Romans 15:4 "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
12 [a]Therefore I urge you, [b]brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be [c]transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].
3For by the grace [of God] given to me I say to everyone of you not to think more highly of himself [and of his importance and ability] than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has apportioned to each a degree of faith [and a purpose designed for service].
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Amen.
One of the most precious things a person can be given by God is a heavenly mindset, a mindset formed by the cross, a mindset that sees earthly reality in view of Scriptural truths.
Romans 12:2 teaches: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
During seasons of Lent, when we encounter the living Christ through Scripture, and Prayer, Devotions, Sermons and Service, our minds need to be opened to being changed and transformed as when we first come to know Savior Christ.
The more and harder we seek after Him, the greater the transformation we see, we will gradually come to experience within the thoughts of our minds.
We need begin an unplanned approach, with the goal of coming to the end of ourselves, then steadily ask for a bit more of God’s Spirit to come and change us, to conform us to spiritual realities rather than the principles of the world.
Here are some suggested ways we can prayerfully expect to see, feel our minds being subtly, utterly, transformed into greater and greater union with Christ.
What Matters Is What Will Last into Eternity
The things of this earth will be seen as finite, temporary and transient.
There is surely goodness to enjoy on this earth.
But what matters is the spiritual work of God in us, and that spiritual work we participate in mission and ministry and acts of aid and service with others.
His Suffering for Us becomes Our Most Precious Thought
The reality that God came in flesh to suffer on the cross for our sins becomes precious beyond comparison.
We revere this truth and treat it as holy.
Our Savior has become so precious to us we can hardly bear the thought of Him hanging on the tree for us.
We treasure His sacrifice deeply.
His Work in This World Is Our Priority
Jesus has given the church a mission: to make disciples of Jesus around the world.
His work of doing that, at home and abroad, takes deep roots in our hearts.
We want to do our part to see His gospel shared and to see it shine around the world — no matter where we live and what our daily calling.
The Person and Character of Jesus Is Our Loveliest Treasure
Jesus is held up as our priceless treasure.
When we come to know Him better, to take in His character, to learn about His truth and His ways in the Scriptures, to behold His grace in our lives, we realize that we are all treated impeccably by the perfect One of all time and all eternity.
Jesus becomes our richest prize, our first and only singular aim and goal.
God’s Goodness Is Never in Question
We balk at the idea of God’s goodness being in question, when He is the One who bore with all of our failures, all of our rebellion, all of our sinfulness and still — in His immeasurable kindness — offered salvation to the world.
What kind of God is this?
We cannot and will not come to entertain the thought of Him not being always considered the good God He is, was, and forever will be.
The Salvation That God Offers Is Unfathomably Good
Evil is having its day.
The world and worldly values around us threaten to pull us in on all sides.
By contrast, the things of the Lord and of the Scriptures are pure and holy and righteous.
We come to love the righteousness that has been revealed to us.
Salvation into the things and ways of the Lord is an unfathomable reality — one that we will never fully grasp for all of eternity.
We will glorify, praise God always for the greatest gift He has ever given to us.
Sin becomes Utterly Undesirable
When we are thinking and focusing precious thoughts about Jesus, the sinful ways of our hearts and natures fall completely out of favor with us.
In fact, our ways of rebellion, the sin which has seeped into our pockets as we walk through the world, the fallen ideas that have passed through our ears, all come to be undesirable to us.
God shows them to us for what they are, and we want to abandon evil ways — whatever they are — and not allow them to take root within us.
God hates sin, and so do we; that becomes our true heart’s desire.
There Is Accountability before God for Everything That We Do
Because we know that God hates sin, we take seriously that we will stand before God for all that we think, say, and do in His world.
All of our wrongdoing will be covered by His grace.
But He wants relationships of truth with us.
So, we will stand before Him for our doings, whether good or bad.
I want there to be so much goodness, so little badness when I stand before Jesus.
The greatest words that I so want to hear are “well done, good and faithful servant.”
We take seriously everything we do when we are thinking precious thoughts of a Savior who died to remove our sins from us.
All of Life Is Lived by the Rule of Grace
Grace is the rule by which we live our lives.
Jesus loves His gospel of grace.
He loves that He offers us forgiveness as far as the east is from the west.
He loves that He has won a people to Himself.
When we come before Him with our sins, He welcomes us and washes us with his blood.
And He does that by His incredible grace that we can never exhaust.
It is truly amazing grace.
Each one of us is a small picture of His gospel, when He looks at us who believe.
We don’t fear sin because there is no punishment.
Rather, we live by His cleansing grace, and honor it highly just as He does.
To Fear the Lord Is Easy because God Is Great in Our Eyes
When we are thinking precious thoughts about the goodness and greatness of Jesus, we do not question whether or not God is to be feared.
He is the great One.
We possess a holy disposition before the great God of our souls.
Our hearts bow because God is very high.
Our hearts yearn for His glorification.
Our minds know that He is exalted and His thoughts and ways are not ours.
We stand apart from Him and know that He is to be magnified.
The Lordship of Christ Is Longed for So That We Can Reflect Jesus
Jesus is the Lord — and we are so grateful that He is.
We long for Him to lead and guide us in the ways of truth.
We long to follow Scriptural patterns of goodness.
We fully long to walk the straight and narrow path that brings holiness and righteousness to our days.
In short, we yearn for Jesus Christ to be the Lord of our lives.
We don’t want to lead but want to submit to His control.
The Care and Comfort of Jesus Exceeds Our Desires
When we think highly of Jesus, we value our relationship with Him very highly.
We draw near to Him, and He draws near to us.
So, when we reach out to Him for help and comfort, His care for us exceeds our desires.
We feel enveloped by His comfort and love.
The fact that the holy God of the universe would pour His love into our hearts is beautiful beyond description.
We thank Him greatly and welcome all that He gives and brings to us, as He is the vine and we are the branches.
We Have Contentment Based on Our Relationship with Jesus
Because the things of this earth matter less and less to us, we are transformed into a spirit of contentment.
We know that there is nothing we can gain that is of any value but Jesus Christ Himself.
We know that it is good to know God.
So, we can let possessions and values of this earth go.
We Are Willing to Be Called into Service of God, However He Wills
When Jesus is our highest prize, we wait upon Him to see if He might call us into His service.
We are honored so highly if He allows us to serve Him in any way.
And we leave open the possibility that He might call any one of us at any time to take His gospel to a lost world.
Turn the Fullness of Your Thoughts Upon Jesus
Romans 12:1-3 The Message
Place Your Life Before God
12 1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
3 I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.
My friends, let us practice thinking more precious thoughts about Savior Jesus.
Let us practice becoming ever more separate from this world, and practice being ever more, upper-most clinging to the Way, Truth, Life of our Savior.
Let us care about spiritual realities more than earthy realities.
Let us become more and more transformed by the renewing of our minds.
Let us make a greater effort, practice of daily approving of what is good and great according to the Lord, and seek Him — draw near to Him — so that He and His gospel, His Resurrection, alone might be so very highest in our sights.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Father, teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your Holy Spirit lead me on level ground. I see your faithfulness and goodness in what you have done for me throughout my life. I think about these things, and I thirst for you. Let me hear of your unfailing love every morning and every night, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. Keep me on firm footing for the glory of your name. Shift, transform, my thoughts away from the world and unto you alone.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
23 The [former successive line of] priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were each prevented by death from continuing [perpetually in office]; 24 but, on the other hand, Jesus holds His priesthood permanently and without change, because He lives on forever. 25 Therefore He is able also to save forever (completely, perfectly, for eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede and intervene on their behalf [with God].
The Word of God for the Children of God
Adeste Fidelis. Venite Adoremus. Dominum
Gloria. In Excelsis Deo. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
Jesus’ sacrificial work as our High Priest is a finished work, a once-and-for-all accomplishment with regard to sin.
There is no need for repetition and no possibility of addition.
But why is it, exactly, that He is able to “save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him”?
Because, first, Christ’s role as our Great High Priest is the solution to our rebellion.
Deep down inside, each of us knows that we have rejected our dependence upon God, instead making a bid for independence.
In trying to live our lives independently, we reveal that our stubborn hearts are curved into themselves.
We pridefully think, “I don’t need an advocate. I don’t need anybody to do anything on my behalf. I can handle this myself.”
But despite the fact that we have rebelled against God, amazingly, He seeks us out and saves us.
Jesus brings about reconciliation by dealing with our alienation from God, which is two-sided: we are alienated on our side by our sin and on God’s side by His wrath.
Jesus has paid the penalty for our sins; He has satisfied God’s wrath by offering Himself as an unblemished sacrifice.
Second, Jesus saves “to the uttermost” because He has destroyed the leverage that the Evil One uses to fill us with fear.
In Hebrews 2, the writer explains, “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery”(verses 14-15).
Through His own death, Jesus has set us free from Satan’s grip, liberating us from what ought to be our greatest fear: death itself.
When Satan seeks to accuse us before the Father, Jesus is, as it were, able to point out that his words are empty—that he has nothing to say against us.
And Jesus’ priestly work still continues in His continual intercession on our behalf.
