Contend For The Faith

"Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith..."
– Jude 3

Jude and James are the half-brothers of Jesus (Mark 6:3). I imagine the many things they could see while growing up with their brother, their Savior. When he began writing this book, Jude’s heart was really to write about those things regarding our common salvation. Yet the Lord had other plans. The Holy Spirit moved on Jude’s heart to take a different direction. Rather than writing a book of comforts, it was a warning and call to arms.

The book of Jude speaks to the days we are living in now. The days of Apostasy. This book has such a unique place in the canon of Scripture. As Luke wrote the “Acts of the Apostles,” we can refer to the book of Jude as the “Acts of the Apostates.” How appropriate then that it was placed right before the Revelation. It was not by coincidence; this is by design. God always gives warnings before bringing judgment.

There will be a time when we all stand before the Lord in judgment. As believers in Christ, however, it is not to determine penalties for our sins. Christ has already dealt with those on the cross (John 5:24; Galatians 3:13). At the Bema seat of Christ, we as believers in Jesus as our Lord and Savior will have our works tested. And, our actions as believers will be rewarded (2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15). We may think to ourselves, “I don’t want a reward. I am just glad I am in heaven!” Of course, I agree. But as we live in this life, there is nothing greater than to be used by God to help further His kingdom. What amazing rewards must be waiting for those in Christ who have led others to Salvation through Him.

There are so many opportunities for us to share Christ with others today, especially in these days of Apostasy, and we need to pray that the Lord will use us. This is why we must continue to walk in the light and make ourselves available for Him. What keeps our compass pointing true North is the Word of God. Is your moral compass pointing true North?

God's Word Confirmed

"And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit."
– Luke 1:41

We have looked at Elizabeth and Mary’s lives separately during the Christmas season. We have seen how they were called, in their individual lives, to be part of the fulfillment of prophecy. Now we see them come together, and the Lord’s plan is further confirmed through their visit. The Bible is clear, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit when John the Baptist leaped in her womb (Luke 1:41). It was right when Mary, the mother of our Savior, walked into the room. Their meeting, along with the Holy Spirit’s direction validating what was being told to them through the angel Gabriel.

As the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit (Romans 8:16), we also bear witness with one another (John 15:26-27). Through our godly relationships, the Lord’s words may be confirmed in our lives. We certainly see this as the case here with Mary and Elizabeth. God worked with them separately, then brought them together for the common goal of bringing its long-awaited Messiah into this world. Although God does not need us, He certainly chooses to use human instruments to fulfill sovereign plans.

Mary had complete faith and trust in the words spoken to her. In her praise to the Lord, we see this as she magnified His name (Luke 1:46-55). Elizabeth recognized Mary’s faith when she said, “Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord (Luke 1:45). Elizabeth knew what genuine trust looked like because of her experience with unbelief. Her husband, Zacharias, was mute because of his doubting (Luke 1:20). He was excluded at this time from sharing what the Lord was doing. What a great lesson for all of us. Whenever there is unbelief in our hearts, it may be better to keep our mouths closed on spiritual matters. We may end up misguiding others as Zacharias could have, rather than confirming God’s will as Elizabeth did. But when we are abiding in Christ, we come together to encourage one another through praise and God’s Word (Ephesians 5:19).

“Our Christian beliefs have been revealed by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the sacred Scriptures. Everything there is clear-cut and accurate. We dare not be less than accurate in our treatment of anything so precious.”
- A. W. Tozer

The Forerunner of Christ

"But the angel said to him, 'Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John."
– Luke 1:13

When God was ready to do very important work throughout humanity, we found a commonality in the Bible. God did the miraculous through women who could not have children. And in the Lord’s timing and for His purposes, He would allow these women to become pregnant when they thought their childbearing days were over.

In their later years, Abram and Sarai had no children, but when God made the Abrahamic covenant, many nations came through their offspring (Genesis 17). When God needed a man to deliver Israel from the Philistines, He promised Manoah and his wife a son; they had Samson (Judges 13). And when God wanted to use a man to lead Israel out of spiritual corruption, He blessed Elkanah and Hannah with Samuel (1 Samuel 1). These women were barren and aged, but God did the impossible through them. In the same way, the Lord used Zacharias and Elizabeth’s lives to bring in their son, John the Baptist.

God was ready to do another critical work. John the Baptist would be used as the forerunner of the Messiah as was prophesied (Isaiah 40:3). John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17; Malachi 3:1-2; 2 Kings 1:8). He was filled with the Holy Spirit before he was even out of the womb (Luke 1:15). It is no wonder then why Jesus said there was no greater prophet than John the Baptist. He was the only prophet who was privileged to meet the One he foretold of (Luke 7:28).

