Bible League: Living His Word These children are people with physical bodies. So Jesus himself became like them and had the same experiences they have. Jesus did this so that, by dying, he could destroy the one who has the power of death—the devil.— Hebrews 2:14 ERV A sensitive topics to address is the fear of death. I used to be a field support engineer, travelling from one town to another fixing computers for clients who had called for support. Along the road, there would be hitchhikers, and I would give them a lift. It was an opportunity for me to share the Gospel with strangers. As we drove to our destination, we'd see crosses and flowers along the roadside where people had died in accidents. One day, I asked my passenger the meaning of that cross, and she said it means I must drive carefully. I almost laughed, but it sunk in my heart that she didn't understand. I told her that the cross is laid there because someone had died in an accident and the family had placed that cross with flowers as a memorial for them. It also reminded us and everyone who passes by may reach their journey's end. Then I said, "So, if we die due to an accident, I know where my soul will go—what about you?" My intention with these kinds of remarks was not to scare people; I saw this as an icebreaker to create an atmosphere for the Good News! It often worked. I knew then that it was fertile ground for the Good News, and my focus would be on the cross of Jesus Christ! Most responded to the Good News, and I recommended that they seek a Bible-based church to fellowship with Christians and testify about how they received Christ! Graves often have a cross on top. But did the deceased experience the power of the cross of Christ? My question emanates from what Paul says, "The teaching about the cross seems foolish to those who are lost. But to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18). I would even share with people that they must know this power before they pass on from this corrupt and sinful world we live in! Do not place the cross on your grave without knowing what it meant while you were alive! The cross along the road testifies about Jesus Christ, that He died a terrible death to redeem you. Do not die without Him! Romans 1:16-17 says, "I am proud of the Good News, because it is the power God uses to save everyone who believes—to save the Jews first, and now to save those who are not Jews. The Good News shows how God makes people right with Himself. God's way of making people right begins and ends with faith. As the Scriptures say, 'The one who is right with God by faith will live forever.'" Today's verse tells us that we are humans with flesh, Jesus also had flesh like us and experienced death so that "he could destroy the one who has the power of death—the devil!" Jesus was 100% God and 100% human. He is our High Priest! This calls for celebration! Jesus understands death and that people are in bondage to the fear of death! He came to set us free (Hebrews 2:15)! Trust in the deeds of Christ, the mission to set you free was accomplished 2000 years ago, He wants you to trust Him with your fears and sins! During this Advent season, give Christ your heart, and He will reveal His Kingdom mystery: the law of sin and death does not rule on those who are in Him (Romans 8:1-2)! Those who are in Christ are set free from the enslaving spirit of death! Hallelujah! By Christopher Thetswe, Bible League International staff, South Africa Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingHosea 9, 10, 11 Hosea 9 -- The Distress and Captivity of Israel for Their Sins NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Hosea 10 -- Retribution for Israel's Sin; Exhortation to Repentance NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Hosea 11 -- The Ingratitude of Israel; God's Mercy; Israel's Sin and Judah's Infidelity NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Revelation 2 Revelation 2 -- Messages to the Churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum and Thyatira NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don't have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”Insight At first glance, this verse seems to contradict Romans 3:28, “We are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.” Deeper investigation, however, shows that the teachings of James and Paul are not at odds. While it is true that our good deeds can never earn salvation, true faith always results in a changed life and good deeds. Paul speaks against those who try to be saved by deeds instead of true faith; James speaks against those who confuse mere intellectual assent with true faith. After all, even demons know who Jesus is, but they don't obey him. Challenge True faith involves a commitment of your whole self to God. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Colossians 3:24 Ye serve the Lord Christ.To what choice order of officials was this word spoken? To kings who proudly boast a right divine? Ah, no! too often do they serve themselves or Satan, and forget the God whose sufferance permits them to wear their mimic majesty for their little hour. Speaks then the apostle to those so-called "right reverend fathers in God," the bishops, or "the venerable the archdeacons"? No, indeed, Paul knew nothing of these mere inventions of man. Not even to pastors and teachers, or to the wealthy and esteemed among believers, was this word spoken, but to servants, aye, and to slaves. Among the toiling multitudes, the journeymen, the day laborers, the domestic servants, the drudges of the kitchen, the apostle found, as we find still, some of the Lord's chosen, and to them he says, "Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." This saying ennobles the weary routine of earthly employments, and sheds a halo around the most humble occupations. To wash feet may be servile, but to wash his feet is royal work. To unloose the shoe-latchet is poor employ, but to unloose the great Master's shoe is a princely privilege. The shop, the barn, the scullery, and the smithy become temples when men and women do all to the glory of God! Then "divine service" is not a thing of a few hours and a few places, but all life becomes holiness unto the Lord, and every place and thing, as consecrated as the tabernacle and its golden candlestick. "Teach me, my God and King, in all things thee to see; And what I do in anything to do it as to thee. All may of thee partake, nothing can be so mean, Which with this tincture, for thy sake, will not grow bright and clean. A servant with this clause makes drudgery divine; Who sweeps a room, as for thy laws, makes that and the action fine." Daily Light on the Daily Path Ephesians 5:14 For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you."Romans 13:11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. • For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. • But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. Isaiah 60:1,2 "Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. • "For behold, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you And His glory will appear upon you. 1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Luke 12:35,36 "Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. • "Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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