Encouragement for Some

On By TimIn Church, Daily Walk, Eternal Security, Last Days, Love, Prophecy, Revelation 03, Seven Letters to Seven ChurchesLeave a comment

“To the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write:
“The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says these things: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spit you out of My mouth. For you say, ‘I am rich, and have stored up goods, and have need of nothing,’ yet do not realize that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may be rich, and white garments, that you may be dressed, that the shame of your nakedness may not appear, and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
“Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be zealous and repent. Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.
“To him who overcomes will I grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Revelation 3:14–22 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Please do reread this portion of Scripture when finished reading the entire post.

This is for each of us. Any of us may be of those who are in a church that, for all intents and purposes, appears as the Laodicean one. Our first reaction may be to flee. For some, that may be the best way to handle the situation. But is that what Jesus instructs?

Please pay attention to the admonitions that Jesus gives. The first is to the church itself. He urges the church to repent.

Immediately after, He speaks directly to the individuals in the church. It becomes personal. He encourages us to open the door to Him as His voice is heard. Though Jesus may indeed be standing outside the door of this church and those like it, His entreaty is to anyone who hears. That’s you and I!

For those that hear and respond… The promise to that person is a sweet fellowship with Him. This would be even in the midst of trying circumstances where a believer ‘churches.’

Jesus doesn’t tell us to flee such a situation. Perhaps we are called to stick it out. To be that one person who helps others to hear Jesus’ voice. If enough do, it would change things dramatically.

Listen, the local body of believers may have problems… But the promises are to the individuals in those bodies. It’s you He came to save. It’s you He wants to serve. The promises are to him who overcomes.

Hear what Jesus says to the churches. Listen for His voice and let Him in. Be one who overcomes!

He Shall Send Them

On By TimIn Jesus, Prophecy, The Cross, Triumphal Entry, Zechariah 09Leave a comment

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! And cry aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king is coming to you; he is righteous and able to deliver, he is humble and riding on a donkey, a colt, the offspring of a donkey.

Zechariah 9:9 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

I know. This is more of an appropriate post for springtime. It works for this season simply for the fact that we ought to know Who it is and Whose birth we celebrate.

This is a familiar prophecy to a lot of us. I’m reading in Matthew of the Messiah’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem just before He was crucified.

When they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, on the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go over into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to Me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them.’ And he will send them immediately.”
All this was done to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying: “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Look, your King is coming to you, humble, and sitting on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

Matthew 21:1–5 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

I couldn’t help but to notice, “he will send them immediately.”

Them… That word. There was more than one animal that was sent. It says a donkey and a colt.

When I read Scripture, I like to pay attention to the precision of the text. Oftentimes, it has caused me to rethink what I thought I knew Scripture teaches. What is God trying to convey here?

I am going to say something about the translations. I use the MEV for reading. It is sufficient for that task. I will use others to grasp the nuances in meaning or to be aware of the biases of the translators.

When comparing the translation of Matthew’s quotation of the Zechariah passage with how the translators actually rendered Zechariah 9:9… There are some differences. Notably, the Zechariah passage could be vaguely referring to one or two animals in the MEV. As rendered, it isn’t clear. In other translations, we see the conjunction. The donkey would be joined with the colt. What is literally written in Zechariah is this: “and riding on an ass, and on a colt — a son of she-asses.” The literal rendering says Jesus is riding on two donkeys.

Think about that.

No earthly king would present himself on a donkey if the more majestic horse was available. Jesus riding on a donkey would immediately bring to mind lowliness and humility. It would be without comeliness; that is, it wouldn’t be attractive.

I know the picture we have conjured in our mind’s eye of this event. Consider this: Jesus did ride into Jerusalem. He did it on a date precisely foretold almost 500 years earlier by a prophecy shown to and recorded by Daniel. Jesus expected the Israelis then to know of their visitation.

The disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their garments on them, and He sat on them.

Matthew 21:6–7 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

He sat on them.

This is as precise a picture of the presentation of the Messiah as Daniel’s dating. The King would be riding on an ass and a colt of she-asses. This was foretold by Zechariah. We see it fulfilled precisely in Matthew.

The presentation of the lowly Servant-King riding on the back of a wobbly donkey barely able to support Him. A colt who needed help from his own mother.

