Tuesday Thought -- September 6, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“There is no one holy like the Lord, there is no one besides you, there is no Rock like our God.” (1 Samuel 2:2)

These are the words of Hannah, the mother of the prophet Samuel.  They are part of a prayer Hannah prayed on the day she turned Samuel over to the Lord.  Samuel was a gift from God, the answer to her prayer for a son after many years of being barren.  In response to God’s gift, Hannah promised that she would give Samuel to Him.  True to her word, as soon as Samuel was weaned she brought him to Eli the high priest and left him to be raised by Eli in the service of the Lord.

It must have been difficult for Hannah to give her son to the Lord.  After all, she had longed with her whole heart for a son for many years.  Yet when she received the desire of her heart, she recognized him as the gift of God and returned him to the Lord.  And when Hannah gave Samuel to the Lord she did not do so with a grudging heart.  She gave Samuel freely and with a heart of praise to the Lord.

God did not demand that she give up her son.  And even in giving up her son, she was not losing him, but giving him to God’s service.  As Samuel grew and matured it would become obvious that his mother had given him to the Lord so that he might accomplish his highest purpose.  He became a great man of God and had a profound influence upon the history of Israel, all because his mother was willing to give him up.

Even as excruciating as the act of giving Samuel to the Lord must have been, Hannah knew God would be faithful to her and to her son.  She clung to Him like a Rock, like the one foundation that cannot be shaken.

What Hannah found in the Lord is still true for us.  He is perfectly holy – never asking us to do anything that is ultimately harmful to us or to those we love.  He alone is God – there is no one else we can turn to who has the strength, wisdom, and compassion that He has.  He is still the Rock – the one foundation upon which we can build that will never be shaken.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- September 2, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.” (Luke 24:50-53)

I’ve been thinking a good deal about death recently. I’m in the midst of another wave of grief because of our daughter’s death eight months ago. Death is an enemy – Paul calls it that in his letter to the Corinthians. It is the last enemy that Jesus will defeat. Death seems so final and the separation so permanent.

That’s one of the lies of Satan that is debunked in this final passage from Luke’s Gospel. Jesus didn’t die in this passage, He’d already done that and come back to life, but He did leave the earth and leave His followers behind. The ascension marked the separation of Jesus from those who had come to Him during His time of earth. In that sense, the ascension is very much like a death. The disciples won’t see Jesus again in this world – not until He comes in the clouds at His Second Coming.

Yet the ascension also demonstrates that the separation did not mark the end of Jesus. As He was lifted from the earth and into the clouds, Jesus was very much alive. The ascension wasn’t the end of Jesus – merely His trip from this world to the next.

That’s true of human death, too. Death doesn’t mark the end of any of us. The very moment that we breathe our last breath earth will also be the moment that we breathe our first breath in the world to come. The separation that death brings from those we love is but temporary – at least for those of us who follow Jesus. We’ll be reunited with all other followers of Jesus in the world to come – the permanent world where separation will never come.

The disciples realized the ascension was not the end of Jesus. When Jesus lifted from the earth and returned to His eternal place in heaven, the disciples lifted their voices in worship and went away with great joy and praise to God.

Remember that picture the next time death strikes close to home. For followers of Jesus, death’s separation is only temporary and death is not the end – it’s only the beginning of real life.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- September 1, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’” (Luke 24:45-49)

First, there is the miracle of atonement. The atonement happened on the cross – “the Christ will suffer,” Jesus said. That suffering was necessary. It was the payment made by God Himself to cover the penalty of our sins.

Second, there is the astounding declaration that the payment had been accepted by God. That is what God declared when He raised Jesus from the dead. There is no clearer proof imaginable that there was something unique and powerful about the death of Jesus. Death took Him, but could not hold Him.

Third, there is the message that is to be preached – repentance and forgiveness of sins. The means by which we accept the payment that Jesus has made on our behalf is by our repentance – by our turning away from ruling our own lives and trusting our own ability to provide for ourselves – to allowing Jesus to rule our lives and trusting His work to provide for all that we need.  That’s repentance – and the result of repentance is forgiveness – a clean slate, sins forgiven.

Fourth, there is the scope of the preaching – to all nations. The Jews couldn’t keep the message for themselves – it was meant for more than just God’s favored nation. It was not to be restricted to just that day and age – all nations includes the nations that would come in the thousands of years that would follow. Not just good nations and good people, but all nations and all people. Not just democratic nations, by dictatorships and kingdoms and every other kind of nation.  All nations are to hear the message of Jesus.

Finally, there is the power – “clothed with power from on high.” The followers of Jesus don’t have to rely on our own strength and abilities – we can’t rely on those because they will never be enough. God provides the power – He promised it – He gave it on that first Pentecost – and He keeps giving it today.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- August 31, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

"While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you.'  They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.  He said to them, 'Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?  Look at my hands and my feet.  It is I myself!  Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.'  When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.  And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, 'Do you have anything here to eat?'  They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence." (Luke 24:36-43)

They saw Jesus crucified.  They watched as He died.  Their hopes were dashed.  They had put so much hope in Him.  Then these strange reports began to come back to them.  The tomb was empty.  Some women had seen Him alive.  He had appeared to Peter.  He walked with two disciples to Emmaus and they didn't even recognize Him until they sat down to eat with Him.  And now, it seems that He is standing in their midst.

It can't be true.  This must be a ghost or a vision they were receiving.  Jesus is dead.  To think that He has come back to life is just too good to be true.  They did not believe "because of joy and amazement."  They had never seen anything like this before or heard about anything like this happening.  Surely it was just their own minds that were willing it to happen and creating a vision.