God had a specific plan for John and an appointed time for him to be taken from this earth. The years in between those times were the most vital. This is when he would fulfill his calling. When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, we believe by faith what Jesus has done for us on the cross. That is just the starting point, though. Our faith builds from there by studying God’s Word (Romans 1:17; Romans 10:17). When His plan for us is revealed, we must be sure to fulfill it. The years between our salvation and our call home in heaven are the most valuable. Are we allowing the Lord to use our lives as He did with John the Baptist? We may be the only forerunner of Christ a person may ever hear.

"When they came, the message they heard was simple. Christ is coming! He is already on the way! He had left His Father's home on high and was about to burst upon the nation. Prophecy was about to be fulfilled with a vengeance. John motivated the people to ask, 'What shall we do to prepare for His coming?' He told them that they must take a stand for God against their sins-and enormous crowds repented then and there."
- John Phillips

Christ The Lord

"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
– Luke 2:11

Before the baby was in her womb, Mary was told that she would conceive a Son and that she should name Him Jesus (Luke 1:31). Yahshua, Yahweh is salvation, what a perfect name for our Lord because that is what God came to do. He came to save His people. There is no mistaking that Jesus is the Mashiach. He came to fulfill the law, which we celebrate today.

Today, in many Nativity scenes, we see Joseph, Mary, Jesus, and the wise men from the East. It is a beautiful picture yet somewhat incorrect. The wise men did not show up until later when Jesus was a young child. They did not enter into a manger, where Jesus was born, but into a house (Matthew 2:11). They did bring costly gold, frankincense, and myrrh which were gifts fit for the King of kings. However, when Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple on the prescribed day, they did not have these gifts. They could not offer a lamb for sacrifice. They had to employ the provision made to present two-turtle doves, the sacrifice of the poor (Leviticus 12; Leviticus 14:22). They were very poor at this time.

Many today teach that if you are a faithful spirit-filled Christian, you would be rich and that if you have enough faith in Christ, you can call things into existence. Yet I do not see that with Jesus and His life represented on this earth in the Gospels. When Jesus was talking with His disciples about the cost of discipleship, He said, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Luke 9:58). Jesus owned nothing at the beginning of His life and nothing at the end. His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36). He humbled Himself and was cloaked in humility for our sake. Jesus came so that He could understand everyone, from the least to the greatest, because no one is greater than Him, yet He made Himself least of all so that you and I might be saved. I pray you and I remember what Yahshua came to do for us as we celebrate the greatest gift ever given, God with us!

"Jesus Christ wasn't just a great religious teacher who walked on earth some two thousand years ago. The Bible says He was far more than that: He was God in human flesh. This is what we celebrate every Christmas-and this is what we should celebrate every day of our lives. The Bible tells us that on that first Christmas, God did something you and I can barely imagine: He came down from Heaven and became a man."
- Billy Graham

Gift of God

“The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, ‘Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!’”
– Luke 1:27-28

What an honor for Mary; she was blessed! You can hear in her prayer a deep love for her Maker (Luke 1:46-55). It is impossible to pray this way unless there is a genuine love relationship with the Lord. Notice that Mary is not greatest above women, but she is blessed among them. Mary was graced with the privilege of giving birth to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

As Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the Temple, they were met by Simeon. Simeon loved God and was waiting for the “Consolation of Israel.” Since the Holy Spirit was upon him, he recognized he had been waiting for Mary’s Son Jesus. The Bible tells us, “Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, ‘Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:34-35). The description of the sword was for Mary alone. It represented the sorrow she would experience as the mother of Christ. Although she would experience suffering in this way, her portion of God’s redemptive work was limited to this. Jesus alone died for the world’s sins (1 Timothy 2:5-6).

Jesus said, “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more” (Luke 12:48). This is a spiritual principle, and it was true for Mary. Along with a promise of blessing, she was also assured a moment of heartache. Today we experience the same spiritual truth. Many times blessings come with, or even through, pain. It could be to keep us humble and grounded, such as the case with the Apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 12:7). We may not understand why, and it could be for many reasons. In Mary’s situation, her willingness to experience this blessing and subsequent heartbreak helped usher in salvation for all humanity. It is possible that whatever you are experiencing today will help steer Jesus Christ into the hearts and minds of those around you. In your circumstances today, look for those opportunities to share the gift of God’s Son this Christmas.

