The Marks of the Lord Jesus Christ

Galatians 6:17

I recently had the privilege of attending the Our Generation Summit in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The theme for this year's conference was "Equip for Battle". As part of the decor, the Our Generation team had included a piece of a U.S. Army dress uniform, a jacket. Although the jacket really didn't figure in the program, as a former G.I. it caught my attention. After looking it over for a while, I turned to my wife and told her, "The guy that owns that coat is a man!"

You see, that coat belonged to a soldier. You knew it was a soldier because of the way it was arranged. A civilian would never have gotten the all that stuff right. It took a soldier to put everything in its proper place, and believe me, everything was in its proper place.

Not only was everything in place, the things that were on that coat told you a great deal about the man. First, he was a staff sergeant. That alone is significant. Soldiers don't make staff sergeant on their first enlistment. This guy had been around a little while. Given the opportunity to opt out, having served his time, he chose to go around again, at least one more time and maybe more. The hash marks on his sleeve indicated he had been a soldier for at least twelve years. A man that would re-up in wartime is a man that can be counted on when it gets hard, the kind of guy I want beside me, a man.

Next, the blue cord wrapped around his shoulder and the crossed rifles on the collar belonged to an infantryman. Combat arms, ground pounder, line doggie. The most inglorious position in the whole army, and the most indispensable. No matter how many planes, artillery pieces or tanks you've got, eventually an infantryman is going to have to take the ground. Theirs is the dirty work, house to house and room to room, face to face with an enemy that knows it's kill or be killed, live or die. They call them grunts in derision, but you can't fight a war without them. By the way, our staff sergeant was not only a grunt, he was a good one. On his left pocket he wore an expert marksman badge along with one showing he had finished air assault school.

Our staff sergeant was also a decorated soldier. I've been out too long to recognize all the ribbons, and some of them were unit citations. But not all. On one sleeve, the hash marks witnessed to at least three combat tours. Our boy had certainly seen enough combat to earn a Combat Infantry Badge along with the other ribbons. They give those to soldiers who have served in wartime. This man knows what it means to dodge bullets.

I could go on, but I think you get the picture. I could see enough on the uniform to know I would have been proud to meet this man and shake his hand. His qualifications were written all over him. He was a soldier. In 2 Timothy 2:3-4, the Bible talks of the Christian as chosen to be a soldier. The Holy Spirit wrote those words through the Apostle Paul, one who knew what it meant to be a soldier of Jesus Christ. And it was Paul, the combat weary infantryman, who wrote the words at the beginning of this text, "From henceforth let no man trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus Christ (Gal. 6:17)." Anyone who met Paul could tell he had served his time. The marks on his body, like the uniform on that soldier, told the tale.

Christian friend of mine, do you bear the marks of the Lord Jesus Christ? Is the impact of living for Him clearly recognizable in your life? The thought brings to mind a dear pastor friend who has labored long and hard in the battle for the Lord. He carries his testimony everywhere, a patient and gentle warrior, truly humble, quick to tears. It doesn't require much time in his presence to see that he is a soldier who has spent much in the service of His Lord Jesus. One day, I hope it will be just as evident in me and you.

Just a servant,

Bro. Tom

Living in a Sinful Society

Isaiah 59

The first fourteen verses of Isaiah 59 describe a society saturated with sin. In verse 1, God begins by saying His hand is not shortened that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy that it cannot hear. Then in verse 2, the awful conjunction, “But....your iniquities have separated between you and God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that He will not hear.”

Verses 3-14 give a graphic description of the sins of the nation. What a list! God describes this society as bloodthirsty liars who have perverted their ways. They are deceitful and venomous leaches who run to wickedness like a moth to a flame. They dream of their sin, shed innocent blood, and destroy all in their paths. They have no peace, there is no justice, and they walk in darkness. They are blind to the path they walk, they roar and suffer. They have sinned, rejecting God, living lives of rebellion and disobedience. Verse 14 gives the results of their awful condition, “And judgement is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.”

Then, in verse 15, the subject changes from the wicked to “he that departeth from evil.” Even in such a pervasively wicked society, there were a few righteous. The Lord always has his remnant. But they, too, were paying a price for their decadence and sin. They became the prey of the wicked, and there was no one who would defend them or give them justice. The Lord saw there was no intercessor, and so He became their defender. Verses 16-17 say it this way, “therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.”

