Category: salvation

Building an All-Star Team

Old Testament: Hosea 12-14

Poetry: Psalm 126

New Testament: Matthew 12

Suppose you were given the task of building a team that was responsible for learning some teachings and convincing everyone else in the world that those teachings were true.  What kind of people would you pick for this team?  I would go with an all-star team of doctors, lawyers, scholars, politicians, successful business people, and someone famous.  Jesus had this same task, but he built an all-star team of fishermen, a tax collector, a zealot, probably some tradesmen, and more fishermen.  These were the occupations of the twelve disciples.  Think about how unremarkable this group was, and yet they were chosen to carry out probably the most important job in the history of mankind, to spread the gospel to the whole world.  They were ordinary people on an extraordinary mission.

And guess what…the mission is not over, especially considering there are about seven billion people alive today that were not living a couple thousand years ago.  I’m pretty sure all of the disciples died so they are not able to help with the work anymore.  God needs a team now to carry on the mission and I suspect he is still counting on ordinary people to join the team.  Yes, I am talking about you.  God wants you to help preach the gospel to all of the nations.

But what is the message?  In Matthew 10:12, Jesus said he wanted them to go out and preach about the kingdom.  He wanted to make sure that everyone knew about the coming kingdom.  Is everyone going to accept the message?  Absolutely not.  Jesus said if they don’t accept the message, shake off the dust of your feet and move on to the next place.  It might seem odd that Jesus was sending them to places where they would be rejected, but he still thought it was important that everyone should hear the message so they can make the choice themselves.  If someone doesn’t hear about the kingdom, they don’t have a chance to accept the kingdom message.

Is it going to be easy?  Nope.  Jesus said we are like sheep in the midst of wolves.  He told us that it won’t be easy, and in fact, it could be dangerous.  Moreover, if you choose to be on this team, the message is not always viewed favorably and your own family may hate you for it, even to the point of your own family having you killed.  Jesus said in Matthew 11:11 that no one was ever greater than John the Baptist, yet his life ended when they chopped off his head.  However, Jesus tells us the good news in Matthew 10:39, “He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for my sake shall find it.”

In Matthew 12:19, it talks about Jesus’ approach.  He won’t quarrel or cry out, and nobody in the streets will hear his voice.  I believe this is our model of how to spread the gospel message.  We are not looking for a fight.  We don’t have to get angry with people because they disagree with us.  We do not have to stand on street corners and scream at people that they are going to hell if they don’t repent.  We just need to speak the truth in love.  Explain to people what is going to happen in the future, especially what happens to them after they die.  Tell them about the kingdom and how to attain salvation.  If they are not interested in what you are saying, move on.  There is no need for a heated debate and there is no need to keep pestering them.  Just shake off the dust and move on.  You can feel good that you gave them a chance for eternal life.  The only time you should feel bad is when you had the opportunity to talk to someone and kept silent.  What if they would have embraced the gospel message, but nobody ever gave them that chance?  That would be a tragedy to let someone die eternally without ever trying to save them.

Fortunately, it is not our responsibility to make sure others attain salvation.  It is only our responsibility to make sure they hear the gospel message.  Don’t put any pressure on yourself for results.  It is only your job to make sure that people have a choice and they don’t have a choice unless someone tells them about the choice.  Matthew 12:50 says that whoever does the will of Jesus’ Father is a brother, sister, or mother of Jesus.  That is a family I hope you want to be a part of.

-Rick McClain

(originally posted April 30, 2017 for SeekGrowLove)

Reflection Questions

  1. Do you consider yourself a part of Jesus’ family – why or why not? What do you think Jesus would say?
  2. How do you do at telling others of the choice they have? What can you do this week to tell someone else – who, how, when?
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Holiness and Thanksgiving

Theme Week – Thanks: Romans 1

Old Testament: Ezekiel 41 & 42

Poetry: Psalm 109

Yesterday, we learned that giving thanks to God is a part of our duty as those saved by grace through faith in Jesus. Today in Romans we see what happens to our souls when we don’t give thanks to God. 

In the magnum opus that is Romans, Paul lays out the case that Jews and gentiles both are redeemed by grace through faith in Jesus, that we are all members of Israel made new and we all can be grafted into the people of God. But to get to that point, Paul has let us know there is some bad news ; people are unrighteous. To be clear, God is angry at sin and those things that oppose his good will upon the Earth. God’s desire for humanity has been “made clear” by his creative action and people are without excuse to worship him. (Rom. 1:18-20)

Then we get to the point : “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” (Rom. 1:21)

Read that again : Paul seems to be connecting what they did not do and what happened to them. When people who could know God do not honor him or give thanks to him, they THEREFORE become futile in thinking and have darkened hearts. Which could also mean that if we want to not become futile in our thinking, if we do not want our hearts to remain in the dark, we need to honor God as God and give thanks to him. 

