Just Do It!
Today’s Passages – John 1 – 3 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 26 – 30; Proverbs 6)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 61:1 – 3
Read the “1106 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” – (John 2:5)
Several years ago Nike developed an advertising campaign surrounding the phrase “Just Do It”. I don’t know if the phrase was original with them or not, but they made it very popular. The world is still filled with t-shirts and bumper stickers with the slogan on them.
As I was reading this morning’s passage and came to John 2:5, I thought about the phrase “Just Do It”. I got to thinking that this phrase kind of sums up the secret to the successful Christian life. We are to find out what God says and do it. Now before you fuss with me, I understand that salvation is a gift we receive, and not an action we do; but we do need to listen to what God says about salvation and then apply it personally to our lives. And then after we are saved, we are to find the will of God for our lives through the Word of God, and obey it. God says that if we “just do it” we will have success and fulfillment in the Christian life.
We are also to do the will of God heartily:
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” (Colossians 3:23)
There is way too much apathy among God’s people today. Where is the zeal for the Lord’s work that used to be so prevalent among believers?
We are also to do the will of God for our lives with joy:
“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” (Hebrews 13:17)
We are also to do God’s will quickly, without procrastination.
“So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.” (Luke 14:21)
Just Do It!
“And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.” (Luke 8:21)
Posted in Thoughts from John by Phil Erickson with 2 comments.
Heart Burn
Today’s Passages – Luke 23 – 24; (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 21 – 25; Proverbs 5)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Proverbs 3:5 & 6
Read the “1105 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:32)
Years ago I had a friend that loved to eat Chinese food. The problem was that it would destroy his stomach whenever he ate it. He would get the worst heartburn every time. But do you think that kept him from eating it? No! He would feast at the Chinese restaurant every chance he got. Our passage today contains an account about a different kind of heartburn. Two of the disciples of the Lord are walking from Jerusalem to a village called Emmaus which was about 7.5 miles from Jerusalem. All of a sudden the Lord draws near and begins walking with them but they do not recognize Him after His resurrection. They begin to tell this “stranger” about all of the events surrounding the crucifixion that had taken place in Jerusalem just three days ago. They also recount the fact that the Lord’s body is now apparently no longer in the tomb and some of the women have claimed that He has risen from the dead. Jesus then begins reciting passage after passage from the Old Testament Scriptures that foretold that all of these events would happen, and He rebukes these disciples for not believing the Word of God.
I found it interesting that twice in chapter 24 the Lord takes the Old Testament Scriptures and uses them to teach the disciples regarding Himself. He did not perform any miracles here. He just opens up their understanding to the Word of God. I got excited about that because that is exactly what I do. I open up the Scriptures and through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, I help people understand them. The disciples on the road to Emmaus stated that their hearts burned within them as he taught them the Scriptures. When was the last time your heart burned within you because of the Word of God? We almost act like God’s Word gives us the bad kind of heartburn, like my friend got when he ate Chinese food. We avoid reading and studying the Bible like it causes us pain. The Word of God is the most powerful tool that we have available to us today in the transformation of our own lives and in the fulfillment of the Great Commission, yet we seem to be using it less and less these days. Our sermons are getting shorter and shorter, and whole services and studies are being removed from the schedule. It just seems that in practice we do not recognize the power of God’s Word to transform lives. Jesus did. He quoted Scripture all the time: when tempted by Satan, and here He is quoting Scripture to help these disciples understand His death and resurrection. We need to place the same emphasis on the power of God’s Word in our lives. Let’s get back to reading, studying, and memorizing the Bible.
Posted in Thoughts from Luke by Phil Erickson with no comments yet.
Stay Busy for the Lord
Today’s Passages – Luke 19 – 20 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 11 – 15; Proverbs 3)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 51
Read the “1103 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.” (Luke 19:13)
The word “occupy” literally means to stay busy. In this parable the Lord gave each of his servants a unit of money called a pound and instructed them to occupy – to stay busy – to do something with the money that the He had given them so that when He returned He would receive a profit. Two of the servants had been diligent to invest the money wisely and when the Lord returned he received from both a substantial increase. However, one of the servants took the money and buried it, and gave it back to the Lord with no increase. The Lord rebuked him sharply and took the pound from him and gave it to the man who reaped the most profit.
