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?

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John Piper shared these words in a recent devotional: 

September 10 – Removed from Common Use

“And the nations will know that I am the Lord who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever.” – Ezekiel 37:28 (NASB)

What is it for us to be ‘removed from common use?’ It is sanctification, what the Holy Spirit does for us. Today we consider the title of God some call His name. This is a promise given to us as it was a promise to the people of Israel in Ezekiel’s prophecy⸺a promise for the future we hold today. YAHWEH M’KADDEESHCHEM: “The Lord Who Sanctifies, Makes Holy” The word Kaddosh means holy, to dedicate, set apart, sanctify. We can find this title name in Leviticus 20:8 “You shall keep My statutes and practice them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you.” Let’s notice the last word of this verse ‘forever.’ Ezekiel was giving a prophecy regarding what would be at the end of time when Israel is fully restored in God’s Kingdom. Then  there will be an everlasting sanctuary for all the people of God. When God sanctifies Israel and all true Israel it means to make holy, separate. This is the work of the Holy Spirit who is sanctifying all of God’s people. This sanctification, it’s a promise we have now and will be fully realized and experienced when we are with Jesus in heaven.

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April 4 – He Is His Name

“For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.” – Malachi 1:11 (ESV)

As we read the Bible we find that God’s name is to be taken (used) seriously and with much honor. So it is that one of the Ten Commandments instructs us to not take or use the name of the LORD God in vain. What God does for us and for all humans is all done for His name’s sake. It is for His great name’s sake that God will not forsake His people – that is us who believe. Even when we indulge in our own pleasures and when we forsake the straight path He sets before for us.  Even when we trust in our own understanding instead of God and turn from God’s commands in disobedience, He remains faithful to us because he has promised to and He does this for His name’s sake AND that He might make known to His mighty power. That was why God opened the Red Sea for the Children of Israel to cross on dry land as they exited Egypt (Psalm 106:8-9). It is difficult to break the habits we’ve had for years invoking God’s name uselessly but God’s name is who He is and He is worthy of honor and glory. 

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February 28 – Sheltering in the Keep

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.” Psalm 46:10-11 -  (KJV)

Yesterday we read the first three verses of this Psalm 46 Today the final two are what we want to consider. God promises to be our refuge (shelter) and strength in any threat. Because we have that promise we need not worry.  We can “Be Still” because we know who our God is.  Our God will be exalted among the heathen and unbelieving world where nations reject and despise the truth of God. Even His existence is denied. For those who believe in God and in the Son of God who sacrificed Himself so that we can be redeemed and receive eternal life, danger may seem to exist from the nations that hate God. But God says that one day all the nations, all the heathen unbelievers will exalt the name of God. They will be impotent before the creator of all things created. And were are we? We are with the LORD of hosts. God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is our God and our refuge (like fortress on high ground). God is a refuge in so many ways. From the unexpected dangers and from the known threats from enemies.  God is our stronghold that will never fail.   

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April 8

“Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.” Isaiah 40:15 (NIV)

It is good for us to be reminded of the greatness of our God. This verse compares the powers of this world with the power of our God. Sometimes we are awed by what we see on television or read in the news. We think of the nations of the world as being very important and we forget that our God is infinitely greater. How much would a grain of dust weigh on a scale? How impressed would we be by one single drop of water in an otherwise empty bucket? That’s how insignificant the great things of this world are in comparison to our great Almighty God.