"We have here an account of the mother of our Lord; though we are not to pray to her, yet we ought to praise God for her. The angel assured her that she had found favour with God, and would become the mother of a son whose name she should call Jesus, the Son of the Highest, one in a nature and perfection with the Lord God. JESUS! the name that refreshes the fainting spirits of humbled sinners; sweet to speak and sweet to hear, Jesus, a Saviour!"
- Matthew Henry

God With Us

"...and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which is translated, 'God with us.'"
– Matthew 1:23

The wise men that came to seek Jesus were unbelieving Gentiles. Although they were not God-fearing men, the Lord’s Word revealed to them, through creation, that Jesus was Messiah. It was the star that pointed them to the right place, and it was their study of the Old Testament that enlightened them to the truth (Matthew 2:1-6).

The Bible says faith comes by hearing and that by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). We are told that God holds His Word above His name (Psalm 138:2). This being the case, how are we to view the Word of God? We, too, must hold it above all else.

This verse tells us the Messiah will be Immanuel, God with us. Some may ask, “but I thought the Savior’s name was Jesus?” Jesus did fulfill this prophecy because He is God with us. Immanuel describes for us who Jesus is, God incarnate. We build our lives on a sure foundation when we truly understand this. Our basic understanding of the Scriptures is reinforced. It is like going from a concrete slab that cracks under the slightest amount of pressure to a foundation of concrete that can withstand a nuclear blast. Reading and understanding the truths outlined for us strengthens our faith.

The good news is that Jesus Christ came to this earth, not as a full-grown man but as a babe in a manger. It was for a purpose, to pay the penalty for our sins. We are made right with God because of what Jesus has done on the cross. This salvation is for all those who call on the name of Jesus. Those who realize that they are sinners in need of a Savior. This is the greatest gift and most incredible message. It is the gift that has been given yet must be accepted. God’s Word has declared it, and I pray you have accepted Christ today as your Savior.

“Christians should be grateful to God for the gift of his written Word, and conscientious in basing their faith and life entirely and exclusively upon it. Otherwise, we cannot ever honor or please Him as He calls us to do.”
– J.I. Packer

Truth From Bethlehem

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting."
– Micah 5:2

The prophet Micah is in the category of the “Minor Prophets.” Micah means “who is like Jehovah,” and he had a calling unlike all the others. Although from the Southern Kingdom, Micah ministered for about forty years to both Israel and Judah (Micah 1:1). Other than the books being shorter than those of the major prophets, I do not know why these books are called minor. There is nothing minor about them. They are compelling books with many references to our Savior Jesus Christ, and we see that here with Micah’s prophecy of the coming Messiah.

When you look at what is going on in the book of Micah, what battles were ensuing, and the events taking place as he was prophesying, all of a sudden, you get this “little” verse that just seems to appear out of nowhere. Just as this minor prophet’s words are full of power, this small verse in the middle of Micah carries so much weight. It is a Messianic prophecy given through circumstances that seem to have nothing to do with the times and events.

This setting was just like it was in the book of Isaiah. Ahaz would not ask God for a sign, so God gave His sign and said, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). There are so-called “Christians” today that do not believe in the virgin birth. I would say to them that they believe in a different Jesus. If Jesus were born of a man, He would have a sinful nature, and He could never be our Savior. He would then need salvation Himself. Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18). He is without sin so that He could pay the penalty for our sin. If not, He would have died on the cross and never been resurrected again. But He did pay our penalties on the cross and rose again on the third day (Mark 16:6). These are important distinctions to make and understand for true believers. There is no better news than that!

In Matthew’s Gospel, we find him referencing this specific verse from Micah. He is speaking to the Jewish person of the day. He pulled out many of the Old Testament Scriptures to make the point that Jesus Christ is King of kings! This is why we must gain an understanding of Jewish history. It gives us insight into their perspective and experience. They knew the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem. Exactly where Jesus was born (Matthew 2:1). They had something solid to hold onto that would solidify their faith if they believed. As Christians, we believe, but there are so many more truths that we can hang our faith on so we can confidently say, “I believe, and I know why I believe.” Christianity is not blind faith; it is faith in the truth of God’s Word. Is your faith standing firmly on the fact that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior?

Do You Believe?

"...but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name"
– John 20:31

During Christmas, we celebrate the Lord’s Incarnation. God came in the flesh to dwell among men (John 1:14). Yet, it was so much more than that because He had a purpose. It is like a book of the Bible. It is always good to understand the aim of each book. To know the meaning is to understand its intent. I love the purpose of the Gospel of John. Its purpose is “that you might believe.” That each one of us might believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior because He came to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10).

