“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” Romans 5:3-4 NLT
Have you ever had one of those days where everything is going wrong? Your alarm didn’t go off, congested traffic made you late for work, you stepped off a curb into a puddle only to realize in your haste you were wearing two different types of shoes, and the ATM is out of order. How would you react to escalating problems that are piling up all around you with your day just beginning? The way you handle them will determine how the rest of your day will turn out. If handled correctly will also give you a firm foundation in building endurance and character.
Paul writes in Romans, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.” (5:3 NLT) The apostle’s advice is to rejoice in our problems and trials. He is not saying we should rejoice ‘because of them’ but ‘in them.’ Rejoicing in our problems and trials makes us aware that they are there for a purpose. As Christians we know God always has our best interests at heart.
Working through trials in difficult times with the Lord’s help is what is best for us. It develops endurance as Paul noted and that leads to strength in our character. Suffering of any kind for believers in Christ is always beneficial and will produce positive results. When we learn to persevere in our small everyday problems as they mount up and become bigger, we will have the strength of character in the Lord to overcome them. Paul says our character also strengthens our confident hope of salvation. Thank God for your everyday problems, for He sends them to help you develop endurance and strength of character for the bigger problems in the days ahead.
“Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” Romans 5:2 NLT
The most coveted championship ring in all sports is the NFL Super Bowl Ring. Depending on the design and the materials used to produce them, they range from $30,000 to $50,000. The winning team orders the standard 150 rings. There are many who are not in uniform and on the field but are on the sidelines and within the organization in various support positions. The distribution of the Super Bowl rings is at the discretion of ownership. Obviously, every player and the coaching staff receives a ring, along with those deemed vital to the team’s success on the field. But there are others receiving a ring who may have a sense of an undeserved privilege in receiving one due to their limited role. Clubs have been known to give rings to the members of the practice squad and even the cheerleaders among others.
Have you ever felt you have been put in a place of undeserved privilege? Perhaps you received an award with your corporate team members for outstanding accomplishments knowing your input was of a limited nature. Awkwardness surrounds you as you share in the glory with your teammates. No matter how hard you try you cannot shake the undeserved feeling until your team leader says you were brought on to share in this joy. You may have felt undeserved, but your team leader wanted you on the team.
God wants us on His team. He has made it possible by sending Christ to provide the way for us through His death and resurrection. Romans 5:2 says, “Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” (NLT) It is by our faith in what Jesus Christ has done for us that we are brought into this place of undeserved privilege. An important note to remember is that everyone God’s team is an undeserved member. God chose us for His team, not for our abilities, but because of His love for us. We now have the undeserved privilege with our teammates to share God’s glory confidently and joyfully with others in need of a ring.
‘“For the time is coming,’ says the LORD, ‘when I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. And this will be his name: ‘The LORD Is Our Righteousness.’ In that day Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety.’” Jeremiah 23:5-6 NLT
October 7, 2023, is a date that will be remembered around the world, but especially in the land of Israel. On that date the terrorist group Hamas attacked incident civilians in the privacy of their homes and a music festival in the early morning hours. It was the deadliest attack in Israel’s history with 1,200 deaths and some 240 individuals taken hostage. Modern day Israel as a nation has been under attack since its independence as the state of Israel after the British Mandate expired in 1948. They have successfully defended the country from on-going attacks from their enemies all around them, and I believe will continue to do so.
World leaders and politicians support the idea that the only road to peace in the Middle East is a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinian people. The concrete barrier that must first come down is for there to be agreement that the nation of Israel and the Jewish people have the right to exist and to defend itself. Hatred for God’s chosen people, the Jews, is not limited to our time, but has been real throughout history in the pages of the Old Testament. Sad to say, there will be no true peace in Israel in the immediate future, but there will be real true lasting peace one day. A time is coming that Israel will live in safety, and that means peace.
The prophet Jeremiah tells us of a coming king, a descendant from the throne of David, that will rule in Jerusalem, and His name is “The LORD Is Our Righteousness.” It is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who will rule with wisdom and justice not only in Israel but the entire world in His earthy kingdom. And Isaiah the prophet says, “In that day the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.” (Is.11:10 NLT)
Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, will return on that day and the nation of Israel will finally receive Him as their Messiah. And He will rule in righteousness. “In that day Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety.” (Jer, 23:6b NLT) Until that day, let us Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem!
