Month: November 2024

The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say,
“Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!”
Luke 7:34*

Criticism – Who can escape it? Not even the perfect man was free from the critical eye and negative comment. Some critics judged Christ for the company he kept and assumed that He was over-eating and getting drunk. After all, that’s what they would have done, given the same opportunity.

Externals – Superficial things can become very important in any society. Setting a fork to the left of the plate is neither right nor wrong in itself, but can be used as a measure to discern who is cultured and who is not. The socially elite spurned the Lord Jesus for being at the wrong party. They weren’t seeking truth; they were seeking faults.

Pride – The desire to look good and feel important is the source of every malicious remark and sarcastic comment. It fuels envy and prejudice and opposes the Savior. No wonder God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).

Example – The Lord was misunderstood for being a friend of sinners. When disciples imitate their Master who showed love to the unlovely, they too are put down and criticized. However, what can be better than having the heart and mind of Christ?

*see also Matthew 11:19

June 2

Then God [Elohim] said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness” … So God [Elohim] created man in His own image; in the image of God [Elohim]
He created him; male and female He created them.
Genesis 1:26-27*

The deity of Christ, far from being an obscure doctrine, permeates the Bible, beginning in chapter one. Elohim, the Hebrew word most commonly translated as “God” in the Old Testament, clearly communicates the concept of the Holy Trinity.

The word denotes “Mighty One,” but its grammar also envelopes the idea of plurality within unity. Some English words have similar structure. If someone requested a pair of pants and some scissors, it would be clear that he wanted one of each, even though these words are grammatically plural.

The universe is not run by a committee or a board of directors. It is controlled by the one true God, Elohim (Deuteronomy 6:4).

The one Almighty God is expressed to us in three persons. God the Father fills every cubic inch of the universe (Psalm 139:1-16). God the Son is the Most High revealed in physical human form (1 John 5:20). God the Spirit is the special presence of the Holy One in the lives of believers (Romans 8:9).

Just as I can be a brother, father, and husband all at the same time, Elohim relates to His creation in distinct ways without being divided Himself. One person of God is not the same as the others, yet one manifestation certainly cannot deny the existence of the rest. There is more to Elohim than a narrow view of God.

*Elohim is used over 2,500 times in the Old Testament

June 1

Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, “God with us.“
Matthew 1:23

The given name on my birth certificate is “Richard”; it means “strong leader.” My wife’s name is “Carol” which means “manly” or “strong.” Now, if you told me what your personal name means, I probably wouldn’t care. There’s usually not a lot of correlation between people and what their names are supposed to mean.

Immanuel is Hebrew for “God With Us.” That’s not what it means; it is the phrase all sounded out. But you wouldn’t know that if you didn’t know Hebrew. It is a description, not a name.

People who want others to know the meaning of their child’s name often use an English word for their moniker such as “Faith,” “Hope,” or “Huckleberry.”

Even so, putting a label on someone is no guarantee that they’ll live up to expectations.

Starting in the 1990’s, hundreds of baby girls in this country have been named “Unique.” Since that name caught on, now none of them are. Even with over 30 variations of spelling (which includes Uneek, Euneke, and U’niq) a person’s name usually is a classifier and not a describer.

The New Testament has been translated into more than 2,000 languages. In each case, Matthew 1:23 contains a transliteration of the word “Immanuel”; the name is converted to the script of the native tongue so that it can be sounded out to something that resembles Immanuel in English. That text might be Spanish, Arabic, or Mandarin, but the result is mostly the same; the reader comes across a hard to pronounce Bible name that means nothing to him.

But then comes the translation “God With Us” and its understood. It doesn’t matter if the person is an Eskimo from north of the Arctic Circle or an Aborigine from Australia; it’s explained to them in their own language. Jesus Christ is “God With Us.”

May 31

And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS
AND LORD OF LORDS.
Revelation 19:16*

The Bible is the full revelation of God to His people, so that all those who love the Lord also love His Word. I’m not surprised at the great and precious things that I find fresh and new every time I read the Word, even though I’ve gone through “The Book” many times before.

One thing that does surprise me is some of the stuff that has gotten in. God’s written down some things that don’t seem very important to me and I don’t know how to process it. Take Genesis 36, for example, where the genealogy of Esau is given. These men became chieftains and kings of Edom, dozens of them, all with names that are hard to pronounce. These kings lived and reigned long before Israel ever got to their Promised Land and since Edom was later cursed by God, no descendants of that nation exist today. I mean, really, who cares? Obviously, God does, because He wrote it down in His book.

