24 OCT 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 24 OCT 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: ‘O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.  Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! No one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’” Matt. 11:25, 27b

There are so many things that are puzzling in this life.  When talking to people about the Lord, they often take issue with things God hasn’t done.  If they were God, they would handle this problem in one way and allow other things to happen.  Sometimes believers in their frustration, wonder why God operates the way he does.  We don’t understand that God doesn’t operate like us.  His ways, motivations, and plans are different than ours. 

 If Jesus is thankful for that, shouldn’t we? The passage in Matthew is just after a paragraph about Jesus denouncing the towns where people did not repent and believe.  They had heard the message and witnessed miracles,  and many of those people had a miracle done for them and yet did not believe in him.  Jesus dusted his feet of the people who rejected him and confirmed God’s plan at the same time.  How so you may ask.

Jesus tells us that God chose to hide the truth of the good news from some people, those who think themselves wise and clever.  It says that God was pleased to do it this way.  His glory and pleasure are at the forefront of all that He does and doesn’t do.  It is a fundamental truth that He ultimately decides what can make us vulnerable and dependent on his mercy.  We can’t manipulate God into giving us his favor, grace itself is his unmerited favor.

There is another interesting and hard truth in this passage, Jesus chooses who he will reveal himself and God to.  He intentionally seeks after those he desires to be in a relationship with.  The Father and the Son determine the who and will send the Holy Spirit to initiate that relationship by changing the heart, opening the eyes and ears, and preparing them for the encounter.  Those are the people who respond positively to the message.

Do you wonder why some people are not responding to the Gospel?

Reading Plan: Psalm 26, 28; Lam. 1:1-5, 10-12; 1 Cor. 15:41-50; Matt. 11:25-30

23 OCT 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 23 OCT 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead.  For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today.  I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you.” Matthew 11:23-24

Many times in the Scriptures, we see God give a harsh reality to his people.  All the bad news comes from disobedience, sin, and idolatry to name a few.  He doesn’t want us to be self-deceived either and think we are in good standing when we don’t even have a relationship with God.  The Lord is unafraid to tell the truth and pass final judgment on people.

In Matthew 7, he says, on judgment day many will say to me, Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.  But I will reply, I never knew you.  Jesus gives sober words that should stop us in our tracks and evaluate where we are with God.  Are we truly his disciples? Have we surrendered our lives to him and are we obedient?

Most people in the world think they are good enough or are working at putting more good on the scale to outweigh the evil they have done.  They believe in their mind that the bad or evil they have done should not be that offensive to God.  Try and say that to anyone today who is offended by what you have done to them.  You will get an earful! We always play down our part and expect others to extend us grace.  We do that to God too! That’s a dangerous presumption.

Jesus in this passage lays down some hard truths.  Some people were destroyed and are rotting in hell who would have quickly repented and trusted Jesus if presented the gospel.  We are on this side of the grave and have an opportunity to respond rightly now.  What is your excuse? It is better to hear it now and be a bit butt-hurt than to hear it from Jesus and be eternally in pain knowing you rejected Him.

Will you be honored in heaven?

Reading Plan: Psalm 25; Jer. 44:1-14; 1 Cor. 15:30-41; Matt. 11:16-24

21 OCT 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 21 OCT 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man.  Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.” 1 Cor. 15: 21-22

Even as I write this today, the tension of the rope of Christ’s return appears to be very tight.  We can speculate this as we see once again Israel being attacked and a greater war encompassing the rest of the world is possible.  War brings great loss of life and ultimately, everyone fears death. (Heb. 2:15) Most of the world doesn’t think anything of the second coming of Jesus or a life that is after death.

There are those who don’t believe in God, but believe they should still go to heaven.  They have done enough good to outweigh the bad they have done.  Even the most horrid sinner is self-deceived in their thinking as they too believe they have a place in heaven.  Are you evil enough for God to punish you with hell?  To be good in God’s eyes is to be morally perfect in thought, word, and deed.  Jesus says that there is none good, but God. (Mark 10:15)

Where does that leave us? We die.  Death came through Adam, but there is a solution to death.  Everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life and will be resurrected to live with Him forever.  How do you belong to Jesus? Repent of your sins and put your trust in Jesus for what he did for you on the cross.  He will make you presentable to God by taking your sins and he will give you his righteousness.  At that point, you will become one of God’s kids and have a place in heaven.

