Devotionals

It has been 6 years since I began to study the Bible, and I am so grateful that God continuously reveals so many beautiful connections to me throughout His Word. I have grown to understand that every book, in the Bible, from the first page of Genesis to the last page in Revelation are collectively the only Truth that you and I must have engraved within our hearts. With that being said, I realize that some people struggle with reading the Bible, and I am not here to judge the “whys’, but I feel a great responsibility placed on my heart to encourage you today to read Mark 13. If you’ve already read it many times, read it again, if you’ve never read it, please read it after this devotion. We all need to keep reading it over and over and over again, so we understand what Jesus is speaking about for our “future”, which many believe we are living in now.

Friends, our passage today is from Acts 4, but we need to recall what transpired in Acts 3 in order to understand where Peter and John find themselves, and I will do my best to connect their time and ours back to Mark 13.

So, in Acts 3 Peter and John went to the Temple for a 3 p.m. prayer service. As they approached the Temple, a crippled man (from birth) was being carried in and he was put at the Temple gate, where he would often beg. When Peter and John entered, the man asked them for money. Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, get up and walk!” (v.6) Then Peter took the man’s hand and “He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.” (v.8) Many people saw this and knew the man. So, Peter and John took this as an opportunity to witness about the saving love of Jesus. “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed – and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes.” (v.16) “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.” (v.19-21)

That leads us up to today’s passage in Acts 4. So, when Peter and John were speaking to the people about Jesus after they healed the crippled man, they were confronted by all of the “head leaders” of the Temple. Basically, anyone who had some type of “religious” authority, fearfully came to confront these guys. Out of their own prideful fear, they arrested Peter and John. The next day some of the “head leaders” met and “They brought in the two disciples and demanded, ‘By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?’” (v.7) Here’s the cool part, so Peter and John already knew from Jesus that this would happen, it’s recorded for us within Mark 13, where during Jesus’ ministry He is speaking directly to these guys about what they will need to do when this happens. In Mark 13:11, Jesus told them, “But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” Peter allows the Holy Spirit to speak, and the Spirit through Peter reminds these religious leaders of their sin, and of the authority by which the miracle was done, and it was by the Name of Jesus, the One whom they crucified. The cripple man who was raised to walk, was healed by the power of Jesus who was raised up from death.

Friends, when you read Mark 13, please keep in mind that Jesus’ teachings, warnings, and every piece of His Word was (for that time), is (for our time), and will (for time to come) remain the Truth. The Word is active and alive, because Jesus is alive, and His Holy Spirit is active and alive within us. So, since we know the end of the story (the book of Revelation), our hearts need to remain prepared with what He tells us will happen in the Future (READ MARK 13).

Acts 4:1-12 NLT

Peter and John before the Council

1 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees. 2 These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead. 3 They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning. 4 But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of men who believed now totaled about 5,000.

5 The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest. 7 They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?”

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, 9 are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? 10 Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. 11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,

‘The stone that you builders rejected

has now become the cornerstone.’

12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for being our guide and for revealing to us what is to come. Help us to lay down our sins and our earthly desires at Your feet, and to truly pick up our crosses and move forward with You. Be our wisdom, Lord, and give us spiritual eyes, spiritual ears, and allow Your spirit to take control of our souls. I ask all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.

Intro: What is the first thing you think of when I use the word “inheritance?” Because we live in a physical world, we will more than likely think about the passing on of property or possessions from one generation to another following a death. It is a legal process that is typically linked to family blood lines. This concept of inheritance is true and evident between many biblical patriarchs and their descendants. However, in our reading this concept of inheritance takes things way beyond the things of this world.

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul wants us to know the inheritance Father God has for his children is irrevocable and includes the acquisition of spiritual blessings and promises; however, our Benefactor does not die. Jesus—the Living Christ—is the unique Son of God and this qualifies him as God’s heir of all things (Hebrews 1:1-2). Believers are co-heirs with Christ! (Ro 8:17).

We have already begun to inherit some things: Christ has come to save us, wash away our sins, free us from death, offer us new life in the Holy Spirit, provide strength so we can be victorious over our unredeemed flesh, and declare us righteous so we have the confidence that we will inherit eternity as his sons and daughters (Heb 1:14; Titus 3:5-7). The inheritance for the believer is eternal and joyful existence in the glorious love of God! Let’s remember something crucial to our understanding; it is not our love for Christ that has been demonstrated in the salvation that brings us victory and this inheritance; rather, it is Christ’s love for us…and nothing can separate us from his love. Have a wonderful weekend. Hope to see you in worship!

