Proverbs 11:18 - Patient Goodness

Proverbs 11:18

The wicked earns deceptive wages, But he who sows righteousness gets a true reward. 

Message: Patient Goodness

Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God.

What the Lord is Saying: "For all have sinned." - Romans 3:23. No one is perfect. I asked AI what percentage of the population is wicked and one of the responses was that 10% of the population is wicked. It seems we all want to be good people. I don’t think many want to be wicked. 

And as Solomon does often he contrasts the wicked and the righteous. The bad and the good. As a reminder to me I think we volley at times between being good and bad. And so this text is a reminder of the results of our actions. Another one of the responses from AI was that 10% of people are inherently good and 10% are inherently bad and 80% can be swayed in either direction. My feeling is all are sinners and all can be swayed. 

“The wicked earns deceptive wages.” The gain of wealth by a wicked person means something has been earned improperly. Obviously someone that steals may see a reward but that person being found out for their law braking always looms and makes it hard at times to thoroughly enjoy the earning.

I think of my own life and maybe cheating on tests and not getting found out. I think I did get found out 1 or 2 times, but it seems rare. Speeding and not getting caught. Getting caught happened a couple of times and got in the accident in the summer of 1990 on Candelaria. But overall for most people it is rare. Lying too many times and not getting found out. Looking at pictures that I should not look at and not getting found out. 

In all of those situations of doing wrong, something was gained but it wasn’t honest so it didn’t feel good. It didn’t feel right. I was deceiving myself but not getting caught reinforces a little that it’s okay. So in all of those situations I earn deceptive wages. I could even say working my job and at times not working but doing other things is deceptive earning. If I think about it the standard is high for perfection. And my failure is frequent. 

And so the opposite is true. “Sow righteousness and get a true reward.” I like to think that I do good things. Could I say for the most part in life I am trying to sow goodness and do things right? I hope that this is so. Perhaps the failures are the exception and so it is what I remember lately. Yesterday I felt like I did some good things in making food for our Coral Group and then taking care of my dad. And worked on the Pergola and filling in the cracks. Sure I thought I did something wrong with it, but that's my own insecurity. And for the most part, my work in the office has been pretty good most of the time, feeling like I am trying my best. And I do the ministry online and reach out to people. I think I get payback and appreciation from others. I appreciate Tyson's hugs he initiates always and Megan. Derek does say thanks but it has diminished quite a bit. He used to do it much more often when he was dating Nichole. 

The word here for doing something is sowing for righteousness. Sowing is a metaphor and metaphor's I am learning are very common in the Bible. This is one for agriculture. Sowing was a critical activity that required patience and faith, as the results were not immediate. That is an interesting twist on this verse. Patience and Faith and not getting immediate results. Sin often gets immediate results. Acting in an unrighteous manner often gets immediate results. Doing things right means doing them over longer periods of time and in the long run the results will be good. 

Prayer: God, what an illuminating verse and idea this is for me. When I understand the word and the power of the word sowing this verse comes more alive. Sowing requires patience and faith. This is hard Lord, but true. Doing things right and well doesn't have the immediate impact that sin has in life. I can sin and immediately get a result that often will feel good in the moment but deliberately doing good may take a long time for a good result. And it needs patience and faith. Lord, I need help with this. I feel like I am struggling more and more with patience in different activities. help me to stand firm in my activities and do the right thing. I need your strength God. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

John 9:1-7 - The Man Born Blind

John 9:1-7

1 And as He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind? 3 Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents, but it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of Him who sent Me, as long as it is day; night is coming, when no man can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6 When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes. 7 and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated Sent). And so he went away and washed, and came back seeing.  

Message: The Man Born Blind

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: From the previous verse at the end of Chapter 8, Jesus has left the temple where he had spoken of his history - that He was before Abraham, and “I am” - he is equal with God. And so now here in verse 1 of chapter 9, Jesus is probably near a spot by the Temple, a place where beggars asked for alms. This beggar probably voiced to Jesus and to all that passed by his condition -  blind since birth. He probably announced this to gain more pity from those passing by and thereby bringing about greater sorrow and greater alms. 

In our culture, it seems we are living in a time when begging is very apropos and commonplace. It is difficult to drive in the city now and not see beggars at street corners or traffic lights, who are holding signs, pleading to those passing by for money. And their signs are being written in numerous ways in order to help people have this desire to give to them, to feel sorrow, to recognize the need. 

In this passage, the disciples see the disability of the man and automatically believe it is there not by accident. In the Bible, sicknesses and ailments like this can be the result of sin. Man is not in a perfect state and sickness and disease are signs of that imperfection. But a persons condition may not be a result of their own sin. It may, but it also may be the general result of all sin to mankind. The disciples asset that the beggars blindness is the result of some form of disobedience, either by the man himself while in the womb or even of the belief that this man had a past life and was now bearing the punishment of past indiscretions - either by himself or his parents. 

Jesus, however, corrects them. Jesus responds that this man's problem is not a problem at all and instead it is actually a good thing to result in God's glory. Genesis 50:20 echoes the promise, "and as for you, ye meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." This man, and we don't know his age, has been born blind in order to glorify God. This man's blindness will be cured (verse 6) and that cure will be an act of God showing us his glory and so Jesus is saying that he has what we term a handicap for the purpose of glorifying God. God did not make us only temporary people but eternal people and so we need to remember to look beyond circumstances to what God may be doing in a person’s entire life. 

In verse 4, Jesus mentions the importance of working, not simply laboring as in a job, but doing the work of the Father. This work that is done will be temporary (day) because at some point the work will no longer be needed (because of night). It is possible that the events of the Feast of Booths, which Jesus went to Jerusalem and was involved in (John 7:37 until this the time of John 10:21) constituted the same day and so maybe the day/night correlated with this verse. He has spoken a lot but He seems to still be in this same area of Jerusalem. But Jesus, in whatever work He is speaking about, includes the disciples in that work. He says, "We." While Jesus is the central focus of the gospel in calling people to an abundant life and living life to the fullest, the disciples are involved. We are also involved.

Either way, I suppose the encouragement here is to work hard while we can work. I think of this as I am getting older as the older I get the harder it will be to keep working. My body just won't keep up. Jesus then in verse 5 remarks, "While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." Jesus has spoke of the day in the previous verse, the day being the time to the work, but the sun of the day is not what will illuminate us, He will illuminate us. He is the Light. Maybe this is more of a plead to the disciples that He is here now, in the world, they are to work hard to spread His message as He is in the world and He is a light to this world. 

