Why not start at the beginning?
Oct 28
Mission organizations like New Tribes Mission, for instance, found a problem when presenting the gospel to many pagan cultures. At first, they thought they were reaching these people by telling them about Jesus and the message of the Cross. But after some time, they started to realize that these people did not understand the message at all. Commitments they thought they had did not turn out to be real.
"Make it as sure as you can!"
Oct 21
"Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch." (Matthew 27:65, 66) Pilate had endured many strange experiences leading up to the crucifixion of Christ. Both he and some close to him (v. 19) had wanted to release Him, finding no fault in Him (v. 23). But, for political expediency, willing to pacify the Jewish leaders and quell a potential riot, Pilate had agreed to the execution. But once Christ was dead and in the grave, Pilate's troubles did not end. Perhaps we are justified in reading a tone of sarcasm and impatience in Pilate's words. "Make it as sure as you can." What is there to fear from a dead man? Guard the tomb if you want. But just perhaps Pilate was hounded by unexplained doubts; maybe a guard could prevent the bizarre fears from becoming reality.
Love not the world…
Oct 14
We must be wary of the world's "things," because we are "in the world" not "of the world" (John 17:11-16). The command in our text is that we are not to love the world or its things, not that we should remain blissfully ignorant of them. We are to be "wise as serpents, and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16). There are big things of the world like nations and kingdoms (Matthew 4:8; Luke 12:30) as well as cares and riches (Mark 4:19) which can sap our focus and drain our loyalties. And there are "rudiments" and "elements" (Colossians 2:20; Galatians 4:3) that can twist our thinking and "spoil" us (Colossians 2:8).
The Name of the Lord
Oct 07
"And God said unto Moses, I Am That at I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you." (Exodus 3:14) This unique name of God was given to stress the truth that He is timeless. The name "LORD" (Hebrew YHWH = Yahweh, or Jehovah) is essentially the same, conveying the truth that He is the eternal, self-existing One. The Lord Jesus Christ appropriated this divine name to Himself when He told the Jews: "Before Abraham was |i.e., 'was born'|, I am" (John 8:58). Correctly assuming that this statement was nothing less than a direct claim to identity with God, the Jews immediately (but unsuccessfully) attempted to stone Him to death as a blasphemer.
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