December 8 – Redeemed to be Heirs

“Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel.” – Ruth 4:14 (NASB)

A short book of four chapters which recounts a beautiful story of God’s promise to watch and care for His people. Naomi, returns from Moab with her daughter-in-law to Bethlehem, her home town. With nothing left and having lost all in the death her husband and both sons. Ruth, now a believer in the God of Naomi is a Moabite and widow of Naomi’s son Mahlon. The story is one of redemption by a close relative named Boaz. Boaz takes the legal steps to claim the land belonging to Naomi’s late husband Elimelech. God provided this means of preserving a family who had lost all claim to the land through the death all their men. In the same way our Lord God has not left us by providing a redeemer for us in Jesus Christ. All who believe are now promised to be co-heirs with Jesus of all of that is His (Romans 8:17-18). Boaz marries Ruth and they have a son, Obed. It is Obed who cares for Naomi and Ruth in their old age and is the father of Jesse, the father of King David of Israel from whose line Jesus of Nazareth is born.

197

January 1 – A Worthy Resolution.

With this post we begin the seventh year of writing and sharing these brief devotionals. We hope they continue to be an encouragement for all who choose to follow them. They are also available as an email for those who sign up with the form when you scroll to the bottom of this page.

“He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.” – John 21:17 (NASB)

Jesus has a wonderful way of restoring us when we fail Him. He does not humiliate us. He does not criticize us; He does not ask us to make a resolution to try harder. Jesus takes us aside and asks us to reaffirm our love for Him. It was the third time Jesus asked Peter if He, Simon by name, loved Him. First in verse 15, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” Second in verse 16,  “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Third in verse 17 – our verse for today. When Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, He used a word for love that signified total commitment. Peter replied using a word for love that signified his love for Jesus, but not necessarily his total commitment. This was because he had been disobedient and denied the Lord in the past after a bold declaration of being committed. The resolution we might do well to consider this year would be to submit to Jesus’ demand of total commitment as His follower. Place our love for Jesus above our love for all else in our lives. 

192

December 15 – It Was Because

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 (NASB
“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High;” - Luke 1:31-32a (NASB)
“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:21 (NASB)

The birth of Jesus was known before God created the earth and humans. During this season, we sing about the message which the angels told to the shepherds near Bethlehem the night Jesus was born.  But today's verses tell us that before that, God predicted through His prophet Isaiah the birth of the “Son of God.” God had sent the angel Gabriel with the message about the birth and name of Jesus to Mary who was chosen to be His mother. Gabriel made a visit later to Joseph who was to be Mary's husband. Gabriel revealed why God had chosen the name Jesus for the child who was to be born.  It was because He would save His people from their sins. The prophecy of Isaiah is repeated in Matthew 1:23. These messages, given to the world before the child was born, are important to us. Jesus was coming in order to be our Savior. We should rejoice today that God sent His Son to save us. It was an important message given before He came.  It is just as important today. God promised to provide a way for us to be saved and Jesus is that Way.

198

December 8 – The Name From Above

“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”  Matthew 1:21 (NASB) 

When a baby is born the parents and sometimes family members take great care in selecting what name to give the new child.  For some it is a very important process as they believe the name a person receives has an influence on what they will be as they grow to maturity.  We have the story in our Bible of  the process of naming Jesus and what His name means.  We learn that the name Jesus came from heaven as part of the message of an angel who appeared to Joseph who was engaged to the young virgin girl Mary.  Joseph and Mary, as they waited for the birth of Jesus did not have to chose His name because God had already given His only begotten Son the name Jesus, or Yeshua in Hebrew.  It was a significant name properly chosen because it means “God the Savior” and speaks directly to the fact that we can only be saved by God and we cannot do anything to save ourselves.  Belief in God the Savior, Jesus our Messiah, is the only way we can be at peace with God.    

#-#-#

Do you know anyone to share this with?

December 15 – It Was Because

“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.” Luke 1:31-32a (ESV)

During this Christmas season, we sing about the message which the angels told to the shepherds near Bethlehem the night Jesus was born.  But today's verse tells us that before that, God had already sent angels with messages about the coming of Jesus. In today's verse from the Gospel of Luke, we read the record about the angel who came to Mary earlier. When an angel came later to Joseph who was to be Mary's husband, he also mentioned why God had chosen the name Jesus for the child who was to be born.  It was because He would save His people from their sins. Both of these angels' messages, before the child was to be born, are important to us. Jesus was coming in order to be our Savior. We should rejoice today that God sent His Son to save us. It was an important message given before He came.  It is just as important today. God promised to provide a way for us to be saved and Jesus is that Way.

April 17 – Walking With Jesus

“They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”” Luke 24:32  (NIV)

Today’s verse comes from the recording of two of his disciples as they were walking from Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus which was about 7-8 miles away. The time is the afternoon on Resurrection Sunday and as they walked Jesus is suddenly walking with them. What a great opportunity for these two to have Jesus, although they did not immediately recognize him, explain all about what had just happened and why. Afterwards Jesus disappears from their sight but they know they had just experienced something very special. We trust that you, my friend, have had experiences like that with your heart warmed as the Holy Spirit has lead you and opened the meaning of the Bible’s words to you. God has much to teach us every day from his Holy Word, Our hearts can not only be warmed but really burn within us as we spend time in the Bible. 

