Righteous Deeds Revealed

Revelation 15

3b “Great and marvelous are your works,

O Lord God, the Almighty.

Just and true are your ways,

O King of the nations.

4 Who will not fear you, Lord,

and glorify your name?

For you alone are holy.

All nations will come and worship before you,

for your righteous deeds have been revealed.”

As I listen to Handel’s Messiah this morning, and as I read from God’s Word, I cannot help but grow in excitement on this Christmas Eve. Jesus is Lord, and His righteous deeds have been revealed. As we celebrate His birth tonight and tomorrow, may I celebrate His life every day. May He be glorified always.

Public Proclamation

Psalm 111

1 Praise the Lord!

I will thank the Lord with all my heart
as I meet with his godly people.
2 How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!
All who delight in him should ponder them.
3 Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.
His righteousness never fails.
4 He causes us to remember his wonderful works.
How gracious and merciful is our Lord!

I am so privileged to meet with my brothers and sisters in Christ this morning to Celebrate Jesus. I do not want to EVER take this weekly gathering for granted, because there are many on this planet who gather to celebrate Jesus at great personal peril. Many who must do so in secret. In the United States of America at this point in our history, it is perfectly legal for us to gather to proclaim the glory of God in a corporate setting. Should that legality change, I will still proclaim God’s glory, and I will still meet with others to do so. God’s righteousness never fails, and my need to publicly remember His wonderful works will never end.

Sharing in Christ's Suffering

Romans 8

17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

Isn’t it funny how we like to think about being co-heirs with Christ, having a share in God’s glory, but we rarely hear this passage in its entirety. If we are going to share in his (Christ’s) glory, we must also share in his (Christ’s) suffering. When it comes right down to it, the question I must ask myself today, as a follower of Christ, is: what have I suffered for the sake of the Kingdom? If I haven’t really suffered, then can I really share in his glory?

No Other Name

Acts 4

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, 9 are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? 10 Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene,the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. 11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,

‘The stone that you builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.’

12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

We preacher types often want to compare ourselves to Peter. Bold, brash, speak before thinking Peter. That is the Peter before the Resurrection. Post Resurrection Peter is Bold, Confident in Christ, and No Nonsense in his approach. Now, THAT’S the Peter to which I want to be compared. The one who unashamedly and fearlessly proclaims the name of Jesus tell all that there is no other Name under heaven by which we must be saved.

No Neutral Ground

Luke 11

23 “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.”

Jesus lays it all out about as plainly as possible here. There is no neutral ground regarding Jesus. Either you are with Him or you are against Him. Half-hearted platitudes mean that you are against Him. Wanting Jesus to be a part of your life, but not wanting Him to be Lord of your life means that you are against Him. It is my prayer this day and every day, that my every thought, word and action will be FOR Jesus. How about you?

Endure NO MATTER WHAT

1 Thessalonians 1

1bMay God give you grace and peace.2 We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. 3 As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I have had my Chick-a-Boo on my mind a lot lately as she has gone through one of the worst time periods of her life over the past two months. A person she thought was a dear and trusted friend has turned her back on Emily, even to the point that Emily was asked to move to a different bedroom in her apartment yesterday. While Emily is not at fault in a long series of frankly, moral failures on the part of this once-upon-a-time friend, Emily is paying the price. We are praying with and for her, asking her to take the high ground and continue living out her Christian principles. She is hurting right now, and so am I. I know that God will walk her through this stinky time in her life and that she will be stronger for it. I pray that her relationship with Christ grows because of this mess, and that she understands the importance of enduring NO MATTER WHAT.

Don't think like everyone else

Isaiah 8

11 The Lord has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does.

On this September 11th, I am reminded that God has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does. On this day, when America remembers the worst terrorist attack in this nation’s history, I also want to remember that the attack of the evil one is relentless. I do not want to lower my guard, even for one second. God is good, and He is doing great things (as witnessed by two more baptisms for VCC today). Even so, satan prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. May I never let up in my warning to other Christ followers to stay alert. May I never cease to give God praise, to call upon the Name of the Lord, and to be faithful to His call upon my life. May I never be found guilty of thinking like everyone else does, but instead, may my thoughts be the thoughts of God, and God alone!

Majesty of God and His love for me

Psalm 8

3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—

the moon and the stars you set in place—

4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,

human beings that you should care for them?

