The Length of Our Days
(Ps 90:1-12)
God is everlasting.
His existence is everlasting and
His joy and happiness are all everlasting.
Faith is believing Him and loving Him, and
The life of this faith is numbering one’s days and, thus, not toiling in vain.
For the length of a man’s days is 70, if healthy 80, a life goes by in a moment (Ps 90:10).
No matter how long a life, thus, it is meaningless with only sadness remaining.
This is because the ancestor of all mankind, Adam, was
Deceived by the serpent and sinned (Ge 3:4-19).
As a result, even though they give birth and raise their children,
Even though they toil and live by the sweat of their brows,
They became destined to return to dust, with all their toils in vain.
God clearly showed that the toils of sinners are meaningless (Ge 6:5, Ge 6:17)
When He covered the entire world with water – except for Noah’s ark.
For whether a teacher, an ordinary man or even an animal,
Every life ends in death,
All the things that are done under the sun are meaningless,
A chasing after the wind (Ecc 1:2-14, Ecc 3:11)
Yet in the sanctuary where the name of the Lord God was,
Israel could work to serve God (Dt 12:7).
Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn 2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would reveal that,
Though He came through the body of a woman in the last days (He 1:2; Php 2:7),
He is the everlasting God who is before Abraham (Jn 8:58),
For He is the incarnate Word in the beginning (Jn 1:1, Jn 1:14),
The resurrection and the life (Jn 11:25).
Even as His breath was being cut off
Jesus remained satisfied and said, “It is finished (Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Laid down His life to reveal that the Father alone is everlasting (Ge 3:19; Ps 90:3; Jn 10:18);
2. Judged the devil who attempted to be like God (Is 14:12-15); and
3. Bore the iniquities of men through His toils,
so that they no longer have to toil meaninglessly under the devil (Is 53:11; He 2:14-15).
Finally through His resurrection,
Jesus received what He toiled for – the throne in heaven (Ps 128:2; Php 2:9-11; He 1:2).
The Holy Spirit came to those who
Ate the flesh and drank the blood of Jesus (Jn 6:54), and
He lets them live a new life through the new breath (1Co 12:13).
The Christian is he who has
The wisdom to number his days (Ps 90:12).
Therefore, he cherishes each day he is given, and
Commends himself in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger (2Co 6:4-5),
Declaring the gospel of forgiveness (Lk 24:47; Jn 20:23), and
Edifying as members the one body the church (1Co 12:25).
He longs for the day when he will rest from his labor (Rev 14:13), and
Finally eat the fruit of his toil in the place where there is eternal joy and happiness (Rev 22:1-5).
O Lord,
As the year 2013 comes to an end,
I am terribly sadden and sorry for myself for losing so many days already!
Let me not lose even an hour in the new year and
Use every moment as precious as gold.
Amen.
The King who Humbly Came
(Zec 9:9; Mt 2:1-12;)
God is high above (Mt 6:6; Job 11:8).
He is in the heaven high above and His name is also high (Ps 93:4, Ps 148:13), and
He lifts up those who lift Him up (Job 5:11).
Faith is acknowledging Him, and
The life of this faith is to lower oneself in order to lift Him up.
Humility or being humble refers to bending down to lower oneself,
While a king is on the throne high above worthy to be lifted up.
These two opposite attributes are within the Son of God, Jesus.
Adam sinned since he listened to his wife who was deceived by the serpent, to be like God (Ge 3:4).
The devil is he who attempted to lift himself above the throne in heaven, and
As a result he was cast down to Hades, waiting for the Day of Judgment (Is 14:12-15).
Though the people of Israel received
The promise given to Abraham, the “father of many nations (Ge 17:5),
God let them begin with their slavery (Ge 15:13-14) for
All men became slaves of the devil since Adam (2Pe 2:19).
For God lowers the tall and grows the low (Eze 17:24),
King Saul, because of his pride, fell from the throne (1Sa 15:30)
While David, because he remained humble until the end, rose to the throne.
On the one hand, the sanctuary where the name of the Lord God was
Reminded Israel of the prophecy of the coming of the king of glory (Ps 24:7-10; Is 9:6-7),
On the other hand, there were prophecies of the One who will descend to Hades (Is 57:9),
The King who will come lowly, riding on a donkey (Zec 9:9).
Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn 2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would reveal that He is the King who came according to the prophecies (Mt 1:1, Mt 2:1-12),
Born a baby in a barn in Bethlehem of Judea
Taking the very nature of a servant, in human likeness (Php 2:6-11),
Gentle and riding on a donkey (Mt 21:1-6).
Finally, like a sinner He died on a cross, the lowest point of the very nature God.
As He died, Jesus said, “It is finished (Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Laid down His life and exalted the Father as the only Most High (Jn 10:18; Php 2:6-11);
2. Brought down Satan who tried to lift himself up (1Jn 3:8); and
3. Lifted up men who were enslaved under the devil and opened a way for them to go to the heaven above (He 2:15).
He rose and sat on the heavenly throne,
Becoming the Prince and the Savior (Ac 5:31).
The Holy Spirit comes to those who welcomed and received the name Yeshua (Jn 1:12), and
Testifies that Jesus was exalted above the heavens (He 7:26).
The Christian welcomes the coming of Yeshua as the King, and
Humbly kneels before His name, for
The kingdom of heaven is only for those
Who lower themselves like little children (Mt 18:4, Mt 23:12), and
The church is the place of race to lower oneself (1Co 9:24).
Therefore, until the Lord lifts him up (Jas 4:10),
He puts every effort to be found as the humble one (Job 40:12; Php 3:9) by:
1. Bowing his head – for he is ashamed of his sin;
2. Bending his back – treating others better than himself; and
3. Bending his knees – praying to God.
O Lord,
Break off the horns of my pride (Ps 75:10) and
Let me not cause any soul to stumble (Mt 18:6) but
Rather let me humble myself and be gentle so that I may gain partners.
Amen.
The Righteous Soul
(2Pe 2:4-10)
God is righteous (Ps 7:9; Jn 17:25).
His word is righteous and by His righteousness He judges (Ps 119:60, Ps172), and
He dwells with the righteous (Mt 25:46; 2Pe 3:13).
Faith is acknowledging Him and believing that one has been justified by Him, and
The life of this faith is coming out of unrighteousness and willingly becoming separated from it (2Co 6:14-18).
Righteousness refers to the law, the measuring-stick for what is right.
It judges righteousness and unrighteousness, and
It is absolute, thus, uncompromising.
Since the ancestor of mankind, Adam, took for granted God’s law that
Forbade him from eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Ge 2:17),
He listened to his wife who was deceived by the serpent and
Eventually he was banished from the Garden of Eden (Ge 3:6, Ge 3:24).
After receiving the warning regarding God’s judgment by flood,
For Noah feared God he consistently built the ark for about 70 years, and
As a result, he and his family were saved, becoming heir of righteousness (He 11:7).
When Lot was warned of the judgment by brimstone fire against Sodom (2Pe 2:6-8),
He had been tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard there.
Thus, he was able to leave overnight without looking back and was saved.
Because he received the righteousness of God, the Law,
Moses had to veil his face and became isolated.
For about 40 years he led them (Ex 34:34), and
Finally died alone on Mount Nebo, overlooking Canaan (Dt 34:1-3).
The sanctuary where the stone tablets were inside the Testimony
Reminded the Israelites to fear God the righteous judge.
Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it in three days (Jn 2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body
He would reveal that He is the righteousness of God, as
He was testified by the Father in heaven after being baptized by John, which was
To fulfill all righteousness (Mt 3:13-17).
Though He is the Son of God, the righteousness itself (Jn 1:1, Jn 1:14, Jn 1:18),
When He came in the flesh, He came to do the work of the righteous Father (Jn 6:38, Jn 17:25), and
He warned of the coming judgment against the world and
The destruction by fire (Mt 24:37-39; Mk 9:42-48).
Eventually, the disciples all left Him and Jesus died alone,
But He said, “It is finished (Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. By dying judged as a sinner exalted the Father as the only righteous judge (Rm 3:25-26; Jn 10:18; Php 2:6-11);
2. Judged the unrighteous one, the devil (1Jn 3:8); and
3. By becoming sin -though He knows no sin- opened the way for sinners to leave unrighteousness and become righteous (Jn 14:6; 2Co 5:21).
