January 29th - Those Who Seek God will Find Him - and be Rewarded

"The ration of Sin is death, yet the gracious gift of God is everlasting life, in Christ Jesus, our Lord."  (Romans 6:23)

"For in GRACE, through faith, are you SAVED, and this is not out of you; it is God's gift, nor of works, lest anyone should be boasting." (Ephesians 2:8)

Being "SAVED" refers to what happens to people after they die. Jesus died as the "wages" for our sins (since he had none of his own) and was buried. Yet three days and nights later God raised him to life. This salvation from death shows the righteousness of God through the faith of Jesus the Messiah.

"Yet now, apart from law, a righteousness of God is manifest...yet a righteousness of God through Jesus Christ's faith, for all, and on all who are believing, for there is no distinction, for all sinned and lack the glory of God. Being justified gratuitously in His grace, through the deliverance which is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:21-25)

The Greek word for "JUSTIFIED" is "dikaioo" and means "I regard as righteous". By the Grace of God, sinners are regarded as righteous "in Christ Jesus". 

Salvation from death is freely granted to sinners as a "gift" to all for "Jesus Christ's faith". We deserve to perish (stay dead), but God is going to save us anyway. This is the gospel, the good news we are to trust and proclaim.

"Christ has been roused from among the dead, the Firstfruit of those who are reposing.  For since, in fact, through a man came death, through a Man, also, comes the resurrection of the dead.  For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be made alive...that God may be All in all." (1 Corinthians 15:20-22, 28)

The cross of Christ is sufficient. Those who require sinners to become righteous in order to be saved are "enemies of the cross".

"...for many are walking, of whom I often told you, yet now am lamenting also as I tell it, who are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose consummation is destruction, whose god is their bowels, and whose glory is in their shame, who to the terrestrial are disposed." (Philippians 3:18-19)

Those "enemies" think sinners must DO something themselves to become righteous, therefore denying the sufficiency of the cross. They are...

“...hypocrites, for they are fond of standing in the synagogues and at the corners of the squares to be praying, so that they may appear to men.  Verily, I am saying to you, they are collecting their wages! Now you, whenever you be praying, enter into your storeroom, and, locking your door, pray to your Father." (Matthew 6:1-6)

In seeking God with all our heart we find "the righteousness of God" in "Jesus Christ's faith".  We find what the sinless Jesus did for sinners according to the will of God - He made peace with God for on our behalf.

"...God was in Christ, reconciliating the world to Himself, not reckoning their offenses to them...For the One not knowing sin, He makes to be a sin offering for our sakes that we may be becoming God's righteousness in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:19-21)

God has a plan for sinful humans. Our only "hope" is HIS plan, not the plans conceived by political or religious institutions.

"For I know the plans that I have for you declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart..." (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

All will one day joyfully confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory to God our Father.

"God highly exalts Him, and graces Him with the name that is above every name, that in the name of Jesus every knee shall be bow, celestial and terrestrial and subterranean, and every tongue shall acclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God, the Father." (Philippians 2:10-11).

January 28th - The Kindness of God Leads to Repentance

Paul informed the Romans who were judging the sins of others...  

"Do you really think—anyone of you who judges those who do such things (sin) yet do the same—that you will escape God’s judgment?" (Romans 2:3)

This is true of everyone in the human race. So, what judgment is being talked about that humanity will not escape? The answer is DEATH and Paul later tells them plainly... 

"All sin and fall short of the glory of God...the wages of Sin is death..." (Romans 3:23; 6:23)

The only reason we are not dead yet is God's kindness, patience, and tolerance.

"Or are you despising the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, being ignorant that the kindness of God is leading you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4)

It is the "kindness of God" that leads us to repentance rather than the fear of what God might do to us. 

"Repentance" is a word that means to stop and think about where you are heading, and then turn around IF you find you are heading in the wrong direction. 

"Repent, then and turn about for the erasure of your sins, so that seasons of refreshing should be coming from the face of the Lord..." (Acts 3:19)

We all need to think about what we do daily. Yet, we also need to think about what we believe about God from time to time - and be willing to turn around and head back toward the truth that God sacrificed His Son as the final sacrifice for the salvation of all humanity.

"...these things am I writing to you that you may not be sinning.  And if anyone should be sinning, we have an Entreater with the Father, Jesus Christ the Just. And He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, yet not only ours, but the sins of the whole world also." (1 John 2:1-2)

"...trust in the living God who is the Savior of all mankind, especially believers. These things be charging and teaching..." (1 Timothy 4:10)

In Old Testament times, God laid all the sin of Israel upon a sacrificial animal once a year on the day of atonement which cleansed the people of their sins that year. But that is no longer necessary because the blood of Jesus has "taken away the sin of the world".  And His blood has redeemed and washed every sinner clean, both Jew and Gentile, believer and unbeliever, "for all time". 

