Living Hope

“Blessed be the God and Father

of our Lord Jesus Christ, who

according to His abundant mercy

has begotten us again to a living

hope through the resurrection of

Jesus Christ from the dead.”

     1 Peter 1:3 (NKJV)

As we get ready to celebrate the joyous resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, I read some disturbing news.  “Only 46 percent of self-identified British Christians believe Jesus died on the cross to save them from their sins, a new poll has found” (from a 4/15/19 article in Christian Today).  It's likely there are similar numbers among U.S. Christians.  How can someone profess to be a Christian if they don’t believe this central tenet of the faith?  I'm afraid this shows how people can be lost and not even know it.  That’s the state I was in. 

Jesus died to pay the penalty for all sinners, but we have to accept that gift personally in order to receive the promise of eternal life.  I didn't realize that even though I spent most of my growing up and adult years in mainline churches, and thought I was saved; yet my heart was not converted.  If we think we're basically good people in ourselves, we have no need for a Savior.  But when the Lord graciously opened my eyes, I saw my sinful self and the punishment that I deserved.  Then I could truly appreciate that Jesus died as payment for my sins!  By grace, through faith, He became my Savior and I was born again, hallelujah!

Do you believe Jesus died for your sins?  Have you trusted in Christ and Christ alone for your salvation?  Do you believe that Jesus was raised from the dead and is alive today?  Have you been born again?  If so, rejoice in the blessed and living hope that we have through the resurrection of Jesus Christ!  If not, please don’t delay---accept this wonderful gift today so you too can know that your sins are forgiven and you are heaven-bound!

Thursday Devotional - Calm versus Nervous

As we look forward to celebrating Easter this Sunday, we can take some time to remember all Jesus endured leading up to His death and resurrection.
Tonight would have been the night Jesus was betrayed and arrested.
Matthew 26:47-56     
 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” ⁴⁹ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 
⁵⁰ Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. ⁵¹ With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
⁵² “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. ⁵³ Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
⁵⁵ In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. ⁵⁶ But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
What do you notice about Jesus during this whole interaction?
What do you notice about everyone else?
I see a very calm and confident Jesus who is sure of God's Sovereign power and plan.
I see very nervous priests and disciples who are trying to control situations with their own wisdom and strength.
Who are you and I like?
Are we more like calm and confident Jesus, who trusts completely in God?
Or are we more like the others who are trying to control situations in our own wisdom and strength?
Join me in thanking Jesus for calmly enduring all of this for your sake and mine!


Alice

Representing Versus Idolizing

So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols.  You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true. When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ?  1 Corinthians 10:14-16

I wear a charm of a gold cross around my neck.  It is a symbol not to tell others that I am Christian.  It is a reminder to me of my commitment to Christ.  I have worn it now for nearly fifteen years, which is when I first was born again.  Every so often, I will look in the mirror and stare at it.  The design of it is simply beautiful, but it is not relevant.  It is but a symbol.  Not an idol.

Many on this holy week are deeply saddened by the burning of the church of Notre Dame.  Others are equally distraught by the burning of African American churches by a man in Louisiana.  Both are indeed tragic, but I had to ask myself.  What really matters?  Does a church burning in one place bare less significance than another?  How would God view these?  It has nothing to do with who goes to which church.  It has everything to do with people being displaced from the place where they praised God.  I must remember that the buildings are symbols of God, but they are not God.  That’s how you know whether your heart represents Him and not an idol of His.

We must focus on our heart with God to be able to discern a symbol from an idol.  There are many verses that speak about God disliking our worship of false idols.  In today’s verses, it speaks of something that is very easy to fall into the trap of symbolism becoming idolization.  When we say grace at meal time, do we think of it as sacred time to give thanks to God or just a ritual before we eat?  My wife and me push our children to say grace.  Even our grandchildren including the little ones say it.  It’s not because they are at the point where they have this deep relationship with Christ.  Instead, it is preparing them so when they ultimately make the decision to follow Him, they will go to Him with their hearts open and body filled with His spirit.  A pastor did something that really helped me make it more intimate than ritualistic.  In saying grace, he would pray for those who helped prepare the meal.  Whether it be my wife at home, family members at an outing, members at church, or the people at the local restaurant, it forces me to focus on those around me as a reminder that it is never about me.  It’s always about God and my neighbors.  This is how it became a symbol of my faith instead of a ritual of just words.  This is not to say everyone needs to change how they say grace.  What it says is we are to always check our faith meter whenever we do something.  Whether saying grace at the table, worshiping at church, or reading God’s word, we must always ensure we are understanding its intent and not just ‘going through the motions.’

There is a clear distinction between the relationship with and the things that represent God.  As we focus on Easter, we must remember to reflect on the love Jesus Christ had for us on the cross.  Not that He just died there for us.  Remember He rose to glory to show us a pathway to a relationship with Him.  Not that He just overcame death for our sins.  Our goal is to make clear our relationship with God has meaning and is not just saving grace for if the distinction seems blurry, we may very well have fallen out of the love for God and ventured into the love of those things that represent Him.  Jesus said, “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”  We can appreciate the structure for its beauty.  Let’s not lose sight of what the church really is; the parishioners.  What aspect of your life needs an awakening?  How can you better distinguish between something representing God vs. it becoming God?  My prayer is that in all we do, we focus on representing Him and not idolizing the things of Him.  Amen.

Submitting to authority

Tax Day! 

Today is a busy day for a lot of people in our industry.  As individuals within the United States, today means something to all of us that must file taxes.  While everyone has an opinion on taxes, the reality of it is that this is something from as far back as the Bible.

Romans 13:1-7

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.  For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.  For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.  Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.  Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

While we have authorities that we must answer to here on earth, ultimately our authority is God.  Just as we have laws that we must follow in our lives, so is true about our spiritual lives.  Have you submitted yourself to the authority of God today?