26 NOV 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 26 NOV 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“And as for these enemies of mine who didn’t want me to be their king - bring them in and execute them right here in front of me.” Luke 19:27

There was a time when Israel wanted to be like everyone else and decided that they would like a king instead of following God’s leading and receiving his providence and protection.  God warned them of what they would get for accepting a mortal as their leader and how he would rule over them.  This was a great offense to God, their maker and redeemer.

An earthly king would draft their sons for the military, force them to be farmers, and manufacture weapons and war materials. He would take their daughters and force them into labor for him and would tax their wealth and the best of their property.  They would eventually beg for relief because of how they were treated, but the Lord would not respond. (1 Sam. 8)  

Jesus tells the story of a nobleman who is rejected by the Jews as their king.  He assigns the people a task and expects them to follow through by being faithful and obedient.  There are people who are faithful, and disobedient, and many who reject him whom he calls his enemies.  Jesus says that the disobedient would be stripped of what was given to them and the ones who rejected Jesus will be judged and executed.

People who have mistakenly portrayed Jesus as one to overlook their rejection of him in this life will have a rude awakening in the next life.  Those people will not receive mercy and grace but will receive justice and sentencing to the second death.  The blunt and direct words of Jesus are meant to bring about change in your mind and heart while there is still time.  

Have you received Jesus as Lord?

Reading Plan: Psalm 118; Isa. 19:19-25; Rom. 15:5-13; Luke 19:11-27 

25 NOV 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 25 NOV 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Then Peter came to him and asked, Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times? No, not seven times, Jesus replied, but seventy times seven!” Matthew 18:21-22

Being in the Thanksgiving mindset, post-November 23rd, I began thinking of all the things I am thankful for.  I find it a good way to combat anxiety and depression by making an ongoing list of specific things that I am thankful for writing them on slips of paper and putting them in a box.  As I am feeling low, anxious, or worried I pull out a slip of paper and read it.  I then give praise and thanksgiving to God for what is written on the paper and before long peace and joy come.

The biggest thing I put on a piece of paper is real forgiveness.  Being forgiven is a powerful thing that has been given to us for those who believe, but it is also a sweet gift of mercy that we can give others and others to us.  God has forgiven us all of our sins, wrongdoings, and thoughts that have offended him.  For forgiveness to work there needs to be repentance, remission, restitution, reconciliation, and restoration. 

Forgiveness is conditional on repentance both to God and other people.  If there isn’t repentance then there isn’t forgiveness.  If we have been violated or sinned against, we must be ready to forgive when repentance happens.  Remember all that we have put Jesus through torture and crucifixion and then look at what people have done to us.  Our offense to God is always greater than anything that others do to us.  Jesus forgives all who repent of their sins and turn to him in faith.

When God forgives sins, he doesn’t forget your sins but doesn’t hold those sins against you in the future.  Your sins are washed away like blood-stained wool being made white as snow.  So when we forgive a person, we give that person a clean slate and will not bring those wrongs up again in the future.  Then the other R’s above can take place to get us to full restoration of relationships because of the power of forgiveness.  God has given that to us and demands that we do the same for others.

Are you forgiving those who do you wrong?

Reading Plan: Psalm 107:33-43, 108:1-6; Isa. 65:17-25; Rev. 22:14-21; Matt. 18:21-35 

24 NOV 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 24 NOV 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“They will perish, but you remain forever; they will wear out like old clothing.  You will change them like a garment and discard them.  But you are always the same; you will live forever.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Psalm 102:26-27; Rev. 22:13

We are getting to that time within the Christian Calendar from the Ordinary Time to the season of Advent.  In doing so, it makes me think of the greatness and goodness of God.  Frankly, all of the Scriptures point to the Trinity and shine the light on the Son from beginning to end revealing his majesty and glory.  The quotes above from Psalm and Revelation, declare the deity of Christ, one of which is veiled and one directly.

It is important for us to see all the places and tie in or cross-reference within the Scriptures, so we can better know God in the fullest.  The quote from Psalm 102 talks about the unchanging nature of God that he is eternal and that he can bring nature and mankind into existence and dispose of it.  The psalmist shows that God is unchanging for eternity.  In Hebrews 1, the writer quotes these very verses about Jesus.

