“Be conscientious about how you live and what you teach. Persevere in this, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you” (1Timothy 4:16 NET). Too hard. Too much pain. Too unattractive. Why give up on righteousness, as if a right relationship with God can be found any other way? Most common is the truth of righteousness is crowded out by anything more appealing to our flesh. “All unrighteousness is sin” (1John 5:17). Of that we are sure. Then, why do we give up on righteousness and right relationships with God and our neighbor? Honestly, we just do not think about it. The pathway to hell is full of thoughtlessness. We can clearly see all the negative things befalling us, if we persist in righteousness. And, it is only when those thoughts outweigh the truth of right conduct and a right relationship with God, that we sin. In short, a right relationship with God is righteousness. Righteousness is of the heart. A right relationship will cause us to rightly act. When someone appears to be rightly acting, but lacks sincere motivation, then it is still not righteousness but self-righteousness. May God grant us a thirst for righteousness that only He can satisfy. “My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” (Psalm 42:2). “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). Father, cause us to thirst for You, to thirst after righteousness. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
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I’ve Got Your Back
“But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard” (Isaiah 52:12 NIV). The KJV translates “rear guard” as “rereward.” Simply put, God says, “I’ve got your back.” Limited as we are, we can use all the help of an Unlimited God. Too big of a promise? No, but we may lack imagination in its application. The picture of God as a watchmaker, winding us up and stepping back out of the way, not intervening is false. Not only does He hold us together — “He is before all things, and by Him all things consist” (Colossians 1:17) — but, He dwells within us by His Spirit to inspire us to obey Him. “And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). We do not have eyes in the back of our head, neither do we have the thought or imagination to meditate and anticipate all possible circumstances. But, the Almighty can do that for us. The question is “Are we all out for Him?” “Them that honour Me I will honour, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed [Hebrew, qâlal, be of little account]” (1Samuel 2:30). Father, may we be of great account to You, for we esteem You of greater worth than all our necessary food. Thank You for watching over us. May we look after Your name in this world, as of the greatest importance. Glorify Your name. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Promises of God
“For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (2Corinthians 1:20 KJV). Fine words, but what meaneth this? The Son of God, Jesus Christ (1:19) is the Him (1:20). What promises? The First Advent of Messiah (Isaiah 7:14) and His Second Advent (9:6). Yea, but there is more. “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2Peter 1:3-4). “All things that pertain unto life and godliness” (1:3) means anything and everything concerning our existence is included in God’s promises. C.H. Spurgeon compared God’s promises to checks drawn on the Bank of Heaven. “God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19). Charles G. Finney maintained the promises of God are God’s means to entirely sanctify us, that is, to make us more like Christ. “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it” (1Thessalonians 5:23-24). Amen.
Life Is But A Vapor
“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14 KJV). How many of us fondly remember a departed loved one? “But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none” (1Corinthians 7:29). My wife often referred to our vaporous life, before she too passed into His presence. Like Adam, we take up the mantle to “be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:28). And, like the Early Church, “we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ” (2Corinthians 10:14). But, our days are fleeting before we, too, must stand in His presence. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2Corinthians 5:10). By God’s grace and with the aid of His Spirit, let us be “redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16), treating the time before He returns as short and precious, catching ourselves back into focus upon our Master’s business. Father, keep us in Your love that the enemy will not surprise us into sin. We desire the privilege of being accounted as a faithful servant, keeping our hand on the plow. Thank you for Your faithfulness and watch care over us. Lord Jesus, return quickly for us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
More Than One Isaiah?
Doubting the authorship of the OT Book of Isaiah produces a nagging doubt that we cannot simply trust the declarations of the writer about the future, if we are not even sure he is who he says he is. “The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah” (Isaiah 1:1 KJV). Does the following represent the views of your minister? Liberal scholarship has separated the Book of Isaiah into three parts, representing three different Isaiah authors: Proto-Isaiah (chapters 1-39), Deutero-Isaiah (chapters 40-55), and Trito-Isaiah (chapters 56-66). In response, without consulting the differing language styles employed in each of the three sections, none other than the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, asserted the authorship of the 53rd chapter of Isaiah to be “Isaiah the son of Amoz” (1:1). Jesus quoted Isaiah 53:1: “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed” in John 12:38: “That the saying of Esaias [Isaiah] the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed.” Jesus further asserted Isaiah to be the author of Isaiah 6:10: “Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.” Liberal scholarship does “greatly err” (Mark 12:27).
Why not let them differ and be quiet? “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29). We need all the confidence possible to wage war against the devil, and we cannot afford to allow nagging doubts to rob us of our offensive power against the real enemy. Jesus is coming soon, and we need everyone who names the name of Christ fully engaged with all offensive power to support the prophetic message of the Book of Isaiah. Between the declarations of the Suffering Messiah on the Cross in Psalm 22, especially verse 16, “For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet” (Psalm 22:16); and, the prophecy concerning the Messiah’s atonement for our sins, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5), we have a clear declaration of the NT Gospel in the OT. If our confidence is shaken in the authorship of the last chapters of Isaiah, how can we have confidence in the integrity of the first chapters? “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it” (Isaiah 2:2).
