Blog

Devotional Reading, July 26, 2024

1st Timothy 3:16

16 confessedly, great is the secret of piety -- God was manifested in flesh, declared righteous in spirit, seen by messengers, preached among nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory! 

This is a difficult passage to translate, but the point is fairly easy to understand: Jesus the Divine Son came in the flesh. He was affirmed the righteous Son by the Spirit. He was revealed to angels and men who would be his messengers, preached among the nations, believed on in the world and taken up in glory. 

Sung as a hymn, it praises Jesus who is revealed as God's Divine Son and as the Father's answer to our need and to the need of the whole world. He is the reason for and source of godliness and the only appropriate response to this wonderful revelation.  

Devotional Reading, July 18, 2024

2nd John 1:2

...because of the truth that resides in us and will be with us forever. 

By this time John is old. He describes himself as the elder and that may mean either one in the office of elder or as one who is old -- or both. "Truth" here is just as inconclusive as "elder." It may mean the body of truth passed down from the Lord to the Apostles. Or it may mean the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth (John 16:13). Or both. But in either case, the Holy Spirit and the word he has inspired is the arbiter of what is taught by a itinerate preacher. 

This is the test that John tells the church to apply to all who come bringing a word of teaching: Does it ring true according to the already received message, and does it ring true according to the Holy Spirit's voice in the church? But there is one other: Does it promote love for the brethren? That is pretty comprehensive. 

If it does not, then have nothing to do with this preacher. I am faced with that long distance as I interreact with people in far places. Does it ring true and does it promote love. I look to the Holy Spirit to guide me. 

Devotional Reading. July 17, 2024

1st John 5:6

6 Jesus Christ is the one who came by water and blood—not by the water only, but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 

John is arguing that the Son and the efficacy of his sacrifice for sin is founded upon three facts. The first is the fact of God the Father's affirmation of him at his baptism (the water). The second is the confirmation of the Son's dedication to the mission of the Father when he died for our sins on the cross (the blood). The third is the testimony of the Holy Spirit to each of us that Jesus is the Messiah and Savior and that his death is efficacious for the forgiveness of sin. 

As I think through that this morning, I am thankful anew for God's plan and purpose in Jesus to bring about my salvation and for the witness of these three -- three witnesses are sufficient to make the case -- that affirm to me that the salvation God promised is completed in Jesus. Thank you, Lord. 

Devotional Reading, July 16, 2024

1st John 4:2-3

 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses Jesus as the Christ who has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that refuses to confess Jesus, that spirit is not from God, and this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now is already in the world. 

Be ready for opposition, John says to me. It is not opposition to me; it is opposition to God. Don't take it personally. It is the spirit of this age. But we are known by the fruit we produce. It is my desire to produce good fruit. And that is John's message in  this chapter. 

Devotional Reading, July 13, 2024

1st John 2:4-5

 4 The one who says “I have come to know God” and yet does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in such a person. 5 But whoever obeys his[j] word, truly in this person the love of God has been perfected. By this we know that we are in him.  

No one who is connected with God will violate the commandments he has given us with a careless sense of immunity.  Rather he will take seriously the instructions for living that God has given us because he loves us. I thank you, Lord, that you have built into me that sense of seriousness regarding your instructions, especially the instruction to love one another. 

Devotional Reading, July 11, 2024

1st John 1:1,2

This is what we proclaim to you: what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and our hands have touched (concerning the word of life— 2 and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and announce to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us). 

The aged Apostle is speaking to me down the ages. A man who himself is looking back sixty years or more to the days when the Lord Jesus walked among them -- and all the things that have happened since. How amazing! Is this his last message? It has the sound of it. And he speaks today. (It is not a fable.) He is LIFE. 

Thank you, Lord. 

Devotional Reading, July 9, 2024

2nd Peter 3:18

18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the honor both now and on that eternal day.

"Grow in grace."  May I grow in the experience of his grace. In every way: Unto the image of the Lord Jesus. 

"Grow in knowledge of the Lord."  May I grow in knowledge of what the Lord had done for me. 

May I grow in the knowledge of the many provisions for life that are available to me in Jesus. 

May I grow in understanding who the Lord Jesus is. Amen.

Devotional Reading, July 8, 2024

2nd Peter 3:15-16

Therefore, dear friends, since you are waiting for these things, strive to be found at peace, without spot or blemish, when you come into his presence. 15 And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation,

As I look forward to the end of these present things, two things are necessary: 1) be at peace personally and with others of like precious faith and live in holiness. 2) Consider the delay in the Lord's coming as opportunity for evangelism and salvation. And that I will do with the Lord's help. 

Devotional Reading, July 4, 2024

2nd Peter 1:4

Through these things he has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was promised you may become partakers of the divine nature, after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire. 

Being partakers of the divine nature is the goal of God in our salvation. And it is the most beautiful and satisfying hope we have. Nothing is a perfect as God. To be like him is to enjoy the most precious thing in all life. Thank you, Lord, for that hope. 

Devotional Reading, July 3, 2024

1 Peter 4:1-2

So, since Christ suffered in the flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same attitude, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin, 2 in that he spends the rest of his time on earth concerned about the will of God and not human desires. 

The one who has suffered with patience and endurance, whether physical suffering or social or economic suffering, for the sake of Christ demonstrates his choice to turn away from sin. 

I have not chosen suffering. But I have chosen to follow the will of God for me, and that includes the rejection of sin's domination of my life. The cost of my suffering is not great compared to many others, but it is a sacrifice I willingly and joyfully give to the Lord. Small as it is, may it please him.  

Devotional Reading, July 1, 2024

1 Peter 2:4-5

4 So as you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight,      5 you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

Incredible!  I may offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God. Thank you, Lord.  This is the greatest of all blessings you've given me. There were years when I did not value this, but today at the end of my life I want very much to offer the sacrifice of my work for him, a sacrifice acceptable through the Lord Jesus. I only regret that I did not realize how great this blessing was earlier.