He rose and ascended the heavenly throne and
Became the righteous king.
The Holy Spirit comes to testify about Yeshua
In him who believed and was baptized in the name Yeshua and
Has become justified (Jn 1:12; Mk 16:16; Rm 3:21-22), and
Gives him the righteous soul.
The Christian is he who is
Distressed and pained by unrighteousness, lawlessness (2Pe 2:6-8),
Not accepting or keeping silence about it.
Therefore, as a preacher of righteousness (2Pe 2:5),
He preaches the gospel of the kingdom of heaven to unbelievers and the truth to believers.
Even if he is persecuted he rejoices,
Even if he is misunderstood he does not cease (Mt 5:11), and
Even if he is not recognized he finishes the lonely path (2Co 6:3-10), for
He longs to enter the new heaven and the new earth where righteousness dwells
When the Lord returns (Mt 25:46; 2Pe 3:7-16).
O Lord,
I can never go to hell!
I also can never see any of the souls You have given me go to hell!
Even if I have to walk the loneliest path
I will never turn back to the world! Amen.
The Toils of My Soul
(Is 53:1-12)
God is the God of comfort (Rm 5:5; 2Co 1:3).
All comfort comes from Him and
He comforts eternally those who toil for their souls (2Th 2:16).
While the world comforts those who sacrifice themselves for
Their nations, politics, ideologies etc.
With medals, rewards or even monuments,
When the nations, politics and ideologies change
Their toils become meaningless.
But more importantly, who would comfort their souls?
Faith is, thus, being satisfied by God’s comfort alone and
The life of this faith is all the more laboring to be comforted on the day of Christ (Php 2:16).
Because Adam, the ancestor of all men, sinned against God (Ge 2:17, Ge 3:4-6),
Though they are briefly comforted when they give birth after the pains of childbirth (Ge 3:16),
They must return to dust and (Ge 3:19)
All their toils become meaningless like chasing after the wind (Ecc 1:3, Ecc 1:14).
God comforted Noah who toiled according to God’s promise (Ge 5:29).
Likewise, God did not send away empty-handed
Jacob who had worked as a servant for 20 years and
The Israelites who were enslaved for 430 years.
The comforter of Israel was the Lord God alone (Is 51:12).
The Law banned idolatry, which is man’s effort to comfort himself (Ex 20:4).
God blessed those who gave sacrifices in the sanctuary where
God placed His name and let them rejoice (Dt 12:7).
However, Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn 2:19-20),
Because through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body
He would fulfill the prophecy regarding God’s comfort in Jerusalem (Is 66:13; Lk 2:25).
As He died, Jesus said, “It is finished (Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Sought the Father’s comfort even in the midst of pains (Lk 23:46; Jn 10:17-18);
2. Condemned the devil who tried to comfort himself (Is 14:12-15; 1Jn 3:8); and
3. Gave birth to souls through the toils of His soul (Is 53:11).
He rose and sat on the heavenly throne of eternal comfort, and
The Counselor whom He sent is the Comforter of Jesus (Jn 15:26).
The Christian is he whose soul has
Received the comfort of Jesus, and
Thus comforts the toils of Jesus through worship and praise, and
Even through trials and tests
He is comforted by the word (Ps 23:4; Rm 15:14; 1Co 1:3-7).
Furthermore, he labors for the church and edifies it
By teaching the truth, preaching the gospel,
Doing good deeds, prayer etc. (Ac 9:31).
Though he toils much he considers them all as grace (1Co 15:10) for
He longs to see the face of the Lord and be comforted
On the day of Christ (Php 2:16).
O Lord,
The toils of men are all meaningless,
But thank You for letting me toil for my soul!
Until Christ is formed in the souls You have given me
Let me go through the pains of childbirth (Gal 4:19) and
On the last day, comfort me so that I may see Your face!
Amen.
The Peace in My Soul
(Jn 14:25-31, Jn 16:32-33)
God is the God of peace (Rm 15:33).
Peace comes from Him, and
He keeps in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast (Is 26:3).
Faith is my soul longing for peace, and
The life of this faith is knowing that one is destined for any trial and, thus, having peace without being shaken (1Th 3:3).
As time passes the world becomes filled with more anxiety, nervousness, fear etc.