Christian, no matter how bad the world becomes, or how much it seems as though God has forgotten, He is aware of His people. He knows those who are His, and He will be their defense in time of trouble. Don’t let being in the minority cause you to falter in your walk with God. You can never be more secure that when you are in His care, though all hell rage around you.

Just a servant,

Bro. Tom

How Far Will You Go?

March 1

Read: 2 Corinthians 11:16-33

In 2 Corinthians 11 the apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, began to list some of his qualifications for ministry. It is interesting to note the progression here, as he begins by giving his Jewish heritage in verse 22. He then goes on to list as his qualifications some of the obstacles he had overcome in the course of his ministry for Christ. Winding through a long list of imprisonments, stonings, beatings, shipwrecks, and physical discomforts, he displays them as credentials for ministry. In effect, he tells them how far he was willing to go in the service of their faith.

The restatement of his personal qualifications had been required because questions had arisen in Corinth concerning Paul’s apostleship. Even though he had been used of God to bring the gospel to Corinth and had doubtless been instrumental in building the church there, there were some who began to chafe under Paul’s authority and teaching and desired to follow a different path. They began to question his qualifications for ministry in hopes of undermining that authority.

Paul’s response was simple. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he simply described the lengths he had gone to minister to them. The unasked question then became, “Can you really doubt the ministry and love of a man who has gone this far for your sake?” Paul went far, far beyond everyone else, and as a result he could point to a ministry in which the power of God was clearly visible even in Corinth.

If someone asks us to describe our qualifications for ministry, how would we answer? Would we point to our Bible college or seminary degree, or our twenty-plus years on the church roll, or maybe to our children who are faithfully serving God? Or could we, like Paul, simply point back to a life given over in sacrifice for the good of others? Would we fall back on theological arguments, such as the sufficiency of Christ or the work of the Holy Spirit in every believer, or would we point to the changed lives of our family, friends, neighbors and others?

How far will we go on behalf of Christ and others? Are we willing to sacrifice our standard of living to send the gospel to the world? Or is our giving simply out of our abundance (leftovers after the bass boat and the vacation in Disneyworld)? Can we give ten minutes out of our day to share Christ with the store clerk? Are we willing to drop late night television for the sake of leading our family in daily devotions? Is my neighbor’s spiritual welfare important to me at all?

We in the church talk a good game. We come to church, partake of the activities (as long as they aren’t too spiritual), and go home feeling good about ourselves. But for many, many, many of us that is as far as we will go. Any discussion of going to the mission field, getting involved in discipleship or using my gifts for the service of others falls on deaf ears. There is a line drawn which we will not cross.

Christian, Jesus intended for each generation to reach each generation. Even the most casual observer would be forced to conclude this generation is not getting it done. Our commitment to Christ and to the lost simply doesn’t go far enough.

Just a servant,

Bro. Tom

A Plea for Holiness

February 27

Read:2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1

2 Corinthians 6:14 is a verse often quoted which has been applied to everything from marriage to business partnerships (rightfully so, I believe). The Holy Spirit directs us to avoid an unequal yoke with an unbeliever, then proceeds to give a number of analogies to demonstrate why this is unhealthy or unnatural. Why, He asks, would you mix unrighteousness with righteousness (v. 14), or light with darkness (v. 14), or Christ with Belial (v. 15), or an infidel with a believer (v. 15), or even the temple of God with an idol (v. 16)? He continues that because God dwells in us, we are the temple of God (v. 16).

Given all of these obvious truths, we are to separate ourselves from things unholy or unclean (v. 17). If we do so, God has promised to receive us, to be our Father, and to make us His sons and daughters (v. 17-18). Chapter 7:1 then puts the conclusion on the passage, “Having therefore these promises (v. 17-18 above), dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

The New Testament, in removing us from under the curse and demands of the law, never permits us to slack off in the area of personal holiness. Time and again the New Testament believer is called to strive for the holiness of God. We are given the New Testament as our guide, the Holy Spirit as interpreter, and Jesus Himself as our standard. Moment by moment, day by day, year by year, we are to be conformed to the image of Christ. It is an image not only of a loving Savior but of a holy God. We who are His followers must strive to be like Him in all aspects of His character. To strive to love our neighbor as ourselves, yet to dabble in the sins of the flesh, is to have a unbalanced view of God the Son.

