Week 48, Day 2
November 29, 2022 Scripture: 2 Peter 3 “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:8–9) One of the most frustrating things about God is his sense of timing. He never reacts or responds to my problems and struggles as quickly as I would like him to. Sometimes the prayer I prayed a year prior finally gets answered, sometimes longer. I think we’ve all been there, frustrated at God and his slowness to respond to our needs, concerns, and prayers. One of the best things about God is his timing. He is not slow in keeping his promise. He is patient with you. God is patient with you. Repeat that a few times slowly. God is patient with you. Feel it deeply in your heart. I want God in a hurry, and in him there is no rush. I appreciate that more today than when I was young. I’m a work in progress that God is patient with. I’m not all I hope to be, I’m also not who I once was. God is at work, patiently with all of us. He doesn’t want anyone to perish. He is patient with you. Thankfully, he is not in a rush with you. It is frustrating that God is not concerned with time the way we are, we have schedules to keep. But I’ll tell you for certain, it is a blessing that he is not so concerned with time, as he is much more concerned with who we are becoming, that all might be saved. He’s not all that concerned with time, but he is concerned for you. God is patient. God is Kind. God is love. God is patient with you.
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Week 48, Day 1
November 28, 2022 Scripture: 2 Peter 2 “Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”” (2 Peter 2:22) What an image these proverbs provide for us! We are like dogs returning to vomit and pigs playing in the mud when we return to our old way of life outside of Jesus. I don’t know that this is about reoccurring sin, so much as rejecting Jesus and his ways after learning about his righteousness. “If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.” (2 Peter 2:20–21) It's a strong word against continuing in sin, either way. This is a troubling passage, as we have all struggled with sin, and continue to do it. The important part is that we continue down the path of growth. We all have struggled with sin and continue to do so. What is most beneficial for us, is to pursue the way of Christ and his righteousness. Let us not turn our back from the one who can truly forgive. There is no forgiveness for those who reject Jesus. Don’t turn your back on God, turn your life toward him. Keep turning to the one who can, and does forgive us our sins. His mercy is for you and for and for me. Week 46, Day 2
November 15, 2022 Scripture: 1Thessalonians 1 “For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.” (1 Thessalonians 1:4–7) “for they themselves report what happened when we visited you. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” (1 Thessalonians 1:9–10) The challenge to remain faithful to God during great trial and suffering is still before us. Who will we serve? The Thessalonians turned from idols to serve the living and true God, Jesus Christ. In their efforts in this, they become a model to all believers. They became one of the first preacher illustrations, told by preachers across the region. “Look to the church in Thessalonica! They were surrounded by idols, yet they refused to worship them!” They are still illustrative for us regarding our walk with Christ and our trusting in him. Will we turn from the gods that we serve of money and mammon, status, and prestige? Will we turn from the worship of man, money and institutions, sports and so much more to serve, love and worship the living and true God? Will we become the next preacher illustration of a people who turn their hearts from loving the world and conforming to it? Will we trust in the Lord and walk with him? “Look at them! They’ve turned from evil, and trust in the Lord!” Week 46, Day 1
November 14, 2022 Scripture: John 21 “The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”” (John 21:17–19) The closing of John’s Gospel is a message of forgiveness and mission. God extends his gracious forgiveness to Peter, and directs him to feed and care for his lambs. Peter is commissioned to care for the disciples of Jesus. Despite his rejection of God, he turns back to him, assuring God of his devotion, love and commitment to him. Whenever I read of Peter’s restoration, I am reminded of my own need for restation to God. I’ve denied him. I’ve turned my own way in the interest of my safety. Jesus extends his grace to Peter, he extends it to me as well. He extends it to you. As always, the message in John is clear, will you love Jesus and believe in him? There will be consequences and great difficulty for Peter because he’s chosen to follow Christ. We need to be aware that there are consequences for us as well. Regardless, let us trust and obey, and devote our lives to him again. He’s asking all of us, “Do you love me?” What do you say?
