John 6:22-59 - The Lord's Supper and Feeding on Christ

John 6:22-59 

54 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.

Message: The Lord's Supper and Feeding on Christ

Time: Throughout church history, Christians have consistently attributed this gospel to Jesus' disciple John, the brother of James, the son of Zebedee. John was one of the inner circle of Jesus' most trusted companions. It's most likely that John wrote his gospel while he was in Ephesus, and that he wrote it for an audience that lived outside Palestine, perhaps in Asia Minor. John appears to have had in mind members of a Jewish community who had come to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but who had continued to worship in the synagogue. John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing he was to confirm the belief that Jesus was both the Christ and the Son of God.

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus repeatedly in this passage speaks, "I am the bread of life." In verse 51 he says, "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread also which I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh." These are strong words Jesus is proclaiming. Immediately I think of that Islam man I spoke to and how they only accept the book of Matthew. Naturally, they don't accept this text because it is so clear that we must surrender to Jesus and He is the only means to eternal life. 

These words Jesus is speaking were probably before any mention of the Lord's Supper. I would think there may be different interpretations of this text and its full meaning. 

Today's passage speaks of rather striking verses from Jesus. He says we are to eat His Flesh and drink His blood. Roman Catholics and Lutherans believe the bread and cup become the actual flesh of Jesus while Reformers do not believe Jesus' body can be present in more than one place at a time. 

So for me in reading this passage, I do believe Jesus is using these words to help us understand in a more physical and tangible manner the meaning of being joined with Him. As I read the Old Testament, there is much mention on duty. I know God wans His followers to trust Him and be surrendered before Him, but Jesus seems to take it a step further and speaks of a union with Christ we are to have. Jesus comes to earth all God. And he wants us to fully embrace Him with all of us. It is more than outward obedience but inner obedience and a complete life of surrender. God is not someone we simply hang on the wall, but we take Him in. He makes it clear to us, "I am the bread of life."  I am not simply a part of life for you, but I am what you need at every moment of each day. 

Bread and drink is something we need to survive. Jesus is saying you need Him to survive. True life is found in Him. And yes perhaps latter when he institutes the Lord's Supper this passage will bring greater meaning to us. So that as we take the bread and cup we are reminded of Him redeeming us and that we need Jesus not simply at a moment in our life but at every moment. We need Him throughout the day. As my body cramps and looks forward to food. I am to look forward to my time with Jesus. I am to desire that time with Him. He is my sustenance. 

I will be honest in saying I do not think I comprehend this yet. I do enjoy my moments with Him as I do enjoy my moments with my kids, friends, and Pamela so much. May I yearn for Him in an even greater way. Like the man sitting down on the floor as I walked in Heights as a young boy going to Potluck dinner and he was there looking at his Bible and singing with Joy in his Soul. He has always stuck in my mind for maybe for the first time I saw someone completely surrendered and in love with Jesus. And it struck me. 

Summary: Jesus is the Bread of Life. Like bread and wine (drink) I need to want him every moment of every day and I need Him to nourish me. 

Promise: When we take the supper in faith, we are communing with Christ and marked as those who will inherit eternal life. 

Prayer: O God, you are great. I thank you for these words from John and the great meaning of You being our sustenance and for me to be the same as food that I need each day many times during the day. You are my food and my bread and my drink. You have bore my sin and secured me with you forever in eternity. May I keep remembering this and as I take the Lord's Supper may it be an extra bit of joy and time of celebration as to what You have done for me. 

Exodus 12 - The Lord's Supper as Remembrance

Exodus 12 - 7 Moreover they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it...11d you shall eat it in haste--it is the Lord's Passover...13b and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt...14 Now this day will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a permanent ordinance. 

Message: The Lord's Supper as Remembrance

Time: Moses is the most likely author of this book. His education and early tradition make him the likely author and it says in Exodus 24:4 that he wrote what the Lord said. The title Exodus means departure of Israel from Egypt by the hand of God. The book covers 80 years, from 1526 to 1446 with the events at Mount Sinai. God fulfilling promises and his story of redemption are the central ideas.