And then Jesus spits on the ground, made clay, and wiped it on the man's eyes. And the man then saw. Jesus heals, not sure why he did it this way, but Jesus can heal any way he wants. 

Summary: Jesus is the light and in our world today and reveals that a man born blind is that way to bring glory to God. Jesus later heals this man.

Promise: Jesus reminds us that we do not need to look at others to try to determine why they are in the condition they are in, but rather we are to minister to them, and help them in their suffering. 

Prayer: God, you brought Jesus into the world to be our light, both then, now and forever. Thank you for helping me be more understanding of those that are suffering. Give me the strength to do this. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 6:22-29 - The Work God Requires

John 6:22-29

22 The next day the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other small boat there, except one, and that Jesus had not entered with His disciples into the boat, but [that] His disciples had gone away alone. 23 There came other small boats from Tiberias near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 When the multitude therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats, and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, "Rabbi, when did You get here?" 26 Jesus answered them and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled. 27 Do not work for the food with perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man shall give to you, for on Him the Father, even God, has set His seal." 28 They said therefore to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." 

Message: The Work God Requires

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: Thus far in this chapter Jesus has fed 5,000 and upon seeing this the people wondered if Jesus was their prophet, the one to come and rescue them from their land problems and political difficulties, but Jesus goes off to himself alone, to the mountain. The disciples head to the sea to get to the other side, Capernaum and while they are in a sea storm, Jesus shows up, walking on water and coming to them. 

The multitudes now looked on, having seen the disciples leave in the boat and seeing Jesus there now in Capernaum, but did not see another boat that Jesus had been in. After eating the bread (and fish) that Jesus provided they got into boats to go to Capernaum, again seeking Jesus. Once they arrived, they asked Jesus how he got there. Jesus, as is typical, does not answer question directly as He has more to say to them. And Jesus responds, saying to them, that they continue to follow because they have had a personal experience with Jesus - having been benefactors of the feeding of loaves of bread now and fish. Stated another way, people come to Jesus because they want something - personally. This is not necessarily bad, but Jesus wants them to want more than a miracle. He says "You seek Me not because you saw signs." The people are not seeking after Jesus because they are trying to discover more of God and more of who God has sent. The signs purpose is to point to Jesus and to show that Jesus is more than a mere man, even more than a miracle healer, but He is the Son of God. 

Back in verse 14 and 15, the people want something, but Jesus has a different mission. We must be willing to look at Jesus and embrace who He is. Instead, we come to Jesus with a wish list of what He is supposed to do for us. He is the genie in a bottle, a Santa Clause type. We are selfish. We are needy and Jesus is going to grant us what we need so we can fulfill our life now. 

But now they are to work not for food (Do not work for the food that perishes). Do not focus only on this life, this temporary life. 

Carrie Underwood, the country singer, sang in 2009 with the song of the title, Temporary Home:

"This is my temporary home
It's not where I belong
Windows in rooms that I'm passin' through
This is just a stop, on the way to where I'm going
I'm not afraid because I know this is my
Temporary home"

Instead of comfort coming from getting my needs of this present life met, I need to focus on eternal life, "for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man shall give to you." And even as Jesus is explaining this they still feel like they must do something, but Jesus says to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."  Their response is again wondering what work they need to do. But Jesus says to them, the work you do is only to believe. 

This is the message that I need to be trained on each day (I Timothy 4:17-18) because I too often am trained by a message of "It is all about me and all about me now." Jesus says life is all about Him. Trusting Him. Loving Him. 

I have seen this before and it continues. Jesus responds to questions and situations in a different manner and way than people expect because His agenda is different and His prescription to people is rather simple: Follow Me and Believe. 

Summary: Jesus talks to the multitudes, helping them see that they only need to believe in Him in this life and not go after that which meets their own temporary needs of this life. 

Promise: We do faith following a regeneration by the Holy Spirit of us. We are to be filled with Christ and with His grace. 

Prayer: Lord, I am reminded in this text of how I am so focused in this life and going after that which pleases me. I suppose it is a natural way in which I live, but I do want to be trained by You so that My life is being lived in the way that glorifies You. Help me to glorify You. It all needs to come back to You. This is a tricky balance in My life. I suppose I can't help most of the time pleasing myself, but I want to be a person that is focused on the needs of others. I will self-protect myself and will naturally take care of my needs, but my work needs to be for others, for you O God. You will satisfy what I need. Help me to understand this further Lord and to understand You further and How you work in Me, in people to bring them to faith and a knowledge of You. I love this simple milk but I also love solid food that I discover through these same words. Keep teaching me. Keep challenging Me to share this truth with others. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 5:15-18 - The Father and the Son's Sabbath Labor

John 5:15-18

The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. And for this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. But He answered them, "My Father is working until now; and I Myself am working." For this cause therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. 

Message: The Father and the Son's Sabbath Labor

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: As I read these passages I often will think about the claim that Jesus is God. It is something I see but it is also something that many people refute. Nowhere does Jesus say, "I am God" in scripture and yet there are many examples of Him having God qualities or performing in the same way as God. 

One of the reasons I think about that is thinking about the different type of creatures there are: God and man, angels/demons. And so Jesus clearly is a man and yet I believe He is a super man and yet supermen are not real. There aren't 3 different types of creatures, meaning a third type being a super man. For Jesus to die for our sins, he must be perfect. Can perfection happen in a man? I don't see this. 

This passage is an interesting look at this idea as Jesus as being God as the Jews of the idea believed He was making Himself equal with God for saying that He and the Father are working in the same way. 

Why did the Jews (or Pharisees as is mentioned in Matthew 12:14) claim Jesus and the Father were equal. It seems to be several things. One is that Jesus healed the man at the pool on a Sabbath day, again mentioned in Matthew and also John 5:9, "It was the Sabbath on that day." God is the only one that can do work on the Sabbath. It is not that Sabbath work cannot be done, but only God can do it. 

In addition, he told the lame man afterwards to pick up and carry his pallet/mat. So he instructed someone to break the Sabbath code of doing anything of extra burden. The man no longer needed the pallet/mat. If he did, it is not Sabbath breaking to use it, but since he can walk now he has no use of it. 

Summary: Jesus is accused by the Jews (Pharisees) of being equal with his Father (God) by doing something only He can do - do work and heal someone on the Sabbath. 

Promise: We are called to do what is necessary to preserve life even on the Lord’s Day.

