Fights and Quarrels

Jas. 4:1-3

"What causes quarrels and causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. Your covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly to spend it on your passions."

What is the problem with many interpersonal relationships? Many would like to think that it is always the other person's fault, or that they are entitled to the things that other people have. At times people believe that certain people are just irritating and difficult to be around, but is this true? James says the problem comes from within each person, with their warring passions. These desires cannot be righteously met so horrible things result like murder and coveting. Murder sounds so extreme until I remember that Matthew says if you hate your brother, you are committing murder. Just imagine every person walking around with these passions and desires within them colliding and crashing into other people! What a huge struggle!

How many good Christians have feelings against other believers because of possessions, possessions that are to be coveted?  What about striving for position or recognition?  I think all these feelings are a reality within the church. I know that I have at times wondered why others seem so much more financially blessed that I am. I have not necessarily wanted their possessions, but I have reacted strongly when they speak about trusting God. In my mind it seems a little easier to trust when the finances are abounding, or are at least well ordered. But James is saying that the struggles for the rich and the poor are the same. The inner passions of all people are always at war desiring more. What to do?  Thankfully, I have the Holy Spirit within me as my own guard against these warring passions. When I am tempered by the Spirit and growing in His fruit then my passions are replaced with His passions. But this process is not instantaneous so I must saturate myself in the Word, praying when the passions rise, and seeking the grace that I need to resist. I must learn to value spiritual things more than temporal things so that I can be content with what God has blessed me. Is this going to be easy? No, it is like what Paul said in Rom. 7. What he desired was at war with the power of his flesh. The same goes for me.  What I need to do is to remember that when I am upset with someone else, I need to look inside me. It is a definite signal that my inner passions are warring. Sometimes what is upsetting about others is deeply entrenched within me.

Father,
Help me to call for your grace when my flesh begins to bristle so that I won't lose that battle.  Keep my eyes focused on You and wanting to please You more than anything else. Show me how to be content with Your provision for me.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Number My Days

Ps. 90:12

"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."

This verse speaks of the relationship between time use and wisdom. What I do with my time either draws me closer to God or allows my flesh to pull me in the other direction. If in my time use, I constantly pursue activities of the flesh even though those activities might not be harmful in themselves, then my spirit is not fed the essential spiritual nutrients that it needs. On the other hand, if in the use of my time, I saturate myself in His Word, ministering and serving others, and submissively obeying His Word, then my spirit is fed and godly wisdom grows in my life. It becomes a matter of giving up what is good for that which is infinitely better!  

If the stakes are this high, why is it so easy to choose the fleshly activities over the spiritual activities?  I think it is how Paul expressed it in Rom. 7.  "For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my body."  Even though my battle might be the same as Paul's, I would have to say that the time I use wisely in pursuit of godly things is not in the same class as Paul's. His life exhorts me to make this verse my prayer, to live as I should through the power of the Spirit.

Father,

Teach me to number my days.  Take away my desire for worthless things and replace them with things of the Spirit that will grow me in Your wisdom. 

In Jesus name,

Amen 

Wisdom from Above

Jas. 3:17-18

"But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."

Most people want to be wise, or at least considered wise by other people, but God's wisdom is drastically different from the wisdom that the world offers. Instead of business savvy, street smarts, and ambition, there is peace and gentleness. Instead of argumentation and back biting, there is reasonableness and mercy.  Instead of rewards that feed self, there is good fruit. Instead of partiality and subterfuge, there is impartiality and sincerity. The wisdom from God crosses our culture and grows an entirely different kind of person. Where pride and ambition reign in the world, humility reigns in God's economy. In fact, he who wants to be first will be last, and he who is last will be first. The results are different as well.  In the world the reward feed self with money, social status and position, but with God there is a harvest of righteousness sown in peace. What a contrast! What polar opposites!

It is no wonder that the world cannot relate to the ways of God. God's qualities are considered weak and useless because they do not create ambition and drive to be the best and the first, instead they create a satisfaction. a delight in God and a concern for the well being of others. What I have to ask myself is how much of the world's wisdom is still at work within me?  How concerned am I about others?  Am I still wanting to be recognized as good or even the best at whatever I do?  Do I speak harshly without gentleness? Do I favor certain people and shy away from others? I am afraid that many times these worldly influences seep out and stain my godliness.

Father,

Send your Spirit to convict and cleanse when the world and its influence seeps out of me.  Help me to grow in Your wisdom.  Grow in me Your gentleness, peace, mercy, reasonableness, impartiality, and sincerity. I want a harvest of Your righteousness not my self-righteousness.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Friend of God

Jas. 2:23

"'Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness'--and he was called the friend of God."

Abraham is the example of an active faith. When God called him to pack up and move to a land that he did not know, he went. How hard would that be to leave family and home, everything familiar, everything comfortable? Yet, because he had faith in God, he obeyed.  After he got to this new land, God once again asked him to have faith in the promise that he would be the father of many nations when he and Sarah were old and had no children. Yet, because he had faith in God, he waited. Then after the Isaac was born, God asked him to sacrifice this child on a altar. Unbelievable! What parent could willingly do this? But without questioning, he went up the mountain with Isaac bringing all that he needed for the sacrifice. Because he had faith in God, he was willing to obey even in this. Thankfully, God stepped in at the last moment providing a ram. But in all of these monumental instances, Abraham's faith resulted in unwavering obedience. He was willing to travel, to wait, and to sacrifice because God was his priority.  

Because of this faith, it was counted to Abraham as righteousness. Not only that but he was called The friend of God. Wow! Abraham's life is an example to me of what my faith should be. I must believe God to the degree that I obey and not just be satisfied with feeling convicted or half hearted obedience. When the Spirit of God touches my heart, I need to respond eagerly and immediately. Faith coupled with obedience is the stuff of friendship, friendship with God. This is the path that leads to a friendship with God! 

Faith + Obedience = Friendship

Father,

Grow my faith into one that obeys instantly.  Mold my heart into Your image so that I might be called Your friend. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

A Signet Ring

Haggai 2:23

"On that day, declares the Lord of Hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant the son of Shealtiel, declares the Lord, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of Hosts."