Because of wars, terrorism, diseases, competition, unemployment, corruption etc.
Thus, people seek ways to console themselves
Through vacations, retreat, hospitalization, drugs, alcohol etc.
Yet the number of suicide is increasing for
What man needs the most is peace.
The Bible points Adam’s breaking of God’s word (Ge 2:17, Ge 3:4-6) as
The cause of sin and punishment (Ge 4:13).
Through Moses God brought Israel out of their suffering (Ex 4:12) and
Delivered them from Egypt and led them into the wilderness (Dt 32:10) so that
He would lead them to their resting place of peace (Ps 132:8).
The ark in the sanctuary where God promised to dwell among them (Ex 25:8)
Reminded them that He was with them.
However, unlike its meaning of “promised peace (Ps 122:6),
The Temple of Jerusalem which was built by
The man of peace, Solomon (1Ch 22:7-9)
Saw endless battles and destruction (Jer 15:5).
Yet God’s plan for man was not disaster but peace (Jer 29:11).
Furthermore, the prophet spoke of the appearance of the Prince of peace (Is 9:6).
Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn 2:19-20), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body
He would give to souls His peace that the world cannot give (Jn 14:27).
As such, even the boat that carried Him was peaceful even in the storm (Mk 4:36-41).
As He was mocked, Jesus died and said, “It is finished (Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Commended His soul to the Father who added on the suffering to give Him peace (Is 38:17);
2. Judged the devil who broke peace (Ge 3:4-6; Is 14:12-15; 1Jn 3:8); and
3. Was punished on all men’s behalf and gave their souls peace (Is 53:5; 1Pe 2:24).
He rose and gave peace to the disciples (Jn 20:21), and
Ascended to heaven and became the Prince of peace who has eternal peace.
The Holy Spirit comes to the souls who are
Forgiven by the blood of Jesus and
Lets them stay in Him so that they may have peace:
1. When they sin confess to Jesus, their Defender (1Jn 1:8-10, 1Jn 2:1);
2. Surrender their will, their plans, and do according to His will (Mt 26:39); and
3. Kneel before the name Jesus in worship, praise and prayer.
The Christian has the river of peace flowing out of his soul.
Therefore, even in the moment of his death
He is unshaken and keeps his peace.
O Lord,
One things my soul desires is Your peace!
If I can only have this until I die
I can overcome poverty, solitude, disease, terrorism, wars and even death!
Please give my family this peace.
Amen.
Suffering and Thanksgiving
(2Co 8:1-15)
God is the Lord of grace.
From Him comes grace and
He infinitely pours out to those who know His grace.
Faith is knowing this and giving thanks, and
The life of this faith is giving even more thanks in the midst of trials.
Grace refers to the freely given gift.
While everyone loves gifts,
It is those who do not have any that welcome gifts and
Not those who already have them.
Starving allows one to be grateful for food, sickness for health,
Bondage for freedom, disaster for rescue and sentence to death for life.
As such, when people have things, they are not grateful but
Only when they lose they realize what they had was not theirs, thus,
They have gratitude.
Since the ancestor of mankind, Adam, lived in the Garden
He did not lack any and, thus, did not give thanks (Ge 2:15-16).
Deceived by the devil, he sinned (Ge 3:5-6) and
He was banished out of the Garden, losing everything –
The beginning of all men’s suffering (Ge 3:23-24).
The Israelites were a people chosen by God since Abraham (Ge 17:7-8) and
God began to be concerned about them
When they cried out of their pains in slavery in Egypt (Ex 2:23-25).
When they finally escaped Egypt and were saved from the Sea,
They greatly rejoiced (Ex 14:31-15:18).
Their joy and gratitude, however, was for a moment
Since the only thing they could see before them was the endless wilderness (Ex 16:22-23).
All those who complained and resented
Fell in the desert and died (Nu 14:26-30),
While the few who gave thanks even in the midst of the suffering
Entered the Promised Land.
Even so, however, because of the Law, which was impossible for them to keep, (Rm 8:20)
Their misery and fear became worse by the day (Rm 8:15).
They gave thanks to the Lord (Ps100).
In the sanctuary where the Testimony was.