Now, let’s be clear about Paul’s point : we are not going to give thanks to God enough to be saved. Romans presents a powerful case that we can’t save ourselves! “We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23) and “the wages of sin is death.” (Rom. 6:23) However, we also remember what God gave: “the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23) 

Rather than simply “being thankful”, today give thanks to God for Jesus Christ our Lord, through and in whom we have salvation : “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord… There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 7:25-8:1)

Application and Reflection

Paul gives us a number of different ideas of what to be thankful for today : 

  1. Paul gives thanks to God for the church in Rome. (Rom. 1:8) When was the last time you gave thanks to God for your local church? Your local youth group or youth pastor or pastor? Take a moment to give thanks to God for that today.
  2. Paul gives thanks to God for the salvation of others! (Rom. 6:17) Look around at your mom, dad, brothers, sisters, and other family. Think about those people around you who know the salvation of God found in Jesus. Thank God for those who know Jesus around you. If you have some people who need to know more about Jesus and God, how can you share the gospel message of salvation by grace through faith with them?
  3. Paul says that we should give thanks for our food (Rom. 14:6) Will you take the time before every bite of food today to remember that God has given you this food? Will you make sure that God is honored by your thanks today?

-Jake Ballard

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7 Bowls

Old Testament: Ezekiel 25 & 26

Poetry: Psalm 101

New Testament: Revelation 16

     I tend to think of the seals, trumpets, and bowls of God’s wrath as a sequence, but when I’m away from reading Revelation for a while I can lose track of how late in the book the bowls appear. Way back at the sixth seal we are told of God’s wrath, and that people would try to hide from it in caves and beneath rocks (6:15-17). Now, in chapter 16, that wrath comes. Its targets, as Paul stated, are not Christ’s followers (1 Thessalonians 5:9); they are people who served the Beast, killed God’s servants, and would not repent. Considering the nature of some of the bowls, it may be hard to imagine how anyone is protected from their impact – but during years of drought God made sure that Elijah ate and drank.

     Several bowls seem to build on earlier parts of Revelation. While the second and third trumpets affected just a fraction of the sea and rivers, they are fully affected by the pouring of the second and third bowls. With the fifth seal a vision came to John of those who died for the word of God, crying out for judgment (6:9‑10), the angel of the third bowl declares that such judgment is happening and is fully justified (16:6). Those with only blood to drink had poured out the blood of the righteous. The comment “they are worthy” is ambiguous, it may describe the martyrs as worthy of being avenged, or their killers as worthy of this punishment. Either interpretation may feel different than how “worthiness” was discussed in chapters 3-5. There worthy believers were dressed in white. There also a great search took place for one worthy to open the seals on God’s scroll, and the lamb was found. But God does not just watch over the righteous, He also does not leave the guilty unpunished (Exodus 34:7).

     Part of the effect of the fourth trumpet was to bring darkness in a third of each day. The fourth and fifth bowls of wrath initially scorched with the sun those who defy God, and then plunged them into darkness. In both cases the people chose to blaspheme God, rather than repent. (I bypassed the first bowl, and the sores it brought; those sores remind me of Job. I see these people as anti-Jobs, beyond trust or accepting help, who simply lash out.)

     The sixth bowl involves the river Euphrates drying up, as preparation for eastern armies to reach the site of Armageddon (in the north of Israel). That is as opposed to the sixth trumpet when an army tied to the Euphrates killed a third of the population (9:15). Also, evil spirits come from the dragon and the two beasts to gather the kings of the world to Armageddon. When the seven seals and seven trumpets were listed there was a lengthy pause after each of the sixth entries, and there is also a pause after the sixth bowl, but this one is fairly short, just a brief comment from Jesus about his coming like a thief.

     With the seventh bowl the fall of Babylon begins (see chapter 18). The worst earthquake in history occurs, and Jerusalem splits in three. Language about the islands and mountains moving (Revelation 16:20; 6:14) suggests there is overlap between the seventh bowl and the sixth seal. Overlap of language also seems to link the seventh bowl with the seventh trumpet (16:18, 21; 11:19). Even if we can tie the timing together for those two moments we can’t say much about the overall chronology of the seals and trumpets. Some of those events are stated to take months or years, and God may just want us to know about all of them but not to understand interconnections.

     The famous four horsemen from the first four seals collectively tie to the devastation of humanity. Whatever it is the “victors” of such conflict may think they have gained, they do not possess the wisdom to avoid fighting the army of Christ. The battle of Armageddon will be massive and destructive, but it will at least be decisive, and it launches a time of peace and restoration on earth.