In Jesus we have a Priest who sheds His grace on our lives day by day through His heavenly mediation.
As Jesus enjoys being in His Father’s presence today, right now, He is not offering a sacrifice, but rather speaking as our advocate before the Father.
We may picture Him standing by His Father, saying, That one is mine. I died for him. He is covered by my blood and is clothed in my righteousness.
So, “When Satan tempts me to despair, and tells me of my guilt within / Upward I look and see Him there, who made an end of all my sin.”
Therefore, “I know that while in heaven He stands, no power can bid me thence depart.”
Jesus, your Priest forever, stands in His Father’s presence today, speaking of you and for you.
There is nothing to fear.
The more we learn of God’s Word and come to an understanding of Who God is, what He is doing, all that He has planned for those that love Him, the more we see an unveiling of His glory upon glory and the more we recognise God’s grace upon grace that is daily being showered upon all His blood-bought children.
Our risen, ascended, and glorified Saviour has saved us to the uttermost.
Our Kinsman-Redeemer,
Who has rescued us from our sins and seated us together with Himself in heavenly places as sons of God and joint-heirs with Christ, is currently seated on the right hand of the Majesty on high, interceding for you, praying for me, defending His children from the accusations of the enemy, and protecting the Church, which is His Body, with His never-ending intercessions to the Father.
Christ ever lives,
Christ ever intercedes
– for He has power to save through the merit of His atoning work on the cruel Cross of Calvary and His glorious Resurrection.
All power has been given to Him by the Father and so He can, with absolute authority, declare His ability to save to the uttermost, all that trust in His name.
For Christ has promised to save us from the power of sin, the guilt of sin, the nature of sin, and the punishment of sin, but also to sanctify to the uttermost,
body, soul, and spirit as day by day His Holy Spirit is conforming us into the image and likeness of Christ Jesus our Lord.
His saving grace is not only for the eternal ages to come but will be carried through to its ultimate completion, for He will never abandon any that have trusted in His name as Savior and who have come to Him for pardon and peace.
There is no time nor place where His sacrifice of intercession does not reach us, thus underlining His promise: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
The more we learn of God’s Word, the wonderful covenant relationship He has with His Church, the more we discover His showers of blessing and abundant privileges raining down upon our heads and come to an understanding of Who God is, what He is doing, and all that He has planned for those that love Him.
The more we see an unveiling of His glory upon glory, the more we recognise God’s grace upon grace that is daily being showered upon all His blood-bought children.
Surely, and certainly, most abundantly blessed and assuredly, we should each love to the uppermost the Resurrected One Who has saved us to the uttermost.
Christ is our heavenly priest.
Like each of the time limited ancient priests in Israel who interceded for the people with God, so eternal Jesus intercedes with the Father on our behalf.
Jesus is our forever advocate and our everlasting best friend.
He takes our requests to the Father.
I am so thankful that Jesus has my back.
He understands me and knows what I need.
He is my BFF!
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 100 The Message
100 1-2 On your feet now—applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence.
3 Know this: God is God, and God, God. He made us; we didn’t make him. We’re his people, his well-tended sheep.
4 Enter with the password: “Thank you!” Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him.
5 For God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and ever.
Heavenly Father, we thank You and we praise and honor and glorify You for the life and ministry of Your Son Jesus Who has saved and sanctified me to the uttermost and is now daily interceding for me. Praise Your wonderful name. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.
23 The [former successive line of] priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were each prevented by death from continuing [perpetually in office]; 24 but, on the other hand, Jesus holds His priesthood permanently and without change, because He lives on forever. 25 Therefore He is able also to save forever (completely, perfectly, for eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede and intervene on their behalf [with God].
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis. Venite Adoremus. Dominum.
Gloria. In Excelsis Deo. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
What The Heart Of The Young Man Said To The Psalmist.
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world’s broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no Future, howe’er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,— act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o’erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
A Highly Offensive Contemporary Psalm for Life.
It’s not all about you.
But, then again, neither is it about me.
Urgently Needed Reminder: God’s Psalm for Life.
I would say that the question most frequently asked by Christians is this: is it possible for me to lose my salvation?
It bothers so many of us.
We know the stakes.
And the possibility of having got it wrong, haunts so many believers.
This message is the first of at least two in a small series that are stand- alone messages but which, I pray will all bear upon the question of eternal security.
Do we believe that the Blood of Christ cleanses us from sin?
Absolutely – no problem there – just read 1 John 1:9.
Do we accept that no-one can snatch us away from God?
Of course we do – the Bible says so.
No one can snatch us out of the Father’s hand – John 10:28-29 makes that one quite clear
But here’s where agreement ends and doubts begin!
We hear so many things that can make us insecure – particularly if we’re really struggling to the live the lives we know we should.
So many doubts.
So many fears and apprehensions.
So many different slants and theories.
When do we get saved?
Is it at a particular point in time?
Or does it develop over a certain measure of time?
Is it possible to stop believing and lose it all?
Can we blow it by persisting in willful sin?
Or does that willful sin show that we’ve already blown it in the first place?
After all – the tree is known by its fruit! [Psalm 1, Matthew 7:15-19, 12:33-35]
So – to extend that principle a little – can we forfeit Eternal Life – not just by sinning – but by being unfruitful and unproductive in our lives?
Carelessly allowing our salvation to slip straight through our very own fingers – as Hebrews 2:1-4 seems to suggest?
Give Heed
2 [a]For this reason [that is, because of God’s final revelation in His Son Jesus and because of Jesus’ superiority to the angels] we must pay much closer attention than ever to the things that we have heard, so that we do not [in any way] drift away from truth. 2 For if the message given [b]through angels [the Law given to Moses] was authentic and unalterable, and every violation and disobedient act received an appropriate penalty, 3 how will we escape [the penalty] if we ignore such a great salvation [the gospel, the new covenant]? For it was spoken at first by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us and proved authentic by those who personally heard [Him speak], 4 [and besides this evidence] God also testifying with them [confirming the message of salvation], both by signs and wonders and by various miracles [carried out by Jesus and the apostles] and by [granting to believers the] gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.
We’re going to examine these fears and see if they have any basis in reality.
What does the Word of God actually teach?
But don’t just take my word for it. Like the Bereans – examine this subject for yourself.
I’m confident that when you understand the principles by which God operates – understand His motivations in relation to your salvation, you’ll put to rest these doubts, fears; you’ll appreciate the yawning gulf that divides human reasoning from Divine wisdom and Infinite Love and Grace.
This first devotion is entitled: ‘It’s not all about you’
We’ll discuss this in a moment – but first let’s address a couple of the concerns we mentioned at the beginning.
Among the various positions adopted on the question of eternal security, what undisputed facts can we all agree on – if we take the Word of God at face value?
What does the Bible clearly teach about eternal life?
Well – the first thing we find is that:
Eternal life is a present possession!
It’s not something we have to wait to receive;
It is not something we grow into;
And not something that develops gradually.
The Bible does talk about aspects of our salvation that still lie in the future – but entering into a relationship with God – and receiving the gift of eternal life – is something that happens at a particular point in our lives!
In John 5:24 Jesus said these words:
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
Then in Ephesians 2:4-5 we read:
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
And finally, Paul says in Romans 5:1-2
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
So that’s quite clear.
Salvation isn’t something we’re looking forward to – it’s something that occurs in one point of time!
So you and I are either saved right now or we’re not saved at all!
So what’s the next thing we can agree on?
It’s this.
It appears that we can be sure that we have eternal life.
God intends for us to have confidence – to be able to rest quietly in the knowledge and complete assurance of salvation – no shadow of a doubt!
John writes in his first epistle, chapter 5:13:
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
In Romans 8:16 Paul says:
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
And in2 Timothy 1:12, we hear Paul’s stirring words:
I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
Some people would – of course – say that this confidence is conditional upon us showing the fruits of salvation in our lives.
They say, in other words, that we can be sure of our salvation as long as we have it – but that’s no guarantee that we can’t lose it!
So the questions which remain to be answered are this:
Is it possible for us to lies lose our salvation?
Is it possible to cease being a Christian?
Can we be saved one minute – but lost the next?
Ok. If we want to get down to what the Bible actually says, we’ll need to scrap some of this misleading terminology once and for all.
Losing your salvation is not a term used in Scripture at all!
And for very good reason!
Certainly salvation is spoken of as a gift – but not as an object: a thing that can be dropped, given away or lost.
This gift is nothing less than the gift of new life – eternal life!
So can you lose your Salvation?
Well – what happens if you lose your life?
You die, of course!
So the real question should be this:
If a man is reborn (through the process of the new birth) and consequently has eternal life – can he die again?
And that puts an entirely different complexion on things!
Can a life be described as eternal if it can end – and you can die again?
Christ is our life.
Can He die again?
Well – actually He can’t!
Romans 6:8-11 Amplified Bible
8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live [together] with Him, 9 because we know [the self-evident truth] that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has power over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin [ending its power and paying the sinner’s debt] once and for all; and the life that He lives, He lives to [glorify] God [in unbroken fellowship with Him]. 11 Even so, consider yourselves to be dead to sin [and your relationship to it broken], but alive to God [in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus.
