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from temporary to permanent

April 16, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Devotional Thoughts from 2 Corinthians 4:1-5:10.

Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission

The context of Paul’s earthly tent passage is Paul’s jars of clay passage.  He is defending his speaking ministry by saying that he speaks by faith, “knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence” (4:14). His faith is not in a conscious intermediate state, but in the resurrection from the dead.  He does not want to be found naked (the intermediate state) but to be clothed with immortal life at the resurrection (5:4).  Since he has this hope, he is able to face tribulation and death confidently, knowing that anything he faces in this life is but a “light momentary affliction” (4:17).  His hope is in a permanent “building from God” (5:1).

LORD, we put our faith in you, and confidently expect you to bring us out of this temporary state and into a permanent one.

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If you died today… by Jefferson Vann FDTL Iss 48

March 26, 2011 By admin 1 Comment

The billboard on the interstate highway asked “If you died today, where would you spend eternity?”
The question was never asked in the Bible. It reflects a theology based on some assumptions that are not held by biblical authors. I would be uncomfortable asking the question to anyone, for fear that they might assume that I hold the theology.
First, asking where would you spend eternity  assumes that everybody is going to be alive to spend eternity somewhere.  The Bible does not teach that. The Bible teaches that God’s gift of eternal life is available only to those who put their trust in Christ. Eternity is not a given. [Read more...]

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a monkey wrench

March 26, 2011 By admin 1 Comment

Devotional Thoughts from Romans 5:12-21.

Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission

Denying the mortality of the human soul throws a monkey wrench into the machinery of Paul’s argument in Romans 5. Paul says that death has resulted from Adam’s transgression, and that the death penalty has passed on to all other human beings. If death is not real, then Paul’s premise cannot be established. If death is merely an illusion — something that is actually a blessing in disguise which frees humanity from the bondage of materiality — then what of the sin that caused death? Is it unreal as well? Paul compares the death penalty with the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ by grace. But if we all possess eternal life already, what did Christ’s death bring us? Take the error of innate immortality away from the picture, and Paul’s words make sense. Death has indeed reigned since the sin of Adam. A planet littered with tombstones is proof of that reign. The promise of true eternal life through resurrection is God’s free gift of grace to overrule that reign. One empty tomb is proof of that promise.

LORD, may we trust in Christ’s death to overrule our own.

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the gospel on trial

March 4, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Devotional Thoughts from Acts 25:1-26:32.

Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission

During his two years in prison at Caesarea, Paul had opportunity to defend his actions against the accusations of his Jewish antagonists. In doing so, Paul makes it clear that the gospel message he has preached is really what is on trial. He outlines that gospel message this way. God calls upon all people to repent (26:20), to surrender to his will for their sanctification (26:18), to obey his word by proving their faith with works (26:20). God promises present forgiveness (26:18), and a future resurrection to eternal life (25:19; 26:6-8, 23). That is the hope which Paul proclaimed.

LORD, give us the courage to proclaim your gospel, and the understanding to proclaim the whole gospel.

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witnesses to his resurrection

February 19, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Devotional Thoughts from Acts 1.

Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission

Acts 1.  Luke’s Gospel was about what Jesus began to do and teach (1). Acts was about what he would continue to do and teach through his witnesses. He told his followers that the Holy Spirit would come upon them and empower them to witness, wherever he sent them — even to the end of the earth (8). Peter understood that to be a witness is to testify that Christ has been raised from the dead (22). That fact has validated all of what Jesus did and taught. Because he is risen we know that he will come again. Because he is risen — not because of us– we know that he will keep his promise to give us eternal life. This changes everything.

LORD, we trust not in our nature, but in your resurrection.

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my riddle

February 19, 2011 By admin 1 Comment

Devotional Thoughts from Psalm 47.

Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission

What does one do when he is treated unfairly by someone so wealthy and powerful that he fears no human law or justice? This is the riddle that the sons of Korah pose in psalm 49. The answer isTRUST GOD.  Here are the reasons: 1) No one has enough money to escape death (7-9). 2) Death will reduce the powerful to dust. They will perish just like the beasts (12,20).  3) After death, everyone goes to Sheol (the death state) and is totally dependent upon God for deliverance. Only the righteous have hope beyond the grave. God promises to ransom their souls from Sheol’s power, and receive them back to life (14-15). They will awake, and be satisfied with God’s likeness (Ps. 17:15).

LORD, when people make trouble for us, and there is nothing that we can do, help us to trust in your justice.

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no future

February 11, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Devotional Thoughts from Psalm 37.

Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission

This wisdom psalm from David encourages believers to think rightly about their future and that of the wicked. we need to stop worrying about wicked people and envying their strength and possessions. They may seem strong and secure now, but they will shrivel up like a dead plant (2).  They will be cut off (a metaphor for death) (9,22,28,38). They will be no more (10). They will not be at their place (10). Their day is coming (13).  Their weapons will be turned against them (15). Their strong arms will be broken (17).  They will perish, vanish like smoke (20).  They will pass away and be no more, be looked for and not found (36).  They will be altogether destroyed (38).  They may have a glorious present, but they will have no future (38).