     Also mentioned with the seventh bowl is hail the weight of a talent (v. 21), which may mean it is a hundred pounds. The heaviest recorded hailstone so far is 2.25 pounds. A bit lighter case, 1.9375 pounds and the size of a softball, left a ten-inch pit where it struck. Why will God use such large hailstones? If the goal is to impress, why not just have a lot of hail? But that has been done. The hail accumulation record is from 1959, when a 54-square-mile section of Kansas received a 19-inch covering of hailstones. I find that much hail difficult to envision already. Amassing a hundred pounds of ice layer by layer in the clouds may only be feasible with a miracle of air pressure. Penny-sized hail requires 40-mile-per-hour updrafts. Grapefruit-sized hail requires 98-mile-per-hour updrafts. Tornadoes do achieve winds over 300-miles-per-hour, but anyway I think you see the issue. Just referring to the weight of the hail may lead us to underplay in our minds the significance of the storm itself.

     But still, why 100-pound hailstones? Perhaps because God will be dealing with people who would seek to hide from judgment beneath rocks, and in caves. And at least some portion of those refusing to acknowledge their sins will be the world’s most powerful and haughty, those who were content with their actions and amassed huge wealth in service of the Beast and Babylon. Some of them might even be sealed in bunkers when the bowls of God’s wrath are tipped out. Perhaps they will check in on events through video, and then just turn off the screens. But God does not intend for anyone to remain comfortably oblivious to the truth, or even comparatively so, in whatever hideaways they find for themselves. A hundred pounds of ice will put a hole in quite a lot of concrete, steel, and pretension. And God has excellent aim (Joshua 10:11).

     Lord, let me not be complacent, comparing myself to those who will one day go far astray. Truly, without your grace, I would be quite different. But no one sets out to be deceived and destroyed. Please help me be observant of others’ needs, not inattentive. The world is a less distressing place than it will be, but even now there are issues I feel I can only bring to you in prayer. Let me pray, but also show me where I should act. Please help me to trust in you, and to keep my compassion and hope. You are a great God, and you continue to work powerfully. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

-Daniel Smead

Reflection Questions

  1. Revelation 16 describes the last plagues God enacts in this age, which finish His wrath (15:1). What do you think it shows us about how God views wickedness? How do you think it might have affected people over the centuries?
  2. Are you sometimes comforted by considering God’s promises to bring judgment on the wicked? Maybe, like you see a rainbow and remember God’s mercy, you can see hail and recognize that He won’t just let things go on forever.
  3. Revelation 6:16-17 refers to people who wished to hide from “the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come.” (Revelation 15 and 16 don’t refer to matters that way.) Do you find it jarring to think of Jesus expressing the wrath shown in the chapter?
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What Tomorrow Brings

Old Testament: Jeremiah 49-50
Poetry: Proverbs 27
New Testament: Revelation intro – found below


As I was leaving an elderly patient’s room, I told him I’d see him tomorrow. He replied, “God willing and the creek don’t rise!” I whipped back around, “What did you say?” I had never heard that saying before, but I immediately decided this line was going in my personal repertoire of phrases. It aligns very well with Proverbs 27:1 and James 4:13-15. We can make all sorts of plans, but we do not know exactly what God has planned for us tomorrow.


I don’t think anyone in Israel saw the events of October 7, 2023 coming. While there have been skirmishes between Israel and the Palestinians for decades, people were just going about their day. Some were shopping, eating out, or attending a music festival. No one was prepared for the Hamas ground and air attacks that took the lives of over 1,400 with 200 more kidnapped. My first thought when I heard this was – could this possibly be the wars and rumors of wars (Matthew 24-6) that could spark the end of this age? That thought led me to the book we are about to enter into: Revelation. I’m gonna be honest, the book of Revelation is scary. The first time I heard a sermon about Revelation, I cried all the way home. Parenting tip: don’t let 1st graders listen to a sermon about the end times, even if it’s their father preaching! But God, through Christ, did not give that Revelation to John to scare us, but rather to prepare us. Even as young as I was, my biggest fear about the end times was if my grandparents had heard about this! I don’t remember all she said to comfort me, but my mom assured me that they knew.


There have been other times when God has given his people warnings and instructions for preparations for His people. In Jeremiah 49-50, God instructs Jeremiah to let Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor, Elam and last but not least, Babylon know of their upcoming destruction. He also delivers hope for Israel and Judah to be restored as His holy nation. And all of those events happened.


Both in the past and the end-time prophecies, God has given us these messages so that we can be prepared, and part of that preparation includes letting those we meet know about what is to come. Tomorrow I plan on doing some laundry, dishes, and painting the stairwell and the bathroom, God willing and the creek don’t rise. But if God has something else planned for me, I pray I will be found prepared for what HE wants of me.