The Bible tells us that Jesus, “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” His holiness was perfect, ours will never be this side of heaven. Yet we must be always aware of our deficiencies and working toward change. Like most of God’s work, there is His part, and there is our part. His part is expressed in Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Our part is expressed in 2 Corinthians 7:1, where the Bible says, “...let us cleanse ourselves...”

Today, let’s make an extra effort to be clean and holy, as He is clean and holy.

Just a servant,

Bro. Tom

No Provision

February 19

Read: Romans 13:1-14

The first seven verses of Romans 13 summarize the believer’s relationship to civil authority. Established after the flood, the civil authorities are the direct representatives of God on earth and we are to obey them. Verses 8-10 remind us of our responsibility to love our neighbors. Verses 11 and 12 are a call to diligence and in verses 13 and 14 we are reminded to keep our walk in Christ at a high standard. The very last half of the last verse of the chapter states, “and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.”

If you’re not paying close attention in your reading, you might pass by this verse without gaining the full import of its teaching. The Word of God here is giving us one of the keys to victorious Christian living, apart from which our lives can become extremely frustrating. We are warned not to make provision for the flesh.

The flesh is that part of us that places its own needs and desires ahead of everything else. It is the combination of all the physical appetites that when kept in proper balance are necessary for life and happiness. When they get out of balance, when we begin to live for the fulfillment of those fleshly desires, our spirit is subdued and we live carnal lives.

I have noticed in my own life that as quickly as I get one element of the flesh properly disciplined, there is another part ready to raise its ugly head in a demand for satisfaction. I concentrate on the second, and the first seems to wiggle loose. This is the same conflict that Paul described in Romans 7 when he wrote, “for I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” It’s a conflict we all deal with, and victory over the flesh tends to come in spurts, especially for the new or less mature believer.

This verse in Romans 13, though, can provide immeasurable help in the battle. It says simply, “make no provision for the flesh.” That is, intentionally and consistently separate yourself from those things that encourage you to lose control. As a simple example, take someone who struggles with overeating. Knowing his own weakness, it is foolish for him to stash chocolate in his desk drawer. He may think he can control his desires, but he has prepared himself to fail. How much wiser would he be to clean out the cupboard, preserving only those things that are healthy, low-calorie and useful to his campaign to subdue the flesh?

There are so many things that fall into this category. We know we struggle with the flesh in a certain area, then we set ourselves up for failure. Take a person who tends to waste time with computer games. How many does he keep a keystroke away? How about a person who has a pornography problem who refuses to put a monitor or filter on his computer? It’s a little hard to believe someone is really serious about living the victorious Christian life when they continuously coddle the enemy.

Today, let’s consider our own weaknesses, and determine where we have made “provision for the flesh”. Let’s clean out our spiritual closets and let God give us the victorious and abundant life He desires for each of us.

Just a servant,

Bro. Tom

“I will set no wicked thing before my eyes” - Psalm 101:3

Training Faithful Men

February 18

Read: Numbers 27:15-23

The more you learn of Moses, the more you realize just what an extraordinary man of God he was. On this occasion, God told Moses to make his way to the mountain top and look out over the land of Canaan. Because of his disobedience at the waters of Meribah, Moses was not to be allowed to enter into the land. After he had seen the land, Moses was to die, as Aaron had died before him.

It’s not terribly difficult to put yourself in Moses’ thoughts at this point. After 120 years, he was going home. Yet there had to be a bittersweet element as well. Forty years he had led the people of Israel, out of Egypt and through the wilderness, with the promised land held out before them. Now, at the very end, with the land in sight, he was not to be allowed to enter. The nation must go on without him.

It is a testimony to the character of this amazing man of God that no hint of these things enters into the biblical narrative. Instead of lamenting his sentence and pleading with God for a second chance, Moses went in a completely different direction. In verse 16, Moses asks, “Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation. Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out; and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd.”

Moses’ primary concern was for the people he had led all these years. He was burdened for the very people who provoked his anger at Meribah, who were indirectly the very reason he could not enter into the promised land. Moses wanted assurance from God that He would not leave them without a shepherd. “Oh, Lord, they need a man to lead them,” was Moses’ only request.

