Author: Kerry

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”
“There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the LORD.”
Exodus 20:8; Leviticus 23:3

Zeal for Restful Worship

Today’s Bible passage is the third of the Ten Commandments. The word “sabbath” means “rest.” If given the chance to work seven days a week, many would do it, and physical rest would suffer. God loves us, so he commands us to take time for physical rest every week for our physical health.

More importantly, these words remind us that God wants us to get rest for our souls. Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest…for your souls” (Matthew 11:28,29). Whether we realize it or not, our souls are weary from daily battles against temptations to sin and the guilt of losing some of those battles.

We need rest for our souls. We need reminders that we are not alone; we are loved, forgiven, and victorious in Jesus to deal with anything in life. God gladly provides that rest in his Word. Daily time spent resting in that Word is vital to our spiritual health. So, too, is weekly time spent resting in God’s Word while gathered in “sacred assembly” with Christian brothers and sisters.

The German reformer Martin Luther summarized the Third Commandment in this way: “We should fear and love God that we do not despise preaching and his Word, but regard it as holy and gladly hear and learn it.” Guilt and weariness encircles us as we compare these words to our own mindset about worship. Lord have mercy! And he does! Jesus perfectly kept the Third Commandment, and through faith in Jesus, God considers us to have kept the Third Commandment perfectly as well. Since that is true, trust the Lord that gathering for worship while here on earth will provide you with the spiritual rest you need until you are safely worshiping God in heaven.

Prayer:
Triune God, give me zeal to gladly hear and learn your Word so that I am well rested for life and eternity. Amen.

Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1 Corinthians 1:22-24

Zeal for Foolish Worship

“Christ crucified” is the Biblical message that 2,000 years ago, God sent into the world his only son, Jesus Christ, so that he could be executed on a cross where he suffered the punishment of hell and death as the substitute for every sinner, including you and me. “Christ crucified” makes it possible for sinners, who believe in and worship him as their Savior, to avoid the hell they earned for their sins and to spend eternity in heaven instead.

The Jews of Paul’s day represent those who reject Jesus as their eternal Savior because they were expecting something different. In the minds of many, eternal condemnation in hell is not the biggest problem facing them. Climate change, terrorism, politics, health issues, financial worries, and racism are bigger REAL issues, and “Christ crucified” doesn’t seem to solve those problems. If God would take care of real earthly issues, they would be more willing to listen to the Bible’s message.

The Gentiles of Paul’s Day represents all those who reject Jesus as their eternal Savior because their human reason gets in the way of faith. Christ crucified is too exclusive because it excludes the possibility that non-Christians go to heaven. Christ crucified is too restricting because it keeps me from living my life on my terms as it tells me that there are certain attitudes, words, and behaviors that are sinful. Christ crucified goes against my human pride that wants to play a role in solving my problems in my own way.

Both the attitude of the Jews and the Gentiles lead people away from Jesus and the salvation he promises to all who follow him. Do not adopt either attitude. Instead, trust the truth that Christ was crucified for you to save you from your sins and assure you of eternal life with the God who created you. It may seem foolish to many people in this world, but it is the most precious message there is.

Prayer:
Holy Spirit, give me the zeal to embrace foolish worship of Christ crucified, now and forever. Amen.

The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
1 Corinthians 1:25

Beyond Cynicism

If you were to ask people to say one word to describe our society’s attitude for the last twenty years or so, many might say the word “cynical.” A pure cynic is distrustful of everything. A pure cynic takes pleasure in mocking someone instead of listening and learning. A pure cynic always looks for the next punch line at someone else’s expense.

Recently, however, some observers of our culture have suggested that we have begun to enter what they call “post cynicism.” This is simply their way of saying that maybe, just maybe, our society is getting tired of assuming that everything is a big joke. After all, if you spend your life only making fun of other people and their ideas, when the day is done, you still have no answers.

How about you? Over the years, how much time and energy have you spent in figuring out ways to dismiss Jesus, to dismiss his promises, to dismiss the specific things he did to rescue your soul?

One thing is certain. As long as you keep embracing cynicism as if it were some great philosophy of the age and keep dismissing the promises that Jesus has made to you, nothing will change. You’ll remain in the same old mess, the same old bitterness, the same old despair.

Cynicism is not the answer. Jesus is. He will displace your buried guilt with full forgiveness. He will fill your darkness with light. He will fill your emptiness with himself. That’s why he came to live a holy life on your behalf. That’s why he died in your place. And that’s why he lives.

Come and see.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, speak to me in your gospel. Fill me with your Spirit. Wash me in your blood. Renew my mind and heart. Amen.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1

Peace That Matters

A wealthy man wanted a painting that captured the ultimate picture of peace. Many artists entered their paintings and made noble attempts at putting down on canvas what peace really was. Some featured a mirror-smooth lake. Others featured quiet trees under a soft, evening sky. Still others featured a grassy meadow where a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed.

