Daily Devotions

Friday, February 29

Fully Equipped with Knowledge, Wisdom and Understanding

When an individual is born into God’s family by faith in Jesus Christ, he is born with all that he needs to grow toward spiritual maturity.

How many believers fail to realize “you are complete in Him” (Colossians 2:10)? You are complete in Christ for the only experience you need is the new birth. You do not have to look for something else, something new, something different, and something in addition to Christ.

What is needed in the Christian life is to continue to grow in what we received when we received Christ at the new birth. We have been fully equipped in Christ.

The apostle Paul wrote, “We have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to sharer in the inheritance of the saints in light” (Colossians 1:9-12).

There were false teachers telling these Christians they had to have some additional experience in the Christian life. They were suggesting that Christ is not enough. The apostle Paul writes this letter to refute that nonsense. Christ is all-sufficient for every believer in everything.

Paul prayed that God would fill them “with the knowledge of His will.” He prayed these believers would be filled out to completeness with a full, deep understanding.

The Holy Spirit enlightens a believer’s inner person (1 Cor. 2:5-6; Eph. 3:14-21) with the truth from the Word of God. The Spirit of God makes known the will of God through the Bible and gives spiritual stability (Eph. 2:14).

Where do we find this “spiritual wisdom and understanding”? We discover it “in Christ.” The false teachers were saying you find it in their exclusive possession of their kind of knowledge. The apostle Paul said no you find it in an intimate personal knowledge of the Son of God. This knowledge is not a hidden secret to be whispered in the ear of an initiate. It is open to all and it is to be broadcast to the world. Paul’s prayer is that every Christian be filled with this knowledge. The end result of such knowledge is to “walk worthy of the Lord.” What we know will affect the way we live. Right thinking leads to right conduct.

Paul says that you will be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual, wisdom and understanding so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. That comes from the study of the Word of God under the illumination of the Holy Spirit. We can please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of Christ Jesus. Spiritual growth is not automatic, but we have been equipped us by the Word and the Spirit.

The best person in any church well knows that he is unable to come into the presence of God on the basis of any self-merit. No one can receive anything from God on the grounds of his or her own goodness. However, on the merits of the shed blood of Jesus Christ even the worst sinner who turns from his sin and accepts Christ as his Savior can come with boldness and be “strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might.” That “strength with all power, according to His glorious might” comes from God. It is what God gives us “in Christ.” It is possible only on the basis of the death of our Lord Jesus Christ.

True prayer is prayer to God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit.

We “receive from Him anything we ask, because we obey His commandments and do what pleases Him” (1 John 3:22). “We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19), and ask Him for whatever we need that we may “be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that we may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.”

Saturday, March 1

RANSOM, REDEEM, REDEEMER, REDEMPTION

The most profound statement in the Scriptures is, "The Son of Man came to give His life a ransom for many."

How much did it cost to bring fallen man back to a personal relationship with God? It cost the life and death of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, "who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds" (Titus 2:14).

"Redeem" (luteroo) means” to set free by payment of a price." The apostle Peter wrote, "knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ" (1 Peter 1:18-19). 

The Old Testament teaches through pictures, types and prophecies the mighty deeds of God’s redeeming grace through Jesus Christ. It predicts the coming of the Kinsman Redeemer who gave Himself as a sacrifice for sin and paid the price to set men free.

Jesus said He came "to give His life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28). The word translated “ransom” in Matthew 20:28 "is the one commonly employed in the papyri as the price paid for a slave who is then set free by the one who bought him, the purchase money for release of slaves. Jesus gave his own life as the price of freedom for the slaves of sin" (A. T. Robertson). His death would provide a “ransom” (lytron, “payment”) “for” (anti, “in place of”) “many.” The death of the sinless Jesus would take the place of many deaths, for only His death could truly atone for sin (John 1:29; Rom. 5:8; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18). The death of no other human being could ever atone for sin because everyone else who has been born are sinners, and they would be dying only to pay the penalty for their own sins (Rom. 6:23). However, Jesus was the perfect Sacrifice, whose substitutionary death paid the price for sin (Isa. 53:5-6; 2 Cor. 5:21). He did this voluntarily, sacrificially, vicariously, and obediently.

“Ransom” (lytron) occurs only in Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45 in the New Testament. As “the price of release” it refers to a payment to effect the release of slaves or captives from bondage. It also includes the concept of substitution. It is the picture of someone choosing of his own free will to die in the place of another. People are captives under the power of sin and death from which they cannot free themselves (cf. Rom. 5:12; 6:20). Jesus’ substitutionary death paid the price that sets people free (cf. Rom. 6:22; Heb. 2:14-15). Every believer can shout "Free at last!" Free at last!" because of the finished work of Jesus Christ.

The word redeemed in Galatians 3:13 means to purchase a slave for the purpose of setting him free. "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’—" (Galatians 3:13). 

 It is possible to purchase a slave and keep him as a slave, but that is not what Christ did. Instead Jesus shed His blood on the cross, and purchased us that He might set us free. Christ died to set His redeemed people free. He did not save us to put us under another form of spiritual or religious bondage. Salvation means being set free from the bondage of sin and the Law and given the liberty of God’s grace through Christ (Gal. 5:1). Figuratively, Christ is spoken of as having bought His redeemed, making them His property at the price of His blood. He purchased sinful man through the shedding of His blood in expiation for their sins (1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23; 2 Pet. 2:1; Rev. 5:9; 14:3, 4).

In 1 Peter 1:18-19 redemption is a purchasing from the marketplace of sin, a ransom not paid by silver or gold, which perishes (1 Pet. 1:7, 18), but with the priceless blood of the perfect Lamb of God (1 Pet. 1:19). In like manner to the Jewish sacrificial lambs which were to be perfect, Christ was sinless, “without blemish,” and therefore uniquely qualified as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29; cf. Heb. 9:14).

Before we put our faith in Jesus Christ we were rebels against God and slaves to sin. Jesus Christ "gave Himself for us" as our substitute. "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed" (1 Peter 2:24). It is only on that basis could He set us free. We were slaves of sin (Titus 3:3), and it was impossible for us to set ourselves free, but Jesus Christ gave Himself as our ransom. As our substitute Jesus gave Himself for our sins and met the just demands of God's law. Therefore He could in His grace forgive our sins and set us free.

All unsaved individuals are slaves of sin and Satan. Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sin by dying in our place on the cross (1 Cor. 6:20; 2 Pet. 2:1; Rev. 5:9). He redeemed us as in buying a slave from the slave market and we now belong to our new Master. We are now His bondslaves because He purchased us. The same grace that redeems us also transforms us and makes us righteous.

