At the end of this year, how are you doing spiritually?

 

READ: Revelation 2:1-7

 

Revelation 2:4-5

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. (NIV)

 

• “Yet” – He knew of their good deeds, their perseverance. Even how they had rejected false teachings (Vs. 3)
• But He held something against them – they had forsaken their “first love” (V. 4)
• First love – their passion for Christ had been lost
• “Remember the height from which you have fallen!” – they had back-slidden. Fallen back into their sinful habits
• Repent and do the things you did at the beginning
• If the church didn’t repent He would remove them. They would no longer be a church

  APPLICATION:

• Return to your first love!
• Fall in love with Christ and His Word once more
• Repent and do the things you did when you first believed.
• If our churches don’t repent and return to the passion we had at first He will remove us.

 

Remember what you were like when you first became a believer? Remember telling everyone who would listen what Christ had done for you? Did you crave God’s Word and you couldn’t get enough of it? Were you excited about going to church? Do you remember the first time you went forward in church or at church camp? Do you remember how you felt when you got baptized? Many times we lose that feeling. We get busy and many times that business involves church stuff. And after a while we begin to lose the excitement that we once had. It happens to most of us, but it doesn’t have to end there.

 

Many times that loss of feeling is followed by returning to the way that we were before Christ. It may be years later, but if we are not careful it can happen to us. Maybe it already has!

 

This passage gives us the very steps that we need to take in order to get back to that place. First, it instructs us to “Consider how far you have fallen!”. Take an honest assessment of where you are in your spiritual walk. An end of the year spiritual check-up is a great way to reflect on where you are in your spiritual journey.

 

The next instruction we see is a call to repentance. One author explains it this way, “In calling the Ephesian believers to repentance Christ was asking them to change their attitude as well as their affections. They were to continue their service not simply because it was right but because they loved Christ.”[i] Repentance is more than just a feeling of remorse, but a determination to get your spiritual life back on track.

 

Then, lastly He instructs us to get back to doing the things we did at first. In other words, renew your love for His Word, and spend time with Him. Stand firm against the things that used to trip you up. Get back to following Him the way you used to.

 

This also comes with a warning for us as a church. “If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” (V. 5b) This is a warning to most of the churches in America. We must return to our first love: Our love of sharing about Him with others; our love of serving Him; and our love for His Word. If not, it will only be a matter of time before our doors are closed.

 

At the end of this year, how are you doing spiritually? Has your love grown cold? Do you still look forward to spending time at His feet each day? Has church become dry and boring? Then maybe it is time for you to re-boot your system! Maybe it is time to “repent and to do the things you did at first”.

 

Ask God to show you honestly and clearly where you are spiritually today. Ask Him to convict you of any areas in your life that need re-booted. And ask Him to restore that first love that you once had.

 

 

Each week’s Monday Motivation is taken from the reading schedule found in the Life Journal. If you are ready for the next step in your discipleship, then order yours today or see me for a copy.

www.lifejournal.cc

 

If you would like help in growing in your faith, or if you would like to know how to have faith in Him, then please contact us at (928)636-2949 or email me at pastorguy@cvgrace.com

 

[i] Walvoord, J. F. (1985). Revelation. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 934). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

 

Where have you left Jesus this year?

 

Read: Matthew 1:18-25

 

Matthew 1:21

 

• Name – Jesus = “the LORD saves”
  • (Joshua = Yeshua)
• He came to Save His people from their sin
  • This was His mission / His purpose
• His birth is not just a cute side dressing
  • Or a cute little nativity scene on our coffee table
• It is a story of salvation
• A story that does not end in the manger but on the Cross.

In eternity past God had chosen just the right moment for the Messiah to come to earth.The stage had been set, and all of the pieces were in place. The Roman government had built the infrastructure for the gospel to spread like wild fire.God the Father had chosen Joseph and Mary to be the parents to raise Him. And now the Emmanuel that was promised 700 years before by the prophet Isaiah was now ready to enter the stage.

 

The unknown angel instructed Joseph to call the baby “Jesus”, which means “The Lord Saves”. Many “Joshua’s” or “Jesus’” had been born over the years, but only one was the Christ. Only one could save us from our sins. It would take an incredible sacrifice in order for Him to fulfill His purpose. It would mean death on a cross. And yes – His resurrection.

