Tag: Bible

Examples of Grace 07

On By BrianIn Miscellaneous1 Comment

As I continue to trace God’s grace through the Bible, let me share a couple of examples from the book of Numbers.

Israel rebels against God by refusing to enter the Promised Land.  God could have wiped them out then and there, indeed he threatens to do it.  But Moses intercedes, and God spares them. How many times do we rebel against God?  How often do we sin?  How often do we fail to do what God calls us to do?  Yet through Christ God forgives and spares us again and again.  That’s grace.

Not only does God spare them, but he chooses to bless them.  Balaam is hired by Israel’s enemy to curse Israel.  Instead God requires Balaam to bless his people.  God teaches Aaron and his sons a blessing to say for the people of Israel, and the people will be blessed.  In how many ways does God bless us as his people today?  As the songs tells us – count your many blessings!  Every blessing we receive – that’s grace!

Passion Week Saturday Reflection

On By BrianIn Holidays

Saturday: Pain of Loss and Failure – Struggling Without Hope

Read Luke 22:31-34, 22:54-62, 23:50-56

Prayer: Father, I cannot imagine this day for Peter. What was it like for him to lose Jesus and fail him all in one day? To struggle without hope? And Father, if Jesus had remained in the grave, I too would be without hope. All would be lost. Help me today to remember how hopeless life would be without the glorious news that tomorrow brings. Amen.

Reflect/Discuss: What would your life be like if Jesus had stayed in the grave?

Praise: No singing today. Wait with anticipation for tomorrow.

Passion Week Good Friday

On By BrianIn Holidays

Morning: Plot – The Plans of God and Men

Read Luke 22:1-6, 22:47-53, 22:63-23:16

Prayer: Father, how shamefully they treated your Son. Judas plotted against him and betrayed his friend. The religious leaders plotted against him and made a mockery of justice to have their own way. And yet all their plots were part of your bigger plot to save me. Thank you for my Savior. Amen.

Noon: Pardon – In My Place

Read Luke 23:16-25

Prayer: Father, Barabbas should have died that day, but Jesus died in his place. The cross should have been mine, but Jesus died in my place. He died for my sins, for my rebellion. He who was perfect paid the penalty for my sins that I might go free. Jesus, thank you for taking my place. Amen.

Evening: Passion – Remember the Cross

Read Luke 23:26-49

Prayer: Father, words are so cheap, but thank you for the cross. Thank you for forgiveness. Thank you for the hope of paradise. Thank you for Jesus. Amen.

Reflect/Discuss: How does reflecting on Christ’s passion fuel your love for him?

Praise: Spend some time singing songs about the cross.

Passion Week Thursday Reflections

On By BrianIn Holidays

Morning: Passover – The New Covenant

Read Luke 22:7-23

Prayer: Father, thank you for the new covenant you have made with me through Jesus Christ. Thank you that his body was broken and his blood poured out to pay for my sins that I might walk with you. Thank you for the regular reminder given to us in the Lord’s Supper. Amen.

Noon: Perfect Servant – Follow His Example

Read Luke 22:24-30

Prayer: Father, your Son came to serve, and too often I join the disciples seeking to be the greatest, seeking to exalt myself. Help me to humbly serve as Jesus served. Help me to be a servant to my family, to your church, wherever I go. Amen.

Evening: Prayer – God’s Will, Not Mine

Read Luke 22:35-46

Prayer: Father, like the disciples I too am weak, and I need your help to overcome temptation. Awaken me from my spiritual slumber that I might pray. Let me join my Savior in seeking your will. Too often my way is not your way. Help me to submit to your way no matter what the cost. Dear Father, not my will, but yours be done. Amen.

Reflect/Discuss: In what current situations do you need to submit to his will?

Praise: Sing “Have Thine Own Way Lord”

Passion Week Wednesday Reflection

On By BrianIn Holidays

Wednesday: Prophecy – Be Alert

Read Luke 19:41-44, 21:5-38

Prayer: Father, your Son predicted the Fall of Jerusalem, and it happened. Your Son predicted his return – help me to be ready. Help me to be alert. While I wait, help me to be ready and watchful for opportunities to bear witness for Christ. Help me not to get so weighed down with the cares of this life that I fail to be alert to your opportunities and your return. Even so, come Lord Jesus! Amen.

Reflect/Discuss: What keeps us from being more alert to his coming?

Praise: Sing “Christ Returneth!”

Note: Reflections for Thursday and Friday will be in three parts – morning, afternoon, and evening.