When you think it through – it’s actually nonsense to talk about losing salvation – because of the very meaning of the word.
In certain circumstance I can save myself – but if I’m saved by someone else – by very definition I’m not contributing to the action.
Christ saves me!
If I were to perish for any reason – then in actual fact he wouldn’t have saved me.
But let’s start from the beginning
As we said before: it’s not all about you, neither is it about me!
Salvation is not all about us.
What do I mean by that – and what bearing does it have on our eternal security?
In the Garden of Eden, Satan had effectively stolen God’s creation from him.
We belonged to God – we were created differently from the animals.
Mankind was His special creation – formed in His image so that He could enjoy fellowship with us forever – loving Him and being loved by Him for all eternity.
Now you can’t force a person to love you.
The relationship for which God created us, had to be based on our willingness to have, continue fellowship with Him, to freely offer Him our love and devotion.
So in that sense – maintaining a continuous relationship with God was man’s responsibility.
We were born with a self-determining free-will and this privilege and dignity is something God would never over-ride.
So, ultimately, He had to risk losing us.
He had to take the chance of us turning our backs on Him.
And that’s exactly what happened!
Adam and Eve transferred their allegiance to Satan.
They passed from God’s control to Satan’s authority.
But Satan wasn’t going to win.
God already had a plan – a plan of Salvation – in order to regain what Satan had been allowed to steal from him; a plan to repossess that which He had lost.
Luke 19:10: For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.
Lost by whom?
Once again we make it all about us.
We were lost – we say – in sin.
But surely a natural reading of what Christ said would be we were lost to God – He had lost us – and that He had come to recover us: to save us – to get us back.
And that’s what redemption is all about!
In the OT the word translated “redeem” is pa^da^h and it means: to ransom, redeem, rescue, or deliver. [Isaiah 50:2 ESV]
In the Roman world, the market place was called the agora.
Exagorazo therefore literally means – to take out of the market place – hence – to purchase.
According to Strongs Concordance, it means: To recover from the power of another, to ransom by paying a price.
Of course, being recovered or ransomed implies that we formerly belonged to someone else – who then paid a price to get us back.
And that’s what our English word redeem conveys.
It comes from two Latin words meaning: to buy again or to buy back.
So – if I redeem something, I recover or ransom something that once belonged to me.
God did that – He once owned us because He created us.
He then lost us when we sinned – so He set out to recover which was lost – to ransom us – to buy us back – to redeem us – the price He paid was staggering:
it was the life of His own beloved Son!
The life blood of Jesus Christ was the currency that was used.
1 Peter 1:18-19 says this:
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
We were redeemed from the slave market of sin and are now twice-owned!
You and I are twice owned.
God created us – lost us and bought us back.
We are now his treasured possession – He purchased us.
A transaction has taken place and the highest possible price was paid:
the full asking price demanded by the law to free us from sin – the life blood of Jesus Christ, God’s only Son.
So 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says.
You are not your own; you were bought at a price.
That’s redemption!
Do we get that?
We no longer belong to ourselves.
God paid the highest possible price to get us back.
We are now His property!
Titus 2:14 says that he:
gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
It’s not all about us.
It’s not purely for our benefit!
We are now his inheritance!
Paul says to the Ephesians in chapter 1:18:
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people….
As Israel was continually referred to as God’s inheritance, we are His spiritual people – His glorious inheritance – His new creation.
2 Corinthians 5:17:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: Old things have gone, new things are here!
We’ve already seen that in the first creation, man was responsible for maintaining fellowship with God and he failed.
But do you believe that God will allow Satan to once again usurp him successfully?
To once again frustrate His purposes and steal away his possession?
One that He paid for with the death of his Son?
And that would happen if just one believer were to lose his Salvation – because effectively Christ would have died again.
Grace wouldn’t be reigning through righteousness – sin would once again be reigning through death (at least in that one life)!
A death, by the way, which has been destroyed by the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Not a chance!
Things are different now.
In the new creation, the responsibility of maintaining our relationship with God is now His responsibility – not ours.
And why? Because He bought us and we are His possession.
Remember 1 Corinthians 6:19b-20
You are not your own; you were bought at a price.
This involves ownership.
We actually don’t have the right to give ourselves away again – in any way shape or form.
We’re God’s property!
In fact, God made certain that we couldn’t blow it again – either as a new race or as individuals.
Let us now look at how he protected us as individuals – how he has further guaranteed that we’ll never die again.
It’s found in Romans 4:16.
Here the Apostle Paul writes these wonderful words:
Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring-not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
Notice here what God has done.
So that the responsibility for our salvation might be taken out of our hands altogether –
in other words, so that it might be by grace, entirely on the basis of a free gift – with us contributing nothing at all,
he made its acquisition conditional upon upon faith – simply believing – so that we have no active part to play – just to receive what is offered!
Ephesians 2:8-9 therefore says:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no-one can boast.
So God took on the responsibility for the whole thing so that the promise could be guaranteed.
He had to!
Sin had to be paid for – that took the death of Christ.
We had no part in that – except, of course, in the fact He was representing us.
And our new life had to be perfect forever.
To those who say that we can lose our salvation by sin in our lives, I would remind them that it only took one sin to sink the whole human race!
I mean, what estimation do we have of God?
Do we think that He can tolerate a certain level of sinning and then if it gets beyond that, He’ll say: “Ok, that’s enough!”
It took one sin to sink the human race!
You think you can lose your salvation by sinning?
Then fine – but remember this: you lost it with the first sin you committed after you got saved!!
What is good enough for God is absolute and total perfection or nothing at all!!
And He guaranteed that too – by imparting to us the life of Christ by way of the new birth!
As I said, our salvation consisted of God taking back what belonged to him.
And doing so by paying the price for our freedom.
I mean – Consider what happened at the moment of our salvation.
A transaction took place.
A deposit was paid on us.
We were set aside as his property.
That’s pretty much a guarantee of eternal life isn’t it?
14 The Spirit is the [a]guarantee [the first installment, the pledge, a foretaste] of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s own [purchased] possession [His believers], to the praise of His glory.[Ephesians 1:14 Amplified]
In fact, Ephesians 1:14 describes the Holy Spirit as: a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
There’s the guarantee.
It’s because a deposit has been paid. And this deposit is the Holy Spirit.
It’s a word of Hebrew origin and means: a pledge – that is, part of the purchase money or property given in advance as security for the rest.
It’s the money which, when a purchase takes place, is given as a down-payment – in effect, a pledge that the full amount will subsequently be paid!
When you were saved – did you receive the Holy Spirit??
Of course you did!
And if you did – then God’s already paid a deposit on you.
The Holy Spirit is the down-payment!
The Holy Spirit is also a seal on God’s property!
In ancient times, when property was purchased, it was sealed by the new owner with his own distinctive mark – just like cattle was branded in the old West.
This was to protect the goods and to ensure that nobody else could claim them or interfere with them.
In our case, we were also branded or sealed, just to make sure that we were His – that no-one else could claim us.
The Bible says – in Ephesians 1:13:
When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.
The word for seal is the noun from the Greek verb sphragizō – and it’s used 13 times in the Bible.
It means: to stamp for security or preservation – usually with a signet ring or private mark.
That happened when you believed!
It’s not a hope; it’s not a promise.
It’s a done deal!
It doesn’t say ‘if you continue to believe’
Having believed – the verb here is in what is called the aorist tense.
It’s a one-time process that’s already been completed in your life if you’ve come to Christ!
You and I have been sealed.
The seal signified that the goods belonged to the owner of seal or the mark.
Remember – it’s not all about you.
You’re his property now.
And the seal – the Holy Spirit in our case – is a guarantee that the goods will reach their destination in the same condition that they left!
Nobody can get at you except by breaking the seal!
Is there something out there that is greater than the love of God?
More effective than the blood of Christ?
More powerful than the indwelling Holy Spirit?
Doesn’t the Bible say: greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world.?
The Holy Spirit can’t be overcome.
He can’t be ejected from the believer.
In other words – the seal can’t be broken.
It’s His seal – we are His property!
In fact His seal is an absolute guarantee!!
2 Corinthians 1:21-22:
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
How could our salvation be guaranteed if it was up to us in any way whatsoever?
Adam and Eve were created perfect, in idyllic surroundings and in personal contact and communion with God every day.
Yet they still blew it.
But God has purchased or redeemed us and put his personal seal within us.
Make no mistake about this.
If one sealed soul were to be lost, then the seal will have been broken!
The promise and guarantee of God will have been made void!
And God is very serious about keeping His Word.
It abides forever.
He warns us about making oaths because in doing so, we’re undertaking something that only God Himself is able to do – absolutely guarantee the fulfillment of an oath.
And if one saved soul were to be lost:
Satan would have won again!
The deposit would have been lost!
Good faith in purchase destroyed!
And no power in universe can do that!
God has his own plans for His possession
Nothing and nobody is going to steal us away again.
No power in the universe is going to thwart and frustrate His purposes!