LORD, help us to consistently trust in you, for only in you is there a future.

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“it is written”

February 6, 2011 By admin 1 Comment

Devotional Thoughts from Luke 24.

Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission

Each event described by Luke in this chapter contains a miracle: angelic messengers, Jesus appearing as a fellow traveler on the road, the opening of the eyes of the disciples while he ate with them, his appearance among the eleven. But the miracles are overshadowed by the message (6-7,25-27,32,44-46). Luke uses the history to emphasize “it is written.” His version of the great commission is also expressly tied to the written word. Christ died and rose again because it is written. Repentance and forgiveness will be proclaimed in his name because it is written.

LORD, make us the fulfillment of your word.

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Loved One in God’s Hands by Edward Fudge

January 22, 2011 By admin 1 Comment

Republished from gracEmail

After years of struggle with drug abuse and associated ills, the child of godly parents died far too young. One parent writes that light has turned to darkness and joy has given way to grief and guilt. The child professed faith, kept trying to pray and read the Bible, but finally lost the battle with drugs. The parent is concerned about the child’s eternal future, and asks if it is okay to pray for the dead.

* * *

I am so sorry for the horrors that drugs unleashed on your child, and on you, the parents. No one can possibly understand your pain and loss unless they experience it, and I have not. Yet I do share some of your hurt through our fellowship in the Spirit, and I pray God’s comfort, peace, encouragement and light for you and your spouse today. You are naturally concerned about your child’s eternal destiny. Of that, God will be the final judge–God, who was present in all your child’s struggles against the demons, who heard every silent cry for mercy, who saw every humble confession of sin.

Your child was also God’s child, whom he loved more than you were even able to love. You can pray for your child if you wish, but there is no need to do so. Jesus’ saving work is accomplished reality. His atonement is so perfect it cannot be supplemented or improved. Unless there is clear evidence otherwise, we can believe that your child was sorry for sins, trusted in Christ as Savior, and falling asleep in Jesus to await the resurrection, experienced the comfort of having been forgiven fully.

The threat of unending conscious torment did not originate with God but evolved from pagan philosophy. The one who goes to hell might experience a period of conscious punishment–but not one nanosecond longer or one degree hotter than perfect justice requires, when experiencing the second death. And the definition of “perfect justice” will be determined by a loving Father who wishes for none to perish, and who goes to every length possible to rescue his own.
___________________

(c) 2011 by Edward Fudge. You have permission to reprint, republish and redistribute this gracEmail by any lawful means, if you give proper credit and make no financial profit.

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Ultimate Vindication

January 22, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Devotional Thoughts from Psalm 17.

Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission

David prays for deliverance from evil men. Like a lion, the wicked man lurks in ambush, seeking to do violence for personal gain (12). His portion is in this life (14). But David’s hope is that God would deliver him in answer to prayer, AND that his ultimate vindication would be awaking from death satisfied with the LORD’s likeness (15).

LORD, we trust you for deliverance from trouble today, and deliverance from death tomorrow.

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A Rock and a Hard Place

January 9, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Devotional Thoughts from Psalm 6.

Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission

David is suffering between a rock (apparently an illness from which he needs healing (2)) and a hard place (his enemies gloating over his misfortune).  He does not want to die for two reasons. First, the state of death (Sheol) offers no opportunity for a worship or a conscious relationship with God (5). Second, his enemies would have even more reason to gloat at his defeat. He prays that the LORD would deliver his life (4) for the sake of his steadfast love. By the end of his prayer he is confident that God has accepted his plea, and that his enemies will have to retreat. He knows God is going to intervene.

LORD, when we are between a rock and a hard place, remind us to pray. You can change things.

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Empowerment or Destruction?

January 8, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Devotional Thoughts from Luke 3:1-22.

Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission

John the Baptist had the incredible responsibility to lead his nation to repentance in preparation for the Messiah and his mission. Isaiah encouraged the same nation to prepare themselves for the deliverance God wanted to give them (Isaiah 40:3-5). The Messiah would baptize his people in the Holy Spirit, providing both purity and power. But The Messiah will not work among the unrepentant. Those that are not ready to be used by the Holy Spirit to win the nations, Christ will treat as chaff. He will baptize them not with the Holy Spirit, but with fire that destroys. Those were the two options. They still are.

LORD, forgive us for our sins, and empower us for your mission.

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Among the Crowds

January 5, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Devotional Thoughts from Psalm 1.

Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission

Wicked persons trust in the strength of numbers.  They are comfortable among the crowds, where sin is the norm, and people scoff at religion and piety. They are among the sheaves of wheat — thousand in the field — all look alike. They take their security from their sameness. Harvest day comes. Suddenly they realize that their sameness did not save them. They perish, burned up because they are only chaff — an outer shell with no substance.

