The Righteous In Christ Shall Flourish

Those who trust in their riches will wither, but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.  Proverbs 11:28

Who are these who will flourish like green leaves? According to the proverbs it the righteous who shall flourish. The problem with that is that none of us can be found righteous by our own merit; our own good deeds. Paul wrote to the Romans (3:9-10): What then? Are we any better off? No, not at all; for we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin, as it is written: “There is no one who is righteous, not even one..."

But, God provided us a way to be found righteous in His sight. He sent His only begotten Son to die for us; for our sins; upon the cross. This was for all people.

We are not found righteous by the works of our own hands; but, by faith in the one who died for us. Thanks be to God we are found righteous because of Jesus' work on the cross and will flourish in the Kingdom of God, now and forever.

God's Peace - Pr. J 

Rev 11:15-19 Seventh Trumpet Sounds

Rev 11:15-19 NIV

The second woe is passed and as the seventh trumpet is sounded.

Unknown voices from heaven and the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God are ecstatic as they proclaim the Kingdom of God. The time for judgment has come and all God's people will revere His name.

Let us fall down and worship the Lord our God before the day comes when the Lord call each of us to His judgment seat.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Rev 11:1-14 Every Eye Will See

Revelation 11:1-14 NIV

As horrible as humankind can be, it is difficult for me to be able to comprehend how the world would
kill God's witnesses and then leave their dead bodies on display in the public square for three and a half days so that the world can rejoice over their deaths.

However; this, too, will be a very good thing. After all, Jesus was in the grave for three days and because there were no witnesses to the actual resurrection, only to his presence after the resurrection, not everyone believed that he was risen. Even to this day, many doubt or just flat out refuse to believe because they did not see it.

If the resurrection of these two witnesses happen exactly as John saw it in his vision there will be no doubt that God can raise the dead. Television cameras will capture the moment. Cell phones will be clicking away. Every eye will see. The enemies of God will tremble in fear. As God calls the two witnesses to himself, they will ascend visibly into heaven and the earth will quake  killing multitudes. The survivors will know. They will all be witnesses. They will then understand that God is worthy of  receiving honor and glory. There will be no doubt. Every eye will see and know that God can and will raise His chosen ones.

God's Peace - Pr. Judy

Hebrews 11 - Faith Is Confidence In What We Do Not See

Hebrews 11 NIV
"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for." (vs 1-2)
 
Read all of Hebrews 11! And, remember the courageous the acts of these ancients who lived by faith in the promises of God. Much was accomplished by them as they followed the will of God rather than what the world would expect of them. They were not striving after things that they could see. They were reaching out to serve a God whom they could not see. In Moses' case, as well as others, they were reaching for a promised land. They sought the kingdom which God had promised. By faith they set forth into a barren wilderness so that they might, at the end of their journey, receive the promise of God.

"These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect." (vs 39-40)

We, too, search for the promised Kingdom. We know it is there because we have God's promise. We have not seen it with our eyes; but, we have seen glimpses of it with the eyes of our hearts by faith. We push forward through a sometimes very barren and hostile wilderness so at the last our faith will be most fully realized (even more fully than our faith can fathom) in the Kingdom that has been promised us through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J
 

Romans 11 The Elect

Romans 11 NIV
Exactly who are the elect that shall be saved? This is beyond my comprehension. Only God knows. The decision as to who will be saved is up to God, not me or you. According to St. Paul, the elect are both Jew and Gentile. The Jew because they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. (vs 28, 29). The Jew by faith in the promise given to the patriarchs. The Gentile because of faith that these promises were fulfilled in Jesus Christ has also received God's grace and mercy being ingrafted into the Body of Christ.

Whether, Jew or Gentile, we live by faith. Whether Jew or Gentile, we are saved by grace alone through faith alone.

Thanks be to God! To Him be all glory, now and forever! Amen!

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. Just a reminder that the whole purpose of this blog is for you to read the Holy Bible. Some of our members at Zion had expressed a desire to read the whole Bible; but, confessed it was difficult. It was decided that I would write this blog with the hope that it would help others to focus on reading scripture one chapter at a time. The blog itself is not the point. It is hoped that you will read the chapter or portion of a chapter that each daily blog refers to. 

Mark 11:12-33 Authority

Mark 11:12-33 NIV

What kind of authority must one have to curse a fig tree to wither and die for not bearing fruit even out of season and walk through the temple courts turning over the tables of those who are earning their living exchanging money?  What kind of authority is this that could say to a mountain "Go throw yourself into the sea and it will happen?" 

The chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders want to know who Jesus thinks he is, anyway. By whose authority does he say and do these things? Jesus responds to the question with a question. "Jesus replied, 'I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.  

John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!” (Mark 11:29-30) They're kind of been put in a corner and dare not answer. No matter what answer they give, their unbelief will be apparent.  

"So they answered Jesus, 'We don’t know.'

Jesus said, 'Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.'” (Mark 11:33) 

What kind of authority do we believe that Jesus has? Do we believe that God has power and authority over all things? Do we believe that he will answer our prayers? And… if we do then what would be more fruitful: to be buying and selling (or maybe bartering and begging) in order to sustain a church building trusting in our own works or ask God, in prayer and believing that He will provide for all things necessary to continue in the ministry of proclaiming the Good News of His Kingdom, through Jesus Christ, our LORD. 