 

So, don’t leave Jesus in the manger this year! Remember that He came to save the lost. He came to save the broken. He came to save the religious. The poor and down trodden. The rich and upward driven. And He came to save you.

 

Sometimes we like Him better as a baby. But He came for so much more! Where have you left Jesus this year?

Is He still in the manger? Or has He been busy changing your life?

 

Ask Him to show you where you have left Jesus this year. Has He made a difference in your life over the last twelve months or are you the same person? Ask Him to show you where you need to grow.

 

 

What does Satan have against you? What accusations can be brought to your trial?

 

 

READ: Hebrews 7:23-28

 

Hebrews 7:25

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. (NIV)

 

• Jesus is able to save completely!
  • Because He lives forever (V. 24)
  • He has a permanent priesthood (V. 24)
• The former priests could only serve for a short time (death) (V. 23)
• The only way to the Father is through Him.
• He always lives – eternally
• He intercedes for us – He is our advocate!
• He stands in our place and He took our verdict and death sentence!

APPLICATION:

• We have an everlasting High Priest
• He tends to our needs in the Temple that is in heaven (V. 5)
• He intercedes for us!

 

A number of years ago there was a story that rocked the news in a little town in Arkansas. It was about a young man that was in court for stealing a car. The sixteen-year-old had been in trouble before, and was now looking at some time in jail for stealing a neighbor’s car. The judge did not show a lot of leniency because of the young man’s past record, but that is not what made the news. The judge gave his sentence, and proceeded to give the terms of the boy’s sentence: He was to serve 2 years in the county jail, and would be available for parole after 6 months for good behavior. The sentence included 500 hours of community service. Because of the time that he had already served in the jail system awaiting trial, and because of his good behavior, all that remained was two months in jail, and his community service. After the sentencing the town’s prosecutor asked the judge for a favor that was unprecedented in the history of the court. He asked the judge for permission to take the boys remaining jail time, and to take half of his community service time as well. You see the town prosecutor was the boy’s father.

 

This is just a small example of what Christ did for us. If we were to stand before God in the court room of heaven, Jesus would be the Judge, the jury, and the defending attorney. But He would also be the one who took our sentence for us. The major difference being that the sentence for our crimes would be the death sentence.

 

In Revelation 12 we see this scene in heaven of rejoicing because the devil has been hurled from heaven where he has been acting as “the accuser of our brothers”, where he “accuses them day and night before our God”. Picture Satan standing before God accusing His children, and Jesus is our defending attorney, our intercessor. Each time Lucifer brings an accusation to the Judge, Jesus merely shows the signs of His hands and feet, and answers, “Those charges have already been paid for Your Honor!”

 

Romans 8:34 says, “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” No one can condemn us, and it goes on to say in verse 35 that no one or nothing can separate us from the love of God – not even our accuser Satan.

 

What does Satan have against you? What accusations can he bring to your trial? The truth is that as a follower of Christ, Satan has nothing on you. His cased is flawed from the beginning, and he is merely wasting his breath. His attempt to blackmail you have failed, and you owe him nothing. You have been freed from all charges! So go out and live like the free man or woman that you are!

 

Ask God to testify to your spirit with His spirit that you are paid for. Ask Him to show you that you are free in Christ. Free indeed! Ask Him to show you how to live for Him in that freedom.

 

 

Each week’s Monday Motivation is taken from the reading schedule found in the Life Journal. If you are ready for the next step in your discipleship, then order yours today or see me for a copy.

www.lifejournal.cc

 

If you would like help in growing in your faith, or if you would like to know how to have faith in Him, then please contact us at (928)636-2949 or email me at pastorguy@cvgrace.com

 

 

Our hope is not in anything this world has to offer, but in Him. He is our anchor. He is our true North.

 

READ: Philippians 1:12-14

 

Philippians 1:12

“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.” (NIV)

 

• “What has happened to me” – Paul’s imprisonment!
• Where? – Rome. Under house arrest
• It “served to advance the gospel”
• All of the palace guard heard the gospel while taking their turn
• Everyone knew that Paul was imprisoned because of his faith in Christ (V. 13)
• His chains encouraged others to be bolder in sharing their faith. (V. 14)

  APPLICATION:

• Our suffering should be an opportunity to share Christ in us.
• Our faith should encourage others to live for Christ
• Others should be able to recognize Jesus in us.

