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…of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh,
Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.
Romans 9:5

The person who tells you what to do at work is your boss. Whoever that person answers to is your boss’s boss. And whoever the CEO is accountable to is he/she who is over all.

All authority is traced back to God. Everybody is told what to do by someone else, even presidents and kings. If they don’t listen to the higher-ups, the same thing happens as to any incompetent employee: They get fired.

Many people see having authority as having great privilege, since those in charge seem to have higher salaries, more power, and what seem to be easier jobs. However, what is usually the case is that being the boss requires more responsibility, longer hours, and greater risks. Everybody would want the job of Chief Executive, if there were only the perks and none of the effort.

Jesus Christ is He Who is Over All. In other places, the Lord is called “Head of Every Man” (1 Corinthians 11:3) and “Head Over all Things” (Ephesians 1:22). These, of course, are impressive titles, but they are pretty much meaningless if He can’t give someone consequences for his/her actions or rewards for doing the job well.

Everyone gets called into the Big Boss’ Office at the end of their shift on earth. Those who never respected, obeyed, or acknowledged their Creator must stand before Christ at the Great White Throne of Judgment. All those who never had the Spirit of Christ in them are let go – into the lake of fire.

“Believer of the month awards,” crowns of righteousness, and company-owned mansions are awarded at the judgment seat of Christ to all those who have done well and are faithful. Some servants won’t get much because they never did much for Him who is Over All.

 February 9 

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who
alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:17

King Eternal. Now, that has a nice ring to it. It’s very descriptive and conveys greatness. I’m really surprised that it is used only once in scripture. Christ Jesus is King. He is the King of the Jews, King of the Saints, King of Glory, and King of kings. Long live the King – forever! The Lord Jesus is King Eternal.

Louis XIV reigned over 72 years in France. He was on the throne much longer than the life expectancy of his subjects. In fact, all his immediate heirs predeceased him, so he was succeeded by his five-year-old great grandson, Louis XV. Herein is the lesson: Although many of his subjects were born and died during his monarchy, Louis XIV finally did die and was replaced.

King Jesus won’t ever have that problem. As King Eternal, He reigns over time itself. He has no beginning and has no end. As Creator, He made the stars and will make some new ones when the old ones run out of fuel. As the I Am, all time is present to Him, so He is never in a hurry.

Time changes things, but Christ never changes. That’s because Jesus outlasts time. Today, theoretical Physicists argue about how many billions of years ago the universe began, but they all agree it happened in a point of time. They also agree that the Cosmos will grow old and die. The King Eternal will still be in control when that happens. He’ll then either create a new universe, or do something else.

 February 10 

A man will be as a hiding place from the
wind, And a cover from the tempest…
Isaiah 32:2

They call it a rainforest for a reason. By definition, a jungle receives over 100 inches of rain a year. Where we lived in Ecuador, South America, we got 200. Down there, we had a rainy season and a rainier season. Actually, it rained every day. Most of the year, it would rain 15-30 minutes/day, but in January and February, it might rain all day long for days at a time.

The jungle people went barefoot or wore plastic boots. They often used Elephant Ear leaves as umbrellas or covered themselves with a six-foot square piece of plastic sheeting. Nobody likes staying out in the rain, so even native South Americans sought cover from the tempest. They generally stayed in their thatched huts while it rained and wove baskets or made hammocks.

We had sheets of galvanized roofing on our house. These didn’t have to be replaced as often as the woven palm branches of the Indians’ houses, but the metal roof was much noisier in a storm. The sound would keep visitors from the United States awake at night, but I found it to be relaxing. The steady pouring of the rain drowned out the harsher noises and produced a great calming effect as I realized that I was dry and warm inside while the wind, rain, and cold were on the other side of the wall. Many, many nights, I fell asleep listening to the falling rain.

Jesus is like that. There is a feeling of safety and security while abiding in Him. The storms of life and winds of time wear a body down, but enjoying fellowship with Christ dissolves the stress and calms the soul. He is the believer’s hiding place from the wind, and Cover from the Tempest.

 February 11

Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven,
but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Matthew 7:21*

Abraham Lincoln is known at times to have asked his colleagues “How many legs does a dog have, if you call the tail a leg?”  –  Do you know the answer? According to Lincoln, the answer is four. “Calling the tail a leg doesn’t make it a leg.”

Today, just as in the first century, people approach the Lord Jesus using the right title, but their actions and attitudes deny that He has any control or authority over their lives.  In Luke 6:46, Christ asks his would be followers, “‘But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?”

