God Will Save Us (By Beau, age 9)

Scripture: God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. John 3?:17 (NLT)

Observation: God will come down to the world and save us when he is done making Heaven.

Application: I need to stop worrying because God will save me.

Prayer: Dear God, please help me not worry.

Sometimes We Forget

Scripture: For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. (2 Peter 1:9 ESV)

Observation: Peter tells us we have all we need for life because of the divine power that called us, promised us, made us partakers of his divine nature. People that recognize this make every effort to pursue the qualities of God in their lives. However, some people we see are true believers, but do not have these qualities. What gives? The answer is they have forgotten their salvation. They forgot they have been cleansed. They have become so nearsighted that they are blind, totally missing out on the big picture—that they are born again.

Application: I must remind us what happened to us. I must show us the big picture. We can get so nearsighted, focused on our day to day, that we miss the grand scheme of God. This series starting in the fall is my shot at reminding us.

Prayer: God, please help this series accomplish more than I ask or imagine. Help us to truly revel in the riches of your grace. Please guide me this morning as I prepare.

I Must Insist

Scripture: He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. (Titus 3:5-8 ESV)

Observation: We are saved by God’s work, not ours. Paul commands Timothy to insist on this. The result of insisting on this is that people will be careful to devote themselves to good works. This seems counterintuitive. If we want to motivate people to do good, how does insisting that their good has nothing to do with God’s approval of them spur them on?

There must be something powerful about the gospel. More than human rhetoric, more than motivational speeches. Something about the simple truth that He saved us, not because of works done by us, serves as a starter pistol for a life of good works. When guilt and self-effort are off the table, the glory of the gospel can be seen.

Application: I believe He saved us, not because of works done by us. But do I insist on this? Do I insist on this in my own relationship with God? Do I insist on this with my wife and kids? Do I insist on this in my preaching? Do I insist on this with my friends and neighbors? Or do I subtly communicate that He saved us, but only due to works done by us?

I need to think more about what it means for me to insist that He saved us, not because of works done by us.

Prayer: God, it is clear that when it comes to salvation, either you get all the credit, or I try to steal some. Forgive me for foolishly thinking I contributed. It is all, beginning, middle, and end, your work in me. Help me insist on this in my dealings today.

The Gospel Makes Us...

Scripture: This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Ephesians 3:6

Observation: Paul is explaining to his gentile audience about his calling to them. He says he is a gift to them, to help them see who they are in Christ. He goes into detail to explain that even though they are not Jews, they are able to be rightly related to God. These gentiles might have struggled to believe that they were truly the great men and women of God the gospel said they were. They could have felt second rate, or inferior. Paul affirms that they are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise—all because of the gospel.

Application: The gospel makes us great men and women of God. We have not yet plumbed the depths of that truth. Even Ephesians 3:6 gives us some overwhelming truths about our status before God. This is further confirmation to me that we need to spend a year at Pulpit Rock talking about what God has done to and in us through the gospel. In a small way, I feel like Paul, whose job was to present truth to a group of believers about who they truly were in Christ. I am going to be spending time today studying and preparing for this year-long series.

Prayer: God, speak to me today as I study and prepare. I want to be fully impacted by these truths before I begin to share them. Help me hear from you and put together this series.

Counting the Cost

Scripture: For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish. Luke 14:28-30

Observation: Jesus is calling people to consider carefully the cost of following him. He is asking them to evaluate their devotion to family, friends, even their own lives. Following Jesus is not a hasty endeavor, but something to be entered into with much pause.

Application: But this is so different from the gospel approach we have today. The focus is more on not considering the cost, but jumping in with both feet. I encourage people to get right with God and let discipleship sort itself out later. I just want to get them saved. But how much should people consider before they commit to Christ? Knowing that the Christian life is fueled by Spirit power and not willpower, how much *can* they commit before they come to Christ? I would hate to artificially raise the bar of salvation, and keep someone out that I deem has not considered the cost. At the same time, I do not want to promote false confession or give false sense of assurance to those who never really committed in the first place.

