Day 22. Revisit

Review yesterdays devotion.

How did you do?
Have you been able to make a conscious effort to refuse to slander someone, to refuse to envy?

Take another assessment of the conditions or practices that we are supposed to remove. Remember, we are not removing these things to be approved by God. We are removing them because as born again beleivers we desire to be like Jesus, growing up in our salvation.

Now, check out Colossians 3:12-17 for some great conditions and practices from God's Word that you can replace or fill your life up with. Choose 1 or 2, and purposefully do them today.

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts,kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:12-17

Day 21. Are You Lactose Intolerant?

1 Peter 2:1-3 So rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.² Like newborn infants, desire the pure spiritual milk, so that you may grow by it for your salvation,^[a] 3 since you have tasted that the Lord is good.

In Peter’s first epistle to Christians who were facing opposition for their faith while living scattered throughout The Roman Empire, he begins with encouragement. He reminds them of a “living hope” that they have by being “born again” through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:3-4). He also reminds them that they will one day see Jesus face to face because of these truths that the heavenly host eagerly waits to see God’s plan of redemption in Jesus unfold. Finally, Peter urges the scattered Christian’s to pursue holiness, because the “One who called you is holy” (1 Peter 1:15). Peter goes on to give some practical application that we can grab hold and apply today in our own lives as those who have been born again by obedience to the truth of the Gospel.

Peter says to COMPLETELY get rid of a few things. Let’s take an inventory.

Malice - a general evil intent or desire to hurt someone

This doesn’t mean you are actively hurting someone. Do you have evil thoughts toward another person? Are you happy when they experience harm?

Deceit - to conceal or misrepresent the truth

Are you willing to cause others to think something that is untrue for personal gain or to help your reputation? Are you willing to lie when necessary to save face?

Hypocrisy - insincerity or pretense, conflict between internal intent and outward actions

Do you listen but not care? Do you attend but really desire to be elsewhere? Do you obey because you love God or to look good?

Envy - painful or resentful awareness of another’s advantage along with the desire to possess the same advantage.

Do you always look at what other people have and long for their stuff, relationships, money, athletic ability, or looks? This is envy. Be thankful for what God you!

Slander - to criticize others with the intend to hurt

How do you speak about other people when they are not around? How do you speak about family, church family, friends, or enemies to others?

How did you do? Have you found any of these conditions or practices in your life that you need to COMPLETELY remove?

Peter gives an alternative for the born again believer to fill up the void left from abandoning these old practices. “Desire the pure spiritual milk,” which is an intake and obedience to God’s word. According to the Mayo Clinic, Lactose intolerance is a condition where a person has deficiency of lactase in their small intestine. Because of this, it is difficult for them to digest anything containing milk. It’s similar to someone who fails to remove malice, envy, slander, etc. because when we fail to do remove these practices we also fail to digest and grow from the nourishing truth we need to be more like Christ. No matter how good ice cream or cheese or anything else tastes it provides no nutritional benefit for a person who is lactose intolerant. And for someone who is holding on to malice, envy, slander, hypocrisy, or deceit the benefits of God's Word will become useless because of their refusal to grow in holiness.

Are you benefiting from the pure milk of obedience to God’s word?

Do you have any conditions (malice, envy, etc) that you need to completely remove so you can digest God’s word as you grow to be like Christ?

Do it today. Confess your shortcomings and sins. Trust that God is able to transform you. But be willing and continually intent on obeying Him. Don’t delay!

Day 20. Revelation

God is in the business of revealing Himself to mankind. 

First, God has revealed himself and His power to everyone through the creation (Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 1:19-20). No one doubts that the Statue of Liberty or the Mona Lisa had to be fashioned and brought about by an intelligent and creative person, and neither should we doubt that God is the omniscient (all-knowing) and omnipotent (all-powerful) creator of this universe.

Second, God is a morally perfect (always truthful and doing what is right) Being, and He makes his moral will known to us as well. We as people are created in God’s image, and though we have fallen, God has placed the sense of right and wrong in our very being. Universal laws have become universal because all of humanity has a general sense of justice. Murder is wrong. Theft is wrong. Adultery is wrong. When these principles are violated, human beings typically feel guilty (Romans 2:14-15). Even so, we as people suppress the knowledge of God in us, and go on to worship other gods within the creation or the creation itself instead of the Creator (Romans 1:25). Human beings on a grand scale have rejected God and worshiped the creature - we need to be saved from our own affections. Also, nowhere in general revelation (the evidence of the Creator in creation or our conscience) is the Gospel clearly explained, yet the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation!