Prayer: Thank you for your great work God, to do the unexpected and to do what only You can do. I thank you and praise You for loving me and showing Your love to me continually. Help me to shine your love to others always. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

Genesis 2:15 - Finding Your Vocation

Genesis 2:15 - Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.

Message: Finding Your Vocation

Time: Genesis is the first book and Moses is credited as authoring. The book spans 2400 years of time. It was originally written in Hebrew.

What the Lord is Saying: As I continue to ponder these lessons about vocation, I am reminded that God calls us to work in various fields of service. Each of us are to do the work that God calls us to without thinking one area is better than another. All are important. Romans 12:4-6 mentions that we are many members in one body and we need to discern what God has given each person to do. Not everyone is alike. "For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us." 

Lately, I have come to realize more and more that God's call on everyone's life is the same. However, some people will only be pursuing their own self interests and not glorifying Him in their service. But this doesn't nullify God's purpose for people's lives. I Thessalonians 4:3 say, "For this is the will of God, your sanctification." We are one body with one distinct purpose: to glorify God and to grow in Christ. 

Yesterday, I was out walking and neighbors asked me about the vacation my wife and I had recently returned from and I described it as a great time and then as I walked away I voiced, "Back to the grind." I regret saying those words now but it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that work is a grind and an inevitable but somewhat unwelcome part of life. As the passage mentions today, God has created man to work. We have a task to do and that He has called us into. It brings meaning to our lives, but also is for our good and growth, to provide people what they need and want, and so by working we are loving our neighbor. Even in Revelation 22:3 it mentions that in the new heavens and earth, we will continue to be servants of Him - "There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him." So I need not be dull of work or think it is a grudge or an inconvenience and that I am simply working for the weekend. 

Work can be difficult but this does not mean that since it is difficult that it is work that I should not be doing. I Timothy 5:8 reminds me that the work I do is to provide for my own needs. "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

Summary: God gifts us to work in a certain way, for our good and for the good of others in loving them. 

Promise: We need to find work that is sanctioned by God's word and for which we are gifted. We only have to ask ourselves what we like to do and how we can provide for ourselves and our families while doing it. 

Prayer: Lord, you are good and gracious and it is wonderful to see how our work takes care of our needs, but also glorifies You in the process, helps others, and in turn, loves our neighbors. Help me to remember this and forgive me thinking it is a grudge or a life inconvenience. I know many times I have thought if I had a lot of money, I would not need to work, but I need to remember that the money you provide is not only for me, but to help those in need. Keep me reminded of this. Many are living in difficult situations and I could assist them, though it is hard. Give me discernment in doing this. 

Exodus 35:30-35 - Equipped for Vocation

Exodus 35:30-35 - 30 Then Moses said to the sons of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 31 And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding and in knowledge and in all craftsmanship; 32 to make designs for working in gold and in silver and in bronze, 33 and in the cutting of stones for settings and in the carving of wood, so as to perform in every inventive work. 34 He also has put in his heart to teach, both he and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. 35 He has filled them with skill to perform every work of an engraver and of a designer and of an embroiderer, in blue and in purple and in scarlet material, and in fine linen, and of a weaver, as performers of every work and makers of designs.

Message: Equipped for Vocation

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: The Word of God is amazing to me. If it is true and I believe it is because my mind was formed by God to be a reasonable creature and in matters of living and belief, this is the only belief that makes sense. God is the author of all creation, but also of created things and the other of our lives in what we do. He works in us in the right way at the right time to equip us for the work of His kingdom. And yet as His people we can still get in the way of His great work. 

There are many ways we can serve our creator. I Corinthians 7:21-24 says, "Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that. For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord’s freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ’s slave. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called." And I Peter 2:9 speaks, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." 

The Lord calls us and the Lord equips us for the vocation He has called us into. Today's passage is a great example of this. I could restate this entire passage, but it is evident that the Spirit of God has given us ability. God has granted this to all people. Some recognize it and give Him glory of it and others do not but the reality is He has gifted every person. Some of are using the gifts selfishly, for their own glory, while others are giving God the glory and working in a way that honors Him. I think we need to not lose focus that God has gifted all people for we are all made in His image. James 1:17 says, "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow."

The Exodus passage is so clear. I've never noticed it before. It is the Spirit of God that equips us with craftmanship, design, ability to cut and carve, to teach and filled us with every work. Praise God for His hand of providence not only in food but in knowing how to do what we do. Yes, he uses school to teach us and train us but ultimately our ability to even learn is defined by God. I am not a quick learner. It takes me time to dive in and I have great job in learning, but I must do it in my way, according to the way He has designed me. I thank Him for the gifts He has given me. I am blessed indeed. 

Summary: All good gifts are from God and our aptitudes and abilities to work are a gift from God as well. 

Promise: From Tabletalk - Even though God gifts us with particular talents for particular tasks, that does not mean we put in no effort to grow in those talents. We are stewards of the gifts God has given, and as good stewards, we should be striving continually to improve our skills for the sake of glorifying God in our vocations.

Prayer: O God, you are not only the giver of life, but you are the giver of all the skills and aptitudes and abilities we have in this life to live. Thank you O Great God for your great gifts and knitting us all in a way that is ultimately for our good. Continue to equip me and help me to be a good steward of that which you have given. 

Ephesians 4:12-14 - Our Arena for Growth

Ephesians 4:12-14 - To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 

Message: Our Arena for Growth

Time: Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians sometime in AD 60–61, around the same time he wrote Colossians and Philemon. Ephesians deals with topics at the core of being a Christian - faith and practice, no matter the situation.

What the Lord is Saying:

This lesson begins a series of lessons on the purpose of Church. At is core, the purpose of the church is to bring God glory. Yet, in this passage today, after studying in the last 2 lessons of church offices - the next verse in Ephesians is Paul calling to the Church leaders the goal To equip the saints for the work of ministry. So it is in the church that we become equipped. I was in a church that mentioned this often and yet they had so many people on staff doing ministry, it made me wonder at times if they were really equipping or simply enabling the church people to depend on the pastors.  

I think my focus on church has often been from the words in Hebrews 10:24-25 -- And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. I suppose it seems that while the leaders are equipping the body is being challenge while also being encouraged. Living in our world is a challenge on many levels. We strive to keep fighting the fight (I Timothy 6:12) and yet even in this we need encouragement from one another. 

