“Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.  He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit” - 1 Peter 3:18

 God is the Creator and Sustainer of everything in the universe. He is eternally powerful and infinitely wise. We were created by God and for God (Genesis 1:27). Being made in His image, we are designed to have fellowship with Him. But there is one problem – one BIG problem.

Sin restricts us from having a relationship with God, which is what we were created to do. Being sinners by nature, we all sin all the time. YOU have sinned, and so have I. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). When we die, we will reap our due reward. As a worker deserves his wages, so the sinner deserves eternal separation from God in hell. That is very bad news. Hell is real, and it is a terrible place.

God does not desire that this happen, so He became a man in Jesus Christ. In the greatest display of love in all of history, Jesus took on the punishment we were to receive by dying a painful death on the cross. “He Himself bore our sins” (1 Peter 2:24). In essence, God punished Jesus instead of punishing us. Three days after His death, He rose from the grave, proving His victory over sin and death, and securing the way of salvation.

Salvation, however, is not guaranteed to everyone. Jesus told people that they must “Repent and believe the good news” in order to be saved (Mark 1:15). You must turn from sin and run to God to receive His free gift of salvation. Then, He will grant you forgiveness and the unspeakable joy of being in a right relationship with Himself. God’s grace through Jesus Christ is not just a ticket to heaven; it is an ability to defeat the power of sin, and ultimately to be with God for all eternity. True and everlasting joy is only found in God through Jesus Christ. This is the good news.  Repent and trust Christ today!

What if Jesus were to visibly appear to me tonight and tell me, “I am sending you into the world to be a witness for me; to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world; to boldly proclaim the good news that I am the Christ; to preach the Gospel to my people and to disciple my followers; to live a life in pursuit of holiness; to find your joy in my glory.”  What if He said something like that?  That would probably inspire me to a new level of godliness and devotion.  But…

 He did say these things to me.   

 John 20:21 says, “Peace be with you!  As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”  Specifically, Jesus is addressing His disciples at this point.  But generally, I am His disciple and this is a commission to every one of God’s children.  I often feel somewhat removed from the comisssions and exhortations in Scripture, but for no good reason.  Whatever God has spoken into the pages of my Bible should be received as if God had audibly spoke it into my ear.  I am not removed from the commands and decrees of Scripture, for time and original audience should make no difference (most of the time).  The Bible was written to me, and I should read it as if God had hand-written it to me.  Because in a sense, He did. 

“I preached that they should REPENT and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds” – Acts 26:20

John the Baptist: “Repent…”

Jesus: “Repent…”

Peter: “Repent…”

Paul: “Repent…”

Although people of our day do not see repentance as the most endearing of words, it is a concept that was used heavily by the 4 powerful evangelists and teachers above.  It is a concept necessary for gaining salvation; a turn from sin to God.  That’s the Gospel.  That’s the greatest news ever.  I can turn from my sin and run into the arms of a powerful God who will not let me go.  Repentance is truly a glorious thing, however unpopular the word may be in this day and age. 

But how do I know I have repented?  How can I know I have gained salvation?  It is a spiritual happening, and it is often hard to see or feel?  I can know the reality of my repentance unto God by the works of my life.  A changed life, with new convictions and a pursuit of holy living show true repentance, but continual, unrepentant deeds of darkness prove the opposite.  Jesus taught the same thing in Matthew 7.  If I am a good tree, I will bear good fruit.  If I am a bad tree, I will bear bad fruit.  Our fruit (deeds) magnify our heart’s repentance or lack thereof. 

Lord, daily show me the sin I must repent of.  Give me a repentant heart, and show this world the power of that word.     

That’s what it comes down to on the Final day.  Some will receive their due wages (justice) and others will be shown kindness (mercy)? 

Psalm 28:4   
Repay them for their deeds
       and for their evil work;
       repay them for what their hands have done
       and bring back upon them what they deserve.

How foolish it would be to call on God to “give me justice!” No.  I know my deeds, and they are evil.  The sin of my hands earned me nothing but the grave.  My ‘just’ punishment is an appointment with eternal death.  So, instead I call on God to “grant me mercy!”  Christ took my place on the cross; He took my penalty upon Himself.  He received the justice I deserved, that I might be shown mercy once clothed with Jesus.  

How wonderful is the gift of unmerited favor?  How gracious is our God?  Christ has given me His robe of righteousness in place of my robe of wickedness?  I don’t fully know why He wanted to trade, but He did, and I praise God for it.