The winning picture, however, had none of that. On the contrary, it contained elements that were not peaceful at all. An angry waterfall hurled itself down a rocky cliff. Overhead, dark clouds were beginning to explode with lightning, wind, and rain. Everywhere in this picture, there were signs of danger, menace, and trouble.

But there was something else. Near the middle of the picture, a small, frail tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the falls itself. And there, in the elbow of that single branch, a bird had built a nest. Her little ones were asleep, content, and undisturbed under the shelter of her wings.

In this life, peace is not the absence of trouble or turmoil. After all, we live in a fallen, broken world and by nature, you and I are fallen, broken people. Unexpected storms, sudden grief, and jarring disappointment will be with us until the day we die.

But there is something else—there is Jesus. There is God’s forgiveness of our sins for the sake of his Son. And along with that forgiveness comes the Lord’s promise to shelter us in every storm, every trouble, every moment of turmoil.

That’s real peace. That’s the only peace that matters. That is the peace under which you and I can rest, content and undisturbed.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, through faith in your Son, you have given me full forgiveness. You have also sheltered me in every storm. Remind me that, in you, I have nothing to fear. Amen.

In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
Job 1:22

God is Watching Over Us

What a terrible day Job had! In a matter of moments, he lost everything: his livelihood, his wealth, and his family. Every earthly thing that he held dear was gone in an instant. We struggle to imagine what it would have been like to experience such a horrible day. How would you expect Job to feel?

Once the shock wore off, we would likely feel angry. In this anger, we may lash out at others or do something rash. We might shout at God and tell him that if he really loved us, he would not have allowed these terrible tragedies into our lives. And it may not be the first time we have had those sentiments.

How did Job keep himself in check? He was human like we are. He no doubt loved his family as we love ours. How could he not blame God or be angry with him? Job amazes us by not accusing God of doing anything wrong.

Yes, Job would struggle to understand why these things happened. He trusted that God was there for him and loved him. He trusted that God had a plan for his life. A plan that was centered around a promise. Later in this book, Job would confess his faith in the promise God had made to send a Savior. A Savior who would come to take away all sin and suffering and pain. A Savior who would come to give us victory over death. This Savior is Jesus, and he has come. He came to live and die for us all and to remove the curse of sin so that we could live forever in heaven.

This same God is the one who is watching over us. He has a loving purpose for us and is always focused on getting us home to him. So whenever you are tempted to be angry at God, realize this only pulls you away from the One who loves you and can help you. Instead of anger, turn to God in faith and let him lovingly lead you through each trial.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, forgive me for the times I have directed my anger at you. Help me to trust you and to rely on your love for me. Amen.

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.”
Job 1:21

Earthly Blessings

Have you ever taken a toy away from a toddler? How did he react? There were likely screams and tantrums and tears. He likely held on as tight as he could to whatever toy you were trying to take away.

What happens when God takes things away from us? Whether it is a family member or friend, a job or client, a vehicle or a house; how do we react when blessings are taken from us? Like the toddler, we perhaps can be too attached to the things of this world. We often have a sense of entitlement, as if we deserve everything we want from God. In fact, the world tells us to value all of these things more than God. Instead of rejoicing in the blessings we had for a time, we often angrily accuse God when those blessings are gone.

Job suggests a better way. In this verse, Job demonstrates contentment for the situation he is in and a thankfulness for God allowing him to have those blessings for as long as he did. His statement demonstrates peace in a very trying time.

Where does such peace come from? It can only come from knowing Jesus. Jesus brings a peace that nothing else in this world can give. His life and death in our place and his glorious resurrection have assured us that we are forgiven and on the way to heaven. Jesus has already given us the greatest gift we could ever have: eternal life in heaven. That is a gift that cannot be taken away!

In addition to giving Jesus to us, God also gives us many earthly blessings to enjoy. Rejoice in those blessings as long as you have them, and when they are gone, find peace in knowing that heaven is yours. God knows what is best for us, and one day, he will take all believers to heaven, where we will be reunited to live forever in true peace.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for the gift of heaven. Bring peace to my heart and lead me to be grateful for my earthly blessings. Amen.

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship.
Job 1:20

Hardships

When hardship hits, it is easy to wallow in sadness and self-pity. We imagine that things cannot get better, and we cannot imagine how we can go on. We perhaps slide into despair and cannot get out of our funk.

Could any of us have blamed Job if this was his response to the horrible tragedies that had struck his life? As understandable as that would have been, Job went in a different direction. He worshiped his God. Yes, he felt grief. But his was a godly grief. He certainly was hurting, but rather than collapse inward on himself and his grief, he turned outward to the One who could ease his pain. Grief and faith are not mutually exclusive. In his grief, Job trusted in the One who gives all good things.