-Maria Knowlton

Revelation Introduction

The apostle John wrote the book of Revelation (along with the gospel of John, and 1, 2, and 3 John) to the 7 churches in Asia, while in exile on the Isle of Patmos, “because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus”.  Our word revelation is translated from the Greek word “apokalypsis”, which means ”revealing” or “unveiling”, but because of the contents of Revelation, the word apocalypse is often thought of as “catastrophe” generally, and “the end of the world” specifically.

Revelation shows the fight between God and his Son Jesus on the one hand, and Satan and his evil followers on the other hand, and shows God’s ultimate complete victory via Jesus over Satan, sin, and death.  Much of this is shown by a series of symbolic visions, with many allusions to Old Testament prophecies – making this probably the most complicated and most misunderstood book in the Bible.

Revelation includes successively more intense punishment on the world, starting with 7 seals, progressing to 7 trumpet judgments, and then moving to 7 bowls of God’s wrath.  (For those of you worrying, 1 Thes 5:9 reminds us that Christians will not endure God’s wrath, “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”)

Jesus is shown returning in glory in chapter 19, where he will make war against the beast, false prophet, and their armies. He destroys the armies with the sword that comes out of His mouth.  Chapter 20 then tells about the future 1000-year reign of Christ on the earth before the final great white throne judgment.  Chapters 21 and 22 then tell of the eternal Kingdom of God.

I’ll close with my favorite verse in the Bible, Rev 21:4, “He [God] will wipe away every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

-Steve Mattison

Reflection Questions

  1. What is the difference between being prepared for tomorrow and boasting about tomorrow? Where does God want us to be?
  2. What are your feelings about the book of Revelation? What are your feelings about the book of Jeremiah? Why do you think God gave each of these books to the original audiences – and also to you and I?
  3. What is the benefit to knowing a storm is coming? How does this relate to the book of Revelation? What is the benefit to knowing a storm won’t last forever? How does this also relate to the book of Revelation?
  4. What specifically will you do today to be better prepared for tomorrow and for God’s plans for the future? How will you help others be better prepared?
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The Implications of Living in God’s Love pt. 2 

Old Testament: Jeremiah 33 & 34

Poetry: Proverbs 20

New Testament: 1 John 3

“For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” 1 John 3:11 

Implication #2: we must love one another 

Children of God 

There is an expression you may have heard that goes something like “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”, which is usually used to mean that a son is quite like their father in one or many ways. Sometimes it is used to praise someone who has shown virtue, other times it is used to lament how vices are handed down like heirlooms no one wants. John, similarly, calls those who have virtue from living in the love of God, children of God.  

As we can see from 1 John 3:1 and will see again tomorrow in 4:19, God’s love initiates our ability to be His children. God loves us, calls us to become a part of His family, and leaves it to us to respond positively to this call or to reject it. When we accept this call, we are not immediately transformed into a full-fledged twin of Jesus (the perfect son of God). As John points out in 3:2 what we will look like once God’s love has completed its work in us is not known. We have only seen God through mediators. One day that will change, and we will be like Him–which is an exciting and terrifying notion.  

In the meantime 

While we don’t know what we will be like in the future, John tells us what the love of God means for how we live now. We are to love one another. At the very least this means we must love those who are within the body of Christ. Some would like us to stop there. At times it seems an insurmountable challenge. However, an argument could be made and perhaps should be made that the child of God should love everyone. This is the view I hold. To paraphrase Jesus: “even the wicked take care of their own” (Matthew 5:47). The follower of Christ, however, is to love everyone. After all, God causes the sun to shine on the good and the bad (Matthew 5:45) and Christ died to save those who needed saving—that is to say, EVERYONE.  

The question of how to love 

Once one becomes a Christian and understands the need to love, the necessary question of how to love will follow. John anticipates this question and gives the answer: love how Jesus taught to love (3:23). When we love the way Jesus taught (and how he himself loved), it will show that we are the children of God and will keep us abiding in God.  

The question of how we can possibly love like Jesus 

Knowing that we should love like Jesus will not mean that we will love like Jesus. In fact, simply trying to do so will only lead to the frustrating realization that we can’t. That is to say, the apprentice will never be able to outdo the master so long as they remain an apprentice. Maybe thinking about it this way isn’t helpful since it seems hard to believe we will ever reach the same level of righteousness as Jesus–at least not while the world is still unredeemed. Maybe this is why John mentions the bit about not knowing what we will be. However, John does hint at how we can love in the way Jesus did: by the spirit of God within us. Only when we have the spirit of God working through us can we love as Jesus loved. This is the only way we can love our neighbors, love our enemies, and love our brothers and sisters in Christ.  