The Lord has given each of us many things. He has given us talents and abilities; and He has also blessed us with material possession. We are to “occupy” with all of the gifts that the Lord has given us, meaning we are to stay busy, using them for His glory. We are not to waste the gifts he gives; we are not to keep them for ourselves; we are to bring them back to Him with an increase, a profit.
Christians today are very busy; they are “occupying”, but are they busy with the things that really matter? Soon the Lord is going to come back for His Bride, and the time for being busy here on the Earth will be over. I believe at that time we will regret what we were not busy doing with our gifts. Let’s get busy using the talents and tangibles that the Lord has given us. He’ll be back soon!
Posted in Thoughts from Luke by Phil Erickson with 3 comments.
Unprofitable Servants
Today’s Passages – Luke 17 – 18 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 6 – 10; Proverbs 2)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm One Hundred Nineteen Verse One Hundred Five
Read previous posts from this passage – “Forbid Them Not”; “Attaboy;” and “Where Are the Nine?”
“But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” (Luke 17:7-10)
In our text today we have what almost seems like a hodgepodge of principles, but upon careful examination, we see that they are all related. Jesus begins by declaring that “offences” are going to come (v. 1), especially as these disciples were about to enter that time of extreme persecution in the first century. People are going to do bad things at times. We are all sinners living in a very sinful world. It is just in their nature to sin against others. However, he warns that the people who commit those offences will be judged harshly (v. 2). The Bible is very clear that we are not to avenge ourselves (Romans 12:19), but rather are to leave all judgement to God who will, in His time, deal with those who oppress and persecute His children. Jesus then reminds these disciples that must be willing to forgive each other – repeatedly if needed. The disciples know that this will be difficult and ask the Lord to increase their faith (v. 5), so that they would be able to do this. Jesus states that if they had even a little bit of faith, they could do amazing and supernatural, impossible things.
In verse seven, it almost seems like Jesus is introducing a new topic, but I believe he is still referring to forgiveness. Forgiveness is Christianity 101. It is the foundational principle of Christian living, and we should not be expecting some great “Attaboy” for forgiving our brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus loves us and forgives all that we have done and continues to forgive all our current and future offences against Him; it is the least that we can do to forgive others (Matthew 18:21 – 35).
Christians ought not to be looking for special recognition for anything that do in service to the Lord. We are His servants. Yet, He has given all to redeem us. We are bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:2-; 7:23). Now, the Lord does reward us and even recognize us for our service, but we ought not be looking for recognition, we ought to be content with just being able to serve the One who loved us and died for our sins. Besides, if we only do just what is commanded, we are unprofitable. We ought to be cheerfully willing to go above and beyond just what was commanded of us.
By the way, we should not be looking for recognition by people either. Stop expecting a pat on the back every time you pick a piece of paper up off the floor or put a dollar in the offering box. You should not be looking for recognition by men.
“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” (Matthew 6:1-4)
One final thought. Though we should not be looking for recognition from others for the good things that we do, we should try to recognize and appreciate the people who are serving us by serving the Lord. Our recognition should not be their motivation, but it is right for us to appreciate privately and publicly those who are doing right.
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with 1 comment.
Soul Winning
Today’s Passage – Luke 14 – 16 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 1 – 5; Proverbs 1)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 34:6
Read the “1101 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
In all three of the chapters that we have read this morning, there is a soul winning illustration. I understand that the proper interpretations of these passages does not primarily involve the church and winning people to Christ, but I think you will be able to see the practical application.
1 In chapter 14, I see the Compelling of the soul winner.
“And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” (Luke 14:23)
I have noticed that we have gotten to the point in our soul winning presentations that we are almost apologizing for bothering people. If you got word that there was an explosive device about to detonate in your neighbors house, would you apologize for bothering them? No, you would compel them to leave the house immediately. We need to take our soul winning presentations up another notch. We need to go beyond mere bidding (inviting) and start compelling people to trust Christ. I think our problem is that we deep down inside really don’t believe it all, or we really don’t believe time is running out.