Why is God so worthy of trust in moments like these? Because God has been there and done that. Jesus suffered more than we could ever imagine. Yet, he did not despair. He did not wallow in self-pity or sadness. Rather, he trusted in God’s plan and went on to die in our place on the cross. Jesus has won for us forgiveness and eternal life in heaven. You are his child!

No matter what challenges or hardships you face in life, remember that you are a forgiven child of God. No one can take that away from you. When hardship hits, do not fall inward and wallow in sorrow and self-pity. Instead, turn to God, who has given you every reason to look to him. Worship him who saved you from sin. You are his, now and forever!

Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for giving me the gifts of forgiveness and eternal life. Lead me to worship you in both good times and bad. Amen.

“When suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
Job 1:19

Hardships

It has been said that Job experienced the worst single day of anyone in history. Very few can say they experienced anything as tragic as he did on that day. Family. Wealth. Possessions. All gone in a flash. Who could compare their tragedy to his?

Has anyone tried to comfort you that way? Maybe you were going through something terrible, and the well-meaning friend said, ‘Well, at least you aren’t Job.’ Or ‘It could be worse; did you hear about what happened to so-and-so?’ When tragedy comes into our lives or the lives of others, we tend to focus on the size and severity of the event, as if to suggest that the magnitude of the event compared to others should make us feel better.

But that doesn’t work. Does it? Such ways of thinking do little to help the hurt we are feeling. In fact, comparing our hurt to others might leave us feeling unimportant or unloved. It is important for us to realize that it is not about the size of the hurt but the purpose of it. One of the things we learn from Job is that hardship is an opportunity for us to put our trust in God and lean on him.

God is not a stranger to hurt. He watched from heaven as his one and only Son died on a cross for sins that he did not commit. The Father stood by and sacrificed his perfect Son for a world full of sinners. Jesus suffered and died, and that hurt the Father more than we will ever know. But there was a purpose in that hurt. The purpose was for you and I and the whole world to have sins forgiven, to be saved, and given the gift of heaven. God allowed himself to go through that hurt so that we could have eternity in heaven, where we will never be hurt again.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, when hardship hurts, help me to look to you and to find peace. Help me to focus my eyes on eternal life in heaven. Amen.

One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
Job 1:13-15

Be Ready

I would imagine that Job never forgot where he was and what he was doing when he received the terrible news that his flocks, herds, and workers were completely wiped out. And how could he forget the next moment when he heard that all of his children and their wives were lost in a single tragic event? It was likely just another day in his life. A day full of routine and daily tasks.

So often, we are not prepared for tragedy. As a result, we are shocked when it comes. We get upset. We fret. We jump into panic mode and wonder why this is happening.

Job wasn’t aware that he was suffering for his faith. That was the root cause of his pain. Satan wanted to attack Job and make him lose his faith. To accomplish this, the devil went after what Job loved most in this world. The Bible describes Satan as a roaring lion always on the prowl, looking for ways to destroy our faith. That is his nature. He attacks. We need to expect it and be ready for it.

And we can take heart because we have One on our side who has already defeated Satan. Our Savior, Jesus, by going to the cross and rising from the grave, defeated the devil, and has given us the victory. Through Jesus, we have eternal life. In Jesus, the devil cannot harm us. And one day, suddenly, Jesus will return and take us home to heaven. We also need to be ready for that day. Every day, even in days of hardship, keep your eyes on heaven and know that the victory is yours in Jesus.

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for defeating Satan once and for all. When he attacks, lead me to trust in you and give me strength to endure my earthly trials, always looking forward to the day when you will take me home. Amen.

Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Romans 5:5

Certain Hope

“I hope we have decent weather for our trip this weekend.” “I hope the wait at the restaurant isn’t too long tonight.” “I hope I get a raise this year.” “I hope the test results come back negative.”

There are many things we hope for in our lives. Sometimes, our hopes and dreams are realized. When they aren’t, disappointment, ranging from mild to heart-wrenching, is the result.

We have become accustomed to our plans giving way to disappointment. We are all too familiar with the fact that things don’t always turn out the way that we hope they will. So the gift of hope that does not disappoint us sounds pretty wonderful.

That’s the gift God gives—hope that never disappoints. It’s a hope better described with the word certainty.

“I hope God still loves me after what I have done.” “I hope God is in control because I sure am not.” “I hope to go to heaven when I die.”

These “hopes” will not end in disappointment. There is no uncertainty. They are guaranteed by God’s love.

The amazing love that sent his Son to be born into our world, the sacrificial love that sent him to the cross to be punished for all sins—this love guarantees that your hope is certain. You have forgiveness! You have life! You have God’s love! Through the faith that the Holy Spirit has worked in your heart, you know it to be true.

In a world filled with disappointment, it is wonderful to know that we have a God who is faithful. It is comforting to know we have been given the gift of sure and certain hope.

Prayer:
Gracious Lord, you know all my hopes and dreams that have resulted in disappointment and heartbreak. Send me your Holy Spirit to comfort my heart and give me joy in the certain hope that comes from you. Amen.