Blog

Watch Sunday’s Sermon – Week 8 of “Fan or Follower – Keep Watch!”  (LISTEN HERE).

---

No one knows better the importance of being ready and being prepared than our men and women of our armed forces.  As we honor our Veterans today, we remember the countless hours they spent training, practicing, and learning to be ready at a moment’s notice to be sent into combat to protect our country.  Thank you to all who have and are serving each of us every day.

Vigilance and preparedness are key to victory in battle.  How many victories have been won when one group of soldiers surprises another?  Surprise attacks have a history of being successful because they catch the opposition asleep.

As we engage in life, we don’t want to be caught sleeping.  Although it gets tiring to always be on the ready, it is a must.  

Wednesday’s devotion (sorry I missed Thursday due to travel…and not getting one done ahead of time!), reminded us the key component of being ready is trust in Jesus as Savior and learning and following his Word.

What Jesus then encourages is for us to live each day with the expectation of his return, not in laziness, but in activity.

Jesus put it this way:

Matthew 24:45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The Apostle Paul put it like this:

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

2 Corinthians 5:14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Life takes on a different focus and purpose.  Life is given fully to the Lord so that all I do every day is done to his glory.  I view my time and treasures and talents as gifts entrusted to my by the Lord for use in his kingdom work.  I realize that life is not about me, but compelled by the love of Christ, I live for Christ, not myself.

Perhaps it’s just being ALIVE…Always Living In View of Eternity…ALIVE.

WIth faith in our hearts, and God’s Word in our lives, we watch and wait…but while we watch and wait, we live for the Lord…every day! AMEN.

Apply: What changes today when you are ALIVE…Always Living In View of Eternity?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for all the men and women who serve us by serving our country.  Let them know their effort matters so that we can live freely and fully for you, each day as we wait with eager anticipation for your return.  AMEN.

Watch Sunday’s Sermon – Week 8 of “Fan or Follower – Keep Watch!”  (LISTEN HERE).

---

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. 

Keeping watch and being prepared are hard work.

When you know something is going to happen or someone is going to arrive, it is easier to be prepared and to watch for their arrival.  For example, if you are having family over for Thanksgiving and you know that they are going to arrive on Wednesday before between 5 & 6pm, you know the things you have to do to be ready (wash the sheets, clean the guest room, etc.)  Then on that Wednesday, you begin watching for them around 4:45 and within 60 minutes or so, your watching is done…they arrived!

However, if those same relatives said, “We’re going to come for a visit, but we don’t know when and we’re not sure when we will show up,” you may quickly lose any anticipation or preparedness.  The guest room will accumulate a few boxes that need to be stored.  The cats will find a place to nap and leave some extra fur.  The room will be “ok” but not “ready.”  And, you aren’t going to wait around for them.  You go to work, school, run errands, etc. because while you know they will show up sometime, you aren’t going to pause life to wait around.

So it is with Christ’s return.

It’s easy to forgo the effort to be ready.  It’s common to surmise “He’s not coming today.”  

We’d much rather have the exact time and day.  Then we can carry on life and give ourselves enough time to bolster our faith and engage in activity that blesses the kingdom of God.

Perhaps this is why when someone of some prominence predicts the end of the world, people latch on to it.  It gives them a day to plan for and prepare for.

Yet, none of those have come true and so we wait.  We watch.  We remain vigilant.

Why? Because there are regular indications the time could be any time. 

Jesus gave us hints of what to look for:

Matthew 24:6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

So the daily news is a daily reminder that today Jesus could return.

So how are we ready?

Again Jesus highlights two things: Confident trust in him as your Savior and dedication to hearing his Words in the pages of the BIble.

John 5:24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.

John 6:39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

I wish we had the day and time.  But we don’t. So today we must be vigilant and be ready!

Apply: What is one thing you can do today to strengthen your faith in Jesus or build your awareness and trust of his truth in the Bible?