2 In Chapter 15, I see the Compassion of the soul winner.
“And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20)
The father had the right attitude. He was longing for the return of the son. He was ready to receive him whenever he “came to himself.” The older brother, on the other hand, had the wrong attitude. He was not too excited about the reconciling of the younger brother to the father. He was perfectly content keeping the situation as it was. After all, the younger brother didn’t deserve another chance. He made his bed, and now he should have to sleep in it. Is that your attitude toward the lost soul that desperately needs Christ, or the wandering saint that needs to come back? We need to have compassion on people. We need to love them as Jesus loves them.
3 In chapter 16, I see the Consequences of not soul winning.
“And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house–for I have five brothers–so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.” (Luke 16:27 & 28)
Now I cannot to be sure that the rich man had no man in his lifetime that attempted to reach him, but let’s assume that he did not. What a shame that not only this man, but also his five brothers will spend eternity in Hell because of a lack of soul winning. Let me remind you, they are without excuse. God’s law was written in their hearts; they could see God in creation, and there were synagogues on every corner just as there are churches on every corner today. But how much better were his chances for salvation had somebody had compassion on him and attempted to compel him to be saved.
Posted in Thoughts from Luke by Phil Erickson with 4 comments.
Put Away Your Ax
Today’s Passage – Luke 12 – 13 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 146 – 150; Proverbs 31)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 25
Read the “1031 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.” – (Luke 13:6-9)
I must confess that I am often a little bewildered as I try to understand these passages of Scripture. There are often several different levels of interpretation for consideration. For instance, this story of the fig tree can be studied on both a practical and a symbolic level. Symbolically, the fig tree represents Israel. You will find that to be true in other passages such as in Matthew 21 where Jesus curses the fig tree, again because there was no fruit on it. Israel was expected to be fruitful. There was no reason for them not to be fruitful. They were given all that they needed, yet they chose to reject their Messiah. However, we know that someday Israel will “look on [him] whom they have pierced” (John 19:34), ”and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” – (Zechariah 12:10). God is very patient with Israel, and someday Israel will turn back to Him. Really if you think about it, the process of digging about it and dunging the fig tree could very well be the Tribulation Period where God will be bringing Israel back to Himself.
On a practical level, however, I believe that we can safely say that not all Christians will produce the fruit that we might expect them to right away. We must be careful to be patient with new believers. God may have to dig about them and dung them as well. Don’t be so quick to write off people. I thank the Lord that He is patient with me; and I also thank Him for putting me through the training and trials that have been needed in order for Him to produce the fruit that He desires through me. And He is not finished with me yet. I am a long way away from where I need to be. So, as we appreciate and expect the Lord to be patient with us, let us also be patient with others. Put away your ax. God may not be finished with the tree just yet.
Posted in Thoughts from Luke by Phil Erickson with 3 comments.
We Need More Laborers
Today’s Passage – Luke 10 – 11 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 141 – 145; Proverbs 30)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 18:3 & 46
Read the “1030 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. 2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. 3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. 5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. 6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. 7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. 8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: 9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.” (Luke 10:1 – 9)
Here in the first part of chapter ten, Jesus is sending out seventy of His disciples to represent him in the many towns and villages in Judaea, Galillee, and even outside of the borders of Israel.
Note – Between Luke 9:62 and Luke 10:1, there are several events that take place that are not discussed by Luke. They are, however, given to us by John:
- Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:11 – 53)
- Woman Caught in Adultery (John 8:1 – 11)
- Light of the World Discourse Ending with a Debate with the Pharisees (John 8:12 – 59)
- Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind (John 9:1 – 41)
- Good Shepherd Discourse (John 10:1 – 21)
Though these are all very important events, to expedite our study in Luke, we will not discuss them now. In Luke’s account, we see:
The Commissioning of the Seventy (vs. 1 – 3)
- Jesus chooses seventy disciples (v. 1).
An important point to make here is that Jesus had more disciples than just the twelve apostles. He obviously had spent a great deal of time with these men and had trained them sufficiently enough to send them out.