Zerubbabel was chosen by God for a special task. In the midst of a nation ripe for judgment this man was chosen to be God's representative, God's signet ring to the nation. What an image! A signet ring seals official documents and shows royal authority and owership. In Zerubbabel's case he was showing the ownership and authority of the Lord of Hosts.

When I read this I immediately thought of the fact that I am chosen as well, chosen for salvation, but also chosen to be God's representative to the world sharing Him and the great miracle He has done in my life. In essence I am a signet ring as well because my life shows God's royal authority and ownership.  I Cor. 6:19 says, "Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?  You are not your own, for you were bought with a price." Since my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, He indwells me constantly. His living presence in me proves my ownership and royal authority. This same Spirit seals me until the day of redemption and guides, leads, teaches, convicts, and even intercedes for me. He validates my ownership by God, an ownership that I am to share with the world. 

Am I really aware of my task as a signet ring?  Am I shining clearly or is my ring tarnished or even unused?  Does my life in all of its relationships ring true with God's stamp of authority? Visually this helps me see clearly what God would have me be. Wherever and whenever God leads me to an opening, I am to shine and share as the signet ring of my Soverign God.

Father,

Thank You for choosing me to be Your signet ring.  Help me to share your Words verbally and by my life.  Let me reflect Your authority and ownership.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Father,

Count It All Joy

Jas. 1:3-4

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

James is addressing the trials that his fellow, believing brothers are experiencing. If they were like believers today, they would no doubt want to know why trials?? In these verses James gives one good reason that would enable his brothers to embrace trials with joy, though this joy does not negate the pain or the adversity. I can be joyous because God has allowed this trial to grow me, to produce steadfastness, that is endurance and longsuffering. When steadfastness has its full measure in my life, it will make me mature in Christ lacking nothing. That fact alone should be cause for joy! 

Paul wrote about this mature manhood in the fullness of Christ. He said that many of the believers were still infants able to assimilate only the milk of the Word when they should have been ready for strong meat. James is saying that to grow out of infancy, believers need trials! Since trials are character building, they keep us crying out for God's grace, His comfort, and His presence; in fact, prayer seems so much sweeter when trials have put an urgency in it. Not only this but trials put our focus on God, on things eternal. When things are good, what is the reason to grow? What is the reason to pray? It's easy to sail along with things as they are. In II Cor. Paul says that these "slight momentary afflictions prepare us for an eternal weight of glory." They open our eyes to the transiency of life refocusing it on what is eternal.

James was joyous, a joy that surpassed the circumstances of his life, the pain, the suffering, and even the trials because his joy was based on the indwelling Jesus Christ in the person of the Holy Spirit not on the his slight, momentary afflictions. If Christ is my base and my life is in Him, then I know that what I experience here is for my good because it will grow me into maturity in Christ. "For I know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose."  If trials are what God's purpose is for me, then I know it is good, and because it is good, I can be joyous!

Do I want to grow to maturity in Christ?  Do I want to feast on the riches of the Word?  Do I want a life of joy? Yes!  Because of this, I count it all joy when the trials come! The adversity has a reason, a benefit, and a blessing!

Father,

Keep my eyes focused heavenward as the trials come. Help me to desire growth more than escape. growth.  Grow me into the fullness of Jesus Christ.

In Jesus name,

Amen 

Wise to What Is Good

Rom. 16:19b

"I want you to be wise to what is good and innocent to what is evil."

How do I become wise to what is good? I would think that wisdom comes from much study and application. A person who is wise in the ways of the world has immersed themselves totally in this world's system and way of doing things knowing all the in's and out's, the important things, the consequences of violating the system, and have suffered trials from disobeying the system. It is similar with the ways of God. If I am to be wise to what is good, first I must know God because there is no one good but God. I know Him personally by spending time with Him in His Word and in prayer. Similar to the world's immersion, I must be totally immersed in the Spirit life. To do that, the Spirit must be guiding and leading my daily walk. I must know all the in's and out's, that is my daily time with God, Bible study, memorization, and meditation. I must know the important things, about my beginnings, His dealings with man, doctrine, and teaching for practical living. And finally I must be aware of the consequences of disobedience that is the discipline of the Lord. Sometimes this disobedience results in suffering, and other times the suffering is of a different nature and brings glory of God. Suffering is for my good building my Christian character vital to being wise to what is good. Being wise to the good involves a lifetime of saturation in the Word and prayer, a lifetime of enduring the trials, and a lifetime of pressing forward for the prize of the upward call of God.  

But what does it mean to be innocent to what is evil? I am thinking it is just the opposite of being wise to the good, that is there is no time for evil not even any exposure. I don't need to know evil to avoid it. I just need to know the good. I don't need to know evil to fight against it; in fact, knowing evil only becomes a constant temptation to fall prey to it. Paul gives this instruction to give believers protection, to keep them pure and focused on God. The more evil is in the life, the more control it has. If I want to fight evil, then I need to be wise to what is good. Goodness will exclude the evil causing unfed evil will to shrivel up and lose its hold.

Father,

Send Your Spirit to show me how to be wise to what is good and innocent to what is evil.  Keep me ever focused on You and Your word.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Grace in Action

Rom. 15:18-20

"For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience--by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God...And thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel..."

Paul demonstrates the inter working of grace and human responsibility very clearly. It is grace alone that allowed Christ to accomplish anything through him, grace alone that gave him his ministry to the Gentiles, and grace alone that gave him sign and wonders all by the power of the Spirit of God. This is the Spirit-led grace-filled life! Paul was not only giving rightful praise to Jesus, but He was confident in being used by God. But how could he keep from taking charge of what he was doing? Didn't he think that his many gifts, ideas, and plans would be useful? How did he make sure his plans were God's plans? Yet, even though I wonder this, I see that Paul did not. He was confident and and only spoke of what Christ was working through him.

In the midst of this total acknowledgment of the grace of God, Paul interjects "And thus I make it my ambition to preach..."  Paul was not sitting around waiting for grace to pick him up, move him from place to place, and embue him with power in preaching, signs, and wonders. No, it was his ambition to preach. He wanted to be used by Jesus more than anything else. Instead of worldly ambition, his overwhelming desire was for Jesus Christ and His gospel. He burned with urgency to share this message. He was 100% ready to go wherever and whenever. His will was united with God's.