Every man or woman of God should share Moses’ burden. There is not one of us who does not have responsibilities within the kingdom, who is not a leader in one form or another. It may be at church, or at home, or where you work. You are God’s representative somewhere to somebody. Is it your heart that they should see God in your shepherding? Do you grieve at the thought of their being without a godly influence? Are you pleading with God to raise up faithful men and women who, when your time ends, will continue to represent the Lord? Are you doing your part to prepare those men and women?

Writing to apprentice Timothy, the apostle Paul instructed him in 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” Moses’ primary concern was that the work of God go forward and the people of God be guided. He committed much of his time to training his replacement.

Let us ensure that our ministry includes a thought for the future. Who will take our place? And how can we be used of God to prepare them?

Just a servant,

Bro. Tom

Final Answer

February 17

Read: Numbers 22

Numbers 22 tells the well-known story of Balaam and the talking donkey. In it, Balaam is called by the Moabite king Balak to come and curse Israel. A group of noblemen was sent to the prophet offering reward and honor if he would come and do as the king asked.

Balaam had enough discernment to seek God’s counsel in the matter, and in verse 12 we see God’s answer, “And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.”

That should have been the end of the matter. But Balak, desperately wanting some advantage over Israel, elected to try again. He sent more honorable noblemen and offered very great honor if Balaam would curse Israel. And here Balaam makes his mistake. In verse 19, in effect, he comes and asks God, “Is that your final answer?”

God allowed Balaam to go and bless Israel, but He showed his displeasure with Balaam (v. 22) and sent the angel of the Lord to withstand him in the way. After the donkey spoke and Balaam understood the situation, he knew better than to disobey God again. The nation of Israel was blessed; Balak expressed his displeasure with Balaam and sent him home.

Balaam’s name comes up again in Scripture later. Numbers 31:8, describing Israel’s conquest of the Midianites, concludes with this passage: “Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.” Balaam the prophet of Jehovah ultimately fell because of his failure to heed the clear direction of God. He wouldn’t take God’s word as final.

In Proverbs 20:25, the Bible tells us: “It is a snare unto a man….after vows to make inquiry.” It is a warning not to second guess God’s decisions and directions. The New Testament version is found in Romans 11:29, “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” Once God has spoken, He doesn’t change His mind. Let us be careful not to dig up in doubt that which we buried in faith.

Just a servant,

Bro. Tom

Spiritual Schizophrenia

February 16

Read: James 3:1-18

In context, the discussion in James chapter three concerns our tongues. After lamenting the power of an uncontrollable tongue, in verse 8 James starts to give some examples of things that simply should not be. In verse 10, he writes, “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” He follows with examples of a fig tree bearing olives and a fountain yielding both fresh water and salt water. He gets to the point beginning in verses 14-18, when he compares the fruit of a righteous (saved) man to what comes out of a natural (lost) man.

What James is describing here is spiritual schizophrenia. There really should be no such thing as a carnal or worldly Christian. It makes no sense that one who is bought by the blood, indwelt by the Spirit and fed on the Word of God should manifest the same manner of living as one who is lost without God. It is schizophrenic for a man to exhibit the character of both the saved and the lost. It is indicative of a split personality, or, as James writes in chapter one, a man who is double-minded.

But didn’t Paul in Romans chapter seven describe a war between the flesh and spirit, such that sometimes the flesh is in control? Indeed he did, and that conflict is something that Christians deal with until the day we are called home. We all have such a conflict within. The problem is when we begin to see walking in the flesh as normal.

We are incredibly good at rationalizing almost any behavior. The one who has an anger problem will simply decide, “That’s just the way I am” and accept it as something he cannot change. The pornography addict will conclude that “God made the opposite gender attractive, and besides, I’m not hurting anybody.” And he makes no effort to alter his practices. We have become a spiritual schizophrenic when we can claim to be Christian, know there is sin in our lives, and accept it as normal. Such a Christian is destined to live a powerless and frustrating life, dangerous not only to himself but to all around him.

Brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Just a servant,

Bro. Tom

One For All

February 13

Read: Numbers 9:1-14

During the second year of Israel’s journey from Egypt to Kadesh-Barnea, God instructed Moses and the children of Israel to keep the Passover. Moses, having passed on the instructions to the people, was questioned by some men who were ceremonially unclean from contact with a dead body (probably Levites, Leviticus 21:11). Could they take the Passover?

Moses took the question to God, and was told that even those who were unclean or traveling should partake of the Passover just as everyone else. He went on to add a rule concerning even those who were non-Israelites. If there were strangers among them, and they desired to keep the Passover, they were to be allowed to do so. The end of Numbers 9:14 says: “...ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.”

These instructions are consistent with the typology of the Passover. God passed over the first-born of Israel because of the lamb’s blood applied to the door posts. The blood of the lamb is typical of the blood of Christ, the designated Lamb of God. And Christ is promised to be the Savior of not only the Jews, but the world. He is the Savior of those who are lost in sin, of those who are not ceremonially unclean but utterly unclean. And the inclusion of the stranger is our assurance that the true Passover Lamb was slain for every man.

Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Just a servant,

Bro.Tom

Working Faith

February 9

Read:Acts 9:10-19

A very interesting accompaniment to Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus is the story of Ananias. The Bible doesn’t tell us much about Ananias, simply that he was a disciple at Damascus. But we can surmise a great deal about him from the rest of the story.

Ananias must have been a man on speaking terms with God. He must have been a man of prayer, because when the Lord spoke to Him in a vision, there was no confusion on Ananias’ part about who was talking. The Lord said, “Ananias” and Ananias answered simply, “Behold, I am here, Lord.”

Second, Ananias must have been a man of considerable faith. Directed by God to go and lay hands on Saul of Tarsus, he immediately recognized the name. “Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem.” Ananias knew Saul of Tarsus was a dangerous man, especially to Christians. He voiced his concerns in verses 13 and 14. He certainly had a right to feel as he did. Yet, when the Lord said to him in verse 15, “Go thy way”, that ended the debate. Verse 17 says simply that “Ananias went his way, and did as the Lord had asked.

As nearly as I can tell, Bro. Ananias of Damascus is never mentioned again in Scripture. He rose out of anonymity to do a specific task for God, then withdrew himself backstage. Truly a disciple, he was quick to answer the Lord’s call and willing to do what He asked, even at the hazard of his own life.

Could we pray that God would give us today some of the qualities that Ananias possessed? We certainly could do with a closer relationship with the Father, one in which we have no trouble discerning his voice. Also, God grant us the faith to do His will, no matter what we may think about the pitfalls.

May we all grow a little as a result of our encounter with Ananias of Damascus.

Just a servant,

Bro. Tom

He must increase...

February 6

Read: John 20:30-31; John 21:20-25

Most Bible scholars put the writing of John’s Gospel at about 90 AD. Placing Jesus’ death on the cross at about 33 AD, and John as the son of Zebedee and a member of Jesus’ original twelve disciples, that makes John a pretty old man by the time the book was written. Beginning life as the son of a fisherman, John was called by Jesus at a relatively young age and discipled three years by the Lord Himself. For approximately sixty years he served the Lord and His church in various capacities, and tradition places him in the city of Ephesus at the time the Gospel was penned. There, the Holy Spirit inspired John to record the life of his Lord, and the aged apostle was used by God to give us one of the most moving and personal accounts in the whole Bible.

It’s clear when we study John’s life that God used an amazing man to record an amazing story. Labled the “Sons of Thunder” by Jesus, John and his brother began their walk with the Lord as anything but the apostles of love. They thundered, they threatened, and they connived, even enlisting their mother in their attempts to gain the highest place. They, with Peter, were privileged to be Jesus’ inner circle. And like Peter, to the mortal eye it looks as though they were born to failure. But God can see where we can’t. And gradually, patiently, marvelously, the “Son of Thunder” became the “Apostle of Love.”

It is in the gospel of John that we see the distance the apostle had traversed. First, from seeking the top spot he had progressed to the point where he would not even include his own name in the book that he wrote. Whenever you see the name John in the Gospel of John, it is a reference to John the Baptist. If the Holy Spirit in divine inspiration forced him to speak of himself, he identified himself simply as the disciple whom Jesus loved. John was very quick to dispel any rumors of his own superiority, making sure that Jesus was accurately quoted, and that he, John, was not exalted. For a signature, he very simply described himself as a witness giving a testimony. And his last words in the gospel concern the things that Jesus did that were not recorded. The aged apostle had come to the point that every wise disciple will someday reach, that it is not about him, but about Jesus. To borrow a phrase, “He must increase, and I must decrease.”