God works in many ways, but what has impacted me is how God can do the supernatural naturally. God sent His Son, Jesus our Messiah, through the virgin birth. Galatians 4:4 says, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” God’s purpose in sending His son was for redemption because we are all guilty of sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). No one can fulfill and live by the law. There is no forgiveness in it, and you break one, you break them all (James 2:10). Yet when Christ came, He lived a sinless life and was the perfect sacrifice that the law required (Hebrews 10:11-12).

We have such a loving God. We think of Him sometimes as a God of judgment and forget to remember His other attributes. David reminded us of who our Creator is when he wrote, “The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.” Our Heavenly Father desires salvation for those willing to call upon His name. The book of John was written with the same heart, that every one of us might believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Do you believe?

“On that first Christmas over 2,000 years ago, God did something that we can barely grasp: He became a man. Think of it: The God who created the universe stooped down from Heaven and became a human being!”
- Billy Graham

Jesus Is The Reason

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
– Genesis 1:1

We cannot celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ without also celebrating His purpose. He was beaten, put to death on the Cross, resurrected on the third day, and now sits at the Father’s right hand. Our salvation through the blood of the Messiah is the greatest gift given, and this is what we truly celebrate. God came to earth and experienced everything that we go through. He understands how we are formed because He created us. God knows our frame, design, and inward parts (Psalm 139:13-16). If He completely understands us, is there anything we cannot go to Him for? No! We can go to Him for anything we need because He can relate to us and understands everything we go through (Hebrews 4:15). He even knew loneliness (Matthew 27:46).

In the beginning, there was God who created everything (Genesis 1:1). God is the original word Elohim, the plural form of a singular God. He is the God above all gods represented in three persons, Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit (1 Peter 1:2). We are told in the New Testament that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was at the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:3). In the beginning, Jesus was encompassed in the name Elohim. He shares the same name, but He also shares the same characteristics seen throughout the Bible. You see these glimpses of Christ throughout the Old Testament Scriptures. It is only God who can walk on water and calm the seas, the very acts that Jesus performed (Psalm 107:29; Job 9:8; Mark 4:35-41; Mark 6:49). This is what we celebrate during Christmas, Jesus coming into the world to die for our sins.

We can get caught up in Christmas and miss the point. While Jesus should be the center, our attention is usually on everything else around Him. We fill our schedules with preparing meals, visiting family and friends, and battling crowds to buy presents. We can even be over-occupied with church. We can get “churched out” by having too many activities and forget the whole reason we are celebrating the season. We must stop and ask ourselves, “Is Jesus truly the focus?” If He is overlooked because you are busy doing other things, He has a way of getting our attention. Why does He have to take extreme steps sometimes? Because we need to be reminded, including me. I need to be reminded because I do not want to be caught up in these things. I want to be reminded of what led to being in love with Jesus. I desire that for my life, and I hope that for your life. Where is your attention today?

“A rule I have had for years is: to treat the Lord Jesus Christ as a personal friend. His is not a creed, a mere doctrine, but it is He Himself we have.”
- Dwight L. Moody

Believe The Sign

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel"
– Isaiah 7:14

Man is always trying to devise their own plans and wicked schemes (Proverbs 6:18). King Ahaz was an evil king (2 Kings 16:2), attempting to do that very thing. Syria and Israel joined forces and came up against Judah. King Ahaz and the people in Jerusalem became fearful. In response, Judah’s king made his own deal with the enemy. He gave them money from the Lord’s treasury (2 Kings 16:9). His confidence was not in God but in his skills and abilities. Ahaz was leaning on his human understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Isaiah was sent to Ahaz to caution the king to follow the Lord. He was to believe the Lord’s Word so that he, and the nation, would be established. The Lord told Ahaz they would be fine and that these nations would not even be standing soon. God, through Isaiah, was telling Ahaz to ask for a sign to confirm these truths. He says, “Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above” (Isaiah 7:11). Ahaz discounted God’s Word and trusted in his plans.

God’s Word is always trustworthy, yet we often do the same thing as Ahaz did. Rather than stand on our Savior’s promises, we rely on our plans, strength, and abilities when we need to listen and wait on the Lord (Isaiah 40:31). Since Ahaz would not ask for a sign, God would give His sign as a promise. This sign would be to the whole house of David. The promise of the Messiah, God with us.