“Then Jesus said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath.’” Mark 2:27 NLT
“Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don’t pursue your own interests on that day but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the LORD’s holy day. Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day, and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly.” Isaiah 58:13 NLT
God has given each of us a gift, a Sabbath day of rest. This day of rest is not only for our physical bodies, but also for spiritual and mental restoration. The Lord God knows the limitations of our bodies for He created us. We can only go so far before we need to be replenished. Six days seems to be the appropriate number. God Himself confirmed this in His example in the creation of the universe, the earth, and every living creature. He rested from all His work on the seventh day. But the eternal God does not need to rest, and we do, so He established a day for us to rejuvenate our minds, souls, spirits, and physical bodies. Jesus concurred with this in Mark 2:27 when he said, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people.” (NLT)
So, the question becomes, what day is your Sabbath day? Most Christians think Sunday is to be our Sabbath day and understandably so. Sunday is the day Jesus’ followers, the church, gather for worship, and that should not change. But is Sunday always your Sabbath? During 45 years in retailing, my Sabbath day was not Sunday. Required to work every Saturday and most Sundays, my Sabbath would be my day off sometime during the week. Fortunately, it was consistent throughout my career with Tuesdays as my regular day off. Tuesday became my Sabbath.
Keeping the Sabbath day is not about following a bunch of rules and regulations of what you can or cannot do. It is a day to refresh ourselves in the Lord our God. It is a day to allow our bodies to recover and to be nourished for the week ahead. It is a day to mark as holy (or separate from the other six days of the week) to engage in spiritual, mental, and physical restorations in the Lord. Keeping the Sabbath, as Isaiah says, isn’t pursing our own interests but enjoying it by honoring it with everything you do whatever day that is.
“But now, as to whether there will be a resurrection of the dead—haven’t you ever read about this in the Scriptures? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ So he is the God of the living, not the dead.” Matthew 22:31-32 NLT
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The question, ‘Is there life after death?’ has been debated over millenniums. Almost every religion known to man has a belief of some form of an afterlife, and in as many different forms as there are the number of religions. Greek Philosophers and ancient Greek mythology had their theories as the ancient Egyptian religions had theirs. Different factions within Judaism and Christianity have several views on life after death. Some are embedded in tradition and some in scripture as interpreted by Jewish and Christian leaders over the centuries to our current day. But to ensure we are on solid ground, we look to the truth of God’s Word, the Holy Scriptures, and Jesus’ interpretation of life after death.
Jesus had an on-going back and forth with the religious rulers of His day who were looking to discredit Him in any way they could. After shutting down the Pharisees and the Herodians, the Sadducees where next to take a crack at Jesus. They came to Jesus with a question about the resurrection of the dead. A foot note needs to be placed here; the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, and the absurdity of their question proves their intent to entrap Jesus. They wanted to know; a woman married to more than one man during her lifetime whose wife would she be in the resurrection.
Jesus answered their question by not only confirming there is a resurrection, but also those waiting for the bodily resurrection are indeed very much alive. Jesus cited from the Torah, as the Sadducees only recognized Moses’ authority in the first five books of the Bible. Jesus quoted a direct statement from God Himself when Moses faced Him, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” (Ex. 3:6 NLT) Jesus then confirmed Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as living. “So he is the God of the living, not the dead.” (Mt. 22:32b NLT)
Is there life after death? Yes-Jesus said God is the God of the living: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We are all eternal beings and will be very much alive after our earthly bodies die. Where will you be living in eternity? Will you be with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the rest of all who have trusted Jesus as savior. You can be sure you will be- “For Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” (Ro. 10:13 NLT)
“Then Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.’” Daniel 3:28 NLT
The third chapter of the book of Daniel records the first of two favorite children Sunday School stories found in Daniel. Of course, I’m referring to the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. As the story goes, these three young men, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (their Hebrew names) refused to bow down and worship the gold statue Nebuchadnezzar had erected. The king demanded worship of the statue at the instant of hearing musical instruments. Any who refused would be thrown into a blazing fiery furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were willing to die than to worship any pagan gods, even a golden statue set up by the king himself.