So how did he do it?  It appears from this small account that he had surrendered his life completely, given up all worldly ambition, and was willing to sacrifice all for the gospel. When surrender characterizes the life, then the Spirit has free course to accomplish what He will.  Maybe that is my problem. I want to be  used to accomplish God's will, but am I completely surrendered?  Am I willing to give up all claims to comforts, pleasures, and even necessities?  Am I willing to be a vessel used and powered by the grace of God through the power of the Spirit of God?

Father,

Grow me in Your grace so that my grip on the world will be loosened so that I will be surrendered to you.  Take me down this path. Focus my eyes on You.  Unite my heart with Yours. Let me reflect You in all that I do.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Joy, Peace, and Hope

Rom. 15:13

"May the God of hope fill you with a joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."

What an important prayer!  Here Paul prays about the deep human needs for joy, peace and hope. He know how people search desperately for happiness not ever really understanding joy, a joy that supersedes happiness, a joy that produces peace in tough times, in trials, and in devastating events.  With joy and peace a person can survive and keep going. Then Paul includes hope, a hope that keeps a person from being undone. Without hope, why go on?  What is the point?  What is the future? Living would become a futile going-through-the-motions leading a person  nowhere.

How are these needs met?  According to Paul's prayer, it is not in human achievement or performance.  It is not in the will to do enough to experience positive feelings, or the accolades of other people.  Joy, peace, and hope are from the infilling of God. This joy and peace are in believing which implies that something must be believed. I think that what is believed is the Word of God, the saving grace of the gospel. As the Word saturates the life, then joy and peace in believing fill the life.  What is my hope?  Looking for the glorious coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. This gives me a reason to keep keeping on, a reason to share the gospel, and a reason to grow in grace and knowledge. He is coming!  He is my hope! But exactly how is all this accomplished? The prayer says through the power of the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit who indwells, guides, teaches, leads, empowers, seals, intercedes, and so much more.  The Holy Spirit is God residing within me.  As I read and saturate myself in the Word, He takes that Word and produces within me the fruit of joy, peace, and hope.  So my prayer must be like Paul's, 'Through Your Spirit fill me with joy, peace, and hope. 

Father,

What a great gift is the Spirit!  My heart is so full of thanks. Help me to remember always to ask for His help for joy, peace, and hope, and keep my from trying to manufacture these qualities in my own strength.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Living to the Lord

Rom. 14:7-8

"For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord."

This is the ultimate change in direction! In my flesh, I live to myself. I am egocentric. But in the Spirit, my entire life changes direction. In the spirit, I am consumed with living for the Lord or dying to the Lord. If this is why Christ died, it must be a huge priority in my life. I must ask myself if I think of Him in all my living, in the choices for my time, in the decisions I make, in my activities and my attitudes, and even in my accomplishing the mundane but necessary tasks of life?  Or is my commitment to Christ tainted with a worldly focus or a fleshly attitude? 

How can I practically live to the Lord?  First I think that I would have a strong desire to live like this. Is this what I really want, or do I like having some of God and some of the world? Then I would have to be willing to surrender open-handedly the things of the world that are not necessarily bad, but that take up time. How deep is my committment?  In order to do this and keep it all of grace, I would have to be saturated in the Word and in prayer, and allow the Spirit to change my mindset. I must be seeking Him constantly and consistently. These verses are calling for a committed life, one that is serious about living for the Lord. Why is that hard to do?  Why does the world have such a hold?  I think Paul nailed it when he said that in his spirit he delighted in God, but in his flesh he was captive to sin. He kept this constantly in his mind and cried out for the grace to live to the Lord. So must I!

Father,

I want Your grace in every situation so that I might truly live to You. Purify my heart and my soul.Take away my taste for the world and replace it with an insatiable hunger for You and Your Words. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

A Debt of Love

Rom. 13:8

"Owe no man anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law."

How important is love?  It is the one thing that I owe all men. In essence, I am in debt to others, a debt that can be paid only by love. "Love does no wrong to a neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." Love eliminates wrong doing, strife, hostility, offenses, unkindness, gossip, and so many other things that interfere with positive relationships. A love this powerful can only come from God.  At salvation, His Spirit indwells me and produces His fruit in my life, the fruit of love.

If love is indeed a debt, then it is not optional.  It doesn't depend on my preferences about people or how they treat me. It is a spiritual love given by God and cultivated by the Spirit that responds in obedience to the clear commands of Scripture. For the unsaved, my love shares God's love and His gift of salvation, and for believers my love helps others grow into mature manhood in the fullness of Christ. My love must be a reflection of Jesus Christ to those people that God has put in my life. As others see me, do they see me with all my fleshly failings, or do they see the miraculous love of God? Am I reflecting Jesus Christ?  

Father,

Thank You for Your great gift of love to me.  Help me to reflect Your love to others in all that I do and say.  Let my hands by Your hands and my heart be Your heart reaching out to others in a true, sincere love.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Marks of a Christian

Rom. 12:9-21

As I read this section, I am overcome by the need for the grace of God.  How else could all these evidences be firmly rooted in my life as a believer?  To name only a few: 

• genuine love- as opposed to superficial love or love based on circumstances, social relationships, friendships, etc. Jesus modeled this love for me.
• Abhor evil- this means evil in myself or evil I see in the world at large.  I think I should have strong feelings about evil because evil is such an affront to the holiness of God. I need to see evil in myself or in others in relation to the character and nature of God.  Then I would abhor evil as God does.
• Hold fast to the good- whatever is good I need to grasp firmly. I am reminded of the verse that says no one is good except God so I need to hold fast to Him and His Word, to Jesus and the Spirit that He gave us.
• Love others with brotherly affection- my sisters and brothers in the Lord are my family. I need to love them with  this close, personal, familial affection.
• Outdo others in showing honor to others- When I think of this, I realize that showing honor to others is definitely lacking in my life. Yet, I an exhorted to outdo others. Showing this honor is an action based in humility not in seeking the honor myself. 
• Be zealous and fervent in the Spirit- My passion in service, in prayer, and in study comes from the Spirit. I must know Him personally and  access Him according to His ministries in my life.
• Serve the Lord- This is my ministry and should be foremost in my mind, that is, after my personal relationship with God. My service needs to be an outpouring of my intimate, consistent, and constant relationship with God.
• Rejoice in Hope-  Hope is the motivation for rejoicing. I rejoice because of my hope in Jesus Christ and His imminent return.
• Be patient in tribulation- Patience in persecution must be from the grace of God. 
• Constant in prayer- It seems that all of these marks are dependent upon constant prayer for the grace and strength to be what God wants me to be. This is vital.
• Give for other's needs and be hospitable-I need to be aware of others, sensitive to their situations, concerned and even using my home and groceries to meet the needs of others.

