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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November 6 – Departure Time

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”  2 Timothy 4:6-8 (ESV) 

The “Crown of righteousness” can mean either that righteousness itself is the crown or reward, or that this crown is the reward for righteousness. We can read how the Bible speaks of the death of a believer, especially in the New Testament, we notice how the word “departure” is used rather than death. Jesus, Paul, and Peter all spoke of their physical death as a “departure.” Apostle Paul lived for about 60 years. When writing his second letter to Timothy, he knows then, for certain, his death is very near. But it was not the end of living, it was his time of departure from this world to live with God’s in heaven.  Paul was one of untold number of Christians who Emperor Nero’s aggressive persecution killed, blaming them for the burning of Rome – which Nero had done himself. Paul speaks of it in this passage in very positive words. He does not fear his departure and he knows that His Lord has prepared a reward. Paul was not the only one to receive this Crown of Righteousness but all who love Christ’s appearing are promised the same reward on 'that day' which is the day of Christ’s return. 

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January 26 – Perfected For All Time

“But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, … For by a [that] single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”  - Hebrews 10:12, 14 (ESV)

We might well find in this verse much encouragement for imperfect sinners like us, and our motivation for holiness. Each of us who are in Christ still face the trials of temptations that can lead us off the road and into the ditch full of muck and mire.  The promise of this verse is that we have assurance today that we stand perfected and complete in the eyes of our heavenly Father. This is not because we are perfect now, but exactly because we are “being made holy,” “being sanctified” — that, by faith in God’s promises, we are moving away from our persistent imperfection toward more and more holiness. That’s the kind of faith we can have in the midst of failure and can look to Christ and say, “You have already perfected me in your sight O Lord.” This is not boasting. It is the mourning of the weak who recognize their spiritual bankruptcy and their desperate need of a Savior.  Today, let us all be weak enough to trust this promise and put our faith in Christ in this way. 

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This devotional is from John Piper’s sermon “Perfected for All Time by a Single Offering” 2/16/1997

January 11 – A Permanent Place

“For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.  Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” Hebrews 13:14-15 (NIV)

We have a promise that one day, in the future, all that we have now will pass away including where we are living.  What we have is not enduring and it will be replaced with a place yet to come, a new heaven and a new earth and a new city made by God for us that will last forever.  It is a promise that generates in us true believers the desire to offer a sacrifice of praise to our God through our Savior Jesus Christ.  Jesus died on the cross so that all who believe and receive can look forward to living in the new city that is coming.  Jesus made it possible for us to become permanent members of God's family.  It has been promised to us.  Praise comes from our heart and is expressed by our words using our lips to profess to others the name of Jesus our Lord.  When we do we are offering to God a sacrifice of praise.  We are letting others know that we believe in God, the only true God.  

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March 10

“Abraham answered, ‘God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ And the two of them went on together.”  Genesis 22:8 (NIV)
“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)

The first verse tells what Abraham told his son when in obedience he was ready to offer him. When God stopped him he saw a ram nearby. What did Abraham call that place? “THE LORD WILL PROVIDE.”  God provided an offering in response to his faith. God has done the same for us as we read in the second verse. Never question it. God gave His Son for us as an offering. He will also provide all your needs today and every day.