When the time had fully come,
The Son of God came in the flesh (Jn 1:14; Gal 4:5) and
He said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn 2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would give the perfect thanksgiving and
Become the reason for all men’s thanksgiving for
He came to bear their sins, as well as their sickness, worries, sorrow, poverty etc. (Is 53:4-6).
As He died, Jesus said, “It is finished (Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Gave His body as a thanksgiving offering to the Father, in the midst of the greatest suffering (Ps100; Jnh 2:7-9);
2. Condemned the ungrateful archangel (Eze 28:13-17); and
3. With His blood redeemed the sins of all men and revealed the riches of God’s grace (Eph 1:7; 1Pe 2:24).
He rose and entered the gates of heaven with thanksgiving and
Sat on the throne in heaven (Ps 100:4-5).
The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of grace, lets
God’s children know what He has freely given them (1Co 2:12) and
Lets them give all the more thanks in the midst of trials (2Co 8:1-2) for:
1. He gives trials they can bear (1Co 10:13);
2. He also provides a way out so that they can endure it.
The Christian, therefore,
When he is in the midst of a trial
Remembers the thanks in the past and truly gives thanks, and
Gives even greater thanks for providing a way out, that is, prayer (Rev 6:3-4), as
He longs to enter the gates of heaven with thanksgiving.
O Lord,
Let us never resent You with our lips.
Rather, let us well up with thanksgiving in our hearts, especially in hard times and
Break down the walls that surround us, and
Finally enter through the gates of heaven in the last day!
Amen.
Now is the Time of His Favor!
(2Co 6:1-2)
God is everlasting.
He has no beginning or end, and
Everything that He does endures forever (Ecc 3:14).
Faith is loving Him and
The life of this faith is wisely using one’s limited time and exchanging it with eternity.
If land or a seed misses timing, it cannot produce crop (He 6:7).
Likewise, if a man misses his productive years,
He becomes a useless person.
Thus, the matter of success and failure depends on seizing the opportunity (Ecc 3:1-8).
Deceived by the devil,
Adam sinned (Ge 3:4-6) and
All men were demoted as slaves of the devil (2Pe 2:19) and
Lost the earthly paradise (Ge 3:24).
The Bible illustrates stories of those who
Seized the given opportunity and changed their fate:
Abraham received a son at the age of 100;
Jacob stole his brother’s birthright and blessing (Ge 25:31-34, Ge 27:1-46); and
David cut off the head of the enemy and
Became the son-in-law to the king, and eventually a king himself (2Sa 6:8-11).
It also tells stories of those who missed their chances
Though they sought with tears later, such as Esau (He 12:16-17).
The sanctuary reminded them this for generations.
Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it in three days (Jn 2:19-20), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would use His time as the Son of Man – which was
When the Law reigned (Gal 4:4-5),
The Greek language was spread across the land and
The Roman Empire had built the roads.
As Jesus died, he said, “It is finished (Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Laid down His life and exchanged it with eternal life (Jn 10:17);
2. Condemned the devil who misused his given opportunity (Is 14:12-15; Eze 28:12-17); and
3. With His blood redeemed men and gave them another chance.
He rose and sat on the heavenly throne and
He is the Lamb.
The Holy Spirit came to the world and
The Era of Grace began thereafter:
The time of God’s favor, the day of salvation (2Co 6:2).
A man who received His favor is he who,
For the rest of His days in the flesh (Ge 5:13)
No longer lives for a moment but for eternity.
Therefore, he does not miss the opportunity to
Worship, belong to the church and serve for
It is his chance to encounter Jesus.
Rather than becoming like
The fig tree (Mt 21:18-19) or the five virgins who lost their chances (Mt 25:1-13),
He seizes his opportunity like Mary (Lk 1:34-38), the thief crucified next to Jesus (Lk 23:42-43),
The blind Bartimaeus (Mk 10:46-52), and the woman who broke the perfume (Mt 14:6-9),
For he longs to exchange his life with eternity
When the Lord comes back.
O Lord,
Let us all realize that
A chance is given only once, and
If it is a spiritual one,
Let us not yield the opportunity.
Let us seize this time of Your favor, this day of salvation!
Amen.
When the Spirit of Truth Comes
(Jn 16:13)
God is the God of truth(Ps 31:5; Is 65:16).
