bed for what is important.  Prayer was important to Jesus. He talked to the Heavenly Father before going into the next towns to preach, before healing a man sick with leprosy and before healing a palsied man.  When we see prayer as important as work, fishing, deer hunting, or eating we will make time for it.

Worst and Best Words

“For God so loved the world,  that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

One of the worst words in the English language is found in our text. It is the word, “perish,” found a number of places in the Bible. The prodigal son said, “I perish with hunger.” (Luke 15:17) The disciples on board the ship on the Sea of Galilee awakened Jesus and said, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” (Mark 4:38)  Jesus spoke to some and said, “Except you repent you shall perish.” (Luke 13:3,5)

On the other hand, two of the best words are found in our text also: “Loved” and “Gave.”  Knowing that mankind would perish, God “loved” us so much that He “gave” His only Son. He knew the giving of His Son would include His death on the cross of Calvary as he took our place as a substitute for us. But, that’s how much He loved us.

Two more of the best words are “Everlasting Life,” just the very opposite of the word, “perish.”  The offer is to “whosoever believeth.”  Salvation is “by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone.” Place your faith in Jesus, God’s Son who was given that we not perish but have everlasting life.

Earnestly Contend for the Faith

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Jude 1:3-4)

Jude, the half brother of Jesus, had like James, grown up with Jesus.  At first, these boys, along with Simeon and Joses, two more half brothers of Jesus, did not believe Jesus was who He claimed to be.  But, the cross, the resurrection and Pentecost had changed them. And now, Jude started to write about the common salvation. No one would be better qualified than Jude to write such a treatise.  But, the situation with his readers had changed and it became necessary to warn them of false teachers who were turning the grace into a license to sin. The instruction Jude gave his readers is appropriate and necessary for today’s churches and Christians. We must earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.

I know from experience that it is much preferred by preachers to preach on salvation in Jesus Christ, as Jude indicated, than to warn people of false teachers and their false doctrine. But we pastors, evangelists and other preachers of the Word of God have the responsibility to declare the whole counsel of God.  The folks in the pews have the responsibility to heed such warnings.

How’s Your Health?

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (3John 2)

Our nation spends billions of dollars on health care annually. It is one of the leading industries in most of our major cities.  People go regularly to gyms and athletic clubs to work out. Joggers, runners and bicyclists pass in front of my house every day.  We are a nation of health conscious people.

John’s Christian friend, Gaius, apparently had a healthy soul but not a healthy body.  John’s concern was that his friend’s physical health would improve and be as good as his spiritual health. Unfortunately, the problem is just the opposite for many of us. It is our body that is healthy but our soul is wasted, sickly and starving from lack of attention and spiritual nourishment.

If we would give as much attention to our spiritual health as we do to our physical health the church buildings would not hold the people. Revivals would break out as people would get right with their families, friends and others. There would be repentance of sinful ways and people would confess their sins to God. It can begin with just one person.

Believable

“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through His name.” (John 20:30-31)

None of the Gospel writers recorded all thirty-seven of the miracles of Jesus. John recorded the fewest number with seven before His crucifixion and one more following His resurrection, making a total of eight. Then John makes the statement that these are written that the reader would know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that believing we could have life through His name.

When I share the Gospel with someone it is not necessary for me to perform a miracle or some sign for my message to be believable. I can read the story of Jesus healing the Nobleman’s son of Capernaum, or the healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda, or Jesus giving sight to the blind man who was born blind, or the raising of Lazarus from the grave or the feeding of the five thousand with just five barley loaves and two small fish. He did all those things plus the miracles recorded in the other Gospels plus He was raised bodily from the grave three days after His death. He is believable. Trust Him.

Forgive One Another

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

It may seem strange to realize this, but this verse is part of a letter that was written to a church, a body of baptized believers, Christians.  We Christians need some reminders from time to time. It is a fact of human nature that we are going to be done wrong from time to time.  And, guess what, occasionally we are the ones doing the wrong.