- Jesus calls them to pray for labourers (v. 2; also Matthew 9:37 – 38)
Matthew records the same words used by Jesus in a slightly context:
“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:35-38)
There are many people that need to be reached, but very few that are willing and able to reach them.
“Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.” (John 4:34-39)
We need to pray that the Lord will help us to be better labourers. We need to pray that God helps us to reach and train more laborers. The Lord seems to be telling us that the problem is not that people are not listening to His message of the gospel, it is that there are not enough laborers sharing that message. John’s Gospel tells us that the fields are already white and ready to be harvested. We need to be more faithful in sharing the message of Christ, and we need to do more in our churches to train, motivate, and provide opportunities for our members to do the same.
- Jesus Cautions Them (v. 3)
Though there will be many people who will rejoice and receive the message of the disciples, there will also be many that will reject the message and will rile up others to reject the messengers.
The Conditions for Submission in a City (vs. 4 – 9)
- The Care of Their Needs (vs. 4 – 8)
Here we see an urgency in the need for delivering the message. The disciples were not to worry about preparing for their journey. The underlying promise is that their needs will be met by the Lord through the people they minister to. They were not to get distracted by people along the way.
Practical Point – Oftentimes we get distracted from delivering the Lord’s message by well-meaning people along the way.
They were instructed to find someone within the city who would receive them, and remain there ministering to the city through the house that opened its doors to them.
- The Disciples Commitment to the Places That Receive Them (v. 9)
They were to heal the people physically, as well as help the people eternally through the message of the kingdom of God. While the Lord may not use His ambassadors in exactly the same way today, we can still be used of God to share the message of Christ with the people in our communities.
Posted in Devotions, Thoughts from Luke by Phil Erickson with 1 comment.
No Turning Back
Today’s Passage – Luke 8 – 9 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 141 – 145; Proverbs 29
Read the “1029 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:57-62)
Matthew’s gospel contains a parallel passage and considers two out of the three people that are dealt with in Luke:
“And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.” (Matthew 8:19-22)
In the verses above, Jesus addresses three individuals who all desire to be His disciple. However, they also all have stipulations that will hinder their ability to focus on the work. Jesus wants His servants to be singularly focused on the work that He has for them.
- There are Consideration Regarding Possessions (vs. 57 – 58)
- There are Considerations Regarding People (vs. 59 – 60)
- There are Considerations Regarding Priorities (vs. 61 – 62)
Jesus expects those who follow Him in discipleship to be fully committed and to stay committed until He brings them home to Heaven (See also Luke 14:25 – 33).
In the Old Testament, Elisha also considered the consequences and the price of service, and he made a decision that would keep him from going back to his old life:
“So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.” (1 Kings 19:19-21)
Illustrate – from “How to Achieve Great Things by Burning Your Boats and Cutting-Off Your Retreat Routes,” by Mark Melton
The Story of Alexander the Great
On October 1, 331 BC, with an army of 35,000 men, Alexander the Great defeated Darius the king of Persia in one of the most decisive battles in history! Alexander’s army was greatly outnumbered by the Persian enemy. Historians agree that Darius’ army was made up of between 200,000 to 1,000,000 men. Yet in a series of dramatic and superior tactics, Alexander managed to defeat the Persians and route them.
Alexander was a military genius, and arguably the best military general that ever lived. However, something dramatic and decisive happened before this battle, which many historians believe may be responsible for this great victory.
Upon arriving the shores of Persia, Alexander and his army discovered that they were visibly outnumbered. Clearly at a disadvantage, his men lost heart and pleaded with their young leader (Alexander) to delay the attack. He was urged to go back and get more men and reinforcements. Alexander responded by ordering the men to burn their boats. As their only means of retreat went up in flames, legend has it that Alexander turned to his men and said, “We go home in Persian ships, or we die.”
This act of burning their boats sent a clear message among his army that to survive, they must win this war. They placed themselves in a “no retreat, no surrender situation.” Buoyed by this realization, Alexander’s and his men charged with a singular resolve, to win at all costs. It was with this same resolve that, at the battle of Issus, Alexander’s men forced Darius to flee, leaving the field and victory to Alexander and his army.
