September 2nd - Be Commended for your Faith

"These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:39-40)

Who were those “commended for their faith"? The list is the hall of fame of the Bible…Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David and Samuel.

They were commended for their faith even though none of them received what God had promised during their lives. The same should be true of us all. We should learn what God has promised and have faith that He will do what He promises. And He has promised immortality to humanity after death.

"The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life..." (Romans 6:23)

“…as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive...just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man...buried in weakness and raised in power; buried a natural body but raised a spiritual body…The perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.” (1 Corinthians 15:22-53)

Having faith in God’s promise will make a sinful person hopeful, and a self righteous person humble.

September 1st - I Will Build My Church

 “Jesus said to them, who do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered; you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus said to him…I will build my church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:15-18)

Christ is the rock and the church is His body. Hades is where the body and soul dwell when people die (the grave). 

“...the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory…gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body...” (Ephesians 1:17, 22-23)

You do not join or go to church. If you are a part of it, it is only because God has placed you into it…

“God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.” (1 Corinthians 12:18)

Members of the church are present anywhere that there are humans who have accepted that Jesus died for our sins,  was entombed, and then God raised from the dead. 

King David wanted to construct a house of God and God sent the Prophet Nathan to tell him...

"...the Lord spoke His word to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Will you build a house for me to live in?...I have never said to the tribes, whom I commanded to take care of my people Israel, “Why haven’t you built me a house of cedar?”...’I will choose a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them so they can live in THEIR OWN HOMES." (2 Samuel 7:4-5, 6, 10)

Solomon built the Temple and it became a place for "solemn assemblies" and teaching the "precepts of men".

“I hate, I reject your festivals, nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies…what do I care about incense from Sheba or sweet calamus from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please me.” (Amos 5:21; Jeremiah 6:20)

"Jesus answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’ You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men." (Mark 7:5-8)

Members of the body of Christ do the things God requires...

"He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD REQUIRE of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8)

When members of the body of Christ help those in need, they do so without telling everyone about it...

"When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get." (Matthew 6:2)

What members do will be "manifested in front of the Dais of Christ". There each of us will be praised, or not, according to our acts, and the motives for those acts.

"Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God." (1 Corinthians 4:5)

"For all of us must be manifested in front of the Dais of Christ, that each should be requited for that which he puts into practice through the body, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10)

"And I perceived a Great White Throne, and Him Who is sitting upon it, from Whose face earth and heaven fled, and no place was found for them." And I perceived the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. And the scrolls were opened. And another scroll was opened which is the scroll of life. And the dead were judged by that which is written in the scrolls in accord with their acts." (Revelation 20:11-12)

The bad stuff will be burnt up - and I for one will be glad to see it go up in smoke.

"For other foundation can no one lay beside that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Now if anyone is building on this foundation gold and silver, precious stones, wood, grass, straw, each one's work will become apparent, for the day will make it evident, for it is being revealed by fire. And the fire, it will be testing each one's work - what kind it is." If anyone's work will be remaining which he builds on it, he will get wages. If anyone's work shall be burned up, he will forfeit it, yet he shall be saved, yet thus, as through fire." Are you not aware that you are a temple of God and the spirit of God is making its home in you? If anyone is corrupting the temple of God, God will be corrupting him, for the temple of God is holy, which you are." Let no one be deluding himself. If anyone among you is presuming to be wise in this eon, let him become stupid, that he may be becoming wise, for the wisdom of this world is stupidity with God." (1 Corinthians 3:11-19)

The  church is not a magnificent construction project - it resides inside each member of the body of Christ every day of the week.

August 31st - The Opinions of Men

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

Books and commentaries written by Theologians, nor Pastor's sermons, nor  the views of those with YouTube channels or Blog sites are Scripture. Most may be very fine people, but as good as they may appear to be, their thoughts, nor mine, are “God-breathed”.

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)

"...having heard and believed the word of truth--the gospel of your salvation--you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit..." (Ephesians 1:13)

No matter how sincere and reasonable the product of religious thought, it is still just the opinion of men. So, I read the Word of God for myself.

“Come…take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:17)

August 30th - We Have Hope and a Future

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future…It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance...we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things.” (Jeremiah 29:11; 1 Timothy 4:9-11)

God's ultimate plan for humanity is to prosper us and not harm us. He will save humanity from the evil we experience in this era. In studying the book of Revelation we find the following promise from God...

"...and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away...Behold, I am making all things new." (Revelation 21:4-6)

There is to be a consummation of God's purpose for mortal humanity. At that point in time friends, enemies, believers, and unbelievers will have been reconciled to God and all will love Him and each other. 