Now… How many kings are presented on two donkeys like that?

Stumbling Stones: Not Speaking Truthfully

On By TimIn Daily Walk, Last Days, Matthew 18Leave a comment

But whoever misleads one of these little ones who believe in Me, it would be better for him to have a millstone hung about his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of temptations! For it must be that temptations come, but woe to that man by whom the temptation comes!

Matthew 18:6–7 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It goes without saying that Jesus is being firm. He is conveying the seriousness with which we as believers must comport ourselves.

It seems to be for our own good, yet Jesus explains the greater concept. It’s for the good of the “little ones,” that is, our younger siblings in Christ.

We ought to act circumspectly, minding closely how we affect others not only by our actions but also by what we say about our faith. Not just ‘others’ outside the circle of faith, but to the younger in the faith.

In recent days, there is a bit of controversy over remarks made by a popular contemporary vocal artist who has made public appearances. It’s a great thing, though the name of Jesus is being proclaimed in novel ways. (Novel to today’s culture.) The publicity eventually strayed into one issue of contention. Whether fairly or not, she was blindsided by a direct question.

As mature believers, the citation of Jesus above may clearly show how what Jesus is saying applies to this controversy. For those who need a bit of help, let me say the struggle is real. There are some Christians who struggle with sexual sin. For those who struggle with exactly the essence of this controversy, the wishy-washiness of the response may be taken as permission or endorsement. This can lead to dire consequences.

When we are asked matter-of-fact questions by those who hold sway over the culture, we ought not to be caught unawares. Let us all have proper answers from studying and understanding issues. Let us ask our Lord for appropriate answers that are truthful. Because if you speak the truth, it is the only way to love the culture.

Christianity is offensive. It begins with the truth that none of us measure up to the standard God gives. In fact, the moment we can understand that, we realize we’ve already fatally failed. God stepped in. He sent His Son to stand in that gap, reconciling the world to Himself. Those who trust in Him have been redeemed of the mortal debt owed. Our job transitions to an ambassador of reconciliation.

Just as Jesus died for you, He also died for those whose struggle is not like yours. Let’s love them by being truthful. Soft-pedaling sin is really an endorsement of it.

The cultural divide will only continue to grow exponentially. We have the Book that tells us this. We can try to go along to get along; what does that win us?

Let us urge others to be reconciled to God, and let Him clean them up. I know He is still trying to clean me up. I have His promises to see that through.

Testimony: Be Intentional

On By TimIn 1 Corinthians 13, LoveLeave a comment

It’s an odd feeling when your whole life you’ve relished “alone time.”

But then God steps in and starts changing things. Now “alone time” becomes an opportunity for loneliness. Not in a bad way, just oddness that is hard to explain in other words… That I really do miss being around other people.

In the world of introvert/extrovert… I found myself at once relishing introversion. Oftentimes that memory seems distant now. Something happened.

I’m not a people person, really. But somewhere in that, I know that idea is now fluid, too. Because I want to be around others intentionally. I even want to be purposeful toward them.

Like… What is THAT?

I can recall asking God to let me see people like He does. I asked to love them like He does. I deeply understood the flippancy in uttering these words to God. I even asked Him to not let that request be lip service. The memory is that vivid.

John teaches us in his second epistle that we ought to love each other. He says this is a command of God. I would tell you, a command given by God to us is both intentional and purposeful. It is He demonstrating that same intention and purpose toward us.

Additionally, we know that love is purposeful and intentional. (It would make sense because God is love.) Love isn’t something that just happens to us. It’s not something we fall into. It is not something that just goes away. Love is so much more than just an emotional feeling or ethereal concept. Love is action. Love is an act of will.

Love suffers long and is kind; love envies not; love flaunts not itself and is not puffed up, does not behave itself improperly, seeks not its own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The words that follow are “Love never fails.” God’s love toward us is all of those things. He never fails us.

We ought to have that same love toward others, even if they fail us. The love we have for them is not about us.

If what we had toward them fails, is it really love?

If John says that we ought to love each other (2 John 5,) then wouldn’t it follow that this is the character of a mature believer?

If that is the character of a mature believer, then intentionality and purposefulness are also the character traits of a mature believer. It then follows that a mature believer is going to be to some extent… Extroverted. So being alone now is different for me. It’s energy-depleting. (I did italicize that. Some will know why.)