Third, God revealed his purpose of redeeming (buying back or rescuing) mankind through a plan involving a man named Abraham, a people called Israel, mighty works, prophets, and eventually His own Son, Jesus Christ (Exodus 12, Hebrews 1:1). God had promised a Victor over consequence of Satan's deception since the Garden ,and Jesus was the Son of Eve (Genesis 3:15). God promised that Abraham’s descendant would be a blessing to all nations, and Jesus is just that (Gen 22:18). Also, God promised that David’s kingdom would be established forever, and through Jesus it has begun to be and will be established (2 Samuel 7:12-16). Just as the animal sacrifices foreshadowed the coming Lamb of God, Jesus would shed his own blood to pay the penalty for sin, revealing the love and mercy of the Creator God.

Fourth, Jesus didn’t just reveal himself by dying. He revealed God’s perfect nature in His life (Colossians 1:15). He offers us his very life in order that we may inherit eternal life in God’s kingdom (John 14:4). 

Lastly, Jesus revealed to mankind personally the reality of the resurrection. He did so in his earthly ministry by raising Lazarus from the dead four days after he died (Luke 11). But even more amazing than this was the fact that Jesus himself rose from the dead (Matthew 28). In his absence Jesus established a body of all who believe, Jews and Gentiles alike, called the church (Ephesians 2:11-22). 

Notice something. There are two general categories of revelation. 
1. General - available to all persons in all places
2. Specific - message must be delivered personally 

Which of these examples are General/Specific?

Which type is needed to trust in the mercy of God through the Gospel?

Are you willing to deliver the message?

Day 19. "The Good Agnostic"

Matthew 24:12 Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold.

     It was a cold Sunday morning, and a unkept family's car had broken down on the main road. They were traveling from a distant state so the father could take a job, and they had no one to help them. The mother sat with a saddened face, window down, and cigarette in hand. The father, wearing a stained coat and coveralls turned to speak to the two young children in the worn back seat of the tired old car. 

     Traveling down the road came the Bishop of the church in town. He saw the father waiving to him, hoping to get a ride for his family to the nearest town, with the hope of sorting out their dilemna. But, the bishop was on his way to the church, and he didn't want his congregation to be held up by his tardiness. Besides, today was going to be an important service about overseas missionionaries. 

     A few minutes went by, and the president of the Lion's club approached in his SUV. He was a great man of the community, in fact he even volunteered to mow the park during his free time on the weekends. Unfortunately, this morning he was on his way to a statewide meeting, and he just didn't have time to help. As the man waived, he did his best to pretend to not see.

     The next car on the road was driven by another local man. He wasn't very well respected in the community being agnostic and sometimes holding parties at his home. When he saw the family in need, however, he stopped his car and asked what was wrong. After discussing a few possibilities with the family, he gave them a ride to the local motel and paid for their lodging, and even contacted the owner of a local garage to have the car fixed at his own expense.

Sound familiar? Read Luke 10:25-37 and it will. 

Which one of these men was a neighbor to the family?

Which one of these men are you likely to be?

Who is your neighbor?

Day 18. Careful Observation

Today we will make some careful observations of Philippians 2:1-4 together.

Philippians 2:1-4 (NASB) Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete ^[b]by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. ³ Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; ⁴ do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Conditional Clauses (“if”) - Paul is appealing to the Philippians position in Christ. They have experienced the love of Christ and fellowship within His body, the church.

Emotional Terms - Paul expresses the satisfaction he may gain through the success of the Philippian church to maintain unity.

Means - These attitudes and intentions are the means (or method) by which Paul’s goal for the Philippians may be accomplished.

Actions/Roles of People - These are actions that will help them reach the goal of continual fellowship and unity in the Spirit. This is where the rubber meets the road.

General to Specific - Paul moves from the general goal of fellowship and love within the body to specific attitudes and actions that can complete this goal.