Romans 8:31-39 Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love

31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If [since] God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, [rulers] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Prayer: Father God, thank you for the inheritance you have created for us as your sons and daughters. Thank you for loving us in such a perfect and eternal way. We know nothing we encounter on our path of life—from beginning to end—can separate us from your love. Thank you for walking with us every single day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Social uniformity has become all too important in this world. This kind of uniformity in attitude and behavior to the norms of culture is basically conformity. Conformity to the world’s standard is the enemy of true transformation. The Apostle Paul teaches, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (Ro 12:2). People who say they know God but they reveal no public likeness of Him in attitude and behavior have a flesh that has simply conformed to the world.

When human beings experience the transformation made available through the blood of Jesus, those who have been far away from God are brought near and begin to live by faith in His righteousness; attitudes, words, and behaviors change even though personalities remain unique. I realize people would like to believe being a good person is all that is necessary to know God, but there is no righteousness apart from Christ and there is no Truth apart from God (2 Cor 5:21). God will continue to be truth even if every person is false (Ro 3:4). If we align with the standard of the world when it opposes the standard of God we are speaking and living a lie—God is not in it.

In his letter to the Roman Jews, the Apostle Paul wants people to know God judges every human being the same; He shows no favoritism when it comes to salvation (2:11). One is not a believer because of nationality and the practice of circumcision (Jews) and no one (Jews or Non-Jews) is given salvation and eternal life except through faith in Jesus Christ—the Lord. Christ came to call sinners into repentance; he wants to bring us into transformation before judgment (Luke 5:32).

Transformation is an internal reorientation toward God that comes through faith and by God’s gift of grace (Eph 2:8). Charles Spurgeon once said, “Grace is the mother and nurse of holiness not the apologist for sin.” Our outward behavior beings to change and reflect the inward transformation brought about by grace. God is flawlessly faithful in his act of salvation. Therefore, the deeper our relationships with God grows, the greater our understanding. The more understanding we have the greater our responsibility of walking in obedience. We have heard the Truth and it is time to follow.

Romans 3:1-8 New Life Version
1 Do the Jews have anything that those who are not Jews do not have? What good does it do to go through the religious act of becoming a Jew? 2 Yes, the Jews have much more in every way. First of all, God gave the Jews His Law. 3 If some of them were not faithful, does it mean that God will not be faithful? 4 No, not at all! God is always true even if every man lies. The Holy Writings say, “Speak the truth and you will not be proven guilty.”

5 If our sins show how right God is, what can we say? Is it wrong for God to punish us for it? (I am speaking as men do.) 6 No, not at all! If it were wrong for God to punish us, how could He judge the world? 7 If my lies honor God by showing how true He is, why am I still being judged as a sinner? 8 Why not say, “Let us sin that good will come from it.” (Some people have said I talk like this!) They will be punished as they should be.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the work of the Holy Spirit to keep us faithful and obedient. We need you Holy Spirit. You help to groom us in righteousness and bring transformation to our lives. Please be near your children, today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Do you believe Satan is real? If so, who is he and how does he affect the lives of human beings? Scripture defines Satan as an angelic being—a cherub—whom God permanently threw down from heaven to earth due to his sin of arrogance (Isa 14:13-14). As a cherub, Satan was to serve and worship God, but instead he wanted the worship for himself. By God’s action of throwing Satan out of heaven, he became the ruler of this world (John 12:31). Satan is an accuser, tempter, and slanderer of God’s people and he is very good at twisting the truth (Rev 12:10, Mat 4:31, 1 Thes 3:5). He works with the goal of setting his throne above God; but that will never happen. Scripture reminds us Satan can only counterfeit the work of Creator God and he uses his deception and evil to oppose God, as well as rob people of God’s blessings. God has created the perfect eternal home for Satan, the false prophet and the beast, as well as those who reject Christ—hell or the lake of fire [judgment] (Rev 20:10). Hell is a place of torment and separation from God’s goodness.

In our first three verses for today, Jesus knows Satan’s plan to sift or test Peter and the apostles. Wheat was sifted to separate the grain from the chaff. Not only does Jesus know about this sifting or testing from Satan that will take place, he knows how Peter will respond. Peter thinks he knows himself; however, he cannot see his own weaknesses. In our humanity, we too may be blind to our own weaknesses, but Jesus sees it all. For this reason, Christ comes to restore us and to become the vision and strength we so desperately need in order to remain faithful to God. We all fail, but Christ is merciful to restore us when we repent.

Even when God permits times of testing, it is always to fulfill his own purpose. Remember when Jesus was led out into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan? (Mat 4:1). We must never forget Satan’s greatest purpose is to rob, steal, and destroy (John 10:10). God cannot be connected with evil, but sometimes he allows the work of evil in order to accomplish his purpose of making us more like Jesus.