All of this is only from verse 9-13.  What about the marks of a Christian is verses 14-19?  How is all this possible?  As I read this examining myself, I know that my hope is in crying out for the grace of God.  My hope is in His power being perfected in my weakness. So is this section of Scripture defeating or informative? For me, it is not as much defeating as it makes me see that the only way possible for all of these marks to be seen in my life is through His grace.

Father,

I so want to have the marks of a child of God. Help me through Your grace. Send Your Spirit to mold, shape, transform, and conform me to the image of Your Son.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Chosen by Grace

Rom. 11:6

"So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace."

Elijah was desolate.  He thought that the enemy had killed all the prophets of God leaving him totally alone, but God encouraged his heart telling him that He had chosen a remnant. This choosing was not by human works, but by grace alone. God Himself had preserved His cause in the midst of this wicked situation. 

Then Paul goes on to discuss Israel who had received a hardening of their hearts by God for their unbelief. Why would He do this? Certainly, part of it was judgment and discipline, but the passage says that He did this that the Gentiles might have salvation. God provided a way for the Gentiles, a wild olive shoot, to be grafted into the vine. But Paul cautions against human arrogance at this grafting since it was only of grace and not based on human works. In fact, Paul goes a step farther to warn against pride. If God, in His righteousness, elected to send spiritual blindness to the natural branches,couldn't He in turn do that to the grafted-in branches? Paul says to beware of this same root of unbelief!

But there is a time when the natural branches will be grafted in. Just as the Gentiles were disobedient but because of the grace of God were grafted in, so too Israel who was disobedient will be grafted in because of the grace and mercy of God. "For God has consigned all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all."  Only God can understand the process of consigning to disobedience to allow mercy.

Why?  What does this all mean?  What about those who were eternally lost during these times of hardness and disobedience? It doesn't seem as if Paul struggles with this at all. He accepts it as how God works and praises Him for His mercy and grace. I know that I can't really understand this completely, but I must say with Paul, "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable are His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counsellor? Or who has given a gift to Him that He might be repaid? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen."

My human response is praise and awe. I am not to understand totally, but I am to trust totally. I know that I am a finite, flawed human while He is an infinite, perfect God. My mind, not even if it were Einstein's, would be able to understand the workings of a sovereign God. To be chosen by grace is a gift beyond comprehension granted sovereignly to the chosen elect. What can I say? "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable are His ways!"

Father,

Even though I can never understand Your mind and Your ways, I am in awe at Your workings in my life, that You have chosen me by grace to be grafted in to You, my vine. Convict me of any unbelief that seeps out from my natural man so that I might grow and flourish in Your grace and power.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Believe and Confess

Rom. 10:9-10

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."

Belief and confession go hand in hand for a genuine conversion.  If I believe in the resurrection, then that same resurrection gives me newness of life and justification. The blood of Jesus now becomes my covering so that when God looks at me He sees not my heinous sins but the righteousness of Jesus Christ. I am just-as-if-I'd-never-sinned or justified! Not only do I believe, but I confess. This is an outward, verbal confirmation of this deep, inward change. When I confess that Jesus is my Lord, I am saying that I have given up ownership of my life and now obey Jesus Christ thus making Him my Lord and master. If His righteousness covers me, then His leadership must call my moves.  If His blood affects how God views me, then His Holy Spirit must indwell in me controlling all that I do. This is regeneration.  This is new life in Jesus. 

After I am His, do I still confess Him as Lord and Master by what I do and what I say?  Am I quick to share His name with those God sends my way?  Or have I become afraid and keep my belief and my confession so quiet that few, if any, ever hear about my glorious transformation?  It is an exhortation to me to keep my belief and confession strong so that I will share the wonderful gift of salvation with others.  It is also an exhortation to me to remember the great cost of my salvation, the great cost that Jesus paid for me so that I could believe and confess, and the great cost that God paid in sending His own precious Son.  My salvation is something that I should never take for granted but that I often relegate to the back of my mind. That is something that through the grace of God I must change!

Father,

I confess my attitude of forgetfulness about this great gift of salvation.  When I think about it, I am in awe, but when I don't, it seems to take a back seat.  Keep me coming to the cross for the grace that I need to live daily for You.  Keep me strong in belief and confession.

In Jesus name,

Amen

A Sovereign God

Rom. 9:15

"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."

Understanding a sovereign God is impossible and must be accepted by faith. First, Paul refers to Jacob and Esau. Even before their births or any of their own personal actions came into being, God set the course of life so that "God's purpose of election might continue." It all comes down to God's purpose and good pleasure.   

A second area that Paul addresses is thinking that God is unjust. The answer: " I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."  His mercies and compassions have nothing to do with deserving humanity, or a slice of humanity who have more potential than the others. It depends "not on human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy."  By Paul's use of Pharaoh, he goes so far as to show how God's sovereignty even hardens the hearts of some. So hard to understand!

Anytime man really thinks about these areas, his response is one of 'unfair.'  Why would God chose some and not others?  Why would God harden the hearts of some?  But Paul writes clearly, "But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, 'Why have You made me like this?' Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?"  I think man questions because he sees himself as far more than a lump of clay. He sees himself as worthy, able to save himself by his own works. He sees himself as a person of rights not a lump of clay. The problem is man does not see himself as God sees him nor does man see God as Who He is.  Man's vision is corrupted by sin and selfishness. Without God's mercies and compassions, where would man be?  Would all be lost?

Father,

Help me trust You in your sovereign purposes of election.  I thank You for Your choosing me to be saved and to serve You. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

Help in Weakness

Rom. 8:26

"Likewise the Spirit helps in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."