There’s one more implication of living in God’s love I want to mention, but it will have to wait until tomorrow.  

-Joel Fletcher

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YHWH is Salvation

*Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 49-50

Poetry Reading: Psalm 83

New Testament Reading: Mark 14

In this week’s readings, I notice the parallel between the OT and NT readings. While I will focus on the Isaiah passages, if you are finishing up Mark instead, you will certainly notice the connections.

The reason I personally chose to focus on Isaiah is because comparatively to Psalms and Mark, I am far less knowledgeable, and it is always a book I want to take the time to “study more.” In addition to that, I’m enjoying a Christian historical fiction book series loaned to me by some friends that is set in Jesus’s time, but told from a Jewish family’s perspective. They have all sorts of questions about the book of Isaiah and their awaited Messiah, and as I have enjoyed seeing those connections unfold in the book, I thought I just might enjoy a deeper look at Isaiah this week myself.

Isaiah grew up during an affluent and successful time overall during the reigns of King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam II of Israel. Economically and politically, things were going pretty well.  In addition to being born in a prosperous time, many commentators suggest that as son of Amoz, Isaiah had access to the royal family itself and was born into a cultivated upper class. Of course, riches and power don’t last forever, particularly when nations and individuals prioritize those things over following the LORD. In fact, his call to prophesy aligned historically with the increasing threat of Assyria toward Israel. Isaiah’s name means “YHWH is salvation” and the book shares the story of salvation and redemption that transcends challenging times of collapsing kingdoms and disobedient hearts.

In today’s reading of Isaiah 49-50, we come into this book of prophecy a little over halfway through, finding ourselves amidst one of four poems sometimes referred to as “servant songs” by commentators.   They are poems worth reading and are reflected in the New Testament when the Messiah comes on the scene.  I enjoyed how both 49:1 and 49:5 quickly reference the LORD’s calling and forming being from the womb. I think in America, amidst the chaotic noise on this subject, it is far to0 easy to gloss over its significance. Having had the opportunity to work with children who are born prematurely, seeing God’s creation itself at an age when a child should ideally still be “in the womb” combined with the overarching message of what is fortunately still the best selling book of all time (The Bible!), it isn’t poetic “fluff” when we see the emphasis on God’s prenatal calling on His intentional creation as part of His sovereign plan.

Chapter 49’s poem includes a servant ready to restore the nation to the LORD. And not just the tribes of Jacob mentioned in verse 6, but “that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” We see a God who doesn’t forsake His people even during dark days, and Chapter 49 concludes with glory given to the LORD through that relationship. “And humanity shall know that I, the LORD, am your savior, your redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” -(Isaiah 49:26)

In Chapter 50 we see prophecy of a servant who was not rebellious, who would not be ashamed, and who trusted and relied upon the LORD. We are challenged to do the same and to obey the LORD’s Messiah, walking in light.

Such great hope in the words “Behold the LORD God helps me. Who is he who condemns me?” -Isaiah 50:9

-Jennifer Hall

Reflection Questions:

1. How have your growing up years in the United States been similar or different to Isaiah’s growing up years in a prosperous Jerusalem? How might prosperity and power affect a nation’s spiritual health?

2. Have you ever felt forsaken by the LORD or outside of his reach of forgiveness? What do the messages of these poems say about redemption and salvation?

3. How might the LORD receive glory through the plan He has had for you since before you were in the womb?

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Portal

Old Testament: Nehemiah 9 & 10

Poetry: Psalm 23

*New Testament: John 3

“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:17 (NRSV)

What does it mean to be saved? We all know the correct Sunday school answer. Yes, Jesus died on our behalf so that we can be forgiven of our sins and receive eternal life. I believe this is true, and at the same time, I believe the concept of salvation has to go deeper and wider than that simple transactional formula.

There’s an important question that needs to be asked. Saved from what? We all have a concept of what being saved from something looks like. Stranded on an island, you are saved by the passing boat that just happened to see your fire. You’re trapped in a burning building, but a courageous firefighter is able to find you and carry you out just before the building collapses. These are the scenarios that play out in our imaginations, the books we read, and the movies we watch. 

Is being saved any different in the Bible? The Old Testament has a fairly developed idea of salvation, but the goal of the “afterlife” is really not in view. It hints at the concept of resurrection at times, but that belief didn’t fully develop until sometime in between the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, salvation is usually about deliverance from a real physical threat. A prime example of this is the Israelite exodus out of Egypt. They were being delivered out of slavery, oppression, and a very close call with death itself. The focus of salvation in the Old Testament is also much more about the collective than the individual. A large theme in the prophets is the restoration and healing of the people and nation, with deep connections to the covenant between God and his people.