Moreover, those who have been purchased will never be put up for sale in any slave market again (Gal. 3:13; 4:5). We now belong to Jesus Christ forever. Christ died "so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons" (Galatians 4:5). We are His forever children.

Not only do we belong to Jesus Christ as His bondslaves forever, but He has gone a step further and set us free. Lutroo means "to be set free by the payment of a ransom" (Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:18). We have been set free from sin and our old master Satan. We have been set free to serve (1 Pet. 2:9). Christ "gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds" (Titus 2:14). 

This is the message we see repeated throughout the Old Testament. After Adam and Eve sinned God graciously provided a lamb according to Genesis 3:21 and Abel learned the same lesson (4:4). Abraham and Isaac appropriated the substitutionary Lamb God provided in Gen. 22:8, 13-14. The firstborn son of each Jewish home was redeemed at the Passover “when I see the blood I will pass over you” (Exod. 12:13). The innocent suffering Servant of the LORD died as a substitute for a sinful nation. "Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him" (Isaiah 53:4-6). The Lamb spoken of in these and many other passages was “the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). When we get to heaven we will all sing, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” (Rev. 5:12). We will bow and worship the Lamb who sits on the throne (Rev. 5:8, 13). We will attend the “marriage of the Lamb” (Rev. 19:7-9), but all whose name is not written “the Lamb’s book of life” (Rev. 21:27) will face the “wrath of the Lamb” (Rev. 6:16-17).

The Bible is very clear that Christ’s death was not an accident; it was ordained by God before the foundation of the world (Acts 2:23). From the human perspective, our Lord was cruelly murdered; but when we get heaven into the picture we realize He laid down His life for sinners (John 10:17–18), and God raised Him from the dead! The risen Savior promises anyone who trusts Him will be saved for eternity (Jn. 10:27-30).

The God of our redemption is worthy of all of our praise and worship.

Key Scriptures

Ephesians 1:7; Matthew 20:28; Galatians 3:13; 4:4-5; Job 19:25; Leviticus 25:25; Hebrews 9:11-12, 15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 7:23; Titus 2:14; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 Corinthians 3:23

Abiding Principles and Practical Applications

1. When we were in bondage to sin and Satan, Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself in our place to purchase us and then set us free to let Him live a life of righteousness in and through us. Jesus shed His precious blood to purchase us out of the slavery of sin and set us free forever. To redeem means “to set free by paying a price.” A slave could be freed with the payment of money, but no amount of money can set a lost sinner free. Only the blood of Jesus Christ can redeem us. Nothing but the blood!

2.  Since we have been set free from the penalty and power of sin and liberated from our old master Satan, we are now free to serve God in righteousness by the power of the Holy Spirit. He set us free to live the Christian life.

3. Jesus Christ came to do for sinners what they could not do for themselves. No lost sinner can ever redeem himself. And neither can a carnal mind assist the Spirit of God in creating a new man. It is altogether regeneration by the work of God the Holy Spirit, and the work of renewal is from His unassisted power. Have you experienced the liberating power of God's redeeming grace?

Sunday, March 2

ANGELS

 “Angels and atoms do not compete!” observed Bernard Ramm. “There can be then no formal logical objection to the existence of angels.” The noted theologian Karl Barth was convinced there is no basis for modern man’s hesitation about angels.

The fact is modern man does not have any criterion within himself to judge the existence of angels apart from the Scriptures. The subject of angels is abundant in the Bible where they are viewed as servants of God. In fact, the only valid information about angels is the Word of God.

Definition of Angel

Aggelos, the Greek word from which the English word “angel” is derived, denotes either a human or a heavenly “messenger.” With the exception of a few references it is used only for heavenly beings (Luke 7:24; 9:52).

The corresponding Hebrew word malakh also means “messenger.” These words are sometimes used to designate human messengers such as a prophet (Hag. 1:13), or a priest (Mal. 2:7). The context in every occurrence must decide the exact meaning.

Angels in the Scriptures are also called “sons of God” (Job 1:6; 2:1), “sons of the mighty” or “heavenly beings” (RSV) (Ps. 29:1; 89:6), “holy ones” (Ps. 89:5, 7; Dan. 4:13), and “heavenly hosts” (Luke 2:13).

Angels in the Scriptures refers to the supernatural or heavenly being whose purpose it is to act as God’s messengers to men, and as agents to accomplish His will.

Angels are spirits, supernatural celestial beings. Hebrews 1:14 asks, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?”

God created an innumerable company of angels long before the creation of man (Heb. 2:2, 5; Rev. 5:11). They have personality, great intelligence, moral will and responsibility. Even though the term “angel” has been used of the spirits of men who have died, there is no reason to conclude that angels are departed spirits of men or that men at death become angels (Matt. 18:10; Acts 12:15). They do not reproduce, nor do they experience physical death or cessation of existence. Angels continue forever and are distinct from all other created beings. They are capable of rendering intelligent worship (Ps. 148:2), but are not on par with God (Matt. 24:36).

The nature of angels does not include bodies unless they are bodies of a spiritual order (1 Cor. 15:44). However, they may be seen at times in bodies and appear as men (Lk. 24:4f; Jn. 20:12; Matt. 28:3; Rev. 15:6; 18:1). The Bible does not describe angels as men with wings growing out of their shoulders. The cherubim and seraphim, however, are described in the Bible as having wings (Isa. 6:1-8; Ezek. 1:5-8, 24).

The cherubim (plural for “cherub”) were celestial beings sent by God to guard the tree of life in the garden of Eden (Gen. 3:24), and were represented symbolically on the ark of the covenant (Ex. 25:18-22), woven on the veil in the tabernacle (26:31), carved cherubim on the walls in the temple (2 Chron. 3:7) and seen by Ezekiel in a vision of the restored Jerusalem (Ezekiel 41:18-20).

Two angels are named, Gabriel (Dan. 8:15-16; 9:21; Lk. 1:19, 26) and the chief or archangel, Michael (Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9; Rev. 12:7-9). The only other angel named is Satan, the chief of the fallen angels (Job 1:6-12; Gen. 3:1ff; Matt. 25:41; 2 Pet. 2:4; Rev. 12:9).

Angels are spiritual creatures

Angels are totally spiritual creatures that are free from human limitations (Lk. 20:36). They do not marry and are sexless (Matt. 22:30). They have the ability to communicate in human language and to affect human life in various ways (Matt. 28:2-7), however God has limited their power and knowledge (Ps. 103:20; Matt. 24:36; 1 Pet. 1:11-12; 2 Pet. 2:10-11).