Prayer:  Lord thank you for not telling me when you will return.  I would probably push off my relationship with you and not enjoy it every day.  Help me to always stay prepared and ready to meet you when you return.  AMEN.

Watch Sunday’s Sermon – Week 8 of “Fan or Follower – Keep Watch!”  (LISTEN HERE).

---

Today is election day.

Yesterday I listened to a podcast on the question, “Should a Christian get involved in politics?” on the website https://crossexamined.org/.  The podcast is worth listening to.

The short answer is, “Yes!”

Why? (Some of these are borrowed from the podcast.)

1. It is an opportunity to love your neighbor.

Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.

One of the two great commands God has given to us is to love our neighbor.  The laws that are passed by our nation have a direct and indirect impact on people and their well-being.  By voting and being involved in politics, we have opportunity to put into office those that would promote and protect the lives of people.  We can help to protect the lives of unborn in a personal way, but laws to protect the unborn are loving to the unborn.  Youth are being bombarded with gender confusion and given a smorgasbord of gender options when there are only two genders given at birth.  Those that would promote abuse of children physically and emotionally over this issue are not expressing love to kids (even though it is promoted as such).  Laws impact the lives of those that are being illegally trafficked for sexual services.  It is loving to promote safety in our communities through the enforcement of laws and incarceration of those that would bring harm to our streets. In fact, this is why God gave authority to government. 

Romans 13:4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

Our culture confuses Christians by causing us to think that evil is good, and standing up for good is racist, close-minded, or white privilege.  The fact is that the biblical world-view of Christians provides a fabric for a society to love people.  Good laws show love for people while curtailing activity that is destructive behavior.

1. We are called to be salt and light in the world.

Matthew 5:15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

The podcast offers a long list of involvement that Christians have had to influence a positive impact on people: the end of slavery, upholding the value of women, the end of temple prostitution and more.  The advantage of Christians is they have a view of the world that is from God himself that allows for people to live with boundaries, but with blessing for all.  Our moral fabric is guided by truth of God’s word and a confidence that how he loves people is a blessing to all people in society.  Our involvement in society is to be a blessing to all who live in that society.

One key caution.  The United States is NOT the kingdom of God.  We must always keep distinct the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the world.  The kingdom of God is guided by the Gospel and the Word of God IS the ruling body of doctrine and guidance for life.  The role of the Church is first and foremost the proclamation of the Gospel.  The primary role of the Church is NOT to change the politics of a country.  

That being said, as Christians, we live in the kingdom of this world.  Jesus has left us in the world to influence the world for him.  Yes, primarily it is through the Gospel, but it also is through our involvement in our communities, state and country and aiding in passing laws and upholding laws that align to the moral fabric and biblical-worldview the Lord gives us.

So as a citizen of the United States, exercise the privilege and responsibility to vote today.  Engage in local council meetings, school boards and the like, not bringing ill-repute on the Christian faith, but speaking the truth in love.

Let your light shine as you vote and engage in politics!

Apply: Go vote!

Prayer: Lord, we trust that governing authorities are there because you allow them to be in that position.  We ask that those elected today would honor the authority you give them and seek to be guided by your wisdom as they engage in the office to which they are elected.  AMEN.

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 8 of “Fan or Follower – Keep Watch!”  (LISTEN HERE).

---

“Watch out!” is a dire and impending warning that something dangerous is about to happen unless I change course very quickly.

“Keep watch!” is a indefinite indication that something is going to happen at some point and when it does happen I want to and/or need to be ready.

Sometimes “Watch out!” is easier because in a short period of time, one identifies the danger, avoids it and moves on.

Keeping watch can be long, tiresome, and bring inevitable thoughts of, “I don’t think this will ever happen,” and lead to apathy, indifference and doubt that keeping watch is even worth it.

Yet Jesus says, “Keep watch!”

Matthew 24:42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

When Jesus left this earth, he promised he would come back.  The challenge?  He didn’t give us a specific time or day, just a promise.