Luke 22:31-33, 54-62 NLT
31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
33 Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.”

Luke 22:54-62 Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
54 So they arrested him and led him to the high priest’s home. And Peter followed at a distance.
55 The guards lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there.
56 A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!”
57 But Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know him!”
58 After a while someone else looked at him and said, “You must be one of them!”
“No, man, I’m not!” Peter retorted.
59 About an hour later someone else insisted, “This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.”
60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
61 At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 62 And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the strength you bring my life. Even in times of testing, I sense your presence with me. Keep me focused and faithful in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: During certain seasons in my life I have noticed I can experience two very different responses regarding my sense of time to the circumstances before me: 1) some things in life I treasure and greatly enjoy so I want to slow time down, and 2) some things in life are so difficult I want to speed up time because I am looking forward to better days ahead. I am sure with your experiences you have felt this way about life and time.

For example, our granddaughter, Amana, just turned one month old. With each day, she is much more responsive and aware of voices and sounds. She smiles and even giggles a bit. I love this progression of her development, but could we just slow things down a bit so we have more time to enjoy each day and celebrate every bit of her growth? I don’t want to miss anything! Conversely, there is that overwhelming desire within me for Jesus to come and rescue his Church from this world; today would be a great day and time to leave sin and evil permanently behind! Since I cannot control time, creation, or other people, I am going to do the wise thing of inviting God to guide me in making the best use of my time and days as I also honor his timeline and stand ready. I know God wants me to enjoy my life (John 16:24).

In our passage today, the Apostle Peter speaks to the Church. Peter reminds his readers about God’s timeline vs. humanity’s timeline. God is patient and he wants the world to repent and return to him as King, so God gives more time for this to take place. Conversely, God sees people heading further toward destruction: a self-centered worldview, false faith perspectives, as well as declining values and He knows many of his children are trying to live within the cultural storms, so God tells us to be ready because he may come back any moment. God is not slow, he is just watching for different things. Did it ever dawn on you that believers could hurry things along by allowing Christ to form us in greater godliness each day? God’s purpose for humanity is not destruction; rather his purpose is restoration and recreation in Christ.

2 Peter 3:8-13 8 But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. 9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment [everything will appear before the Judge].

11 Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, 12 looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. 13 But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the reminder about your timeline from Peter today. Your timing is perfect and your grace is sufficient. Thank you for your plan to recreate a new world without sin. May all your children—believers far and near—press in for more of you and your beautiful and godly character, today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Fight the Battle Well…Wage the Good Warfare…Fight Well in the Lord’s Battle…Fight the Good Fight

In today’s passage, the Apostle Paul charges his mentee, Timothy, to “fight the good fight” or in other translations it is written as listed above. “This command I entrust to you”, Paul says to Timothy, because Paul is transferring his spiritual wisdom to Timothy and he knows that Timothy must engage in the battle, warfare, and fight not just for his own faith, but by his calling as a Pastor he must speak the Truth and warn against false teachers for the faith of all believers. As believers, we are all ministers of faith and so we must acknowledge that there is constant battle, warfare, and fight between good and evil, which is God and Satan, for us at all times. Each side is wanting our allegiance. So, you and I might not be a Pastor, but as believers, and ministers of faith to others, we still have the same choice to make at all times…good or evil, God or Satan.

Paul reminds Timothy that as he fights the good fight of faith, it must be in good conscience. In Romans 2:13-15, Paul wrote about how the Gentiles didn’t have the law, but “their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right”. (v.15) “For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight.” (v.13) A good conscience that is fed by the Spirit of Christ will produce the Fruits of the Spirit, and when evil behavior takes place that person’s conscience will feel a sinful response and that person will know that they must repent and turn away from sin.

Our “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” (Heb 11:1) So, by rejecting a good conscience, a person will shipwreck their faith. We must remember that Satan is cunning, and he will use people, circumstances, events, things, and take small steps to cloud our understanding of the Truth, and to slowly pull our souls towards him and away from God. We must never lose sight of the significance of this life, and it is to remain in alignment with God and to keep moving towards Him and away from Satan. We see below when Hymenaeus and Alexander shipwrecked their faith where that led them, and we do not want that for our own lives.

1 Timothy 1:18-20 (NASB)

18 This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, 19 keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. 20 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.