Righteous persons trust in God’s word for their security. Their roots go deep and they prosper in God’s due season. Their confidence is in this: the LORD knows them.

LORD, challenge us to stay rooted in you, and not to get too comfortable among the crowds.

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We Need Grace

January 4, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Devotional Thoughts from Gen. 2:7,16-17.

Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission

Two important truths about humanity are made clear in this early passage. First, human beings are made up of the stuff of earth, and our lives are dependent entirely on God. Second, we had an opportunity to be something more by obeying the prohibition in Eden. We blew it. Anything we ever become is by God’s grace.

LORD, we acknowledge our need for your grace.

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The Third Way

January 3, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Devotional Thoughts from Genesis 3

Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission

Gen .3. The tree of life appears first in scripture in the creation account. In addition to all other kinds of trees that are nice to look at, and nourishing, God makes two other trees: the tree of knowing good and evil (which God prohibits man from eating), and the tree of life (which God does not prohibit).1  After Adam and Eve transgressed and ate of the tree of knowledge, God was true to his threat and made them mortal,2 and also banished them from the Garden so that they would not have the opportunity to eat of the tree of life, and thus gain immortality in their unredeemed sinful state.3  Human beings had actually two opportunities for immortality in Eden: escape becoming mortal by obeying God’s prohibition, or simply taking of the tree of life itself. This was not superfluous. It was merely our gracious God in action, giving his creatures more grace than they deserve. He was not finished with us even after the fall. He provided a third way to eternal life through Christ.

LORD, thank you for your grace; thank you for Christ, our way to eternal  life.

  1. Genesis 2:9. [↩]
  2. Genesis 2:17, 5:5. [↩]
  3. Genesis 3:22-24. [↩]
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The Logic of Faith

January 1, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Devotional Thoughts from Psalm 46.

Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission

The LORD is the creator, the One who brings justice, setting prisoners free, healing the blind, lifting up those who are bowed down, loving the righteous, watching over the sojourners, upholding the widow and the fatherless, reigning forever. It is only logical to put our trust in a GOD like that. It is not logical to put faith in a mere human leader, because he is mortal. When mortal man’s breath departs, he returns to the ground from which he was formed, and his plans to save others perish with him (4).

LORD, help us to see the logic of trusting in you alone. Only you have life to give, because only you forever live.

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New Heavens and New Earth

December 31, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Devotional Thoughts from Isaiah 65; Rev. 21-22:5.

Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission

Both prophets see visions of a new heaven and a new earth. Isaiah condemns his listeners because they did not respond to God’s call, so they will experience judgment, not the promised blessing. Instead, the blessing will go to another chosen people that God himself will bring forth for his servant’s sake (8-9). John writes to encourage a church struggling to stay alive in the midst of oppression, persecution and impurity. He shows them the heritage of the conquerors: holiness, glory, eternal life and the presence of God among them. He does not write to a people who already possess that inheritance. Until Christ returns, death will come to all. But afterwards — that is another story.

LORD, keep our eyes on the prize of eternal life with you.

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The Last Enemy

December 31, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Devotional Thoughts from Rev. 20.

Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission

Before the LORD makes all things new, he must destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8), and ultimately the devil himself (Ezek. 28:18). His place is the lake of fire, which is the second death. But first he will be thrown into the bottomless pit for a thousand years while humanity restores the planet he defiled (1-6). Then he will be released, only to be defeated in his attempt to retake power, and tormented (literally for ages and ages, not forever and ever)  in the lake of fire (7-10). He will watch all those whom he controlled be judged, and destroyed because of what he led them to do. Finally, he himself will die, and then the last enemy — death itself — will be destroyed.

LORD, help us to have compassion on those controlled by the devil, knowing the fate that awaits them — and him.

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The Dead who Die in the Lord

December 30, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Devotional Thoughts from Rev. 14.

Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission

John in exile on Patmos had much time to reflect. He thought about the choices that he had made in his life, and the results of those choices.  When he had the choice to give in to the pressures of the idolatrous world around him, he made his choice. He would not drink the wine of Babylon (8).  When he had the choice to follow the Lamb wherever he goes (like the 144,000 of his generation who gave their lives for the gospel) he made his choice.  No regrets. The voice he heard told him that, like those who died for their faith, he too would rest from his labours, and his deeds will follow him (13). A life spent for Jesus is never wasted.

LORD, thank you for the blessed assurance.

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To Be Like a Tree

December 30, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Devotional Thoughts from Job 14:7-15. Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission.  Job is depressed by the limitations of his mortal life. He imagines what it would be like if he were like a tree. Even after it is cut down, there is hope that the stump might sprout again to new life. He prays that God might hide him in Sheol (the state of death) and then remember him. He imagines God calling, and then his dead body would hear God’s voice and answer. Jesus says that Job’s wish will come true one day (John 5:28-29). We are like trees!

LORD, thank you for the hope of the resurrection.

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