You cannot out-give God. Ask Him to do things; He’ll do more than you can comprehend. Be intentional. Find someone new and introduce yourself. Be purposeful, learn their name, and learn something about them.

I am still learning. And I fail often. But…

To live for Jesus is the greatest adventure!

Some Old Testament Evidence for a Multi-person Godhead

On By TimIn Triune God, Zechariah 02Leave a comment

Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for I am coming and will dwell in your midst, says the Lord. And many nations will join themselves with the Lord in that day, and they will be My people. And I will reside in your midst, and you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent Me to you.

Zechariah 2:10–11 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Consider this passage from Zechariah. When reading it, pay close attention to Who is speaking and Who they are talking about. The Person speaking promises to come and dwell in the midst of the Israelis. He calls Himself “the Lord.”

Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: The virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Emmanuel, that is literally God with us. He is the promised Anointed One. He is the One Who would dwell in the midst of the people. He is the one to Whom many nations.

Look closely… The One Who comes and dwells in the midst of the people is sent by “the Lord of Hosts.” We have at least two Persons here, One speaking, Who is sent, and One Who sends. It’s there for a reason.

The word translated into the English Lord in this selection is the Tetragrammaton. It is that Holy name of God. That’s kind of near, isn’t it?

There’s more. Go back and count how many times the word YHWH (Lord) is used. Two of them we know refer to One Person. Perhaps it is to acknowledge a double honor. The other is to the Lord of Hosts, the Father. Of course, the third Person is also present, but by inference. He does the drawing. (It is my conjecture.)

It is Jesus Who is sent by God, and the Holy Spirit draws people to Him.

Atheism is a Temporary Condition

On By TimIn Apologetics, Revelation 06Leave a comment

When Jesus returns to this Earth, atheism will be proven to be a temporary condition.

Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the rich men and the commanding officers and the strong and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains. They said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of His wrath has come. Who is able to withstand it?”

Revelation 6:15–17 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

However, given the hardness of the heart… That temporary condition has eternal consequences. Even knowing that return of Jesus, before He is even seen, they run and hide. Great plagues follow. There is a holocaust brought upon the earth by men. And what happens to all of those “believers” who hid underground and survived these?

The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not cease to worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which cannot see nor hear nor walk. Nor did they repent of their murders or their magical arts or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Revelation 9:20–21 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

He Knows Those Who Take Refuge in Him

On By TimIn Daily Walk, Nahum 01, SalvationLeave a comment

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; and He knows those who take refuge in Him. As a flood running forth, He will bring to an end the distress, and He will pursue His adversaries into darkness.

Nahum 1:7–8 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

He knows those who take refuge in Him. If you’re worried that He might not know you, it is an easy thing to change. Take refuge in God right now. You can talk to Him. He’ll listen.

But… If you don’t take refuge in Him, then He doesn’t know you.

But then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who practice evil.’

Matthew 7:23 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It’s really interesting that the practiced evil being done and counted here is rejecting Jesus!

If you’ve ever taken refuge in God, He couldn’t know you. Do note the words Jesus uses. They are a comfort for those who love Him and a terror to those who offer lip service.

You can change your relationship with God. In fact, only you can do that.

The Second Chance

On By TimIn Jonah 3, Second ChanceLeave a comment

The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, “Get up, go to Nineveh, the great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.”

Jonah 3:1–2 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Our friend Jonah, after reckoning himself as good as dead, ran away from God’s call. He chose to go his own way. The end of that caused Jonah to submit himself to death.

But then God intervened. Jonah was given a reprieve. God again called on him. How did Jonah respond this time?

So Jonah got up and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three-day journey across. Jonah began to enter the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, “In forty days’ time, Nineveh will be overthrown!” So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast. And everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.

Jonah 3:3–5— Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Jonah got up and went. The words even seem to indicate a purposeful sense of haste. Perhaps it’s my imagination.

Even though the task seemed insurmountable, even futile before, the size of the task hadn’t changed. Jonah’s faith did.

But then God had gone before him. People received Jonah’s stark warning. They changed, repenting from and mourning their sin.

