Reaching the Lost. Discipling the Saved. Sharing the Love of Jesus with Everyone.

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Purified and Sent

Isaiah was a prophet of God during the end of the northern kingdom of Israel before their deportation and also foretold of the southern kingdom of Judah’s coming fate as well.

I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

Isaiah 6:8

In today’s reading we get a glimpse of Isaiah’s sending by God as well as a magnificent depiction of God’s throne room!

Some of the heavenly beings cover their eyes as not being worthy in the Lord’s presence – and Isaiah, realizing his own state of unholiness and sinfulness is terrified in the presence of the most Holy Lord!

And yet, when the Lord asks who will go for Him, Isaiah, now purified from his sin, is bold and anxious to serve in whatever way the Lord desires! And let’s be honest – what the Lord desired from Isaiah was not easy.

The Lord has purified you from all sins through Jesus and calls You to serve Him.

What is your answer?

Scriptures

  • Isaiah 6:1-13

Put on Notice!

Pentecost is a pivotal event in the life of the Church; as was the Tower of Babel. For most Christians it is vastly minimized: “The Tower of Babel ‘incident’ was reversed at Pentecost.” That description, though true, is a weak testament of what is taking place.

And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 2:21

At Babel, the people we, once again, trying to build themselves up, elevating themselves to heaven, making “a name for themselves.” They wanted to “become like God.”

Sound familiar?

This was idolatry. Physical and spiritual rebellion. And when God scattered them, that didn’t stop. The rebellion and idolatry continued. They worshiped other gods – whether real rebellious spiritual beings or fake ones; they didn’t worship YHWH; the God of gods and Lord of lords.

And soon after Babel, God starts His plan of reversal. He Calls Abram, makes covenant with him, giving him a great name, and wanting him and his offspring to have all of the families of the earth blessed through them!

God wants things to be different!

But evil doesn’t want the change and fights for continued idolatry and rebelion; and it seems they will win.

But Jesus and His empty tomb show that evil is a defeated enemy; and Pentecost is a strong, offensive move to show this to all the forces of evil and put them on notice:God’s coming for you!

The tongues and language reversal was God’s way, not only of reversing the curse of Babel, but God saying, “My disciples and people are coming into your areas and domain, evil; and you will not withstand it! I’m bringing the fight to you, and I am victorious!”

Pentecost is not only a reverse of a curse, but the advancement of God’s Kingdom and victory over sin, death, and the devil in and through Jesus Christ!

Hear this in every tongue and language, all peoples and evil everywhere: God has won – and He’s coming for you! Through faith in Jesus, we are a part of that army of victory – unto everlasting life!

Let’s go!

Scriptures

  • Genesis 11:1-9
  • Genesis 12:2-3
  • Acts 2:1-21

Justus Served

Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias

Being an apostle of Jesus is a big deal! These people were chosen by Jesus Himself to be with Him in His ministry, be His closest disciples and friends, be His witnesses to the world, and even sit on thrones in the Kingdom off Heaven!

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

1 John 5:11-12

Wow!

Of course one didn’t make it to the end. Judas Iscariot was out! But who was going to replace him?

We are told there were two candidates: “Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.”

But what do we know of most of the apostles? We could probably name some things from the likes of Peter, James, and John. And Thomas. Perhaps some others. Maybe we could even eventually name them all, given enough time (and maybe some help).

But replacing Judas had to be a big deal, too! But whom to choose? The criteria was set forth by Peter, “one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us.” The two put forth, Justus and Matthias were good, qualified candidates; and a great choice was made!

Matthias was in!

Justus didn’t make the cut.

I wonder how Justus felt. Did he feel rejected; depressed; let down? Did he feel less worthy or that his work was less important? Did he pout? Or maybe he thanked the Lord for Matthias’ appointment and got back to work!

The thing is, neither Matthias nor Justus are mentioned again in Scripture! Scripture only tells us about them here.

Are we to take that to mean that neither had an impact of Christ’s Church or that they didn’t serve faithfully beyond the little we know?