Just a servant,

Bro. Tom

Wow and Double Wow!

February 5

Read: John 17:1-26

It is always instructive to read the prayers of Jesus. The when, what and how of Jesus’ personal communications with the Father provide wonderful insights into the purpose and mechanics of prayer. Jesus’ prayer in John 17, though, should be special to every believer, as it is the one identifiable point in Scripture where Jesus prayed for each of us personally.

In John 17:20, Jesus says, “Neither pray I for these (the disciples) alone, but for them which shall believe on me through their word:” When Jesus said, “them which shall believe on me through their word” He meant me and you! We are each and every one of us begotten of the Word of God passed through the disciples. They told someone, who told someone, who told someone, who, two thousand years and only God knows how many generations later, told me. When Jesus prayed that prayer, He prayed for me! So, realizing that this is the Son of God doing the praying, and that it’s highly unlikely that His prayer will not be answered, what did He ask for?

First, He prayed that we might be one with Him and the Father. He prayed that we might enjoy the same relationship that He enjoyed with His Father. Imagine having the same understanding and empathy with God the Father that Jesus had. And Jesus prayed for it!

Second, He prayed that we would ultimately be with Him, and that we might see His glory. Jesus asked the Father that we be permitted to be with Him where He was, and that we might behold Him in the glory He had before the universe was created.

Now, seriously, do you think those prayers are not going to be answered? What an incredible eternity we have in front of us. We will one day be with Him, beholding His glory, and sharing the same relationship with the heavenly Father that Jesus himself has. Wow and double wow! Or as Paul says, Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Just a servant,

Bro. Tom

On Holy Ground

February 3

Read: John 13:1-20

Every time I reach John 13 in my Bible reading, I always feel as though I have stepped onto holy ground. The ever burning bush of Jesus’ last night with the disciples prior to the cross always makes me want to take off my shoes, bow down, and worship. Here in the Gospel of John is the record of the last Passover, when Jesus washed the feet of the disciples and left them explicit instructions to follow His example. Here, in John 13:34-35, we receive the royal command to love one another and a description of the distinctiveness it would bring us as His disciples.

Going on, we see Judas leaving to accomplish the betrayal, then in chapter 14, the wonderful words, “Let not your heart be troubled...” Jesus proclaims the exclusivity of the gospel in John 14:6, then gives the wonderful promise of the Spirit. He leaves His peace and gives us the wonderful analogy of the vine and the branches. This section, from John 13 to John 17, is what He told the disciples at the last supper, and includes wonderful promises of prayer and comfort and even the high priestly prayer of Christ, when He prayed for each of us.

Has your Bible reading ever brought you to a point where you sit hushed, savoring each word and breathing out praise with every verse? I’m afraid that too often I come to the Word as a duty rather than a temple, and I rush through my daily chapters, mostly missing the blessings my wonderful heavenly Father intended me to receive.

Today, let’s try to pray our way through the Scriptures. It really doesn’t matter where you’re reading. God’s Word has something special for you each and every day. No matter which way you look, it’s holy ground.

Just a servant,

Bro. Tom

Is Satan Your Enemy?

February 3

Read: John 12:1-11

In this passage, the Pharisees, already intent on killing Jesus, add Lazarus to the hit list. And why were they so upset with Lazarus? John 12:11 says, “because that by reason of him (Lazarus) many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.”

Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. A number of people had witnessed the miracle, and word had spread throughout the region. Can you imagine how many people must have asked Lazarus, “Is it true? Did Jesus really bring you back from the dead?” In every case, Lazarus must have answered with enthusiasm, “He did indeed.” Then they asked other witnesses. And no matter who they asked, the answer came back the same. This Lazarus, who was dead, is now alive. And many believed on Jesus.

Ephesians 2:1 says “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:”. To quicken means to “make alive”. We who were dead are made alive. Just as Lazarus was raised physically, so Jesus has made us alive spiritually. And just as Lazarus’s everyday life was a testimony to the grace and power of God, so should our lives be also.