The Bible forbids the worship of angels (Col. 2:18; Rev. 19:10; 22:8-9).

They belong to the heavenly court (Matt. 18:10) serve God in praise (Rev. 4:8-9; 5:8-14), and doing His will (Ps. 103:20) on the earth (Dan. 12:1; Mat. 28:2).

Charles Hodge has a good summary in his Systematic Theology. He writes: “They are described as pure spirits, i.e., immaterial and incorporeal beings. The Scriptures do not attribute bodies of any kind to them. . . . They are invisible, incorruptible, and immortal, but not omnipresent. They are always somewhere and not everywhere at any given moment, but they are not confined to space circumscriptively as bodies are, and can move from one portion of space to another. As spirits they are possessed of intelligence, will, and power. With regard to their knowledge . . . all that is clear is that in their intellectual faculties and in their extent of their knowledge they are far superior to man. Their power also is very great and extends over mind and matter. They have power to communicate with one another and with other minds and to produce effects in the natural world” (pp. 231-232).

As to the greatness of their power, Hodge adds, “Angels, therefore, cannot create, they cannot change substance, they cannot alter the laws of nature, they cannot perform miracles, they cannot act without means, and they cannot search the heart; for all these are, in Scripture, declared to be prerogatives peculiar to God. The power of angels is, therefore, dependent and derived. It must be exercised in accordance with the laws of the material and spiritual world. Moreover, their intervention is not optional, but permitted or commanded by God at His pleasure; and as far as the external world is concerned, it would seem to be only occasional and exceptional. These limitations are of the greatest practical importance. We are not to regard angels as intervening between us and God, or to attribute to them the effects which the Bible everywhere refers to the providential agency of God” (ibid, p. 232).  

Angels in the Old Testament

The creation of angels is referred to in Psalms 148:2, 5; Col. 1:16. They were present at the creation of the world and “shouted for joy” (Job 38:7). The “morning stars” and “sons of God” refers to the angels.

At times in the Old Testament the angels were mistaken as men (Ezek. 9:2ff; Gen. 18:2ff, 16ff) because they appeared in human form to men and women. There is no indication they ever appeared in female form or as children.

The cherubim and seraphim are seen with wings (Ex. 25:20; Isa. 6:2) as well as the living creatures (Ezek. 1:5-6; Rev. 4:8). But there is no indication that angels have wings.

God used angels who appeared in human form, with human voices, in order to communicate to man His messages with men. Two angels were sent to destroy Sodom (Gen. 19:13), Jerusalem when David numbered the people (2 Sam. 24:16), 185,000 of the Assyrian army (2 Kings 19:35), and the sinful in Jerusalem (Ezek. 9:1, 5, 7). There are “angels of evil” that bring evil upon men from God and execute His judgments (Psa. 78:49). “Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD terrorized him” (1 Sam. 16:14).

Angels appear to Jacob in dreams (Gen. 28:12; 31:11), and to Balaam’s ass (Num. 22:22ff). In Job they interpret God’s will (33:23). “He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in your ways” (Psa. 91:11).

Countless numbers of angels are depicted standing on the right and left of the LORD God (1 Kings 22:19).  “Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, and myriads upon myriads were standing before Him” (Dan. 7:10). These “heavenly hosts” stand before “the LORD of hosts” or Yahweh of hosts ever praising Him (Psa. 103:21; 148:1-2; Josh. 5:14ff; Dan. 10:5).

Many scholars think the fall of angels is described in Isaiah 14:12ff and Ezekiel 28:13 (cf. 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6).

Angels in the New Testament

The New Testament opens with angelic activity and closes with it.

The appearance of angels was quite prominent in the beginning of God’s chosen people, and in a similar fashion we see them in connection with the birth of Jesus and the establishment of the church.

Angels appeared to Joseph (Matt. 1:20; 2:13, 19). The angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias and to Mary the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:11, 19, 26). Angels announced to shepherds the birth of Jesus and a “multitude of heavenly hosts” are seen worshipping the new born king (2:9-15).

Angels appeared to Jesus strengthening Him when He was tempted in the wilderness (Matt. 4:11) and in the Garden of Gethsemane (Lk. 22:43). An angel rolled back the stone at His tomb after He rose from the dead (Matt. 28:2), and “a vision of angels” appeared to the women (Lk. 24:23). Two angels were in the tomb, “one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body had been lying” (Jn. 20:12).

Jesus spoke of “the angels of heaven” (Matt. 22:30), and of “the devil and his angels” (25:41). The angels of God are “holy” (Mk. 8:38), have no sex, i.e., “neither marry, nor are they given in marriage” (Matt. 22:30), have intelligence but do not know when Jesus will return (Matt. 24:36), carried the soul of Lazarus to Abraham’s bosom (Lk. 16:22). Jesus could have called twelve legions of angels to help Him (Matt. 26:53), and they will be with Him when He returns in glory (25:31). They will separate the righteous from the wicked for judgment (13:41, 49). They rejoice when sinners are saved (Lk. 15:10), and hear Jesus confessing those who have accepted or rejected Him (Lk. 12:8f), and are interested in God’s people (Matt. 18:10).

In the expansion of the early church, angels released Peter from prison (Acts 5:19), gave directions to Philip (Acts 8:26), directed Peter and Cornelius (Acts 10:3ff), delivered Peter a second time from Herod (Acts 12:7ff), struck Herod dead (Acts 12:23) and encouraged Paul in a ship wreck (Acts 27:23).

The apostle Paul taught that saints will judge the angels (1 Cor. 6:3), and that they are God’s elect or “chosen angels” (1 Tim. 5:21). In a context referring to women wearing a head covering Paul said, “Women ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels” (1 Cor. 11:10). He also forbids the worship of angels (Col. 2:18).

The writer of Hebrews says angels are ministering spirits to help the saints (Heb. 1:14).

Christ is superior to the angels (Heb. 1:4, 6, 13, 14; 1 Pet. 3:22).

They are prominent in the book of Revelation as over one third of the references to angels in the New Testament are in Revelation.

Our salvation is so wonderful that angels long to look in to see what God is doing (1 Pet. 1:12).

The apostle John saw in his vision “many around the throne” of God singing and worshipping Him (Rev. 5:11).

The apostle Paul describes angels as “principalities,” “powers,” “thrones,” “dominions,” “forces,” etc. (Eph. 6:12; 1:21; 3:10; Col. 1:12, 16).

