April 9 – A Day Is Coming

“ But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 (ESV)

As adults each of us has probably experienced the loss of someone we love dearly. Our parents, a sibling, a dear friend has been called out of this world. If they are faith believers in Jesus Christ, we can know that they are with Jesus in heaven. Yet we miss them. The disciples of Jesus watched Him ascend into heaven continued to miss His presence. Grief is a natural emotion which God helps us manage. The believers in Thessalonica were concerned. The teaching of Christ Jesus’ return was brand new. The New Testament was being written by the Holy Spirit through God’s appointed servants. There was not much to go on to understand the promise of our resurrection and return of Jesus.  Persecution had them worried they missed it. Paul wrote these words to them and to us so that we too can know for certain. A time comes when God will raise all who believe from the grave. Just as Jesus died and rose again, so passed  loved ones will rise again by His power. If we are alive we will be caught up too. A tremendous promise, “God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep.”

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October 20 – Grieving for Grief

“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30 (NASB)

When we came to believe in Christ Jesus as our Savior and by faith and grace we were adopted into God’s family, God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit came to dwell in our heart. We have God with us at all times because He lives in us this way. It is very easy to grieve Him. Sin is as easy as it is wicked and when we sin by thought or action, by commission or omission, God’s Spirit cannot bear it – we have grieved the Holy Spirit. He grieves with sorrow for us because He knows the distress and grief these wrongdoings will cause us in our soul. Our promise: it is by the Holy Spirit we are sealed for the day of redemption. Such grace and love from God are given to us without measure. C. H. Spurgeon preached, “Again, if we neglect prayer; if our closet door is cobwebbed; if we forget to read the Scriptures; if the leaves of our Bible are almost stuck together by neglect; if we never seek to do any good in the world; if we live merely for ourselves and not for Christ, then the Holy Spirit will be grieved.”*

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*Spurgeon, C. H., Sermon No. 278  (1998). 365 Days with Spurgeon (Volume 1) (p. 289). Leominster, UK: Day One Publications. 

September 20 – Do You? Do You? Do You Really?

“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)

Three times Jesus asks Peter this question “do you love Me?” Does Jesus ever need to ask us this question? Are we quick, when among friends and other believers to affirm our devotion to Christ?  Peter was and then he denied knowing Jesus three times on the night of his trials which let to his crucifixion.  Jesus promised Peter that He would do so. Peter was crushed by his denial of his Lord. Jesus here wants to restore him because He knows His plans to use Peter. Three denials, so Jesus asks for three affirmations. Jesus presses to get past Peter’s bravado. Like Peter, we might jump quickly to professing our allegiance to Christ Jesus when in an emotional but safe moment. We want to signal to others how strong our commitment is. But when our commitment depends on our own ability to remain strong, that is when God allows us to be tested and without trusting God’s Spirit, we flop badly.  When we fail, He promises to restore us. Jesus asks us, “Do you love Me?” When we affirm that we do, the evidence will be the fruit of our obedience to His Word. 

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*There are verb tenses known as 'historical present' in the Greek which have been translated with an English past tense in order to conform to modern usage. The translators recognized that in some contexts the present tense seems more unexpected and unjustified to the English reader than a past tense would have been. But Greek authors frequently used the present tense for the sake of heightened vividness, thereby transporting their readers in imagination to the actual scene at the time of occurrence. However, the translators felt that it would be wise to change these historical presents to English past tenses.  The asterisk marks those verb tenses which in Greek are 'historical present' and our passage above can read as "He was saying to him" or "He says to him" with the context indicating it is 'historical present.' 

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

May 22 – Strength from Joy

“This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10b  (NIV)

In the book of Nehemiah, the story of the return and rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem after seventy years of captivity in Babylon, we find these words of encouragement from Nehemiah. Given to the people on a special day after they heard the Book of the Law of Moses read to them.  Ezra, the scribe had been reading for several hours – this was the only way the people could hear the Word of God since individual copies did not exist. After the reading the Levites were teaching them what it all meant. It had a profound effect on the people. Today, we receive the word by reading our own Bibles and hearing it taught in church or on the radio or television. And just like the people in the days of Nehemiah and Ezra, we are encouraged and we are impressed. We rejoice when we hear how God has said and done and taught us in the Bible – it gives us strength to press on in our walk of faith. It is true that the joy of the Lord is the source of our strength. That is a promise.