As things heat up in Israel, are you ready for Jesus to return? This could be the moment and you don’t want to be here as Jesus’ enemy when he shows up.  It will be too late then because no mercy or grace will be extended.  You have had the time to respond.

Are you ready for the return of Jesus?

Reading Plan: Psalm 20, 21:1-7; 2 Kings 25:8-12, 22-26; 1 Cor. 15:12-29; Matt. 11:7-15

20 OCT 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 20 OCT 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Jesus told them, ‘Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen the - blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good news is being preached to the poor.’  And he added, ‘God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.’”  Matthew 11:4-6

I think we all struggle with doubt and disappointment and need affirmation about what God is doing in the world.  John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus by preaching and baptizing as many as would receive.  John faced opposition to his ministry from the religious elite and from those who didn’t like him calling out their sins.  This landed him in hot water and by the eleventh chapter of Matthew’s gospel, he is sitting in jail.

John had heard that Jesus’ ministry had taken off well, but John expected a liberator and a rebellion to take place freeing the Jews from Roman and religious oppression.  He is probably thinking, when am I going to be set free so I can team up with Team Jesus and take the country back? He is not alone in his expectations as the disciples too thought Jesus would restore Israel to prominence.  Was this the plan?

John sends his disciples to Jesus to get a full report of what is happening.  Jesus responds with the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy of the miraculous signs that would accompany the Messiah. He footnoted the statement with this caveat: God blesses those who do not fall away because of me or are offended by me. (ESV) Jesus is shattering any expectation that the Jews have added on and if it can happen to John, it can happen to any of us.  Sometimes we desire Jesus to do some great thing that he is capable of doing but isn’t part of the plan.

Instead of doubting or being disappointed, we need to go back and look at what He actually said he is going to do.  We also need to look at what we are supposed to do and are commanded to do.  When you read it, the Scriptures will comfort and affirm you, unless you are disobedient.  Then it will smack you!

Does Jesus offend you for not meeting your expectations?

Reading Plan: Psalm 16, 17; Jer. 38:14-28; 1 Cor. 15:1-11; Matt. 11:1-6

19 OCT 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 19 OCT 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.” Matthew 10: 32a, 38a

Have you ever had your commitments tested? In the last couple of years, technology has become a dominant part of our lives to the extent that it can threaten personal and national security.  An application called Tic Tok, owned by the Chinese government, posed a threat to personal information, financial security, and collective national security.  The United States government wanted to ban it nationally, but there was a kickback!

People desired social media more than their freedom or personal and national security.  What about allegiance and dedication to the neighbor or nation? This is not much of a test of commitment, but the people failed in their commitment.   In the passage in Matthew,  Jesus lays out a major and dramatic test of our commitment to him.  Are you truly going to live for Jesus come what may? If not, you are not worthy of being mine.

Jesus said he didn’t come to bring peace, but a sword. (v.34) There will be major divisions because you are a Christian.  Realize that Jesus presents all of these challenges that believers will face before they become one.  He never is guilty of bait and switch, but lets everyone know upfront.  Jesus explains that being called by my name will divide families, communities, and nations.  If you are a true believer, you will commit yourself even if it fractures all of your relationships.

Muslims who come to faith in Jesus can lose their family, community, and even their lives.  In America, you may be treated with indifference, shame, rejection, and socially ostracized.   Be sure your commitment to Jesus and the mission he has given us will be tested.  The question is, what will you do? Will you kick back against Jesus and tell him, no? Or will you say like the hymnist, thou none go with me I still will follow, no turning back I’ll follow Him.

Is God testing your loyalty and commitment to Him?

Reading Plan: Psalm 18:1-20; Jer. 38:1-13; 1 Cor. 14:26-33a, 37-49; Matt. 10:34-42 bb