God keeps a lot of lists. Just read First Chronicles. There are lists of Levites, priests, singers, and doorkeepers. In heaven, there’s a list of every person’s sins and the Lamb’s Book of Life catalogs all those going to heaven. Somewhere in all that paperwork of heaven is a complete listing of all the kings that ever lived on earth. Since every king ultimately receives his power and authority from God, one day they’ll have to settle accounts with Him.

At the Great White Throne, there will be kings of Edom, Rome, Greece, Persia, and Babylon. Every monarch that ever lived will be present and, when the signal is given, every one of them will bow the knee and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. All the proud and mighty will humble themselves before the true King of kings.

* see also 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14.

May 30

Now a great sign appeared in heaven…
Revelations 12:1

Abbreviations come in handy when there’s a lot to write down.  They’re also helpful to keep from revealing a secret or a forbidden word.  Such is the case with this title of Christ.

The Greek letter for “ch” is Chi and looks like an English X.  Rho sounds like “r” but is written like an English P. They form the first two letters of Christ.

During times of Roman persecution, Christians used symbols that could be recognized by other believers and overlooked by the authorities. The Chi-Rho,  , identified a person with Christ.

In the dawn of the fourth century, the Emperor Maxentius began the last purge of Christians.  Every believer in the empire was to be put to death without mercy or exception. All provincial rulers had to enforce this edict, yet there was one who refused.

Constantine was a pagan, but his mother, Helena, was a Christian. Since there was no persecution in Gaul, many believers fled there. Constantine was summoned to Rome to answer for his disobedience and he went, taking his troops. The little army left knowing that they were outnumbered ten to one. On the way, Christian soldiers began swelling Constantine’s rank and by the time they got to Rome they were only outnumbered three to one. The day before the battle, Constantine looked at the sun and saw a  in the rays of light and tradition says he heard a voice saying, “In this sign you will conquer”. A  was painted on every shield.

When the battle was joined, Maxentius’ huge army melted before Constantine. Panic ensued as thousands of men retreated across a pontoon bridge. The little boats that were tied together soon fell apart. Everyone wore heavy armor, so when Maxentius and most of his troops fell into the Tiber river, they soon drowned. The river killed more than the sword.

Constantine became the undisputed emperor of Rome that day and persecution of the saints came to an abrupt end.  Seeing the , even the most devout pagan had to admit that there was something special about the name of Christ.    

May 29

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to god must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
 Hebrews 11:6

“By faith Moses . . . refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter . . . esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.”  (Hebrews 11:24 & 26).

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose”, Jim Elliot, modern martyr.

Judges, kings and prophets . . . “who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions . . . Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection.”  (Hebrews 11:33 & 35).

“They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goat skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented –”  (Hebrews 11:37).

“—Of whom the world was not worthy”, (God’s opinion of them – Hebrews 11:38).

“You can’t out give God”, (that famous Greek philosopher, Anonymous).

“The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge”, (Boaz, talking to Ruth – Ruth 2:12).

“But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just” , (Jesus of Nazareth – Luke 14:18)

“If you believe, all things are possible to him who believes”,  (Jesus to the father of an epileptic son who needed healing – (Mark 9:23).

“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief”, (The dad’s response – Mark 9:24).

“Oh, LORD, me, too.  I want to be faithful to the very end”,  (Rick Khol, martyr wannabe).

 

May 28

For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself,
lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
Hebrews 12:3

I don’t like hassles, arguments or confrontations, so I avoid them whenever possible. I even avoid potential problems, so I’ll send my wife in to get directions at the gas station or hand her the phone when it’s a telemarketer. Angry encounters are worse, because when I’m yelled at, I usually yell back, so I lose the argument before it’s even begun.

Now, compare that with the Lord Jesus. He left the grandeur of heaven, where He was worshiped, to come to a world filled with injustice, violence, and greed. He was “despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3). The Lord refused to speak in court when he was falsely accused, so His adversaries continued to curse, insult, and malign Him Who Endured Such Hostility.

This name of Christ reveals the great depth of character of the Savior. He didn’t put up with the verbal abuse of sin because he had to; Jesus did it because He wanted to. That’s a big difference. Homeless people walk places not because they want to, but because they have no choice. The Son of God wasn’t a victim of the evil in this world, but he chose to conquer wickedness by taking it on Himself.

