Mon, 31 July, 2006: Today’s Bible readings.

Mark 13:24-31

²⁴ “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, ²⁵ and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. ²⁶ And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. ²⁷ And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

²⁸ “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. ²⁹ So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. ³⁰ Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. ³¹ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Today’s passage in Mark (and the parallel passages in Matthew and Luke) are an amazing validation that Jesus Christ is who He said He is, and that His death accomplished what He said it would. He prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem within the lifetime of people who heard the prophecy, and it did occur, just as He said.

What do we learn from this?

People get so caught up in the apocalyptic language of this prophecy (sun darkened, stars falling, etc.) that they miss what Jesus is saying. He tells His disciples that Jerusalem will be completely destroyed and the temple will be razed to the ground during the lifetime of that generation.

The Romans destroyed Jerusalem in A.D. 70 in the horrific war described by Josephus, fulfilling the word of Jesus.

Where is Christ in this passage?

Who could have predicted such a thing as this terrible destruction of Jerusalem? Only God. And if Jesus can bring God’s word in this area, He also brings God’s word when He tells us that salvation is found in trusting in Him.

Sun, 30 July, 2006: Today’s Bible readings.

Jeremiah 26:20-24

²⁰ There was another man who prophesied in the name of the LORD, Uriah the son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied against this city and against this land in words like those of Jeremiah. ²¹ And when King Jehoiakim, with all his warriors and all the officials, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death. But when Uriah heard of it, he was afraid and fled and escaped to Egypt. ²² Then King Jehoiakim sent to Egypt certain men, Elnathan the son of Achbor and others with him, ²³ and they took Uriah from Egypt and brought him to King Jehoiakim, who struck him down with the sword and dumped his dead body into the burial place of the common people.

²⁴ But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah so that he was not given over to the people to be put to death.

In chapter 26, Jeremiah contrasts what happened to him and what happened to his fellow prophet Uriah. In this short tale of two prophets, we see they both bring the same message of God’s coming judgment, but Uriah is killed and Jeremiah is not.

What do we learn from this?

It is possible to read into this story and come to the conclusion that the reason God allowed Uriah to die was because of Uriah’s fear and lack of faith. Rather than stay and continue to prophecy, he became afraid and fled Jerusalem. Perhaps because he abdicated his post, and trusted in his own ability to flee rather than trust in God’s providence, God allowed Uriah to be killed.

That is speculation. The scripture simply tells us the facts without giving any word of the cause. Uriah prophesied (and fled) and was killed. Jeremiah prophesied (and stayed) and was protected.

We saw this same idea earlier in Acts when James was killed but Peter was spared. God sometimes allows one to live and another to die. We don’t know why. We can’t accuse God of being unfair, because it His right to do things as He sees fit, and He will always do what brings Him glory and what does good for His people. We are not required to understand His will, only to submit to it and trust Him.

Where is Christ in this passage?

Uriah brought the word of God and died for it. Jeremiah was spared but according to Jewish history, Jeremiah was later killed by the Israelites in Egypt, due to their opposition to the word of God he continued to preach.

Although we don’t often know why God allows such things to happen, there are some exceptions. Jesus Christ was also killed for bringing the word of God to the people who rejected it. But in this case, God has made known the reason, and He calls for us to tell the world. Jesus Christ died according to God’s plan for the salvation of His own people, and we share this message with the world around us by proclaiming the gospel.

Sat, 29 July, 2006: Today’s Bible readings.

Acts 16:6-10

⁶ And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. ⁷ And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. ⁸ So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. ⁹ And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” ¹⁰ And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Paul desired to bring the gospel to people, both near and far. He greatly desired that others would be saved. Yet here we see God shutting doors to the gospel and opening doors to others.

What do we learn from this?

We don’t always understand what God is doing. But sometimes there are things that seem to us to be great opportunities for bringing the gospel to others, and they become nothing. Why? We don’t know. Everything seemed so wide open to our own understanding. But God closed the door, and there was no success.

But other things that seem so closed, by God’s grace, become great openings for the gospel.

God opens and closes doors, and it is up to us to go through them as He desires.

Where is Christ in this passage?

Christ is the message we bring to the people around us. We don’t know the doors He will open or close, but we should be ready to bring the gospel to anyone.

Fri, 28 July, 2006: Today’s Bible readings.

Judges 11:23-24

²³ So then the LORD, the God of Israel, dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel; and are you to take possession of them? ²⁴ Will you not possess what Chemosh your god gives you to possess? And all that the LORD our God has dispossessed before us, we will possess.

Jephthah faces the Ammonites, rehearsing the past to explain that Ammonites have no claim upon upon the Israelite land.

What do we learn from this?

It is God who gives the victory. There are others who believe in their gods. They seek victory through them. In our own day, many seek victory through their own abilities. They trust in themselves, in what they can do. They have made themselves their own god. And they will have to live with the victories they can gain through their god.

But as Christians, we will take that victory which God gives us.

Where is Christ in this passage?

When we come to our salvation, we must never, ever trust in ourselves. Our trust can only be in Jesus Christ. The only salvation we ever can have is as we trust in Jesus Christ alone. For the moment we trust in what we have done, we are trusting in our own god, who can never save.

