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!

Day 6. Am I my brother's Keeper?

Genesis 4:9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

What do you think God would have said if he decided to answer Cain's question. Yes or no? Remember the preceding events leading up to God's confrontation with Cain? Abel's offering was acceptable to God and Cain's was not. Why? When Cain was corrected by God he was angry and his countenance fell, but keep in mind that God gave the opportunity to Cain for repentance in verse 5 and 6. This attitude problem speaks volumes of Cain's character. Think about it.  When we are forced to come to terms with our shortcomings, sin, or lack of love for God and our brothers how do we react? Do we ignore it, get mad, or turn away from our sin and poor attitude?

Now let's look at a few reasons that are typically considered for Abel's offering being acceptable.

1. Abel may have been obedient by offering an animal (4:4) rather than veggies. We see that God clothed Adam and Eve in animal skins after The Fall in Genesis 3:21. Perhaps Abel was being obedient to God's will revealed to him, and Cain was not. (This is just an inference.)

2. Another consideration is the quality of the offering of Abel, who gave from his livestock "the fat of their portions" (4:4). In other words, Abel brought God the best he had, not parts he didn't want for himself. 

3. Third, Abel gave God the "first fruits" of his flock. The King James Version says that he "brought of the firstlings of his flock." The phrase means that Abel brought the firstborn of the animals. This means that Abel didn't wait for more animals to be born and give one to God out of his excess. By doing so Abel was saying to God, "I trust you to provide for me in the future." That sounds like faith. In fact Hebrews 11:4 says "by faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain." God, if I give you the first hour of my day, I trust you will meet my needs in the remainder of the day. If I give to someone in need before I pay my bills, or pad my savings account, I trust that you will provide. If I surrender my life to Jesus Christ, I trust that He alone has provided my righteousness and inheretance. The Bible tells us over and over that "the just shall live by faith" (Romans 10:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38). 

Now back to Cain. Is he really his brother's keeper? In other words am I supposed to be protecting, guarding, and preventing my brother (or sister) from harm when possible? Well, in a sense ABSOLUTELY YES! 1 John 4:12 says "If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen." Think about this for a second. STOP. Think about it. Cain revealed his lack of love for God in his lack of love for his brother. In fact he hated him so badly that he murdered him. How is your relationship with others? With your brother? Sister? Mother? Father? Friends? Enemies? Do they reflect a love for God? 

Spend some time with God. Confess the areas where you are falling short. Are you being obedient like Abel? Are you living by faith, trusting God for your righteousness in Jesus and with your life on this earth? Or are you trying to earn your way to God, getting angry with others? Confess your shortcomings. He can change our hearts. He alone. 

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean Heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Ezekiel 11:19, 36:26; Jeremiah 24:7; Romans 2:29, 5:5, 12:2

Day 5. Marriage

Mark 10:3-9 

Some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him, and began to question Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a wife. And He answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses permitted a man TO WRITE A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND her AWAY.” But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. “But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE. “FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”

IN TODAY's WORLD, HAVING A BIBLICAL FOUNDATION OF MARRIAGE IS IMPORTANT. 
SPEND SOME TIME READING AND CONSIDERING MARRIAGE. 

Short Essay on Marriage and Divorce

  -Kurt Wagner

     God ordained marriage in the beginning of the world as a covenantal, spiritually fellowshipping, flesh joining, offspring producing, sanctifying, sexually exclusive union between one man and one woman. (Take some time see for yourself in Mal 2:15, Gen 2:24, Gen 1:28, 1 Cor 7:2, 2 Cor 6:14) As believers, we are also instructed to only enter into marriage where both man and wife have received salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus. (Due 7:3, 2 Cor 6:14) We understand the relational paradigm of Christ and His Bride, the church, and a man and his wife. (Eph 5:23-24) Men are given the privilege of providing God honoring leadership for their families with a wife who willing come alongside her husband. Husbands should make self-sacrifice a theme of their love for their wife loving, nurturing, and cherishing her as Christ also loves the church and “gave Himself for her.” (Eph 5:23, 29) In other words, marriage gives men the opportunity to model certain aspects of Christ’s love, provision, protection, encouragement, and faithfulness, and likewise women may model faithfulness, love, and joyful submission to the leadership of her husband.

     The relationship of a husband to his wife and a wife to her husband is second only to their duties and relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ. (Luke 14:26) Marriage is intended by God to last until the death of either husband or wife, therefore “what God has joined together let no man separate.” (1 Cor 7:39, Matt 19:6) Limitations in marriage include the exclusion of close relatives. Abram was married to his half sister Sarai, His father’s daughter to another woman; and Adam and Eve, being the first man and woman, had children who intermarried. (Gen 20:12) However, later in the Biblical narrative Leviticus excludes marriage between near of kin, including sisters. (Leviticus 18:9) One likely practical purpose for this restriction is reducing the damaging effects of the deterioration of genetic information in offspring of close relatives which produces a higher likelihood of birth defects and genetic disorders.

     Marriages are consecrated by sexual intercourse; however the mere physical act is not sufficient in binding a man to a woman in marriage. Sexual union without the covenant of marriage is fornication or adultery. As marriages are covenantal, they should be consented to and held to God’s standard.[1] Biblical marriage accounts are often accompanied by a celebratory period after the formal betrothal period, which was also legally binding in regards to exclusivity in sexual union. (Deu 22:23, 24)  However, declaring marriage simply due to the act of sexual intercourse undermines much of the specific language pertaining to sexual sins by Paul in the New Testament.

