Month: April 2014

Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him,”Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid my family farewell who are in my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”  Luke 9:57-62

Everything in the Christian life centers on the Lord Jesus Christ. We are not saved to further develop our own plans for our life, but to follow His example and yet that is not what saves us. It was the finished work of the cross for us, and by placing our trust in Him, that He becomes our great pattern of life. In our text today, we see some examples of people who for a better lack of term, needed more knowledge of their commitment and what it means to follow after Christ. Let’s have a closer look. In Luke’s account Jesus and His disciples went into a village of the Samaritans, before Jesus came He sent a few of them ahead to make accommodations for their arrival. Jesus, by now had large parties of people traveling with Him. And so they went into the village of the Samaritans to make preparations and the people there did not receive Him, because it was obvious to them that He was heading towards Jerusalem. For the time of the feast of Passover was approaching. The Samaritans felt that the Passover should be celebrated there on Mount Gerizim, in Samaria since it was the place where Abraham built an altar to sacrifice his son Isaac. And so the Samaritans felt this was the place to worship God. So when Jesus arrived into their village, there was just no hospitality given to Him. And so when the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?” And now we know why Jesus called them the sons of thunder. Here is our first example that we are not serving our own rendition of God’s kingdom, but rather, the kingdom of God that already exists, and to follow after the examples of Jesus Christ when we are doing it. But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.”(Luke 9:54-56)

Here is Jesus announcing His purpose for coming to this earth. And so during all of this, there were many eyewitnesses who saw for themselves the model of power and genuine humility from which He taught His disciples. And there response was, hey, where do I sign up! I want to be one of Your followers too! And so to the first fellow, Jesus says to him, “count the cost.” There are a lot people today, who are touched with emotion by the message of the cross. Great evangelical outreaches reach many with the gospel message about having faith in Jesus Christ, and receiving Him into your life as your personal Lord and Savior. Are you though, willing to pay the price? That is what Jesus is telling this first man, “Oh, Lord, I will do anything for You.” Jesus said, I don’t even own the bed I sleep in, are you sure, have you considered at what cost it will be to you? Are you willing to give up everything for Me?

Now the second man, Jesus just said to him, “Follow me.” The first one volunteered, and Jesus warned of the cost, but to this other, He said, “Follow Me.” We know that God does call men still today into the ministry. And the second man said, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” And Jesus response: “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” Does that sound insensitive? Doesn’t Jesus care that we be allowed to bury our loved ones and give them their proper respect? But in this case, the term would be referring to a procrastination. It didn’t mean that your father is dead, it is a phrase that is still used today, he meant rather, I want to stick around my home for a while, and wait until at least my father has lived out his life, then I will come and follow You. Burials at that time were done the very next day. So in sense he is telling Jesus, maybe one day, I will answer Your calling.

Not good. We cannot ever justify procrastinating our entering a life of faith, and become born again. The Bible makes it clear, “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2) Paul wrote to the Corinthians a quote from Isaiah 49:8, he was passionately concerned that they adhere to the truth of sound doctrine because it was God’s time to save them and that he and others with him were just the messengers for helping spread that message.

So then there is this third man, who wants to go back to his house and bid his family farewell. Sounds reasonable doesn’t it? Jesus said to him, “No man having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” It takes commitment, a total commitment to Jesus Christ, and Him only. It may cost you your family relationships. You can never go forward looking backwards.

Beloved friend, If you are a Christian today, I don’t have to remind you of the importance of counting the costs to follow after Christ. The Bible says, we are to deny ourselves take up our cross, and follow Him. While the cost may seem extreme, it is essential, of utmost importance to trust that God has already worked out why it is essential. For one thing, If you’re like me, then you’ve been praying for loved ones in your home or in your families to come to Christ. It is important to realize that they are watching you in your behavior, in your commitment of trust in the Lord. How we handle adversity  and times of trials and testing. Yet, it is through these tough times that we are becoming stronger in Christ. This world has nothing to offer us that could ever match the priceless grace and peace that has already been given to us in Christ Jesus. Let His love and life be seen in you, as we follow after His patterns for living. And God will bring others to Himself from our witness and faithfulness. Praise God!

May the Lord bless your walk with Him today!