Prayer: Jesus, please keep growing my faith walk each day through Your Word. Help my conscience to be renewed by Your Spirit and drawn to live and speak Your Truth. Please quicken my soul by Your Spirit to turn away from sin. Forgive me, Jesus, of all sin. I want to walk each day with You, standing against all false teachings, and further and further away from Satan. I ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Intro: Over the past two months in our LIFE Lessons Bible Study Class, we have been looking at Jesus’ prophetic predictions found in Matthew 24—his Olivet Discourse. In fact, in this passage from Matthew, Jesus sets out a warning about false prophets rising up in the future. Now, false prophets have always been around, but the power of deception they will be able to bring in the future will become intense. Their corrupt teaching will result in great judgment. Believers will need spiritual discernment in order to identify false teaching and/or false prophets and stand against their message of twisted Word. We must guard our hearts against their slander of the Truth.

Believers can identify false prophets by the teaching they share about Christ—the Living Word of God. Jesus loves the world and died for it, but he calls believers to live in the new righteous fruit-bearing life he has promised in the Spirit (John 15:5-8). He bought us with the price of his life. We are welcomed into the life of the Spirit, who molds us in godliness. Godliness calls for repentance. False prophets twist the Word of God, so people believe there is no need to repent—to leave what God has prohibited/condemned and return to the Word/commands of the Lord.

From the beginning of his ministry, Jesus preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Mat 4:17). He proclaimed, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32). “Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you” (Rev 3:3). We must be ready when Christ returns for the Church (John 14:1-3).

In our passage today, Peter wants people to know the evil false teachers bring to the way of Truth. God will judge these false leaders. He will also judge those who choose to listen to their immoral and corrupt message because it is what they want to hear and believe. We must stay the course by following the core beliefs of faith found in Scripture; the Word teaches we must repent from sin or face judgment. Only through repentance will God rescue godly people from the floodwaters of evil and the impending judgment.

2 Peter 2:1-10 NLT The Danger of False Teachers

1 But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. 3 In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.

4 For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment. 5 And God did not spare the ancient world—except for Noah and the seven others in his family. Noah warned the world of God’s righteous judgment. So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood.

6 Later, God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people. 7 But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. 8 Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day. 9 So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment. 10 He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for promising to rescue and deliver believers from evil. While we wait for your return, help us to repent from any sin that causes rebellion against you and lead us by your Spirit into the Truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Humanity could use a big dose of wisdom and the true way of wisdom is the way of God! Scripture teaches about worldly wisdom vs. godly wisdom; both will impact a person’s perspective on life. The world’s wisdom is always self-centered; motivated by pride, pleasure, and is focused solely on the human point of view. In Scripture, Satan tries to tempt Jesus [through Peter] to embrace worldly wisdom over godly wisdom when Peter reprimands Jesus for saying he must “go to Jerusalem and suffer many things…be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Mat 16:21). When Peter hears Jesus speak of suffering, all he can think of is a way to stop it. Peter knows if Jesus suffers and dies it means similar things for himself. Jesus responds to Peter, “Get away from me Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s” (Mat 16:23). Jesus loves Peter, but he knows worldly wisdom when he hears it and identifies the source—Satan.

Godly wisdom is striving to see life from God’s holy perspective and act accordingly; it is foreign to human flesh. Therefore, godly wisdom leads human beings into living righteously before him and treating others the way God would treat them. Holy wisdom is pure, peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness” (James 3:17). When we lack wisdom, we are to ask God for it! (James 1:5a).

In our passage today, David shares a psalm of wisdom. He has suffered from his disobedience and foolishness; David has learned the value of godly wisdom. Fools—those who practice wickedness but think they have all the answers—actually have no revelation of God; therefore, no divine understanding. Jeremiah writes, “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” (17:9). Because of sin, we are not innately good people. However, hallelujah for Good News! God connects believers with Christ; for our benefit God has made Jesus to be godly wisdom itself (1 Cor 1:30). In our obedience to Christ, we can extend the wisdom and goodness of God to others. Godly wisdom is a result of God with us! Let’s live with an awareness of God’s presence and wisdom with us, today!

Psalm 14:1-5 NLT A psalm of David.
1 
Only fools say in their hearts,    “There is no God.”They are corrupt, and their actions are evil;    not one of them does good!
2 
The Lord looks down from heaven    on the entire human race;he looks to see if anyone is truly wise,    if anyone seeks God.
3 
But no, all have turned away;    all have become corrupt.No one does good,    not a single one!
4 
Will those who do evil never learn?    They eat up my people like bread    and wouldn’t think of praying to the Lord.
5 
Terror will grip them,    for God is with those who obey him.