If you and I today only had the book of Isaiah, we probably would not understand this sign of a virgin birth, but we do have it. We have the entire Bible and have the privilege of going into the New Testament and reading about this very prophecy coming to pass through the virgin birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! With this very evident sign fulfilled through Jesus our Messiah, it is a wonder why anyone would discount the Bible’s many testimonies. Have you believed the truth in these signs, or have you turned away from Christ? I pray you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior during this Christmas season.

"Jesus could not have made it any plainer in His teachings that every man during his lifetime must decide for himself whether or not he can afford the terrible luxury of unbelief!"
- Unknown

Why He Came

"...For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel."
– Matthew 2:6

Wise men from the East came in search of Jesus. They referenced God’s prophetic Word that directed them at this time (Micah 5:2). As time went on, Jesus was no longer a baby in a manger. This was a different setting than when the shepherds found Him. He was now a young child in a house. And the gifts that were presented to the Lord Jesus were suitable for a king (Isaiah 60:6). Not only were the words they referenced prophetic, but the presents they offered Jesus were foretold as well. The Bible says, “The kings of Tarshish and of the isles will bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba will offer gifts. Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; All nations shall serve Him” (Psalm 72:10-11). The Lord used unbelieving Gentiles to praise and worship the Messiah (Matthew 2:11). Proof that God has and still can use anyone in His divine plan. The gifts these men brought were suitable for the King of kings!

The Magi were divinely warned not to return to Herod as requested. At that same time, an angel of the Lord instructed Joseph to take his young family to Egypt. I wonder if Joseph said to himself, “Egypt! I thought our people were brought out of bondage in Egypt. Why would God want me to go there?” There was a reason for this command. God always has a reason for what He is doing. He knew Herod would make a decree that would massacre many innocents. Notice how the Lord does not stop the order but weaves His plan through the difficult times ahead.

Many prophecies intertwine through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Savior. In these chapters, we see references to men like Jeremiah, Micah, and Hosea. These prophets proclaimed and wrote in the context of what they saw in their day, yet foretelling what would happen in the future context of Jesus’ day. God always has His people where He needs them to use them for His purpose, and He continues to do this in our time. His Word is living and speaks to us to guide and direct our lives (Psalm 119:105).

The Book of Hosea says, “When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son” (Hosea 11:1). This is what Matthew was referencing when he said, “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son” (Matthew 2:15). What a picture prophecy, a “type” of the Messiah that Jesus always fulfilled! Egypt held the Israelites in bondage yet was set free by the Lord. Jesus was sent there to escape bondage yet set free to return home. Today we are set free from bondage by the Blood of Jesus Christ. This is why He came.

"'Behold, there came three wise men from the east to Jerusalem.' Is that what your Bible says? You say, 'No, you've inserted the number three.' Well, isn't that what you've been taught by your Christmas cards? I think a great many people know more about the Christmas story from Christmas cards than from the Bible, and therefore they have many inaccurate impressions."
- J. Vernon McGee

Saved From Sin

"...and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."
– Matthew 1:21

The Book of Matthew presents Jesus Christ just as He is supposed to be seen, as King of Kings. This book quotes the Old Testament Scriptures the most out of all four Gospels. These quotes pointed to Christ. Jesus is the Son of David, the Son of Abraham (Matt. 1:1). He was what the Nation of Israel was waiting and yearning for, their Messiah.

After Joseph and Mary were betrothed, Mary was “found with child of the Holy Spirit.” The Bible tells us that Joseph was thinking about these things. What was going on with Mary must have brought deep thoughts into Joseph’s mind and heart. Joseph was experiencing concerns. An angel was sent by the Lord who told him, “do not be afraid to take Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 1:20). God’s Word was brought to Joseph to provide comfort and assurance. As a result, he listened and did what the Lord had told him to do. Joseph believed it.

So often, we are told something in the Scriptures, and we begin to doubt. As a Christian, we do not have to doubt God’s Word. It can be trusted. It is the only thing that is reliable. Many times we are not really doubting the Scriptures. What we are truly questioning is if those Scriptures are for us personally.

It is easy to sit back and think what we hear from the Lord is for someone else, yet we must consider that what we are hearing is for us individually. And, that is what we find Joseph doing, trusting that what is being told to him is true. His obedience helped usher in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As the Lord begins to speak to you personally, make sure you listen and do. Your obedience may help usher the Savior into the heart of someone who needs to hear the good news about Jesus.