Fallen or evil angels

Satan is the “prince of the power of the air; of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2). An innumerable company of angels is described as fallen from their created estate. They were led by Satan, who was originally a holy angel, and rebelled against God. It is probable that when Satan rebelled he took with him a multitude of lesser angels. Some are reserved in chains unto their final judgment (1 Cor. 6:3; 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6). The remainder are free and are demons that serve Satan’s evil purpose (Mk. 5:9, 15; Lk. 8:30; 1 Tim. 4:1; Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10).

Satan must be conquered before Christ’s final victory over evil. Jesus cast out demons “by the Spirit of God” (Matt. 12:28). Jesus said, “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world shall be cast out” (Jn. 12:31).

Jesus was present in heaven when Satan was cast out. Jesus said, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightening” (Lk. 10:18).

Revelation 12:7-9 describes the “war in heaven” in which the archangel Michael and his angels fought against Satan and his fallen angels.

Revelation makes it clear that God’s enemies will be defeated (Rev. 19:17ff), and Satan will be bound for a thousand years and “thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Rev. 20:1-2, 10; Matt. 25:45).

Our struggle as Christians is “not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world-forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12; cf. 2:2).

These fallen angels and their leader were defeated at Calvary.

Unfallen or holy angels

“Holy angels,” “the angels of God” (Lk. 9:26; 12:8; Heb. 1:6) and “God’s angels” (Psa. 103:20) serve the LORD God and accomplish His will. These good angels minister to the saints and appeared to God’s people to communicate God’s message (Judges 13:3), warn of danger (Gen. 19:15), protect from evil (Dan. 3:28; 6:22), guide and protect (Exo. 14:19), nourish (Gen. 21:14-20; 1 Kings 19:4-7) and instruct (Acts 7:38; Gal. 3:19).

They announced the coming of Christ and guided Joseph and Mary (Lk. 2:8-15; Matt. 2:13), and strengthened Him (Matt. 4:11; Lk. 22:43), announced His resurrection (Matt. 28:1-6). There seems to be only two angelic appearances between His birth and resurrection: the temptations (Mk. 1:12) and Gethsemane (Lk. 22:43).

They watch over Christians (Matt. 18:10; Acts 8:26; 5:19; 12:7-11; 27:21-25).

They will accompany Christ at His return (Matt. 25:31; Acts 1:10, 11; 1 Thess. 4:16; 2 Thess. 1:7), and will assist Jesus in the judgment day.

An angel smote King Herod Agrippa “because he did not give God the glory” (Acts 12:23).

Jesus is returning in “His glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels” (Lk. 9:26). “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne” (Matt. 25:31). “And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other” (Matt. 24:31).

The angels will be at His side when He returns in glory (Matt. 13:49; 16:27; 25:31; 2 Thess. 1:7).

As the Son of God, Jesus stands undeniably above the angels (Mk. 13:27; Heb. 1:4-14; Phil. 2:9ff).

Ministry of the angels

We have already mentioned by way of summary some of the various services of the angels.

The stated purpose of angels is “to serve” (Heb. 1:14). The prophet Elijah ran himself to death and was exhausted when God sent an angel to minister to him (1 Kings 19:5-17). After forty days in the wilderness and being tempted the Father sent an angel to His Son (Mk. 1:13), and again when Jesus faced the most difficult night in His life angels ministered encouragement to Him (Lk. 22:43).

Angels announce and forewarn

They gave birth announcements of some of God’s chosen servants such as Isaac (Gen. 18:9f), Samson (Judges 13:2-24), John the Baptist and Jesus (Lk. 1:13ff, 30ff; 2:8-15).

They forewarn of dangers and coming destructions of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 18:16-19:29), of Herod seeking to kill Jesus (Matt. 2:13), and eschatological scenes of judgment (Rev. 1-22).

Angels guide and instruct God’s people

Abraham told his servant Eliezer as he went to find a wife for Isaac that God “will send His angel with you” (Gen. 24:7, 40). Jacob, while on a journey saw angels in his dream (Gen. 28:12-15). The new nation experienced God’s leading and protection as “the angel of God who went before the host of Israel moved and went behind them” (Ex. 14:19; Num. 20:16).

At Mt. Sinai Moses “received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it” (Acts 7:38, 53; cf. Gal. 3:19).

Angels instructed Manoah’s wife (Jud. 13:3-5), Joseph (Matt. 1:20f), Philip (8:26ff), Cornelius (Acts 10:3-5), Paul (27:23f), interpreted visions for the prophets Zechariah (Zech. 1:9, 19), Daniel (Dan. 7:16), and the apostle John (Rev. 17:7).

Angels guard and defend God’s people.

The Psalmist declared, “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers them” (34:7). That was true of Jacob for twenty years (Gen. 32:24ff) and the children of Israel during their exodus out of Egypt to the Promised Land (Ex. 14:19f). An angel made Balaam revise his own prophecy (Num. 22:1-24:25). Joshua met the “commander of the army of the LORD” (Josh. 5:14). A host of mighty angels defended Elisha and his servant (2 Kings 6:17).

An angel prevented Abraham from slaughtering Isaac and provided a substitute lamb (Gen. 22:9-12). Moreover, an angel delivered Daniel and three Hebrew youth from a death sentence (Dan. 3:28; 6:22).

Sennacherib’s army was defeated when it threatened Jerusalem, and “that night an angel of the Lord went forth, and slew 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians” (2 Kings 19:35).

The words of Jesus are reassuring in Matthew 18:10 and 26:53. “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you, that their angels in heaven continually behold the face of My Father who is in heaven.” “Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels.” 72,000 angels as we have already seen could put up a good battle!

The Holy Spirit and angels

It would appear that much of the work previously accomplished by angels in the Old Testament has been the function of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers in Christ. This especially true in the books of Acts where He uses angels to protect (Acts 5:19), give guidance (Acts 8:26; 12:7), execute judgment (Acts 12:23), provide revelation from God in visions (Acts 10:3), and give assurance (Acts 27:23-24). 

However, the Holy Spirit may continue to use angels in His ministry to men in invisible capacity. They watch over the saints, rejoice in our salvation, give praise to God and are “ministering spirits sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation.”

The writer of Hebrews says, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Heb. 13:2).

Yet the Bible clearly gives stern warning for men not to worship angels (Col. 2:18; Rev. 19:10; 22:8-9).

Should you entertain an angel he will never attract your attention to himself; he will always direct your attention to Jesus Christ whom he worships and serves. If you are distracted to the angel, perhaps you should ask yourself whose angel it is. Like, the Holy Spirit, angels will always cause you to have a deeper awareness and love for the Triune God.