I think our current church does a great job preaching and teaching. We are now in a large class after service. Again, great preaching and good people. And maybe the mere presence of being there is an encouragement but talking through life with one another, that remains a challenge. But no matter what,  there is something special about being in church versus being alone and I think this is what the writer's of Tabletalk are emphasizing here. It is the place that encourages us and anchors us in spiritual growth. I don't think this means that all of our spiritual growth occurs at church but even as I think about in my life, the fellowship and the people in my life that have resulted in my spiritual growth have all come from church. Many people stay away from church for reasons that I have experienced, not liking the leadership, not agreeing with it. And yet in the process we miss out on what remains important, being taught, shepherd and encouraged. 

Personal, individual study is good, but it is through fellowship with others and talking to others about these studies and being involved in life with others that growth happens. In my life, meeting with other men has been a church. Even my work in GMO is a church of sorts as we continue to engage in discussions around truth. I think there is even something mysterious about how this happens. There is an accountability that takes place. Overall, it is central to who we are. 

I see this further in this passage. Leaders will equip the saints for the work of ministry and in this time at church we are coming together for building up the body of Christ. A building is one of strength and the community of believers is meant to have a strength. As the passage continues, church life recognizes that Jesus is not walking with us in physical form and yet as we have each other and are with each other we have this goal of all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ -- all of those words speak of maturity; our goal is to grow and grow together - focusing on the Son of God. We are not meant to always be young, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. We are meant to mature so that the cares of this world do not have a stronghold on us. 

Summary: It is at church, present, that we are to be equipped and build one another up in order to grow in maturity. 

Promise: No amount of study that we do on our own, however helpful it may be, can substitute for the benefit we receive by participating in the educational ministry of our local church

Prayer: O Father God, thank you for orchestrating life as you have. In all times, the church has been the place we need to be taught, encouraged, and grow. Thank you for knowing that we need this and giving me always that desire to be involved. Thank you for the people you have placed in my life to do the work of ministry and being in fellowship. You have given me always a great love for church. I'm so thankful for my mom and her love for it and showing us at an early age the importance of being with one another. I always think of those Sunday evening potlucks and doing life together. We still need this. I still need this. Help me to continue to invite others into our home and figure out a way to be with one another in these ways. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am now working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of August is about the Body of the Lord - the Church recovered in the Reformation; July was the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May, Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation, Scripture; January, the doctrine of God. 

Christ's Body

The Body of Christ - The Church is the Body of Christ and Christ loves the church. We are to imitate Christ and see that the Church is how Christ carries out His purposes in the world. The Head of the Church - Christ is Head of the church and he only has final authority and gives life to the church. Life is found only in Jesus Christ our Lord. - The Church We Can See - Belonging to a church is not optional, for anyone. We are meant to live in a community with other believers, to hear the Word of God preached, and to grow. The Church We Cannot See - What we see is the Visible church, the invisible church only God knows because He is omniscient and that is the Church we cannot see. 

Truths about the Church from the Apostles Creed

Church Unity - The church is bigger than our local assembly; there are core beliefs among the invisible church. One People Throughout History - God has only one people; throughout the world there are people that share doctrines and truths despite their being differences in where we attend or belong. God's Holy People - By being in Christ, though we still have a fallen nature, God has set us apart as holy, as his saints. True Catholocity - God's people includes men and women from every tribe and every tongue that hold to the biblical gospel. The Apostilic Church - we are fellow citizens with all people from all tribes and tongues throughout history, united by being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets teaching, thus apostolic, with Christ Jesus being our cornerstone.

What the Church Does and Believes

Preaching Christ and His Commandments - A church needs to be committed to faithfully preaching the Word of God. Administering Sacraments - Sacraments (The Lord's Supper and Baptism especially) need to be part of a church existing, but they also need to be rightly administered. The Discipline of the Church - We need to be a people that encourage repentance to keep the church pure and set apart.

Church Leadership Offices

Prophets and Apostles - There is a foundation of how the church begins and that foundation is the apostles and prophets. Evangelists, Shepherds, and Teachers - Only mention of pastors in the New Testament. 

Galatians 3:10-14 - Judaizing Legalism

Galatians 3:10-14

For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written," “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM." Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE— in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Message: Judaizing Legalism

Time: Paul wrote to the churches in southern Galatia after having a hand in starting them on his first missionary journey to Asia Minor, making sure they were on the path of truth and not led off into deception. Paul wrote the book a few months before his attendance at the Jerusalem Council in AD 49.

What the Lord is Saying:

I started this study on the Law over 2 months ago. I haven't posted anything in the last month. I don't know why other than I wake up late and have been prioritizing a morning prayer walk and sometimes that is all the time I have to do something before I head off to work. Plus I've been working more. And trying to stay on top of my online missionary duties. And then I haven't been studying much lately on the weekend. 

But this has been an interesting study about the Law. Everyday it seems I engage with the Law in my life. The message this past Sunday was about the mission field. I got home last night so overwhelmed with work and wondering what I was doing of late to reach my mission field. And so I wrestle with these commands God has given me. At work, I'm trying to do the best I can with my job. But, I fail, continually. Life is about performance, doing things. I need the Law in my life to remind me what I shouldn't be doing and what I should be doing. 

I know often I wish at times there was no law and all I had to do each day was take it easy. I get used to rest. But after a while rest doesn't get me much and I wonder if I'm resting too much. 

This lesson today brings up the "law of Christ" as it is referenced in several New Testament verses. The thought by Ligonier is the moral commandments of the Mosaic law are included in this Law of Christ. There are 3 types of laws it seems mentioned in the Bible: Moral commandments or laws, Ceremonial Laws, and Civil Laws. All 3 laws are in the Old Testament but it is the Moral laws that are focused on in the New Testament and that Jesus mentioned and Paul later wrote about. 

I found this description of the three here and here. 

• First, are civil laws. These were specifically given for the culture of the Israelites, which includes everything from murder to restitution and dietary restrictions.
• Second, are ceremonial laws. This literally stands for the customs of a nation. These would have included sacrifices of perfectly good animals, and rejection of food sources such as pork and rabbits. These laws were specific only toward the Jews.
• Third, are God’s moral laws. These relate to justice and judgment. They are based on God’s own holy nature. As such, these ordinates are holy, just and unchanging.

