living devotees

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

2009-5-15-EV-baptism1 Peter 3:13-4:19.  Peter encourages believers to face the times they are in with complete devotion to Christ.

  1. God may allow them to face challenges to their faith.  As living devotees, them must honor Christ the Lord as holy, and always be prepared to defend their faith with gentleness and respect (3;13-17).
  2. Baptism is a reminder for living devotees that the challenges will be overcome by God’s power, not ours – as it was in the days of Noah – as it was in the resurrection of Christ (3:18-22).
  3. Suffering is a reminder that the end is near.  It should spur us on to love as we should, and to use our spiritual gifts as stewards of God’s grace.  The judgment that begins at the household of God will soon come upon those who do not obey the gospel (4:1-19).

LORD,  help us to respond to suffering as those who are completely devoted to you.  May we entrust our souls to our faithful creator and continue to do good.

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living examples

Posted on August 23, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

gods_design_for_marriage_umjr1 Peter 2:11-3:12.  Peter encourages believers to demonstrate their faith in Christ by good deeds, through which they show the world around them that Christ can change lives.

  1. They must keep their conduct honorable.
  2. They must submit to every human institution, living righteously.  This is following Jesus’ example, who remained sinless although suffering unjustly.
  3. Their marriages must also reflect this attitude of submission,  not because God has set men over women, but because the world is watching to see how Christians relate to one another.  So, Christian wives should submit to their husbands (even unbelieving husbands).  Husbands should honor their wives because their future inheritance is equal, or else their present relationship with God will suffer.
  4. They must never repay evil, but bless, that they may obtain a blessing.

LORD, make us living examples of what this world — which needs you — is looking for.

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the living stone

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

Temple-stone1 Peter 2:4-10.  Peter encouraged the Christians reading his words by comparing them with those who had opportunity to accept Christ, but had rejected him.  They had a temple made with dead stones.  Christ is the living stone, rejected by them, but accepted by God.

  1. Those who are in Christ are living stones as well, being fashioned into a new kind of temple, and a new priesthood – one that can offer sacrifices acceptable to God.
  2. Those who are in Christ can “come to him.”  The honor of an ongoing relationship is theirs.
  3. Those who are in Christ have been called out of darkness into his light.  They have received God’s mercy, and are his people.  It is they who will proclaim hid excellencies.

LORD,  thank you for our connection with Jesus Christ, the foundation stone of the new eternal house of God.  In him we are accepted, now and always. Praise him.

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the living word

Posted on August 21, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

open_bible1 Peter 1:13-2:3.  Peter encouraged the Christians reading his words to set their hope on something more substantial than human rulers or ancestors.  God’s word alone substantiates the hope of the believer.

  1. God’s word explains how he ransomed us with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
  2. God’s word reveals that he has become our Father, and expects us to be holy, for he is holy.
  3. God’s living and abiding word was the seed that was given birth in us.
  4. We have tasted the pure spiritual milk of God’s word.  We now crave it, and seek to grow up into the salvation we have experienced from him.

LORD, through your living word you have created in us a craving, a strong desire to be who we will be – to experience our destiny.  We set our hope fully on the grace that will be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  Until then, we trust in your written revelation.

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a living hope

Posted on August 20, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

IDL TIFF file

1 Peter 1:1-12.  Peter writes to Christians who are going through “various trials” which grieve them and threaten to steal their hope.  He seeks to encourage them by reminding them of God’s sovereign plan.

  1. In the past,  they were unsaved.  God chose to redeem them and sprinkled them with the atoning blood of Christ, and sanctified them by the presence of his Holy Spirit so that they could obey Christ.  They were born again.
  2. In the present,  they are being guarded through faith as they rejoice over their past and anticipate future glory.  The trials they face will test their faith, but cannot destroy their inheritance, defile it, or make it fade.
  3. The prophets who predicted Christ’s suffering and glory attest to the inheritance of his followers as well.  Just as Jesus suffered, and is now glorified, so all believers who suffer now will see glory in the future.

LORD, help us to persevere through the times of testing, so that the glory that is our living hope shines through.

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disciples: appointment with Jesus

Posted on August 19, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

The-Great-Commission-300x225Mark 16.  One must be cautious of commenting on the content of verses 9-20, since it is unclear whether these verses were part of what Mark originally wrote.  If we regard verse 8 as the true ending of the Gospel, then the last thing it records is the disciples’ appointment to meet Christ in Galilee.  That is where Jesus gives them his great commission, commanding them to make disciples (Matt.28:16-20).