Questions to answer in the Comments Section:

1. What is the starting ingredient for fellowship and unity? 

     - A faith relationship with Christ (1 Cor 12:18), 
     - Remembering the type of love that saved us! (Rom 5:5-8)

2. What is one desire that every Christian should have according to these verses?

3. What is one action or attitude that you could choose to maintain true unity @ TBC?

Day 17. Vertical / Horizontal Righteousness

VERTICAL RIGHTEOUSNESS
Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.

We need to be careful not to get confused about righteousness. Bible scholars call the righteousness we have in Christ “imputed” righteousness. This is because it has nothing to do with us, and everything to do with God’s gracious gift. We can never add, gain, or increase our righteousness before God. We can only freely receive the gift of righteousness through Jesus. Paul says it this way in 2 Cor. 5:21 that “He who knew no sin because sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God.” Paul uses Abraham as an example for imputed righteousness in Romans 4:3 saying, “For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’” Paul then quotes David who describes "the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works.” If Jesus takes our place to provide righteousness for us before God, we cannot improve upon that state!

HORIZONTAL RIGHTEOUSNESS
God does not need your good works, but your neighbor does. Good works will never get us closer to God. Good works can only come through our right relationship with God. Consider Paul’s words about trying to work our way to being righteous before God when he says, “to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt” (Romans 4:4). If we quit trying to make our good works a way to please God, we can do them for the right reason - to love our neighbor as our self. Others need to see Christ-like love, forgiveness, and service; because others need Jesus Christ as much as we do! Don’t work to be accepted, work because you are accepted by grace through faith in Jesus Christ!

Day 16. El Shaddai

El Shaddai is a name first used for God in Genesis 17. It is important as Christians that we realize who we belong to and who we serve. Abram of the city of Ur was a man of great wealth and possessions, but God called him to leave his home and the comforts of an idolatrous land to trust and obey God. God made Abram promises, including blessings, a land where his descendants would live, and descendants as numerous as the dust of the earth who would become a great nation. Abraham went. This is a huge fact not to overlook. God called, Abraham obeyed. This is faith in action. Abraham didn't complete 1,000 pages of discipleship paper forms. He didn't perform service projects to help his standing before God. He simply believed God's promise and obeyed. 

One big detail of Abram's life was that he would wait 25 years before the promise of having a son would be fulfilled after he was 99 years old! Along the way, God proved faithful to Abram, and Abram trusted God in spite of faltering at times. He had a son Isaac to Hagar which was not God's plan, and he told a half truth about Sarai being his sister twice to protect himself from being killed by kings for his beautiful wife’s sake. Abram sometimes failed to trust God to protect Him. Abram wasn't perfect. But in spite of his shortcomings and the difficult journey, God was still faithful to Abram, and Abram was still prepared to trust the Lord. In Genesis 17 after learning that Abraham was 99 and Sarai over 75, God revealed something about Himself to Abram when he said "I am El Shaddai" or "God Almighty" (Gen 17:1). God then told Abram to walk before him and be blameless. God was not telling Abram to be completely morally perfect here, it is too lofty a command for a fallen man. Being blameless for Abram meant Radical Obedience and Supreme Trust! Abram, after hearing God's exhortation fell on his face, and talked with God. 

Think about Abram's response. He was bowing down in worship to God almighty. Hearing His commands, and ready to do His will. Jesus is God Almighty. He taught His disciples to pray saying, "Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your will be done, Your kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:9-10). Abram heard God's name; God Almighty. He heard his will; walk blameless before me. He bowed worshipping God in prayer. Then, he followed through.

Humble yourself today before Almighty God, and trust His promises. Don't earn your way to Him. Don't scheme your way around Him. Simply bow down before Him, trust, and obey.

Psalm 51:16-17
For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

Day 15. Trusting God over political leaders...and praying for them still.

Politics and the Christian faith are often times difficult to discuss, however one thing is certain. Political leaders like everyone else need to submit to God and the truth of His word, because their eternity will never be determined by their successful career. Consider the following list of accomplishments of a famous historical political leader, and you determine if he did a good job.

1. He revived a collapsed economy in four years.

2. He instituted nationalized health care. 

3. He gave millions of citizens the opportunity to take attractive vacations through a program called "Strength through joy."

4. He established training schools for those who were unskilled and brought the nation to full employment.

5. He brought crime under control.

6. He started a large public works program to build highways and affordable cars for transportation.

7. He gave the citizens of his country a reason to believe in themselves.

8. His name was Adolf Hitler.

Psalm 118:8-9 says, "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes."