The concept of salvation does evolve in the New Testament, but keeps its roots firmly planted in the soil of the Old Testament. Salvation in the New Testament finds its center in the person and ministry of Jesus. It becomes more inclusive by expanding out from the Jews to all nations and people groups. While collective salvation remains a reality, individual salvation is brought into the conversation more. There grows to be more emphasis on grace, eternal life, and the new covenant.

So far I haven’t answered the question of what we are being saved from. Consider John 3:36 (NRSV) – “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath.” On the surface, it sounds a bit like we need to be saved from an angry God who will hunt us down and deal out the punishment we deserve. That is the mental picture that comes to mind with the word “wrath,” but it doesn’t best reflect the character of God. What could instead be meant by the “wrath” of God?

There are consequences to sin. We know that ultimately, those consequences lead to death (Rom 6:23). It may be that God disciplines or punishes us for our sin in an active sense, and at the same time, some of the punishment and suffering we feel is due to natural consequences of what we have done. When we sin, we separate ourselves from God and cultivate a living “hell” in our life and in the lives of everyone around us. We are then living in a space that invites destruction and death. God doesn’t have to threaten to punish or destroy us, because left to our own devices, we may very well just destroy ourselves. I may be taking an interpretive risk here, but maybe “wrath” is primarily God allowing us to suffer the natural consequences of our own stupidity. 

What we need to be saved from is our state characterized by exile, separation from God, Sin, and Death. The meanings of those things overlap and tangle so much that we might as well be talking about the same thing. Instead of living in our own twisted upside-down realm, we are meant to experience abundant life under the rule of our merciful God. Jesus didn’t show up to condemn us, but to invite us back to where we really belong. He is the mediator who was able to restore our connection to the divine. He’s the portal back to the realm where we belong.

Salvation is still very much about us being delivered from a real threat. We are being delivered from our own hazardous wasteland into the Garden, and we are called to be cultivators of the grace, abundance, and life that grow there. Salvation has as much to do with the present time and place as it does with eternity.

-Jay Laurent

Reflection Questions:

1. What have you been saved from, or how have you experienced salvation?

2. What do you think it means when Jesus tells Nicodemus he must be “born from above”?

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Defining Jesus

Old Testament: 2 Kings 5 & 6

Poetry: Psalm 129

New Testament: Ephesians 1

In the first Chapter of Ephesians, Paul spells out the significance of Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the stipulation for the grace that we receive.  Without his propitiation, we are without a promise.  The role of Jesus in this plan isn’t singular, but multifaceted.  The intention of Ephesians 1 isn’t to spell out distinctive theology; however, to understand salvation you must understand the Messiah.  While this is not all-inclusive, here are some of the basics delivered to us in the beginning of this church’s letter:

1. Jesus is the Son of God. His Father is also His God. (1:3, 1:17)

In verse three and seventeen of this Chapter, Paul refers to the Heavenly Father as the God of Jesus.  Wait. What?! Much of Christianity treats Jesus and God as synonyms.  Paul makes this important distinction in this letter to show that the Father is who we petition and who gives. Jesus makes this clear repeatedly in the Gospels when he states that he does nothing by his own power and authority. (John 5:30; 8:28) However, through the faith and name of Jesus, we have an eternal subscription to God paid through the blood of the Son of God, but it is our Heavenly Father who pours out His Spirit to us and gives us wisdom and revelation to know GOD better; to walk in step with him, just as Christ did.(John 17:20-23)

2. Jesus is our Brother. (1:5, 1:11,12)

Paul makes it clear in Ephesians and Galatians that we are God’s adopted sons and daughters. The particular phrase in verse five, “adoption to sonship,” had a greater meaning in Roman context, and is similar to the legal adoption process we know today. This means that we receive all the rights and privileges, we are considered equal to a biological relative, and we now bear the surname of God.  The inference then becomes we are the adopted brothers and sisters of Jesus, who, referring back to point one, is the Son of God.  What then do we receive? The same inheritance as Christ: the Holy Spirit, resurrection, and the Kingdom of God.

3. Jesus is our Savior (1:7, 1:18,19)

.While this statement has been alluded to in the opening paragraph and the previous point, it is most important to note that Jesus is our Savior.  Our inheritance would be null and void if not for the redemption of sin, which is a treasure in itself, a bounty of God’s grace.  Jesus accomplished this through a life and death in accordance with God’s will.  No more sacrifice is required because he became the fragrant offering.  He is still saving us; his death is still washing away the stain of sin.  He did save us once (Hebrews 7:27) but through the grace of God, saves us again and again through grace and repentance.