"Christ is a substitute for anything, but nothing is a substitute for Christ”
- H. A. Ironside

The Coming Messiah

"Then Mary said, 'Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.'"
– Luke 1:38

In Jesus’ day, Israel was under the rule of Rome, and the people were experiencing hardship. This government was very oppressive, especially towards anyone not a Roman citizen. As a result, the people were crying out for help. They were looking for their Messiah. In His first Advent, God brought Jesus at the perfect time for salvation, and His Second Advent will be in God’s perfect timing as well. Jesus Christ came into the world at the time of the law. There was rule and law through the government and the Mosaic law through religion, and Jesus came to replace both. He came to fulfill and overcome the law and replace it with grace. Because of His mercy, we receive the grace of salvation (Ephesians 2:4-5).

God naturally did the supernatural. Our Lord and Savior was born of virgin birth through Mary. The people who knew Mary probably had a difficult time with her pregnancy. I would imagine many of them wondered if she had actually been with Joseph or someone else and became pregnant. This is the kind of ‘scandal’ that would be held over someone their whole life. It was probably this way for Mary. But Mary made a decision that would impact everyone for eternity. She responded to God’s call and fulfilled a role she probably never thought she would have ever been called to.

In our Christian walks, there will be times when the Lord asks us to respond to His call. It may be in a position or role we never even thought about. And there will come a time when He will ask, “Will you do this for Me?” If God asks you to do something, even if you cannot see yourself doing what He’s called you to do, would you say no to Him? As a child of God, Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord, let it be to me according to Your word.” Regardless of how she looked to others, she was willing to answer the call. What a great model for us to follow today. Has the Lord asked you to do something you know He calls you to do? Have you answered that call? Let the Lord rule and reign in your life so you can say, “let it be to me according to your word!”

"The birth of Jesus is the grandest light of history, the sun in the heavens of all time. It is the pole-star of human destiny, the hinge of chronology, the meeting-place of the waters of the past and the future.”
- C. H. Spurgeon

Held Captive

"So the priests and the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.”
– Ezra 2:70

In the book of Jeremiah, in chapter thirty-two, Judah’s last king placed Jeremiah in prison. He was charged with preaching treason against the Nation. Zedekiah only wanted positive confessions towards him and Judah, and he did not want the truth (Jeremiah 32:2-5). Jeremiah was prophesying that the king of Babylon was going to overtake them and place them into captivity. We know Jeremiah was a true prophet because the Babylonian captivity did take place. Here in Ezra, after the seventy years of captivity were over, we now see them coming back.

The Lord told Jeremiah that his uncle would come to him and offer the right of inheritance. God instructed Jeremiah to purchase the land because it would once again be filled with His people (Jeremiah 32:6-15). Imagine that! Why would anyone buy property in their own land if they knew a foreign land would eventually take it over? It would be worthless. That is not smart real estate investing and terrible business sense. To the outside world, this was foolish, yet to the godly, it was obedience. Sometimes the Lord has us doing things that seem foolish to the world, yet He always has a plan. When we are instructed through God’s Word to accomplish a task, we must be sure to see it through to completion.

Imagine the conflict inside of Jeremiah the prophet. On the one hand, God is telling him to proclaim the destruction of the land, and on the other, He is telling the prophet to purchase property in the same land. Jeremiah did what he was asked to do because he knew God had a plan, which was confirmed (Jeremiah 32:8). It is important to remember that when the Lord communicates His plan, He always confirms it through His Word (Isaiah 44:26).

Jeremiah was instructed to purchase the land because God would eventually bring back those held in captivity. Here in Ezra, we see the beginning of this plan of restoration taking shape. Just as God had a plan to restore the Nation of Israel, He wants to restore us today. Jesus died on the cross for our sins. He paid the penalty and purchased us with His precious blood. He sits at the right hand of the Father and desires for us to be with Him in heaven. The question now is, have you decided to enter into the land purchased and promised for you, or will you remain held captive in sin?

“A man by his own sin may waste himself, which is to waste and lose that which on earth is most like God. The man who dies out of Christ is said to be lost, and hardly a word in our language expresses his condition with greater accuracy”
- A.W. Tozer

A Longing Soul

"As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God."
– Psalm 42:1-2

Out of the five books that make up psalms, book two begins with chapter forty-two. There are several writers in book two, including Asaph, David, Solomon, and three, that are anonymous. Seven of these psalms include the heading “of the Sons of Korah,” including this one. More than likely, this is not the author but rather psalms delivered to the Sons of Korah to be performed by them. Regardless of the instrument God chose to use, He spoke through His Word.