 

 

 

The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!” Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.” His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him. (John 12:12-16)

This section of text marks Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It is one of the few actions in the life of Jesus that is recorded in all four of the gospels. By this action Jesus presented Himself officially to the nation of Israel as their promised coming Messiah and Son of God. The Sanhedrin and the other Jewish leaders wanted Him dead, but not during the time of Passover due to the large crowds gathered from all over Israel for the feasts. In whom among them Jesus was very much favored and wanted by them. Jesus entered the city on His own appointed time and forced the issue that it might happen exactly on the Passover day when the lambs were being sacrificed. Paul, in writing to the church at Corinth, detailing instructions for the church for its sanctification and purging away of the “little leaven which leavens the whole lump” reminded them that sin tolerated will eventually permeate and corrupt the whole church. Then he said, “For indeed, Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” (1 Corinthians 5:6-7)

Passover Feasts—Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance. (Exodus 12:13-14) The details how the Passover Day was to be memorialized in future years were laid down by God through Moses, then repeated in the instructions to the elders. This unblemished firstborn male lamb, was what Jesus was to mankind. We needed a Savior, who met all the requirements of God the Father, in that it would have to be without sin. Jesus was the only person who could qualify because He lived a sinless life amongst the people of His day. At the fullness of God’s time, He came into the world as prophesied in the Scriptures and was our Passover Lamb.

And so knowing that Jesus was going to be coming from Bethany, having to come down from Mount of Olives, they went over to the path that comes from Bethany, down to the Mount of Olives into the Kidron valley to Jerusalem. And as Jesus was coming by the prophesied mode of transportation, “Lowly, riding on a foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9), they greeted Him, waving and laying down palm branches before Him. And so, we have Palm Sunday as the day we commemorate Jesus’ Messianic entry into Jerusalem, the Sunday before the crucifixion. And they were crying the 118th Psalm, “Hosanna!” “Save Now!” is what the word means in Hebrew. “Blessed is the King of Israel that comes in the name of the Lord!” The evidence of date palms was plentiful, in that they still grow in Jerusalem today. For the last two centuries, the waving of the palm branches had become a national, if not nationalistic symbol, which signaled the fervent hope that a messianic liberator was arriving on scene. Hosanna!—A transliteration of a Hebrew word that means “give salvation now.” It was a term of acclamation or praise sung in the familiar Jewish Hallel psalms 113-118, sung each morning by the temple choir during the Feast of Tabernacles, and associated with the Feast of Dedication especially the Passover.

Beloved friend, Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem is so significant that no believer should ever take lightly. It was His revealing of Himself as Israel’s promised coming Messiah. It was Jesus proclaiming Himself as the Son of God, and rightful King of the Jews. It was believed among the most common and lowliest people of Israel at that time who witnessed Jesus’ miracles like the calling of Lazarus from his tomb and raised him from the dead. They were looking for Him in their return to Jerusalem during the Passover feast. Yet, it was the high priest’s, the rulers of the synagogue’s that hated Him, that wanted Him dead. They were afraid that the crowds were turning away from their authority, and turning to Jesus, and His claim to be their Messiah. It was during this time that Jesus declares, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” (John 12:23-28) As a sown kernel of wheat dies to bring forth a rich harvest, so also the death of the Son of God will result in the salvation of many. Not only is the principle of death applicable to Jesus, but also it is applicable to His followers. They too may have to lose their life in service and witness of Him (Hebrews 11:30-39). Jesus Christ came to this earth to die for the sins of mankind. So that we may be saved from the judgment of hell. His righteous soul became even troubled as He was fully human, yet without sin, as He contemplated taking on the wrath of God the Father’s judgment of sin upon Himself. Nevertheless, He can be quoted as saying, “Not My will Father, But Thy will be done!” We are truly blessed as believers today to have so much love be given to such an underserving people, yet, that is why there is so much hope in the gospels. It is declaring God’s love for us, by the coming of Jesus Christ. We should see that His passion week as a remarkable event that has changed our destinies forever. Be blessed by “Good Friday,” His death for us on the cross. Remorse over your sins that you have been forgiven from. Then rejoice over the empty tomb, and the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! It is the glorious account of victory over death, and hell, and Satan in this world. Sing unto Him Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Our King of kings, and Lord of lords! Hallelujah!

May the Lord bless your walk with Him today!