The lesson from Ligonier's devotional today is that "believers are bound to the law of Christ (I Cor 9:21; Gal 6:2)." Those verses speak of the law of Christ. This "law of Christ includes the moral commandments of the Mosaic law (Matt. 5:21-30; Rom. 13:8-10; 1 John 3:12,15)." Matthew 5:21-30 is where Jesus brings up personal relationships and takes the Mosaic law to a new level or different level. Thus, it includes it, but Christ explains that the laws which have clear outward results when violated (you can see a person murdered, you can see adultery), but they also have a component that can't be seen as clearly (hatred and lust). 

This reminds me of something. Last week we discovered that one of our employees had been convicted of crime of rape. It was shocking to see how this one act changed their lives. But, I think we often stare at the acts and forget that there was a heart issue present. Sin begins in the heart in how we view women in this case and sex in this case. In this case, it starts with a desire that turns into an action that we have difficulty controlling. I think that is what Jesus is talking about here in Matthew 5 that we must look at our heart. And I John 3 further speaks to the idea that these internal acts are viewed in the same way as the outward acts, meaning that doing them negates your ability to make it to heaven. Once again showing that any disobedience results in losing the promise of eternal life. 

And so Paul rightfully takes this thinking that Jesus puts forth in the law of Christ to show us that overriding thought is one of love and how we love our neighbor. If we truly love people we will not break the commandments of adultery, murder, coveting, theft. Thus, we should desire to keep God's commandments -- in all of the ways they are presented. 

But, we must never think that law obedience then results in God's acceptance and salvation. God saved them from slavery and then gave them 10 commandments (Exodus 20:2). Our obedience is a response of God's love not a condition for receiving it. And so the idea that obedience brings about God's acceptance of us for salvation, this is the error of Judaizing legalism. And thus obedience is intertwined with justification. It is, but only Christ's obedience matters because only his obedience was without sin. Any sin nullifies our ability to be saved. But being obedient is how we live life. 

And so this leads us to today's passage in Galatians 3:10-14. If one subscribes to the idea that working the Law or working obedience then that person is under a curse. For a person is cursed because law obedience for salvation is based upon doing "all things written in the book of the law." Deuteronomy 27:26 records these words -- "Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ Thus, true righteousness is obtained in living by faith or being a person of faith. And law living is not faith living. What Christ did on the cross is He redeemed us from Law living; He redeemed us from this curse. We are cursed because law living is impossible. The curse got transferred to Christ and only Christ can fulfill the Law. 

To me, once someone acknowledges God this idea of Judaizing legalism enters lives in very subtle but profound ways. We must always re-focus ourselves on the idea of obedience in response to God's love and not as a condition for God's love. I think the area that I struggle with is whether obedience results in God's blessings for our life. I mean, once we understand salvation is by faith alone, does obedience impact blessing? Most definitely to receive any blessing we must be in Christ, surrendered to Him, accepting His justification. 

Promise: God saves us to make us obedient. We are not obedient in order to be saved. 

My Prayer: O God, the riches of your love and the riches of this message never ceases to amaze me. I have to place it at the forefront of my thinking all of the time because it is so opposite to the way in which life is lived in the world in which acceptance follows good work. But, you show us the better way. Help me to always keep this supreme in my thinking. And Lord help me to understand also your blessing and what it means to me and how obedience is related to normal day to day blessings. Lord, forgive me for letting the busyness of life get a hold of me. Help me to do my best at work while also do my best 

in the areas of ministry you have called me to be in. 

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 celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of July is about the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.

The Restraint of the Law - the law is given for lawless, unholy, disobedient people, to restrain us from acting on our sinful thoughts. Restraint and Guilt - the law is meant to restrain Christians and non-Christians alike; so that others may see Christ. The Law's Revelation of Sin - The Law reveals sin, at times making it more desirable, and show the sin which people commit and the complete standard it expects. The Law and Our Powerlessness - We are powerless over the Law and Sin revealed. It is in Christ that we receive forgiveness and the power to resist sin. The Law our Guardian - The law is not a tool of justifying me, but rather it is an instrument to bring me to Christ and show me my need for Him. The Guidance of the Law - The Law is a guide in our lives for what pleases God and what it looks like to walk in holiness. The Antinomian Error - We were slaves to sin, but now we are slave to obedience and righteousness. 

My Utmost for His Highest - May 15th - The Habit of Rising to the Occasion

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. - Ephesians 1:18

    Remember what you are saved for--that the Son of God might be manifested in your mortal flesh (see 2 Corinthians 4:10). Bend the whole energy of your powers to realize your election as a child of God; rise to the occasion every time.

    You cannot do anything for your salvation, but you must do something to manifest it, you must work out what God has worked in (Philippians 2:12). Are you working it out with your tongue, and your brain and your nerves? If you are still the same miserable crosspatch, set on your own way, then it is a lie to say that God has saved and sanctified you.

    God is the Master Engineer, He allows the difficulties to come in order to see if you can vault over them properly--"By my God have I leaped over a wall. (Psalm 18:29)" God will never shield you from any of the requirements of a son or daughter of His. 1 Peter 4:12 says--"Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you." Rise to the occasion; do the thing. It does not matter how it hurts as long as it gives God the chance to manifest Himself in your mortal flesh.

    May God not find the whine in us any more, but may He find us full of spiritual pluck and athleticism, ready to face anything He brings. We have to exercise ourselves in order that the Son of God may be manifested in our mortal flesh. God never has museums. The only aim of the life is that the Son of God may be manifested, and all dictation to God vanishes. Our Lord never dictated to His Father, and we are not here to dictate to God; we are here to submit to His will so that He may work through us what He wants. When we realize this, He will make us broken bread and poured-out wine to feed and nourish others.

- From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition.

My thoughts

God with us. Never forget that my salvation is so Christ can work through me. That is the hope of my calling. I must work out in me what God has worked in. That is a great reading of Philippians 2:12 that so many have given the idea that our salvation is by works. We are not saved by works. God enters our life and daily I need to surrender to Him so that His works in me will be manifested. I must look different if I am to say that God has saved me. Difficulties come my way for me to then vault over them. He allows the difficulties. Responding to trials centered on God shows that God is in me and I am trusting in Him. God with me. That's why I am here so people will see God in me.

My Utmost for His Highest - May 10th - Take The Initiative

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue (furnish your faith with resolution - Moffatt); and to virtue knowledge. - 2 Peter 1:5

    "Add" means there is something we have to do. We are in danger of forgetting that we cannot do what God does, and that God will not do what we can do. We cannot save ourselves nor sanctify ourselves, God does that; but God will not give us good habits, He will not give us character, He will not make us walk aright. We have to do all that ourselves, we have to work out the salvation God has worked in (see Philippians 2:12). "Add" means to get into the habit of doing things, and in the initial stages it is difficult. To take the initiative is to make a beginning, to instruct yourself in the way you have to go.