When I am weak, what is my recourse?  I can pray, but many times I really don't know what to pray or what I should ask. Sadly, sometimes I don't even think to pray. In my flesh I try to figure out what to do or how to handle the situation. What is even worse, is when I don't even think, but I just react. Into this downward spiralling mix, indwells the Spirit of God. Even though He is here for all that I need, how often do I remember to ask His help, His guidance? Thankfully, God uses each of my failures to show me my great need for prayer and for His Spirit.

What a gift the Father has given me in the Spirit. He indwells me to convict, lead, guide, teach, and even bring all things to my remembrance that Jesus said. He is the gift that Jesus gave specifically to me so that I might live in the Spirit, in true holiness and righteousness. But He is also the One who intercedes for me. When I am at a loss how to pray, the Spirit prays for me not necessarily in human words but in groans that are according to the will of God. If the Spirit indwells me and is the gift specifically from Jesus for me to use, then I must know all the Bible says about Him and His ministry.  Today, I remember that He is here for my weaknesses, weakness in prayer, weakness in decision making, weakness in holy living, weakness in unkind words, weakness in the war waged between the desire of my inner spirit and the actions of my outer flesh. How can I know the will of God for my life? By knowing and using this great gift from Jesus!

Father,

I confess my prayerlessness. Thank you for the great gift of Your Spirit, for His intercession to keep me in Your will. Help me be aware of Your Spirit moment by moment.

In Jesus name,

Amen

My Mindset

Rom. 8:5

"But those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on things of the Spirit."

Since the righteous requirement of the law was met for me when Jesus died on the cross in human flesh taking the punishment for the sins of the world which included mine specifically, I now walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. What exactly does that mean? It says that those who walk in the Spirit set their minds on things of the Spirit. Certainly, at times my mind is set on things of the Spirit, but what about all the time my mind is elsewhere?  Has my mindset changed?

In this passage it says that this mindset has life and peace. Life is an unchangeable entity. My status changed when the Father drew me to Himself changing my death sentence to a life sentence. No longer separated from God, I have the peace of God and peace with God. Life and peace are the basis of my life, the foundation of my spirit-filled mindset. Next it says that my old mindset was one of hostility to God, but now it is one of obedience and submission to God's laws. This factor changes not only my attitudes but my behaviors. What I choose to say and do differs because of the Spirit of God infilling me. In the flesh I couldn't please God, but now the Spirit transforms me and conforms to the will and word of God so that I can be pleasing to God.  Imagine I can please God! This is not in my flesh without Christ nor in my flesh with Christ. I please Him when His grace is at work in my life moment by moment. The indwelling Spirit brings me a life of righteousness not based on my works but on the righteousness of Christ.

What does all this teaching mean?  How does it answer my questions?  I think it is saying that when I am doing dishes, or laundry, or handling other tasks that are not by nature spiritual, I never lose my mindset.   Now menial tasks are for the glory of God. I am wondering if it could mean that my mind and spirit are on a dual track. At the same time I am working in this fleshly world, the spirit of God is playing the music of the heavens ministering to my soul, spirit, and body. I am thinking that what I must do is remain tuned in to the heavenly symphony and never let my connection fade. His words, His praises, His steadfast love and unending mercy, His attributes, His great grace must be the primary melody of my life with my menial tasks becoming the harmonies existing only to glorify the melody of Jesus.

Father,

Send Your Spirit to show me how to make You my 24/7 connection. Never let me lose sight of You in whatever I am doing. Transform my mindset. Make it conform to Your will and Your purpose.

In Jesus name,

Amen

At War

Rom. 7:18

"For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out."

As I read this passage, I so identify with Paul, but at the same time, I realize that if Paul felt this struggle, what hope is there for me? But, isn't that my 'defeating' flesh speaking? Doesn't my flesh want to convince me that there is no hope, that I can't possible live like I should, so why try? Yes! But since this war between my flesh and my spirit is very real, God has made a provision for me. It begins in realizing that I can't live in the spirit by my flesh. I must admit that I am weak and helpless and that I need to use the grace that God so freely gives me. "My grace is sufficient for you for my power is perfected in weakness.  Therefore I boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." If I want the power of Christ, I must be living in and operating by His grace not by my flesh. Certainly, I will always have the struggle of my flesh and my spirit until Jesus comes and calls me home to glory, but in and through His grace, His power can rest on me. I can delight in God in my inner being and allow His grace to prepare me for the eternal weight of glory. Every time I feel the war erupting, I can confess, repent and cry out for more grace.  My 'defeating' flesh can be a signal fire that my grace reserves are running low. So what should I do? I must desire to delight in Him above all. My desire and my surrender must rise above the pull of my 'defeating' flesh. As I saturate myself in His Word and commune with God in prayer, my new man can grow and thrive. It is all of grace!

Father,

I confess the great power of my flesh and how I often give in instead of call for Your grace. Teach me what true repentance is so that my heart will be united with You. Your grace is amazing!

In Jesus name,

Amen

Slave to Righteousness

Rom. 6:19b

"So not present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification."

What a contrast!  Previously, I was a slave to sin. As a slave, I had no choice in the matter. Everything about my life was decided by the slave master, Satan.  I lived in sin, acted in sin, thought in sin, and even enjoyed sin. It was all that I knew. Sin, in all its impurity and lawlessness, was my life. Sadly this life only produced more lawlessness. 

But once Jesus came into my life, my ownership changed. My master now is Jesus Christ. It is interesting though that in my new life I am still a slave, but now a slave to righteousness that leads to sanctification. Since I am a slave, I still have no choice about my life. I must live, act, think, and enjoy righteousness.  This new life in all its righteousness and sanctifiying power is my totality. 

But here is the problem, even though I know this is true, why do I still struggle with sin?  Why do I still make choices that don't lead to righteousness? In v.  22 it says that I have been set free from sin, that is from sin's hold over me. I know that sin cannot dictate my life, my actions, my thoughts, or even my attitudes, but that doesn't mean that I still won't make wrong decisions at time. The wonderful thing is that I have a loving Master who brings me back into obedience and into right living.  When I disobey, I don't need to fear death because I have eternal life. But what can I do to live like I am a slave of righteousness?  Perhaps, I can change my mindset.  I can think about the fact that Jesus paid a high price for me to be His slave, and  dwell on righteousness and how it works out practically in my life. Secondly, I need to realize that it says to present my member as slaves to righteousness. Jesus is not asking me to live righteously in my own ability. He is asking me to be willing to live like this.  He desires surrender and submission from my heart.  If those things are in place, His grace will flood in like a river and make this new life a reality. Thirdly, I need to really want it. It must be my heart's desire to delight in my new master and live to please and glorify Him.  What are the attitudes of my heart? Am I surrendered, or I am looking back at the old thoughts, attitudes, and actions?  Am I focused on my new master or am I looking around at sin's offerings?  Surrendered and submissive!  A slave to righteousness!