February 2

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:32 (NIV)

A few days ago our verse was Romans 8:31 about if God is for us, no one against us will be able to defeat us. We are right in thinking that God did show His great love for us in sending His Son into this world and allowing him to live and then to die on the cross for us. We thank Him for accepting us into His family as we believe in Jesus as our savior and receive his new resurrected life as our eternal life.  We have trusted God for salvation brought to us by His Love. Let us be sure we keep on trusting him for everything else we need to live for Him. He will take care of our material needs and our spiritual needs. Our verse says that God supplies our needs along with our Savior. Yes, His provision for our needs is a part of the gift of eternal life and comes from God’s motivation of love.

December 25 - Christmas Day

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.’” Luke 2:10 (NIV)

The good news of the birth of Jesus was for everybody. The following verse, which we read yesterday, explains that the baby would be a Savoir – a very special Savior for He was Christ the Lord. And this Savior was not just for a small group of shepherds. He had come to be a Savior available to everybody – for all the people. The news from heaven was about a great joy available to everybody. We should never forget this. And what is it that brings us joy at Christmas? We should enjoy having time with friends and loved ones. We should enjoy the gifts. But the really greater joy comes from knowing our Savior. So enjoy the eternal life he gives and the assurance of His presence with us. And, if you do not know the Savior, you can right now – believe and receive the gift from God and you will have great joy and eternal life.

August 27

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'” John 8:12 (NIV)

I believe we need to apply the promise of this verse to our own personal lives. We may have been following Jesus for many years and may still go through a dark hour occasionally. At times like that we need to look up and look at Jesus who is going before us. It is when we take our eyes off of Jesus and look at circumstances, or look at other people then the darkness tends to overcome us. At those moments we are really not following as we should. So remember that Jesus promises to light our way. He is our light! Keep looking to Him!

June 15

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”  Revelation 22:16 (NIV)

Our Lord has revealed Himself by giving us several names to show His attributes.  The last one is on the last page of our Bible. Notice the last name by which He identifies Himself – the Bright Morning Star. When is it that the morning star is visible? It’s when it is dark. It is still night, but the morning is coming soon. That is what He wants us to remember. During a dark period in our personal lives, Jesus is near. And we know it is still night in the world, but a better day is coming. That is when Jesus will come again – The Bright Morning Star.

June 14

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10:41-42 (NIV)

These are words Jesus spoke to Martha when she became irritated at her sister Mary for not helping her with household duties. Mary had been so attentive to what Jesus was teaching. She sat at His feet listening and was taking it in. Is this the way we react when we hear Jesus’ words? When we have an opportunity to read or hear His word taught, are we open to what He is telling us? We can miss it if we allow other things – even good things to distract us. Jesus said that Mary had chosen what is better and it will not be taken away.

May 9

“But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”  John 6:20 (NIV)

When the disciples were in a boat on a very stormy lake, Jesus came walking on the water. Even though the disciples were terrified when they saw Jesus, they had reason to be because they didn’t know who He was. So what they really needed to know was that it was their Lord and that He was near to them. He knew they needed Him and He came to help them and to bring them through safely. So just hearing His words and knowing it was Jesus took care of all their fears. This is what we need to know too. We need to know that He is near us, and that He is aware of our needs today. When we are going through a dark hour, we need to hear him speak to us as He did to His disciples.

May 4

“And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.”  1 Corinthians 15:49 (NIV)

Our God is preparing a wonderful future for those who become a part of His family by believing in Jesus Christ. And Jesus Himself will be a part of that future. While we are living here on earth we have bodies similar to the body of Adam. And we are like him in ways, too, because he is our ancestor and we have inherited much from him. But a day is coming when we will be like Jesus, the man who came from heaven to be our Savior. Even now He has given us a new nature and He enables us to live a new life. How glorious it will be when the process is completed and we shall bear His likeness!

March 23

“Jesus commanded Peter, ‘Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?’”  John 18:11 (NIV)

During the final hours before Jesus died He made many important statements. Here He is speaking to Peter when He was being arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus had just prayed to His Father asking that, if possible, He might not have to drink the cup. But He had also said, “Not what I will but what You will.” So when Peter tried to defend His Lord by fighting for Him, Jesus would have none of it.  He said, “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” I’m so glad Jesus obeyed the Father. There was no other way for us to escape eternal punishment for our sins.

March 18

“They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.”  Mark 10:32 (NIV)

Jesus was on his way from Jericho to Jerusalem. I am impressed by the difference in the attitude of Jesus and of His followers. His followers were afraid, no doubt thinking of His enemies in Jerusalem who were looking for a chance to get rid of Him. But what about Jesus? He was not afraid. He knew He had come to die for the sins of the world and He explained again to His disciples what would happen. Aren’t we glad that Jesus went all the way to the cross!