4. Jesus is Head of the Church. (1:22,23)

It is God who has appointed and placed the body of believers under the head of Jesus.  Jesus is literally God’s right-hand man. It is Christ’s spirit, meaning his purpose and drive, that should be the same spirit of the Church.  Who better to lead us than the one who experienced life in the same way as us? (Hebrews 4:15) Paul took direction from Jesus face-to-face, but we take direction from His life in the scriptures.  In the same manner, let us proclaim the Kingdom of God and message of salvation in a similar fashion to Jesus; he has shown us how to live in this manner.  

-Aaron Winner

Reflection Questions

  1. What is significant about the relationship between God and Jesus? What jobs/positions does each hold? According to this passage, what is unique about each?
  2. What do Christians miss out on when they use Jesus and God as synonyms?
  3. What has Jesus done for you? Thank God for His Son Jesus and all he is to you.
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Death and Kingdom: Trivia

THEME WEEK: Death and Kingdom – Daniel 12
Old Testament: 1 Kings 21 & 22
Poetry: Psalm 126

Bible Trivia : The Apocalypse is an apocalypse; the genre of Revelation is not “prophecy” in the strictest sense, but a genre called “apocalypse”. 

There is a LOT of prophecy in Revelation. I think Revelation shows us a picture of the future of the cosmos and the end of this age. However, “apocalyptic literature” is a genre that details events, both of the current day and in the future, with a ton of metaphor and allegory. Apocalypse uses symbolism to teach people that God is acting in history. The authors of this genre also usually view this world pessimistically and declare that a new world is coming quickly. 

In fact, along with Revelation (which we will talk about tomorrow), the book of Daniel is also considered “Apocalyptic”, especially the visions, chapter 7 forward. At the very end of this book, we see a glimpse into the end. I won’t try and explain in a daily devotional the significance of the archangel Michael, the two men speaking at the River, or the specific length of days at the end. (And to be clear, if I had a large book to write to explain it, there is a lot of disagreement and debate about the full meaning of some parts of this book; all my thoughts are just another disciple adding their musing to what the church has said for centuries.)

But there are a few things I would like to point out about chapter 12 that I can say with much more confidence.

First, in verse 2, the author uses a common expression, “many”, to mean “everyone.” In the end, all will be raised. This one resurrection pictured is to be raised to life and raised to judgement. Everyone’s life will be opened up on display before the Messiah. In Hebrews 9:27-28, we read “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” After death comes judgment for all, but those who eagerly wait for Christ will be saved. Some will come up to life, those who have done good will come out to the resurrection of life. (John 5:29) Some will come out to everlasting shame and contempt, those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. (John 5:29, again) Those who do not receive life, who do not do the work of God by believing in the name of Jesus (John 6:29), will receive the opposite of life. Those of whom the Messiah is ashamed, whom God contempts, they will not receive the life of the Messiah, or be in the presence of the God who is the source of life. 

Second, those whose name are written in the book will be delivered. (12:1) To experience this, you must be numbered among the wise. After the coming of the Messiah, it is not being wise on our own, and certainly not being wise in our own eyes, but being wise by trusting in Him who is the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:24) Not only should we trust in the Jesus the Messiah, but we should “turn many to righteousness”. (Daniel 12:3) We turn many to righteousness when we preach the message of the Kingdom, when we “make disciples by going into the world, baptizing them, and teaching them all Jesus has commanded.” (Compare Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-16, Acts 1:8)

Third, and finally, you can be like Daniel. Daniel was told point blank by the angel “you will rest” (die) “and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.” (Daniel 12:13) My friend, if you place your trust in Jesus, if you believe that he died to bring you into relationship with God, that he reigns from heaven at the right hand of God over the church, and that he is coming to reward those who follow his will by the power of the spirit he gives, the words spoken to Daniel, “you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance”, are spoken to you. You WILL have eternal life, the promise of God, given by Christ (Romans 6:23), and confirmed by the Spirit. (Ephesians 1:14)

And that is anything but trivial.  

-Jake Ballard

Reflection Questions

  1. Does the order of events matter – in a story, criminal trial, math problem or God’s plan of salvation?
  2. Is the information given to Daniel (including the order of events) widely accepted and believed today? Why or why not? What is different from many ideas held today? What is not mentioned in Daniel 12? Why do you think it is not mentioned?
  3. Are you prepared for the return of Jesus the Messiah? Why or why not? Is there anything God wants you to do before you rest, rise and receive? If so what? And when, where, how will you do it?
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I Love the LORD Because…

Old Testament: Judges 19 & 20

Poetry: Psalm 116

New Testament: Luke 16

As was discussed in two previous days’ devotions, Psalm 116 is another of the Hallel (literally, “Praise”) Psalms that are particularly associated with joyous events for Jews. They are prominent in the liturgies of the primary seasonal festivals such as Passover, and Psalm 116 is additionally part of the “Egyptian Hallel” subset of Hallel psalms. Psalm 116 does not make specific reference to Egypt, Passover, or the Exodus of Israel, but it is very straightforward to adapt its structure into a prayer of praise for the salvation of the nation of Israel. By connecting the psalm to that event, it is easily transformed into a pedagogical device that teaches the listener to acknowledge God for His grace toward Israel.