Father,

I confess my weakness with sin and ask that You give me the strength to surrender and submit.  I want to be Your slave and live righteously in sanctifying power.  Keep my hands open to You and not gripping the old things from the world.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Grace Reigns

Rom. 5:21

"so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

What a glorious thought!  Sin no longer reigns in me!  Death has no control over me because I am born again. The Father in His sovereign good pleasure chose me to be His child, and with that choice came unlimited grace, righteousness instead of sin, and life instead of death. In my new life grace reigns in saving power and sanctifying power shaping me and transforming me. What I think is cool is that the Father set this process in motion because He is grace. It is His nature and defines who He is. Even though He is the sovereign king, He willingly gave grace to His chosen ones by giving part of Himself to make them complete, to bridge the gap that resulted from their sin. God sent Jesus Christ as grace in human form. When He returned to heaven, He left believers the Holy Spirit to be that full measure of grace living within them, to shape and mold them, to present them holy and blameless when Jesus comes to claim His own. What amazing grace!

Father,

Thank You for Your grace that reigns in me. Grow me in this grace so that Your will and purpose will be accomplished in my life. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

To Old Age and Gray Hairs

Ps. 71:17-18.

"O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim Your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim Your might to another generation, Your power to all those to come."

Like the psalmist, God has taught me from my youth up although there were times when my ears were not keyed into attentive listening, when my wayward will was in control, and when I was not growing firmly in His grace and knowledge. Yet, in spite of my inconsistencies, God was and is faithful. He continues to teach me with His steadfast love and mercy to accomplish His will and purpose in my life: that is, to proclaim His wondrous deeds.  This mission does not end as I grow older; in fact, it gets more important. Now, I must proclaim His deeds to another generation. God's way is for the older to teach the younger, to recount God's marvelous workings, and to attest to His great power. What do I need to help me with this mission?  I need God's grace as a reality and as my strength in all that I do and say.  I want God to be with me consistently until He calls me home so that my eyes will be focused consistently on the prize set before me.

Father,

Help me proclaim Your wondrous deeds to the young and the old.  Take away my fears of being too old to be effective for You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

No Distrust

Rom. 5:20-21

"No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in the faith as he gave glory to God fully convinced that God was able to do as He had promised."

Abraham did not waver.  He had no distrust whatsoever. How could this be possible when what God wanted him to believe was humanly impossible? I think it was because Abraham saw God for who He really was.  He knew His power, majesty, and ssovereign power. When I struggle believing God for something, it is because I am limiting God to what I know and think. It is almost like I am remaking Him in a form that I can understand, a form that resembles my humanity. Abraham didn't bring God down to his level, but instead he ascended to the heights of faith with God. There he heard the great promise that he would be the father of many nations when he didn't even have a child. I think that Abraham's unwavering faith was a gift from God. Since it was not a faith that Abraham produced, he could give glory to God. and claim no praise for himself.  Abraham was fully convinced in the power of God.  Because of his great faith, it was counted to him as righteousness.

What keeps me from having a faith like that?  How does an unwavering faith come about?  In human relationships it comes from spending time together, really knowing each other.  I think it is the same with God.  I need to be saturated in Him in prayer, praise, and in His Word.  The more that I know Him the more my faith will grow.

Father,

Work in my life refining my faith until it is unwavering and completely trusting.  Help me to live in the reality of the promises found within Your Word.

In Jesus name,

Amen 

But As for Me

Ps. 69:13

"But as for me, my prayer is to You , O Lord, at an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of Your steadfast love answer me in Your saving faithfulness."

What a great model for prayer in this short verse! The psalmist realizes that God is the only One to whom he can pray. Even though his requests are urgent and heavy on his heart, he wants God to act in an acceptable time in the abundance of His steadfast love and saving faithfulness.

This is the prayer of my heart as well. Like the psalmist, I too direct my prayers only to God. This implies that I will not try and answer my prayers through my own means, but that I will wait patiently for God's timing. God's time is the only acceptable time because with Him all things work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His will and purpose. His timing is best because He set the course of my life before I was even in existence!  Then when I bring my requests to God, I want not only His timing to be perfect but I want His answer to be filled with His abundant love and saving faithfulness. Love and faithfulness are some of His attributes that are precious to me because they establish an abiding relationship between God and me. They embody my salvation and my sanctification. This is the God that I know and love. If I prayed like this consistently, I wouldn't be impatient or worry.  It would leave me resting in Him and His will for my life. It would leave me at peace.

O Lord,

But as for me, my prayer is to you, in an acceptable time answer me according to Your abundant love and saving faithfulness.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Thank God for His Grace

Rom. 1:10-18

When I read this list of descriptors of man apart from God, I can truly be thankful for a loving and gracious God.  In spite of the following facts, God reached down to me:

• no one is righteous
• no one seeks for God
• all have turned aside
• together they have become worthless
• throats are open graves
• deceiving tongues
• venomous lips
• mouths full of cursing and bitterness
• feet swift to shed blood
• paths of misery and ruin
• know no peace
• no fear of God before their eyes

What a bleak picture for man!  Amazingly, man still believes he is innately good and can save himself.  How self-deceived!  But why would God want to step in and reach out to a person drowning in this sea of sin?  Because, God is who He is! He is a saviour and protector. He is the epitome of love, grace, mercy, and kindness.  He loves me for His own name's sake and for His own will and pleasure.  So why is this so hard to understand?  Because I am not God.  Somehow my fleshly nature is not gracious or merciful.  I operate more on a 'you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.' I think people should be deserving of my love, grace and mercy.  But, thankfully, when God in His grace reached down to me and saved me, He put within me His Holy Spirit who is transforming me from the inside out filling me with His life-sharing fruit.  