Examine what is known as the Golden chain in Romans 8:30:
And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
And so Paul says in Romans 8:38-39:
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
But sometimes it sounds counter – intuitive, doesn’t it!
As human beings, seeing everything from a humanistic perspective, we’ve been so ingrained with concepts like:
There’s no such thing as a free lunch!
If it sounds too good to be true – it probably is!
You only get out of something what you put in!
And so forth!
So Christians, without realizing it, often rebel against the principle of Grace – the free unconditional love of God, His gift of Grace – Eternal Life in Christ.
They might say – and you’ve all heard these objections:
Sure – nothing can snatch us out of the Father’s hand – but surely we can:
by our own choice.
or our own actions.
lose our salvation.
I mean – there has to be consequences for how we live our lives!
So there’s the question.
Salvation is free, but can we, by free choice, stop being covered by blood of Christ?
Can we ourselves break the seal?
Void the contract?
Undo God’s work in us.
Make ineffective the blood of Christ.
Reverse the effects of the death of Christ in our lives?
See how silly that starts to sound!
Well – Some say that we can and they will give a variety of reasons:
Living a sinful life.
No longer believing.
Not persevering with works of righteousness.
Well, you’ll find each of these objections will resolve itself from the Word of God.
For the moment, just remember one important thing:
Man had a relationship with God.
The maintenance of that relationship was man’s responsibility.
Man failed to live up to the terms of that relationship.
Because of this, he passed from communion with God into the power of Satan.
God, by the death of Christ, went to amazing lengths to buy back or redeem His lost possession.
We now belong to Him – signed, sealed and delivered.
Our safety and maintenance in that relationship is now up to Him – and Him alone!!
May God bless His Word to each one of us! Amen
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Almighty God, you are the source of all light. You divinely separated light from darkness so that we may have the beauty of the light of day. Dear Lord, illuminate this day and enlighten us as we seek to know you through your word. May we be led by your light so our hearts may be opened to your word. We pray that we receive every word you speak to us today. Holy and gracious God, you are the greatest of all. You are full of wonders that no mere human can comprehend. Lord, I seek to understand you and your ways so that I can live according to your commandments. I pray for your divine illumination in my heart and mind. Help me see what you intend for me to see. Help me understand what you intend for me to understand. Open my eyes and my ears, my mouth, to see you and hear, speak your whispers.
Adeste Fidelis. Venite Adoremus. Dominum.
Gloria. In Excelsis Deo. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
6 Grandchildren are the crown of aged men, And the glory of children is their fathers [who live godly lives].
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis. Venite Adoremus. Dominum.
Gloria. In Excelsis Deo. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
What our Grand parents are to us …
“What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life. Most importantly, milk and cookies and plenty of Ice Cream.”
“A grandfather is someone with silver in his hair and gold in his heart.”—Anonymous
If nothing is going well, call your grandmother. —Italian Proverb
“When Grand Ma smiles, the lines in her face become epic narratives that trace the stories of generations that no book can replace.” Anonymous
To a small child, the perfect granddad is unafraid of big dogs and fierce storms but absolutely terrified of the word “boo.” Anonymous
I still remember the simple lessons taught to me by my grandmother Lou. She taught me how special I was simply by telling me what a coconut looked like.
The time she spent with me, and the things she passed on with her simple, yet gentle words, pats upon my head, are still invaluable treasures that I cherish.
Throughout history, grandparents have played a central role in the lives of their children and grandchildren.
There is even a Grandparents Day the first Sunday after Labor day, put into its place by President Carter in 1978, to genuinely celebrate how important the contribution and impact our grandparents make to families, communities.
Today, let’s give honor where honor is long overdue, to take a few moments to stop and reflect on the value of grandparents—past or present and future.
Let’s dive into a few Scriptures that offer beautiful words of affirmation about the aged—timely words that show just how important grandparents truly are.
Does the Bible say anything about Honoring Our Grandparents?
When most of the books of the Bible were written, parents and grandparents held positions of high honor in the life of the family and of the community.
Children were expected to revere their elders and learn from them.
When God introduced the Law to the Israelite nation, He even included a commandment to “honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12).
God also made it part of His Law that the younger person should stand in the presence of the elderly as a sign of respect (Leviticus 19:32).
Implied within this command is a multi-generational attitude of respect and honor toward a family and communities senior relatives.
As children observed their parents honoring the grandparents, they, in turn, at some point in life, would shoulder that responsibility when their time came.
Proverbs 17:6 says that “children’s children are the crown of old people.”
Every grandparent understands that comparison.
There is a special kind of bond between a grandparent and a grandchild that benefits both.
Someone has humorously stated that “grandchildren are God’s reward for not killing your own children when they were teenagers.”
Humor aside, there is some truth to that.
Grandchildren, like children, are a reward—a blessing from the Lord and one way that He is good to us (Psalm 127:3).
“Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.” – Proverbs 17:6
What a picture of God’s design for the good of families.
Think about it.
There’s three generations here.
You have got grandparents, parents, and children.
All of us fit into this spectrum in some sense.
We all are children with parents.
We all are grandchildren.
Some of us are parents or step parents of children who pray about being blessed with Grand Children, perhaps even Great Grand Children.
Some are grandparents with grandchildren.
This Proverb Calls Us to Honor Generations of Our Families
And the picture here is ABBA Father God has designed our lives to honor and respect our own parents and our grandparents.
God has designed our lives as parents and grandparents to be glorified in the way we love and raise our children, in the very way we love our grandchildren.
So, as we see these three generations, I just want to encourage you to think about life and think about how you can honor your parents, even just to thank God for them, to pray for them, and grand and great grand parents, as well.
How can you honor them?
How can you pray for them?
I think in my own life, none of my grandparents are living.
My mom and my dad have long gone to be the Lord.
So when it comes to these groups in my life, I think about my mom.
I thank God so much for my mom and my dad and their parents, and by God’s grace, for the legacy, blossoming revelation of faith, they’ve passed on to me.
I could go on and on and on far, far beyond the scope of this devotional just talking about God’s grace toward me.
God, I want to honor all generations of my parents, I’m so thankful for them.
Proverbs 17:6 Encourages Us to Glorify God in Our Families
And then I look the other way and think about my stepson.
I think about how precious he is, what a gift he is, and how much I pray for him.
I want to glorify God by loving him and caring for him well, and then I pray for his growing son.
So I pray for my grandson all the time.
I have no children of my own, but my sister does so I pray for her grandkids.
I pray that they would know God, they would love God, they would know God’s love for them and model God’s love for others.
So, just think about your life and where you are right now in the spectrum, whether you are single, married, a parent, or a grandparent, So I just pray.
1 Timothy 5:1-5 Common English Bible
Caring for God’s family
5 Don’t correct an older man, but encourage him like he’s your father; treat younger men like your brothers, 2 treat older women like your mother, and treat younger women like your sisters with appropriate respect.
3 Take care of widows who are truly needy. 4 But if a particular widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to respect their own family and repay their parents, because this pleases God. 5 A widow who is truly needy and all alone puts her hope in God and keeps on going with requests and prayers, night and day.
In the New Testament, the duty of an adult grandchild is made explicit:
“If a widow has children or grandchildren, they should learn to serve God by taking care of her, as she once took care of them. This is what God wants them to do” (1 Timothy 5:4, CEB).
So the honor shown to a grandparent in need is more than mere respect; it is taking practical steps to support the grandparent and doing whatever it takes to meet his or her needs.
Doing so is a natural part of honoring and serving and giving glory to the Lord.
Grand Parent Responsibility Towards Grand Children
Proverbs 13:22 Christian Standard Bible
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his[a] grandchildren, but the sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.
Just as grandchildren have sacred obligations to love, honor, and assist their grandparents, so do grandparents have responsibilities toward their children’s children.
Proverbs 13:22says that “a good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.”
Righteous people live wisely and pass on their wisdom, their knowledge, and their material blessings to their grandchildren.
In our day, it has become common for grandparents to have full custody of their grandchildren from the parents’ inability [drugs, alcohol, mental illness, legal issues] or their unwillingness to rear their own children.
While this is sad, it also demonstrates the unique love grandparents have that creates a willingness to begin the task of bringing up a child just when child-rearing was supposed to be finished.
Few retirees would volunteer for the emotional, financial, and physical burden of rearing children again, but, because they are grandparents, they’ll set aside their own desires for the needs of a grandchild.
Honoring and Respecting All Grand Parents?
The Bible gives examples of grandparents, and some of those grandparents were wicked:
2 Kings 11 recounts the sad story of Athaliah, mother of King Ahaziah of Judah.
When Ahaziah died, the Queen Mother ordered the execution of all her royal family so that she could take the throne.
Unknown to her, one of Ahaziah’s sisters, Jehosheba, hid a baby grandson, Joash, in a bedroom so that he escaped his grandmother’s bloody rampage.
He and his nurse remained hidden in the temple for six years while his grandmother ruled Judah.
When Joash was seven years old, the high priest brought him out, anointed him, put the crown on his head, and proclaimed little Joash king of Judah.
When Athaliah saw this, she flew into a rage, but the godly high priest ordered her to be executed.