 

 

Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?” Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?”  John 7:14-19

By this time Jesus reputation has grown. Much of the leadership of Israel had publicly declared, that if anyone should acknowledge that Jesus was the Messiah they would be put out of the synagogue. And there was a division amongst themselves because a lot of people had already been touched and healed by Jesus. And so they are saying, “He is a good Man.” And yet, still others are saying, “Oh no, He is a deceiver. And He is deceiving the people.” And this was what the atmosphere was like during the feast. Now the Bible doesn’t say why Jesus didn’t arrive sooner, but rather during the middle of the feast. The last of the sacred festivals under the Old covenant before the exile, the Feast of Tabernacles began five days after the Day of Atonement and lasted a full seven days. It marked the completion of the harvest and historically commemorated the Israelite’s wanderings in the wilderness from the book of Exodus. During this festival, the people lived in booths and tents in Jerusalem to remind themselves of how their forefathers camped in the desert. The sacrifices of this feast were more numerous than at any other time, and the event was popular and joyous in nature.

It was against this backdrop that Jesus revealed the source of His teaching in our text today. Standing in the temple court, in the midst of the aroma and smoke of the sacrifices punctuating the air, God the Son boldly declared that His words came from God the Father—a claim filled with truth, but foreign and unacceptable to most of His listeners. And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?” This is like me going into a college professor’s lecture on astrophysics, and lecturing him on his own life’s study. It would be absurd for me to try that! But not for Jesus. The increasing hostility towards Him did not prevent His teaching ministry. Instead, Jesus relentlessly set forth His claims regarding His identity and mission and taught with authority from the Scriptures. During the Feast of Tabernacles, is when Jews from all over Israel would gather to Jerusalem,  Jesus having His audience in place, took advantage of His time there. If it was at the beginning of the Feast, maybe everyone who was suppose to be there to hear Jesus was not in place yet?

My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me—“You want to know how I learned? The doctrine I teach isn’t Mine, but it is from Him who sent Me.” Jesus is now declaring in accordance with the prophesy of the Scriptures, that I have been sent to you. Now if any man do His will, he shall know this to be true. And this is true of us even today. If any man would pursue after the knowledge of God, by reading the Scriptures, he would come away with Biblical truth that would be transforming, because the Word of God is living and powerful, and is sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). The Word of God is a comfort and is nourishing to those who believe, but it will bring also the execution of judgment to any of those who do not believe in it, nor believe their need of forgiveness for their sins, and accept Jesus Christ offer of His life for the atonement of their sins. It can’t be merely intellectually, or else the same attitude of pride would result likened to the synagogue teachers in Jesus day, who believed their salvation was in keeping of the Law of Moses. No, Conviction of the heart, is the result of the reading and studying of the Bible. But the Good News is that I can be saved from my sinful state. And I can now have a relationship to God the Father, through His Son, Jesus Christ, and walk in fellowship with Him.

Those who are fundamentally committed to doing God’s will, will also be guided by Him through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. This is how we will be guided into all truth. By believing in Jesus and His Word, and then allowing for the Holy Spirit to be at work in us for the transforming of our lives. God’s truth is self-authenticating through the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit. When He, the Spirit of the truth has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come (John 16:13). This inspired New Testament writing is pointing to the supernatural revelation whereby all truth has come from God who has reveled Himself in Christ, who was the theme of the Old Testament as their coming Messiah. A truth verified whenever the New Testament is read. It’s not so different today; our role as a child of God is to become so literate in your knowledge of the Word of God that you can teach His truth, and manifest His love to whoever will listen, sharing your testimony of how God’s Word penetrated your heart, and delivered you from the snares of this world’s system. Be joyous in your witness, celebrate Jesus in your daily activities and enjoy your freedoms of living under the security and power of the Holy Spirit, as He reveals all truth to you.

Beloved friend, If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God (Deuteronomy 21:22-23). Being hung on a tree in the Old Testament was a sign of being cursed. Yet, Romans 5:12 tell us that the punishment of sin is death; that means we as sinners deserve that curse. Instead God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to this world. If Christ wasn’t cursed for us by being hung on a tree, meaning the cross, then we would still have a debt to pay and a curse to live under. In other words, we owed a debt we could not pay. But Jesus came to pay our debt He did not own. We are no longer slaves to sin, nor to this world (Egypt), where we have to live in bondage, now we can live in righteousness and holiness, and in true fellowship with God. This is our statement, this is our theme in life: That Jesus Christ came to rescue sinners from their sins, and to deliver us from Satan and hell’s damnation. Why would we not want to celebrate our Lord Jesus Christ! His name is to be our banner and victory! Hallelujah! Prayer: Father God, let us find strength and comfort and inspiration in knowing that You are with us. And that Your righteousness prevails in every situation which gives us hope and confidence in the future as we walk with You, In Jesus name, Amen.