The Psalm is most naturally structured into three parts, but let us draw out the first two verses as an introductory dialogue (ellipsis of psalm text in bold):

I love the LORD. Why? Because He hears my voice, my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me. How should I respond? …. I shall call upon Him as long as I live.

The psalmist has provided a simple justification for the reader, all of us, to reverence and petition God: Because He hears me; the implication is that God answers those petitions. And because He hears me I should not fail to call on Him again and again.

Beginning in verse three, the psalmist builds upon the introductory dialogue to stretch and flesh out what could be the reason for calling on God and a more specific supplication: Cords of death wrap around me; the terror of the grave has come upon me; I found distress and sorrow. It is easy to see how this text was associated with Passover and the exodus: these words could be those of enslaved Israel, looking for deliverance from Egypt. Now look at verse four: Then I called upon the name of the LORD… “Save my life!” Taken in association with the enslavement in Egypt, these are the collective words of Israel, longing for deliverance, longing for God to “Hear my voice and incline His ear to me” (v 1). Verse four ends the first part of the psalm. 

The second part of the psalm does not begin with a description of the salvation desired by the writer (later usage: the nation of Israel), but instead utilizes another introductory statement: Gracious is the LORD .. our God is compassionate … the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. (vv 5-7). Only in verses 8-11 is the desired salvation described. The psalmist acknowledges God for who He is before getting to specifics about what He has done. Cast as part of the Hallel, we have Israel 1) acknowledging God as LORD and 2) thanking God for salvation from Egypt. To see a record of a similar acknowledgment, take a look at Exodus 15, a poem or song of adoration sung by Moses and the Israelites after passing through the sea.

Finally, beginning in verse 12, the psalmist builds out eight verses to answer the question What shall I render to the Lord? It is the question that must be asked after reflecting and acknowledging what He has done. And the answer, given in the text, is a catalog of options for worship and reverence toward God.

When the psalm is sectioned as outlined here, one can see how it was adapted for the celebration of Passover. It provides context (terrible circumstances, like Egypt) and a call for salvation, it identifies the LORD God as the agent of deliverance, and then provides options for adoration of God. Imagine sitting around a table, each member of a family saying or offering (perhaps competitively?) an option for active reverence: “I shall lift up the cup of salvation” (the mealtime allusion is especially apt in relation to Passover), “I shall pay my vows to the LORD” and “I’ll pay my vows in the presence of all His people.” The point is that the reverence, acknowledgment, and worship derive directly from the active role that God takes (took!) in deliverance from the circumstances of verse three.

Psalm 116 is a wonderful outline of one context for the why and what of thankfulness toward God: I may be in terrible circumstances, but the God that is gracious and compassionate can and will rescue me. In response, I bow to Him in reverence and worship, declaring my thankfulness to Him in the presence of others.

-Dan Siderius

Postscript

The Psalms, as poetry, always carry some underlying structure, though perhaps lost in the translation from Hebrew to English. One of the features of many psalms that I appreciate is doublet structure, in the form of question-and-answer. For example, Psalm 116:1:

Question: I love the LORD

Answer: Because He hears my voice

These doublets can be used to impart rhythm to the reading of certain psalms. One way to take advantage of the inherent rhythm is to speak the psalms antiphonally, where one person reads the first part of the doublet and a second person reads the response. Another option is to incorporate movement, by walking through the first half of the doublet, pausing, and then resuming with the second half. It can greatly liven the Psalms!
If you are interested in reading the Psalms whose translation purposefully retained rhythmic and melodic elements, I encourage you to use the Coverdale Psalter (e.g., Psalm 116: https://psalter.liturgical-calendar.com/en-emodeng/Coverdale/116) or its newer revision, the New Coverdale Psalter (available for viewing online: https://bcp2019.anglicanchurch.net/index.php/downloads-pdf/).

Reflection Questions

  1. How would you finish the sentence/poem/song which begins, “I love the LORD because…”? Think on it, write it down, share it with the LORD. Who else could benefit from hearing your testimony of why you love the LORD?
  2. What are some options for how you can respond to the LORD? Write them down as well. Some responses, perhaps some we do most often, are not very good responses – if your list includes any poor responses you can cross them out now. Put a star next to a response you will work on today.
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