I’m sure Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn’t anticipate this tragic event happening. They were in obedience to the Lord in participating for the welfare of Babylon, their new home. They were also in Nebuchadnezzar’s service as a few of the most educated and wisest officials in the king’s court. But they were living in a pagan culture with no regard for the God of the Hebrews, the true God, and was governed by a ruler who was as fickle as the weather.
King Nebuchadnezzar had earlier praised the God of Heaven for revealing his dream to him through Daniel, but he quicky forgot God. He elevated himself by erecting a statue overlaid in gold to represent himself and his kingdom as in his dream, the head of gold in chapter 2. An announcement was made to gather all the officials of Nebuchadnezzar’s empire to pledge their allegiance in the dedication of the golden statue. “Then he sent messages to the high officers, officials, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the dedication of the statue he had set up.” (Dan. 3:2 NLT) The king demanded worship of the golden statue which represented his kingdom, but also possibly the god Nabu meaning ‘Nabu, protect my son!’, or ‘Nabu, protect my boundary!’ The Jewish people were truly living in a pagan culture, and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will soon find out how much it would cost them.
Much like in our day with the tolerance, D.E.I., reproductive rights, and hate speech police watching every move of Bible believing Christians, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had their own thought police keeping tabs on them. Their colleagues in the king’s court blew the whistle on them. Daniel 3:8 &12 says, “But some of the astrologers went to the king and informed on the Jews…. But there are some Jews—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon. They pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They refuse to serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue you have set up.” (NLT) Naturally these men were jealous and envied the three Hebrew officials who had a higher rank than them. Not only did they have powerful positions, but they did not bow down to the cultural demands of Babylon. Those in authority today are under supreme pressure to compromise to get along with the culture, but it also comes at a high cost, not only affecting themselves but others as well.
When brought before the king; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had their minds made up. They didn’t need to think or pray about what their answer would be. “(They) replied, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you……Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.’” (Dan. 3:16, 18b) The king was furious by their outright refusal not to obey an order he had given. Not to be humiliated in front of those who were present he ordered them to be thrown into the blazing furnace. God miraculously saved them sending an angel in the heated furnace. Not a hair on their head was singed, nor the smell of smoke on them. But going in, they did not know if God would indeed save them.
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We haven’t yet reached that point in our present-day Babylon in the United States, but other believers in other parts of the world have and will continue to do so. Perhaps it’s only a matter of time before we are faced with a Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego experience. But if or when we are, will we be willing to die saying, “that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”
“An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. Then he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.’” Luke 9:46-48 NIV
In 1964 before his heavy weight title fight against Sonny Liston, Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, made his famous pronouncement, ‘I am the greatest.’ Backing up his claim he went on to defeat Liston by a TKO after six rounds. No one can deny Ali’s greatness in the ring throughout his career; retiring in 1981 with 56 wins, only 3 loses, and 3 world titles. Many consider him to be the G.O.A.T (greatest of all time) at least in the boxing realm and that may indeed be true. Desiring to be the best in your sport, even considered great by working hard at it is an admirable endeavor, but be careful not to let your pride get in the way.
Jesus’s disciples were eagerly waiting the Messianic kingdom He was about to bring into existence. They were also anxious about their role in the kingdom asking Jesus which of them would be the greatest. The disciples were concerned because some were selected over others for specific tasks. This caused contention among them. They were more concerned with having prominence in the kingdom than what Jesus had assigned for them. Each of the disciples wanted to insure a favorable position, one that would meet their expectations, but they had it all wrong.
This became a teachable moment for the disciples and for us today. Jesus had a little child stand beside Him and then He said to His disciples, ‘Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.’ (Lk. 9:48 NIV) The kingdom is not about position or status. Jesus is saying humility is at forefront in the kingdom of God. And entrance into the kingdom of God is not of our own achievements, but by the lowly position of simple faith in Him and that constitutes the greatest in the kingdom.