So, the challenge for us is this.  Will we live today and every day with the awareness that today Jesus could return?  Or will we slip to a thought that “It won’t happen in my lifetime” and become complacent and indifferent to the idea that he is coming back?

Perhaps it depends on the day.

It is certainly easy to get busy with each day’s activities without giving a thought that Jesus could return today.  Jesus acknowledges this as he teaches: 

Matthew 24:37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 

The flood caught people off guard.  Jesus said some knew nothing about the flood coming until the water swept them away.  (There were 100 years for the word to get out about an impending flood…did they never hear or choose not to recognize the warning?)  The point?  People will be going about life without any awareness of Christ’s coming.  Some will be ready.  Some won’t.

Is Jesus advocating for “Stop life and wait for me to come!”  No.  The reality is life and its events will continue.  However, Jesus doesn’t want us to live in ignorance or apathy of his return.

If you are reading this devotion, you are no longer ignorant.  Jesus will return to this earth to judge the living and the dead and bring all believers, body and soul, to be with him.

If you are reading this devotion, you will be tempted to apathy.  Like a teenager who throws a party in his parents home with the expectation they won’t be home for a long time, we can engage in life without any thought of our Savior’s coming or the life to which our Savior calls us.  With apathy, we allow our sinful nature to run amuck figuring, “Jesus won’t be coming for a long time.”

But then the parents come home.  Then Jesus comes.

We don’t want to be caught unprepared.

So Jesus encourages us, “Keep watch!”

Peter encourages us, “The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray” (1 Peter 4:7).

How are we to be ready?  The devotions, I pray, this week will help!

Apply: Are you ready? Or does this devotion find a bit of apathy?  Repent of apathy.  Get ready!

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for your promise to return.  Send us your Spirit so that at all times in all places, even as we go through the activities of life, we live in the anticipation of your return.  AMEN.

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 7 of “Fan or Follower – Seek Truth”  (LISTEN HERE).

---

Matthew 7:28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.  

Truth does something.

It resonates.

It carries authority.

It impacts people.

It stands out.

It amazes people.

Why?

Because our soul yearns for truth.  We tire of discerning what is true and what is not.  We want someone or something that we can count on, believe in, depend on.  We want someone’s word to stand.  We want what someone says to come true.  Even if truth is hard to hear, deep down we want to hear truth over deception.

In political foray of midterm elections, we want a candidate to tell the truth.  We cringe with skepticism when candidates seem to simply speak empty platitudes absent of substance and truth.

In the doctor’s office, we want the truth.  Am I well or not?  When we know whether we are well or sick, we can move forward appropriately.  Don’t tell me what you think I want to hear, tell me what I need to hear.

In Jesus’ Sermon the Mount, he didn’t take a poll of the people to determine what was important to them and then speak about it.  He knew what the people needed to hear and told the truth about it.  He didn’t make things up.  He didn’t say what he thought people wanted to hear.  He simply spoke truth into the lives of people…because he knew they needed it.

The teachers of the law weren’t always giving it to them.

The Pharisees had clouded it over with their extra teachings.

Jesus spoke with authority, because he was speaking the truth.

Deception comes with hesitation.  Truth comes with conviction.

Our country has a truth problem.  Truth is hard to come by.  Yet, as was said, everyone yearns for it.  God says, “I’m giving it to you.  Here are my Words.”

John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 

The news won’t always give you truth.  Social media won’t always give you truth.  Even churches won’t always give you truth.  But God will always speak truth in his Word.  You don’t have to discern where it is or what it is, because every word is truth.

So as Jesus encouraged, hear these words and put them into practice.  Let God’s truth given on every page of the BIble settle your soul, guard your heart and guide your steps.

Apply: What might you change in your schedule to allow time for God’s Word of truth to speak daily into your heart and soul?

Prayer: Thank you Lord for caring enough to always speak the truth to us.  It carries great authority and great comfort for my soul.  AMEN.