Thus, it was the murder of his entire family by his own grandmother that had ushered in the forty-year reign of King Joash of Judah.
Did Joash, at some point in his 4o year kingly reign privately or publicly forgive the scriptures do not say.
If there is some reason, legitimate or otherwise, and you are at severe odds with your grandparents, the matter of extending or not extending mercy, granting or not granting forgiveness is between Father God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and you.
Scripture repeatedly says mercy and forgiveness are always the right choices.
Matthew 5:7Christian Standard Bible
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Matthew 9:13 Christian Standard Bible
13 Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice.[a] For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”[b]
Kinsman Redeemer
Leviticus 25:25-27 Christian Standard Bible
25 If your brother becomes destitute and sells part of his property, his nearest relative may come and redeem what his brother has sold. 26 If a man has no family redeemer, but he prospers[a] and obtains enough to redeem his land, 27 he may calculate the years since its sale, repay the balance to the man he sold it to, and return to his property.
Ruth 4:14-17 Christian Standard Bible
14 The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you without a family redeemer today. May his name become well known in Israel. 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. Indeed, your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 16 Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became a mother to him. 17 The neighbor women said, “A son has been born to Naomi,” and they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
An unusual grandparenting relationship is found in the book of Ruth.
The story of Ruth is a beautiful tale of love and loyalty between a young widow and her bereaved mother-in-law, Naomi.
Although her husband is dead, Ruth chooses to stay with her mother-in-law to care for her.
She even leaves her own people, the Moabites, to follow Naomi back to Israel where she meets and marries Boaz.
When their first child is born, the townspeople congratulate Naomi, saying, “Naomi has a son!”(Ruth 4:14–17).
The child was no blood relation to Naomi, but, because of the great love and connection between her and Ruth, she adopted the baby as her own grandchild.
This reminds us that grandparenting can come in many forms.
In this day of broken and dysfunctional families, divorce, and step-parenting, godly men and women who will prayerfully step forward, adopt their children’s step-children as their own grandchildren are blessed, as Naomi was blessed.
Her adopted grandchild, Obed, became the grandfather of King David.
When God designed this world, He instituted the ministry of the family as His means of propagating the earth and teaching us about love and relationship.
He intended for the elder to teach the younger and for the younger to revere the elder.
Grandparents, Great Grandparents play a uniquely special role in this design.
Free from the responsibility to train and discipline a child, grandparents can offer open arms, acceptance, and a safe place for a child to run when things are not going well with Mom and Dad.
Grandparents can provide wisdom beyond that of the parents, since they have already walked this road many years before.
A wise grandparent, though, will never intrude upon a parental decision in front of the child.
A grandparent’s role is not to supersede the parent but to support, encourage, and counsel as needed.
When parents, grandparents, and children are living out their roles as God first designed, the entire family, entire generations of families, communities thrive.
If I could give gold crowns to each one of my wonderful grandparents, I would.
They have invested so much into my life, and made such an impact,
I believe they ought to be treated like royalty.
However, I pray, that the way in which I’ve lived my life, would be such an abundant blessing to them, it feels like a crown of honor.
Not only are grandchildren a crown to the aged, the aged are the pride of their family – What a truly excellent reminder of the importance of grandparents!
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
ABBA Father, Every good and perfect gift comes from You. I thank you, Lord, for the joy and happiness, the moments of learning, and the guidance and care you have brought to us through our wonderful grandparents. I truly appreciate the kind of life, love, and nurturing they have given our parents, for through these, I was taught to depend on You by faith, and I was raised with the morals and values to respect others and be concerned for their welfare. Thank you, Lord, for our godly grandparents.
Gracious God, I pray also that each and every grandparent would be able to see their grandchildren as crowns of joy. I also ask that every child would be able to see their grandparents as people of steadfast faith they can look up to. Thank you, Lord, for the beautiful legacies they leave behind. I pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.
13 For You formed my innermost parts; You knit me [together] in my mother’s womb. 14 I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was being formed in secret, And intricately and skillfully formed [as if embroidered with many colors] in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were appointed for me, When as yet there was not one of them[even taking shape].
17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I could count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis. Venite Adoremus. Dominum.
Gloria. In Excelsis Deo. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
Finding God’s Purpose for My Life
I can remember being a young teenager, on summer vacation at my family’s country place.
A lot of time was spent in the back of my Dad’s old 1968 International Pick Up truck, staring out into the vast fields and meadows and trees and ponds beyond wondering: WHAT my purpose in life was.
I fully knew that God created me for a reason, but I couldn’t understand what he wanted me to do with my life.
I was so busy trying to think my own way to live my own life, not finding God’s purpose for my life, that I had basically immobilized myself in that idyllic place.
It was naïve of me to think at that time that this feeling of uncertainty would disappear as I got older and smarter and wiser and I thought far more mature.
“It’s only teenagers who struggle with the big life questions,” I thought to myself – adults [Mom and Dad] have it made in the shade with their careers.
After – all, Mom and Dad had bought this great 40 acre place in the country.
I laugh now, thinking about how much I had to learn then.
Now, as a 60 plus year old adult, I find myself thinking and praying through so many of life’s biggest questions I never thought to ask myself then.
A lot of those questions, I’m no more certain of the answer now than I was as a teenager.
But I am more confident in God’s word, and I’m able to rest in that more than I did back then.
God’s word has been the biggest answer for me on my quest to finding God’s purpose for my life.
Does God Have a Purpose For Me and My Life?
If you’re asking yourself this question, I know from experience that it’s likely causing you some stress.
I want you to know that God wants you to rest in the knowledge of something beautiful:
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you , for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” – Psalm 139:13-14
Does that sound like a God who wants you to live in stress and toil away about missing your purpose?
It certainly doesn’t sound that way to me.
The God described in that beautiful psalm (my personal favorite psalm) is an intricately and intimately involved God.
That is not the kind of God who doesn’t have a plan for us, or is content to let us waste away our remaining days in the worry of being unsure of your purpose.
Life Makes Sense: God’s Story of You
Psalm 139:15-16Amplified Bible
15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was being formed in secret, And intricately and skillfully formed [as if embroidered with many colors] in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were appointed for me, When as yet there was not one of them [even taking shape].
We love stories, but it’s surprising how easily we can end up missing the stories God has written for our lives.
Winston Churchill once famously claimed that history was simply “one big years long collection of one thing after another.”
In other words, he was claiming there was no “just one” story behind our experiences in life, only a years long weaving of numerous series of events.
Few things are more deadening to your soul than thinking that your life ultimately means little more than we live through several one thing after another.
Yet that’s how we often find ourselves feeling – no matter how old we are in life.
On many days we view our jobs or careers or families as where we have “ended up” in life.
In fact, it can seem a bit overly presumptuous to think there’s only one master plan and master planner behind whatever situation you and I are in right now.
But the Bible tells us that the events of our lives make sense because they are part of a much larger story.
The struggles of last month or the victories of yesterday that we may claim in the next few weeks are not simply chance occurrences.
They are part of a intricately weaved story line that is going somewhere.
The work you do, the people you share life with, the abilities you have, and the weaknesses you struggle with are all part of a collection of elements intended to make for a really good story—the story of you – that’s really God’s story of you.
Do you believe this?
What Does God’s Living Word Say About Purpose?
I want to share a couple more Bible verses about purpose with you.
I’m sharing them in a specific order as it’s going to help round out the edges of this devotional, and I pray will truly help you to be able to say with confidence, “God has a purpose for my life.”
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11
God has a plan for your life… and what’s better, it’s a good plan. There’s nothing in that plan that says God intends harm or unhappiness for your life. God KNOWS the plans he has for you, and that includes plans to prosper you, keep you safe, give you beautiful hope, and the promise of a future.
Now, I want you to keep that knowledge and promise in mind as we read the next couple verses together.
“I know you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” – Job 42:2
That verse is referring to God, not us.
God can do all things.
His plans cannot be thwarted.
So when you’re trying to find your God-given purpose, take comfort in the fact that there is NOTHING that can ruin God’s plans.
Not even your own indecision, or fear, or pride… NOTHING.
I want you to whisper that to yourself and pray thanks to God for that fact.
God has a purpose for my life, and God has a purpose for your life.
There’s absolutely, positively nothing we (or our circumstances can do) to ruin, or destroy or ever erase that purpose.
Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed.” –Acts 13:36
There’s a couple really interesting things in this Bible verse about purpose.
As I’ve struggled through finding God’s purpose for my life, I’ve forgotten a couple key things that this verse makes very clear:
We are serving God’s purpose... not our own. Did you notice that in the verse above? It says David had served God’s purpose in his life. I think often (whether innocent or not), we end up searching for and serving our own purposes instead of God’s. This is something we need to avoid.
The other thing I want to pull out of that verse is that David didn’t pass away until he had fulfilled God’s purpose in his life. So when you think about fulfilling your God given purpose, know with confidence that the purpose is actually God’s, and he’ll keep you on this earth until that purpose is fulfilled.
How to Know God’s Purpose For Our Lives
“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” –Colossians 1:16
This Bible verse about purpose, like the one above about David, is also helpful as I find myself, along with you, on the journey of finding God’s purpose for my life.