When I look at the night sky, my insignificance stands out. When I look at the day sky, the glory and wonder of God overwhelms me. I do realize that I am a mere spec of dust in the universe. Yet, the Creator of everything, the Author of Life, knows me and loves me. Now, THAT is overwhelming. Thank You, God for Your unfailing love. Thank You for choosing me to be a vessel of the Good News. Thank You for providing me with Peggy to be my life mate. Thank You for my children, for the ministry with which you have entrusted me. Thank You, Lord, for the forgiveness of sins provided through Your One and Only Son, Jesus. May my life reflect Your great love and forgiveness always!

Remember What He Says

Luke 9

43b While everyone was marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, 44 “Listen to me and remember what I say. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies.” 45 But they didn’t know what he meant. Its significance was hidden from them, so they couldn’t understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

Jesus always made His intentions and His purpose clear, but even His closest followers didn’t “get it.” Not only was this purpose “hidden from them,” but “they were afraid to ask.” Don’t let fear keep you from seeking the will of God the Father through Jesus the Son! Don’t let your slowness to comprehend deter you from following the Christ. I say these things to Scott Blount, and if they help anyone else, so be it! Scott, today, you need to listen to Jesus and remember what He has said! Only a few more days until we celebrate Resurrection Sunday. Jesus has risen! Nothing else matters!

Scary Humbling

Luke 5

8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m too much of a sinner to be around you.” 9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. 10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.

Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” 11 And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.

Peter has the appropriate and honest response to Jesus here. I feel the same way…I am too much of a sinner for the Holy, Perfect, Son of God to want to hang around with. Yet, He does want to hang around with me. That is scary humbling. My only proper response to such great Love is to leave everything that I thought was mine and to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. I surrender my will to His daily and pray that I can do better for Jesus today than I did yesterday.

Closet Followers

Mark 15

43 Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.)

Matthew 27

57 As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who had become a follower of Jesus, 58 went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. 59 Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. 60 He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left.

Luke 23

50 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, 51 but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. 52 He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock.


John 19

38 Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away. 39 With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night.

One of the interesting things about reading the Chronological One Year Bible, is getting to see the different accounts side-by-side as you are reading. Two things really jump out at me in this story as told by each of the four Gospel writers:
1) Joseph “took a risk.”
2) He was a “secret disciple” as was Nicodemus.
I wonder how many of us would be classified as a “secret disciple?” How many of us allow the fear of some group from whom we think we need approval to keep us quiet about wanting to follow Jesus. I mean, it certainly is not Politically Correct to do so, and the PC Police are anything but tolerant when it comes to those who would follow Christ. So, lots of folks choose to try to be “closet followers” of Christ. There comes a time when that is simply no longer an option. A risk must be taken. Just like Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus did. I just pray that those who are “closet followers” don’t wait too late, because Jesus says that he who acknowledges Him before me will be acknowledged by Him before the Father. Conversely those who deny Him before men, will be denied by Jesus before the Father.

Bitter Tears

Mark 14

66 Meanwhile, Peter was in the courtyard below. One of the servant girls who worked for the high priest came by 67 and noticed Peter warming himself at the fire. She looked at him closely and said, “You were one of those with Jesus of Nazareth.”
68 But Peter denied it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, and he went out into the entryway. Just then, a rooster crowed.
69 When the servant girl saw him standing there, she began telling the others, “This man is definitely one of them!” 70 But Peter denied it again.
A little later some of the other bystanders confronted Peter and said, “You must be one of them, because you are a Galilean.”
71 Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know this man you’re talking about!” 72 And immediately the rooster crowed the second time.
Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he broke down and wept.

Oh, if I only wept bitter tears when I deny Jesus. I mean, we pick on Peter in this passage, because after swearing that he will stick with Jesus no matter what, he does deny Jesus three times just as our Lord had said he would. Even though Peter promised it would never happen…it did. When I think about the promises I have made to Jesus…promises to stick with Him through thick and thin…promises to NEVER deny Him with my words, nor my actions…well breaking down in bitter tears would be appropriate. Just as Peter was restored by Jesus, I am so glad that my repentance restores me in my relationship with my Lord and Savior. Father, help me to do better in my walk with Jesus. May I walk closer to Him so that denial doesn’t come so easily. May I live a life that reflects the love of Christ to everyone, especially those who would hate me because of Christ. Especially those who have hurt me, or my family. The rooster has crowed, may my bitter tears be wiped away by the hands of my Loving Lord.