Key Scriptures

Hebrews 1:14; 13:2; Matthew 1:20; 2:13; 18:10; 22:30; 25:41; 26:53; Luke 1:13ff, 30ff; 2:8-15; Psalm 34:7; 2 Kings 6:17; Col. 2:18; Daniel  8:15-16; 9:21; 10:13, 21; 12:1; Revelation 19:10; 22:8-9

Abiding Principles and Practical Applications

1.  “If we cannot or will not accept angels, how can we accept what has been told us by the history of Scripture?” asked Barth. There are some facts in life that only God can reveal to us through His holy Word. We, therefore, should humble ourselves and trust in Him and what He has chosen to reveal to us in the Bible.

2. “Even heaven itself has never seen anything so marvelous as the incarnation and the suffering and death of the Creator; nothing so inconceivable as the complete redemption of rebels made to become the Church of the Lord,” writes Rene Pache. Could anything have been more important or appropriate than the fact that His angels should have announced the resurrection of Jesus Christ?

3. Angels will be sent for the harvest at the end of the age, when the righteous will be separated from the wicked. Are you ready for the coming of Christ? The only way to be ready is to repent of our sins and place our trust in the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ for our sins. Angels rejoice with God when a sinner repents and puts his faith in the Son of God who is above al the angels.

4.  I am inclined to think with Calvin that there is probably more than one angel watching over us. “Each of us is cared for not by one angel merely, but that all with one consent watch for our safety.” The Lord, by means of His servants watches without ceasing over the steps of His beloved.

5.  Let us ever be aware that Jesus Christ is enthroned in the highest position in the universe. He is the sovereign Lord and King. Our worship must always and exclusively be directed to Him who is the Head—even Christ (Phil. 2:8-11).

Monday, March 3

Adopted Children of God

The term “Son of God” refers preeminently to Jesus Christ’s deity (Matt. 11:25-27; 16:16-17). He alone is one in substance and glory with God the Father. Believers in Christ, although “adopted” are never on a par with the uncreated, divine Son of God.

“Adoption” is the term the apostle Paul uses to describe the act of the Holy Spirit whereby the believing sinner becomes a member of God’s family, with all the privileges and obligations of family members.

We were “children of wrath” by nature (Eph. 2:3). However, those upon whom God bestows His saving grace become the “children of God.”

The word adoption in the New Testament means to place as an adult son. It was a term used in the Roman legal practice in the apostle Paul’s day referring to a legal action by which a person takes into his family a child not his own, with the purpose of treating him as and giving him all the privileges of an own son. An adopted child was legally entitled to all rights and privileges of a natural-born child. Paul uses it as an illustration of the act of God giving a believing sinner, who is not His natural child, a position as His adult son in His family. The emphasis is on the legal position of the child of God.

It is the Holy Spirit who is called “the Spirit of adoption” who performs the act of placing the believing sinner as an adult into the family of God. “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Rom. 8:15)

The adopted child lost all rights and privileges in his old family and gained all the rights of a legitimate son in his new family. He got a new father, and he became the heir to his new father’s estate. He became co-heir with the other sons. In the eyes of the law the old life was completely wiped out. All debts were completely cancelled. He was absolutely the son of his new father. It was carried out in the presence of seven witnesses.

What a glorious privilege is ours to be the absolute possession of the Father! We have already as believers in Christ been placed in the family of God and are led by the Holy Spirit as the adult sons of God. The apostle John describes our experience as God’s children who have been born into His family by the new birth (Jn. 1:12; 1 Jn. 3:1-2).

Moreover, Romans 8:23 tells us “we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” At the Second Coming of Christ our resurrected bodies will be glorified and will then possess all our inheritance that the sonship involves.

Galatians 4:4-6 and Ephesians 1:5 make it clear that we cannot lose our adoption. Because Jesus Christ paid the penalty of our sin debt in full, nothing stands in the way of a just God regenerating a believing sinner and placing him as His child in His family. The Holy Spirit as “the Spirit of adoption” also places a saved sinner in a legal standing in God’s family. The adopted son has all the rights and privileges of God’s only begotten Son. God the Father loves the adopted child just as much as He loves His only begotten Son.

“We are sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:26). As a result of God’s adopting us we are just as eternal and secure in our relationship with Him as His only-begotten Son. All the security and loveliness of God’s Son is ours as His adopted sons. The Holy Spirit imparts to us the divine nature and places us in the family of God in accordance to His unchanging laws.

This is our new standing before the LORD God. He accepts us into His family, who by nature do not belong to it, and places those who are not His sons originally into a right relationship with Him with all the privileges of that new family relationship.

Jesus Christ alone is the Son of God by nature. We can never have the same relationship He has as the unique Son of God. The word “adoption” distinguishes those who are made sons of God from the only-begotten Son of God. The Holy Spirit, however, creates in the believing sinner a new nature. We have not only the new status as sons, but also the heart of true sons. Our adoption is the act of God’s pure goodness and grace of His will to the praise of His glory.

Tuesday, March 4

Do You See What I See?

 "Christ in you the hope of glory," wrote the apostle Paul. It is one of the greatest blessings of the Christian life that we share the image of Jesus Christ and go "from glory to glory."

"We all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:18 NET).

Every believer has the privilege of entering into the holy of holies and enjoying an intimate communion with God.

“Glory” as used in the Bible is a quality belonging to God.  The word "glory" suggests something which radiates from the one who has it, leaving an indelible impression behind.

In the Old Testament “glory” is seldom used for the honor shown to men, but it is frequently used for the honor brought or given to God. His glory and power is manifest or shown forth.

“Lift up your heads, O gates, And be lifted up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in! Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates, And lift them up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in! Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah” (Psalm 24:7-10).

We are constantly reminded in the Scriptures that the LORD God will not share His glory with another (Isa. 42:8; 48:11).

The Hebrew word kabod brings out the luminous, manifestation of God’s person, and His glorious revelation of Himself (Isa. 6:3; Ex. 33:17-23; 34:29-35; Num. 14:10, 21ff; Hab. 2:14; Psa. 72:18-19).

The Lord Jesus Christ shares in this same glory that the Father enjoys. Jesus said, “Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was” (John 17:5). It appears above all in His work of salvation on the cross, His resurrection and ascension into glory. Jesus possessed the glory continually, but not in open demonstration except on various occasions (Matt. 17:1ff; John 1:1-3, 14, 18, 2:11, etc).  Jesus will be revealed in His glory and power for all men to see at His Second Coming (Matt. 19:28; Lk. 22:30; 24:30; 1 Thess. 4:13-18). We will see Him as He is now (Rev. 21:22-23; 4:8-14; 5:9-17; Phil. 3:21; 1 Thess. 2:12; Heb. 2:10; 1 Pet. 5:1, 4, 10; 1 Cor. 15:48-53; Rom. 8:17, 29; Col. 3:4; 1 Jn. 3:2).