 

It was 1991 and the market crashed causing the first recession of my adult life. Jobs that once were prevalent in southern California were nowhere to be found. Houses that used to sell for $400K were now worth half that. People were leaving behind family and friends to find jobs elsewhere. There was this older couple in our church at the time. He was a fairly new believer and she had grown up in the church her whole life. They owned a company and had been fairly successful. But now they were in the process of losing everything. Barbara was in a panic and the worry of the situation was etched across her face. John on the other hand, was calm and refused to stop praising the Lord. He was a picture of faith in the midst terrible loss. He was a testimony to every one of the hope that we find in Christ.

 

This is what Paul was trying to teach the believers in Philippi. He wanted them to learn an important lesson: there are no accidents with God. Instead of Paul’s ministry being impeded by his imprisonment, it was being advanced. All in Rome wo came in contact with Paul heard about Christ.

 

Tradition teaches us that when a person was taken into Roman custody, that they were actually chained at the waist with one of the guards. Each day a new guard was brought in and the chains were removed and then another guard was chained to Paul. Rather than moan and complain at this predicament, Paul saw it as an opportunity. These guards were chained to him; he was not chained to them. They had to sit and listen to Paul talk to everyone that came to visit or to take of his needs. And every conversation that Paul had was laced with the gospel and with his teachings. Even while he was dictating this letter for the church in Philippi, every word was listened to by an extra set of ears. Over time every one of the palace guards had heard Paul’s teaching. Every one of them had heard about the hope found in Jesus.

 

Not only that, but from this passage we learn that Paul’s plight encouraged others to speak more boldly of their faith to others (V. 14). One author put it this way: “The positive response Paul received in the face of opposition caused others to speak more courageously and fearlessly for Christ. Paul’s confinement was doing what his circumstances outside of prison could never do.”[i] Others had persisted in Paul’s imprisonment, hoping for his eventual crucifixion. Had they known that his message of Jesus Christ was going to grow even stronger they may have rethought their strategy.

 

God can use any circumstance that we find ourselves in no matter how severe. His ultimate goal is to bring Himself glory and to reach as many with the gospel as possible. And unfortunately that sometimes means our suffering. Over the last few months everywhere we look we see tragedy and people struggling. It is almost everywhere and the heaviness can be felt even in our church. How we react and how we respond to these trials is the evidence of our faith.

 

The question we all must ask ourselves is: where is our hope? For Shelli and I this verse found in Romans has become our anchor; “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 15:13) Our hope is in Jesus. Our hope is not in anything this world has to offer, but in Him. He is our anchor. He is our true North.

 

Where do you find your hope? Is it the things of this world? People? The economy? Our hope can only be found in one place – Jesus!

 

If you are going to a trial right now pray that God will give you the hope that you need and that you will be able be a witness of His goodness and strength to others. If not you, then pray for others who are going through difficult times. They aren’t hard to find.

 

 

Each week’s Monday Motivation is taken from the reading schedule found in the Life Journal. If you are ready for the next step in your discipleship, then order yours today or see me for a copy.

www.lifejournal.cc

 

If you would like help in growing in your faith, or if you would like to know how to have faith in Him, then please contact us at (928)636-2949 or email me at pastorguy@cvgrace.com

 

[i] Lightner, R. P. (1985). Philippians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 651). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

 

Where have you been wronged by someone? Has someone falsely accused you or spread rumors about you?

 

READ: Matthew 26:57-68

 

Matthew 26:64

“You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (NIV)

 

• Any time they made false accusations against Him, He remained silent (V. 63; 27:14)
• But when asked if He was the Christ, He would testify (V. 64; 27:11)
• He told them that He was going to be sitting at the right hand of God!
• Also, that they would see Him coming on the clouds!

