The Fisherman's Line

Friday, April 7, 2023

3 Circles (Gospel Presentation, Ray Vaughn)

Thursday, April 6, 2023

6 APR 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.” 1 Cor. 11:26

The early disciples set forth marks of a healthy church that should be practiced regularly. If we see these marks happening, we can tell whether it is healthy or not. The metrics they measured were not the number of people on a Sunday, the amount of money in the offering plate, or if they had a building. One of these marks was the practice of the Lord’s Supper, Communion, Eucharist, or Mass. All of these terms describe the same idea.

Jesus implemented this sacrament the night before he was crucified and commanded that it continue to be practiced until he returns at the second coming. The Lord’s supper causes us to remember what it took to give us forgiveness of sins, our adoption, eternal life, and peace with God. Remembrance leads us to worship God with praise and thanksgiving for what he did for his people. Understanding the high cost brings humility.

The Lord’s Supper is an expression and visible sign of God’s love for us and the love we are to have for God and others. Paul shows the church that he started in Corinth the pattern of doing this. Every church practices the Lord’s Supper to some extent, but not all in the exact same manner or frequency. They do bring the focus of Jesus’ death into focus so the church can remember this great sacrifice made on our behalf.

Are you taking the time to remember Jesus’ death with other believers?

Reading Plan: Psalm 116:1, 10-17; Ex. 12:1-4,11-14; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; John 13:1-7, 31-35

Wednesday, April 5, 2023

5 APR 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people, then you won’t become weary and give up.” Hebrews 12:2b-3

As we move through each day of Holy Week, we are exposed to the plan and the pain of Christ that brings us salvation. We often complain about the common pains and suffering that come to mankind and kick against God. We wonder why God would allow my loved one to suffer or die before we are ready for them to go.

People get upset with those that share the gospel and say, ‘God has a wonderful plan for your life’. Rightly so, since God never promises health, wealth, and prosperity in this life. Pain and suffering have their purpose in this life and Jesus promises you will have it if you follow him. It was in God’s plan from the world’s foundation to send Jesus to suffer and die so that some of the people would receive salvation.

Jesus told the disciples over and over again throughout his ministry that soon he would head to the cross and be executed. His death would satisfy the penalty of our sins and give us “the” way to life. Whoever God sends to the Son will have life and be raised on the last day. Our suffering and death will be used to bring God glory, to develop us, and to change others around us. When we do suffer, look at what Jesus went through for us. The writer of Hebrews says that this will help us to endure.

Do you know there is a purpose in suffering and death?

Reading Plan: Psalm 70; Isa. 50:4-9a; Heb. 12:1-3; John 13:21-32

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

22 MAR 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“However, those the Father has given me will come to me and I will never reject them. For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day.” John 6:37-40

Whenever you are in doubt of your salvation, you can look to a variety of verses that tell you that you are secure in Christ. I point to the word because knowing your status with God is not based on a feeling or an experience. It is the truth of what God himself says since salvation totally belongs to him. We can go through life and feel like we are far from God, but in reality we are close.

We could also feel like we are right with God because we have had some experience, said a prayer, and then not be a child of God at all. God has given Jesus people, marked to be his own forever. Those that come, come because they are drawn to Jesus. This hunger and thirst, as it is described, are spiritual pangs birthed by the Holy Spirit. (Born Again) Those that have these pangs will be satisfied and will find Jesus. Hearing the gospel is the means, like being plugged into the power grid for this person.

Jesus says that he will not unplug you or reject you. No one will take you from the palm of his hand or the Father’s hand. You are eternally secure when God seeks you, regenerates you, gives you faith, sends gospel sharers, and connects you to himself by the power of the Holy Spirit. Who can break that bond? No one. You can’t unhook yourself either!

Are you being drawn to Jesus or found satisfaction in knowing him?

Reading Plan: Psalm 101, 109:1-4, 20-30; Jer. 18:1-11; Rom. 8:1-11; John 6:27-40

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

21 MAR 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.” Romans 7:18-19

In the early days of Jesus’ ministry, he made a salty statement about human nature. “Jesus didn’t trust people because he knew all about mankind. No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart.” (Jn 2:24-25) As followers of Christ, we need to be taught the true reality of human nature and the natural disposition of the heart.

Ask a person at work, are people naturally good or bad/evil? I bet the response you get is good. We like to think that we are good people, but Jesus even said there is no one good but God. The good we try to do is like menstrual rags to him. (Isa. 64:6) We gloss over the evil we do and call it bad or mistakes, but the truth is, we are evil at heart.

Paul takes time to explain our nature to the church in Rome and describes our condition as being slaves to sin. We may desire to do the right thing or do good, but we do the bad. It is our first nature, not our second. As Paul shares his struggles with his own nature, it makes him very upset and cries out, Who can save me from this body of sin and death? The answer is Jesus.

When we become a Christian, we are given a new nature and sin’s hold on us is broken. We now are able to live a life pleasing to God. That doesn’t mean we will not still struggle with sin, but sin will not dominate our life and desires either. We now can fight it and win!

Are you struggling with or being dominated by sin?

Reading Plan: Psalm 97, 99; Jer. 17:19-27; Rom. 7:13-25; John 6:16-27