This verse makes it clear again, that the purpose is ultimately God’s, and not our own.
This doesn’t mean we are devoid of purpose… in fact, our purpose is FOR him.
We were created through him and for him.
This is where the lights, for me, started to come on while I was finding God’s purpose for my life.
Check out this next Bible verse about purpose:
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” –1st Peter 2:9
Isn’t that beautiful?
If we know Jesus as our Savior, we are chosen, royal, holy… his special possession.
And why do we get this privilege?
So that we can declare his praises! Bingo!
Right there we have uncovered and discovered our main purpose for God.
We do each have different and unique ways of living out our purpose.
Down at the root of it all, as Christ followers, our main purpose is to glorify God and to declare his praises and to point our neighbors to Christ through our love.
If you seek to do this in everything you do… you won’t miss out on fulfilling your God given purpose.
Identifying Your Unique Purpose
16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers; 17 [I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son]. 18 And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the [a]hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the [b]saints (God’s people), 19 and [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength 20 which He [c]produced in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion [whether angelic or human], and [far above] every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and world but also in the one to come.Ephesians 1:16-21 Amplified
God’s Desire and Purpose: Our Growing in Wisdom
Growing in wisdom is about cultivating a character that is Christlike.
If we want that wisdom, then the words of Ephesians 1 are a great discovery and and an even greater source of divine encouragement.
What is striking about these verses is how they tell us we don’t have to figure this all out on our own.
It’s not a project for which God gives us a textbook and tests us with a final exam at the end of life.
God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is absolutely never a “hands off” teacher.
In Ephesians 1 Paul explains that he prays for people to have wisdom, and he asks God to be involved in the process—because that is what God promises. Paul goes on to mention “the Spirit of wisdom,” and he isn’t asking only for the Spirit to help us; Paul asks that the Spirit of wisdom be given to us.
Why? So that we may know God better.
Suddenly this matter of gaining wisdom is not just about anyone or everyone learning some Christian way of living.
It is about an interactive God who wants to live in interaction with and within us and be the absolute most vital part of our faith growth by becoming part of us.
We can simplify all that to this: God wants us to have wisdom.
So we can make this prayer our own, saying, “I want to have the Spirit of wisdom and revelation because I absolutely want to know my God better.”
God’s Desire For Us: Eyes Open, Mind Illuminated
Ephesians 1:18-21Amplified Bible
18 And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the [a]hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the [b]saints (God’s people), 19 and [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength 20 which He [c]produced in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion [whether angelic or human], and [far above] every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and world but also in the one to come.
What a blessing it is to read this prayer of the apostle Paul!
He asks that God will open, or enlighten, the eyes of our hearts.
Why?
That we may “know him better,” have “the Spirit of wisdom and revelation,” and know the hope of all that God promises to us.
With hearts open to the wonder of all that God has done, we are empowered by his Spirit to live faithfully and purposely and wisely for him, as Jesus did.
When we are open to God’s working in and through our lives, we are like a blank page on which he writes his poetry, a blank empty canvas on which he works his artistry, softened clay with which he molds, shapes and transforms his vessels.
Perhaps the right combination is openheartedness and singlemindedness—our heart and mind, hands and feet, equally devoted to the God of infinite wisdom.
Lent is an excellent time to have the eyes of our hearts opened and our ears and our minds illuminated to absolutely all of that our Lord has done, all that he can do in our lives, and all that we can look absolutely look forward to in sure hope.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
God of ALL truth, sometimes I not sure if I’m actually hearing your voice, or if it’s just my own thoughts or even another spirit. Sharpen my spiritual hearing, Lord, so I can recognize your words when you are speaking to me. Help me know it’s really you, with no doubt or second-guessing. When I’m asking for your guidance in important decisions, give me your peace that surpasses understanding with your answer. Help me remember that your words to me will never go against your written word in the Bible. Give me a clear mind and push out all my confusion. Savior Jesus, encourage us in the single minded pursuit of being open and opened up to your greater wisdom and your working and your desires and purposes in our lives. In your name we live.
Adeste Fidelis. Venite Adoremus. Dominum.
Gloria. In Excelsis Deo. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
4 Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the sons of Israel, one man from each tribe; 5 and Joshua said to them, “Cross over again to the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel, 6 so that this may be a sign among you; when your children ask later, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall say to them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall become a memorial for Israel forever.”
Joshua 4:19-24 Amplified Bible
19 Now the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth [day] of the first month and encamped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. 20 And those twelve stones which they had taken from the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal. 21 He said to the sons of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you crossed over, just as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed; 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know [without any doubt] and acknowledge that the hand of the Lord is mighty and extraordinarily powerful, so that you will fear the Lord your God [and obey and worship Him with profound awe and reverence] forever.”
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
The Christian life is, in a sense, one big call to remember.
Our Lord Jesus, speaking of the new-covenant meal of Communion, told us, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19, emphasis added).
Every Lord’s Supper, then, offers us the opportunity to remember together all that is pictured in the bread and wine.
Deuteronomy similarly envisions a scenario in which a son asks his father;
“What is the meaning of the testimonies and statutes and the rules that the LORD our God has commanded you?” (Deuteronomy 6:20).
The father responds by telling Israel’s story of redemption, highlighting that what God instructs is “for our good always” (v 24).
The book of Joshua, too, commends the same kind of commemoration when the Lord instructs the people to set up 12 memorial stones at the Jordan River, so the stones would become revival“to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”
God wanted His people then—and wants His people today—to ever remember His faithfulness and to tell, testify, confess, to teach others what He has done.
Such remembrances and memorials have always been a significant time to worship and praise for the miraculous works only Himself demonstrates.
But in a day [like now] with endless competing claims on our attention and affections, we need more reminders of God’s faithfulness than ever before.
It’s notable that the examples above are concrete and interpersonal.
We participate in the Lord’s Supper together, and it offers us a multisensory experience to help us remember.
The twelve stones at the Jordan River constituted a physical memorial.
The instruction of Deuteronomy encourages us to have conversations about God’s faithfulness and goodness in our homes.
Please note that the word “conversations” is PLURALIZED.
Meaning more than one –
But not just conversations … but full blown WORSHIP and PRAISE and PRAYER.
But not just one person conversing with the Lord, but a whole bunch of people, putting themselves in front of their “memorial stones” to remember the Lord.
For today’s Christians, every Sunday presents us with the opportunity to gather and remember with God’s people.
But we are going to need more than a weekly touchpoint to sustain ourselves.
Ask yourself:
What habits can I cultivate to remember God’s goodness?
How can I catalog His faithfulness to me and share that with others?
What “memorials” can I set up so that I can remember how God delivered me?
Opportunities to continuously see, instantly recall God’s faithfulness abound.
All we need to do is constantly, continuously look and instantly remember.
Revival at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky – 2023
I do hope and pray that Christians have stable and established faith in Christ.
I feel prayerful. Hopeful.
In fact, I’ve gotten choked up more than once over the last couple days at the thought that a genuine outpouring of the Holy Spirit could be happening among our Methodist brothers and sisters.
So I have mainly been praying two things:
1. Oh, God. Let it be. Let your mercy pour down in genuine revival, and let these reports be true. And let it not end in Wilmore.
2. Pass me not, O gentle Savior. Hear my humble cry. While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by. Savior, Savior, Hear my humble cry. While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by.
Maybe you will be moved mightily to pray, praise and worship this way as well.
It is of the nature of revival that we cannot know the true extent of it until days, months, and even years afterward.
Acts 5:33-39Amplified Bible
Gamaliel’s Counsel
33 Now when they heard this, they were infuriated and they intended to kill the apostles. 34 But a Pharisee named [a]Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law [of Moses], highly esteemed by all the people, stood up in the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) and ordered that the men be taken outside for a little while. 35 Then he said to the Council, “Men of Israel, be careful in regard to what you propose to do to these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody [of importance], and a group of about four hundred men allied themselves with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were scattered and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up, [and led an uprising] during the time of the census, and drew people after him; he was also killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men [merely human in origin], it will fail and be destroyed; 39 but if it is of God [and it appears that it is], you will not be able to stop them; or else you may even be found fighting against God!”
The distinguishing marks of revival may begin with an outpouring of the Spirit of grace, but that is only the commencement if the work of the Holy Spirit is to prove real and to be authentic and unstoppable, and a major mover of people.
“How do you tell if it is really a work of God? It’s not how high you jump, it’s how straight and how far you will walk when you finally land.”
The last great spiritual awakening in America took place during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
It was a nation divided by war, and things were very dark.
But when things are really dark, God’s light can shine brightly.
Cover headlines from Time magazine went from “Is God Dead?” in 1968 to “Jesus Revolution” in 1971.
What a difference a few years can make, especially when God intervenes.
America needs a spiritual awakening, and the church needs a revival.
The World needs a spiritual awakening ….
An awakening takes place when God sovereignly pours out His Spirit and it impacts a culture.
That is what happened during the Jesus Revolution, and that is what happened during multiple spiritual awakenings in the long history of these United States, predating its establishment as a nation.
A revival, on the other hand, is what the church must experience.