     Marriages should adhere to any civil laws which do not directly undermine the nature of marriage in the place where a couple resides. Common law marriages as historically practiced in the United States, which provided legal marriage benefits after a period of mutual infidelity, are very apathetic toward God’s Word. (Rom 13:1, 1 Cor 7:2) Marriage vows were part of Old Testament and Christian marriage, confirming the husband’s taking or pursuing a wife.[2] Once again this is indicative of the paradigm in Christ’s husbandry of the church.

     Today, marriage is mostly considered a civil union that may be broken for merely irreconcilable differences as was also the case in first century Judaism, albeit with nearly all benefits to the man and all loss to the woman. While marriage is in part a civil union, it invokes much more respect than any post-modern human ethic provides. God has declared marriage holy, a label that our society treats with contempt. Proverbs advises that a man find satisfaction in the wife of his youth, because in her he has found favor from the Lord. (Pro 5:8, 18:22)

     When considering God’s high view of marriage, we can expect to see God’s concern for the breaking of this union. In fact, God says plainly that He “hates divorce.” (Mal 2:16) As believers under the authority of God’s word, it is clearly evident that you should not be divorced in 1 Corinthians 7:10. Jesus gives exception in that a man whose wife commits adultery may divorce her and remarry while she is forbidden to remarry. Yet, this is likely referring to the Jewish period of betrothal prior to consumation of the marriage. (Mat 19:8) By inference one may assert this is applicable as suitable for an adulterous man as well. Yet, this horrifically damages the paradigm of Christ to the church because, “if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Tim 2:13)

     We, like Jesus, ought to have a high view of marriage as was intended from the beginning of creation. (see Matthew 5 and 19)[3] Certainly the sin of adultery is not part of God’s plan for marriage. Likewise, the sin of adultery is a very serious sin in its consequences. In light of this, divorce is NEVER mandatory. In fact God devotes the life of Hosea to demonstrate a husband’s love to an adulteress, acting out in human events His faithfulness to an adulteress nation. (Hos 3:1) Still, we know that God gives more grace when we humble ourselves to Him, likewise in a marriage, mercy triumphs over justice. (James 4:6)

     Barring the aforementioned possible exception, married Christians do not have Biblical grounds for divorce with the intent to remarry. This is very clearly taught in 1 Corinthians 7:10-11. They may however have grounds for Agape love, repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation, or any other proper Christian response to their spouse. For those married to an unbeliever, separation is acceptable only for the cause of peace. (1 Cor 7:15) In today’s society, divorce is permitted for reasons as vague and self deceiving as supposedly falling out of love or interest in a new mate. Biblical love is not founded on flittering emotion, but rather a purposed benevolence upon a friend and lover. Likewise, the pursuit of a new or better relationship is a blatant disregard for God’s will. Perhaps the largest problem in our society is our lack of Biblical knowledge, unsaved individuals, or false professions of salvation in Christ.

     Some may object to a strict stance on divorce, however, no biblical grounds are acceptable in light of Christ’s teaching for further permission. Regarding the remarriage of a believer who divorces their spouse the only possible, yet debated exception alluded to in scripture is adultery. (1 Cor 7:10-15, Mat 19:5) Even so, the only proposed permission for divorce is a result of sin, and sin always bears consequences.

     Divorce negatively impacts the parting parties whether due to the sin during the relationship or the emotional separation afterward, especially regarding any children caught in the middle. When studying the effects of divorce it is important to separate the concepts of religious affiliation from religious practice. Calling one’s self a rock doesn’t make them a rock. After separating other socio-economic factors from skewing results, University of Virginia sociologist Brad Wilcox has found that regularly participating evangelical Christians are 35% less likely to divorce.[4] Through the prophet Malachi, God pronounced that divorce is violence. Divorce results in an environment of insecurity and fear for the marriage partners, and more-so for the children. Children in a divorce situation are four times more likely to commit suicide and two times more likely to drop out of high school.[5] Divorcees are at least six times more likely to use inpatient psychiatric care, more likely to commit suicide, and in a 1998 survey in South Carolina, 62% regretted not working harder to save their marriage.[6]

     Divorce is never mandatory, and marriage as a covenant is always able to be continued, even if forgiveness and a time of healing are needed. Separation with the intent to reconcile is certainly acceptable and important, especially if a partner is endangered within the situation at hand. Yet, the motive to reconcile and maintain a healthy marriage should be from faith in Biblical doctrine, as modern statistical research confirms and supports Biblical understanding that divorce is not God’s will. Troubled spouses should seek the Lord Jesus Christ and so be drawn together and continue to get clear Biblical counsel.  Itching ears for personal preference should be rejected and spouses should submit to God. Regardless of how far apart a man and wife have grown, if they both humble themselves, and adopt the humble mindset of Christ, they will only walk closer and closer together. 

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[1] Walter A. Elwell, ed., Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 2001), page 347.

[2] Ibid., 742.

[3] Ibid., 346.

[4] Glenn T. Stanton, “Divorce and Cohabitation,” www.marriagemattersjackson.com, http://www.marriagemattersjackson.com/Resources/Documents/Divorce%20and%20Cohabitation%20DIVORCE.pdf (accessed April 16, 2012).

[5] “Children Divorce Statistics,” www.edivorcepapers.com, http://www.edivorcepapers.com/divorce-statistics/children-divorce-statistics.html (accessed April 17, 2012).

[6]  Stanton.