Month: June 2015

John 11:47-50 NASB
“Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.””

The Jewish leadership looked at the works and signs of Christ, the Son of God, and saw in him a threat to their livelihood, way of life, and nation. As a result of their lack of understanding of who Christ was, and in fear of inciting the anger of Rome, they plotted and ultimately succeeded in killing Jesus. It was in their best interest they concluded, at least from a temporal and temporary sense, that he be destroyed. The Jewish leadership, in the name of “religion” and “righteousness” determined to destroy the Messiah. The truth is that Christ came to die on the cross. It was not their will being done…it was the will of the Father.

Two thousand years later we sit in a country that largely does not know or understand Christ. They do not understand who he is, what he did, or what he represents. As a result, our nation continues to seek to kill him and what he represents. He is seen as a threat to their way of life and the nation as a whole. Many leaders in our nation today kowtow to the threat of external influence and attack from man, like the Jewish leaders did in response to the potential threat of Rome, and seek to destroy the righteousness of God at every turn.

Jesus knew that his day on the cross would come. He also knew that this season in our nation would come. In fact, we are told throughout Scripture that these kinds of events will occur as the day of Christ’s return draws near. Jesus knew that the nation of Israel would bow to the Romans and through their actions, the perfect salvific purpose and sovereign will of His Father, would be accomplished.

This week a decision was made in this country that is deeply troubling to those that call Jesus Christ Lord. Take heart though…just like the events of those days were a part of the perfect will of God, His perfect will is being done in this nation and around the world to this day.

Psalm 47:8 declares “God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne.” That truth has not and will never change. We may not understand why things like this happen, and we should certainly be grieved by the things that grieve God.  But remember and stand resolute on the truth that our holy, heavenly Father is in control.

In James 1:22, James writes these words “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves” (NASB). As beloved believers in Christ we are commanded to be doers of the Word. This is not a trivial recommendation or suggestion…this is a practical, daily, lifelong expectation that God has of us.

How we do this is unique to each of us and to each of our lives. God has planted each of us in a unique setting, at a unique time, around a unique set of people. Our obedience to God by living a life for Christ that is putting to work – a.k.a. “doer-ing”, the Word of God, is something that each of us are uniquely qualified to do, in our own uniquely customized life situation.

In Hebrews 12:1, Paul writes those familiar words…”Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” Our presenting of ourselves, in all regards, in our “doer-ing” of the Word of God each day, is one of the ways we fulfill that spiritual service of worship.

Let us worship God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength today!