Loving Jesus Style

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 (ESV) 4  Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.  5  Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,  6  who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Devotion:              In today’s scripture Paul is writing about the ministry given to him and his companions. However, today we can interpret it to mean all of those who are part of the family of God. Just as Paul was in these verses so we are now by virtue of the call God has placed on all of our lives. Let us then dig into this word written to us to see how we can live as ministers of the word of God in our hurting and broken world.              First, and most importantly, we can have confidence in our ministry. So many people never step out in faith to exercise their ministry gifts because they lack confidence that Go

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (ESV)   Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19  that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Devotion:             In today’s post we consider this familiar verse from 2 Corinthians. We must, however, not let familiarity breed contempt. This passage has much to teach us about God and ourselves. The first words that jump out at us as we read this passage are, “in Christ.” What does this really mean? How can someone who lives 21 centuries after Jesus lived be said to be in Christ? The remainder of the passage will explain this mysterious phrase.             Paul begins to unpack the meaning of this phase right away. “The old has passed away; behold the

Scripture: Isaiah 60:17-18 (NIV) I will make peace your governor and well-being your ruler. 18  No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.   Devotion:             In this scripture, we find a promise made by God through the prophet Isaiah to Israel. Isaiah is predicting a future for Israel that is bright and welcoming. Isaiah says that peace (Hebrew: Shalom) will be the absolute and final authority in a restored Israel. We know from history that this prophecy has never been completely fulfilled to this day. Israel has seldom known more than a few years of peace ever since the reigns of David and Solomon. To this day Israel is still waiting for true peace to reign within its borders.             Jesus came to bring a different kind of peace to Israel. His peace was a peace between God and man which had not existed since before the fall of Adam and Eve in c

Scripture: Isaiah 43:19 (ESV) 19           Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?                         I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.   Devotion:                         The original setting for the verse chosen for today was Isaiah prophesying to the people of Israel who were in captivity in Babylon. Isaiah was encouraging them that God would lead them out of captivity just like he led them out of Egypt in the past. This prophecy proved to be accurate and was fulfilled, but what do these words have to say to the church today?               For the church in the West, it feels like we have been thrust into a new captivity. Our culture is being taken over by forces seemingly beyond our power to understand let alone control. We try to avoid conflict and make peace with these new cultural forces, but they do not want merely peace but utter control over all aspects of our daily lives.               When the foundation

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:7-11 (ESV) The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8  Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9  Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11  whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Devotion:             Today’s scripture passage from 1 Peter tells us how to prepare for Jesus’ return at the day of judgement. Peter’s words taken in context means that he expected Christ’s return soon. While the final day has obviously not yet arrived, the steps we need to take to be ready for that return remain as valid today as they were when they w

Scripture: Luke 12:49-52 (ESV) 49  “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! 50  I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! 51  Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52  For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. Devotion:             If most of us were asked to recite three of Jesus’ most memorable quotes from the gospels, it is doubtful that these words above would make the cut. In 21 st century America we do not like to think of Jesus in this way. We prefer a calm, peaceful and peace-bringing Jesus to the one portrayed in these lines of scripture. In America we prefer to have a “nice” Jesus who does not rock the boat. In fact, we want a Jesus who will calm the storms of our times.             Yet the Holy Spirit working through the pen of Luke has preserved these words for us. They a

Scripture: Acts 20:28-31 (NIV) Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.  29  I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.  30  Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.  31  So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. Devotion:             In this scripture Paul is giving final instructions to the elders of the Ephesian church. A church where he spent a good amount of time and probably grew to love as brothers and sisters in Christ. He will soon be leaving for Jerusalem where he will be arrested and eventually transported to Rome where he will be executed.             Paul urges these leaders to keep watch over themselves first of all. As we live the Christian life, we should always p

Scripture: Romans 6:1-4 (ESV) 6  What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2  By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3  Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4  We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Devotion:             Paul, in these scripture verses dives into the deep waters of the theology of salvation. Let us dive with him being unafraid of anything we find there. Paul’s words here were not meant to intimidate anyone. Quite the contrary they are meant for our encouragement in living out our daily lives. Paul begins his journey into the deep end looking into the waters of baptism.             Since I am a Presbyterian and was baptized while still a newborn, I have no memories of my baptism except one picture taken at chur

  Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (ESV) Working together with him [God], then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.  2  For he says,                          “In a favorable time, I listened to you, and in a day of salvation, I have helped you.”   Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.   Devotion:             In the church today there seems to me to be a relaxed attitude toward salvation. Indeed, the days, weeks, months, and years slip by, and nothing seems to change. I believe we need a change in attitude friends. Every day, indeed, every hour that passes brings us closer to the end of this age. The time for repentance and forgiveness will be over. The great books of life will be opened, and judgement will fall on both the prepared and the unprepared. Woe to the one who is not prepared for the final judgement day.             Astute observers will notice a change in atmosphere these days. Evil seems to be closing in all around us. Q

Scripture: Philippians 1:27 (NLT) 27  Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Devotion:             What can Paul mean when he says, “conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News.” First, we are likely to see a problem of our own worthiness to live in a manner that is in any way worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ. If we are honest with ourselves, we know that our sins are many and occur with uncomfortable regularity. We do not feel we could ever act in a way that would be worthy of the kingdom of heaven.             Second, even if we try to live as citizens of heaven, won’t we be legalists? Seeking to earn God’s favor by doing works. It seems as though we are on the horns of quite a dilemma. Well unfortunately for us Paul makes quite the point of living worthy of the kingdom. In 1 Thessalonians 2:12 (ESV) Paul writes, “we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in

           Scripture; Ephesians 4:32 (ESV) 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Devotion:             Today, let us consider the Bible’s use of the word kindness. Kindness, it seems, has gone out of style in our culture today. The internet and cable news shows frequently refer to one person verbally destroying another person by means of verbal assault. Politicians who show the least kindness toward those of the opposing party are deemed “squishes” and are not to be trusted. Perhaps this kind of treatment of others is to be expected in a world without Christ.             Paul’s words above are definitely directed toward the believers at Ephesus. So, how do Christians treat other Christians these days. Sadly, not much different from the way the world treats each other. Those of opposing theological camps frequently display a lack of kindness toward those they disagree with. Kindness appears in far too many cases to be as

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:5 (ESV) Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Devotion:             It has been said that humility is a virtue we know we need, but we do not expect it to be much fun. Peter in today’s scripture addresses our need for humility as Christians. Today, it seems like all the fun is being had by those who indulge in humilities opposite, pride. Pride always looks like fun until you carry it to its logical end, uninhibited self-indulgence. This leads to the saying Peter quotes here that God opposes the proud. Ultimately, pride is self-destructive. Only humility leads ultimate peace with God and neighbor.             There are a few things that we should note humility is not. First, it is not about hiding one's time, talents, and treasure. Humility does not go out of its way to publicize its positive attributes but neither does it hide them away. Next, humility is not hatred

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:1b-3 (ESV) This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. 2  If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3  But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. Devotion:             Paul, in today’s scripture, treats a theme he will come back to later in this same letter. That is “the supremacy of love.” Paul has been talking about those who have knowledge of where the meat that is sold in the market comes from. Does it come from temple sacrifices? But we can generalize it to any type of knowledge that makes someone feel superior to someone else.             Our society is crazy about knowledge. I must confess here that having recently earned my ThD this message may be as much for me as it is for anyone else. The point is that, at least in my case I have realized that although doing the research for my dissertation I gained a lot of what used to be called “book learning” but even as much as I invested into that pro

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8 (ESV) And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2  He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3  And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4   For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5  yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’ ” 6  And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7  And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8  I tell you; he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Devotion:             The parable Jesus tells his disciples here is pretty much straight to the point. There is one central meaning her

  He Just Laughs Scripture: Psalm 2   2  Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2      The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, 3      Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” 4      He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5      Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6      “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 7      I will tell of the decree:        The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8      Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9      You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” 10     Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11     Serve the Lord with fea