November 18, 2012

“What Prevents Me From Being Baptized?” (11/18)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Acts 7-8.

Philip met a man from Ethiopia who was returning from worshiping in Jerusalem. This man invited Philip into his chariot to explain the passage he was reading in Isaiah.

“Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?’ And Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him” (Acts 8:35-38).

The eunuch wanted to know what prevented him from being baptized. Though they were on a “desert road” (Acts 8:26), with no local church around, this did not prevent him from being baptized. There was no need to wait for a regular assembly of the saints. There was also no need to wait for a special baptismal service like some denominations have today.
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November 7, 2012

“Most People’s Love Will Grow Cold” (11/7)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Matthew 24.

Jesus warned His disciples about some difficult times that would be in their future. Sadly, the hardships would cause many to turn away from God and “grow cold” in their love and dedication for Him.

“Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved” (Matthew 24:9-13).

Notice what Jesus said can cause His followers to turn away from Him:
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November 5, 2012

“You Were Unwilling” (11/5)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Matthew 23; Luke 20-21.

Calvinism teaches that salvation is unconditional and that grace is irresistible. The reason for this is that man (allegedly) has no free will. Therefore, man would be unable to make the decision on his own to serve the Lord. Many passages refute this idea. One such passage is the following:

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold, your house is being left to you desolate!” (Matthew 23-37-38).

Jesus had just condemned the Pharisees and scribes for various sins. He concluded with this lament. Notice what Jesus said here about salvation:
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November 3, 2012

“For This Purpose I Came to This Hour” (11/3)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Mark 11; John 12.

“And Jesus answered them, saying, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit’” (John 12:23-24).

The time for Jesus to be glorified was approaching. But how was He going to be glorified? Many of the Jews were looking for their Messiah to defeat the Romans and rule over a physical kingdom from Jerusalem. But this was not the divine plan. Instead, as Jesus indicated here, it would involve death.

“‘Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, “Father, save Me from this hour”? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.’ Then a voice came out of heaven: ‘I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again’” (John 12:27-28).

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November 2, 2012

“The Son of Man Has Come to Seek and to Save That Which Was Lost” (11/2)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Luke 18:15-19:48.

There were many who did not understand why Jesus would associate with tax collectors and sinners. Yet the reason why He did was because of the mission He had in coming to earth. Notice the example of Jesus with the tax collector Zaccheus who climbed a tree in order to see the Lord as He passed by.

“When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, ‘Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.’ And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly. When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.’

“Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, ‘Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost’” (Luke 19:5-10).

Those who grumbled about Jesus meeting with Zaccheus may have been right that the tax collector was a sinner. But this was the type of person Jesus came to save. When others grumbled earlier on a similar occasion, Jesus said, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32).
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October 9, 2012

Why Do You Call Jesus, "Lord"? (10/9)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Matthew 1:1-21; Mark 3; Luke 6.

There are many people today who would call Jesus their Lord. But are all of these people actually treating Him as Lord? Sadly, many are not. How are they failing to treat Jesus as Lord? Notice what Jesus said:

“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46).

Jesus’ point is clear: if one will not obey Him, it is meaningless for him to call Jesus “Lord.”
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October 5, 2012

Eagerly Awaiting the Return of Christ

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself” (Philippians 3:20-21).

As citizens of heaven, Paul said that we ought to be eagerly looking forward to the Lord’s return. But there is more to this than just the mental desire for Christ to return. Notice the words of God revealed through the prophet Amos:

“Alas, you who are longing for the day of the Lord, for what purpose will the day of the Lord be to you? It will be darkness and not light; as when a man flees from a lion and a bear meets him, or goes home, leans his hand against the wall and a snake bites him. Will not the day of the Lord be darkness instead of light, even gloom with no brightness in it?” (Amos 5:18-20).

There were people in Amos’ day – just as there are in our day – who were looking forward to the day of the Lord. They thought it would be a time for their deliverance rather than judgment and punishment. We do not want to delude ourselves like those of whom Amos prophesied. If we want to genuinely and properly look forward to Christ’s return, there are certain things we must do and things we must understand.
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