Moreover, Christians are to be like mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of God wherever and in whatever circumstances we may find ourselves.

The glory of God with its transforming power is operative even now among believers through the risen Christ and our fellowship with Him (Rom. 8:29-30). The believer shares this divine glory now as it is reflected in the person of Jesus Christ and will in complete perfect manifestation of that glory in the great consummation when Christ returns. The Christian’s confidence is in “the hope of glory” in Christ (Col. 1:27; Eph. 1:18; 2 Thess. 2:14; 2 Tim. 2:10).

The highest obligation of man is to glorify and praise the LORD God in worship. The only way this can happen is through an intimate personal relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s power is demonstrated and operates in “salvation history.” The supreme manifestation of the power and glory of God appears in His work of salvation (Matt. 17:2-5; Jn. 1:14; 2:11; 2 Cor. 4:4, 6, etc).

Jesus gives His glory to those who believe in Him (Jn. 17:15, 22). The veil of unbelief is removed in Christ. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

The mirror is God’s Word (James 1:22-25). As we look into God’s Word and see the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit transforms us into the image of God. It is important in this process of sanctification that we be honest, open and transparent with God and do not wear a veil. We are changed on the outside because of the change that comes about on the inside. We radiate the glory of God because He has placed it within us through the new birth, justification and sanctification. We meditate on God’s Word and look into the face of Jesus and the Holy Spirit transforms us. As we grow in the knowledge of Him and His grace, we continually grow from glory to glory in His likeness. The glory of God’s grace continues to increase in the yielded believer. Only the grace of God can make us like Jesus.

The glory of the Christian does not fade away like Moses’ did, but is an ever-increasing glory, i.e., from one stage of glory to another. A believer’s glory is eternal because of God’s abiding presence through the Holy Spirit. This glory is the work of the Holy Spirit in our regeneration and sanctification. We are being progressively transformed into the likeness of Christ. Christ-likeness is the goal of the Christian life (Eph. 4:23-24; Col. 3:10).

The veil of unbelief was lifted, and remains lifted, as we behold the glorious face of the Lord Jesus. It is like looking into a mirror or contemplating something glorious. We reflect in our person that same glory of the Lord. We are being continuously transformed. Our inward reality is being changed because we are being transformed into the likeness of Christ.

Christians seeing in Jesus the image of God, are not deified, but are transformed into the same image. The glory that we share with Christ ever increases from one stage of glory to a higher stage of glory. This is our grand inheritance now in Christ. Can you find a better picture of the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures?

The veils, once lifted, remain lifted. All of us Christians without any veils over our faces continuously reflect like mirrors the glorious splendor of the Lord if we keep on beholding Him in the Word of God. We are being transformed into the same likeness of Him, in an ever increasing splendor from one degree of His splendor to another, since this change of outward experience comes from the Lord who is the Spirit working in our hearts (Pounds’ Paraphrase of 2 Corinthians 3:18).

Ash Wednesday, March 5

Fear God, Not Men

Exodus 1:17 - But the midwives feared God and did not do as the King of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live.

Ancient Israel prospered in the land of Egypt because the hand of the Lord was with them.  However, the land that had once been a place of refuge with Joseph became a place of bondage.  Pharaoh was losing his grip and ordered the killing of Hebrew newborn boys.  But Shiphrah and Puah feared God and not Pharaoh, and so let the children live.

Fear of the world is driven by fleeting threats and false promises.  But the fear of God is different.  As He calls us to live according to His commandments, God brings about holy fear in us through His Law to recognize that He alone is God.  Worldly fear can only drive to despair, but holy fear drives toward repentance and faith, which is supplied only by the Gospel - for Jesus has redeemed us by His blood and righteousness on the cross.

Like Shiphrah and Puah, fearing God and no men means that we have no need to let the world dictate our lives but its short-lived rewards and threats. (Psalm 56:11 - "in God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?" Acts 5:29 - "Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!") We do not even need to let our left hand know what our right hand is doing as we seek to love our neighbors in our vocations. (Matthew 6:3 - "But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,") For God is merciful in Christ Jesus by the work of His hand alone.

Lord, preserve us when temptations seek to strike misplaced

fear into our hearts. Lead us to fear, love, and trust in You

above all things. In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Thursday, March 6

Drawn from the Water

Exodus 2:3 - "When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch.  She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the riverbank."

After the midwives refused to fear his hand, Pharaoh ordered that all Hebrew newborn male children be cast into the Nile.  But with loving hands, Moses' mother refashioned a basket into a floating ark for safety for her young son.  Ironically, Pharaoh's own daughter drew Moses from the water.  While human hands are at work, the hand of the Lord is at work over this entire situation.  Our Lords has a habit of saving through water.  He also saved Noah and his family by placing them in an ark, sealing it, and saving them through the deadly waters of the flood.

Though it may look like a mere human hand pouring water upon the head, God's hand is at work in Holy Baptism.  He saves us through water and Word as we are united to Jesus' death and resurrection. (Romans 6:1-11 - "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.") For God cleanses us of our sins.  Our old sinful self has been drowned in those waters, and we have been drawn from the water into a new life in Christ. Furthermore, the Lord safely places us in the "holy ark of the Christian Church" (LSB, p269), where we are sealed until the day of Christ's coming.

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for saving us through Holy

Baptism. Keep us in Your holy ark, the church, by Your saving

hand.  In Jesus' name. Amen

Friday, March 7

God Remembers the Covenant He Cut

Exodus 2:24-25 - "And God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.  God saw the people of Israel - and God knew."

When Moses witnessed the suffering of his own people at the hands of the Egyptians, he recklessly tried to take matters into his own hands and soon found himself on the run.  Still, the Lord was with him, providing for him.  Even after the rule of Egypt changed hands, God saw the suffering of His people.  He remembered the covenant He had cut with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and He was about to enact His plan of rescue by His hand.

Taking matters into our own hands rarly results in what we think it should, much less does it fix the problems of this world.  More often, doing so only makes matters worse.  When it comes to our salvation, there is nothing that we can do to earn it.  It is completely our of our hands.  Our only hope is in the one who has all thing in His control.  God knows the plight of His people and has sent Jesus to be our Savior, who wins for us the forgiveness of sins.  His hand alone will see us through the trials of this day in patience and peace as we trust in His promise to save.

Dear Lord, we praise You for taking our salvation into Your

own hands to do what we were never able to do.

In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Saturday, March 8

The Mighty Hand of the Lord

Exodus 3:20 - "So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go."