Passion Week Tuesday Reflection

On By BrianIn Holidays

Tuesday: Predictions – Take Up Your Cross

Read Luke 9:18-27, 18:31-34

Prayer: Father, your Son knew what was coming, yet he willingly gave himself up for me. He was rejected, mocked, shamefully treated, spit upon, flogged, and killed for my sins. Let me give myself for him. Help me deny myself – stop living for myself, and take up my cross – be willing to suffer for Christ, and follow him wherever he leads. Amen.

Reflect/Discuss: What are some practical daily examples of what it might look like to deny yourself for Christ?

Praise: Sing “Am I A Soldier of the Cross”

Passion Week Monday Reflection

On By BrianIn Holidays

Monday: Preaching – Give all to Him

Read Luke 19:45-21:4

Prayer: Father, they dragged buying and selling even into your house. How easy it is for me to get caught up in the buying and selling of our culture. Help me be like the widow who willingly gave all to you. All that I have is from you; it is yours – do with it as you please. Even my life is from you, and you made me in your likeness, so help me give myself to you – even as your Son gave himself for me. Amen.

Reflect/Discuss: What would it look like to live according to this prayer?

Praise: Sing “Take My Life”

Passion Week Palm Sunday Reflection

On By BrianIn Holidays

Palm Sunday: Praise – Rejoice in the Messiah

Read Luke 19:28-40

Prayer: Father, before the rocks cry out, let me lift up my voice and praise you. Thank you for your mighty works – your beautiful creation, your sustaining hand, your great salvation. Thank you for saving me. Awaken my soul to give you the glory and praise that is due you today. Amen.

Reflect/Discuss: For what mighty works can you praise the Lord?

Praise: Sing some of your favorite songs of praise to the Lord.

Examples of Grace 06

On By BrianIn Miscellaneous

One might not think of Leviticus as a book about grace, but it is.

The first third of the book deals with sacrifices – sacrifices to atone for sins and have fellowship with God.  God did not need to provide a way for them to deal with their sins and have a relationship with him, but he did.  That’s grace.  In the same way he has provided Jesus to atone for our sins once for all that we might have fellowship with God.  That’s grace.

God promises to be with the people.  Not only that but they will be his people.  What great privileges!  Through Christ we are made his people, and he dwells with us.  That’s grace.

Leviticus also deals with numerous laws to protect and help the poor and needy.  God cared about the weak, and still does today.  That’s grace.

Sins forgiven.  Fellowship with God.  His people.  His presence.  His care.  Grace….

(Taken from Leviticus)

Gospel Shaped Suffering 4

On By BrianIn Miscellaneous

How should the gospel shape our suffering?  We have looked at six ways already.  Let’s look at two final ways today.

Bearing Witness to Christ (Evangelism)

We receive the gospel by faith, but how will people hear the gospel unless we bear witness to Christ?  Suffering offers us a powerful platform to share the work of Christ in our lives.  Several people in my church have shared how they have had opportunities to tell others about Christ in the midst of their suffering.  There are records from the early church of people who witnessed the suffering and death of Christian martyrs and were saved as a result.  Courage, trust, and hope in trials leaves a lasting impression, a strong witness for Christ.  In fact, sometimes are suffering is for the purpose of bearing witness.  Jesus told his disciples that they would be taken to court, flogged, and dragged before rulers for his sake, “to bear witness before them” (Matthew 10:17-18).  Using our suffering as an opportunity to bear witness to Christ is gospel shaped sufferings.

Counting All as Loss for the Treasure of Christ (Worship)

The gospel is spread through evangelism and received by faith, but what is the goal of the gospel?  The goal is worship.  As John Piper writes in his book on missions, “Missions exists because worship doesn’t.”  We were created to glorify God, but we all sin and fall short of his glory (Romans 3:23).  The gospel exists to save us from our sins and change us back into worshippers who glorify God, worshippers who love God and serve God, who treasure God above all else.

Worshippers like Paul.  In Philippians 3:7-11, Paul says he suffers the loss of all things for Christ.  What is suffering?  Often it is loss – loss of heath, loss of a loved one, loss of comfort, loss of a relationship, loss of a dream.  Paul says he suffer the loss of all things, counts it all as loss.  Why?  Because of the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus.  He will share in the sufferings of Christ because what he wants most of all is Christ.  Gospel shaped suffering means we are willing to suffer loss because in Christ we have the greatest treasure of all.

What is gospel shaped suffering? It is:

  • Following the path of Christ
  • Becoming more like Christ
  • Resting in the love of Christ
  • Rejoicing in the hope of Christ
  • Trusting God like Christ
  • Comforting others in Christ
  • Bearing witness to Christ
  • Counting all as loss for the treasure of Christ

May God help us suffer in this way for his glory.