Month: September 2024

   …who is the head — Christ — from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part
does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:15,16

The scripture portion above is actually a small part of a very long, complex sentence that lasts for six verses and goes on for 158 words. The theme of this section (Ephesians 4:11-16) is spiritual gifts, however, there is too much material to cover in a short devotion, so I’ll focus on the most vital; I’m going for the Head.

The Church is like a body that is made up of many different parts and doing a variety of jobs. All are necessary, and every member needs each other. Christ is the head of the body. Without Him, nothing would be coordinated and nothing would get done. Heads come in all shapes and sizes, but they all do the same thing – command and control the rest of the body. Even the most primitive of animals has a head. At first, the lowly earthworm seems like it has two tails, since it’s missing eyes, ears, and a nose. However, about a half an inch behind the mouth on a night crawler and inside the animal itself is a tiny structure, smaller than a pinhead, called the cerebal ganglia. If that is removed or even damaged, the worm becomes brain-dead. It can’t move or do the things worms do.

The pastor, the bishop, or the president of a denomination is not the head of the Church; that is Christ’s job alone. When each member is in tune with the leading of the head of the church, everything works together and great things can be accomplished. When the connection is cut off from the head, the body is essentially paralyzed and begins to die. This is usually the problem when the church is unable to move forward.

“For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power” (Colossians 2:9-10).

August 29

But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and
gracious,  longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.
Psalm 86:15*

King David viewed the Lord as the strong and powerful God who taught his “hands to make war” (Psalm 18:34), but He was also the God Full of Compassion who forgave him of his terrible sins. David certainly feared the Lord, but even when he faced the wrath and judgment of God for his willful transgressions, the king knew that God would not utterly abandon him if he cried out to the God who was filled with compassion and mercy.

This God that David knew was almost totally forgotten by the children of Israel by the time Jeremiah began to preach. The prophet begged the people of the nation of Judah to humble themselves and repent so that God could hold back His wrath and show them mercy. They refused, so the promised judgment did fall and the nation was destroyed. Only a small number escaped because they were taken captive. God is compassionate, and yet He judges sin. These dual attributes are hard to understand, so Christ was sent to be a clear and understandable object lesson.

Jesus saw the poor and downtrodden and reached out to  them. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, and raised the dead. But the problem is that people still get hungry the next day, or fall victim to any one of the thousands of diseases on another day. Even the resurrected just live to die again. Since Christ was truly God Full of Compassion, He dealt with the core issue, the sin problem.

People need to totally get out of this sin-cursed world and into the presence of holiness, but that is not going to happen if they take their sin with them. For that reason, Christ took on Himself the sin of the world so the sons and daughters of God could take on His righteousness. Now, when believers finally leave this planet, they can go to a place where they will never again be hungry, get sick, or face death, and they will live forever with their God Full of Compassion.

*see also Psalm 111:4

August 28

Simon Peter answered and said, “You
are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:16

“Denotation” and “Connotation”: Two words that are throw-backs to high school English class. The first is the dictionary meaning of a word, and the second is what it means to the people who hear it.

Technically, the word “Christ” means “anointed one.” It could refer to any prophet, priest, or king who had oil poured on him, but it especially referred to the Jewish Messiah who held all three of these positions.

When Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was, Simon Peter just blurted it out, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Peter wasn’t giving the theoretical or politically correct definition of Christ; he was calling it as he saw it.

The Lord Jesus is the one and only Son of the living God, yet He adopts people into His family to make them children of God. It is hard to understand why, but faith accepts it as a miracle of love and grace.

C.S. Lewis once said, “The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.” What does that mean, exactly? Each word can be defined and analyzed, but that is no guarantee that someone will really understand what a new relationship with God is all about.

When I was a boy, I heard a Scottish preacher explain it this way: “It’s better felt than telt.” That nails it! Knowing Christ through experience by far surpasses knowing about Him in theory.

Christ came into this world to save sinners, and this only happens when people encounter Christ and experience Him to be the Son of the Living God.

August 27

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.”
Isaiah 28:16

The surest way to prove that an Old Testament title is a name of Christ is to see it quoted in the New Testament referring to the Savior. Peter paraphrases this verse calling Christ “a chief cornerstone, elect, precious” (1 Peter 2:6). Now the job is to figure out what it means.

Something precious is of great value such as precious metals or precious jewels. A precious cornerstone would be very costly and certainly would set itself apart from the ordinary stones around it.