    Beware of the tendency of asking the way when you know it perfectly well. Take the initiative, stop hesitating, and take the first step. Be resolute when God speaks, act in faith immediately on what He says, and never revive your decisions. If you hesitate when God tells you to do a thing, you endanger your standing in grace. Take the initiative, take it yourself, take the step with your will now, make it impossible to go back. Burn your bridges behind you--"I will write that letter"; "I will pay that debt." Make the thing inevitable.

    We have to get into the habit of hearkening to God about everything, to form the habit of finding out what God says. If when a crisis comes, we instinctively turn to God, we know that the habit has been formed. We have to take the initiative where we are, not where we are not.

- From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition.

My Thoughts

We cannot save ourselves not sanctify ourselves, but each day we need to put in place in our lives good habits. God provides us the ingredients, but we still must put them in practice and make choices that will glorify Him. He does not make us robots. Initiative is used 4 times in this lesson. 

My Utmost for His Highest - April 23rd - The Worship of the Work

For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. - I Corinthians 3:9

    Beware of any work for God which enables you to evade concentration on Him. A great many Christians workers worship their work. The one concern of a worker should be concentration on God, and this will mean that all the other margins of life, mental, moral and spiritual, are free with the freedom of a child, a worshipping child, not a wayward child. A worker without this solemn dominant not of concentration on God is apt to get his work on his neck; there is no margin of body, mind or spirit free, consequently he becomes spent out and crushed. There is no freedom, no delight in life; nerves, mind and heart are so crushingly burdened that God's blessing cannot rest. But the other side is just as true--when once the concentration is on God, all the margins of life are free and under the dominance of God alone. There is no responsibility on you for the work; the only responsibility you have is to keep in living constant touch with God, and to see that you allow nothing to hinder your co-operation with Him. The freedom after sanctification is the freedom of a child, the things that used to keep the life pinned down are gone. But be careful to remember that you are freed for one thing only--to be absolutely devoted to your co-Worker.

    We have no right to judge where we should be put, or to have preconceived notions as to what God is fitting us for. God engineers everything; wherever He puts us our one great aim is to pour out a whole-hearted devotion to Him in that particular work. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might. (Ecclesiastes 9:10)"

- From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition. 

Acts 26:12-18 - Faith and Sanctification

 Acts 26:12-18

12 “While so engaged as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, 13 at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; 17 rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’

Message: Faith and Sanctification

Time: Clearly written by Luke, this book follows the lives of Peter and then Paul after Jesus' ascension into heaven. The book was completed about 62 AD as Paul sat in prison. It provides an account of the growth of the Church and spread from Jerusalem, from a small group of frightened believers in Jerusalem transformed into an empire-wide movement of people who had committed their lives to Jesus Christ, and it should help us to be bold and have zeal in our walks with God.

What the Lord is Saying: 

The thing that has already amazed me about this teaching and truth about the fact that good works are separate from saving faith, though clearly testifying to others of the faith we have, is the notion that those good works are being done without an expectation of receiving something. Thus, they are truly good. They are a response of our commitment not in order to earn favor with God. And therefore the motive or reason we do them is pure. It is untainted. 

I am not sure there is really much in my life that is done where I am not hoping to get something in return for it. I work hard but a paycheck is always at the end of two weeks. Granted, I often work beyond my 40 hours and so maybe this shows my commitment to the work, but still I am getting paid. Volunteer work I think shows our true desire to serve and give of ourselves. 

Sanctification is the inward transformation we experience from the point of our conversion. It is the state or process of being set apart as holy. At the point of conversion, God accepts us not on the basis of who we are and what we have done, but on the basis of Jesus Christ and who He is and what He has done.  And this is by faith. Yet, after conversion is the process of sanctification or being made holy in the life of the believer. It is the process whereby we move the needle to actually look like Jesus. This is also by faith.  

According to Tabletalk, there are 2 ways scripture speaks of sanctification: 

1. Positional or Declarative Sanctification -- At the moment of trusting in Christ alone for salvation I am set apart as God's holy person. "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." - I Peter 2:9-10 Thus, in God's sight I am holy. I am a "new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

2. Progressive Sanctification - Until I am glorified, I am unholy in practice. Thus, I engage with the Lord in the process of sanctification. Daily I die to self and live unto Christ, seeking to obey Him in all things. Here I am becoming in my experience what I am already in God's sight. "Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation." - I Peter 2:11-12. And this process is work. It is faith in God to work this out in me, but it is also work by me choosing behavior that will glorify God. Romans 8:13 - "for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live." As Paul records so clearly in Philippians 2:12-13 -- "work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."

Wow, this is an amazing truth. I am declared holy by faith, but daily I choose holiness. Acts 26:18 - "receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me." Thus, I am living my entire life by faith. Faith that God has declared me accepted and faith that He continues in me to be holy. 

Promise: As Tabletalk records --- we are justified by faith, but even the sanctification and good works that follow our justification are based on faith. 

Prayer: O God, you are glorious and it is a wonder to understand You and Your words of truth. Thank you for this message that I needed to hear this day. That I am a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy person, possessed by You. You have declared me accepted and in Christ. I am a new creation. And yet each day I live, I make choices to be united with You or not united with You. I pray that daily I would dies to self and live unto Christ. I want to be united with your Spirit and live in a manner that is glorifying to You. Thank you for giving me this strength each day and working in me, giving me the will and the work so that I will glorify You. 

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 celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of June is about justification; May was about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.

Mankind's Condition - The Sins of the Gentiles - Though born with God being evident, Gentiles do not honor God or give thanks, look to their selves for truth, and God gives them over to their sin, and in the process God's wrath is sin which will culminate on the Day of the Lord. The Sins of the Jews - Jews thought their status meant only Gentiles were true sinners. Romans 2 and 3 explains that Jews are just as guilty before God. 

The Law Speaks - The Law and Accountability - the Law reminds us we are sinners and doing good will not outweigh this bad; I am condemned. Righteousness According to the Law - The Law can make one righteous if obedient to all, but we are sinners. Human Inability - man cannot make himself righteous because he is a sinner. 