Calling someone Lord ascribes to him sovereignty and headship. It means that the Lord has power to issue orders and see them obeyed.  Without the follow-through of obedience the title is meaningless. The person who uses the title without yielding to the Lord lies.

In the upper room, the night Christ was betrayed, He said, “You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord  and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:13).

Judas Iscariot had his feet washed that night, but would have never stooped to washing anyone else’s feet. It’s interesting that it’s never recorded that Judas ever called Jesus “Lord.” That is probably because Jesus was never really Judas’ Lord.

The title Lord is used only sparingly of Jesus prior to the resurrection, but it is exceeded only by “Christ” as the principle title after Jesus rose from the dead. Thomas called out to Christ, “My Lord and My God!” and he meant it.  Church tradition tells us that Thomas the apostle traveled as far as India preaching the gospel and was martyred there around AD 52.

*This title is used 711 times in 657 verses in the New Testament referring to Christ.

 February 12 

He who has the bride is the bridegroom…
John 3:29*

In a world filled with instant gratification and moral deficiencies, waiting for marriage is considered a great burden. It didn’t used to be that way. When our society was a lot wiser, living together was put on hold – often for years – until a proper wedding and home could be provided.

Besides allowing time to acquire a more adequate material base for establishing a home and family, the wait provided an important ingredient for holding the marriage together – longing. Anticipation builds desire, and desire leads to bonding.

Christ used this theme repeatedly in His parables to encourage the believers to be ready and waiting for the Lord’s coming. “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!” (Matthew 25:6).

In scripture, the church is presented as the bride and Christ as the bridegroom. Right now, the groom is busy getting living quarters ready (John 14:2), and also preparations for the marriage supper of the Lamb. The honeymoon site is to be the holy city, New Jerusalem. The bride is at work on her garment of fine linen woven from the righteous acts of the saints. As the big day approaches, both long to be united, all distance finally ended, soon to be joint-heirs together, forever.

Even so come, Dear Bridegroom!

*Referring to Christ, the title is used 17 times in just ten verses which are exclusively in parables of the Lord and found in the four gospels.

 February 13 

His mouth is most sweet, Yes he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved,
And this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem!
Song of Solomon 5:16

The daughters of Jerusalem asked the Shulamite about her love for Solomon. She delighted at the opportunity to talk about him, describing him in great detail.

Now, if they asked me the following question about Jesus, this is how I would expand on the Shulamite’s description:

What is your beloved more than another beloved?

• My Beloved is white and ruddy, chief among ten thousand.
• He is pure and unspotted, filled with the beauty of holiness.
• The unsaved world will never begin to understand it, but He is more precious to me than anything money can buy.
• My Beloved is highly exalted and has a name above every name.
• His love knows no measure for He loved me unto death, even the death of the cross.
• Nothing can separate me from the love of Christ – not problems or opposition, circumstances or distress; His love breaks through them all.
• He is faithful and true, gentle, long-suffering, unchangeable and always near.

Yes, He is Altogether Lovely. This is my Beloved, and this is my friend.

 February 14 

The things which you learned and received and heard and
saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:9*

“The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). To know the peace of God is to know the Savior. He is the God of Peace.

The earliest mention of the coming God of Peace came in Jacob’s blessing of his son Judah. The patriarch foretold that: “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh [i.e. the peacemaker] comes” (Genesis 49:10).

The peace offering was one of the five main Old Testament sacrifices offered to God. Everything about it is a type of the Lord Jesus. This freewill offering was an animal chosen from the flock or herd that was without defect and given to God as an act of worship. The offerer would receive a portion of the meat while enjoying fellowship with God (see Leviticus 3:1-17). The Lord gave Himself freely to bring peace to men.

700 years before the Babe was born in Bethlehem, Isaiah prophesied: “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given […] and His name will be called […] Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Then, when the actual fulfillment took place, a huge chorus of angels sang to a small group of frightened shepherds, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”(Luke 2:14).

When Christ was in the upper room with His disciples, He made a promise to them: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

The Prince of Peace is hailed as “Our Peace” in Ephesians 2:14 because He has broken down the barrier that divided the Jewish and Gentile peoples. He is also the “Lord of Peace” who is with us always and continuously grants us peace in every circumstance (2 Thessalonians 3:16). Jesus came into this world to give peace to the troubled of heart and mind. He is the God of Peace.