Week 45, Day 5 November 11, 2022 Scripture: John 20 “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30–31) You are blessed if you believe this: Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, the Savior of the world. He is the Messiah. The one who made the heavens and earth. He is the King of kings, Lord of Lords, the ruler of heaven and earth. We read of the resurrection of Jesus today. The foundational truth of all Christians is that Jesus died and on the third day, he rose to life. His heart beat again. Christians make a big deal about the resurrection because it is a monumental thing that has occurred. An innocent man was crucified, buried in a tomb and he rose from the dead. He made claims that he was the anointed one, the Son of God, and the resurrection solidifies it. The resurrection conquers death, sin and gives us great hope in our despair. Because of all of this, there is no question in our mind, Jesus is Lord. Thomas needed a little extra visual support to give his allegiance to Jesus. Who can blame him, if my friends all said they saw the resurrected Lord, I would have asked to see him too! Graciously, Jesus affirms Thomas, and will offer us a greater blessing. “Blessed are those who do not see and believe.” That’s you and me. We are blessed to believe in Jesus as the Son of God. Give your allegiance to him, believe in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Week 45, Day 4
November 10, 2022 Scripture: John 19 “When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:26–27) I’ve recently come to the point where I think Jesus is giving his deathbed blessing to the world on the cross. As the Patriarchs passed their blessings on to the next generation and their families, so Jesus is offering that on the cross. I’ve presented this in a sermon some time ago, but can’t help but see it now that I think it. Here is one of the more telling clues and why I think the way I do, it’s “Woman, here is your son...Here is your mother.” Jesus is caring for his mother and his friend in one significant act of blessing. The two will care for one another. Just as a final word of encouragement from the deathbed would be to pass a blessing along to the family, John the disciple is welcomed into the fold of his family. Mary is not alone and childless. John is welcomed in and cared for in a new family. Unlike Jacob stealing Esau’s blessing, this is freely given and bestowed upon John. No stealing needed. Only the benevolent kindness of Jesus pouring out his life on the cross. I like to think of this blessing as something that has extended to the generations. We have come to belong to the family of God, because of the blessings from the cross. We are forgiven. We are welcomed into God’s family. We are cared for through the faithfulness of Christ. Christ dies that we may live. You belong to the family of God. It is finished. Week 45, Day 3
November 9, 2022 Scripture: John 18 “Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.” (John 18:28) While the Jewish leaders were slandering the Son of God, they also were looking to be ceremonially clean. In the terrible irony here, they summarize Jesus’ point of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees who clean the outside of the cup but fail to do anything about the inside. The Jewish leaders hearts are far from God. Here Jesus, the Son of God, is right before them. If they would only pay attention and open their eyes, they would see Jesus for who he truly was, the Messiah. But as John so well formulated earlier in the book, the leaders are blind and do not see. I am quick to condemn them for the outrageousness that is killing the Son of God but worried about celebrating the Passover. I judge them rather harshly in my mind. But I do need to look at my own ways, my own heart. How have I been complicit in concerning myself with the appearance of righteousness and cleanliness, but falling away from God? How have I been complicit in cleaning the outside appearing to be righteous, but just as much as the Pharisees and other leaders far from God? It's possible to be clean in the eyes of man and hostile towards God. Do I trust God? Do I seek to know Jesus and walk in his ways? Am I more concerned with the appearance of cleanliness or am I truly concerned about my heart and soul given to God? How about for you? Does your heart need cleansed, through and through? When you wash the inside, the outside gets cleaned too. Give your life to God, believe in Jesus. He’s died for you. He laid down his life, so you may have life in Him. Week 45, Day 2
November 8, 2022 Scripture: John 17 ““Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” (John 17:24) Jesus prays for you. He prays that we would come to know him, belong and find our life in him. He prays that we would have comfort and peace. He calls us to be with God our Father. He prays for unity. On a day where the world feels more and more divided and hostile towards one another, let us be a people who pray the Lord’s prayer for unity with one another and union with God. Lord, we want to be with you. Week 45, Day 1
November 7, 2022 Scripture: John 16 ““I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”” (John 16:33) The Advocate will come and care for the disciples. They are not alone. While we can’t fully imagine how the disciples might have felt, we can do our best to empathize with them. They left family, work and routine to walk with Jesus and learn from him. Now, instead of coming into the reign of Jesus, they are hearing of the departure. Instead of life there is death. I imagine they are filled with despair and frustration. Yet Jesus offers them a comforting word of peace. It may not seem like he has overcome the world, but soon this will make complete sense at the resurrection. Jesus says that this is a good thing that he is departing because the Helper is coming as well. Francis Chan wrote a wonderful book, “The Forgotten God.” In it, he makes light of the notion that we have forgotten the third person in the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit. IT is important for us as Christians that we recognize that we have neglected this third person. Today, we have the Advocate with us, helping us and guiding us. We are not alone, God’s Spirit is with us, his people. Lean on him and trust in the Spirit of God. The Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is alive in you! The Advocate is here, our help! Week 44, Day 5
November 4, 2022 Scripture: John 15 ““As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:9–12) Remain. Remain in Christ. Remain in His love. Remain in the Father’s love. Remain in the Spirit’s love. We are called to trust in God, walk with Him and obey his commandments. A life of love, in fellowship with God, is marked by prayer, trust and obedience. We seek the heart of God, trust that his ways are true and obey his commands. Jesus is Love. He honors, cares for and love us as his friend. Christ lays down his life for us. He humbled himself while lifting us up. He invites us to love as he has loved us, by laying down our lives. The call to remain in God is a call to faithfulness. It’s giving my heart and life to God, daily. It can be frustrating for sure. No one is perfect. There are good days and bad days. It can feel impossible to fully trust and love God as he teaches us here. Apart from him, we know there is no life, no love, no joy, and no fruit. But with him there is all of that and more. In him, our joy is complete. Remain in Christ. |
AuthorJordan Ickes, Minister of Etna Green Church of Christ. Archives
December 2022
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