Adolf Hitler did not do a good job. He hated God, he hated men, and he used his power to kill millions of people. His political achievements were in vain because God was purposely forgotten in the nation he led. No matter what we accomplish as good citizens or as a thriving society, it is only our individual and collective faith in Christ and obedience to God's word that will produce eternal impact in the lives of others. As Christian's we don't need to be concerned with achieving all the things that the world regards as important. We need to pursue the things that God says are important. Consider the words of another famous political leader named David who wrote in Psalm 131:1, "My heart is not proud, LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me." David was humble before God, and for much of his life this attribute made him a very good leader. Let's pray earnestly today that God would bless us with leaders who love Him and are humble before Him. And let's pray earnestly that God would allow leaders who don't know Him to repent and trust in Jesus for salvation. But never trust man. Never put your hope in the political situations and leaders of this world. Trust in the Lord.

Day 14. The Bravest Officer, Soldiers that follow

Mark 14:26-31

26 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 And Jesus *said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.’ 28 But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 29 But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away, yet I will not.” 30 And Jesus *said to him, “Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times.” 31 But Peter kept saying insistently, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all were saying the same thing also.

General Richard S. Ewell once found himself commanding his Confederate troops in a fierce gunfight against a group of Union Soldiers. After the smoke cleared he saw a Union cavalry officer get out of the protective trench where his men lay to rally them for another round of fire. Ewell was so impressed by the man’s bravery that he ordered his men not to shoot. After the battle was over he was asked by General “Stonewall” Jackson why he did not give his men permission to shoot this vulnerable commanding officer. Ewell explained that he admired his bravery to which Jackson replied, “If you want to win this war Ewell shoot the brave officers - then the cowards will run away and take their men with them.”

Sometimes we forget that Jesus was the bravest commanding officer to ever fight, and He did so in the greatest battle, one of eternal cosmic proportions. Satan had the power of sin and death on his side as he sought to destroy the souls of men created in the image of God, but Jesus was about to win the victory as He was headed to the cross. However, Jesus would not be recognized as victorious until after “He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities” on the cross (Isaiah 53:5). Without Jesus’ sacrifice we are POWERLESS against sin and the death that it brings, but our commanding officer, though he died, lives! Notice that Peter's running, like a scared soldier in the midst of a defeat in battle after Jesus’ death was predicted in this passage. But don’t get any ideas that Peter is worse than us. He is not. Every believer has the present help of the Lord through the Holy Spirit. Check out Acts 4:1-20 to see how bold Peter became as a witness for Jesus when the Holy Spirit was enabling Him-when his Brave Commander was present to help. Because Jesus conquered the grave and gives us who repent and trust in Him His Spirit, we too are called to be conquerors. He is not fallen. He lives! No matter what hardship, mistreatment, or temptation pulls us down we are to be “more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). Rise to the call of your Master today, let in the Overcomer, and He will conquer. 

"I will be with you even to the end of the age" - Jesus

Sinless Savior - Aaron Keyes

Day 13. Jesus sang Hymns

Mark 14:26-31

26 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 And Jesus *said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.’ 28 But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 29 But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away, yet I will not.” 30 And Jesus *said to him, “Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times.” 31 But Peter kept saying insistently, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all were saying the same thing also.

Directly before this passage of scripture you will read of the Passover meal that Jesus ate with his disciples (also known as the Last Supper). He predicted Judas’ betrayal, broke bread and explained that it was his body to be broken, and also drank the cup of wrath explaining that through His blood a new Covenant would be made for many who would receive Him as Lord. Then in verse 26 we find that the disciples sang a hymn with Jesus. We don’t really think of Jesus as someone who sang hymns, but he did. In fact the Hallel Psalms (113-118) were sung at the Passover Festival, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Booths when faithful Hebrews would make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Hallel, which means “praise to God,” is where we get the word Hallelujah. It is important to note that these Hymns were always sung during festivals when the people would come to make sacrifices. This time the psalms were sung by the disciples along with The Lamb of God Himself who takes away the sins of the world, Jesus Christ. This is the moment that all of the sacrifices pointed to. Jesus was going to be a sacrifice for sin.