Only Justified through Christ (God) - The Obedience of One - with Jesus all obedience was completed in Him which resulted in Him taking on all sin; we trust only in His words, not ours. God's Initiative In Justification - God initiates the act of justification through the work of Christ alone; he saves us out of His kindness. Faith and Justification - no one is continually righteous; only through Jesus one will be made righteous; to be made righteous one must believe in God, ask for His mercy. 

Saved by Faith - Faith and Righteousness - Faith is what God uses in us to build the bridge to being accepted by God and restored to a right relationship with Him. Justification and Sin - Nothing changes the fact that we are sinners, but our status before God changes by Christ's obedience as this declares us to be righteous. Not by any of our works - Justification is by faith alone. By adding any work, we must add all works. Why Faith - Faith is the instrument [or what we do] to usher in to our life the finished act of righteousness. 

Faith Works - What is Saving Faith - Saving faith is not simply understanding truth, it is believing the truth is true and then living by that truth. Justification and Our Good Works - Once God declares us righteous by the righteousness of Christ, we cannot help but do what is right. Keeping Grace Gracious - if being restored to God's plan is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works. Don't mix the two. Keep them separate. But keep them both extremely valuable.

Romans 11:6 - Keeping Grace Gracious

 Romans 11:6 - But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.

Message: Keeping Grace Gracious

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:

Life is about doing, for in life we live. Each day we are doing something, even if to others it looks like nothing. Each day as I go to work I have tasks that I do and am responsible to do. I have a new position at work I am learning. There are things I need to know about that position and there are things I want to accomplish so that at the end of its assignment I will have done it successfully. I think that is partly why I have been given this new task because the work I did previously was accepted as good and true. My desire is to do work that adds value, that meets expectations, that is pleasing to others and pleasing to myself. 

Beyond work, I am a person that believes I am not here randomly but on purpose and that purpose was designed by my creator-- God. He is the reason I am here. 

Because He created me, I believe He has a plan for me. Just like I have a job to do each day and it is defined a certain way as to how I am to work, God designed me to live a certain way. Yes, I am unique but my uniqueness still has an order to it and a way I am to live. Thus, my question to God is "Am I living according to Your design?" 

The Bible is a book that tells the story of God and his creation and how people go about pleasing their creator. Early on is the discovery that the reason I am not living my life according to His plan is sin. Sin is disobedience to God. He has a plan for me but I get off track from that plan and this happens when I sin and seek after my plan. I think many people in the world believe there is only one plan - the plan of man. But I believe there are two plans - a Godly plan and the plan of man. The goal is for them to be in agreement. 

This leads to the question - How do they come into agreement? The natural thinking is that because sin that I committed separated me from that plan, the way to get it restored is by me doing something good. And so many religions teach this - that there are things we can and must do to be in a right relationship with God. Yet, is that the only way? Christianity actually teaches that we are incapable of really getting ourselves back into a good relationship with God because we can never really be good enough because we always have this stain of sin on our life. But what if someone never sinned. Jesus is this person and through Him we can receive justification or be restored to God's plan. 

So how does one acquire this? Basically, by believing it is so - having faith in God that His plan is the right plan. The other way would be by showing God it is so by what we do. But again, what I've studied and seen here in scripture is that the problem of showing God that I am worthy is really impossible because that stain of sin that I have committed can never be erased. Thus, the only way to truly be made right with God or justified is by faith alone in His Plan. 

Faith gets me back into God's plan. But still I live and so once I am back in His plan the way I live now is different. Thus, it is not that good works are not necessary, it is simply they are not necessary for me to get back into God's plan but once I am there, my life is different. Today's verse says if is is by grace and the "it" here is being restored to God's plan, so if being restored to that plan is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works. "No longer"  is an interesting choice because it gives the idea that works formerly were involved or maybe they were thought to be involved to the audience being addressed. There was the thought by this audience that works were necessary. But this is saying they are not necessary. Because it says if works are needed to be restored to God's plan then grace is no longer grace. 

The title of this message today is Keeping Grace Gracious, but I must also say keeping grace glorious, for it is amazing that I can be accepted by God based only on faith in what Christ has done. Yet, I need to continue now, after grace and faith, to be about obedience. Grace happened. It is finished (see John 19:30). Thus, how shall I now live. This brings us back to good works. 

Good works are an essential part of my life. In Paul's introduction in Romans 1, in verse 5 he says --- "through whom (Jesus) we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake." We receive grace and then we are obedient. This is my calling. Grace and Obedience is my calling. In Titus 1:16 it even states that if we simply profess to know God and yet deny works, we are denying Him -- "They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him." Thus, again, it should be clear that deeds are not simply expected but required in the life of a Christian. And this is what James meant in James 2 that faith without works is dead and so work justifies the faith. 

Yet, we still must go back to Romans 11:6, if being restored to God's plan is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works. Don't mix the two. Keep them separate. But keep them both extremely valuable. 

Promise: From Tabletalk, it says, "We must relax our grip on our good works, confess our utter reliance on divine mercy and not bring our achievements before God as if He owes us His righteous declaration for our obedience. But all true Christians have a desire to obey God.  

Prayer: Thank you God for giving me this time to think about me and why I'm here and how you have called me and how my security is completely resting on You and yet the live I life is to give you glory and to always be obedient. Help me to help others understand this truth. 

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 celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of June is about justification; May was about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.

Mankind's Condition - The Sins of the Gentiles - Though born with God being evident, Gentiles do not honor God or give thanks, look to their selves for truth, and God gives them over to their sin, and in the process God's wrath is sin which will culminate on the Day of the Lord. The Sins of the Jews - Jews thought their status meant only Gentiles were true sinners. Romans 2 and 3 explains that Jews are just as guilty before God. 

The Law Speaks - The Law and Accountability - the Law reminds us we are sinners and doing good will not outweigh this bad; I am condemned. Righteousness According to the Law - The Law can make one righteous if obedient to all, but we are sinners. Human Inability - man cannot make himself righteous because he is a sinner. 

Only Justified through Christ (God) - The Obedience of One - with Jesus all obedience was completed in Him which resulted in Him taking on all sin; we trust only in His words, not ours. God's Initiative In Justification - God initiates the act of justification through the work of Christ alone; he saves us out of His kindness. Faith and Justification - no one is continually righteous; only through Jesus one will be made righteous; to be made righteous one must believe in God, ask for His mercy. 