This psalm is titled a maschil, the Hebrew word for contemplation. It is a song of instruction, and we should always be open to learning to gain wisdom in the Lord (Proverbs 9:9). We as Christians need to remember that we have the opportunity to glean from one another. There should never be a time in our lives when we think we know it all and have arrived (1 Corinthians 8:2; 13:9-12). And as long as we have a desire to hear from the Lord, we will be able to receive the Lord’s messages through any of His servants.

We find the psalmist on spiritual highs and lows. One moment he is overwhelmed with encouragement, and the next, he seems to fall to spiritual depths. It is not unlike our lives today. With the many things we are experiencing, it appears that problems come in wave after wave. The writer associated nature, God’s creation, with how he was feeling. Just as an innocent deer yearned for water in a dry land, his soul longed for the refreshing comfort of the Living God. This is a longing that we should all have, yet if that desire is faint or has gone, we should examine our relationship with the Lord. Does your soul still long for Christ, or do you think you have arrived?

The Great Shepherd

"...We are His people and the sheep of His pasture."
– Psalm 100:3

Several Psalms of praise lead up to what has been called “Old One Hundredth.” The words in this Psalm reflect many of the previous Psalms that celebrate God’s rule (Psalm 93; 95-99). These verses are a call for praise to God because He is the Creator and is sovereign. The Lord’s people were not to be quiet in their praise. In-fact, people everywhere were being exhorted to shout to the Lord (Psalm 96:1; Psalm 97:1; Psalm 98:4).

This is written to the Nation of Israel, God is their shepherd. This fact is also a truth for us today. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:14-16). The distinction between Jew and Gentile has disappeared. In Christ, we are made one.

Jesus did not only have the Nation of Israel in mind when He was headed to the cross. His heart of compassion went out to all people. The Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ, died, was buried, and resurrected on the third day for you and me. When we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we become the sheep of His pasture. We are His when we have been washed by the blood of eternal covenant (Hebrews 13:20).

"The human race has always been on a quest for truth and acceptance, yet men and women must accept the One who is the truth. Jesus Christ extends His long arm of salvation to all."
– Billy Graham

Growth Through Trials

“Now these are the people of the province who came back from the captivity, of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his own city.”
– Ezra 2:1

Chapter two of Ezra is made up of a list of names. It names all those who returned to Jerusalem from Babylon in the first wave. We should not gloss over this section of Scripture. We must remember, if God wanted this penned, there is a reason. There is something the Holy Spirit would like us to learn, and there is a purpose for all of this information.

At this time, Jews were in captivity for seventy years. It was a long enough period where they were able to multiply; there was growth. Persia was a heathen nation, and Cyrus was a pagan king. God would use them as His instruments to bless the Nation of Israel. King Cyrus put a decree in motion to set the exiles free. It was those who took the proclamation to heart that would go to Jerusalem to rebuild. Out of the over two million Jews in Babylon at this time, only a remnant moved.

It is estimated that there were approximately two million Jews in Babylon at this time. It is interesting that there was growth during a time of captivity. This Old Testament illustration gives us a New Testament truth. Growth often comes under testing, persecution, and trial (James 1:2-4).

As Christians, the Lord begins to develop our lives when we experience issues. Rarely is their growth in our walks with Christ during times of peace. It is during times of adversity that we seem to grow the most. This is when we are found on our knees inquiring of Him and crying out to Him. This is exactly where we should be. It is in our weakness that He is made strong (2 Corinthians 12:9).

"The storm is not a thing to fear but rather to welcome. As soon as you have made the discovery that in the time of stress and strain you have the clearest revelations of the Lord, you will learn to head into the wind with sheer delight."
– Francis J. Roberts

Jesus Never Fails

"Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me."
– Psalm 41:9

There are five volumes in the Book of Psalm, with the first set known as the “Creation Psalms.” They end with chapter forty-one. This is a Messianic Psalm because it speaks of Christ prophetically. It is fitting that this Psalm begins and ends with a blessing. In verse one, David wrote, “Blessed is he who considered the poor; The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble” (Psalm 41:1). As he finished the chapter, David wrote, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen” (Psalm 41:13). What a great way to conclude anything we do, with praise and worship to the Lord (Colossians 3:23).