A revival occurs when the church comes back to life, when it becomes what it was always meant to be.
It’s a returning to passion.
I think many times we overly mystify the idea of revival.
We don’t really need to.
Another word we could use for revival is restoration, and that is what the church needs.
Speaking at a conference in 1917, R. A. Torrey gave this prescription for revival:
Let a few of God’s people, they don’t need to be many, get thoroughly right with God themselves—the rest will count for nothing unless you start right there; then let them band themselves together to pray for a revival until God opens the heavens and comes down. Then let them put themselves at God’s disposal to use them as He sees fit. That will bring a revival to any church, any community.
We can’t organize a revival, but we can agonize for it in prayer.
We can call on God to send it.
We can call on the people to come, to consider and to receive God [Acts 2:37-47]
Draw near unto the Lord our God and the Lord will draw near to us.
Psalm 73:28 Amplified Bible
28 But as for me, it is good for me to draw near to God; I have made the Lord God my refuge and placed my trust in Him, That I may tell of all Your works.
Ecclesiastes 5:1Amplified Bible
Your Attitude Toward God
5 Guard your steps and focus on what you are doing as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the [careless or irreverent] sacrifice of fools; for they are too ignorant to know they are doing evil.
Matthew 11:25-30Amplified Bible
Come to Me
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth [I openly and joyfully acknowledge Your great wisdom], that You have hidden these things [these spiritual truths] from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants [to new believers, to those seeking God’s will and purpose]. 26 Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. 27 All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one fully knows and accurately understands the Son except the Father; and no one fully knows and accurately understands the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son [deliberately] wills to reveal Him.
28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy [to bear] and My burden is light.”
James 4:8Amplified Bible
8 Come close to God [with a contrite heart] and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; and purify your [unfaithful] hearts, you double-minded [people].
Where is our Hope for Revival and Remembrance?
Psalm 85 Amplified Bible
Prayer for God’s Mercy upon the Nation.
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.
85 O Lord, You have [at last] shown favor to Your land [of Canaan]; You have restored [from Babylon] the captives of Jacob (Israel). 2 You have forgiven the wickedness of Your people; You have covered all their sin. Selah. 3 You have withdrawn all Your wrath, You have turned away from Your burning anger.
4 Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Your indignation toward us to cease. 5 Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations? 6 Will You not revive us and bring us to life again, That Your people may rejoice in You? 7 Show us Your lovingkindness, O Lord, And grant us Your salvation.
8 I will hear [with expectant hope] what God the Lord will say, For He will speak peace to His people, to His [a]godly ones— But let them not turn again to folly. 9 Surely His salvation is near to those who [reverently] fear Him [and obey Him with submissive wonder], That glory [the manifest presence of God] may dwell in our land. 10 Steadfast love and truth and faithfulness meet together; Righteousness and peace kiss each other. 11 Truth springs from the earth, And righteousness looks down from heaven. 12 Indeed, the Lord will give what is good, And our land will yield its produce. 13 Righteousness will go before Him And will make His footsteps into a way [in which to walk].
In a worship song from the early 2000s, singer/songwriter Brian Doerksen sings,
“Jesus, hope of the nations/ Jesus, comfort for all who mourn/ You are the source of heaven’s hope on earth.”
As believers in Christ, we recognize and worship Jesus as the true hope of the world, and yet it’s astounding how often we pin our hopes on human beings.
In all of our history books, it is clear that people are far more inclined to find hope in leaders, politicians, and celebrities rather than in the one true God.
Why do we do this?
Proverbs 11:4-8 warns that placing hope in humans is futile because any human power will come to nothing.
As the apostle Paul tells us, “There is no authority except that which God has established” (Romans 13:1).
By saying this, Paul is assuring believers that in all situations, even in the midst of national turmoil’s and global crises, God is the one who holds all authority.
Any human who has “power” has it only because God allows it to be so.
2 Chronicles 7:1-3Amplified Bible
The Shekinah Glory
7 When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the [[a]Shekinah] glory and brilliance of the Lord filled the house. 2 The priests could not enter the house of the Lord because the glory and brilliance of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house. 3 When all the people of Israel saw how the fire came down and saw the glory and brilliance of the Lord upon the house, they bowed down on the stone pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and praised the Lord, saying, “For He is good, for His mercy and lovingkindness endure forever.”
In other words, through our continuous praise and worship, all our hopes and all our desires must lie with the Only One who is on the throne of the universe.
Our prayers and our worship must be oriented toward Christ, for he is truly the only hope—the only one who can change minds and transform hearts, disperse powers, and bring edification, and redemption and restoration, to bring revival.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray ….
Creator God, you made every living thing, and you hold all things together. Lord, we your Children now pray for you bring restoration to this world that desperately needs your leadership and authority. Please use Your church and their lives as catalysts for renewal, restoration and revival. We have heard of Your great works; please do them again, “stones of remembrance” in our day. And all for the glory, honor and praise of Jesus Christ, our only crucified, Resurrected and returning Lord, Savior and King.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was greatly angered when he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he had discussions in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place day after day with any who happened to be there. 18 And some of the [a] Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to engage in conversation with him. And some said, “What could this idle babbler [with his eclectic, scrap-heap learning] have in mind to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities”—because he was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19 They took him and brought him to the [b]Areopagus (Hill of Ares, the Greek god of war), saying, “May we know what this [strange] new teaching is which you are proclaiming? 20 For you are bringing some startling and strange things to our ears; so we want to know what they mean.” 21 (Now all the Athenians and the foreigners visiting there used to spend their [leisure] time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)
Sermon on Mars Hill
22 So Paul, standing in the center of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I observe [with every turn I make throughout the city] that you are very religious and devout in all respects. 23 Now as I was going along and carefully looking at your objects of worship, I came to an altar with this inscription: ‘TO AN [c]UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you already worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who created the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25 nor is He [d]served by human hands, as though He needed anything, because it is He who gives to all [people] life and breath and all things. 26 And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands and territories. 27 This was so that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grasp for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. 28 For in Him we live and move and exist [that is, in Him we actually have our being], as even some of [e]your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ 29 So then, being God’s children, we should not think that the Divine Nature (deity) is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination or skill of man. 30 Therefore God overlooked and disregarded the former ages of ignorance; but now He commands all people everywhere to repent [that is, to change their old way of thinking, to regret their past sins, and to seek God’s purpose for their lives], 31 because He has set a day when He will judge the inhabited world in righteousness by a Man whom He has appointed and destined for that task, and He has provided credible proof to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
32 Now when they heard [the term] resurrection from the dead, [f]some mocked and sneered; but others said, “We will hear from you again about this matter.” 33 So Paul left them. 34 But some men joined him and believed; among them were Dionysius, [a judge] of the Council of Areopagus, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.
One Sunday as they drove home from church, a little boy turned to his father and said, “Daddy, there’s something weird about the preacher’s message this morning that I don’t understand.”
The father said, “Oh? What is it?”
The little boy replied, “Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. He said God is so big that He could hold the world in His hand. Is that true?”
The father replied, “Yes, that’s true, son.”
“But daddy, he also said that God comes to live inside of us when we believe in Jesus as our Savior.
Is that true, too?”
Again, the father assured the little boy that what the pastor had said was true.
With a puzzled look on his round face the little boy then asked, “If that is true, if God is way, way bigger than us and He lives in us, wouldn’t He show through?”
I love that little story; it’s cute, and it makes me smile. However to effectively communicate the good news it does take more than a smiling silent witness.
Don’t get me wrong there are times that it is appropriate.
But a silent witness, smiling or otherwise, in and of its self will never bring in the harvest called for by God – it will never get a conversion or commitment.
Sometimes it seems difficult to communicate the love of Christ to others. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer weight of Biblical data and too become tongue-tied when trying to correctly share how one can know Savior Christ.
So what does it take to clearly and effectively communicate the good news of the gospel?
To find the answer to this question let’s turn to the manual.
The answer book!
God’s Word for God’s Children!
Come with me again to the Book of Acts of the Apostles, the 17th chapter.
This is the story of the Apostle Paul in Athens.
The Apostle Paul was arguably one of the most effective first century communicators of the good news of the gospel.
Paul was an effective communicator of the good news of the gospel because;
1. He had a powerful passion for the message itself – it drove him forward.
Acts 17:16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.
Please try to understand ‘passion’ – I am not talking about an emotion.
The greatest problem of emotions is that change, wax and wane too easily.
I am talking about the definition that Webster gives that says:
– An intense, driving or overmastering conviction.
Do you see what fuels passion according to this definition? —— Passion is fueled by a deep and unwavering conviction to “I must get something done.”
His passion was fueled by the conviction that every man, women, boy or girl faces heaven or hell – and Jesus Christ was the only path to one’s salvation.
That there is no in between.
No one will receive a sentence of 2 to 20 years.
It is a forever and ever and ever and ever sentence of eternal never ending separation from God – in torment and burning in hell. (Luke 16:19-31)
Why was he distressed?
Because of his deep conviction and understanding these people were doomed to an eternity in hell unless the strong power of idolatry was broken in their lives.