Pharaoh's death grip on God's people was tight, and he would respond only to a mighty hand.  Israel was unable to free themselves from his grip, but God's mighty hand can do what no mere human can.  For not only will Israel be set free, but also Egypt will hand over their gold and silver as they leave.

We all would be lost in captivity to the devil were it up to the strength of our own hands.  Jesus says that the devil is like a strong man who seeks to hold us captive by his strength.  However, when Chris came, He cast out demons, signaling that He has come to bind the strong man.  He has come as the mighty hand of God to free us from bondage.  Christ has plundered the devil's house. (Matthew 12:29 - "Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.") Jesus has conquered the devil in order to win us and bring us under His gracious reign.  He alone is the mighty hand of God, who fights for us and frees us to live under His reign.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to be the 

mighty hand of God to bind the devil, plunder his house,

and bring us to live under Your kingdom forever.

In Jesus' name.  Amen.

First Sunday in Lent, March 9

God's Power Through Human Hands

Exodus 4:21 - "And the Lord said to Moses, 'When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power.'"

Moses' request for the Lord to show His powerful hand was just as much for himself as it was for the sake of convincing Israel that he came with God's authority.  The Lord graciously gave Moses signs, using the staff in his hand - Moses' own hand - and the Nile River to do so. Still, Moses questioned his ability to speak and failed to circumcise his son As God hand commanded.  However, even with Moses' reluctance, the Lord was about to accomplish what He set out to do.

The power of the Lord's hand does not depend upon human hands to work His signs and wonders.  If anything, Moses' weakness simply showcases that the power resides in God alone.  This ought to give us confidence in our vocations that God can and does accomplish what He sets out to do with us as His instruments in the world, sometimes evin in spite of us.  He gets all of the glory.  Above all, His glory is shown in weakness. For Christ on the cross looks like weakness to this world, but in fact, it is the power of God's salvation for all who believe. (1 Corinthians 1:18 - "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.")

Dear heavenly Father, help me to trust in Your power alone

to accomplish Your purposes.

In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Monday, March 10

A Heavy-Handed World

Exodus 6:1 - "But the Lord said to Moses, 'Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them our of his land.'"

When Moses and Aaron came bearing the Word of the Lord, Pharaoh only tightened his grip on God's people, commanding them to make bricks without straw.  The situation was so dire that Israel's leaders saw this promise of freedom as putting the sword into hands of the Egyptians to kill them (Exodus 5:21 - "and they said to them, “The Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”).  However, the hand of the Lord was still in control, as He would use Pharaoh's own hand to send His people out of captivity.

Sometimes when we speak the truth in love, trials only increase.  But we ought no to lose hope, for everything is in the Lord's hand. (2 Corinthians 6:4-10 - "So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers! Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.")  If He can use hard-hearted Pharaoh for His purpose of rescuing His people, He certainly will bring us through moments of trial and suffering for His name's sake.  For He is drawing us closer to Himself to trust in His merciful care.  Christ is no stranger to suffering; His death on the cross brought atonement for our sins.  Even though the world may rage, we trust that ultimately the victory is the Lord's because Christ has already risen from the dead for us.

Dear heavenly Father, help us to trust in moments of trial

that Jesus' victory is already secure, just as He lives today.

In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Tuesday, March 11

An Outstretched Arm

Exodus 6:6 - "I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment."

The arm of the Lord, similar to the hand of the Lord, demonstrates His great might as the only true God, who remembers his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  When the Lord exercises His holy arm for all to see, it is for both salvation and judgment.  For Pharaoh, it was judgment against his stubborn refusal to let God's people go.  However, for Israel, is was the arm of salvation to bring them freedom from captivity.

When Christ returns, it will likewise be both judgment and salvation.  The Lord's justice will be done against all wickedness and against those who stubbornly reject Him.  However, this is not a day of fear for those whose trust is in Him. Christ's mighty and outstretched arm is the arms upon the cross and received the wrath of God against all sin.  This atoned for our sins.  Through His Word, that outstretched arm of salvation reaches to each of us to deliver His benefits: forgiveness, life, and salvation.

Dear, heavenly Father, thank you for the holy outstretched

arms of Jesus upon the cross, which have brought us

redemption.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

First Mid-week Lent service, Wednesday March 12

Not Just a Handful of Names

Exodus 6:26 - "These are the Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said: 'Bring out the people of Israel from the land of Egypt by their hosts."

Genealogies in the Scriptures are not just a handful of names to be passed over.  Each of the names of God's faithful represents a real person who lived and died, had faith and faltered.  Genealogies show that God's work is situated in history.  The history matters.  The names matter.  But the Scriptures are not merely a history book; they are the Word of God, through which the Holy Spirit speaks today into the lives of real people.  This genealogy is a testament to Moses and Aaron's place in the people of God as the tribe of Levi.

In Luke's Gospel account (Luke 3:23-38 - "Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.")  Jesus' genealogy goes all the way back to Adam to testify to the fact that He is the promised offspring who has defeated the devil and brought redemption through His death and resurrection.  In Holy Baptism, God calls each of us by name to be baptized into the truine God.  Jesus, our Good Shepherd, knows each of us by name, and He calls us and leads us by His protective hand. (John 10:3 - "To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.") Furthermore, by faith in Jesus, we each have our name written in the Book of Life. (Luke 10:20 - "Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”  Philippians 4:3 - "Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life."  Revelation 3:5 - "The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.") God still cares about real names and the people behind them, including you.

Dear Jesus, thank you for calling me by name and placing

Your name upon me.  Help me to glorify Your name in all

that I say and do.  Amen.

Thursday, March 13

The Lord Shows His Hand

Exodus 7:5 - "The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them."

Pharaoh said that he did not know the Lord.  He sees only his own hands, the hands that seemingly hold everything under his thumb.  However, such an attitude will not last for long.  Pharaoh will know who the Lord is after He stretches out His hand over the land of Egypt.

It can be disheartening when we look upon the world and see the hands of the world at work.  They appear all too powerful.  We can become frustrated when we do not see the Lord acting in the immediate way that we want from Him.  However, we are called to patience and suffering in this life, trusting in the Lord's mighty hand, which will be stretched out to bring righteousness and rescue to us.  Jesus has already won for us the victory through His death and resurrection, which has brought us forgiveness and secured for us the victory over the grave.  One day, no one will be able to deny that Jesus is the Lord and that He is the hand of the God at work.

Dear heavenly Father, help us to trust in Your timing and 

the work of Your mighty, outstretched hand in Jesus.

In His name. Amen.