Prayer: Lord, please remind me today of your presence with me and help me live in your holy revelation and wisdom. May your goodness and wisdom flow from me into others for your honor and glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: The word ‘good’ can be used as a noun, adjective, and as an interjection.  In my research, I found many synonyms that could be used to replace the word ‘good’ and each one helped to enlarge my understanding:  satisfying, virtuous, reliable, fruitful, kind, real, proper, sufficient, well-being, and ideal.  All these words describe God’s perfect goodness, as well as our inheritance as we press into a deeper relationship with him.  The Father, Son, and Spirit are good; God’s good nature and plan works for our good (Ro 8:28).

In our passage today, Jesus meets a rich religious leader. This man loves God and desires to obey the Word of the Lord; however, Jesus knows this man’s level of trust is hindered because financially he has the capability of taking care of himself; he is self-sufficient.   This rich leader is comfortable and secure with his life; perhaps he likes the choices and power his riches give him.  Being rich is not the main problem; rather trusting in those riches to secure salvation or bring a godly life is the issue. 

This rich leader comes to Jesus with a question.  He approaches the Lord as, “Good Teacher” and Jesus asks, “Why do you call me good?…Only God is truly good.”  Do you know God is the only One who can satisfy you, make you morally virtuous, be a solid and reliable source of stability for your life, cause you to bear righteous fruit, reveal real kindness and mercy to your soul, give you sufficient grace to weather the emotional storms life serves up, provide you a sense of well-being as his son or daughter, and is the ideal image into which you will one day be transformed?   

We must never forget Jesus is God, so he knows the truth about our hearts, motives, and resources, as well as sees the things that have become more important in our lives than him.  He loves us enough to address them.  Truly, if you and I never face the pressures from some kind of lack in our lives due to self-sufficiency, we will never know how good God really is!  We cannot buy or perform our way into eternity.  We must put our faith in Messiah and follow his righteous path in the power of his grace.  So, keep your eyes on Jesus who is leading you deeper into his goodness, today!

Luke 18:18-23 (NLT)  The Rich Man

18 Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good. 20 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’”

21 The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”

22 When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

23 But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for this lesson on humility and the true nature of your goodness.  Help us as your children to love you with our whole being; to be completely devoted to you and your work of grace within us.  Keep us free from the love of money which is idolatry.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Intro: Every day we have a variety of choices to make. The average person makes 35,000 decisions per day. God instructs us to choose each day to live like we are fruit-being trees planted along the River of Life. Only then can we know the joy of God’s righteous and glorious presence.

Believers were not created to live like the wicked; if we try to “blend-in” with the world, we feel shame and remorse for denying the Righteous One. We were created to live joyfully meditating on the Word of the Lord and allowing that Word to bring us closer to God.

Making these choices and aligning our lives with Christ is what it means to live with Jesus as King on the throne of our hearts. Vibrant life is available to those who do so, because we have honored the rule of Jesus with our whole being. “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (Ro 12:1).

Our passage today from the Psalter is called a royal psalm; a tribute and blessing to the dynasty and descendants of David. However, I believe this passage helps us look forward into the future toward the Good News and eternal reign and rule of the Son of God—Jesus Messiah—over Jerusalem [Zion] (Mark 1:1). There are several times in Scripture God says, “You are my Son. Today I have become your Father“ (Ps 2:7; Acts 13:33). To this Son, God promises to make the earth his personal treasure.

We know this passage more than likely speaks of an immediate king to whom the Lord desires to pour out blessings, but because things in the Old Testament foreshadow things to come in the New Testament, I believe the ultimate fulfillment comes through Jesus Messiah who will live in the eternal blessings of all things in heaven and on earth coming under his rule. One day when Christ rules the world, we will live with hope, justice, and goodness in his protective care. By the way, believers will reign with Christ and be coheirs in all his blessings forever (Ro 8:17). That day cannot come soon enough for me!

Psalm 2 (NLT)
1
Why are the nations so angry?
Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
2
The kings of the earth prepare for battle;
the rulers plot together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.
3
“Let us break their chains,” they cry,
“and free ourselves from slavery to God.”
4
But the one who rules in heaven laughs.
The Lord scoffs at them.
5
Then in anger he rebukes them,
terrifying them with his fierce fury.
6
For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne
in Jerusalem, [Zion] on my holy mountain.”
7
The king proclaims the Lord’s decree:
“The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son [Son].
Today I have become your Father.
8
Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,
the whole earth as your possession.
9
You will break [rule] them with an iron rod
and smash them like clay pots.’”
10
Now then, you kings, act wisely!
Be warned, you rulers of the earth!
11
Serve the Lord with reverent fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12
Submit to God’s royal son, [Son] or he will become angry,
and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities—
for his anger flares up in an instant.
But what joy for all who take refuge in him!

Prayer: Father, thank you for the promise of the Son’s rule over heaven and earth. May your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name. Amen.