The Story of Hernán Cortés
In the 1519, a Spanish conquistador, Hernán Cortés, set out with 600 Spaniards to conquer Mexico, which was rich in priceless treasures of gold, silver and precious Aztec jewels among others.
This daredevil, daring undertaking was made further insurmountable by the fact that for more than 600 years, superior conquerors with greater military hardware and human resources who attempted to colonize the same region had failed woefully.
Aware of this, Hernán Cortés decided to do it differently. After landing with his military force of 600 men, Cortés prepared his troops by long oratory and careful speeches. However, before embarking inland to face his enemies, he commanded his armies to burn all their boats! By this singular act, he and his men destroyed their only exit strategy! By these decisive three words – BURN THE BOATS – there was only one resolve within his camp: victory! For defeat meant a certain death. Owing to this singular act, Cortés became the first man to conquer Mexico in 600 years!
This is the attitude necessary for success! For a person to succeed at great things, that one must cut off all escape routes and any means of retreat. Often, many great projects are abandoned at the verge of success by retreating just prior to a breakthrough. Adversity is a tempting premise for retreat. However, having no means of retreat, but forging on despite great difficulties is the surest way to great accomplishments. (Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7830310)
We sing the song, “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus,” but I often wonder if we really understand and mean what we are singing.
The following is an excerpt from a hymn history paper written by Jesse Johnson:
In the 1880’s a Welsh missionary who had endured severe persecution finally saw his first converts in a particularly brutal village in the Indian province of Assam. A husband and wife, with their two children, professed faith in Christ and were baptized. Their village leaders decided to make an example out of the husband. Arresting the family, they demanded that the father renounce Christ, or see his wife and children murdered. When he refused, his two children were executed by archers. Given another chance to recant, the man again refused, and his wife was similarly stuck down. Still refusing to recant, the man followed his family into glory.
Witnesses later told the story to the Welsh missionary. The reports said that when asked to recant or see his children murdered, the man said: “I have decided to follow Jesus, and there is no turning back.”
After seeing his children killed, he reportedly said, “The world can be behind me, but the cross is still before me.” And after seeing his wife pierced by the arrows, he said, “Though no one is here to go with me, still I will follow Jesus.”
According to this missionary, when he returned to the village, a revival had broken out, and those that had murdered the first converts and since come to faith themselves. The Welsh man passed along these reports to the famous Indian evangelist Sadhu Singh. Singh had risen to prominence in India because he was training foreign missionaries, and a theme in his teaching had been the necessity of avoiding the cultural trappings of Western Christianity. He insisted that the missionaries now pouring into India focus on the essentials of the gospel while allowing the now vibrant Indian Christian community to develop their own Christian customs.
The accounts of the family that had been martyred in Assam were so astonishing and widely circulated that most Indian believers were familiar with it. So Singh took the martyr’s last words, and put them to traditional Indian music in order to make one of the first uniquely Indian hymns. The song immediately became popular in Indian churches, and it remains a mainstay of worship music there to this day.
Eventually some of the American missionaries returned from India and they brought that song with them. Finally, it ended up with Canadian song writer George Beverley Shea, and he made it a staple at the Billy Graham crusades.
Posted in Devotions, Thoughts from Luke by Phil Erickson with no comments yet.
For a Season
Today’s Passage – Luke 4 – 5 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 126 – 130; Proverbs 27)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – 1 John 4:7 & 8
Read the “1027 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
Read a previous post from this passage – “Let’s Go Fishing,“ and “A Hospital for Sinners.”
“And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.” (Luke 4:1-13)
One of the things that I enjoy about living up here in the northeast is the changing of the seasons. Right now, we are enjoying the mild temperatures and beautiful colors of fall, but I know that soon those leaves will drop along with the temperatures and winter will be upon us. I must confess, that my least favorite season is winter, although I do enjoy the beauty of that first snowfall. Winter seems to be longer around here, but that is only because our springs tend to stay chilly in New Jersey almost up to the time of summer. None of these seasons last long, however. Things are always changing, and the change is what makes things interesting.