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24) God does have the power and the authority to answer your prayers. Believe it!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 11 - I Will Give You Rest

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt 11:28-29 NIV)

So many people seeking rest for their souls in the world today. Yet, they seek it in all the wrong places. There seems, at times, that there is nothing one can say or do, to help them to understand that Jesus truly can give us the rest we need. Unwilling to take up his yoke and learn from Jesus; we take upon ourselves a much heavier yoke, stumbling and often falling.

If, today, you find, that you are weary and burdened with the cares of the world, toss aside the yoke that is holding you down and find rest at the feet of our LORD and King, Jesus the Christ. Go to Him and He will give you rest.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Zechariah 11 - Covenant and Unity

     "So I shepherded the flock marked for slaughter, particularly the oppressed of the flock. Then I took two staffs and called one Favor and the other Union, and I shepherded the flock. In one month I got rid of the three shepherds.

     The flock detested me, and I grew weary of them and said, “I will not be your shepherd. Let the dying die, and the perishing perish. Let those who are left eat one another’s flesh.”

     Then I took my staff called Favor and broke it, revoking the covenant I had made with all the nations. It was revoked on that day, and so the oppressed of the flock who were watching me knew it was the word of the Lord.

     I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.

     And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the house of the Lord.

     Then I broke my second staff called Union, breaking the family bond between Judah and Israel." (Zech 11:7-14 NIV)

The two staffs of a shepherd: one to help steer the flock in the way they should go; the other with a crook in it so that they may be pulled to safety when they venture too close to danger. Zechariah sees a vision of these two staffs. One is called Favor and the other Union. They are broken. God's word is that the favor He has given to the people in His covenant with them; as well as the unity between Judah and Israel will be broken. The LORD's warning is that He will no longer be their shepherd. He will leave them to the worthless shepherd who has no heart for the people or for God.

The Good News, though, can be found in the thirty pieces of silver. This is the price that Judas was paid for betraying Jesus the Christ and it was with this money that the field where Judas committed suicide was purchased. This may not be good news for Judas; but, it is for us. For without the betrayal; without the death and the ultimate resurrection and ascension of Jesus, we would have no hope of entering into the Kingdom that has indeed been prepared for us. Even as God promised to break the covenant He had with the people, when He broke the two staffs of Favor and Unity; He has given us a new covenant. This new covenant is for the unity of all people in His Kingdom through the blood of Jesus the Christ.

Ultimately, God provided a Shepherd who can and will guide us in the way we are to go. He will keep us safe within the flock - united with God and with one another.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Zechariah 4 - Lampstand, Lamps, and Two Witnesses

What are all these symbols from Zechariah's vision?  Some of the visions given by the LORD can be a little difficult (if not impossible) to understand.

What, then shall we make of the solid gold lampstand with seven lamps? As today is Christmas Eve and our old testament reading is from Isaiah, I am proposing that the lampstand symbolizes the light of God that is to give light to the world. "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined." (Isaiah 9:2 NIV) Israel had lived in very dark times, indeed. They are rebuilding the temple of God that had been destroyed as they were taken into captivity.

And... at the right and left of the lampstand are two witnesses. These witnesses, for that time, are both political and religious. It is possible that Joshua, the High Priest and religious leader, and Zerubbabel, the political leader, were the two witnesses of this vision. Zerubbabel will see the completion of the temple in his day. Yet, it is not by any power or authority or might of these two witnesses or anyone else that the rebuilding of the temple will be accomplished. It will be done solely by the Spirit of God.

In light of the fact, that these two witnesses in Zechariah's vision are probably Joshua and Zerubbabel, it causes me to wonder about the similar vision in St. John's Revelation. "And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” (Rev 11:3-4)

I have a lot yet to learn and understand. But, on this Eve of Christmas it is enough to know that the light has come into the world and that the rebuilding of God's temple, that is the Church of God, is being accomplish by the Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ezekiel 11 - God's Glory With Us

The glory of the LORD is on the move. "The glory of the Lord went up from within the city and stopped above the mountain east of it." (Ezekiel 11:23 NIV) Ezekiel, in his vision, sees the cherubim, along with God's glory leave the city of Jerusalem and move to the mountain east of it.

The people who were not sent into exile to Babylon; those who were left behind, continue to do evil. Their leaders give are giving them bad advice. They do not follow in the ways of the LORD, but according to the ways of the nations around them.

The word that comes to Ezekiel is one of warning and of hope. Those who are left behind will be driven out; but, those who are in exile will return, They will remove all the false idols from Jerusalem and worship the LORD. He will give them undivided hearts and put a new and right Spirit within them. (vs. 19)

Those who have been tried and refined during their exile will return to the LORD and to their homes. Those who were left behind to live and worship in Jerusalem have only learned to think higher of themselves than they ought and have their only their demise to look forward to.

There are times for all (most?) of us when our lives get a little rough. Those who love the LORD will return to Him. Those who think too much of themselves and love only themselves will not return. The road will get a lot rougher for them. It is God's good will that none should be lost. Let us all rejoice and be reconciled to Him. May the glory of God be present with us, to be seen by all.

God's Peace - Pr. J