What the Lord is Saying: John Calvin said, "The new covenant does not destroy the old in substance, but only in form." In today's lesson, we remember the Passover and we also see how the Lord's Supper is linked to it. We previously saw with the sacrament of baptism a link between it and circumcision. Thus, these sacraments differ in their administration, but their substance is the same. Baptism, like circumcision, points to regeneration while the Lord's Supper, like the Passover, points to redemption. 

As I have stated before and believe--God's redemption of His people does not change throughout history. One of the reasons I reject the claim that many today make that baptism is needed for salvation is I don't agree that salvation changes. The Bible has always pointed or looked forward to Jesus and His sacrifice. John 8:56 is an interesting verse by Jesus in which He says, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." Jesus even follows this up by saying, "Before Abraham was born, I am." Whoa! Jesus here is engaging with people about the relationship between Himself, God and Abraham, showing that He was promised by Abraham. And Abraham saw the future. And now today, as we live past Bible times, we look back to Jesus and His sacrifice. 

Before Christ and His final atonement there was the sacrifice of animals offering done to atone for sin. It was regular but through blood--sin was covered. In Christ, the perfect sacrifice, atonement is permanent, once for all (Hebrews 7:27). And Hebrews also records 10:18, "Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin." Jesus has forgiven sin once and for all. 

The text today refers to the old testament sacrament of atonement and redemption. The blood from an animal - a lamb - was placed on doorposts to signify that those within those walls would not receive judgement for their sin. God judged those in the land of Egypt, as Pharoah led these people to reject God. Blood in essence forgave people of their sin. I think this is important because sin was similar or the same in these people. But one was saved and the other not. This is also a sobering truth. For God does not save all. Some will reject Him and some will turn from God and His ways. All of the onus is  on God for what is occurring - saving some, not saving others. God is choosing. People may not like this. They make it think it unfair. So I think what man does then is set up a system of religion that is instead based upon the faithfulness or good deeds of a person. At least that is my thinking. Man has this desire to put the credit on himself. We like that plan. Our world works in this manner so we want things with God to work the same way. 

And yet does our world work this way? I often wonder why some people have good paying jobs while others do not. I mean God has granted me with gifts and I have utilized them and grown through the ranks to achieve what I have, getting paid in the process. I look at people that play sports or sing songs and the world pays them in huge riches. We are all different, each with different gifts. Not all of us can rise to this level so isn't all of life lived in God's sovereignty. Is He not in control of everything? And yet each person still has accountability to their lives. I think of people dealing drugs, trafficking women, abusing innocent people -- are these people under God's control as well. I've been reading Jeremiah and God uses Babylon as His instrument to judge others. Horrible things occur to nations. I'm sure somewhat innocent people are saved while others are redeemed. 

But again for this lesson, in reviewing the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. Sacraments, as I have seen are about remembrance of an event already that has occurred. The Passover was celebrated to remember God redeeming His people. The Lord's Supper therefore also is now celebrated, after Jesus paid for sin, forgiven sin, to remember that He has redeemed us. It was instituted prior to Him fully redeeming us. And yet for us now, we practice it after Jesus has fully redeemed us. 

Summary: The Passover remembered God saving the people of Israel from Egyptian bondage. The Lord's Supper remembers Jesus saving us all from eternal damnation because of our great rebellion to God. 

Promise: As we take the supper, let us remember that because Christ paid the price for us, we owe Him everything that we are. 

Prayer: O God, you are great. You are powerful. You are in charge. You have redeemed mankind and redeemed me. You have placed your Spirit in me so that I will know and worship You and make you known throughout this world, living as your vessel to encourage others in the same way. You have chosen me for this time. Each day is a gift from You. Each moment. I look at my wife and am amazed at the gift you have given to me in her. The joy of being with her. And thankful also for people you have placed in my life. Everyday is a celebration of your providence. Lord, you gave us the Lord's Supper a gift to come together and celebrate your great love for us in redeeming us not simply for a moment but for an eternity. Lord, would you help that observance time for me to be a sweet joy and a sweet time of remembering. Plant in that time I take the cup and the bread the realization that without You I am nothing. Lord, I think you know I seem to struggle with that time. I know it is needed and I want to do it, but often I miss or don't feel its connection or treat it as a celebration. Maybe I am a person that struggles with those type of events and yet simply enjoy the moment my moment of living with You as my Savior and Redeemer. I am not sure, but I do thank you for this time to spend in Your word and reflect on You and what You have done for me. I still don't know why I am so blessed. 