Rather than retaliating when we are treated badly, we need to practice sympathy, compassion and affection.  When someone wrongs us we need to be forgiving as God has forgiven us. Before you explode in anger when you have suffered mistreatment, think of the cross of Christ, the lashes on His back, the revilings, the accusations, the yanking out of His beard and the crown of thorns on His brow.  Think of the nails in His hands and feet as He was nailed to the cross. You and I have never been treated like that.  His prayer from the cross was, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) Let us practice Christ-like forgiveness when we are wronged.

Don’t Give in to the Devil

“Neither give place to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:27)

Many years ago I heard an evangelist tell the story of a physician who needed to go over a mountain pass where there was a steep bluff straight up on one side of the road and a sheer drop-off on the other side of the road.  He stopped at a country store and asked some of the locals if some of them could drive his horse drawn buggy through that narrow, dangerous trail. All of them said they could, with some of them bragging on how close to the sheer drop-off they could go and still be safe.  Finally, one seasoned teamster said, “I won’t take any chances.  If I drive your buggy, I’ll stay as close to the upper side as I can and as far from the drop-off as possible.”  The physician chose the last one.

Now that you are a Christian our Scripture text suggests that it is safest for you to stay as from the devil, temptation and evil as you can. Don’t give the devil even the smallest part of your body, your time, your talents or your life.  He always takes more than you intended to give, stays longer than you agreed for him to stay and will cost far, far more than you thought you would have to pay. Satan will destroy your life, your testimony and your happiness if you give in to him.

The fool hath said in his heart

“The fool hath said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’  They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” (Psalm 14:1)

We Christians would resent being called an atheist.  But what is the difference in an atheist and a “practical” atheist. An atheist boldly declares that there is no God, no judgment, no heaven, no hell, no word from God and no consequence for sin.  A true Christian believes all of these and lives life accordingly. A practical atheist, however, claims to believe all these but doesn’t practice Christianity. 

• An atheist never reads the Bible.  A practical atheist claims to believe the Bible, but never reads it.
• An atheist recognizes no rules from God.  A practical atheist disregards God’s rules.
• An atheist does not pray because he believes there is no God to talk to.  A practical atheist never takes time to pray although claiming to believe in prayer.
• An atheist never tells anyone what God has done for him.  A practical atheist never shares the good news of Jesus and eternal life.
• An atheist never acknowledges his sin, nor his need for forgiveness. A practical atheist never confesses his sin, never repents, is only sorry if he gets caught.
• An atheist will not acknowledge the hereafter and lives for the present. A practical atheist lives like this life is all there is and gives all energy to houses, lands, cars, trucks, boats and things.
• An atheist has no faith in God.  A practical atheist, though claiming to be a child of God, lives in fear and never trusts God.

The Bible says, “You believe there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe and tremble.” (James 2:19) It’s one thing to believe all the facts about God.  It is quite another to stake all of life and eternity on the Person of Jesus Christ and to live as though you are totally trusting Him.

The Serpent in the Wilderness

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15)

A man named Nicodemus, a Pharisee, came to Jesus one night, recognizing Jesus as a teacher come from God.  Jesus told the man that he must be born again. Then Jesus related a story from the Bible book of Numbers, a story this Pharisee would know well.

In the days of Moses, the Israelites had crossed the Red Sea and were in the wilderness.  They complained because they had gotten tired of the food God was supplying.  God sent a plague of poisonous snakes among the people.  The people were bitten and those who were bitten were dying. Moses asked God what to do. God told him to make a serpent of brass, put it on a long pole and lift it up so everyone could see it. Those who looked on the brazen serpent were healed.

Then Jesus informed this night time visitor that the Son of man, Jesus, must be lifted up as that serpent had been lifted up those many hundreds of years before. 

We have all been bitten by the old serpent, the devil.  God has provided a cure. Jesus, God’s Son, was lifted up, as we know, on the cross of Calvary, that whoever looks believing, will be saved. Have you accepted Him by faith?