Thu, 27 July, 2006: Today’s Bible readings.

Mark 9:1-8

¹ And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

² And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, ³ and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. ⁴ And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. ⁵ And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” ⁶ For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. ⁷ And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” ⁸ And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

Peter, James and John get to see the kingdom of God in the transfiguration.

What do we learn from this?

This is an amazing moment in redemptive history. Peter, James and John witness the transfiguration and see the unveiled power of God revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. They received a glimpse of the glory of the kingdom of God.

Where is Christ in this passage?

Peter never forgot this moment. When he writes 2 Peter, Peter recalls this incident and remembers the glory of Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:16-18

¹⁶ For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷ For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son,[a] with whom I am well pleased,” ¹⁸ we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.

Wed, 26 July, 2006: Today’s Bible readings.

Jeremiah 22:1-5

¹ Thus says the LORD: “Go down to the house of the king of Judah and speak there this word, ² and say, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, O King of Judah, who sits on the throne of David, you, and your servants, and your people who enter these gates. ³ Thus says the LORD: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place. ⁴ For if you will indeed obey this word, then there shall enter the gates of this house kings who sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their servants and their people. ⁵ But if you will not obey these words, I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.

The king of Israel is told that if he leads the nation in obedience to God’ word, he and his people will prosper.

What do we learn from this?

The Lord makes a promise to the people: obey and you will prosper. Disobey and you will be punished. This is not something new; we’ve commented on other passages with the same theme.

Does this mean that the king and the people will be saved if they obey God’s commands? No. Not at all. God isn’t making promises of eternal salvation based upon their obedience. He is simply telling them that as a government and a people, when they hold to obedience to God’s word, their life will be better than if they disobey.

Actually, this isn’t much of a surprise. Think of a nation that lives in disobedience to the Ten Commandments. What a chaotic place that would be. Lying. Stealing. Murder. Sexual immorality and all the problems that come with that. What a mess.

Compare that to a nation that obeys the Ten Commandments. Obviously the obedient nation would be a much more tranquil, peaceful place, and would prosper more than disobedient nation.

Where is Christ in this passage?

God promises that as the king obeys, there will continue to be a king sitting on the throne. We know that the kings of Judah disobeyed, and were eventually sent into exile in Babylon. But there was to come a descendant of David who would perfectly obey, and would take up the throne of David to never step down: Jesus Christ.

Tue, 25 July, 2006: Today’s Bible readings.

Acts 12:1-11

¹ About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. ² He killed James the brother of John with the sword, ³ and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. ⁴ And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. ⁵ So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

⁶ Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. ⁷ And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. ⁸ And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” ⁹ And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰ When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. ¹¹ When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

In this chapter, Herod gets in on the persecution of the church, and in one short sentence, we here the death of James. Herod easily accomplishes his goal of killing one of the apostles, and finding how popular this was with the Jewish leaders, he procedes to set about killing Peter also. But God does not allow this, and He affects the rescue of Peter. So James dies, but Peter lives.

What do we learn from this?

We are not told why God chose to let James die, but He rescued Peter. It is not because He lacked the ability to rescue James. But for some reason, James death at this time furthered God’s glory and His plan, but Peter’s death did not. We don’t get an answer. We aren’t told a reason. We just see the end result of God’s providence: James dies and Peter lives.

We often are left wondering why God allows these things to happen. One godly person dies young while another lives a full life. A wicked person seems to prosper while a righteous person suffers. Why do these things happen? We are not given a reason other than God in His righteousness and infinite wisdom has chosen to allow things to be so.

We have many questions about God and His plans. But we often don’t get any answers, other than to trust in His providence. He is a loving Father, and He will not bring anything into our lives beyond what gives Him glory and what is ultimately good for His people.

Where is Christ in this passage?

We know that God works all things for His glory and for the good of His people. Sometimes it is difficult for us to understand the good in the situation. How was it good for James to die by Herod’s sword? I don’t know. Yet Paul tells us that even in death, we can not be separated from Jesus Christ our Lord. This was true for James, as his death didn’t separate Him, but rather more closely united him with the Lord Jesus Christ, and we know it is true for us as well.

Mon, 24 July, 2006: Today’s Bible readings.

Judges 7:1-8

¹ Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early and encamped beside the spring of Harod. And the camp of Midian was north of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.

² The LORD said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ ³ Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.’” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained.

⁴ And the LORD said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ shall not go.” ⁵ So he brought the people down to the water. And the LORD said to Gideon, “Every one who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, every one who kneels down to drink.” ⁶ And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was 300 men, but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water. ⁷ And the LORD said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.” ⁸ So the people took provisions in their hands, and their trumpets. And he sent all the rest of Israel every man to his tent, but retained the 300 men. And the camp of Midian was below him in the valley.

Compared to the enemy he was about to face, Gideon’s 32,000 soldiers seemed quite small. But God has him reduce the numbers by a factor of 100. Eventually, Gideon goes to battle with only 300 men, and wins the victory.

What do we learn from this?