May the Lord bless your walk with Him today!

 

 

 

 

 

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces.” For the sake of my companions, I will now say, “Peace be within you.” Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good.  Psalm 122:6-9

The psalmist David, was not praying for his own peace and prosperity, but that of his brethren and friends. Praying for the peace of Jerusalem, who’s name by the way means “peace,” is appropriate because Jerusalem is Israel’s capitol and is the residency of the God of peace (Isaiah 9:6). The Bible has a lot to say about the peace and blessings for His people Israel, and for those who support her. Let’s have a closer look. In Genesis 12, God declares a promise that extends through out the whole Bible, we read in verse 1: Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12-1-3) Now God is establishing a covenant with Abram (soon God extends his name to Abraham), But first, he had to get out of his own country, out of his father’s house, and leave his old life of idolatry behind. God was now introducing Abram to Himself as His only source and provider the One true God, and go to a land He would provide for Him. And He would show Abram how to get there, and make him into a “great nation.” And all of these promises God fulfilled in Abraham: “I will bless you, I will make thy name great; and you shall be a blessing (Gen.12:2). So Abraham did become a great nation, God had also blessed His name and made him great, honored and respected.

And we find out it is an everlasting covenant. “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee: and in thee shall all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Gen.12:3) And from here is the promise of the coming Messiah who would come through Abraham’s offspring. Not just the Jews but all the families of the earth will be blessed by the arriving of Jesus Christ. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). It is an everlasting covenant which contains four elements: 1) Seed where it refers to Christ: “No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you. Also I give to and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God” (Genesis 17:5-8).  From what we read we get the 2nd) the establishing through Abraham the land. And 3rd) That it would become a nation we know as Israel. And finally 4th) A divine blessing would God give it with His protection. Now this covenant is unconditional in the sense of its ultimate fulfillment of a kingdom and salvation for Israel, but conditional in terms of immediate fulfillment.

Now in the New Testament, we read that Paul makes its spiritual importance based on what God did through Abraham’s response to all of this: And he (Abraham) believed in the Lord, and He (God) accounted it to him for righteousness. The apostle Paul quoted these words as an illustration of faith over and against works (Romans 4:3, Galatians 3:6), Abram was justified by faith! And so our we today. Our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, who is our salvation. When we are obedient to the Word of God, there comes with it a great blessing. Here is where we started today. Do you pray for the peace and prosperity of the people in your local “house of God, Your church family?” Do you pray for God’s people Israel? One day the True Prince of Peace will rule this earth again, and when He rules, there will be true peace in Jerusalem.

Beloved friend, David’s psalm is a model of intercessory prayer. God still honors when we intercede in prayer on behalf of others. I want the assurance that if I should be called by God home to be with Him, And I leave this earth, that My family, my wife and children, my son’s in law, and daughter’s in law, my grandchildren would all have their faith rooted and grounded in Christ for their salvation. I want to live without ever regretting that the time I spent on their behalf in prayer, God took very seriously, and honored my prayer requests for them. So that my life’s legacy would be a reminder to them that their faith will be strong enough to keep them steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58). For the hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ makes all the efforts and sacrifices in the Lord’s work worthwhile. No work done in His name is ever wasted in light of eternal glory and coming reward. Prayer: Lord Jesus, like what we learned from Abraham, You grant us far more than what we could ever ask for. Thank You for the blessed assurance of Your love and peace You promised to give us who come to You in faith. For we know Your promises are as real and assured of as that of Your servant Abrahams. Let it be all for Your glory and honor, amen.

May the Lord bless your walk with Him today!

 

Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Luke 22:24-30

The lessons we learn in life could summarize all we would want to be like if we would only follow through with what we are shown, and humbly obey what the Lord is showing us. In this case, it is a reminder to us all how selfishly and often times egotistical of man to put himself in a place of honor, when truly what we are stepping into is the scene in which, Jesus is just finishing tell His disciples of His going to the cross. But how important it is for Him to want to eat this supper with His disciples before this suffering is to come to pass. There reasons could have come from being a part of Jesus washing their feet, and telling them of this example He has given to them, that they should do likewise (John 13:15). Jesus purpose of this example was to establish the model of loving humility. So here Jesus is telling them, “Look, I’ve really wanted to eat this Passover supper with you before I suffer. Now this bread is My body; it’s going to be broken for you. This cup is My blood; it’s going to be shed for the remission of sins. This is going to be the new covenant.” He is really now starting to focus on what is ahead of Him. The suffering of the cross. And all His disciples seem to be concerned about, which among themselves is going to be the greatest when He establishes His kingdom.