APPLICATION:

• When falsely accused we are to remain silent or not to defend ourselves.
• We are to allow our character and our integrity stand for itself
• When accused of being a follower of Jesus Christ we are to testify to the truth
• We will see Him on His throne some day

1. Examine Your Own Heart – Ask the Lord to show you any fault that you might have in you. Spend more time focusing on your right response then you do the hurt that you have received.

2. Surrender Your Situation to God – Allow Him to intervene. He knows the truth of the situation even better than you do. Read Romans 12:19 and leave the revenge to Him!

3. Keep Calm – Don’t worry and be anxious. Take all of these things to the Lord and leave them at His feet. (Philippians 4:6)

4. Do What is Right – The reality is that the name of Jesus and the testimony of His grace is far more important than our reputation. (1 Cor. 6; Matt. 5:25)

 

Where have you been wronged by someone? Has someone falsely accused you or spread rumors about you? Then take it to the Lord and trust Him for the outcome!

 

Ask God for His strength if you have been wronged. Seek His counsel from His word, and if needed seek wise counsel from other wise Christians.

 

Each week’s Monday Motivation is taken from the reading schedule found in the Life Journal. If you are ready for the next step in your discipleship, then order yours today or see me for a copy.

www.lifejournal.cc

 

If you would like help in growing in your faith, or if you would like to know how to have faith in Him, then please contact us at (928)636-2949 or email me at pastorguy@cvgrace.com

 

[i] Adapted from an article in Christian Today: JB Cachila, Sept. 17, 2016

 

What kind of a giver are you? Are you a secret giver?

 

READ: Matthew 6:1-4

 

Matthew 6:3-4

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (NIV)

 

• We are to give secretly
• We are to give to the needy – “But when …” It is presumed
• Then, He will reward us.

  APPLICATION:

• We need to give to the needy
• When we give don’t complain afterwards! (2 Cor. 9:7)
• If we give in this way, then the Father will reward us.

 

Several years ago a preacher was in line to pay for his items at a convenience store. He noticed the family in front of him did not have enough money to pay for their items. He tapped the man on the shoulder and said, “You don’t need to turn around, but please accept this money.” The man took the money and did not turn around. Nine years later the pastor was invited to speak at a church in New Orleans. After the service, a man walked up to the preacher and shared his story about how he had come to faith in Christ: “Several years ago, my wife and our child were destitute. We had lost everything, had no jobs, no money and we were living in our car. We had lost all hope, and we had agreed to a suicide pact, including our child. However, we decided to give our son one last meal, so we drove to a convenience store to buy some food and milk. While we were standing in line, we realized that we did not have enough money to pay for the items. A man behind us asked us to please take some money from his hand, but not to look at him. This man told us, ‘Jesus loves you’. We left the store, drove to our designated suicide site, and wept for hours. We couldn’t go through with it, so we drove away. As we drove, we noticed a church with a sign out front which said, ‘Jesus Loves You’. We went to church that very next Sunday, and we both were saved that day.” He then told the pastor, “When you began speaking this morning, I knew immediately that you were the man who gave us that money. Your act of kindness was much more than a simple good deed. Three people are alive today because of it.”[i]

 

We are never quite sure what our act of kindness or generosity will mean for someone. Many of us have been impacted by others and what they have done for us. There is so much sadness and darkness in our world, but every once in a while a ray of light bursts through the clouds to give us hope.

 

This passage in Matthew teaches us not only to give generously, but also to give secretly. One author said, “But the Lord said that in giving one should not even let his left hand know what his right hand is doing, that is, it should be so secret that the giver readily forgets what he gave.”[ii] When we give to others it should be done with such a heart that we don’t even pay attention to our own generosity.

 

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 is a passage that sheds more light on the subject of giving: “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” This passage reminds us of two principals. First, we are to give generously. We are to even look for opportunities to give. Secondly, we are not to give reluctantly or to complain about it afterwards. But we are to be more than happy to give to others.

 

God wants us to be Secret Agents who are looking for opportunities to give, but to give secretly. God is more interested in our heart when it comes to giving. Do you give grudgingly? Do you complain about it later? Do you let others know about your good deed? If so, then stop giving! God is more interested in your motives for giving, then your gift itself.

 

Ask God to give you an opportunity to give in the coming weeks. It is that time of year when there are more than enough opportunities. Pray for His leading and discernment, and then give generously!