*see also Romans 15:33, 16:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; and Hebrews 13:20

December 28 

For there is one God and one Mediator
between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus…
1 Timothy 2:5

One classic illustration of the gospel shows two cliffs with a wide canyon separating them. Man is on one side and God is on the other, with sin being the gulf between them. Since the distance is too far to jump, a bridge is needed to get from one side to the other. A bridge shaped like a cross is put in the middle, and the idea is that only Christ can bring a sinner to God.

Since the Savior is both God and Man, He is able to reconcile the sin problem with fallen Man and the Holy God. In studying the titles of Christ, I have seen dozens that emphasize His deity. People need to know this. Understanding that God Himself atoned for mankind’s sins is an essential truth of the gospel.

The humanity of Jesus is often taken for granted, and there aren’t a lot of details apart from the obvious. He had a body made of flesh, blood, and bone, was born in Bethlehem, and spent His childhood and early adulthood in the town of Nazareth. Christ was human, but He was also sinless, although sin is very much a human characteristic. That raises questions about the Man Christ Jesus.

Did Jesus cry as a baby? Did He ever get sick? Did He have a sense of humor? Did He ever work up a sweat? Did He have body odor? Was Christ ever bitten by mosquitoes? The answer to all of these questions is yes. The Lord Jesus experienced everything that’s involved in being human.

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). The Man Christ Jesus knows what’s happening with us. He’s gone through it all Himself.

 February 15 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

Only Begotten Son – One of the better known titles of Christ because it is used in perhaps the most-memorized verse of scripture. Actually, it occurs only four times in the Bible and was penned only by the Apostle John. Although the phrase is very familiar, what does it really mean?

Early in church history, there were heretics who reasoned that if Christ was begotten, he had a beginning, so He is something less than the eternal God. There are plenty of people who believe this today, and they’re still wrong.

To try to correct this, the Nicene creed, written in AD 325, tries to define “begotten.” This early doctrinal statement declares Christ to be “eternally begotten of the Father” and “true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father.” This refuted the heresy that Jesus was merely a “God Jr.” or “God, the Sequel.” Rather, Christ was the eternal God revealed in a human body.

The word in the Greek for only begotten is “monogenes,” which can also be translated “sole” or “one and only.” The idea here is that Christ is unique. He wasn’t one of many sons of God, but the one and only Son. The Word becoming flesh, God manifested in flesh, and Only Begotten Son are three ways of describing this unique miracle of incarnation.

False teachers today do what they have been doing throughout the centuries. They redefine terms, plug a new phrase back into the verse, and try to make it say what it doesn’t. John 3:16 means exactly what we thought it did the first time we heard it and believed it. God loves us and gives us eternal life through His Only Begotten Son.

*see also John 1:18, 3:18; 1 John 4:9

December 29 

Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great
prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.”
Luke 7:16

When Jesus and His disciples came to the town of Nain, a funeral procession passed by. The dead man was the only son of a poor widow and the Lord had compassion on her. He touched the open coffin and said, “Young man, I say to you, arise” (Luke 7:12-14). Christ then presented him alive and well to his mother.

Impressive? I should say so. A miracle of this magnitude hadn’t occurred in Israel for almost 900 years, going back to the time that Elisha raised another young man from the dead. The crowd concluded that Jesus of Nazareth was no ordinary rabbi; He was a great prophet.

Clearly Christ was a prophet, because He said the boy would come back to life and it happened exactly as He said it would. The greatness of the miracle put him up with two of the greatest prophets of Israel, but the Savior was much more than that.

Old Testament prophets saw visions of things in the future that they neither recognized nor understood. Often, short-term prophecies were superimposed on other similar prophecies that would be hundreds of years in the future. It’s common to find descriptions of Christ’s first and second comings in the same passage. Chronological order seems to be lacking with most of the major prophets, so seeing things in light of the New Testament sorts out the context and makes it understandable.

The Lord Jesus’ prophecies are not like that. He who knows the beginning from the end has given clear and understandable explanations of heaven and hell that were incomplete in Old Testament scripture. Christ’s predictions of the end times are unmistakably fulfilling themselves in the present. The last book of the Bible calls itself the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Although symbols and types are used as in all prophecy, there is a clarity and order of progression unlike anything in the Old Testament.

Elijah, Isaiah, and Jeremiah were excellent men of God, but only Christ Jesus was the really Great Prophet.

 February 16