Think of those around you every day. I am certain you know someone hell-bent. How is it people are going to know that the path they’re on leads to certain destruction if someone doesn’t warn them?

Better yet, how are they to know that Salvation is of the Lord if that truth isn’t shared?

We, as servants of God, aren’t responsible for how those who hear respond. We are responsible for sharing the truth timely and accurately.

Jonah got a second chance to honor the call God gave him.

Do you have a call from God and need a mulligan?

Why not take the time to ask Him now?

Jonah did. Look what happened. Many folks were saved!

Forsaking your True Loyalty

On By TimIn Jonah 2Leave a comment

Those who follow vain idols forsake their true loyalty.

Jonah 2:8 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

That’s a no-brainer.

There is only One Giver of life. If you are alive, it is because of Him… God. That is, the Most High God.

Fame and fortune cannot give life. Buddha cannot give life. Neither can Allah, Krishna, or Vishnu.

The One Who gives you life is due to your true loyalty. To give that to another is to forsake Him.

Run Away

On By TimIn Faithfulness, Jonah 1Leave a comment

But Jonah got up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found there a ship going to Tarshish. He paid its fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

Jonah 1:3 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

God had called Jonah to go to Nineveh, the great city. He was to warn them of their wickedness and impending judgment. The wickedness of the Assyrians was renowned; they were a formidable people. I am almost certain that Jonah considered this service to God a sentence to his own demise.

Jonah instead chose to flee in the exact opposite direction from Nineveh. As he writes it, to escape from the presence of the Lord.

Great calamity fell upon the boat Jonah booked passage upon. He tried to rest, but the sailors awoke him to help and to seek favor from his God. If they only knew the grace of God, and there was a man present who could tell them of it.

Jonah admitted his heritage to the sailors, and the real reason he was in their company. He implored them to throw him overboard… After their situation became dire, they eventually did.

Before they did, they pleaded for grace from Jonah’s God.

Then they cried to the Lord and said, “Please, Lord, do not let us perish for this man’s life, and do not make us guilty for innocent blood, for You, Lord, have done as it pleased You.”

Jonah 1:14 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Jonah was tossed into the sea. The sailors sought reconciliation to God. The waves calmed for the sailors. And the ship continued to Tarshish without Jonah.

In the meantime, Jonah was swallowed by a fish sent by God.

Run!

In Jonah’s mind… Going to Nineveh would be a fatal danger for him. Who could really escape the presence of God?

The fatalism we encounter is stark. It weaves its way through the entire book. That is probably why he resigned himself to the watery grave. He was better off dead. (He attests to this later.)

Jonah is often called the reluctant prophet. In my opinion, he ought to be called the fatalistic prophet. Still, Jonah knew of the grace of God and sought it.

“When my life was ebbing away,
I remembered the Lord;
and my prayer came to You,
into Your holy temple.

“Those who follow vain idols
forsake their true loyalty.
But I will sacrifice to You
with the voice of thanksgiving;
I will pay what I have vowed.
Salvation is of the Lord!”

Jonah 2:7–9— Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Jonah learned a valuable lesson. One that is for us. We can trust God, even when He calls us to do something daunting. Something that makes us so fearful we run the other way, and may even reckon ourselves as good as dead if we follow God.

What’s wrong with that?

Perhaps… a lot if done the wrong way.

Jonah instructs us that we ought not to live for ourselves, but for God. Seeking to relieve himself of selfishly perceived calamity, he brought himself right into it! He didn’t believe God. I mean, he didn’t trust God. Believe, put your faith into action, and trust God. Trust that He has a plan.

Recognizing our lives as not our own is the very essence of Christianity. We have a reasonable service to worship… Doing what God asks us to do. We are not our own.

I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service of worship.

Romans 12:1 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Jonah learned the hard way. If God has a call on us, He means it. Jonah’s exploits are recorded for us — they’re a quick read. Jonah couldn’t check out of this life without God’s permission. He was preserved by God explicitly for that mission of service assigned to him by God.

Instead… Jonah ran. He even tried to end his life on his own terms. God still had a purpose for him and sent a fish to intervene.

What are you afraid of that keeps you from serving God… Fear of dying?

Come on! Stop it. Stop thinking of yourself. Set your mind on serving God and others; it’s reasonable service.