Luke 22:14-20 - The Lord's Supper Commanded

Luke 22:14-20 - 14 When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. 15 And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; 18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood."

Message: The Lord's Supper Commanded

Time: The Gospel according to Luke was probably the last Synoptic Gospel to be written, thus penned around 60 AD. The words salvation are in Luke, though not in Matthew and Mark. Luke, a gentile physician, wrote more than any other NT writer, writing primarily of redemptive history.

What the Lord is Saying: The other sacrament that the Reformers ask us to practice is the Lord's Supper. In this passage - Luke 22 - Jesus builds a bridge between the Passover and the Lord's Supper much in the same way that Paul showed a bridge between circumcision and baptism. Thus, part of understanding the Lord's Supper is understanding the Passover, which most Jews of that day understood, but I admit I need reminders and so I will look a this meaning further in future lessons. 

Verse 15 of the text today mentions that Jesus earnestly desired to have this Passover meal with his disciples. To me it conveys much of the mission of Jesus and that was to have a relationship with people and to impart to them the truth of Gospel, desiring for all people to be saved. Jesus is on a journey that he knows and that others will understand soon enough. He has mentioned his death several times prior and before he dies he has a great desire to spend this time with his disciples. Perhaps in a way it also communicates the importance of this gathering. We are to be a people that gather's together in community often and Jesus understands this and wants this for Him and for us. Jesus is on a mission to preach the Gospel but also to show people the Love of God. He wants to be with us. 

For Jesus, in these passages, are remarks that this is His Last Supper. The Kingdom of God is coming. This again being the salvation of God's people. His sacrifice on the cross. It is coming. He speaks of the signs of His sacrifice, His body, and His blood - bread and drink.

As with baptism, with the Lord's Supper. there seems to be more there than meets the eye. Meaning, what we see happening and what we are practicing seems to have a bigger meeting than simply having water over us or taking bread and wine. A connection is taking place between us and Jesus. Water cleanses us. Jesus cleanses us. Bread and wine nourish us. Jesus will provide for us his love and sacrifice. In baptism there is a union with Christ. In the Lord's Supper there is also a union but also an important remembrance of his body and blood sacrifice. 

Summary: The Lord's Supper has significance in light of the Passover. We are united with Christ and remember His Body and Blood Sacrifice. 

Promise: As we partake of the Lord's Supper, we should think on what the elements represent and ask the Lord to make us grateful for saving us. 

Prayer: God, you instituted these observances because of Your great love for us, for me. Too often Lord I gloss over them or do them without much thought. Yet, Lord, there is deep significance in their practice and so help me Lord to take them more seriously and help me to be more grateful in remembering the great sacrifice you made for me. I love Your truth, but I admit at times I don't celebrate it like I know I should. I thank You for the relationship You want with Me and I want that with others and to continue to rediscover You. Give meaning to me as I study these words in the coming days about this sacrament. 

I Corinthians 11:23-25 - Word and Sacrament Together

I Corinthians 11:23-25 - 23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Message: Word and Sacrament Together

Time: Not the first, but 2nd letter to Corinthians, but the first to survive and to be considered authoritative. Written in AD 55, it was penned after Paul had reports of quarreling in this church he had previously visited. Paul covers a number of subjects, but all focus on the Christian's life in the church.

What the Lord is Saying: In the last lesson, I expanded on the idea of sacraments, these rites or acts we do and how they point to an act of God in a person's life. They reveal truth and reveal something in a person's life. They have a special relation or union between the sign and the thing signified. In this lesson, I will continue to study and connect these dots. 

Towards the end of my time what I saw was a way for us to see salvation in others through these sacraments and have a visible way to confirm faith. And so baptism and the Lord's Supper give breath to our visual world in helping us understand and believe spiritual truths. 

As we take these sacraments and administer them they are not simply done in silence but we spend time as they occur explaining the union of practice and grace. In the Lord's Supper we share scripture about it -- like today's passage. In baptism we talk prior to the act about salvation and what we see in baptism - death (a person under water) and resurrection (a person coming up out of water). In this practice we also observe what Christ did as well as he was baptized and he instituted the Lord's Supper. So we know that these events in our lives are important but they are joined with words and not simply acts alone. Even in other acts such as a marriage union it is important to speak of what God is joining together and it is of His doing. 