No!

The fact is, if we place our value on what we or others perceive as important or lasting, we will always be disappointed. That’s not our Calling. We, like Matthias, Justus, the apostles and all Christians everywhere are Called to believe in Jesus and to love and serve Him and others. If we take our eyes off of Him and one comparisons with someone else, either pain or arrogance will follow; not the godly, sanctified life He has Called us to live.

I am sure that “Justus served” the Lord, as did Matthias and the other apostles.

We get to as well!

Jesus has chosen each one of us! He died for us, forgives us, rose for us, and prepares a place for us in Heaven. He wants to use every one of us to share that Good News with the world. He has Called you for that task!

Use us, Lord! Let us serve faithfully, without comparison! Amen!”

Scriptures

  • Acts 1:12-26
  • 1 John 5:9-12
  • 2 Corinthians 5:20

Trust in the LORD

We know the first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before me.” Luther gives us the meaning that “we should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.” We also know the greatest commandment is to “love the Lord…with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength.”

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5

Today’s Scripture from Proverbs reminds us of that.

Everyone and every other thing will fail us. They are unreliable, imperfect, and ultimately do not perfectly care about or for us. That goes for our own ‘understanding’ and ‘wisdom.’ We can place ourselves, our plans, our understanding above God.

This should never be!

If there is a discrepancy between what we believe is good or plan is better; about a direction to take or path to follow; about how the universe is run or things operate, it is that which comes from God that is correct. Period.

We need to trust that. We need to trust Him.

In all things.

For all time.

And we can do this fully and confidently because He has proven Himself time and time again, throughout history and in every situation – including all areas of our life!

This is most evident through the cross and empty tomb!

We would have had a different plan for mercy and forgiveness. God’s is the one that worked! We may have different ideas on who to love. God’s idea is perfect! We would have different ideas of how salvation should happen. God’s is perfect!

Trust in Him! In Everything! You will not be disappointed. Ever. Jesus is proof!

Scriptures

  • Proverbs 3:5-8

Did You Study?

Scripture tells us to “test the spirits,” but how do we do that? The answer is as simple as we learned in Sunday school: “Jesus!”

By this you will know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.

1 John 4:2-3a

Acknowledging Jesus Christ as God come in the flesh, who died and rose is doing so on the basis of the Holy Spirit making that known to us. Denial of that Truth is not from God, but from evil spirits and the world.

But testing should not stop there. Everything we know and believe should be done on the basis of what’s in the Word of God and to make the determinations as to what is godly and what is not, we have to actually know what God’s Word says. We have to be in the Word! We have to learn the Word! We have to believe the Word! We have to live and breathe the Word!

When God’s Word becomes such a part of us and His Spirit dwells in us, it is a much simpler matter to discern right and wrong; good and evil. It becomes clear when evil spirits, the world, and sin try to lead us astray.

We are from God.” and the Spirit who is in us “is greater than he who is in the world,” so rejoice, and revel in the tests, because we have the Answer – Jesus!

Scriptures

  • 1 John 4:1-6

What Have You Done Lately?

Faith in Jesus is to show itself through actions. Continually. Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection were one-time events, but our response to the salvation won for us through them is to show itself throgh daily living.

This is [God’s] commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ and love one another, just as He commanded us.

1 John 3:23

We often don’t live like that. We confess a Faith in the Life, but live in seemingly faithless living. Yes, His commandment is “that we believe in the name of [God’s] son, Jesus Christ and love one another” (1 John 3:23), but that love is to be done “in deed and in truth,” not just “word or talk” (1 John 3:18).

God’s love, forgiveness, and faithfulness are constant. Our response should be the same! Is this true for you? What have you done lately to respond to God?

Do it! Now. Consistently. Lovingly. Responsively. Let all know about your belief in Jesus and your love for others in deeds and truth – today! Every day! In gracious thanksgiving.

Scriptures

  • 1 John 3:18-24
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