Think about this. How amazing would it be to sing the same hymn of praise as Jesus before He gave Himself for us as a sacrifice for sin. Well, you can! Remember, that Jesus is the reason we can sing praise to a God who receives our praise and gives us fellowship with Himself.

Psalm 113

¹ Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord, you his servants;
    praise the name of the Lord.
² Let the name of the Lord be praised,
    both now and forevermore.
³ From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
    the name of the Lord is to be praised.

⁴ The Lord is exalted over all the nations,
    his glory above the heavens.
⁵ Who is like the Lord our God,
    the One who sits enthroned on high,
⁶ who stoops down to look
    on the heavens and the earth?

⁷ He raises the poor from the dust
    and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
⁸ he seats them with princes,
    with the princes of his people.
⁹ He settles the childless woman in her home
    as a happy mother of children.

Praise the Lord.

Day 12. Jonah, Idolators, and me

We discussed Jonah in Sunday school recently. It is interesting to learn that God in his providence sent Jonah to Ninevah by way of a large fish. This was certainly a miraculous work of God for Jonah to survive in its belly for 3 days. One time Jesus was demanded to show a sign by the scribes and Pharisees, and He used Jonah's time in this fish to foretell his own death, spending three days in the grave, and rising again. Looking back at Jonah's uncomfortable  accomodations, we find that the fish he traveled in had some significant meaning to the Ninevites. The Ninevites were idolators. They did not worshp the Creator God of the universe. In fact, there were two idols who were most prominant in their culture, and they both had to do with ... you guessed it, fish! Ninevah was a huge city located on the banks of the the Tigris River with an 8 mile long wall surrounding the inner city, and a suburban area with a circumference of 60 miles! The Tigris river's fresh water provided the life source of fish and fresh water for irrigation needed to feed the hundreds of thousands of people living in what was likely the largest city in the world. The name Ninevah came from an Akkadian word "nunu" which meant fish, and the people their worshipped Nanshe the fish goddess and daughter of Ea (the goddess of fresh water) and Dagon (the fish god who was half man and half fish). This all sounds pretty weird, but think about it. The people worshipped nature. More specifically they worshipped the parts of nature they thought provided them with life. We know better. Jesus told the people "I am the resurrection and the life!" God does not want men to worship his creation. He wants us to worship Him. When Jonah was spit out of a fish onto land near Joppa, people probably heard, and news spread. He would have looked aweful: pale, partially digested, and resembling the false gods of the Ninevites. Jonah journeyed on to preach to the people he once refused to warn. When Jonah had walked for a day into the city he told the people that they must repent or else they would be overthrown in 40 days. Through these unusual circumstances, God in his providence went right to the heart of the Ninevites idolatry, the fish gods and godesses.

Jesus' message is the same for us. Turn from your idols. Turn to God.

Do you trust circumstances for your provision?
You probably will be unwilling to step out in faith and obey God when opportunities come.

Do you trust other people for happiness?
You will probably seek to please them above the Lord.

Do you trust your own ideas and opinions over God's word?
You will fail in obedience.

When Jesus rose from the grave after 3 days, he spent 40 days on the earth before ascending into heaven, and after this time, the Holy Spirit came to empower the Apostles and the early church to be witnesses on the earth. Their message? Look at acts 2:38. Peter explained that the Israelites had crucified their Messiah, and they must repent, and "be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins." God is good, He has made a way for us to be with Him for eternity, but many people will continue to reject His Son. The people needed to be identified with Jesus. Just like the Ninevites needed to be identified as humble and repentant before God, we must be humble and repentant: believing in the Lord Jesus for our forgiveness and righteousness. We then need to be on the offensive against the idolatry of our world, and the idolatry that we find pulling on our own hearts. We need to identify with Jesus in this world, are you ready? Are you willing to be identified wherever you go with your Creator and Savior and follow Him in obedience? You have been given power as a believer to be a witness of Jesus to a world of idolators. Be that witness!