Faith is heard. Romans 10:17 - "Faith comes from hearing and hearing the word of Christ." So this speaking of the Word of God is paramount in the practice of the sacraments. No one can simply say they did it without the Word of God coming together with the Sacrament. 

In today's passage we witness this coming together and connection. Again, by themselves bread is simply a part of our meal for eating and nourishing and wine or drinking the cup is the same. But in this practice we make mention that the bread and cup have a connection to God giving up Himself for the salvation or giving of His life for sinners -- “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” And lately I have been marveled at the usage of the language of cups in the Bible. Wondering if this cup of the Lord's Supper also can speak of God's wrath and His conquering of it in my life (Jeremiah 25:15).  In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” The sacrifice occurs in the Body and the Blood takes the place of my sin or the need for judgment/wrath. 

Summary: These acts or rites we observe are empty without the words of God bringing these acts into significance with what Christ has done on our behalf. 

Promise:  It is the preaching of God's Word and the administration of the sacraments that must go together. Let us not let eagerness to meet Christ in His sacraments cause us to neglect meeting Him in His Word.

Prayer: O God, thank you for the gift you give us in these Sacraments and how we can come to know you better as we practice this ordinances of Your Grace in our lives. Help me to always stay grounded in Your Word as we witness or practice these sacraments. I pray the Word of God would remain paramount in our lives and unite us in these practices. Bring churches together and help us to not focus so much on our differences but our similarities so that we have more Unity within the Body of Christ. 

Hebrews 9:13-14 - The Trinity and Atonement

Hebrews 9:13-14
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh,14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Message: The Trinity and Atonement

Time: Hebrews was written to a group of Christians who had suffered in the past and were now threatened with even more suffering. They'd done well years ago, but the author of Hebrews feared that they might now turn away from Christ to avoid further persecution.The opinions on the author of Hebrews has varied.

What the Lord is Saying:

As I have been learning, the co-working of the three persons of the Godhead (Father, Son, and Spirit) is known as the doctrine of inseparable operations. All are identical in their attributes, yet each has distinguishable manifestations. As we study scripture, we must agree it is all God-breathed so it reveals to us things of God.

Romans 8:32 - He (God) who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
Hebrews 9:14 - the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God

Both of these texts share parallel ideas. God and God the Son offer up the Son for redemption and they do so in the Spirit (Acts 10:38 - Jesus of Nazareth, God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit). Atonement is from the Father through the Son offering in the Spirit for our salvation. But, only the Son suffered. The Father and the Spirit did not suffer on the cross. Christ suffered as a man but not according to His deity. Christ was able to offer himself because of the spirit in Him while the animals did it according to flesh. The Spirit here is not conclusively the Holy Spirit but could also mention a divine presence as some manuscripts translate this as eternal spirit.

Hebrews 9 is about the regulations imposed by the tabernacle. 9:7 says - the high priest once a year, not without blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. The writer talks about this practice but then offers that Christ appeared as a high priest...through the greater and more perfect tabernacle... through His own blood...once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. If the act of the animals was great, how much greater is this act of Jesus (v. 13-14). Jesus obtained for us eternal redemption.

It is not simply that this act by Jesus has a longer reaching permanency, but the sins offered include the conscience as verse 14 says - you conscience cleansed from dead works. The blood of Christ purifies not only outwardly, but inwardly. His sacrifice was without blemish to God. There was no spot or blemish, but it was a perfect offering.

We can only truly serve the Lord if all of our dead works have been paid for by the blood of Christ. Under the law there was no service possible until cleansing was performed, but in Christ the cleansing is eternal and complete.

Promise: Christ suffered as man, but because of the work of the Spirit, cleansed us perfectly and completely from all of our past, present, and future sins. He completely satisfied the wrath of God.

Prayer: Thank you for dying for me Jesus and providing the way for me to have eternal union with God. My eternal home is now secure for all time. I thank you God for your great love for me in delivering Jesus up for me. Thank  you for the work of your spirit in raising Jesus from the dead. Help me to pass this onto others in my life and not be silent.