The writer to the Hebrews explains why Christ put up with such antagonism from His own creation. He did it for believers, for us. We all know how weary and discouraged we get when we become the focus of loathing and disrespect. Jesus conquered all that by rising above it. We can also overcome the insults, if we can just take the time to reflect on Him Who Endured Such Hostility from sinners.

May 27

When his offering is a sacrifice of a peace offering, if he offers it of the herd, whether male or female,
he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD.
Leviticus 3:1

God enjoys celebrating with His people. He gave them feasts and festivals and even today the Jewish people are known for their food. He gave them a land of milk and honey, but it also produced great harvests of grains, fruit, and livestock.

Without refrigeration, meat was hard to keep, so it wasn’t on the menu every day; it was special. When an animal from the herd (beef) or flock (goat meat or mutton) was to be slaughtered, it was taken to the Tabernacle or Temple, because the blood and the fat belonged to the LORD. When the fat sizzled on the altar it gave off a “sweet aroma” to God (Leviticus 4:31). The right foreleg was a heave offering to God, but the officiating priest got to keep it as payment for his services. The rest of the meat was for the owner to enjoy as he wished.

The peace offering was the most common and least restrictive of all the sacrifices. It could be any clean animal without defect (male or female didn’t matter), whatever someone had a taste for. Different kinds of breads were also a part of this fellowship dinner. Since everything had to be eaten in two days (it wouldn’t be safe to eat it much more after that), the peace offering was a good excuse for a party. Neighbors and friends would be invited and people looked for excuses to celebrate. If I invited friends to help me eat 500 pounds of beef in two days, they would probably do the same for me when they had a peace offering. That principle naturally nurtured hospitality, generosity, and fellowship.

The Prince of Peace became our Peace Offering to enjoy with the family of God. He is our Lamb of God, our Bread of Life, and our Companion and Friend “…therefore let us keep the feast…” (1 Corinthians 5:8). 

May 26

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us.
God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
1 John 4:16

“Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so” (Anna B. Wanney, 1860). Most everyone associates Jesus as one who loves, but not everyone sees Him in the verse above. Many people, when they come across the G word in the Bible, just assume it’s talking about God the Father and not the Son. God is love, but is it a name of Christ?

God is Love no matter how He shows Himself, but this verse shows clearly that God the Son is the personification of Love. John said that he had known and believed this love that God had for mankind. He specifically chooses two words that he also uses repeatedly in referring to Christ. This is called “linkage.”

The Apostle talks about abiding in love and abiding in Christ. This expression calls to mind the Lord’s discourse of the true vine in John’s gospel chapter 15 where He says, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me” (verse 4). Christ goes on to say “abide in my love” (verse 9). Referring to other writings like this is called “allusion.”

When 1 John chapter 4 is seen in overview, the pieces fit together. “Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (verse 7). “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him” (verse 9). “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God” (verse 15). “And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also” (verse 21). When surrounding verses work together to establish a point, it’s known as “context.” In this case, “God is love” = “Jesus is love.”

Christ is the embodiment of love. When you look at Him with the eyes of faith, you can see Love. Since love is emotion and feeling, it’s complex and difficult to define. However, if you know the Savior, you truly know what love is, because Jesus is Love.

May 25

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone…”
Isaiah 28:16

Rocks differ from one another in color, hardness, and composition. However, even the same variety of rock from the same quarry can vary in quality. Unseen hairline cracks within a big block of stone can eventually break it apart once it is part of a load-bearing wall. For that reason, the huge building blocks that were to be used in the Temple were shaped in one place and then transported many miles to the construction site. The movement over dirt roads would jostle and vibrate the heavy stones enough that the inferior building material would never survive the journey. Each block that made it through this testing was considered a tried stone.

When Christ came to this world 2,000 years ago, He didn’t arrive untested. Many times before, God had physically manifested Himself to His people. The second person of the Trinity was in the burning bush before Moses, appeared as the Commander of the LORD’s army to Joshua, and protected Shadrach and crew in the fiery furnace as the Son of God.

Before the Jewish leaders rejected Him as their Messiah, He demonstrated His power and authority to them. He did things that only the LORD’s Anointed could do; the lame walked, the blind could see, and the dead came to life again (Matthew 11:5). But it wasn’t just His works that proved that He was the Christ. Other witnesses that testified of the Son of God were John the Baptist, God the Father, and scripture itself (John 5:36-47).

The Lord Jesus became the cornerstone and sure foundation of the assembly of God’s people. He came not just stating His claim, but proving to those who had ears to hear that He was the precious and Tried Stone that Isaiah prophesied would come. 

May 24