No one in the Scriptures is ever spoken about in this manner, but Jesus.  He is God eternal, yet distinct from the Father.  Jesus is given credit for the creation of the world by Paul, John, Psalmist, and Moses.  In Revelation 22, Jesus speaks about himself confirming that Jesus is God.  Revelation 1:18 and Isaiah 44:6 speak of God as the First and the Last, the Alpha and Omega, and pointing directly to Jesus.  Jesus speaks this in a veiled manner in Isaiah, but clearly in Revelation that he is God.

We will be asked or told by those who won’t believe that Jesus never said that He is God.  Briefly, we have shown this not to be true because He has said it here.  He has also said this throughout the gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  He has spoken through the prophets, apostles, and through himself directly.  So as you prepare for Advent, may God bless you richly by grasping the depths and breadth of God in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Do you know that all of the Scriptures proclaim Jesus’ deity?

Reading Plan: Psalm 102; Proverbs 24; Rev. 22:6-13; Matt. 18:10-20 

22 NOV 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 22 NOV 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“I will search for faithful people to be my companions.  Only those who are above reproach will be allowed to serve me.  I will not allow deceivers to serve in my house, and liars will not stay in my presence.”  Psalm 101: 6-7

The words above were penned by King David addressing the people whom he would call friends or co-workers or servants.  He had been burnt by people around him and couldn’t trust them to be righteous, upright (integrity), and support the call of God on his life.  When I first read this, it stopped me in my tracks.  I asked myself, am I choosing my friends with any standard? What about God?

Even in our readings today, Revelation 21:8 says that the very same people David doesn’t want in his life will not enter heaven, but be cast into the lake of fire.  One of those traits that stands out in both is liars.  We take it for granted these days that lying is okay.  Our political leaders from top to bottom, business people, religious people, and even children all lie.  It is often the first thing that comes out of a person is a lie.

Yet, if you lie in court to a judge or Congress there is a penalty and sentence of jail.  David is setting the standard high that the people he will associate with will be people of integrity.  He needs to know that he can trust them.  One thing is for sure, he can trust God because he does not lie, ever.  God has not changed the 10 Commandments and the 9th is no lying.  If that was the only sin you committed, God would be justified in barring you from heaven.  We have actually broken them all, so what do you do?

First, you need to own that you are a liar. Quit making excuses that everyone else does it or it is no big deal.  It is a big deal, have you been lied to? How did you like it? It is a big deal to God and he doesn’t appreciate that you take sin and evil lightly.  Lying is a sin and evil.

What kind of friend are you to God?

Reading Plan: Psalm 101, 109:1-4, 20-30; Proverbs 22; Rev. 21:1-8; Matt. 17:22-27

21 NOV 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 21 NOV 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects the lives of his godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked. The Righteous One knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked; he will bring disaster on them.  Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers.” Psalm 97:10; Proverbs 21:12, 15

We can turn on the news any day of the week or news feeds online and see evil people doing terrible things.  We wonder if they will ever be caught and held responsible for their crimes or if will they continue to move freely and become successful.  Today, we see many people praise evil people for what they do and call it good.  Our society is evil and we all suffer for it.

The Lord gives us both commands and principles to give us comfort, but also to correct our attitudes and views on our actions.  If we love the Lord, we will hate evil.  There are no ands, ifs, or buts about it.  We will sift the evil out of our lives with God’s help and the accountability of fellow believers.  We will also stand against evil in our communities by speaking out against it and encouraging our justice system to take action.

Our primary way of combating evil in this world for the Christian is sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ and trusting that he will not let evil go unpunished.  You can also be a part of your local or national justice system.  From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals his holiness and justice, and evil people are struck with fear.   No one who commits sin, wickedness, or evil will escape being held responsible for their actions.  No one.  

God delivers justice in two ways, through the cross or hell.  Both satisfy God and we receive from him either mercy or justice.  At the end of the day, we will understand God’s amazing grace and who he truly is.

Are you angered by evil?

Reading Plan: Psalm 99, 97; Proverbs 21; Rev. 21:9-21; Matt. 17:22-27