A. Notice what Paul saw – He literally saw the idolatry everywhere he looked.
1. As Paul moved about Athens he was not impressed by the great glitz and the grandeur of the Greeks, he wasn’t taken or overwhelmed by the Acropolis or the Parthenon – buildings considered even today to be true wonders of the world.
2. As Jesus’ own soul zealously saw the Israelites (Matthew 23:37) (Luke 13:34), Paul’s passion for Christ, Paul’s zealousness saw the lost ness of the Athenians!
3. What do we see as we walk or drive through our neighborhoods, walk through the shopping Malls, move about our own workplaces and visit the “sights of our cities?“
B. If we are going to be effective communicators we must look and pray to God our Father whose first passion sent His Son to us – for that same #1 Passion!
2ndly Paul was an effective communicator of the good news of the gospel because:
2. He engages people on common ground.
Acts 17:22-23
22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.
23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.
A. He uses the familiar to explain the unfamiliar or unknown.
1. Talks about them being very “religious” – trying not to offend ‘lesser god’s.’
2. Talks about one specific idol they have – all the god’s of the Greek Pantheon
3. Tells them he knows his God is their “Unknown God!” – known to Everyone!
B. Jesus used the same approach (common ground or interest) with the woman at the well in John chapter 4.
John 4:7-11 Amplified
The Samaritan Woman
7 Then a woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink”— 8 For His disciples had gone off into the city to buy food— 9 The Samaritan woman asked Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me, a [a] Samaritan woman, for a drink?” (For Jews have nothing to do with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew [about] God’s gift [of eternal life], and who it is who says, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him [instead], and He would have given you living water (eternal life).” 11 She said to Him, “Sir, [b]You have nothing to draw with [no bucket and rope] and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?
One of those barriers to effectively communicating the Good News of the Gospel is the belief that there is no common ground between them and the “stranger.”
No Common Ground – therefore No Conversation – therefore no “Known God.”
A quick shrug of the shoulders – no common ground – no conversation ensues and that “Unknown God” remains that “Unknown God,” lost to our “wisdom.”
Lost to our “wisdom” because in ‘our wisdom’ we feel we have nothing to say or somehow believe that our words have no value to the Kingdom (Exodus 4:1-5).
Lost to our “wisdom” because in “our wisdom” we are tired of words because too many of the “right words on deaf ears” already been spoken and ignored.
Lost to our “wisdom” because in “our wisdom” we find it too easy to be mad and get too easily offended – let emotions govern how we see our neighbors.
Lost to our “wisdom” because in “our wisdom” we raise the authority and the power of our words above and beyond the power behind the Word of our God. (Proverbs 1:1-7, 20-33, Proverbs 3:5-8, Proverbs 8:11-20, Proverbs 16:1-9, Proverbs 29:18, Isaiah 1:18-20, Isaiah 2:1-4, Isaiah 55:10-13, Hebrews 4:12)
Lost to our “wisdom” because in “our wisdom” we have somehow become too easily contented with being a “Divided” Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:10-17).
Lost to our “wisdom” because in “our wisdom” we think our words are wasted, useless, because God is going to do what God is going to do anyway. (Jonah 4:2)
So many excuses – too many wrong headed reasons, rationales to keep silent.
Too many opportunities to believe we have nothing to contribute nor want to contribute because we are too mad at everything and prefer to wash our hands of any responsibility or accountability to help our neighbors. (Matthew 27:24)
So many excuses – so many reasons and rationales – offered up to the God we allegedly believe and confess “we know” to let ‘the kingdom be the kingdom.’
For which Jesus gives an answer ….
John 13:34-35 (Amplified)
34 I am giving you a new commandment, that you [a]love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.”
John 14:11-14 (Amplified)
11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe [Me] because of the [very] works themselves [which you have witnessed].12 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, anyone who believes in Me [as Savior] will also do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these [in extent and outreach], because I am going to the Father.13 And I will do whatever you ask in My name [[a]as My representative], this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified and celebrated in the Son. 14 If you ask Me anything in My name [as My representative], I will do it.
John 15:9-11 (Amplified)
9 I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you]. 10 If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. 11 I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing.
John 15:12-16 (Amplified)
Disciples’ Relation to Each Other
12 “This is My commandment, that you [a]love and unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you keep on doing what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you My] friends, because I have revealed to you everything that I have heard from My Father. 16 You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed and placed and purposefully planted you, so that you would go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit will remain and be lasting, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name [as My representative] He may give to you.
C. I am thoroughly, passionately convinced that the Holy Spirit gives us these same scriptural invitations, GOD openings and opportunities every single day.
We just aren’t deliberately, intentionally, passionately looking for them and recognizing them with the same deliberation, intent, passion as Paul did.
Reminds me to the story … of a guy who “prayed” this prayer every morning:
“Lord, if you really and truly and passionately want me to Your witness to someone, somewhere today, please give me a sign to show me who it is.”
One day he found himself on a bus when a big, burly man sat next to him.
The bus was nearly empty but this hulking guy sat next to our praying friend.
The timid Christian anxiously waited for his stop so he could exit the bus.
But before he could get either very nervous about the man next to him, or as far away from him as he could as quick as he could exit the bus, the big guy burst into tears and began to weep uncontrollably, then cried out with a loud voice,
“Life is nothing to me anymore, just no purpose anywhere, I need to be saved. I am a lost sinner and I need the Lord. Won’t somebody tell me how to be saved?”
He turned to the Christian and pleaded, “Can you show me how to be saved?”
The believer immediately bowed his head, praying, “Lord, is this Your sign?”
Most of the time it just doesn’t happen like that.
But if we have a passion that is driven by a deep conviction we will be watching, looking for opportunities to “give an answer” in the message of the good news.
You see the point is this –
We don’t need another sign from God because we have a LIVING HOPE in Christ:
1 Peter 3:14-16 (Amplified)
14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness [though it is not certain that you will], you are still blessed [happy, to be admired and favored by God]. Do not be afraid of their intimidating threats, nor be troubled or disturbed [by their opposition]. 15 But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect. 16 And see to it that your conscience is entirely clear, so that every time you are slandered or falsely accused, those who attack or disparage your good behavior in Christ will be shamed [by their own words].
You see the point is –
We do not need another “sign” to know IF God and Christ wants us to witness:
He has already commanded us to go, be his witness. Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:25-31 then 32-35 then 36-49, feed one another John 21:15-19.
Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, Ye shall be my witnesses … yea, unto the uttermost part of the earth: Acts 1:1-8KJV.
Apostle Paul was an effective communicator of the good news because he had a deep, powerful passion, because he engaged the people on common ground and
3rdly because:
3. He kept it Simple!
Paul presented 3 simple points:
1- God is the Creator and owner of the universe …. Acts 17:24
2 – God wants everyone to know him … Acts 17:26-27
3 – Men must repent for judgment day is coming. Acts 17:30-31
You can’t get much simpler than that.
The point is that the enemy wants you and I to think and believe with our whole hearts the effective communication of the good news is complex and difficult.
The Adversary wants you and I to think and believe that you, I, need to be an expert in Greek and Hebrew, Biblical Scholarship to communicate the gospel.
The Truth is simple; the gospel is simple
· Every man is a sinner
· God loves every man, wants a relationship with all sinners
· He died to pay the penalty for every man sin …
· By repentance and faith we can be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
The point is every born again believer can communicate the gospel.
Apostle Paul was an effective communicator of the good news because he had a deep, and powerful passion for all things Jesus Christ, he engaged the people on common ground (issues), and because he kept it simple and finally because …
4. He was realistic in his expectations
A. We must realize not everyone is going to respond nicely when we present Christ, but we must yet continue to respond to him or her in faith and love.
Acts 17:32 (Amplified)
32 Now when they heard [the term] resurrection from the dead, [a]some mocked and sneered; but others said, “We will hear from you again about this matter.”
But we must also realize that the gospel the good news will not return void.
Acts 17:33-34 (Amplified)
33 So Paul left them. 34 But some men joined him and believed; among them were Dionysius, [a judge] of the Council of Areopagus, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
And as discouraging and disheartening as this fact can definitely be ….
Believe that God gives us His Answer and His Assurance on this matter too:
Isaiah 55:10-13 (Amplified)
10 “For as the rain and snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth, Making it bear and sprout, And providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me void (useless, without result), Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. 12 “For you will go out [from exile] with joy And be led forth [by the Lord Himself] with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 “Instead of the thorn bush the cypress tree will grow, And instead of the nettle the myrtle tree will grow; And it will be a memorial to the Lord, For an everlasting sign [of His mercy] which will not be cut off.”
How eager are we for such an “Athenian Experience” as Apostle Paul was?
Are our hearts and souls as “greatly distressed and disturbed” as Paul’s?
What do we really think and believe to be the value of our “wisdom” to God?
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
God, from the beginning, you were the word. You sent your only son to save us all and he even allowed himself to be tortured and crucified to obey you. Bless me with the gift of passion and understanding and of unshaken faith in you. Let me know the meaning of your words of ministry and mission in the Bible, how to live accordingly. Open the door of my heart, and fill me with your light and understanding. Amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 