October 9 – Promise to all Overcomers

“Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise” – Luke 23:42-43 (NASB)

Today, our verse contains a Promise Jesus made to one of the two criminals being crucified at His side. One criminal on one side hurled abuse at Jesus the other asked to be remembered when Jesus came into His kingdom. Jesus promised; “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with me in” - what? - “paradise.” Some mistakenly say, paradise is a sense of limbo between life and resurrection. No. Consider how Jesus promised, “you’re going to be with me there today.” Wherever it is, if it has a physical location in our universe, it’s where Jesus is. Most everyone on earth longs to find “paradise”—a place of natural perfection, endless provision, no pain, no tears, no illnesses. In the beginning Adam and Eve lived in Paradise. At the end of history, there will be another paradise, the New Jerusalem. In Revelation 2:7 the Apostle John is told “To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.” The criminal on the cross next to Jesus who believed went to heaven immediately upon death. So it will be for every faith believer.

196

April 1 – A Promised Promise

“This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” – Matthew 24:14 (ESV)

We can rightly consider this a most inspiring missionary promise from Jesus. Not: should be preached. Not: might be preached. But: will be preached. This is not a great commission, it’s a great certainty. How can we be sure the church won’t fail in its missionary task? The grace of missionary service is as irresistible as the grace of regeneration. Christ promised universal proclamation because he is sovereign. He knows the future success of missions because he makes the future and sees it happen. A “nation” as used here is not a modern “country” in the way we use the word. When the Old Testament spoke of nations, we recall groups like Jebusites, Hivites, Amorites, Moabites, Canaanites, and Philistines. “Nations” identified ethnic and tribal groups with their own peculiar language and culture. We call them people groups, these days. As the sovereign Son of God and Lord of the church, Jesus simply applied His divine purpose and stated as an absolute certainty. World missions to proclaim the Gospel is assured of success. It cannot fail. Let us, then pray with great faith, invest with great confidence, go forward with a sense of sure triumph?

194

John Piper shared these words in a recent devotional: 

May 4 – Ransom Paid Remission Secured

“ He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” – Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV)

In our previous verse (Colossians 1:12) we read the promise of a share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. That is why we must today look at the promise that springs from that one.  This inheritance is in the … light. “We” have been transplanted, and this not from liberty into slavery but from slavery into liberty. This  light is the spiritual sphere to which believers have been transferred from the dominion of darkness. From this dominion, power, or authority of darkness We as believers have been rescued, and therefore delivered. Through Christ they were brought from a rebel kingdom and placed under the sovereignty of their rightful King. The sovereign Christ is here called his beloved Son. Through Christ, God’s “Loved One,” Christians have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Let’s emphasize that “redemption” means “to rescue by ransom.” Christ paid that ransom for us on the cross and in His resurrection. And, “forgiveness” means “remission” by the Redeemer. This is our joyful emancipation from darkness which we possess in the Light of our Savior only because of the tremendous cost Christ paid on the cross. 

187

March 11 – From Darkness to Light.

“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” – Colossians 1:13-14  (NASB)

Recently many thousands of people in the United States were in darkness because of no electricity. Don’t we all prefer being in the light to being in darkness?  Being filled with spiritual wisdom and understanding of God, transforms our lives and rescues us from darkness. We are promised wonderful results by following God’s will.  Two outcomes from a God-pleasing life are bearing fruit and increasing in knowledge (Col 1:10). Spiritual strength can be considered a third factor that results from knowing God’s will and pleasing Him (Col 1:11). Thankfulness, a keynote in our spiritual life, is a fourth result (Col 1:12). Plus, the promises in today’s passage. God transfers us out of the dominion of darkness, which is the domain of Satan. It happens to us the moment we receive redemption and forgiveness from our life of sin and the stubborn rebellion which is sin itself.  We now possess inheritance reserved for us in the kingdom of light which is Jesus Christ. We like particularly this word in verse 13, ‘rescued,’ which gives us the picture of being snatched out of danger and assurance that we are out of peril and are now safe and secure in God’s family. 

199

September 29 – Seek First Instead – How Not To Worry Part 6

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:33-34 (ESV)

In our passage Jesus provides and alternative to worry and it really is not and optional alternative. If we certainly desire to be rid of worry and anxiety, we need to replace it with God’s way of righteousness. This is the Way of living Jesus taught throughout his time on Earth. As Jesus promises, he supply these needs and we will more clearly see that promise fulfilled if we choose through obedience to set our sights on the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. We know what that means, right? The Kingdom way is found in God’s inspired Scriptures. God will never let us go without supplying our needs but the pleasure, joy, and satisfaction of His provision is best seen without worry and with focus on the righteousness God calls us to. Being anxious about the future means we are borrowing pain and trouble from tomorrow. Trust in God for what we need today and when today is yesterday and tomorrow is today, we trust again in God for what we need. We have enough ‘cares’ from today to cast onto the Lord who cares about us. We’ll cast tomorrow’s cares on Him tomorrow. 