We know that nothing can keep God from accomplishing what He desires. He can win the victory regardless of the size of the opposing force. He could have caused Gideon to win the battle with the 32,000 troops, or with the 10,000. But He finally wins the battle with the 300.

We learn something vital from this. When the odds are somewhat balanced, we take the credit for the victories we achieve. We think the successes we’ve had are due to our own abilities and strengths. We often don’t remember to thank and praise God for these victories but instead claim the glory ourselves.

But if the situation is something so clearly outside of our abilities, we realize the victory can be nothing other than God’s work. When we find success where all rational thought reveals that we should have found nothing but failure, we have to credit God with the victory. And when we realize the victory can not have come from our own abilities but must have come from God, we offer Him the praise and thanks that should.

Where is Christ in this passage?

We should not be surprised by the victories God wins for us. When God is for us, who can be against us?

Consider the greatest victory God has won on behalf of His people. The Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to win the victory for us over sin in the improbably way of dying on a cross. He singlehandedly won the battle disarming Satan and all his hosts by hanging on a tree.

What credit can we claim for this salvation purchased for us by Jesus Christ? None. What should we offer in response? All our praise and thanksgiving.

Sun, 23 July, 2006: Today’s Bible readings.

Jeremiah 19:14-15

¹⁴ Then Jeremiah came from Topheth, where the LORD had sent him to prophesy, and he stood in the court of the LORD’s house and said to all the people: ¹⁵ “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, behold, I am bringing upon this city and upon all its towns all the disaster that I have pronounced against it, because they have stiffened their neck, refusing to hear my words.”

In this chapter of Jeremiah, he once again lays out the dire consequences of Israel’s continuing disobedience.

What do we learn from this?

Jeremiah, and the other prophets, clearly presented God’s words to the people. They told the people what God required of the them, how they were failing to do what God required, and what the consequences of their disobedience would be. They also called the people to repent of their actions, turn to God, and seek His mercy.

But there is a limit to God’s patience in sending His word to call the people to repentance. At some point, if they continue in their rebellion, refusing to hear God’s words to them, He will bring about the woes He has promised.

Today, we don’t have God sending men with His message to us. We don’t have prophets like Jeremiah informing us of God’s special revelation to us, speaking what God has directly revealed to them. But we do have the God’s word to us recorded by Jeremiah and the other prophets and apostles, recorded in scripture. We have God’s word expounded to us every Sunday, when the pastor reads the word of God from scripture and explains it.

In this way, we have God’s word, explaining what we are to do, pointing out where we are disobeying God’s command, and calling us to repent of our sin and seek God’s mercy. We have been richly blessed with God’s word. But we had better listen to it and respond to it. There is a limit to God’s patience with us. He has provided His word. We listen to it and obey.

Where is Christ in this passage?

There are temporal consequences for us if we refuse to listen to God’s word. As we see from this chapter of Jeremiah, those consequences can be extremely dire. But dire as they are, the temporal consequences pale when compared to the eternal consequences of refusing to listen to God’s word.

As we see in scripture, all are guilty before God of having sinned against Him. Since the penalty for sin is eternity in hell, all stand before Him condemned to eternal punishment.

However, God, in His great love, has sent Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, to come as a man. Jesus Christ lived the perfect life, completely obeying all of God’s commands. As our representative, He has fulfilled the law. He also died on the cross, bearing the full weight of God’s punishment upon sin. In doing so, He became the substitute for sinners, dying in their place.

Now, God calls all to repent and come to Him, trusting in the Substitute He has sent for salvation. If we believe and trust in Jesus Christ, we will be saved. That is what scripture teaches, from beginning to end. We are told what to do. Repent and believe in Jesus Christ. We are told the consequences if we do not do what God commands. Eternity in hell. And there is a limit to God’s patience with us. When we die, our eternity is sealed. If we die outside of faith in Jesus Christ, we will spend eternity in hell.

Sat, 22 July, 2006: Today’s Bible readings.

Acts 9:1-22

¹ But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. ³ Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴ And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” ⁵ And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. ⁶ But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” ⁷ The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. ⁸ Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. ⁹ And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

¹⁰ Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” ¹¹ And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, ¹² and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” ¹³ But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” ¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. ¹⁶ For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” ¹⁷ So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; ¹⁹ and taking food, he was strengthened.

For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. ²⁰ And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” ²¹ And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” ²² But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

Saul is a rising young star in the Jewish religious world, making a name for himself by persecuting the Christian church. But God stops Saul, right in the process of bringing the bringing the persecution to Damascus.

What do we learn from this?

It is God who saves us, not we ourselves. We are set in our rebellion against Him, and will never turn to Him unless He intervenes in our lives and changes our desires. Just as Saul continued in persecuting the church until God intervened.

Most of us don’t have the dramatic “Damascus Road” experience like Saul, yet God still had to intervene in our lives, or we would not turn to Him. We would remain in our sin and rebellion apart from God regenerating us so that we can come to Him in faith.

Where is Christ in this passage?

Who comes to Saul and changes His nature so that he turns to God? Jesus Christ. He is working in the life of His people, changing their nature and bringing them to faith.