May God give confidence to all readers of the Book of Isaiah, that He will as surely perform His saving work (Chapter 53) as He will fulfill His prophecies to build His actual Kingdom as foretold (2:2). Father, may Your will be done and Your Kingdom come. Grant to us knowledge and understanding that we may have renewed power. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Nearly 2,000 Years of Coming Quickly?
Jesus said, “I come quickly [Greek, tachu, soon, suddenly]” (Revelation 3:11; 22:7, 12, 20 KJV). What part of nearly 2,000 years sounds quick? If He meant to keep us in a constant state of readiness, then He chose His words wisely. Did Paul think he might be alive, when Jesus returned? “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1Thessalonians 4:17). Yes, he seemed to include himself in that last statement of “we which are alive and remain” (4:17). But, don’t the words, “I come quickly,” lose their impact over the passing years? Not if you consider that “one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2Peter 3:8). Isn’t that difficult language to use around small children? Only if they haven’t been growing. “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14). We have been warned not to fall asleep, as if we would miss something, otherwise.
“1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do” (1Thessalonians 5:1-11).
Father, make us to be ready. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Doctrine of the Imminent Return of Jesus Christ
If I had a theory that human history would be only 7,000 years, would that immediately qualify as entry to the Flat Earth Club? Until we can be persuaded by Scripture, a theory is only a theory, not doctrinal fact. And, we have no obligation to believe anything, unless necessity forces a choice. “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel” (1Corinthians 9:16 KJV). On the other hand, before Jesus ascended back into Heaven, He promised to return, but more important, He promised we would be present with Him. If that was only a promise of being indwelt by the Holy Spirit, He would not need to depart to prepare a heavenly place. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3). He was promising at any moment to return to us, fetch us, and bring us to be at that heavenly place with Him. He said, “Surely I come quickly” (Revelation 22:20); and, we were further instructed “to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come” (1Thessalonians 1:10). Coming quickly, while we are waiting qualifies for an Imminent Coming. “Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching” (Luke 12:37).
You can see that a Pre-Tribulational Rapture fits nicely with the Doctrine of the Imminent Return of Jesus Christ.
- The Lord draws near, standing before the door. “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the Judge standeth before the door” (James 5:7-9).
- Wake up. “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Romans 13:11).
- Throw off. “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light” (Romans 13:12).
- Put on. “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Romans 13:14).
Father, may we be a blessed servant found watching to “be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:36). Help us to keep our garments clean. Lord Jesus, return quickly. Amen.
Grow or Die
Why are we commanded to “grow [Greek, auxanete, grow, increase, an imperative] in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2Peter 3:18 KJV)? If we are not spiritually growing, then we are spiritually dying. Casual Christianity is deadly. If those who introduce someone to the Lord Jesus Christ do not assume the role of parent, then the infant will die. “But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended” (Matthew 13:20-21). The Holy Spirit is the provocateur, and He will perform the work. “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). However, we need to assume human, parental responsibility, where we can, if we can, to ensure the welfare of the Newborn Christian. “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1Corinthians 11:1). Waiting for Christ to return is an act of living the life of Christ until He comes for us, not laziness or indolence. “And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat” (2Thessalonians 3:5, 10 KJV). Lord, cause us to continually seek to grow in our understanding and confidence in You. Make us careful to promote the faith of newborn disciples by encouraging their reading of Your Word, praying, fellowshipping, and assembling with brothers and sisters at church. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Lazy Man Approach?
Work smarter not harder. Ever hear that said by a reproachful colleague at work? Wisdom is more economical with choices, unless the cheaper, quicker alternative is unethical. “But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way [love]” (1Corinthians 12:31 KJV). Make no mistake, laziness is universally condemned by the LORD. “A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again” (Proverbs 19:24). The world may have no such aversion to sloth and may prefer it to the ‘stupidity’ of honest labor, if it gains the same money. Yet, the godly can be taught by even an ungodly, unethical colleague, when their lazy man approach accomplishes a task more efficiently. Love is “not self-serving… but rejoices in the truth” (1Corinthians 13:5, 6 NET). Just because our goal is the eternal does not mean we should be inefficient, but never sacrifice the eternal on the altar of the immediate. Father, grant us the humility to be taught by the world, when their lazy approach is more efficient than our well meaning but less efficient attempt. However, cause our light to shine before the world at other times, when they notice we do not attempt to take advantage of them, if it is only self-seeking. Give them opportunity to seek the truth, or give Yourself evidence to condemn them in the Judgment. Lord Jesus, return quickly. Amen.
What Does Your Witness Say?
The UnitedHealthcare shooter got exactly what he wanted [attention], according to The Verge; but, are we any more thoughtful about our witness for the Lord? Is the Lord our reward? Are the dreams of the everyday Christian full of Christ? Do we carry in our wallet the aspirations of every day goodness? Do we need affirmation from anyone other than our Lord? “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21 KJV). Father, make us a faithful witness of You. Grant us wisdom to be true to You. May others be benefitted, but may we be faithful to You regardless. In Jesus’ name, amen.
We Need A Miracle 
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