He reveals Himself through the truth(Jn 1:14, Jn 1:18), and
He guides into all the truth(Jn 16:13).
Faith is believing Him, and
The life of this faith is being guided into the truth.
Worldly studies observe constant principles and
Religions attempt to arrive at truth through asceticism, self-mastery and self-cultivation.
Truth, however, cannot be known through any human effort or method, for
It is in God alone, and
It can only be known by God alone.
After Adam sinned,
All men became cut off from God(Ge 3:24).
But God called Abraham and instructed him,
Through which God’s guidance continued once again(Ge 12:1).
God gave the Law to the Israelites through Moses(Jn 1:17), as
A tutor which held them in custody and guided them until the truth came(Ga 3:22-23), which was
Reminded by the sanctuary where God instructed them from.
Furthermore, God prophesied through the prophets and
Introduced to them the One who was coming after(Mt 3:11; Jn 3:29).
Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it in three days(Jn 2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would revealed that He is the Truth who had now come
To guide all souls to eternal life(Jn 17:3), for
He is the God the One and Only, full of grace and truth(Jn 1:14, Jn 1:18)
Testified by Moses and the Prophets(Lk 16:16; Ac 26:22).
But because He said that He was the truth, the way and the life(Jn 14:6),
That whoever believes in Him will live even though he dies and
Whoever lives by believing in him will never die(Jn 11:25), and that
Those who believe in Him will later go to where He was going(Jn 11:15, Jn 13:37),
The Jews conspired to put Him to death(Jn 11:47-53).
As He died, however, Jesus said, “It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Died according to the revelation of the Law and the prophecies of the Prophets, and fulfilled the Father’s will(Mt 11:29; Jn 10:18);
2. Condemned the father of lies, the devil(Jn 8:44); and
3. With His blood redeemed those under the law of condemnation and set them free so that they may have eternal life(Rm 8:1-2).
According to His own prophecy, He rose and ascended to heaven(Mt 16:21), and
According to His own promise, He sent the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth(Ac 1:4-5, Ac 2:33).
The Holy Spirit lets truth be known(1Co 2:11), and
Lets believers walk in the truth.
The truth is:
1. Jesus Himself — the glory of the One and Only(Jn 1:14, Jn 14:6);
2. The word of Jesus — the word of the Father(Jn 12:49, Jn 17:17); and
3. The life of Jesus — the true way of life(Jn 14:6).
The Christian believes Jesus and has
Made eternal life the goal of his life.
The Spirit of truth guides him to
Believe the word of Jesus and
Emulate His life by reliving it — that is, the path of self-inflicted suffering, sadness and lowliness.
O Lord,
Help us all and guide us into all the truth.
Let us know the truth and be filled with it!
Amen.
The Task the Lord Jesus Has Given Me
(Ac 20:22-24)
God does His own work.
He works for the sake of His name(Ge 22:8; Ps 23:3), and
He commands those whom He wants to do His work(Mk 3:13).
Faith is receiving the task to do the Lord’s work, and
The life of this faith is considering one’s life worth nothing in order to carry out that task.
Those who are given the tasks are entrusted with the work of the higher, and
Once they are called to do so they are forbid
From speaking other words or doing other work.
To carry out the mission, they must be responsible and
When they carry out little, they are entrusted with more.
Though Adam was entrusted with the work of guarding the Garden(Ge 2:15),
He could not guard his wife who was deceived by the serpent and sinned, and
Finally he himself sinned and was banished from the Garden(Ge 3:6, Ge 3:24).
When Moses was given the great task of
Leading the people of Israel out of Egypt(Ex 4:13-15),
He initially refused to go saying he could not speak.
But God reassured him that He will give him the words to speak, and
As such, Moses spoke according to what God said and
Successfully led Israel out of Egypt, and also
Delivered the Law he received from God to the people.
The sanctuary was where
The name of the Lord God Jehovah was, and it was also where
He spoke to the people of Israel.
Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days(Jn 2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would fulfill the task given to Him by the Father
For the sake of the name of the Father, Yeshua, because
He is the Son of God who was sent from heaven to do the Father’s will(Jn 6:38-40).