God, thank you for your grace.  Thank you for your mercy.  You are good, and holy, and loving, and just.  You are an awesome God.  Amen.

Matthew 28:18-20

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

Who has the ultimate authority?

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”

What does he command us to do?

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…”

Where does our help come from?

“…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age”

The Creator and Sustainer of heaven and earth has given me the green light.  It’s time for me to GO.  It’s time for me to proclaim Jesus and make disciples.  And I am not alone.  The same God who is telling me to go also promises to be with me always.  And He is faithful.

“I lift my eyes up to the hills; where does my help come from?  My help comes from the LORD; the Maker of heaven and earth.”

God, give me the strength for today, that I might testify without shame and with great confidence.  Use me and teach me today.  AMEN

Proverbs 28:23
He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor than he who has a flattering tongue.
 

Why do I sometimes buy into the lie that it is more “loving” to let people remain in their sin, rather than show them their sin and their subsequent need for a Savior.  Love really shouldn’t be like this “hands-off” approach.  True love is active, not passive.  Real love will risk offense for the greater good. 

If my brother is walking off a cliff, the real loving thing to do is to stop him; not let him continue to wander in his ignorant bliss.  And not only to tell him of his fate, but to do anything necessary to redirect his course.  Similarly, in this world, my job is to tell people of their fate; “the wages of sin is death”.   My duty to God is not to tickle their ears with flattery, but to show them the way to the Savior, always speaking the truth in love.

Lord, give me a heart of love; love that knows when to correct and when to “flatter”.  Teach me what it means to speak the truth in love, so that I can become more like Christ.  Amen.

Colossians 2:6-7 

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him…

God, help me to remember that Lordship isn’t a one time thing.  Jesus isn’t my Savior on Sundays only, or in times of trouble, or in a prayer before dinner.  You are God, always.  You govern all aspects of my life.  Don’t let me miss out on that opportunity.

…rooted and built up in him…

Like a root planted in good soil so is my hope established in Your truth.  I pray you will faithfully work on my heart and mind, building me up in the knowledge and understanding of your Son.  Direct my steps.

…strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Lord, give me strength.  Not a strength of my own, but a strength that comes from your Spirit.  Not by my own might or knowledge or power, but simply from your presence.  I praise and thank you.  You are so good. 

     AMEN!

Acts 10:9

About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.

When was the last time I spent time with God at noon?  Too often, I fall into the trap (and it is most definitely a trap) of leaving God at my morning devotion.  Starting my day with a morning devotion is great, but it is only great to the extent that it can leave an imprint of God on my heart and mind for the rest of the day. 

 
Back to Acts.  God used Peter in a big way through this lunch meeting.  Largely because of Peter’s prayer time and the proceeding events, God proved to Peter and others that the Gentiles, too, were truly a part of the Christ’s church.  Non-Jews were now recognized as true members of the body of Christ.  And that’s great news, because I’m not a Jew.

 
I can’t think of a better way to get re-charged at lunch than sitting down on a rooftop with God for prayer and a PB&J, offering up the rest of my day to God…again.

 
LORD, may I be with you all day long; morning, noontime, and evening.  Thank you so much for your love.  AMEN

Psalm 115:4-8

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 

They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see.

They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell.

They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk;

And they do not make a sound in their throat.

Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.

I am so thankful my God is personal.  He speaks, He sees, and He listens.  He gave everything for me and gave me everything I have.  He loves me and He knows my name.

My God lives.

But like the idol worshippers, I can fall into the same trap of idolatry when anything outside of God Himself takes lordship of my heart and mind.  School, sports, relationships, you name it; we can all be surprisingly quick to construct our own idols; ‘gods’ just as empty as the idols of silver and gold spoken of here.

LORD, lead me on to love and good deeds.  Thank you for being my friend.  Continue to work on my heart and mind.  AMEN

Proverbs 13:15

Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard.

Look to the Lord, and be blessed.  Turn away, and pay the consequences. 

Good understanding comes from seeking and knowing our God.  Blessings and honor come from good understanding.  The way of the unfaithful are those who deny the presence and the power of God in their lives.  Pain, confusion, and discouragement await the unfaithful.

How many times have I submitted to my own will, to my own understanding, rather than relying on and obeying God’s guidance?  How many times have I told myself, “You know, God, I can hear you telling me to do this loud and clear, but I think I’ve got a little more experience with my life than you do”?  How many times I have been wrong?  How many times have I paid the ‘hard’ consequences? 

LORD, work on my heart today.  I desire your favor, as well as deliverance from the ‘hard’ things of life.  Make me yours.