DEVOTION: Hebrews 4 (ESV)
4 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,
"As I swore in my wrath,
'They shall not enter my rest,'"
although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works." 5 And again in this passage he said,
"They shall not enter my rest."
6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, "Today," saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,
"Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts."
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Some would argue that there is no point to church, to worship and especially to Bible study, but in this passage we see and hear that knowing the Scriptures and being in God's Word daily is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN YOUR LIFE!!
I can't stress it enough. All the pastors that I know say that they don't have enough people in worship or Bible study. They don't care about the numbers because it makes them look better if they have a lot of people. They care about the numbers, because they know that those who aren't in worship and Bible study are in grave danger. They are in danger of losing their faith and being lost forever.
It may not seem that serious to those who are in danger, but a little boy who runs out into the street doesn't feel like they are in any danger either, nor does a person who doesn't go to the doctor know that they are in danger of dying of cancer.
I know I sound like a broken record, and I'm probably preaching to choir, but the message still needs to be known! I urge you to get involved in a Bible study. If you'd like to start a different one at church, I'd be more than happy to accommodate you. If you have questions about something you are reading or studying in the Scriptures please ask! And just be in the WORD in worship and out of worship!
Prayer: Lord, help us to be continually in Your Word. Amen.
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DEVOTION: Hebrews 4 (ESV)
4 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,
"As I swore in my wrath,
'They shall not enter my rest,'"
although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works." 5 And again in this passage he said,
"They shall not enter my rest."
6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, "Today," saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,
"Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts."
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Some would argue that there is no point to church, to worship and especially to Bible study, but in this passage we see and hear that knowing the Scriptures and being in God's Word daily is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN YOUR LIFE!!
I can't stress it enough. All the pastors that I know say that they don't have enough people in worship or Bible study. They don't care about the numbers because it makes them look better if they have a lot of people. They care about the numbers, because they know that those who aren't in worship and Bible study are in grave danger. They are in danger of losing their faith and being lost forever.
It may not seem that serious to those who are in danger, but a little boy who runs out into the street doesn't feel like they are in any danger either, nor does a person who doesn't go to the doctor know that they are in danger of dying of cancer.
I know I sound like a broken record, and I'm probably preaching to choir, but the message still needs to be known! I urge you to get involved in a Bible study. If you'd like to start a different one at church, I'd be more than happy to accommodate you. If you have questions about something you are reading or studying in the Scriptures please ask! And just be in the WORD in worship and out of worship!
Prayer: Lord, help us to be continually in Your Word. Amen.
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DEVOTION: Ecclesiastes 5:10-20 (ESV)
10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. 11 When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? 12 Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.
13 There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, 14 and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. 15 As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. 16 This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? 17 Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger.
18 Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. 19 Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.
Notice, that it doesn't say "He who HAS money...", but "He who LOVES money".
God has given different gifts to different people. To some he has given the gift of leadership, to others the gift of caring and encouragement, to others the gift of teaching, to others the gift of working with his hands, and to others the gift of wealth. IT IS A GIFT FROM GOD as Solomon says very clearly in verse 19.
It is the LOVE of money that is the root of all kinds of evil. When you LOVE money more than you LOVE God, you are breaking the first commandment and you will never be satisfied with your money.
So how do we keep from loving money? GIVING IT AWAY, THAT'S HOW! When you can freely give it as God has given it to you, then you know that money has not become your god. If you can't give it and you depend on it for your happiness and contentment, that's when you know that it has become your god.
I know many people who have been destroyed and many others who are being destroyed by their own love of money. It has destroyed their relationships. It has destroyed their reputation. It has destroyed their joy and contentment. As Solomon says, "Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger."
If you are caught up in this love of money, I urge you to turn away from it! REPENT! If your money is causing you to have it as a god, give it away! GIVE IT AWAY! Don't let it cause you misery or discontentment anymore.
Then let the love of Christ wash over you and dwell in you richly! In Him you will find true satisfaction. Even in the middle of struggle and uncomfortable physical circumstances you will have true peace. Trust in the Lord!
Prayer: Lord, help me to realize that true contentment and satisfaction can only come from you and never will it come from wealth. Amen.
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A very successful attorney parked his brand new Bentley in front of his
office, ready to show it off to his colleagues. As he was getting out, a
> truck came along too closely and completely tore off the driver's door.
> Fortunately, a cop in a police car was close enough to see the accident
> and pulled up behind the Bentley with his ....lights flashing.
> Before the cop had a chance to ask any questions, the attorney started
> screaming hysterically about how his Bentley, which he had just purchased
> the day before, was completely ruined and would never be the same, no
> matter how any car body shop tried to make it new again.
> After the lawyer finally wound down from his rant, the cop shook his head
> in disbelief. "How unbelievably materialistic are you," he
> said. "You are so focused on your possessions that you neglect the most
> important things in life."
> "How can you say such a thing?" asked the lawyer.
> The cop replied, "Don't you even realize that your left arm is missing? It
> was severed when the truck hit you!"
> "OH, MY GOD!!!" screamed the lawyer.
>
> "My Rolex!"
We are finally starting a new Bible study this Sunday. Below is info about it! PLEASE COME AND GROW IN GOD'S WORD!!!
"Marriage and Family: The Lutheran Difference"
In the marriage vows Lutherans still say "Till death parts us". Isn't that a little archaic? As Lutheran interact with other Christians, they often find themselves struggling to explain their beliefs and practices. The Bible and the Lutheran Confessions have a great deal to say about marriage and the family. Luther's insight that marriage is not a sacrament but rather a gift of the created order had profound, positive implications for married life in the Christian west. If marriage and family could be viewed as God's gifts, society might see a renewed appreciation of marriage and the family.
DEVOTION: Hebrews 3:12-19 English Standard Version (ESV)
12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said,
"Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."
16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
Mark 10:17-22 English Standard Version (ESV)
17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 18 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'" 20 And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth." 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
I was at Good Shepherd daycare in Wright City for a while yesterday and I noticed something about the kids. They all like to do things themselves without any help, until they figure out that they can't do it, and then they want your help and they want it IMMEDIATELY. Then, when they can't do it themselves and you can't help them immediately, they cry and pout till they get what they want.
In our Gospel reading we see a person that is described as a "rich young man". The young man wanted to do it himself, for we see him ask, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" We all know that there is nothing you can do to "inherit" something. You have to be born into a family or the person with the thing you want to inherit has to give it to you. Since neither of those were going to work for the young man he figured there must be something he could do to inherit it. But there wasn't anything he could do, at least anything he was willing to do. Jesus told him that he should "sell all he had and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
"An evil, unbelieving heart" as the writer of Hebrews describes it, wants to hold on to worldly possessions, when in essence, those worldly possessions are holding on to that person. An evil and unbelieving heart doesn't want to follow Jesus and live in Him, that kind of heart is like an obstinate, stubborn child who wants to do it all himself.
Jesus wants us to realize that we can't do it all ourselves. In fact, we can't even start the process of salvation. All we can do is run to Jesus and plead with him to open the doors of heaven for us, which He gladly and freely does. All we can do is surrender to him and let him pick us up in his arms like little children and carry us through this life to the eternal life to come.
Quit being stubborn and obstinate children. Quit trying to do it on your own. Independence is good for some things, but it has no place in the work of salvation. That is all dependent on Jesus! Be dependent on him!
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