 

Each week’s Monday Motivation is taken from the reading schedule found in the Life Journal. If you are ready for the next step in your discipleship, then order yours today at www.lifejournal.cc

 

If you would like help in growing in your faith, or if you would like to know how to begin a relationship with Him, then please contact us at (928)636-2949 or email me at pastorguy@cvgrace.com

 

 

[i] This story was shared on a website called: Seedtime on February 9th, 2015

[ii] Barbieri, L. A., Jr. (1985). Matthew. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 32). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

 

How is your life being transformed? How are you being changed “from glory to glory”?

 

READ: 2 Corinthians 3:7-18

 

2 Corinthians 3:18

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (NIV)

 

• We have unveiled faces – the law and put a veil over our faces (v. 15)
• We now reflect God’s glory
• We are “being transformed into His likeness.” (Rom. 12:2) (gr. metamorphosis)
• “With ever increasing glory” = our glory is eternal
• As we become more like Him the glory increases (Sanctification)
• This glory comes from Jesus – He shares it with us.

  APPLICATION:

• We are to reflect Jesus’ glory to others – Be a light!
• We need to work towards being transformed into His likeness
• We need His Spirit working in us to be changed
• We need to be transformed by His Word (Rom. 12:2)
• His glory in us will either draw others to Him or repel them (2 Cor. 2:16)

 

Working with teenagers I am constantly reminded of the changes that occur and how confusing that stage of life can be. I remember the embarrassment of pimples, and the drastic changes that were occurring in my body during those years. I remember having a manly voice once second, and a squeaky voice the next. This was always good for a laugh, but at my expense. I also remember struggling with who I was, and who I wanted to become. It was a time of confusion, bewilderment and change.

 

During my Senior Year of High School I became a Christian, and in some ways the cycle of change started all over again. Now I was a new Christian, and as a believer I had a lot of changes to make. In fact, like most people, I still do. During those first few years there was a lot of change going on inside of me. I was learning a whole new language, a new way of speaking. I met people who were different from anyone else I had ever known, and I wanted to be like them. Jesus began doing a work in me that I never thought was possible. I witness this same kind of change in new believers all of the time. Many of them grow like weeds, and this change, can sometimes be very confusing.

 

This is the kind of change that this passage is talking about. We went from being “veiled” to His truth and righteousness, to being “unveiled” and sharing in His glory. As one author has put it, we are traveling from “justification through sanctification to glorification.”[i] In other words, we are progressively being transformed into His likeness. After all, Christ-likeness is the goal for the believer.

 

Paul used the example of Moses wearing the veil to illustrate the veil that is blinding the unbeliever from the truth of the gospel, and he used the glory that shone on Moses’ face to illustrate the eternal glory that we share today.

 

Warren Wiersbe had this to say: “This verse is the climax of the chapter, and it presents a truth so exciting that I marvel so many believers have missed it—or ignored it. You and I can share the image of Jesus Christ and go ‘from glory to glory’ through the ministry of the Spirit of God!”[ii] Unlike Moses we don’t have to climb a mountain to have fellowship with God. Because of Jesus Christ we can enter the very holy of holies, and in the process look more and more like Him!

 

Where are you in this journey of transformation? Are you just starting out or have you stalled out? Are you soaring like an eagle or are you wallowing like a turkey? Wherever you are at in your journey, the key is to spend time at Jesus feet – by spending time in His Word and in prayer. It also means allowing His Spirit to progressively work in you more and more.

 

A book that I highly recommend is “The Divine Mentor”, by Wayne Cordiero. Along with that is the Life Journal. Both of these books have set me on a journey that is over two years old now. A journey of transformation, a change from “glory to glory”. I hope that you will join me by taking a six week challenge of using the Life Journal. If you try it out and work at it consistently, I can almost guarantee a change in your life, and in your walk with Christ. (see below to get a copy)

 

I would love to hear what God is doing in your life, and how God’s Word has transformed your life!

 

Ask God to give you a hunger for His word and that, by the Holy Spirit, your life would be transformed.