Dy 11. My Resurrection

The Bible teaches a very plain truth about the resurrection of mankind. I learned yesterday of a tragedy. A young man was killed in a traffic accident. He had recently graduated from a Christian recovery program for men who struggled with substance abuse or other life controlling issues. Be sure of this; his new life in Christ was not just a lifestyle change. It was an eternally significant radically altered path of existence. Everyone's life on this earth will one day cease. Yet, 1 Corinthians 6:14 states perhaps the most wonderful truth about the future of everyone who has trusted in the gift of righteousness and the salvation of our souls found only in Jesus Christ when Paul says: "Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power." The resurrection of Jesus is the guarantee of our own resurrection unto eternal life. In Revelation 1:5 John calls Jesus "the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood." Our own eternity rests soley on our position before God in Jesus Christ, and on the truth that what Jesus has done for us, by shedding His blood on the cross to grant us right standing before God, has secured life beyond the grave and a joy lasting forever that is inexpressible! Jesus Promised this to Martha, the sister of Lazarus, a man that Jesus himself called out of the grave 4 days after he died when He said to her “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,"

There is a time to mourn. Even Jesus wept when he heard that Lazarus had died. But Paul tells us that as Christians we do not have to sorrow like the rest of the world. Even though Christians may die, we look forward to LIFE with Christ: perfect life, without sin, without sorrow, without sickness. "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus." (1 Thess 4:14) Can you say today through faith in God's word, I have hope beyond the grave!? You must have this hope, for it is one of those gifts from God that will remain for eternity: "faith, hope, and love." Find your hope in Christ alone! Praise the Lord that though we may face certain death, we may look forward to the certainty of eternal life with Christ. Let sorrow be turned to joy in your heart today.

Day 10. Patient with People

Proverbs 12:16 (NIV)
Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.

Ever get get annoyed with someone? Of course that answer is yes! Annoyances come in a variety of ways through our relationship with others. Sometimes people we meet don't give us much respect or credit. That can be annoying. Sometimes people give us corny nicknames or say things about us as a joke that we find offensive. Annoying! But, whatever the case, prudent people overlook insults, even if a situation gets us RED HOT and mad. Look again at Proverbs 12:16 in the New American Standard Version: "A fool’s anger is known at once, But a prudent man conceals dishonor." This proverb tells us that everyone knows it when foolish people get angry because they let everyone know. This is so true. Take notice of people who can't control there outbursts of anger. There actions demonstrate foolishness. Outbursts of wrath are a work of the flesh according to Galatians 5:20. That means that flipping out or lashing back at others is simply a visible demonstration of the sinful nature controlling one's life. 

So, if being patient rather that being quick to wrath means we act prudently, what does prudent mean? Prudence is "acting with or showing care and thought for the future." If we are considering the outcome of a situation, we will be careful how we react in the midst of it. Even if we are annoyed and mad we do well to be patient and think of the outcome of every situation in life. Our desire for EVERYONE should be that they would have every opportunity to hear the Gospel and see God's love demonstrated in our life. This is why James writes "This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God." (1:19) Let's take his advice today.

Day 9. Practicing Hospitality

ROMANS 12:10-13 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

What is hospitality? Hospitality in the ancient Jewish world focused on the alien or stranger in need. Some cultures showed some form of hospitality toward widows, orphans, and the poor. However, hospitality toward strangers wasn't exactly important to other surrounding cultures, yet to God's people it has always been an important attribute. Abraham practiced hospitality by welcoming and feeding the strangers that visited him, warning of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 18:2-8). Jethro (eventually Moses' father-in-law) showed Moses hospitality giving him a place to stay and eventually a place in his family after Moses helped his daughters water their flocks (Exodus 2:20). Job used his own hospitality of providing housing for strangers to argue his innocence before God in Job 31:32. Hospitality is also a qualification for church leaders according to Titus 1:3 and 1 Timothy 3:2. Think of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37). He was a picture of hospitality tending to the needs of a complete stranger, bloodied and lying along the side of the road. 

The good Samaritan is perhaps an extreme example of hospitality, but he is the example that Jesus wants us to follow! Let's take a look at our own opportunities to reach out to strangers. 
Are we willing to be welcoming to strangers? Perhaps you have the opportunity to be hospitable to a neighbor. Perhaps you have the opportunity to be hospitable to a classmate without many friends. Are you willing to be like Christ to them? Perhaps you will see a visitor at church in the coming weeks. Are you willing to be welcoming to new visitors at church? Are you willing to spend your time welcoming someone new even if it is outside YOUR comfort zone? Jesus loved us while we were strangers of his sheepfold, so we ought to follow the example of our Master. Make a purposed effort to be hospitable today!