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with January being about the doctrine of God.

Proverbs 6:16-17 - Three Things the Lord Hates

Proverbs 6:16-17
¹⁶ There are six things which the Lord hates,
Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
¹⁷ Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood,

Promise: Three Things the Lord Hates

Time: It seems that Proverbs was written and then compiled sometime between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C. Proverbs was probably written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying: 

This is interesting. Obviously, Solomon seems to be speaking to a group of people, reminding them of what God hates. Chapter 6 has been summarizes as parental counsel. It is interesting, it starts with son being snared by the words of your mouth. Be on guard for what your mouth can lead you to do. We need to careful with our words. And then there is a warning to the sluggard and the speaker brings up the ant. How in some ways humiliating that he looks at the smallest creature whereby a baby's footprint could smash it and yet he looks to that creature as an example for hard work. The ant keeps working, no matter the obstacles, the ant is working. The ant is either working or sleeping. Get up. Stop just sleeping. Wake up and get busy. Then, he addresses one with a perverse mouth. This person is a wicked man, a worthless person. This chapter is shaping up to be a chapter about the mouth.

Then he emphasizes 6 things the Lord hates, but it's not just six, it's seven. This isn't a new section, just a new subject. He is continuing his counsel.

And today i look at the first three:

• Haughty eyes - This is thinking more highly of myself than I ought. At the start of the day, I must understand who I am. I am a child of God. I am a child. He is God. He is my father. I am not to think more of myself than is necessary. This doesn't have anything to do with self-esteem which is believing in myself. I have no reason to not believe in myself because God loves me and I am his child. I have confidence in who I am, for sure, but here I am simply realizing that God is always in charge. I need to be careful that I don't put to much credence on my own work, thinking that I control outcomes. I surrender to God and he is in charge. This is the opposite of the fear of God. It is being humble. I can definitely say, "I can do this" but not "I'm good." Only God is good and I can do this because God is on my side. This pride is the beginning of all other sins. The only reason I disobey God's commands is because I think I can. I want it my way. And my eyes are the giveaway. In Ephesians 4:2, Paul begins with a list of virtues and he begins with "Humility" or the opposite of pride.  
• Lying tongue - The speaker now mentions the tongue. After beginning with pride, the beginning of all other sins, he mentions once again the tongue. Earlier, at the beginning of this chapter was a warning about being snared by the words of our mouth. But, lying wasn't the focus there, but rather it was more being careful about our words and those words getting ourselves in trouble. And then there was a warning about having a perverse mouth. Once again, the mouth is ugly and can degrade people, belittle them. Those were warnings about the mouth. And now, he addresses a lying tongue. Jesus is the Truth. If I speak untruth then I am in opposition to God and I show no regard for God's character. Lying harms me and it can harm other people. I admit, I have struggling with lying most of my life. I really struggled with it as a kid, all growing and through college. I can remember specific ways that I lied. I felt it necessary to just tweak the truth. I wanted people to see me a little better so I changed words. Its horrible. I didn't trust that the person God had made was really good enough to present themselves before others. The reason I am a liar is because I practice lying.
• Shedding of innocent blood - It is one thing to have pride and to think that your way is always the better way, but to then carry out the act and take away the life of another. The horrible thing I see about abortion is a person deciding which life is more important. A choice was made to have sex and now people are deciding the result needs to be removed. This verse speaks of innocent blood. It is not speaking of war, but is speaking of taking someone's life when they haven't done anything wrong. As I read the paper and hear of bombings and slayings and murders, repeatedly there are innocent lives being hurt. This 23 year old boy that went to a bible study and then opened fire on those there is someone thinking that he must decided who is worth keeping around. It's just not that far from abortion. We stare at this young man and give him the death penalty while the potential money is told, she had every right to make that choice. Are not both parties innocent?

Promise: Be careful about my thoughts, my mouth, and thinking I am in control.

My Prayer: Lord, help me to be guided by your truths. On my own, I am selfish and think I know what is best for me. Keep me centered on You, truly humble, and understanding that I am your child at all times. I can never get away from you nor do I want to. Guard me from haughty, prideful eyes, that think I know what is best. And forgive me for my lying tongue, for not trusting in the person you have made in me. And forgive us as a society for the taking of innocent lives.