"You shall be loving the Lord God out of your whole heart, and out of your whole soul, and out of your whole comprehension, and out of your whole strength. This is the foremost precept." And the second is like it: 'You shall be loving your associate as yourself.' Now greater than these is no other precept." Mark 12:30-31)

All humanity will one day enjoy abundant, eternal life. We do not know much about that time but we know that....

“...it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

For now we have all kinds of problems, heartaches, and hatred for perceived enemies from time to time. We just do the best we can with the hand we are dealt, with an expectation of a brighter Future!

August 29th - Another Year is in the Books

Thank you Father for another year in this life, yet I am looking forward to what comes next!

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

“The days of our years, in them are seventy years, and if by mastery there are eighty years, yet even in their heyday is toil and sorrow, for it is sheared off hurriedly, and we fly away.” (Psalm 90:10)

“...as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Over the years God has spoken to me only in one way - through reading the Bible. I have not had any divine dreams or visions, or inner voices. Following are some of the things I have learned.

* There is only one God through Whom all has been created.

* There is only one Lord, the Son of God, Who became a man named Jesus.

* Except for Jesus, all humans sin and fall short of the glory of God.

* All human bodies of flesh and blood eventually die.

* Jesus came to earth the first time to deal with the sin and death of humanity. He died for our sin, and His death was a sufficient sacrifice to redeem, ransom and save humanity out of death.

* Jesus will free humanity from death and transform them into a new creation - the image of Christ Jesus Himself - immortal, powerful, spiritual and righteous.

* The salvation of humanity from sin and death is a free gift from God in His Grace.

*Few humans come to the knowledge of their future salvation in this life. It only comes when God graciously gifts them faith to believe this good news– no one can boast, it is a gift from God.

* In a subsequent age, every human will give an account to God regarding their actions, motives, thoughts, and words. The good things will be rewarded and the bad things will bring temporary shame.

* Every human is destined to voluntarily bend their knees and acclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord.

* Humanity will become the unified, immortal, and righteous body of Christ. All will be full of grace, mercy, truth and love - just like God their Father.

I have also learned from Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 that…

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end..." 

I have some bad memories, but I prefer to dwell on the good memories that make me laugh and cry, sometimes at the same time. I have learned…

"…that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink and find satisfaction in all their toil - this is the gift of God. Everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will be in awe of Him." (Ecclesiastes 3:12-14)

Experiencing the sin and failures of this life has shown me that…

“His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)

Thank you Father for another year, in this life yet I am looking forward to what comes next!

August 28th - The God Worthy of the Name

Israel was in comfortable exile in Babylon when Jeremiah reminded them of God’s plan for them….

“For I know the plans 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. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you, declares the Lord, and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile." (Jeremiah 29:11-14)

Many years ago I found myself captive and comfortable in a local church. By the grace of God I realized that it was not an ideal place for me to grow in the grace and knowledge of God and Christ Jesus, but had become a sanctuary from life in an evil world. It is difficult to leave the comfortable atmosphere provided by a local church.  

So, why did I leave?

Religious sanctuaries too often embrace prejudices and judgmental attitudes that you will not find in the outside world. People gather around respected leaders and follow their doctrine without much effort to determine if such doctrine is true. The most fanatical leaders of Islam want to kill all the infidels now, in the name of Allah. The fanatical leaders of Christianity reason and teach that God will assign everyone who does not choose Him in this life to eternal damnation and torture in hell. Both religions provide sanctuary and fellowship.

When I began to see error in the sanctuary I realized it would require leaving the comfort it provided. I left and after embraced the good news that God will save humanity, every one of them. 

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)

I often feel alone, but never forsaken by the one true God who is worthy of the Name!

August 27th - God Does Not Dwell In Church Buildings

“The Most High dwells not in Temples made with hands. Heaven is my throne, and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me says the Lord? Or where will My resting place be? Has not My hand made all these things? You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised.” (Acts 7:48-51)

Think about that for a minute…now consider what we refer to as “the house of God” today.

God does not DWELL there!

It seems to me that gathering in church is vanity if the presence of God is undetectable in our homes, businesses, and other places we visit. God is everywhere in His creation and attending a building with a pulpit is just one of those places.

"The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered and said to them, “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:30-32)

Look closely at the Scripture and you will notice that it was the religious "Pharisees and their scribes" who were called to repentance. Our words and actions are the only God that some people will ever see. And it is how we act toward others that will be judged. 

“He made from one man every nation of humanity to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God… and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist…for we also are His children. Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man…” (Acts 17:26-29)

All will enter and see the new heaven and earth, and there will be no Temples to attend.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God…But I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple." (Revelation 21:1-2, 22)