As the Holy Spirit directed David to write what was on his heart, he may not have been aware that he was writing about the Messiah, the Christ that would come from his own lineage. Many times in our own lives, we may not realize when the Lord is speaking in and through us. It may be a word of knowledge or something prophetic. As the Lord allows us to talk to others, may we always pray He speaks through us and avoid giving our own advice. God’s word is what has power and authority (Hebrews 4:12). It should be our desire as vessels for the Lord to speak through us. And this is what is happening with David.

David was experiencing betrayal, and it was heartbreaking. It sometimes seems that there is nothing worse than betrayal. To have someone you have poured your life into turn their back on you. Nobody understood this more than Jesus. In fact, Jesus quoted this Psalm when He spoke of Judas Iscariot. Jesus knew Judas would betray Him and said, “He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me” (John 13:18). But Judas is not the only one that ever betrayed Jesus. We all have at one time or another. The Bible tells us that we have all gone astray and turned each one to his own way (Isaiah 53:6). We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Yet, there is hope for those who call on the name of Jesus. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did die on the cross, but He did not remain there. He was raised on the third day and is alive! When others betray us, and it seems everyone has turned their backs on us, Jesus never will.

"Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."
– Deuteronomy 31:6

Two Become One

"Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord..."
– 1 Corinthians 7:10

The Corinthian church had no New Testament; it was being written right before their eyes. Jews and Gentiles were accepting Christ. Many married couples found themselves unequally yoked. When one spouse was saved and the other was not, they did not know how to deal with it. Because of this, they asked Paul for his counsel. Paul was the best man to answer these questions because he was a man who knew the Scriptures and applied grace. Qualities any believer should look for when seeking godly advice.

Many of the Jews who received Christ still held on to the Old Testament commands. God’s Word instructed the people of Israel to separate from ungodly wives (Ezra 10:2-3; Nehemiah 13:23-25). Now they were wondering what to do because they were no longer under the law but under grace (Romans 6:14). Yet Jesus had already given this instruction during His earthly ministry. He said, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning, it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery” (Matthew 19:8-9). Our own Savior provided specific commands, yet they were not being followed. In the Corinthian church, divorce was rampant for many invalid reasons.

God truly hates divorce (Malachi 2:16). As Christians, when we think about ourselves as the Bride of Christ, the Lord does not divorce us when we are His. He is not selfish but longsuffering (2 Peter 3:9). Those of us who are married must be the same. The two have become one flesh, never to be ripped apart. This is how an approved marriage, in God’s eyes, should be viewed. What God has brought together, let no man separate (Mark 10:9).

"Marriage is an unconditional commitment to an imperfect person."
– Unknown

The Name of Jesus

“Then the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.’”
– Luke 1:30-31

Jesus is the Name above all names. Jesus is God incarnate who came down from His thrown to us in the lowliest way He could, in humility (Phil. 2:8-9). Born in a stable with no room for Him in the inn, Jesus was born to a carpenter of no stature and raised in a rural area. He is Jesus of Nazareth. The Lord humbled Himself and was of no reputation. I believe that Jesus was born in this way to identify with us (Isaiah 53:3). In this way, He could reach all those in need of a Savior (Luke 19:10). Jesus means “Jehovah is salvation.” This is exactly what God came to do on the cross, bring salvation (Matthew 1:21).

Jesus came to be our living example. After He washed the disciples’ feet, Jesus tells them, “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you" (John 13:15). Jesus is also our example in prayer, and we see Him often praying in the Scriptures. And when we pray, we are told to pray in the name of Jesus (John 14:13-14; John 16:23-24). We pray this way to ensure we are in His will (1 John 5:14).

There is power in the name of Jesus. Demons are cast out in His name (Mark 16:17-18). Healing takes place in His name (Acts 3:6). We are baptized in His name (Matthew 28:19). We receive salvation and justification in His name (Romans 10:13; 1 Corinthians 6:11). Everything we say and do should be done in His name. Just as the Apostle Paul instructed when he wrote, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” (Colossians 3:17). Mary was instructed to call Him Jesus so that we could call Him Savior. Have you called on His name today?

“Now I rejoice in the fact that Jesus is my Saviour, my Friend, my Brother. I rejoice that in the strength of love, He stoops to take my hand, to make my heart His home and my life His care. But I would not forget that this same Jesus who is Saviour, Friend, Brother is also King; that this Jesus who is full of grace and truth, is also Lord of glory before whom Cherubim and Seraphim veil their faces, whose steps legions of angels attend, and Who has all authority given to Him in heaven and on earth. Perhaps in these days, we need nothing more than the recovery of the bracing sense of the authority, majesty, and kingship of Jesus.”
– J.D. Jones