The Scribes and Pharisees saw their kingdoms crumbling, and they held both Jesus and Lazarus responsible. Does Satan hold you responsible for the crumbling of his kingdom? Is the strength of your testimony such that God can use it to rip souls from Satan and his minions? Do you have an enemy determined to destroy you?

Let’s hope so.

Just a servant,

Bro. Tom

What a Testimony!

February 2

Read: John 9:1-41

John chapter 9 is the story of a man healed by Jesus and the controversy that resulted. Although subject to ridicule and slander, the man adamantly maintained that Jesus had healed him, and that Jesus was from God. In v. 25 he proclaims to the Pharisees, “Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.”

Later, in vs. 30-33, his confidence grown, the man marvels that the Pharisees cannot see the simple truth that since Jesus did things that no man has ever done, He must be from God. In v. 33, he sums it up, saying, “If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.”

Although the Pharisees rejected the testimony of the healed blind man, I tend to believe there were many others who did not. His testimony was simple and powerful. I was blind, and now I see. As simple as it is, there is power in it. So too is there power in the testimony of any life touched by Jesus. Recently, we have begun some of our services by asking one of our brothers or sisters to give his or her personal testimony. In every case, it is evident that there is great spiritual power in the testimony of a changed life. In every case, we can say with the blind man, I was blind, and now I see.

God wants to use the testimony of our changed lives to change others. We should pray for opportunities to share the work God has done in our lives with those who do not know Him. Some will reject and ridicule, but some will hear with a heart prepared to receive Him. That’s what Jesus meant when He said that we would be His witnesses.

Just a servant,

Bro. Tom

Right Hand, Left hand

February 1

Read: Matthew 6:1-8

When I arrived at church this evening, I noticed immediately someone had repaired a broken swing in the playground. It has been broken for about five weeks, and I intended to get to it, but it just hadn’t happened yet.

Well, apparently I was not the only one concerned, and sometime today a very kind and caring person took the initiative to buy a part and repair the chain. I praise the Lord for their diligence and their faithfulness, and I thank the Lord for caring church members. In our next service, if I remember it, I may mention it. I will say I don’t know who did the repair, but God does, and He never forgets a cold drink of water given in His name. I will not mention Matthew 6:1-8, but I’ll be thinking about it.

In this passage, the Bible talks about doing alms. Alms are good works of any kind. They almost always include giving of some sort but the subject is not limited to giving. The Word says, “...when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.” Jesus’ teaching here is that we can do the right thing for the wrong reason. If we do what we do to be seen of and receive glory from men, we will get what we want. But...that’s all the reward we can expect. In the other hand, in verses 3 and 4, we are told: “...when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” If no one knows who did the deed, then who gets the glory? God alone. And that’s the point. We have nothing that He did not provide, and why should we be rewarded for using God’s stuff?

It will be interesting to see if the person who did the repairs makes sure that others know it. If they do, then they will have gotten what they seek. How much better to receive our reward of our Father which seeth in secret?

Just a servant,

Bro. Tom

Truth is Eternal - Balthasar Hubmaier

Look Up!

January 29

Read: Luke 21:25-28

I’m not sure exactly how the thought process began, but recently I was struck by something that may or may not have real significance. My wife came home from the store recently and had purchased several boxes of a particular product. She explained how she had trouble finding it in the store, and that when she did find it she felt like she should buy extra. Shortly afterwards, I tried to replenish my coffee supply, only to discover that the store was out (temporarily, I hope). My immediate thought was that when it came in, I would buy several cans. And then last week, while traveling, I found a product my mother had been looking for literally for years. Of course I bought more than one.

Realizing that we are not hoarders by nature, I was struck by the similarity between these incidents and what we had experienced while on the foreign mission field. Everywhere we went, we carried a shopping list in our heads and a net bag in our pocket. One never knew when one might run across such delicacies as toilet paper and peanut butter, and it paid to be prepared. The thought crossed my mind, “Is it possible that we as a country are sliding toward third-world status?” As an untrained observer, I’m not sure any conclusions I might draw about the matter will hold water, but the idea makes me a little uneasy, and puts me on guard watching for other signs.