Saved by Faith - Faith and Righteousness - Faith is what God uses in us to build the bridge to being accepted by God and restored to a right relationship with Him. Justification and Sin - Nothing changes the fact that we are sinners, but our status before God changes by Christ's obedience as this declares us to be righteous. Not by any of our works - Justification is by faith alone. By adding any work, we must add all works. Why Faith - Faith is the instrument [or what we do] to usher in to our life the finished act of righteousness. 

Faith Works - What is Saving Faith - Saving faith is not simply understanding truth, it is believing the truth is true and then living by that truth. Justification and Our Good Works - Once God declares us righteous by the righteousness of Christ, we cannot help but do what is right. 

James 2:20-26 - Justification and Our Good Works

 James 2:20-26

20 But are you willing to acknowledge, you foolish person, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was our father Abraham not justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6),” and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was Rahab the prostitute not justified by works also when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

Message: Justification and Our Good Works

Time: Thought to be James, the half-brother of Jesus, though he was not a follower when Jesus was walking on the earth. He believed post-resurrection. He likely wrote this in AD 45-48. This is like the first New Testament book written and it was written to Jewish Christians. It is focused on practical application or how God's people are to "act" like God's people and this is a faith that produces life change. 

What the Lord is Saying:

In my study of justification, I've seen that whether a Jew or Gentile, we are all sinners. The Law declares this to us and yet obedience to the Law cannot save us nor can man save his or herself. It is only in Jesus, the perfect One, who took all my sin, justified me through Him and only in Him, my faith in Him can I be justified. The instrument God uses is faith to bring about my righteousness. I am still a sinner but now I'm stamped free and clear. I am justified before Him only by faith. To add a work I must add all works. But in believing in Him, this faith results in good works. Faith works. 

James 2:20-26 states

- Faith without works is useless

- Faith perfected through works

- Abraham believed and it was reckoned to him as righteousness

- Yet, a man is justified by works

- Faith without works is dead

Romans 5:18 - So then, as through one offense the result was condemnation to all mankind, so also through one act of righteousness the result was justification of life to all mankind. God declares us righteous on the basis of the righteousness of Christ. This comes through the instrument of faith. But faith is not simply belief, but believing truth and putting our hope and life and surrender to God. 

Good works are not independent of our faith, but the main point here is that our faith is based upon the finished work of Jesus and not on our good works and yet good works follow our faith. Thus, in our lives, good works will follow. 2 Corinthians 5:17 -- Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. In Christ, the old is gone, meaning the old things of doing and living are gone and now we live and do life differently. 

Authentic faith can be seen through the newness of the person in Christ--how they will demonstrate their authentic faith. If there are no good works then the gift of faith has not occurred. 

Let faith reign and be seen by all people through our good works. 

Promise: God does not declare us righteous based on His transformation of us but only on the basis of the perfect righteousness of Christ. Once declared, we cannot help but do what is right. 

Prayer: God you are holy. Your ways are sure. You know no sin and you have declared me righteous in a perfect manner, transforming me by your perfection, through the substitute of Jesus on the cross of Calvary, paying for my sin, and conquering death to rise again. And now I thank you because in my life I see you doing good works. People rush to give me the credit and say thank you to me all of the time, but it is in You in me that I thank. You make me new and you have transformed me. I give you glory. Continue to help me be true to this and give you glory always. Amen.

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 celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of June is about justification; May was about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.

Mankind's Condition - The Sins of the Gentiles - Though born with God being evident, Gentiles do not honor God or give thanks, look to their selves for truth, and God gives them over to their sin, and in the process God's wrath is sin which will culminate on the Day of the Lord. The Sins of the Jews - Jews thought their status meant only Gentiles were true sinners. Romans 2 and 3 explains that Jews are just as guilty before God. 

The Law Speaks - The Law and Accountability - the Law reminds us we are sinners and doing good will not outweigh this bad; I am condemned. Righteousness According to the Law - The Law can make one righteous if obedient to all, but we are sinners. Human Inability - man cannot make himself righteous because he is a sinner. 

Only Justified through Christ (God) - The Obedience of One - with Jesus all obedience was completed in Him which resulted in Him taking on all sin; we trust only in His words, not ours. God's Initiative In Justification - God initiates the act of justification through the work of Christ alone; he saves us out of His kindness. Faith and Justification - no one is continually righteous; only through Jesus one will be made righteous; to be made righteous one must believe in God, ask for His mercy. 

Saved by Faith - Faith and Righteousness - Faith is what God uses in us to build the bridge to being accepted by God and restored to a right relationship with Him. Justification and Sin - Nothing changes the fact that we are sinners, but our status before God changes by Christ's obedience as this declares us to be righteous. Not by any of our works - Justification is by faith alone. By adding any work, we must add all works. Why Faith - Faith is the instrument [or what we do] to usher in to our life the finished act of righteousness. 

Faith Works - What is Saving Faith - Saving faith is not simply understanding truth, it is believing the truth is true and then living by that truth. 

My Utmost for His Highest - April 4th - Those Borders of Distrust

Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. - John 16:32

     Jesus is not rebuking the disciples, their faith was real, but it was disturbed; it was not at work in actual things. The disciples were scattered to their own interests, alive to interests that never were in Jesus Christ. After we have been perfectly related to God in sanctification, our faith has to be worked out in actualities. We shall be scattered, not into work, but into inner desolations and made to know what internal death to God's blessings means. Are we prepared for this? It is not that we choose it, but that God engineers our circumstances so that we are brought there. Until we have been through that experience, our faith is bolstered up by feelings and by blessings. When once we get there, no matter where God places us or what the inner desolations are, we can praise God that all is well. That is faith being worked out in actualities.

 
     "...and shall leave Me alone." Have we left Jesus alone by the scattering of His providence? Because we do not see God in our circumstances? Darkness comes by the sovereignty of God. Are we prepared to let God do as He likes with us--prepared to be separated from conscious blessings? Until Jesus Christ is Lord, we all have ends of our own to serve; our faith is real, but is not permanent yet. God is never in a hurry; if we wait, we shall see that God is pointing out that we have not been interested in Himself but only in His blessings. The sense of God's blessing is elemental.

 
     "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)" Spiritual gift is what we need.

Oswald Chambers - From My Utmost for His Highest Classic Edition

- Underlines and highlights are courtesy of Mom from her Print Edition

My thoughts

- "inner desolations" - a lonely condition or place

- "internal death to God's blessings" - am I with Christ because of His blessings? Jesus was scattered to his own, to be alone, and yet what mattered was the Father in Him. Am I content with being in Christ or am I too focused on His providence?