Benefactors—The kings of Gentiles exercise lordship over them: The word in the New Testament for “Gentiles,” is equivalent to “heathen.” And their lordship of the Israelites was called benefactors. No different today, when you’ve earned a bonus, or inherited a large sum of money, the government comes along and takes nearly half and says, I am your benefactor. In Jesus day, these people portrayed themselves as champions of their people, but it had a very condescending ring to it, especially since so many were really ruthless greedy tyrants, and tax collectors.

But not so among you—The followers of Christ were not to be likened to this type of people. Their greatness was not to come from a worldly standard. Just as today, we are not to be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1-2). Jesus is teaching that the true path to greatness is the path of serving, rather than being served. One who even if necessary endures suffering to bring glory to God. Too many ministers have the wrong concept of the ministry. They fail to see the servanthood of the ministry as vital not only among their congregations, but in their communities as well. They come to the place probably because of their wealth, where they expect preferential treatment wherever they go. Not so! In reality, as a minister, you serve the Lord Jesus Christ, and as His bondservant, you serve others willing, without expecting anything in return. You must become servant of all. Now Gentile leaders loved to rule over people. They loved dominion over other people’s lives. But Jesus said, “It shall not be that way among you. You need to learn to be servants of all.”

Continue with Me in My trials—Christ’s entire life and ministry were filled with temptations and trials of hardships, and of course sorrows. And because the life of a Christian is a life of perseverance there awaits at the end of it, a reward in the Father’s kingdom. In this case, we are witnessing the bestowing of the places of honor on the 12 chosen apostles, even though Judas Iscariot, would not be one of them as it was prophesied in the Scriptures. Jesus is saying to them, “You are those who have continued with Me and My temptations. And I appoint you a kingdom, just as My Father has appointed one to Me; that you may eat and drink at My table in the kingdom, and sit on the thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel (vv.28-30). Jesus is confirming the disciples expectation of an earthly kingdom yet to come. It will not come in the timing or in the manner in which they would expect it to, but Jesus affirmed  the promise that such a kingdom would indeed one day be established. And they would have a principle role of judging their fellow Israelites when they are seated there. Truly a glorious statement to meditate on. The Christian life is one that endures hardships now, yet, the best is yet to come.

Beloved friend, We are heading into a new month, we will soon be celebrating Passover, remembering our Lord’s sacrifice on Good Friday, and celebrating with Christians around the world of the Lord’s resurrection! The tomb is empty. Praise God that He has included us in His heavenly kingdom, and has gone ahead of us to prepare a place for us there. That where He is there we will be also. It is glorious to know how secure our future is for all eternity in this uncertain and very lost world. People have no idea of the coming judgment on this world. If you and I would live with the kingdom viewpoint, perhaps we would make an impact on those who are outside the family of God. I read the story of Nicholas Herman (1611-1691) who was a Carmelite mystic born in France who became a Christian at the age of 18. He became a lay brother of an order of Carmelites in Paris where he worked in the kitchen as a “servant to the servants of God” until his death. He is best known though, for his little book of sayings, published under the name Brother Lawrence, called “The Practice of the Presence of God.” When he lay on his deathbed, Brother Lawrence said to those around him, “I am not dying. I am just doing what I have been doing for the past 40 years, and doing what I expect to be doing for all eternity.” When someone asked, “What is that?” Brother Lawrence replied, “I am worshipping the God I love! ” Friends, can we do the same? Love the Lord with all of our hearts for what He has done for us? Will we be praying earnestly that He be gracious and merciful to our unsaved families and friends as we gather together for these approaching holidays. Just the way He was merciful and gracious to us? Let us enter in our Father’s kingdom without any regrets of not doing our Father’s will. Let His standard of service to Him be ours as well. When He rewards us, it will be fair and just.

Prayer, Father God, Once again, thank You for Your salvation, Your resurrection and the cross. We see our sin debt as paid in full, and want You to help us live our earthly lives for Your kingdom and righteousness, and be a great blessing to others, In Jesus’ name, amen.

May the Lord bless your walk with Him today!