 

Each week’s Monday Motivation is taken from the reading schedule found in the Life Journal. If you are ready for the next step in your discipleship, then order yours today or see me for a copy.

www.lifejournal.cc

 

If you would like help in growing in your faith, or if you would like to know how to have faith in Him, then please contact us at (928)636-2949 or email me at pastorguy@cvgrace.com

 

 

[i] Lowery, D. K. (1985). 2 Corinthians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 562). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

[ii] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 640). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

 

How much do you have stored up in heaven? How much of it is going to go up in smoke?

 

READ: 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

 

1 Corinthians 3:12-13

If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. (NIV)

 

• “If any man builds on this foundation” = a person’s salvation (v. 10)
• Gold, silver and costly stones = things done for His glory
• Wood, hay, and straw = things done for my glory
• Our work will be shown for what it is – the truth will be revealed
• “The Day will bring it to light” = the Day of judgement
• It will be revealed with fire – God’s holy fire will reveal the motives and the quality of our work.
• Whatever is left is our reward (v. 14)
• If it is all burned up, then I will have nothing to bring into His Kingdom

APPLICATION:

• Check your motives
• Why am I doing this?
• Who am I relying on when I do ministry?
• Am I more concerned about earthly things or heavenly things?

Almost all of us have built something, a fort, a go kart, or a kite only to have it fall apart before we even got to really enjoy it. I remember one time I built this bike from scratch. It was made up of parts that were just laying around or that I had gotten from other kids around the neighborhood. I even spray painted it with some of the left over paint that my dad had laying around. It looked like a camouflage mess by the time I was finished, but I was so proud of that bike. I couldn’t wait to show my friends this cool bike that I had built. We all joined up at our friend’s house and rode down to the empty lot at the end of our neighborhood. We had built a track there complete with a big dirt jump that we could fly off of. When we got there I wanted to be the first one to go off the jump on my new bike. I rode to the top of the hill and gripped my handle bar as I peddled down the hill as fast as I could. I can still remember the exhilaration as I raced down that hill on my “camo” painted bike! I hit that jump as fast as I could and began to fly through the air. It was awesome … for about two seconds. Because that was how long it took before my front tire flew off of the front of my bike. You can imagine the look on my face as I realized what was about to come. Well, after I picked myself up off of the ground and checked all over for any broken bones, my friends began to rib me for having built such a great bike! All morning long they teased me until I couldn’t take it anymore and walked my bike back home with tears running down my dusty face, and a wheel in my hand.

 

Life can be like that sometimes. Most of us have experienced the pain of really working at a relationship only to watch it fall apart before our very eyes. Or maybe, like me you have set out to give that awesome talk or Bible study only to fall flat on your face. And many times after looking back we come to the realization that the reason things didn’t work out is because we were attempting it all on our own power. There wasn’t even a brief moment where we sought the Lord or His wisdom and direction. We just leaned forward and raced down that hill under our own volition only to end up in a pile of wreckage in the end.

 

Sometimes people will live their whole lives this way. They go to church faithfully, and they tithe, or maybe even teach Sunday school. But what was it all for? Who were they doing it for? Why were they doing it?

 

For those of us who have placed our faith in Christ, when the years have gone by, and we have finally lived our last breath there will be an ultimate test. It won’t determine whether or not we get to enter into heaven, but how much is there waiting for us.

 

According to this passage it is our works that will be judged, not our salvation because that is already a forgone conclusion (Acts 16:31). What will be judged is all that we have done or our works. That time that you helped your new neighbor move into their house, was that for you or was that for the Lord? Or what about all of the times that you volunteered at church? Was that done “as unto the Lord” or was it for your own gratification?

 

The wood, hay, and straw mentioned in this passage are all of the things that we did for ourselves, or for our own recognition. Those things when tested by fire will merely burn up. But the gold, silver, and costly stones are the things that we did for His glory. We did them for others, but ultimately for Him to receive the praise. Those are the things that will withstand the fire, and will remain. Those are the things that will last for eternity.

 

Revelation 22:12 says, “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.” What will be your reward? How much of your treasure will you have left when it is all said and done?

 

Ask God to show you what you have in your account thus far. Is it something that will withstand the flames or are you getting ready for a fire sale?