Day 8. THE ARK OF JESUS CHRIST

Genesis 7:1 - Then the Lord said to Noah, “Enter the ark, you and all your household, for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this ^[a]time.

Acts 16:31 - They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Sometimes God painted with a wide brush stroke as He permitted history to unfold according to his will. Consider Noah. The parallels between the account of the flood of Noah and salvation in Jesus Christ are quite interesting.

MAN’S CORRUPTION

In Genesis 6:11-12 we see that mankind was “corrupt” and the earth “filled with violence.”

Genesis 6:5 tells us that “the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

The sinful nature of man was not changed by the Judgment of God. Ecclesiastes 7:20 says “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” Paul goes so far as to say that before Christ “You were dead in your trespasses and sins” in Ephesians 2:1. We are no better in our own nature today than in the days before Noah’s Flood.

COMING JUDGMENT                                           

In Genesis 6:13 God tells Noah of the coming judgment on sinful mankind. Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth.

God warns us of a coming judgment after the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ in 1 Peter 4:17. “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” The reality of judgment is throughout the New Testament. Consider John 12:31 where Jesus says "now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.”

GOD’S COVENANT

Genesis 6:18 shows us two important aspects of God’s favor on Noah. First, God made a covenant. This means God made an unconditional agreement with Noah. He would provide a way for Noah to be saved from His judgment. Genesis 6:18 tells us that God told Noah “I will establish my covenant with you.”

In Jeremiah 31:31-35 we learn that God is going to make a new covenant with man. In Jesus explained to his own disciples while celebrating the Passover Meal in Luke 22:20 that “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.” The unconditional agreement with man for salvation would only be available through the blood that Jesus shed for the payment of our sin.

THE ARK OF MAN’S SALVATION

In Genesis 6:18 God demonstrates His grace on Noah when He says, “But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.”

This offer for temporal salvation is a glimpse of what is to come thousands of years later. The offer was made to a Jailer in the city of Philippi when Paul and Silas told him “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” For the jailer and his family, the offer wasn’t just to live through a flood, but to live through the judgment of God, offering eternal life in the place of the due penalty that every man deserves for sin, eternal death. This offer is only available for those who are found in Christ Jesus. Jesus took our place by dying on the cross so we may obtain salvation by the grace of God through an continuing faith in Jesus.

Consider HOW BIG OF A DEAL the new covenant made through the blood of Jesus is for you, me, and every other human being on this earth. Only those who enter the “ARK” of Jesus Christ will be save from the judgment to come. Pray that the Lord gives you a desire to share the Good News of Jesus with everyone you see.

Hebrews 9:15 tells us that “For this reason [Jesus] is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”

Praise the Lord for His call unto salvation and eternal life! Be prepared to tell others the news.

Day 7. FIRST IMPRESSION

1 Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

What an awesome opening sentence Peter gives in his letter to persecuted saints spread all over the Roman Empire. Although they suffer persecution, Peter begins with praise not pity. How do your conversations begin? with pity? with pessimism? or with praise?

Blessed. How much joy does the thought of your Heavenly Father bring to your heart today? When we see the beauty of God's love it can do only two things to us, deliver a joy that is abounding or a reveal a heart that is growing numb to the One Person, Jesus Christ, who can free us from every sin, hurt, pain, fear, and the like. Are you blessing God the Father today?

God and Father. Take a second to purposely erase everything you know about your earthly father. God is not your earthly father. God the Father is perfect in every way. He never fails you. Are you trusting Him? He never misses a teachable moment. Are you reading form His word and seeking Him? He never ceases to love you. Are you obeying Him? He will be your Father forever. Are you resting in Him? He is the Father of light in whom there is no shadow of turning. Are you confident in His promises?

Mercy. God is willing to not give you what you deserve. Are you willing to not give others what you believe they deserve? Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.

He has caused us to be born again. Your salvation is not your doing. It is God's doing. Congratulations God because we are saved. Shame on me for taking any credit. True freedom is found when we stop trying to earn our standing before God. We never can. Only when we come saying, "I have nothing to give except a broken life" can gain the life of Christ in us.

Living Hope: Ever live if expectation of something great? Fun trips, birthday parties, 16th birthdays, they all come and go. But God causes us to have a hope that never goes away. We eagerly wait with confidence because we will one day be raised from the dead, Just like Jesus!

How are you going to greet others today? Don't forget to uplift the Lord first!