Father,

Thank you for reaching out to rescue me from my own self.  Send Your Spirit to grow His fruit in me. Help me, not only, to grow myself, but to reach out to those who are still steeped in the slavery of sin.

In Jesus name,

Amen

A Gracious God

Ps. 67:1

"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us."

God is gracious! It is part of His character, of who He is, but at the same time God is just and will punish sin. Since the psalmist knew about God's character, he asked for God to show His grace and not His judgment to the people. Perhaps the psalmist knew that the people deserved judgment, but he was hoping for a different response from God. Since grace is undeserved and is given as a gift by God, he could rightly ask for grace for himself and his people. But why would God be gracious to a people who had been less than what He desired?  The answer is: for His own name's sake, for His good pleasure, for His will and purpose, and because of who He is. 

In addition to God being gracious, the psalmist wanted God's face to shine on them. What is the significance of God's face shining on the people? In Ex. when God was speaking about His grace with Moses, He stated that He would be gracious to whom He would be gracious.  It was a decision and choice of a sovereign God. But then God went on to tell Moses that He could not see His face and live because there was such power and glory! From this unbelievable glory, the psalmist only desired a reflection. He knew he couldn't see the face of God, but he asked for the light from God's face to shine on him and his people. If God would be gracious and let His face shine on the people, that would be the answer to his petition.

For me specifically, how do I access the grace of God and live in the light of His face? I think that the Word is crucial. It is there that I grow in His grace and knowledge. Jesus was grace embodied in the flesh. When He went back to heaven, He left the Holy Spirit to teach believers all things.  Part of His ministry is helping me live in all the fullness of God, His grace, and the reflection of His glory.  I would think to live like this that I couldn't allow sin to have any power in my life.  Sin cannot exist in the light of the glory of God.  If this was a prayer for the psalmist, it should also be my prayer.  I should ask specifically for His grace and for the light of His face to illuminate my walk and my way so that I might bring glory to His name.

Father,

Send Your Spirit to teach me and help me live in the light of Your grace and the light ofYour face.  Teach me what this really means. Convict  me of sin that blocks You from my view.

In Jesus name,
Amen

Praise from God

Rom. 2:29

"But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God."

God is praising a changed heart over outward show. In the verse previous, Paul talks about what really comprises a Jew.  It can't be an outward show of righteousness, nor an outward act of circumcision. Outward conformity without a changed heart is good for nothing, but why are men so concerned with outward conformity?  Somehow people think if they are fooling other people, their religion is OK, but Paul is saying man's praise is nothing. Maybe it might feel good for a few fleeting moments, but in the realm of eternity, whose praise really counts?  God's! 

My life needs to be focused on the true heart issues, on the circumcision of my heart. I need to cut off the flesh so that I am no longer a slave to it. I need to live transparently for Jesus seeking to please God and not men. When my heart and focus is vertical, honest, and true, then God will be glorified and honored.  The rub comes in getting rid of the fleshy desire for the praise of men.  How???  What strategies could I use? First, I must truly desire to live without man's praise. Even though I say it, it is so hard to mean it! I think that I would need to pray and ask the Spirit to guide me into living this way and into glorifying God.  I would have to fill my entire life with the Bible so that it might do its transforming work on me. First and foremost, I would have to cry out to God for His grace.  It must all be of grace or it will be just another work of my flesh.  So complex!  

Father,

Show me how to live this heart-circumcised walk.  Show me how to seek only Your praise. Root out my desire to be noticed and praised by men.

In Jesus name,

Amen 

God gave them up.

Rom. 1:24-32

Romans 1 explains how God has clearly revealed Himself to all people. His invisible attributes, that is His eternal power and divine nature, are demonstrated in nature. All man has to do is look around to see God's majesty. Because of this overwhelming evidence, man is without excuse. He has no recourse but to be held accountable for his choices. Choices like refusing to honor God, refusing to be thankful to God, and preferring man-made images in place of the immortal God.  These facts reveal the foolishness of man's thinking. He would rather worship and serve the creature more than the Creator. On such sin as this God must bring judgment. 

God gave man up to hearts of impurity, dishonorable passions, and a debased mind skewing man's course totally away from God.  He allowed man's evil desires to come to full fruition. What I am amazed at is that God's judgment on these people has become an accepted culture, even a life style to be praised.  In fact, it has become so far out of balance that if believers call these actions sin, then they are intolerant; in fact, laws are enacted to protect their life styles and to ensure their rights.  The last sentence in this passage says it all, "though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them."  Sadly, that is our society!

What is my response?  How do I reach out in such a culture? Certainly, I cannot judge them, but I must  share the love of Christ with those who do not know the Lord. God is the only righteous judge. He will take care of what needs judging.  I am here as His emissary to share His love to those who need it most.

Father,

Guide me in sharing Your love. Erase my judgmental heart. Expose the sin in my heart so that I may reach out in love to all those who are lost.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Mutually Encouraged

Rom. 1:12

"That is, that we may be mutually encouraged, by each other's faith, both yours and mine."

Paul's deep desire was to see the Romans so that he might share with them some spiritual gift to strengthen them.  Did Paul think his spiritual gift was of a better caliber than theirs?  No, it says in the next verse that he wanted to be mutually encouraged. There was encouragement to be had for the giver and the receiver in sharing a spiritual gift.  Paul would be encouraged because he was able to use what God had given him for his ministry, and the Romans would be encouraged by the life of Christ in Paul. Together they would be edified through the work of the Holy Spirit. God has designed spiritual gifts to be mutually encouraging.

My deep desire is to use and share the spiritual gifts that God has given me, but how? It seems to be no problem for Paul.  Did those he shared with think it was mutually edifying? Did they resent in any way Paul's sharing of his gift?  I know that Paul's heart was so full that it had to be shared, that His life was structured for this one thing alone, that Jesus be glorified in all he did and said.  I know that his heart was set on the growth of others. The neat thing is that when Paul shared, he was encouraged as well. 