As such, His deeds and words were all according to what the Father had said, and
The Father gave Him the name of the Father,
The name of Yeshua, and the word of the Father by which
He kept safe all those given to Him
Except the one doomed to destruction to fulfill the scriptures(Jn 17:11-14).
As He died, Jesus said, “It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Laid down His life and fulfilled the will of the Father(Jn 12:50, Jn 19:30);
2. Condemned the devil who left his position as an archangel(Is 14:12-15; Jude 1:6); and
3. With His blood redeemed all souls of men so that they may do His work(Mt 20:28).
Thus, the Father raised Him and
Gave Him the name above all names, Yeshua, and
He ascended to the heavenly throne.
The Holy Spirit came to those who believe in His name(Jn 1:12), and
Lets them understand His words and do His work(Jn 14:26).
With the coming of the Spirit,
The disciples of Jesus became the salt of the earth(Mt 5:13), and
Like the salt, even after decades passed after He had ascended,
They remembered what He had said and what He had done and wrote them down, and
They all gave their lives to protect the souls given to them in the world.
The Christian is compelled by the Spirit
To complete the task of testifying the gospel of His grace(Ac 20:22-24)
For the sake of His name(3Jn 1:7), and
Puts every effort to keep, defend and teach the truth in his lifetime(Php 1:7-8) and
Lose none of the souls given to him in the world(Jn 17:11-14).
In so doing, he considers his life nothing for
He longs to be called up to the air when the Lord returns.
O Lord,
The 11 disciples You left behind!
Paul who was compelled by the Spirit!
Let us all never change the gospel, the truth
Even if we have to lose our life.
Let us be faithful to the work given to us no matter how small and
Lose none of those You have given us!
Amen.
Serving the Lord by Grace
(He 4:14-16; Rev 22:1-5)
God is the God of glory.
He is served by those of the greatest honor and
He lets those who consider it grace to be used by Him serve Him near,
For He is not served by humans’ hands as if He needed anything(Ac 17:25).
While the glory of a man is determined by the one who uses him,
Faith is longing to serve Jesus Christ near, and
The life of this faith is seeking to be used by Him
With one’s knowledge, appearance, talents, materials and all that he has.
Since Adam was deceived and sinned(Ge 2:17, Ge 3:4-6),
All men were demoted to serving the angel, who was made to serve God but
Attempted to ascend the throne and was, then cast down to Hades and
Contained until judgment(Is 14:12-15; Eze 28:12-17; 2Pe 2:19).
God delivered the Israelites who were enslaved by the pharaoh and
Made them a kingdom of priests(Ex 19:6).
He commanded them to build the sanctuary where the mercyseat was(Ex 25:22), and
Appointed Aaron and his sons as priests(Lev 28:1, Lev 28:41) so that
Only those who were circumcised and set apart as flawless could serve God(Lev 21:1-23).
Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days(Jn 2:19-20), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would tear down the priests of flesh and blood(He 7:16, He 10:9) and
Let souls who know His grace serve God.
As He died, Jesus said, “It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He:
1. Gave flawlessly Himself to the Father and served Him,
Becoming the eternal High Priest(He 7:27-28, He 8:3; He 9:14);
2. Judged the devil who left his position of serving(1Jn 3:8; Jude 1:6); and
3. With His blood redeemed all men, who are slaves of the devil, and
Raised up their status to serving Christ(Eph 1:7; He 9:14).
He rose and sat on the heavenly throne as the Lamb(Rev 22:3).
He is the eternal High Priest, who serves the Father by grace,
The King of kings who eternally receives the serving of His servants.
The Holy Spirit comes to
Those who through the blood of Jesus know His grace and
Lets them know what kind of grace it is that they can serve Him.
The men of the Spirit consider it the greatest honor
To become priests of Christ(1Co 2:12; 1Pe 2:5; Rev 20:6).
They serve the body of Christ the church and its members(2Co 8:4), considering it grace, for
They long to become royal priests for a thousand years on earth(Rev 20:6) and
Eternally serve the Lord near from the thrones in heaven(Rev 22:5).
O Lord,
Though they compete to recruit and use those with outstanding talents,
You have called to use
The uneducated. the ex-convict, the lame, the failed etc. – this is grace!
Both the right and the wrong I have done, even the pains and the tears I have
I want them all to be spent for You in this life!
Amen