But then Jesus asked for something to eat and took fish and ate it.  And in something as simple as sharing a meal with them, they realized it was no dream, no vision they were seeing.  Visions don't eat supper!  Jesus was really with them.  He had come back from the dead.  What they had hoped for had come true.  Their wildest imagination had actually happened!

And they were changed men.  Frightened and hiding in the upper room before they realized He had come alive again.  When they were convinced they started preaching to everyone who would listen.  Running away when they came to arrest Jesus, now they'd be arrested themselves and wouldn't back down.  Denying Jesus during His trials, now they'd testify about Him right in front of the ruling council that sentenced Jesus to die.  Something changed them!  He really is alive!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- August 30, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, ‘What are you discussing together as you walk along?’ They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, ‘Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?’ ‘What things?’ he asked. ‘About Jesus of Nazareth,’ they replied. ‘He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.’ He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” (Luke 24:15-27)

For their whole lives the Jews had been studying the scriptures. They knew what the prophets said about the coming of the Messiah. Those who were devout were hoping for the Messiah, praying for the Messiah and waiting faithfully for the Messiah.

These two disciples of Jesus on the road to Emmaus had even greater advantage than the usual devout Jew. They had heard Jesus teach. They had walked with Jesus through Galilee and Judea as He talked with the crowds, explained the scriptures and worked miracles. They had placed their faith in Him. They believed that He was the Messiah.

Yet, here they are, after Jesus’ death. It’s also after Jesus’ resurrection and even after the report of the resurrection from the women and from a couple of the disciples who had gone to the tomb to see for themselves. Yet still they did not believe. Still they did not understand.

They had heard the word of the prophets and studied the word of the prophets – but they didn’t believe the word of the prophets. They couldn’t fathom that the Messiah would be killed and that the having been killed, He would come to life again. That was too much for them to embrace without having witnessed it.

And Jesus said to them, “How foolish are you, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!”

We are surprised by the hesitancy and unbelief of the disciples. And yet, we, too, have heard the word of the prophets and studied the word of the prophets and met Jesus and embraced faith in Him, yet, we are also slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Slow to believe that Jesus really has conquered death. Slow to believe that heaven really does await. Slow to believe that Jesus really is coming again.

All that the prophets have spoken will come to pass – the resurrection proves it.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- August 29, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: “The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.”’ Then they remembered his words.” (Luke 24:1-8)

When the women arrived at the tomb on that Sunday morning they did not find things as they expected to find them!

They came with spices. The spices were a way to show respect to someone who had died. The women were planning to use them on the body of Jesus. They expected to find His body in the tomb where it had been laid on Friday. They expected Jesus to still be dead.

Instead they found the stone rolled from in front of the tomb. That solved a problem they were concerned about. They had no idea how they were going to get into the tomb of the Jesus because of the large stone that protected its entrance. The stone being rolled away solved one problem, but it was what they didn’t find inside the tomb and what they did find that changed all their plans!

The women didn’t find the body of Jesus. It wasn’t there. It wasn’t in the tomb anymore. They had seen Jesus’ body placed in tomb. In some way and for some reason the body of Jesus was no longer there. The women didn’t understand. They wondered what it meant.

What the women did find in the tomb were two men who suddenly appeared. They had already looked into the tomb and didn’t see the men. Now, there they were right inside the tomb. And they weren’t ordinary men – their clothes gleaned like lightning. And the men spoke and what they spoke was astounding, “Jesus is alive, He has risen!”

Luke’s account is a simple one. And the other Gospel writers don’t paint a much more complicated picture. All of their accounts are simple and straight-forward. And yet, what they report in such simple terms is the most profound miracle in the history of the world – God raised Jesus from the dead.

That means that everything Jesus said about Himself was true. That means everything Jesus said about us was true. That means everything Jesus said about the future was true. Everything Jesus said was true. God proved it by raising to life again.

A simple account. A straight-forward miracle. Salvation offering – eternity ensuring – life-changing!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- August 26, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.” (Luke 23:50-54)

There is a detail Joseph of Arimathea that Luke does not mention. To find it you have to read this same account in the Gospel of John. “Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews.” (John 19:38)

Joseph was a secret disciple of Jesus. That is, he was a secret disciple until Jesus died and then he exposed his secret by going to Pilate and asking for the body of Jesus and then he put Jesus’ body in his own tomb. His secret was out. It was out to Pilate. It was out to the Jewish leaders. They knew whose tomb it was in which Jesus had been laid.

I don’t know when Joseph because a disciple of Jesus, the Bible doesn’t tell us that. But the whole time he was a disciple of Jesus while Jesus lived, he kept it to himself. It took Jesus’ death to bring the news out into the public. That seems incredibly sad to me. Jesus knew that Joseph was a disciple because Jesus saw into men’s hearts. But Joseph never had the chance to tell Jesus and never had the chance to express his love and devotion to Jesus – not until He was gone.

Joseph was afraid he would be rejected or afraid he would be ridiculed. There is always a risk in loving someone else – but it is a risk worth taking.

Gandhi said, “A coward cannot exhibit love, it is the prerogative of the brave.” Joseph was a coward – at least until Jesus was dead. Fortunately, Jesus is still alive and Joseph has now had ample opportunity to show his love for Jesus. It’s too bad he didn’t show his love while Jesus was on earth.

There are ways in which it is frightening to love Jesus. We may be rejected by others because of our love for Him. We may be ridiculed for loving Him. But it’s a risk worth taking. Jesus is worth loving. It’s worth letting Him know it. It’s worth letting others know it, too.

His, by Grace,

Steve