Why does our culture make sharing these gifts of faith difficult?  Are we afraid to be submissive and dependent on one another? Do we feel that that makes us less of a person, or does jealousy and envy come into the mix? Are we too busy to share the gifts that God has given us? So many things to think about. I do know that sharing spiritual gifts builds the deep bonds that only come through Jesus. It builds a relationship that is mutually encouraging and causes the love of God to grow and flourish. I think as I grow more in Christ, I am seeing how all these gifts fit and work together. I see that I must seek to be encouraged as well as be the encourager! This thought alone changes the mental outlook in the sharing of a gift. It is not one person sharing with another weaker or younger person; instead it is a mutual sharing and encouraging. Both grow by sharing the God given gifts!

Father,
Show me how this sharing of gifts works.  Let Your Holy Spirit lead me in obeying Your Word in a God glorifying way.  Help me to be encouraged as much as You allow me to encourage others.
In Jesus name,
Amen

He opened their minds

Lk. 24:32,45

"They said to each other, 'Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures?"'  "Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures..."

Understanding the Bible, the Scriptures are something that must come through a vertical process, a God initiated process. In this case, Jesus was the teacher to both the men on the road to Emmaus and to His own disciples. Before His crucifixion, Jesus had told them of the events to come, yet they couldn't grasp them, in fact, they had great trouble believing.  Even when Jesus was there in person, their eyes were veiled; they were startled, afraid, disbelieving, but joyous!  What an array of emotions!  But it did not all come together for them until Jesus opened their minds to understand. The point of clarity came when Jesus opened their minds to understand His teaching.

The same goes for me.  When Jesus left earth, He gave the Holy Spirit to believers to be their teacher, to bring all things to their remembrance that Jesus had said, to convict them of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to guide them into all truth. The Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus Christ indwelling them to accomplish the will of God in their lives. His role is absolutely crucial! Just like the disciples whose true understanding was not achieved until their minds were opened to understand, so our minds must be opened to understand as well.  Jesus did not leave us here to struggle with doubts, He left us the greatest gift that He could. "These things God has revealed to us through His Spirit.  For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God...Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God."

These things are freely given to all believers and to me personally.  So why do I make it difficult?  Why am I not calling out to the Spirit every time that I read the Word?  Why do I persist in trying to figure it out for myself? His will is for me to use the Spirit to understand all that He freely gives me. What a blessing! Could I ask for a better teacher?

Father,

I confess trying to understand without Your Spirit, sometimes forgetting this great gift. Help me to be aware of Him in all that I do especially as I study Your Words. Thank You for Your indwelling Spirit who  transforms my mind, spirit, heart, body, and soul.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Even in Death

Lk. 23:47

"Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, Certainly this man was innocent!"

Even in death, Jesus ministered to those around Him, seeking and saving those who were lost. One of the criminals who was crucified next to Jesus realized that Jesus was not deserving of this death, that He was  innocent, and that He truly had a kingdom yet to come. After admitting his guilt and the justness of his punishment, he asked Jesus to  "remember me when You come into Your kingdom." Jesus did not say this criminal's life style was too bad or that his timing was too late, but on the contrary, Jesus said, "Truly, I say to You, today you will be with me in Paradise." If the heart is right, salvation is the free gift.  This man saw what Jesus was offering. He saw his need, and He was not afraid to cry out for it just moments before his death.  How clearly salvation is of grace!  This criminal had no chance to live godly or to make restitution.  He only had a moment to cry out for salvation, and it was freely given!

After Jesus breathed His last breath and committed His soul to the Father, the centurion had a spiritual epiphany as well.  His heart was touched to the degree that he praised God saying, "Certainly this man was innocent!"  Not only this but all the crowds assembled there returned to their homes beating their breasts in repentance and grief.  Jesus was innocent because He was sinless, and sinless because He was the Son of God.  His death was proof perfection to these people who watched. Since the centurion praised God, he too, like the criminal on the cross, connected with Jesus in a saving way.  His life was changed at the cross just as my life and the lives of all people are changed at the cross!  We all can praise God that in His death we live!  But what about the assembled crowd who went home grieving and repentant?  Only God knows!  Could this have been a saving repentance? Certainly it could if the Father willed it so.

This speaks pointedly to me about sharing Christ with others.  It is the Father's choice who will be His child.  I must only share.  It might be a criminal moments before he dies, an enemy soldier, or a member of an observing crowd.  The Spirit draws those that the Father has chosen.  I wonder if the testimony of my life will be so strong that it will convict others even in the moments of my death?   I wonder if my submission to the Father will be so evident that I will peacefully commend my spirit to the Father?  I wonder if I have the love of Christ filling me to the degree that I will be willingly extending grace to criminals and the enemy?

Father,

As I read this account, I know that I am so deficient in the love of Christ.  Grow this love in me so that I may honor You in all that I do, that my life my share Your message of grace, and that I may reach out to those often ignored.  Keep my eyes on the One who gave me this great salvation through His death.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Mob Rule

Lk. 23:13-25

"but he delivered Jesus over to their will."

After examining Jesus, Pilate spoke to the chief priests, rulers, and the people telling them that he had considered their charges but had found no guilt in Jesus.  His verdict was, "I will therefore punish Him and release Him." At this statement, the crowd went berserk not accepting this verdict at all.  In spite of his proclamation, the mob cried out for Barabbas, a known insurrectionist, to be released. "As their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted." It was done!  The angry mob had swayed the judgment of Pilate. It was no longer a moral decision of right or wrong, innocence or guilt, but it was a power play that preserved his life and his rule.  The final resolution: "Pilate delivered Jesus over to their will."

What power an angry mob has!  Historically, mobs have caused rulers to flee for their lives, but does that mean a mob is right?  No, not always.  In some cases mobs result from hunger, deprivation, abuse, political dictatorship, political anarchy, or just downright evil motives.  In Jesus' case, there was no justified hunger issues, or even abuse of political leadership, but it was a spiritual struggle that ended in the cruel abuse of the Son of God. Did it have to be this way?  Yes, the Father had decreed the events, and since the Son was sinless, the mob had to have evil motives. Even though this story is so tragic, it has such redeeming values. Without Christ taking my blame and my punishment, I would not be redeemed at all.  Without Christ enduring such torturous treatment, I would not be reconciled to the Father.  Without Christ rising from the dead, I would not be raised in newness of life.  How clearly, the tragic story demonstrates how all things work together for good to those who are called according to the purpose of God.

Father,

Thank You for this redemption and for Your Son's great sacrifice.  Help me never to forget the significance that all of these events had and still have.

In His Holy Name,

Amen