When the Washington Monument was completed in 1884 a 3,300 pound marble capstone crowned the top. On top of this was a nine inch apex made of 100 ounces of pure aluminum. At the time, aluminum was worth more than silver and the tiny pyramid cost the government $225.00. That might not sound like an extravagant amount, but a worker on the monument earned $1 a day for ten hours of work. The little ornament was worth almost as much as a working man’s salary for a year.

Before being placed on Washington’s tallest monument, the apex was displayed in the window of Tiffany’s in New York City, as the crown jewel of the nation’s capital. The rare, rust-proof metal that composed it made it architecturally unique; it was a precious cornerstone.

Christ has always had a special and singular position for the redemption of the human race. He fit into God’s plan at the right time and place and was worth more than a hundred galaxies. The Lord, the Precious Cornerstone is the pinnacle of God’s glory and will remain exalted for mankind and angels to praise for all eternity.

August 26

She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Yeshua, [which means ‘Adonai saves,’] because he will save his people from their sins.
Matthew 1:21 CJB

Although I have no memory of it, shortly after I was born, my legal name became Richard Khol.  I know that because my birth certificate says so, although through the years I’ve been given other names.  As a kid, everyone called me Rickey, and my baby brother called me “Racoo.” When I got to High School, I went by “Rick,” and that’s who I consider myself to be.

My name in South America was “Don Ricardo.”  That’s not who I was, but it worked for Spanish speakers, and I was all right with it. While there, I became close with an Ecuadorian pastor who expressed his friendship by always addressing me as “Rrrreek.” He didn’t pronounce it right, but at least he tried, and I appreciated it.

When Christ was born in Bethlehem, His legal name was probably “Yehoshua,” which we pronounce today as “Joshua.” In Hebrew, it means “God-saves” and was a common name in the first century. This four-syllable word was shortened to three in the name “Yeshua,” which translates “Salvation.”

English speakers are usually clueless to both the meaning and pronunciation of the Lord’s name. When the New Testament was written in Greek, the Savior’s name, Yeshua, was transliterated to “ee-ay-soos”, since there weren’t equivalent letters in both languages. Then, in the 5th century, the New Testament was translated into Latin, and for a thousand years His personal name was “IESVS.”  

The Tyndale, Geneva, and early King James versions all used the Latin spelling of the name. It wasn’t until 1630 that the “J” was added and pronounced “Yeh”. Later, the “Yeh” sound was finally dropped and the “Jeh” sound substituted.

The English name “Jesus” then, is a transliteration of the Latin, which is a transliteration of the Greek, which is a transliteration of the Hebrew.

O Lord Yeshua, please have patience with us!  We’ll get your name right in heaven!

August 25

Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
1 Peter 1:18-19

The Passover lamb was special, the most perfect of the flock. First, it was examined for flaws in health and appearance. Then, it had to be set apart for an additional four days inside the family’s own home for even more careful scrutiny. Only the very best could be offered to God.        

After the animal had passed the tests of wholesomeness, it was chosen to die. Its white wool was stained red with blood, and its perfect little body was roasted in the fire.

There was no benefit gained as long as the little creature was alive and well. However, when the spotless lamb was bruised and abused, it became a substitute for the sinner it was sacrificed to redeem. God’s design for the Passover feast wasn’t to create a mindless ritual, but rather serve as a clear illustration of His provision of redemption.     

Peter declares Christ to be the Lamb without blemish and without spot. His nature and character were sinless. Even the politician who signed His death sentence declared, “I have found no fault in this Man” (Luke 23:14).

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). As the spotless Lamb, He could blot out sin for the whole human race. By becoming sin for us, He was the perfect substitute who truly redeemed.

August 24

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and
I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
John 15:5

Dismal! That’s the best way to describe a vineyard in the late fall. Contorted log-like trunks about six to eight feet long extend from the cold, barren ground, stripped of limb, leaf, and presumably even of life. It’s hard to believe that this place was fruitful just a few months before. Only a very few would even expect that those chunks of weathered wood could produce abundantly again.

Each of those naked stumps is a vine, and within them is the promise of next year’s harvest. In the spring, the empty field turns green with life. The vine sends out branches, and then leaves. The clusters of fruit that form are not so much a reflection of the quality of the branches as they are a tribute to the productivity of the vine.