Jesus Calling: November 14

Bask in the luxury of being fully understood and unconditionally loved. Dare to see yourself as I see you: radiant in My righteousness, cleansed by My blood. I view you as the one I created you to be, the one you will be in actuality when heaven becomes your home. It is My Life within you that is changing you from glory to glory. Rejoice in this mysterious miracle! Thank Me continually for the amazing gift of My Spirit within you.
     Try to depend on the help of the Spirit as you go through this day of life. Pause briefly from time to time so you can consult with this Holy One inside you. He will not force you to do His bidding, but He will guide you as you give Him space in your life. Walk along this wondrous way of collaboration with My Spirit.

Psalm 34:5

English Standard Version
Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.

2 Corinthians 5:21

English Standard Version
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 3:18

New King James Version
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Galatians 5:25

English Standard VersionIf we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

My Prayer
Lord, thank you for knowing everything about me. And thank you for making me righteous, completely accepted by God, not because of anything I have done, but because of the perfect work of Jesus, your sacrifice, my redeemer, my justification for my sin. I am clean, not because I do more good than bad, but I am clean through the blood of the Perfect Spotless Lamb of God. Thank you for not leaving me alone, but giving me Your Spirit, to each day carry me through life, showing me the correct path to walk. 

Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author.

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Proverbs 1:10-19 - The Enticement of Sinners

Proverbs 1:10-19
¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
¹¹ If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause;
¹² Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, even whole, as those who go down to the pit;
¹³ We will find all kinds of precious wealth, we will fill our houses with spoil;
¹⁴ Throw in your lot with us, we shall all have one purse,”
¹⁵ My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path,
¹⁶ For their feet run to evil and they hasten to shed blood.
¹⁷ Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net in the sight of any bird;
¹⁸ But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives.
¹⁹ So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; it takes away the life of its possessors.

Message: The enticement of sinners

Time: It seems that Proverbs was written and then compiled sometime between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C. Proverbs was probably written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

I have remembered reading this passage several times. It is a warning from a father, it seems to a son. But, in actuality, it is Solomon warning his pupils. It is a good warning. There are people that come into our life, especially at a young age, when we are more impressionistic and working to become not what we were raised, but our own person. And the lure from those who are at a similar place in their life, also breaking away from their parents ways, and being their own person, is certainly enticing. I know this first hand or rather, even more so, second hand, I witness it, as my children grow up and hit the high school age. They all have gone in different directions at that age, with the latest, having a slight desire to go down that wrong path. 

Verse 13 stands out because it speaks of the lure that is present and often praised in these times, to get wealth. We are about acquisition and having something that will keep us entertained. "We will find all of precious wealth" is a telling sign and one that is tempting. And then the idea of verse 14 and let's not do it alone, but "throw in your lot with us." The idea I read yesterday stating that two are better than one from Ecclesiastes can obviously be used for the wrong reasons as well.  

There are 3 clear warnings in this text: (1) Do not consent, (2) Do not walk in the way with them, and (3) Keep your feet from their path. I like what this says because each of these statements is a little different. 

Do not consent
Just don't do it. It is a clear and concise statement which is the command that children especially often need. It is quick word of "don't" like don't touch the hot iron. We need these quick warnings at times. They speak the truth. Do not go along. This is the first warning. It is the one that you would hope the children immediately do because you have trained them previously that you can be trusted because your warnings in the past have worked. 

Do not walk in the way with them
Do not hang around them. Do not go along with them. Do not say that you can be associated with them but will not do what they do. We think we are mightier than we are. We think we can hang around people and they won't affect us. We say this about what we listen to, watch, are entertained by; all the time we are saying it is innocent and it won't affect us. But, their is a danger, The verse of "do not be unequally yoked" takes on the meaning that those who are in bed with others of different ways than them will be a chameleon and will start looking differently. We must stay clear of these people.