Let us not be prideful of our accomplishments while here on earth whatever they may be but give the glory to God. And let us take the lowly position of childlike faith in accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and be the greatest in the kingdom by being the least.
“Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.” Romans 3:27-28 NLT
Paul, writing to the church in Rome, says, “Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law.” (Ro. 3:27 NLT) There are many churches today, denominational, and autonomous, that have incorporated sets of rules or by laws to be agreed to and followed by members of the church. But in no way by obeying them along with your good deeds of kindness do they guarantee you or help you get a seat in heaven. Paul further goes on to say, “It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.” (Ro. 3:27b-28 NLT) Paul was referring to the Old Testament law of Moses, but it can be easily applied here in our day. The people in Paul’s day, both Jews and Gentiles, were saved by faith in Christ and not by keeping the law.
There has been a false narrative passed down from generation to generation that says, if my good deeds of kindness outweigh my bad deeds, God will accept me into heaven. No one can take issue with ‘good deeds being good.’ Yes, they are, and we should do as many of them as possible. But where do we find reasonable evidence that God accepts these as good enough for entrance into heaven except in our mind. The only rock-solid evidence we have for entrance into heaven and eternal life is found in the pages of scripture, the Holy Bible.
Being accepted by God is not about doing good works or obeying the rules for church membership as important they may be. Acceptance by God for salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9 ESV)
If you feel you have fallen short with all you’re trying to do for God’s acceptance, you’re right! If you feel you are doing enough or the best you can to be accepted by God, I’m sorry but you are wrong. Salvation and acceptance by God into heaven is through simple faith as recorded for us in God’s Word. So, what have you done to be accepted by God? All you need to do is have faith!
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy’ ‘But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.’” Matthew 5:43-44 NKJV
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I have heard people say, ‘I like everybody.’ Others have commented, ‘There isn’t a person he or she hasn’t met they do not like.’ Not to be overly critical, but I find that hard to believe. There are a lot of people I don’t like. Sounds unchristian, I know. But think about it. Do you like everyone you know or have ever met? A pastor friend of mine said to me a few years back as I was pursuing a pastorate ministry, you don’t need to like everyone in your congregation, you need to love them. I admit it was a comforting thought, but then realized I needed to love them. That is hard enough, but what about those you despise and hate you, how do you love them?
In the most famous sermon of all time, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy’” (Mt. 5:43 NKJV) Loving your neighbor is certainly found in the pages of the Old Testament of which those in His hearing would have recognized. But ‘hate your enemy’ is not in scripture but was from hearing the scribes and Pharisees interpretation on how to apply the command of ‘love your neighbor.’ Obviously, they taught that if you didn’t like someone and they were indeed your enemy, it was permitted to hate them.
Jesus, as he always did, corrected their ill-advised thinking. He knew what they had heard and were taught was the growing sentiment of how to treat people and said to them, ‘But I say to you.’ He was telling them to forget what they heard from their teachers and listen to Him. Those who follow Jesus, live by a whole set of different rules, His rules. We are to love our enemies, bless those who ridicule and mock us, be nice to those who mistreat us, and pray for those who take advantage of us, and persecute us. Again, how are we to do this, love those who hate us? On our own this is impossible, but with Christ’s love living in us through the Holy Spirit, we are assured to love our enemies, even those we don’t like.
What treasures have you been entrusted with? Those who have children have those precious jewels placed in their trusting care from God. Those who work in financial institutions have large sums of money entrusted to them. Those who serve in law enforcement have the safety of the lives they protect and serve entrusted to them. And those of us who are Christians have the treasure of the Gospel entrusted to us.
The apostle Paul instructs his son in the faith, Timothy, to guard the treasure which had been entrusted to him, the life giving message of Salvation. Timothy was instructed to guard or keep watch over the presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ against the false teachers of his day.
Just as Timothy had false teachers in his day, we also have false teachers in our day who distort the Gospel of Salvation through Jesus Christ. We are to guard and keep watch, “through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us” the True Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. And we can use Jesus’s own words: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life………. I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (Jn. 3:16, 14:6 NASB)
We have been entrusted with the most valuable treasure known to mankind, Guard the Treasure!
Word for the Soul 