When Jesus said that He was the vine, His disciples understood that He claimed to be the source of fruitfulness to those abiding in Him. Christ did not have material wealth, comfort, or a large following while He was on this earth, so spiritual fruit can’t be construed as meaning these things. Rather, the character that people saw in Him is what He offers.

The Lord Jesus told his followers: “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love” (John 15:9). “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11). “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you” (John 14:27). When a believer is very close to Christ, the fruit of the spirit simply grows in his life like grapes on the vine (Galatians 5:22-23).

August 20

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.”
John 15:1

The Old Testament repeatedly refers to Israel as a vine. After taking it out of Egypt and transplanting it in Canaan, God labored to enable His tender plant to grow (Psalm 80:8,9). However, the experience was disappointing. Instead of something worthwhile, the vine produced only wild grapes (Isaiah 5:2). The seed was good. God started with only the best, but somehow it degenerated into an alien plant that had to be rejected (Jeremiah 2:21).        

Today, not everyone will understand the depth of meaning in this imagery, but it was clear to the people in Bible times who were very familiar with vineyards. They knew that grape production was a labor-intensive industry and a worthless harvest after years of effort would be more than a little disappointing.        

For centuries, God nurtured and cared for Israel. He called the nation His, giving it not only His blessing and protection, but also His law, His prophets, and many works of wonder. Yet for all this expense of concern, Israel’s fruit was bitter and useless to the owner. Every new effort to produce a crop of faithfulness resulted in new regrets. Finally, it came time to uproot and cast off the wild hybrid vine and replace it with something true and productive.   

Jesus is the True Vine, and the Father will never be disappointed in Him. He is the perfect fulfillment of the plans and purposes of God.   

When Israel sought life through law-keeping and ceremony, they found none there. They became withered and worthless. However, Christ Himself is the True Vine. He is the source of life and grace so that all those who abide in Him can expect to live a life that is fruitful and productive.

August 19

“I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.”
Daniel 7:13,14**

The husband was an American and his wife Canadian. The child was both. He wasn’t a little of each, but 100% a citizen of both countries.

Jesus Christ is the God-Man. Conceived through the Holy Spirit, He is all that the Almighty ever was or is. Born of a woman, He is fully human and is a credit to His race. Not half God and half man, the Lord Jesus combines deity and humanity without diluting either.

As Son of God, Christ is of the family of God and the possessor of God’s nature. As Son of Man, the Lord couldn’t have been more human. There wasn’t an emotion or experience that He couldn’t feel.

Of the two titles, it was Son of Man that He chose to use the most. It was such a special title that, with only one exception in the New Testament, it always comes from the Lord’s own mouth. The term is powerful and most often refers to a time when the God-Man will reign forever over the human race. However, the Savior made it very clear that the Son of Man had to be lifted up, suffer, and die for His creation before this would be possible.

Son of Man, His incarnation
Opened first the tale of grace;
Son of Man, in new creation
Leader of a chosen race!
Well may glory, well may glory,
Give to Him the honored place!
                                      – Thomas Kelly

* The favorite title of Christ for Himself.
**see also Mark 14:62; Matthew 20:28; John 3:14; Acts 7:56 plus 80 other New Testament references

August 18

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God,
God abides in him, and he in God.
1 John 4:15*

The title is a statement of faith, the distinguishing creed of all true believers. Peter admitted to Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Martha, Nathaniel, the Roman centurion, and the Ethiopian eunuch also acknowledged the same. In fact, no one can have true faith in Christ without reaching this conclusion.

Phony Christians might employ the phrase in one way or another, but they don’t understand it, or at least they refuse to accept its true meaning. That is because the title is a declaration of the deity of Christ, and that is something counterfeit converts don’t wish to accept.    

In Bible times, the phrase “son of…” clearly meant “being one with”, as in the “sons of the prophets” or “sons of the singers.” When Jesus declared, “I am the Son of God,” the Jewish leaders were immediately offended and ready to stone Him for blasphemy. To them, by saying God was His father, He was making Himself equal to God (John 5:18).

To call Jesus the Son of God is the same as acknowledging Him as God, the Son. It concedes that He has power and authority to judge and punish sinful man. Calling on the Lord by this title implies submission and obedience to His will. It concludes that no surrogate savior could ever redeem God’s lost creation. Only God Himself in human form could be capable of bringing complete salvation.

*Matthew 27:54; John 1:49, 11:27, 10:36; Acts 8:37; Daniel 3:25; plus 38 other references.

August 17