 

Each week’s Monday Motivation is taken from the reading schedule found in the Life Journal. If you are ready for the next step in your discipleship, then order yours today or see me for a copy.

www.lifejournal.cc

 

If you would like help in growing in your faith, or if you would like to know how to have faith in Him, then please contact us at (928)636-2949 or email me at pastorguy@cvgrace.com

 

 

So, how do you treat your spouse today? How will you treat your future spouse?

 

READ: Mark 12:18-27

 

Mark 12:25

When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. (NIV)

 

• This is in reference to the question of the widow with seven husbands
• None of them would be her husband in heaven
• There is no longer marriage or sex in heaven
• We will be like the angels, but not angelic beings

APPLICATION:

• We need to learn to love our spouses for more than what they provide us here on earth
• Our spouse is our co-heir in Christ
• We need to pray for their salvation (unbelieving spouse)
• We need to encourage one another to grow spiritually (believing spouse)

 

In this passage found in Mark we find this hypothetical question brought to Jesus by the Sadducees. Their question was based on the law of marriage found in Deuteronomy 25:7-10. An interesting item to note is that the Sadducees did not even believe in the resurrection, and therefore they were attempting to ridicule any such belief.

 

Jesus’ answer is a very interesting one, and can cause some concern among believers. What did Jesus mean when He said that we will “neither marry nor be given in marriage;” that we “will be like the angels in heaven”? For some this may be a relief, but for many of us, the thought of not spending eternity with our spouse seems unthinkable.

 

But what does Jesus teach us? Many have differing opinions that span an array of situations and scenarios. But what does scripture teach us on the subject?

 

One of the first things that we must adjust is how we view heaven and our resurrected bodies. Warren Wiersbe explains it this way: “Resurrection is not the restoration of life as we know it; it is the entrance into a new life that is different. The same God who created the angels and gave them their nature is able to give us the new bodies we will need for new life in heaven (1 Cor. 15:38ff).”[i] In other words our physical bodies will be different. Jesus doesn’t say that we will be angels, but rather that we will be sexless like them. There will no longer be a need for marriage or for procreation.

 

One commentary explained it this way: “Marriage is necessary and suitable for the present world order, in which death prevails, in order to continue the human race. But angels, whose existence the Sadducees denied (cf. Acts 23:8), are deathless and live in a different order of existence where they have no need for marital relations or reproduction of offspring. Their lives center totally around fellowship with God. So it will be in the afterlife for human beings rightly related to God.[ii] It is important to note that we will not be merely spiritual beings, but that we will have physical bodies just as Jesus did after His resurrection. Jesus did in fact pass through walls as a spirit would, but He also had a physical body. The disciples were able to touch Him, and on many occasions He even ate with them.

 

Even though we might have opinions or we may even wish for a different scenario, scripture is pretty clear on this one. And yes, the intimacy that can be found in marriage is incredible, and special. But believe me when I say that we won’t even miss it!

 

So, how do you treat your spouse today? How will you treat your future spouse? Do you think of them as someone who is there to meet your physical needs of intimacy? Or someone who is to meet your needs for companionship? Maybe they are far more than that. Maybe, just maybe they were designed to be even more. And so were you!

 

Are you more concerned about what they can do for you or are you more concerned about their walk with the Lord? What do ask about more: Physical attention, meeting your needs and expectations; Or how they are growing spiritually? Which of these are more eternal? Which of these is going to be a reflection of who we are in His presence?

 

Ask God to show you how to love your spouse in a fuller way. Pray for your spouse that they would grow in Christ. Encourage them to get into the scriptures, and to spend time at His feet. Meanwhile lead by example.

 

Each week’s Monday Motivation is taken from the reading schedule found in the Life Journal. If you are ready for the next step in your discipleship, then order yours today or see me for a copy.

www.lifejournal.cc

 

If you would like help in growing in your faith, or if you would like to know how to have faith in Him, then please contact us at (928)636-2949 or email me at pastorguy@cvgrace.com

 

 

 

[i] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 153). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

 

[ii] Grassmick, J. D. (1985). Mark. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 163). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

 

What will God have to do in your life to get you to climb over those walls? To get you to reach the “unclean”?