"Lo!, the lamb of God Which is taking away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)

"…not through the blood of he-goats and of calves, but through His own blood, He entered once for all time into the holy places, finding everlasting redemption." (John 1:29; Hebrews 9:12-26)

God is not the angry god of man made religions. Rather, He is a loving Father whose love for you is everlasting. Such love leads to thanksgiving, not fear. 

"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting." (Psalm 136:1)

When people realize "the kindness of God" they repent and turn from worshiping the false gods of religion - and embrace the true God's free gift of eternal life.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

January 27th - Grace is Greater than Sin

"For by GRACE are you saved..." (Ephesians 2:8)

“Consequently, then, as it was through one offense for all humanity for condemnation, thus also it is through one just award for all humanity for life's justifying. For even as, through the disobedience of the one human, the many were constituted sinners, thus also, through the obedience of the One, the many shall be constituted just." (Romans 5:18-19)

Are the sins of humanity greater than the "GRACE" of God? No, of course not.

What does the Bible say above? 

It says that "all humanity" who received "condemnation" for Adam's sin are the same all humanity who received "life's justifying" for the one act of righteousness of Jesus. When you read all of Romans Chapter 5 this truth becomes abundantly clear. 

It clearly says that the "many" who "were constituted sinners" are the same "many" who are "constituted just".

"...yet where sin increases, GRACE superexceeds, that, even as Sin reigns in death, thus GRACE also should be reigning through righteousness, for everlasting life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord." (Romans 5:20-21)

The grace of God is greater than the sins of humanity and that is very good news!

January 26th - Hope for Humanity

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God…." (Romans 8:18-19)

There are more schools of higher education, government bureaucracies, and religious institutions on this planet today than at any other time in history; and yet they have failed to bring peace and unity. 

Does the Bible give a reason why? yes

"…for the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it..." (Romans 8:20)

It was God who "subjected" the creation to futility. The educators, governments, and religions of humanity will continue to try to repair the world but will fail. Creation can be "set free from its bondage to corruption" only by the God who "subjected" it in the first place - humanity can only "wait for it with patience".

"...the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God...in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience..."  (Romans 8:21-25)

Only those who love God know that He is working it all for "good"...

"...we know that for those who love God all things work together for good..." (Romans 8:28)

God has declared that ALL creation will be "set free from its bondage to corruption" and "obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God" when they are "conformed to the image of His Son". Humanity is predestined to enjoy the new creation.

"...For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified." (Romans 8:29-30)

God will save humanity because Jesus Christ, the Lord of all, has ransomed "ALL".

"There is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for ALL...by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous...at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the gloy of God the Father." (1 Timothy 2:5-6...Romans 5:21...Philippians 2:10-11) 

There is hope for humanity in spite of the chaos seen in the world today. Humanity has done a poor job of having dominion over the Earth. That will change - soon I hope!

"Yea, I am coming swiftly. Amen, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all of the saints! Amen!" (Revelation 22:20-21)

January 25th - Eat, Drink and be Merry, Life is no longer Meaningless

"Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom."  (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

The author of Ecclesiastes was the master of common sense. He spent his life seeking common sense answers to all of life's experiences. If the author was King Solomon...

"He composed some 3,000 proverbs and wrote 1,005 songs. He could speak with authority...And kings from every nation sent their ambassadors to listen to the wisdom of Solomon." (1 Kings 4:32-34)

All that wisdom told him "everything is meaningless". 

"I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless--like chasing the wind...There is nothing ahead but death anyway. There is hope only for the living...the dead know nothing." (Ecclesiastes 1:14;9:3-4)

He knew about God and and His commandments so Solomon's final advice as to what we should do in this life was to...

"Fear God and obey His commandments, for this is everyone's duty. God will judge us for everything we do..." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

This fear and judging was not a fear of judgment AFTER death for he had concluded that "the dead know nothing". He was referring to the consequences for bad behavior in this life.

He told us  what he thought God "approves" in this life...

"Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this! Wear fine clothes, with a splash of cologne! Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 9: 8-9)

Again, the wisest man of the time had no hope in life after death and that made him "most miserable". The apostle Paul said people without hope of the resurrection continue to be miserable as they approach death.

"If in this life only we have hope...we are of all men most miserable." (1 Corinthians 15:9)

But there is good news! After the birth, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus, God gave humanity information about what happens after death, and now we have the  "blessed hope" of life after death.

"For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people...look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. " (Titus 2:11, 13)

"...I tell you a secret, when the last trumpet sounds, we shall all be changed in an instant, as quickly as the blinking of an eye. For when the trumpet sounds, the dead will be raised, never to die again, and we shall all be changed. For what is mortal must be changed into what is immortal; what will die must be changed into what cannot die. So when this takes place, and the mortal has been changed into the immortal, then the scripture will come true: “Death is destroyed; victory is complete!” ...thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" (1 Corinthians 15:51-57)

It still makes common sense to fear God and obey His commandments, but unlike Solomon, we know life is not "meaningless" even though it seems so at times.