Keep your feet from their path
Join a different company. Join a different group. Have a different belonging. It is not that we simply don't do it or that we don't walk with them, but our path is different. To be free from any enticement, I must stay free of any association. Before I can swim with the sharks, I must first learn to swim. I am always intrigued by people that minister to serious sinners, like prostitutes, strip dancers, drug addicts, but they can only do this if they are well grounded. The former homosexual who ministers to homosexuals must be very careful. This is why it is so important to stay grounded in God's word because we are called to minister to the lost, but we do not want to be swayed in their direction, so we must start each day on our knees and focused on God's word first. 

Promise: The enticement of sinners is deception. It lures us into thinking that we need "this" to be a part of our life and it will make us more complete, when in actuality, it will strip away what is in our life and replace it with something that will be to our detriment. This is everywhere present and is the basic understanding of sin and being tempted.


 

Jesus Calling: August 9

Wear My robe of righteousness with ease. I custom-made it for you, to cover you from head to toe. The price I paid for this covering was astronomical--My own blood. You could never purchase such a royal garment, no matter how hard you worked. Sometimes you forget that My righteousness is a gift, and you feel ill at ease in your regal robe. I weep when I see you squirming under the velvety fabric, as if it were made of scratchy sackcloth.
     I want you to trust Me enough to realize your privileged position in My kingdom. Relax in the luxuriant folds of your magnificent robe. Keep your eyes on Me, as you practice walking in this garment of righteousness. When your behavior is unfitting for one in My kingdom, do not try to throw off your royal robe. Instead, throw off the unrighteous behavior. Then you will be able to feel at ease in this glorious garment, enjoying the gift I fashioned for you before the foundation of the world.

Isaiah 61:10
English Standard Version

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
    my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
    he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Verse thoughts
God is the one who clothes us with righteousness, with salvation - "he has clothed me" and "he has covered me." Righteousness is given, not earned. We respond with greatly rejoicing in the Lord. We do not walk around and parade our righteousness, we instead walk around and give praise and honor to our Lord, our God. Yet, the clothing, the beautiful headdress and jewels is such a huge contrast from what we were like before being justified, being crowed with His righteousness.  
 
2 Corinthians 5:21
English Standard Version  

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Verse thoughts 
“Christ was not guilty, and could not be made guilty; but he was treated as if he were guilty, because he willed to stand in the place of the guilty. (Charles Spurgeon 1834-1892)" Jesus was not a sinner, but was treated as a sinner on the cross. Jesus took our sin, but gave us His righteousness.

Ephesians 4:22-24
English Standard Version 

²² to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, ²³ and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Verse thoughts
We will never be able to be righteous on our own, but after God has chosen us, we are to live our lives in such a way that it emulates righteousness. Our desire should be for righteousness - right living. I am to then put on daily (these clothes) of righteousness, why would I want to put on my old clothes - and yet I do. I continue to revisit sin that makes me appear unclean. My desire should always be to be seen in His righteousness. 

Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author. 


Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Romans 5:9 - Love Finds a Way

Romans 5:9 - Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

Message: Saved by grace, from the wrath of God.

Time: The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans from the Greek city of Corinth in AD 57, just three years after the 16 year old Nero had ascended to the throne as Emperor of Rome. Persecution of Christians wouldn't begin until AD 64. The church was experiencing times of relative peace. From where he wrote, Corinth, was a hotbed of sexual immorality and idol worship.

What the Lord is Saying:

There is more. Verses 6, 7, and 8 are really important for we see the why of verse 5 and that God poured His love out for us. He did it because we are sinners.  But, there is more.

It is not simply that Jesus died for us, though that was huge. But, again, these verses continue to show me the results of justification. And in verse 9, the result of being justified by His blood is I am saved from the wrath of God through Him.

Paul is a repeater. If there is one thing I notice about Paul and this message of Romans is how much he repeats his message. He says it in a multitude of different ways. But, the message is always the same. And the message is always centered on Jesus and what He did and what He did for us and how God now accepts us because of what Jesus did and us believing in that.

And Paul just repeats that over and over. Along the way, he gives me encouragement for many different things. I am encouraged by the trials that I experience. They are there for a reason. I am getting more patient. And Paul later in Romans will talk about many more applications. But, for now, he wants us to see who we are in Christ. And again, it is all about Christ. It is all about being in Him.