In Luke 21, Jesus instructed the disciples concerning some signs they should be watching for. He lists a number of things that will occur prior to His return, and then He warns them to be watching. “When these things begin to come to pass,” He says, “then look up, and lift your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh.”

Brothers and sisters, Jesus is coming again. The world situation and the biblical signs are so aligned as to convince most of us that it could happen at any moment. The Bible pronounces a special blessing on those who are watching and waiting when He does come (Luke 12:35-38). Similar to the situation in the grocery store, what we see about us is no guarantee that what we are expecting will occur. But it certainly should have us on guard.

Listening for the shout.

Bro. Tom



Truth is Eternal - Balthasar Hubmaier

Where am I?

January 28

Read: Luke 17:11-19

In the book “The Disciple-Making Pastor”, Bill Hull makes a sad statement. On page 222, he writes:

While 50% of the congregation never leaves the come-and-see phase, the happy focus is that the other half will. The psychopathology of not moving from “come and see” I will leave to the analytical.

This is not to say that he advocates abandoning the 50% of the congregation that will not move down the road to discipleship. Earlier, he states very clearly that they are God’s children and part of our ministry. The sadness is that, unfortunately, there is a relatively large number of professed Christians who will never get beyond the Sunday morning church stage.

The story in Luke 17 gives us a similar picture. Jesus, encountering ten lepers standing outside of a village, was moved by their cries to heal them of the dread disease. The Bible says Jesus told them to go and show themselves to the priests. As they went, they were cleansed. Imagine the joy and excitement among the group as they realized that each of them was being freed from their awful condition. One of them, a Samaritan, recognizing the wonderful blessing could only have come from God, begins to glorify Him with a loud voice. He turns and comes back to Jesus, throws himself at His feet and begins to thank Him. The other nine walk on.

Jesus asks the rhetorical questions, “Were not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?” Sadly, only one, and he a stranger and heathen, returned to give glory to God.

If you are a Christian today, a born-again believer, you have been healed of a disease far more serious than leprosy. God’s purpose in doing so is much bigger than simply providing an escape hatch for eternity. He wants to make you a disciple of Jesus, one who shares His mission and His character. It baffles me than anyone can be a child of God, born of the Spirit and the blood of Christ, an inheritor of eternal life and the glories of heaven, a partaker of the divine nature, and yet be unwilling to be used of God for His glory. God forbid that I should find myself among the 50% who only take.

Just a servant,

Bro. Tom
Phil 1:6

Truth is Eternal - Balthasar Hubmaier

A Blank Check

January 26

TEXT: Exodus 19:1-8

In the third month of the exodus from Egypt, God stops His people at the entrance to the wilderness and has a brief discussion with them. In v. 4, He reminds them of what He had done in Egypt, how He had conquered Pharaoh and brought them out of bondage. Then, in a brief if-then statement, God lays a blank check before the nation. “If you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people (for all the earth is mine) and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy people.” God had not yet told them what He would demand of them, in effect laying before them a blank check and giving them the option, sign here.

The people, having seen God’s great deliverance and awed by His presence and holy power, signed the check in v. 8, “All that the Lord hath spoken we will do.” To sign the check was an act of faith in a moment of strength. To deliver on it was another matter indeed. Israel failed God in every way, falling into such idolatry and rebellion that it resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity of the people. Kind of gives teeth to the warning “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay (Ecc. 5:4-5).

As believers, we have put our trust in Christ. We have experienced the forgiveness of sins and the new birth. We have come to know God on a new and personal level. Now comes the next stage, the “follow me” stage. God wants you to move beyond deliverance into growth and service. He has adopted you into His family, now He wants to involve you in the family business. Many of us, realizing the call to discipleship is as urgent and necessary as the call to salvation, have written God a blank check, only to be dismayed and delayed by the apparent cost. Our case does differ from Israel, in that Jesus was very clear what the cost would be, telling us in Matthew 16:25, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” Knowing this, how often have we, at the moment of testing, said to the Lord, “just a minute, Lord, I don’t know if I’m ready for that.”

In Psalm 15, David described those who would abide in the tabernacle of God, saying, “He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.” You see, brothers and sisters. God is not as much interested in our signing a blank check as in what we do after He fills in the amount. You trusted Him enough to give your life to Him, can you trust Him enough not to take it back, no matter what?

Just a servant,

Bro. Tom