Mark leaves his readers with the evidence of the empty tomb, and the appointment to see Jesus so he can pass on his orders.  He has done what the father sent him to do, now we must do what he is sending us to do.  The world is waiting.

LORD, we are your disciples.  You have taught us well.  Now, send us to make disciples of others in your name.  We are ready for our appointment.

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disciples: absent

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

Jesus_Carrying_the_Cross_1580

Mark 15.  The disciples are conspicuously absent from the narrative in this chapter, although they have a prominent place everywhere else.  They are not there in this chapter to speak up for Jesus when he is being accused and mocked and crucified.  Jesus must face this ordeal alone.

  1. They are not there to negotiate his release from Pilate. Barabbas is chosen instead.
  2. About 600 soldiers – an entire battalion – guard him, because he is accused of inciting rebellion against Rome. Resistance is futile.
  3. Passers-by at the cross mock him, asking him to come down from the cross.  But he cannot save himself and us too.
  4. Even God seems to forsake him as he shouts his last breath.  Some women are looking on from a distance.  Joseph procures his body and places it in a tomb.  No disciples.

LORD,  even in those times when we fail you – you are there, doing what needs to be done for our deliverance.  Thank you for doing what only you could do to deliver us from sin and death.  Thank you for going to the cross alone.

NOTE: Today I have added a new element to each day’s devotion post. If you click on the address at the beginning, your browser will open another window in the ESV Bible online with that day’s text. Enjoy.  marmsky.

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disciples: found napping

Posted on August 17, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

sleep

 

Mark 14.  Mark highlights the irony in that Jesus had just warned his disciples to stay awake (13:35, 36) and then follows with several stories that show that they are found napping – literally and figuratively.  Significant events are happening all around them, and they are unaware.

 

  1. A woman prepares Jesus’ head for burial by anointing it.  All the disciples could see was how expensive the oil was (3-9).
  2. Judas had set in motion the event of Jesus’ betrayal.  Meanwhile the disciples are not even aware of their own innocence (1-2, 10-21).
  3. Jesus is aware of the ensuing tragedy, while the disciples stubbornly ignore it.  They are caught napping when they should have been praying.  When the crowd comes, Jesus is ready to go with them.  the others flee (22-52).
  4. Peter was following at a distance.  He might have heard Jesus confess who he really was, but peter continued to deny who he  was until the rooster reminded him.  Wake up, Peter.

LORD,  perhaps today will be a significant time for us to share your gospel and acknowledge who we belong to.  May we not be found napping.

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disciples: questions about the future

Posted on August 16, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

temp-modMark 13.  Jesus and his disciples were on the Mount of Olives, overlooking the temple area – so vast that it covered 1/6th of the entire area of Jerusalem.  Jesus had just “dropped the bomb,” indicating that it would be destroyed.  The four fishermen disciples asked some questions about the future.  They wanted to know when “these things” (the destruction of the temple) and “all these things” (his coming and the end of the age) would happen.

  1. Jesus warned that the destruction of the temple was immanent.  It would happen within their lifetime.  It was part of God’s judgment upon the present Jews in Jerusalem for having rejected their Messiah.  It would not be delayed (14-20; 28-31).
  2. Most of the other signs (false Christs, wars, persecutions, earthquakes, famines, etc.) will come and go throughout the entire age – intermittently, like birth pains.  They are not signs of the end, but of the age itself.  During this age the gospel will be preached to all nations, then the end will come (5-13; 21-23).
  3. When Christ does come, it will be obvious – a cataclysmic event which cannot be hidden..  But no one will know the day nor the hour beforehand, so believers must keep awake and prepared for it at any time (24-27; 32-36).

LORD,  may we keep awake and proclaim your gospel to the nations in anticipation of your appearing.

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disciples: contributions to the kingdom

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

widows-mite1

 

Mark 12.  Jesus continues to teach his disciples by drawing attention to spiritual realities they are observing in the physical Jerusalem.  He points out a poor widow and her offering of two leptas – about 1/64th of a day’s wage  — insignificant in everyone’s eyes except God’s.

  1. The religious and political leaders in Jerusalem were the ones with clout and significance, and they liked it that way.  Jesus’ parable of the tenants was directed toward them (1-12).
  2. The Herodians rightly said that Jesus was “no swayed by appearances.”  He could see through them.  He knew they did not seek to honor God (13-17).
  3. The Sadducees’ problem with the resurrection was their failure to recognize who God is (18-27).
  4. The scribe was close.  He knew what mattered to God, but was not willing to live out his knowledge (28-34).

Jesus taught that these professional teachers of the law and religion should be avoided.  Their public display of spirituality hid a private lust for power and money.  They made no contribution to the kingdom.

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