I am saved by grace, from the wrath of God. That is what verse 9 is telling me. Chapter 2 was all about God's wrath. And Paul there was telling the Jews that they can't simply escape God's wrath because God chose them as His people, gave them the Law and gave them the command of circumcision and they got themselves circumcised. Those things from God don't mean that they then get a free pass or access card (as Paul will talk about in Romans 4). for God is not partial to any person. God loves us, so He sent Jesus, to die for us because we are sinners.

Now that we have been justified or made right with God by His blood, that was shed on the cross when He died, I am saved from God's wrath. All people will see the wrath of God one day. But some people will experience it differently.

And then Paul throws in another opportunity to speak of Christ, by saying, "through Him." Just looking at that last through Him cracks me up. God wants it to be so clear, over and over, that what saves me from God's wrath is Christ, not me. It is Christ.

Promise: Through Christ's blood, we are forever beyond the divine vengeance against sin. 

Romans 3:25-26 - Just and Justifier

Romans 3:25-26 - 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Message: What does it really mean when I say I am placing my faith in Jesus Christ?

Time: Paul probably wrote Romans between A.D. 57-58 while he was at Corinth in the home of his friend and convert Gaius. He planned to go first to Jerusalem to deliver a gift of money from the Gentile churches to the poor in Jerusalem. Then he hoped to visit Rome on his way to Spain. His hopes were later realized, but not as he had expected. When he finally arrived in Rome in early A.D. 60, he was a prisoner under house arrest (Acts 28:11-31).

What the Lord is Saying:

Background
This is the end of what has been called the greatest paragraph in the Bible. Romans 3:21-26 which states, (this time from the New Living Translation):

But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God freely and graciously declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

Often, I like to look at NLT because it is written at a basic 3rd grade reading level and sometimes it is good to look at passages with the simple language.

Thus far, I can be right with God. This happens when I (or anyone) place my faith in Jesus Christ. Why is this necessary? Because of sin. Because every person has sinned. Only God can therefore declare us to be righteous. Jesus freed us from the penalty of sins.

Today's Text
So, more clearly, what are we doing when we are saying we have faith in Jesus Christ. That is the essence of verse 25 and 26. A person is stating that they believe Jesus sacrificed His life and shed His blood. When man sins, a punishment is needed. But for man, the punishment came when Jesus sacrificed His life. And so each person can be right with God by believing in Jesus.  

Looking at words and phrases in this text

• Displayed Publicly - protithemai - before place - to place before oneself
• Propitiation - hilasterion - propitiate from merciful - to appease and render favorable
• Blood - haima - the basis for individual life
• Through - dia - by means of - a marker or instrument by which something is accomplished
• Faith - pistis - trust or belief - the conviction of the truth of anything; in the Bible it includes trust
• Demonstrate - endeixis - expose to eyes and give proof - something that points to or serves as indicator of something else
• Righteousness - dikaisune - being fully justified being or in accordance with what God requires - conformity to a standard or norm; the opposite of sin which is missing the mark of God
• Forbearance - anoche - be patient with sense of enduring possible difficulty - a refraining from the enforcement of something that is due
• Passed over - paresis - send aside - intentional not regard or be concerned about certain events
• Previously committed - proginomai - before to come into existence - that which before has come into existence 
• Present - nun - now or at the actual present time
• Time - kairos - a point of time or period of time
• Just - dikaios - right - conforming to a norm; in accordance with God's compelling standards
• Justifier - dikaioo - expected behavior or conformity; not according to one's own standard, but according to a prescribed standard with prescribed punishment

Demonstrate and righteousness are repeated and both instances have the same meaning.

It is clear in scripture that a person must agree with God about their sin. A person must have sorrow for their sin. But God also requires payment for the sin. God's justice must be satisfied completely. What role part does a person have in salvation? A person must admit that they are a sinner. A person must see their sin and see that they have done wrong against God's standard. Throughout the Old Testament God passed over sins committed. People did sacrifice rams, lambs and bulls for sins and God accepted those offerings in the interim, but God knew that Jesus, at the right time, would provide the complete and necessary atonement for sins. God justifies man; God makes man right with God; Man is declared righteous then because of man's faith in Jesus and His redemption of mankind by the punishment He received. Sin has been completely paid for on the cross. Once and for all.

Promise: God is just when He forgives people.