Letters

Rev. 2:1-17

As I read these first three letters to the churches, I see some words that could apply to my life, my time, and my culture. Concerning Ephesus, Jesus commended them on their patient endurance, their bearing up for Jesus' name, and their not growing weary. But they had abandoned their first love.

I am beginning to wonder if something akin to this is happening to believers today. We have endured patiently for many years. We have borne up through wars and financial ruin. Yet, I am afraid our hearts have grown cold. Perhaps we have abandoned our first love, for the sake of prosperity, possessions, and liberal politics and policies. Jesus, our first love, would never condone the wholesale slaughter of unborn babies or the abolishing of the traditional concept of marriage, things that many churches buy into wholeheartedly. Yes, America has lost it's first love, it's foundation in the Bible, and its ethical democracy. But what about individual Christians? Have we cooled so far that we have abandoned our first love. When we read out Bibles, it is a fruitless activity. We we hear of atrocities, what is our response?  This plague of creeping apathy must be stopped. Individually, we must examine our hearts to see if any corners of coldness are thriving and then pour the heat of the gospel and the Spirit right in that spot. It must be dealt with immediately or it spreads without notice. 

Then to Smyrna, the angel of the church wrote that the devil would test them by throwing them into prison. But the angel says to be faithful unto death. Scary words and words we have never experienced in America. But could it be in our future as more and more of our freedoms are disappearing? The war the devil has waged here came on subtly so that now he has such an inroad that he can openly assault and alter our complete way of life. How sad to witness a war being fought with hardly a skirmish! Yet for the individual Christian, this is a wake-up call. Examine your heart and live. Make provision for whatever you need to endure whether, it be fines, prison. or even death.

We must remember the final words of this letter, The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death. 

Father,

I ask You to warm my heart today. Pour the heat of the gospel into my life melting any coldness or stiffness that might be hidden there. Help me to be Your vessel to show to all the peoples that Your hand if mighty.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Poor Choices

John 12:37-50

As I read this passage, I just feel the heartbreak of Jesus. Such an intense rejection must have grieved his soul! He offered freedom, but they wanted slavery. He offered light, but they wanted darkness. Unbelievable that man would choose so poorly! In spite of all the signs, the healing, the bread, the resurrection, still there was disbelief. Why? What was the problem? 

Some believed but were afraid of the Pharisees, afraid they would lose the privilege of the synagogue and their own crafted religious system. But the sad thing is that their time in the synagogue was devoid of truth. They lost the most important thing, the true reality for something vacuous and false. 

Others refused because they loved the glory of man more than the glory of God. How heartbreaking that they would reject the God of the universe for the applause of man, the most fickle being on earth! What an indictment! 

Then in v. 44 it says that Jesus cried out. He didn't just speak, but from His agony of soul He uttered great truth. Whoever would believe in Jesus would believe in God, the One who sent Him, the One who had reached out to man to offer a way out of darkness. He sent Jesus, the light of men to shine a light on the darkness of sin and point the way to the Father. Even in the rejection, Jesus did not judge. But the words that He had spoken would judge on that day. The words that they had heard but not believed had come from the Father, and in these words was and still is eternal life. They were so close but yet so far away! The decision was so simple but yet so difficult! They were willing to eat His bread and have their physical bodies healed, but not willing to believe His words! How selfish, grasping, and indulging! 

Father,

I believe Jesus' words, yet in my heart I see remnants of my old nature. I still see my own rank selfishness trying to control and dictate my actions. Keep speaking Your words to my inner man. Keep strengthening me with Your grace. I need You constantly. Help me to make right choices.

In Jesus' name,

Amen

Suffering

1 Pet. 18-25

Suffering is definitely not considered a positive in our culture. But in God's culture, it is! Since we live in this world in a body of flesh, part of our world's culture has seeped in and taken root in our hearts, especially the part about suffering. Yet, God's culture is stronger and has claimed significantly more of our thoughts and hearts. So as I read these words about suffering, I must buy into them! I must be all in!

There is no innate credit for the person who does wrong and suffers for it. In fact that is called justice! But for the person who is good who thinks of others, who is a good neighbor, who pays his bills and his taxes, who is honest and loving, for this person suffering is a gracious thing in the sight of God. It is a gracious thing because it is only through His grace that someone can endure the suffering without getting bitter or hardened.

Even more than that, our suffering is our calling. The believer is called to suffer because Christ suffered. He is our example. What he suffered, we must! Following in His footsteps is no cakewalk! Jesus continually (and not just once) entrusted Himself to His Father. He knew and understood that suffering  could not be accomplished without the Father. Suffering that is gracious has a loving and forgiving spirit toward the one inducing the suffering. Suffering that comes out of nowhere and takes a loved one with no notice can only be endured with the Father. Any suffering no matter how horrendous demands the grace of God to be endured. Without His grace, suffering can cause bitterness, desolation, devastation, depression, mental and physical states from which a person cannot recover. Without the grace of God, suffering becomes a black whole swallowing a part of a person or even the entire person. 

So when it says that Jesus, God in the flesh, someone with all the angels of heaven at His beck and call, had to commit Himself to the Father constantly and continually to endure suffering, then so must we! How can we think that we can handle it on our own? How foolish and prideful! This calling demands God's enabling!

Father,

I confess that I have not always relied on Your grace as I suffer. Help me to do this Give me Your grace to ask for the grace that I need. You must do it all in my life.

In Jesus name,

Amen