In our passage today from Luke 4, Jesus was driven into the wilderness (Mark 1:12) by the Spirit of God to be tempted of the Devil. By the way, it is good to allow the Spirit to be in the driver’s seat:) Anyway, there is a lot that we could talk about regarding these three attempts by Satan to get Jesus to sin. It was certainly not a pleasant experience for Him, but He came through it with flying colors, proving that He was Who He claimed to be – God incarnate.
My thought for this post, however, is the fact that the temptation only lasted for a season and then Satan departed, again for a season. He would be back again. You may be going through a difficult time in your life right now, but it is likely not going to last forever. There may be some exceptions to this principle, but for the most part, the difficult trials that we experience in life are typically only temporary. Jesus endured the fasting in the wilderness for forty days and then the temptation, but then Satan left Him alone for a while. Life includes extreme low points, or valleys, but it also is full of wonderful experiences and great days. The good times, however, are also only for a season. If you think about it, we can only fully enjoy the good days when they are given in contrast to the bad. If you went to Disneyland every day, it would soon lose its magic. The seasons that we experience is what makes life full. Jesus experienced it all (Hebrews 4:15), and so will we. Solomon expressed these mountaintops and valleys in life:
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)
If you are on top of the world right now, then praise the Lord. Enjoy it! But know, that it will not last forever. The Devil will be back. If you are going through a very difficult season at this moment, then learn what you can from it, maintain your testimony and your joy through it, knowing that God is in control, and He is going through this ordeal with you. He will never leave you or forsake you, and He will get you to the other side of it. Trust that all these seasons are working together for your good and His glory. It will not last forever, there will be a respite, an escape. Even if does continue through this life, you can be sure it will not follow you in Heaven. Of course, that only applies to those of us who are saved – those that “love God, and who are the called according to His purpose.”
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with 1 comment.
Shepherd, Carpenters, and Fishermen
Today’s Passage – Luke 2 – 3 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 126 – 130; Proverbs 26
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – *Psalm 55:17*
Read a previous post from this passage – “The Family Business;” and “Fruits Worthy of Repentance.”
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.” (Luke 2:8-20)
For me, one of the most encouraging aspects of the Christmas story is the people that God used surrounding the incarnation of the Lord Jesus. Jesus’ parents were poor people from an insignificant little village near the Sea of Galilee. Joseph was a carpenter, a blue-collar laborer who sweated and worked hard to provide a living for his family. Even the town where Jesus was to be born was not at all prominent, especially when compared to its famous neighbor, Jerusalem, just a few miles to the north. You might think that God would choose Jerusalem as the place of Jesus’ birth, or maybe even Rome, which was the capital of the world in those days. And who does God choose to reveal the birth of the King to? Humble shepherds – guys who are out at night, working third shift, doing the work that the rich and powerful would not be willing to do. The angels did not wake up the high priest or one of the members of the Sanhedrin; he did interrupt the mayor of Bethlehem while he was enjoying a late-night snack. God chose some humble men who were, no doubt, faithfully doing their work while serving their God and their families.
These shepherds remind me of King David who was also a humble shepherd, serving his family, feeding and protecting the flock, when all of a sudden, someone came and called him out of the field and said: “Samuel the prophet is at your house, and he wants to talk with you.” Well, he may not have used those exact words, but the point is that David was just faithfully fulfilling his duties when God told Samuel to call him. You just never know when God may come by and call you to do something awesome for Him.
Fast forward to thirty years later, when Jesus is choosing His apostles. Who does he choose? Millionaires? Religious leaders? No, He chooses humble fishermen. Guys who were struggling to feed their families, working hard, but also patiently waiting and looking for God to do something awesome. The Bible tells us “And the common people heard him gladly” (Mark 12:37).
Paul told the church at Corinth that God was not impressed with the proud and haughty, the rich and powerful. God can only be glorified when He does His work through humble men and women:
“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)
Serving God is awesome, but our service will not always be out in some prominent place where hundreds are cheering for us; it may just be in a field with a few sheep; or in a boat with nets and poles. God uses the everyday, ordinary, humble man or woman to do extraordinary work for Him. Our desire ought to just be faithful to Him, doing the seemingly “little things” that He calls us to do. Who knows, He may just show up someday and use us to do something big.
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