Prayer: God, this is a troubling passage. Would you help me see the balance of “believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved,” and “count the cost”? I want to promote Your gospel, not my version of it.

The Danger of Cleaning your House

Scripture: Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.” Luke 11:26

Observation: Jesus is responding to critics of his miraculous ministry. Specifically, people attacked his casting out of demons, saying it was really done by the power of Satan. After explaining how absurd it would be for this to be true, Jesus speaks a word to those critics who also cast out demons. The difference between Jesus and them is that while both called upon God’s power to cast our evil spirits, only Jesus was able to replace the space with the life-giving power of God. These critics offered a temporary solution that ultimately left the person worse off than before. Jesus not only got rid of the evil, but gave that person hope and freedom from future “infestation.” They could clean the room, but only Jesus could come and dwell.

Application: The key to helping people is not to help them overcome their demons, real or metaphorical. The key is to give them new life in Christ. If we help someone overcome an addiction, or a marital problem, or a financial issue, or any bad situation, but we do not give them Christ, then we have only temporarily fixed the problem. Often, we focus on the temporary solution.
I remember helping a couple work through some marriage issues. The core problem was that the husband was not a believer. We did help them get back together, and work things out. But I am not sure that the issue of his salvation was fully addressed. Consequently, I see them falling into the same traps and worry about the future.
In dealing with others, I need to keep in mind that the issue is not the issue, the issue is Jesus.

Prayer: God, help me offer true hope to others by offering One who will come and live in our hearts, not just someone who will clean up the room.

Rejoice that Your Names are Written in Heaven

Scripture: Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. Luke 10:20

Observation: After the disciples return from a ministry trip, they are amazed at the spiritual power they have. Even demons are subject to them because of the name of Christ. Jesus agrees that the enemy has been defeated, but then he cautions the disciples about rejoicing over their spiritual blessings, when the truest blessing is the promise of eternal life.

Application: It is easy for me to celebrate what God has done in my life now, and not pay attention to the greatest blessing—my name is written in heaven. Greater than and earthly blessing that God might bring my way is my forgiveness, my relationship with him, my salvation. I want to raise the value of our salvation in my thinking and speaking.

Prayer: God, help me see and help me lead my family and church to see the great value of our salvation. We ought to rejoice over our names being written in Heaven.

Moving from Desire to Prayer

Scripture: Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. Romans 10:1

Observation: Paul is writing about his family, his kinsmen, the Jews. For several chapters he has been writing about how their attempt to be right with God through effort has failed. The only way for them to be rescued is to call upon the name of the Lord and believe in Christ. Here, he expresses his heart’s desire: They might be saved. However, this is more than a desire, it is an action. He prays.

Application: Of course my desire is for others to be saved. But do I go beyond that to prayer? It is one thing to hope; another to put your money where your mouth is and pray.

Prayer: God, you’ve been nailing me with the call to pray for the lost. Today I pray for J. and F. and my neighbor. May they see you and call upon you. May you send laborers into their lives, including me, to seek and save them. Help me develop a list of those to take to you in prayer.

How Can I Stand on That Day?

Scripture: He will render to each one according to his works…For God shows no partiality. Romans 2:6,11

Observation: Paul is making the point that God judges us by our works. That it does not matter what your religious, racial, societal, or economic status is—in the end, we all stand on equal ground before the judgment. God is completely impartial, not having favorites, or letting some people off the hook because he likes them better. He judges solely by his own standards. Sadly, according to his standards, we are all guilty. If we try to stand before God on our own merit, we will be found guilty. And we cannot influence his decision by claiming special privilege.

Application: If this is true, then the only shot we have is mercy. That is the point of Christmas. That all of earth stands equally condemned, with no hope. But the good news is that through Christ, we have a way to stand before God. We can stand on Christ’s merit, and not our own. Our only hope at surviving judgment is Christ.

Prayer: God, I simply want to thank you for Jesus in my life. I can see how if I stood before you in judgment, I would fail miserably on my own. Yet, because of Christ, I will stand on that day, and survive. Thanks for my rescue and help me to extend that hope to others.