 

READ: Acts 10

 

Acts 10:28

He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. (NIV)

 

• Peter was a Jew and by their customs he was not allowed to be in a gentile’s home.
• But God had shown him that he should not call any man unclean.
• God had shown him in a vision that it was okay to kill and eat unclean animals just before the messengers came (Vv. – 23)
• God had also told him to go with these men
• Peter’s conclusion was that he was never to call a man unclean again
• God was opening the door even wider in the minds of the apostles for gentiles and non-Jews.

APPLICATION:

• We are to pay attention to the leading of the Holy Spirit
• God’s word trumps tradition and so does His leading.
• We are not to consider anyone as unclean (Hispanic, Muslim, homeless, democrat, republican, etc.)
• We can not afford to be prejudice!

Recently I saw a video of Dr. James MacDonald who is a pastor at Harvest Bible Chapel in the Chicagoland area. He had disguised himself as a homeless man and sat outside of his church to see how people would react to him. In the video you see several people walk by him suspiciously, and no one offers to help him. But later in the video he comes through the church, still disguised, with his shopping cart. He slowly walks up to the pulpit and once there he begins to take off his costume. He shares how many just walked by staring at him, but then he tells them that he was so blessed by how many of them reacted to him while he was setting on his cardboard pallet. The video later shows person after person coming to him – offering to pray with him, dropping off bottles of water, and even food. Many of the people invited him to come into church with them. Dr. MacDonald shares how he was choked up with emotions while people in his church demonstrated their Christian love to him. He was so overwhelmed by their love and generosity that he could not speak when they came up to him. He said that he was “crying inside his beard”!

 

I was choked up while I was watching this video. I was so proud while watching my brothers and sisters in Christ respond the way that Christ would want them to. But I wonder how many of us would do the same. How many of us would be like the first group in the video that just merely walked by? Some of them looking sideways at him suspiciously. Many others purposely went around him to another set of doors just to avoid him. Or how many of us would stop to pray with him, offer him food and water, and a seat by us in the church service?

 

You see Peter and Jews just like him had grown up living with so much prejudice that they were not even conscious of it anymore. It took an amazing vision from God (the sheet with unclean food) to get Peter to go with those Gentile men to visit a Gentile man in his Gentile home. Peter was putting everything on the line the moment he stepped into that home. They were unclean! Peter’s entire being was telling him, “don’t go in!” But he obeyed the Spirit of God and did what he was called to do. And God did some amazing things that day!

 

What are we prejudice towards? Who have we considered “unclean”. Is it the Hispanic family down the street that we assume must be “illegal”? Or is it the Muslim man and his wife that we see when we go out of town? Maybe it’s the democrat or the republican (depending on your political flavor) that you meet at the Christmas party? Whoever it is, how we treat them, is of utmost importance. We must recognize that God does not see them as unclean no matter how strongly we detest them. He sees them as people who need Jesus. He sees them as lost and without hope. He sees them, just like He used to see us – a sinner in need of a Savior!

 

We need to ask for God’s eyes – to see people the way that He sees them. I am sick and tired of my own sinful eyes and my own critical heart. When God witnesses us and how we can act towards others I believe He cries. From reading these scriptures, and from what I understand of our loving Father, it tells me that He cries when we say those things. When we glance away from the homeless man hoping that he won’t notice us it grieves Him. I believe it makes Him cry.

 

God desires that all men would come to know Him, and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). But unfortunately for many of us that just isn’t possible. We just can’t seem to get past those walls that society or we have built around us. After all, they are “those people”. But God desires for them to know Him, and He wants to use you to reach them.

 

What will God have to do in your life to get you to climb over those walls? To get you to reach out to the “unclean”? What will He have to do in your heart to get you to reach that Gentile?

 

Ask God to show you any prejudices that you might have. Ask Him to forgive you and to change your heart. Then begin to seek ways to reach those on the other side of the fence.

 

 

Each week’s Monday Motivation is taken from the reading schedule found in the Life Journal. If you are ready for the next step in your discipleship, then order yours today or see me for a copy.

www.lifejournal.cc

 

If you would like help in growing in your faith, or if you would like to know how to have faith in Him, then please contact us at (928)636-2949 or email me at pastorguy@cvgrace.com