- 195 -

September 28 – He Already Knows – How Not To Worry Part 5

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” Matthew 6:31–32  (ESV) 

We have considered five posts with one more to go using Matthew 6:25–34 which contains at least six promises given by Jesus to help us fight against unbelief and be free from worry or anxiety. Today we see another promise and words of wisdom from Jesus. The worry about what we eat, drink and wear is unnecessary because it changes nothing. It is God who knows we have these needs just as every person in the world does. Jesus in this context reminds us that the Gentiles seek after all these things. Worry is a shared practice among all people. The Jews at Jesus’ time were very bigoted toward non-Jews and all non-Jews were unclean Gentiles. That included anyone who was not a Jew by birth or by conversion had become a Jew. The Jews followed the Mosaic Law and a multitude of additional traditions and laws. Jesus drawing the comparison that Jews and Gentiles are not so different when it comes to anxiety about essential things. God our heavenly Father knows our every need.  If He knows our need will he not make certain that those needs are met? (see Philippians 4:19)

- 195 -

February 15 - Unshakable

“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.”  - Hebrews 12:28-29 (NASB)

The author of this letter or book, who is unknown, declares what we have received although moving in is still in the future for us.  We have confirmation that  as members of God’s family, we have received citizenship in the kingdom made by Him and which is permanent, indestructible, and unshakable.  Isn't it true this promise ought to bring to us an obvious and evident gratitude.  It is through this gratitude, this attitude of thanksgiving that we present, our response offering to God. It springs and surges out of our genuine reverence and awe.  We often speak of the fear of God as something that should characterize our attitude and this is the same as reverence and awe.  What God has promised so assuredly and what we can rightfully believe is already ours, is a forever irrevocable pass into the new heaven and new earth – the kingdom which cannot be shaken.  God will one day shake the earth as he promised (v. 26) but the kingdom that is ours and that will replace this present earth is forever and unwavering.  Those that reject the offer will face God as a consuming fire. 

# # #

January 23 – Where It All Begins

God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.- Matthew 5:3 (NLT)

Blessedness is a word pronounced on people, as recipients of all the goodness of God. This blessedness produces in us a condition of happiness. Each of the nine promises in this passage from Matthew 5:3-11 are promises on the way to true happiness. Such happiness comes from God and which we receive it as we abide by the conditions in these verses. Today’s promise of happiness or blessing comes to us when we realize that we need Jesus because we can do nothing for ourselves spiritually.  We have no reserve to draw from, no works, because we are bankrupt spiritually.  We can’t bring ourselves to true happiness or receive the promised blessing from God on our own effort. We must trust in God by faith. When we realize that we have nothing that qualifies us and we acknowledge our condition we turn to God for help.  Our acknowledgement of our need for God is a blessing. This is where it all begins. No one can get into the Kingdom of Heaven except through acknowledging their need for God’s help.  This is where the entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven begins and it all comes from God through blessings. 

# # #

November 5 – All Things Added – Six of Seven

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  -  Matthew 6:33  (ESV)

In the words of Jesus Christ from the Sermon on the Mount, we as believers are instructed to not be anxious about what we have to eat, drink and wear.  These seemly mundane things are personal material needs and do cause some to be concerned (another word for anxiety or worry).  But Jesus say we are not to worry or be concerned.  We have looked so far at five of the seven promises in the larger passage of Matthew 6:25-34.  Today we look at the godly behavior which Jesus instructs us to live by.  Seek first God, his Kingdom and His Righteousness.  If we will give ourselves to His cause in the world, rather than fretting about our private material needs, He will make sure that we have all we need to do His will and give Him glory.  All the food and drink and clothing — and everything else — that you need to do His will and glorify him. 

# # #

*Some of this content has been drawn from a series of articles from "Solid Joys" a daily devotional by John Piper.  Desiring God 

March 29 – Long Time In Preparation

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”   Matthew 25:34 (NIV)

These words were spoken by Jesus in His teaching about the Judgment Day.  He was predicting how He will take part in that judgment at the end of times.  We have selected this verse because they show us how God has prepared to reward those who follow Him faithfully.  God has promised certain outcomes for those who choose to reject Him and blessings for those who choose to respond with faith believing and receive the gift of forgiveness and eternal life.  This preparation began long long ago.  Our verse reminds us that God has been preparing these blessings since He created the world.  Nothing catches our Lord God by surprise and we cannot, as some say “pull the wool over His eyes.”  God knows exactly what is happening, what has happened and what will happen.  The promise of what will happen for those who believe is from Him and the preparation is in His hands.  It is going to happen, God promises that. 

# # #

July 16 – Trustworthy and Faithful in All

“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.” Psalm 145:13 (NIV)

It is so good to know that we have a God who keeps His promises. As we think back on our experiences in the Christian life we can think of promises that God has made real to us. Let's never forget those promises because God will not forget them. He'll keep His word to each of us. And all this is true because of God's faithfulness. Our verse reminds us that God is faithful and trustworthy in all He promises. It is God who made us and gave us life. Then when we believed in Jesus, God made us part of His family. My friend, remember that God made you. He gave you life. And if that is true then He loves you.

February 8

“He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.”” Matthew 13:11 (NIV)

Matthew records one time when the disciples asked Jesus why he spoke in parables. Our verse today is His response. Much of what Jesus taught is recorded for us so that we know much of what he taught the disciples and the people. We accept His teaching because we believe it was also given to us. In our verse today we learn that Jesus was teaching about  the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. We realize that Jesus came to share with us who live on earth truths about heaven that we would never know otherwise. God has shared wonderful secrets but none of us has learned all that there is to know. He still wants to share more truths while we are still living here and throughout eternity. 

October 13

“Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 (NIV)

Two days ago we read the first words of the prayer Jesus taught His disciples to pray. Today we have another part of that prayer. These words should be our desire at all times. We recognize that in heaven God rules and His will is carried out. If we love Him we will want that His will be done on earth as well. God express this desire in our prayer is really more than a prayer. It must be a statement of our willingness to have God’s will done in our lives. It is a yielding of our own wills to His. So when I pray to God “your will be done on earth” I’m saying that “I want your will to be done in my life, not my will but yours.” I’m also saying, “Use me to accomplish your will here today.”