Believers have three things to carry into the next life - faith, hope and love.

"Three things will last forever - faith, hope, and love - the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13)

So eat, drink and be merry today, enjoy your family - and fear God in this sinful life destined for the grave. - but know that the best life is yet to come!

January 24th - Power to the Weak!

" He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall." (Isaiah 40:29-30)

At my age I am beginning to relate to the words of Isaiah. But there is "hope"according to God that our strength will be renewed. When it happens, we will never get old and tired again!  

"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31)

Yea! - but when? 

Obviously not in this life. Our "hope" in this life is in the "mystery" of the next.

"Listen, I am telling you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed...then shall be brought to pass the saying - death has been swallowed up in victory." (1 Corinthians 15:51-54)

For now we must "hope in the LORD" that our failing strength will one day be renewed. When we trust God with our death we can enjoy the life we have left. King Solomon said this about life and death in this age...

"The living at least know they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, nor are they remembered. Whatever they did in their lifetime—loving, hating, envying—is all long gone. They no longer play a part in anything here on earth. So go ahead. Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this! Wear fine clothes, with a splash of cologne! Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil. Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom." (Ecclesiastes 9:7-10)

I no longer allow religious traditions to rob me of the joy of life. My hope for life after death is in the hands of a gracious God and His Son Jesus Christ. They will change me from a corruptible pile of dust into an incorruptible spiritual being at the last Trump!  The "mystery" of our victory over death will have become reality.

"For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people." (Titus 2:11)

God gets mad at us sometimes, as all good Father's do, but on the "morning" of our transformation we shall be "changed" and become like Him. Then we will "soar on wings like eagles".

"Power" is the destiny of the weak - all because of the grace (unmerited favor) of our Father God and His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ!

"For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning." (Psalm 30:5)

"...our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself." (Philippians 3:20-21)

January 23rd - The Faith of Jesus

“Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not right within him; but the just one by faith shall be living." (Habakkuk 2:4)

"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:2)

Pride comes in many flavors but the worst is religious pride. Quite frankly, Jesus was not the "author" of my personal faith for most of my life. My faith was authored by the doctrine of the institutional Church I had grown up in. It was faith in their teaching.

I, nor anyone else, will be "justified" by having faith in what religious leaders teach. To do so calls for pride in the wisdom of humanity. Our hope for salvation is "Jesus Christ's faith", and in the "grace" of God.

"Yet now, apart from law, a righteousness of God is manifest (being attested by the law and the prophets), yet a righteousness of God through JESUS CHRIST'S FAITH, for all, and on all who are believing, for there is no distinction, for all sinned and are wanting of the glory of God. Being justified gratuitously in HIS GRACE, through the deliverance which is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:21-24)

Over 15 years ago, I exchanged my faith in a church's doctrine for "Jesus Christ's faith". My faith in religious teachers had only identified me with the Pharisee who prayed...

“God, I am thanking you that I am not like the rest of these people; cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I'm certainly not like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and give you a tenth of my income." (Luke 18:11-12 NLT)

I now realize that it is the tax collector who had it right when...

"...standing afar off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his chest, saying, God, have mercy on me, the sinner!" (Luke 18:13)

The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross revealed God's love for, and mercy toward, the humble sinner. God accepted the shame of the tax collector and rejected the pride of the Pharisee...

"I am saying to you, this man descended to his home justified, rather than that one, for everyone who is exalting himself shall be humbled, yet he who is humbling himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18:11-14)

It was a humbling experience when I learned that tax collectors and prostitutes will enter the Kingdom of God before the chief priests and teachers of the law.

"Verily, I am saying to you that the tribute collectors and the prostitutes are preceding you into the kingdom of God." (Matthew 21:32)

“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day He will be raised to life!” (Matthew 20:16-19)

Again, each humans is made righteous (justified) by "Jesus Christ's faith", not our own faith. Jesus had faith that His Father would raise Him from the dead after He, the sinless sacrificial lamb, atoned for the sins of the world.

"Being justified gratuitously in His grace, through the deliverance which is in Christ Jesus...a justifier of the one who is of the faith of Jesus." (Romans 3:24, 27)

By the grace of God, all humans will eventually be raised from the dead to enter and see the Kingdom of God. The order of entrance is those who rely on "Jesus Christ's faith" in this age, then last of all, those who in this age place their faith in good deeds, obedience to the law, and membership in a synagogue, church, or mosque.

"...having perceived that a man is not being justified by works of law, except alone through the faith of Christ Jesus, we also believe in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by the faith of Christ." (Galatians 2:16-17)

So, I no longer brag about my faith, or beat myself up because I have so little. I simply trust in "Jesus Christ's faith". His faith makes this sinner righteous and saves me and everyone else from our sins.

"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)

"For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time." (1 Timothy 2:5-6)

"...we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things." (1 Timothy 4:10-11)