The Central Question Of Life.

Scripture:
How then can man be in the right before God?
How can he who is born of woman be pure? Job 25:4

Observation: Job’s friend asks a question—more out of despair than confidence. Yet his question is at the core of our humanity. If there is a God, how can people born on earth be right with him? Religion seems to be an attempt to answer this question different ways. But if there is a God, then this becomes much more than an interesting theological debate—it becomes the core question we must answer.

Application: Recently I was asked by someone why it was important to share our faith with others—especially people who already have a religion or faith system. I answered that it all came back to Jesus. If this question of being right with God has many paths and answers, then it really is not important to tell others about Christ. But if Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to God but through him (John 14:6), then there is only one answer, and as narrow as it might seem, we ought to lovingly and respectfully share this with others.
I must answer this myself. How can someone be in the right before God? Is it through doing good? Is it through faith in something, anything? Are there many roads? Or is the answer one word, Jesus? If so, how will I share this truth with others that they also might be right with God?

Prayer: God, you said Christ was the only way. I believe this in my mind, but don’t always act like it. Please help me and our church believe this. Help us share the heart of Christ in love and respect. Give me opportunities to do this even today.

One Day, They Will Look and Believe

Scripture: And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. Zechariah 12:10

Observation: Zechariah is predicting a future day when the nation of Israel will be given a gift—the gift of the Holy Spirit who enables faith so that when they look to Christ in faith, they will be moved to mourning and repentance (pleas for mercy).

Application: We are going through Acts as a church and seeing the growing rejection of the second offer of Jesus Christ by Israel. The first offer, in the gospels, ended in the rejection of Christ to the point of death. The second offer, in Acts, is moving towards the end of national rejection of Christ as the Messiah, and the death of many followers. My heart breaks as I read Acts and see the grace and patience of God who re-offers the kingdom and still finds rejection. This passage in Zechariah reminds me that rejection will not last forever. That one day, Israel will see what they have been blind to for so long—Christ crucified, and when they see him, the Spirit will move them to faith, finally.
Sometimes I look at people and think they are beyond God. They have rejected Christ over and over, and I am quick to dust off my feet and get moving. But if God can change the heart of a nation, he can change the heart of a man.

Prayer: God, thank you for keeping your promises to your people, even when they do not keep their promises to you. Thank you for your love for Israel, and how you keep reaching out. Give me guidance today in knowing when to keep offering the kingdom, and when to move on. Thank you for reminding me that no matter how attractive the offer, the Spirit has to be involved for people to see Christ and be moved to repentance.

Judged By Deeds or Names?

Scripture: And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done…And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:12,15

Observation: One day people will be judged using these books. Either by their deeds or by their names. Either by what they have done in life, or by what Christ has done for them. This will be a pass-fail judgment. Sadly, everyone who tries to stand on his or her actions in life will perish at this judgment. Only those who stand on the act of Christ will survive.

Application: I must remember that the key to this judgment is faith in Christ. Do I believe this? Or do I think that somehow, God will grade on a curve? This passage reminds me that the only way is Jesus.

Prayer: God, thank you for delivering me from my sin and my deeds. Thank you that you wrote my name down in your book. Holy Spirit, help me to point others towards Jesus today.

The Lord is my song

Scripture: Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the Lord God is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. Isaiah 12

Observation: God is my song. He is what I sing in my heart. What he has done in my life is the tune of my days. His anger is turned from me. His comfort is given to me. He can hold my trust and deal with my fears. He gives me strength. He allows me to draw from the springs of salvation.

Application: I need to sing this song more. I need to make known his deeds among the peoples, and make them remember his name is exalted. We worship God as a response to who he is and what he has done. I focus on the former--who he is. But often I fail to sing about what he has done. I need to tell God in worship and others in my life the things God has done. I need to sing the song of salvation.

Prayer: God, Today, may I really enjoy the worship time at church. Help me to remember it is about You and what You have done. Let me be free to celebrate my salvation. And let me carry that song into my neighborhood in my relationships with Brian and Laurie.