Friday, March 14

Blood, Frogs, and Gnats

The Finger of God

Exodus 8:19 - "Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, 'This is the finger of God.'"

Although Pharaoh's magicians could give the semblance of the first two plagues of blood and frogs, they quickly realized that the deeds of the Lord's hand were out of their grasp.  They had to conclude that this indeed was the finger of God that hand knocked down their displays of power like a house of cards.  But this was still not enough to make hard-hearted Pharaoh listen.

People today, likewise, can be impressed - and deceived - by worldly displays of grandeur.  The best that the devil can do is a poor imitation of the power of the Lord.  However, it all comes to an end the moment the shadows and mirrors fall away to show the devil's deception.  Our Lord has come and has exposed the enemy's sleight of hand.  For, by the finger of God, He cast out demons. (Luke 11:20 - "But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.") He overpowered the devil in order to rescue His people from captivity.  He has done it by looking powerless upon the cross - but therein is the power of God to save!  Surely, this is the finger of God!

Dear heavenly Father, thank you that Jesus has defeated the 

devil and rescued us in order to be with You forever.  Help me

to hold fast to Your Word.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Saturday, March 15

Flies, Dead Livestock, and Boils

The Hand of the Lord Falls with a Severe Plague

Exodus 9:1-3 - "Let My people go, that they may serve Me.  For if you refuse to let them go and still hold them, behold, the hand of the Lord will fall with a very severe plague."

Pharaoh thought that he held the Lord's people in his hand when he continually cheated them with false promises.  The plagues only intensified as the hand of the Lord fell severely upon Egypt with swarms of flies, dead livestock, and boils.  Yet, Israel was spared.  Pharaoh was without excuse for his continued refusal.  God won the victory over Pharaoh and his false gods.

The devil holds an oppressive hand over this world.  He seeks nothing but to cheat God's people, who were created for life.  But Jesus says that "the ruler of this world is judged" (John 16:11).  God's severe hand of judgement will fall upon all wickedness on the Last Day.  Mercifully, as God's people by faith, we have already passed through judgment into life because the wrath of God was poured out upon Jesus on the cross. (John 5:24 - "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.")  This means that all who are united to Him in Holy Baptism are shielded from the hand of judgment and are welcomed with open arms into life eternal. (Titus 3:5-7 - "he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.")

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus, who

received the judgment that we deserve.  Give us confidence 

for the future as we trust in Him.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Second Sunday in Lent

Sunday, March 16

Hail, Locusts, and Darkness

The Earth is in the Lord's Hands

Exodus 9:29 - "Moses said to him, 'As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will stretch out my hands to the Lord.  The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hall, so that you may know that the earth is the Lord's.'"

When Moses lifted up his hands to heaven, it showed that the Lord's hand was with him.  Hail struck down man, beast, and crops.  Locusts consumed whatever crops were left.  Darkness covered Egypt. These plagues all showed that the Lord of Israel is the Lord of all creation.  All the world is the creation of His hands.  He has formed it all, and He holds it all together.  Pharaoh himself is a creature, and his might simply does not compare.

All of God's creation is beyond our control.  But this is not so with Jesus.  After Jesus walked on water and rebuked the wind and the waves, everything became calm. (Matthew 14:22-33 - "Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”)  He showed that all of creation is in His hands.  Jesus is the Lord of all creation.  Jesus is God in the flesh.  This same Jesus is Savior, who was crucified and raised for us.  That same Jesus is our Savior, who was crucified and raised for us. That means that nothing in all of creation, including rulers, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:38-39 - "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.")

Dear heavenly Father, help us to trust that all things are in 

Your hands, even our very salvation.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Monday, March 17

The Final Plague is a Hand

Exodus 11:9 - "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Pharaoh will not listen to you, that My wonders my be multiplied in the land of Egypt.'"

Pharaoh knew the impending judgment of death to the firstborn well before the first nine plagues, but he only hardened his heart. (Exodus 4:23 - " and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’”)  Even will all of these wonder, Pharaoh still refused to believe.  But Pharaoh's hard heart only served to multiply the wonders of the Lord's hand to save His people.  For everything is in His hands.

The miraculous wonders of the Lord's hand are not what change people's hearts from unbelief to belief.  They did not do so for Pharaoh, and the same is true today.  The wonders are done in order to confirm the Word spoken, which has been present all along.  So also it is with Jesus' miracles in the New Testament.  We do not need to see the signs and wonders to believe today.  We have everything that we need in the Word of the Lord.  The Word comes to us today with the Lord's mercy in Christ's forgiveness won through His death and resurrection.  So the church proclaims the Word today.  By God's grace, He brings people from unbelief to belief by the power of the Holy Spirit through the Word. (Romans 10:17 - "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.")

Dear heavenly Father, help me to ever trust that Your Word

is more than enough to bring me forgiveness, life and 

salvation in Christ.  In His name.  Amen.

Tuesday, March 18

Eating with Staff in Hand

Exodus 12:11 - "In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand.  And you shall eat it in haste.  It is the Lord's Passover."

The Passover is a meal ready for a journey, with staff in hand.  It is a meal on the eve of salvation, when the Lord will pass over His people, sparing the firstborn and saving them from the hands of Pharaoh.

When Jesus celebrated the Passover on Holy Thursday, it also was a meal on the eve of the Lord's salvific work.  For on Good Friday, Christ became the once-for-all sacrificial lamb that takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29 - "The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!")  He is the one who traveled the path to the cross in order to atone for our sins.

We are people on the journey to faith.  However, when we partake of the Lord's Supper, Jesus feeds us with His very body and blood and delivers the salvation that He has already accomplished.  It is also for strengthening our faith for the journey as we await His second coming.  Judgment will pass over us hecause we have been covered by the blood of the Lamb.  Today, the Lord is leading us in the way of truth until the Last Day.

Dear Jesus, thank you for delivering the gift of Your body and 

blood in the Lord's Supper to us.  Help us to follow You, for

You are the way, and the truth, and the life.  Amen.

Second Mid-Week Wednesday

Wednesday, March 19

The Hand of Judgment and Salvation

Exodus 12:31-32 - "Then [Pharaoh] summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, "Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as you have said.  Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also!'"

The hand of the Lord's judgment upon Egypt was simultaneously the hand of the Lord's salvation for Israel.  These are the two sides of His hand.  The same hand that knocks down the proud is the hand that tenderly gathers up His people to free them of slavery.  Pharaoh would respond only to the strong hand.  How quickly he and all of Egypt's hands that had sought to push God's people down into slavery were now pushing them away into freedom, even handing them Egypt's wealth on the way out.

There are two sides to the hand of our Lord.  This will become evident on the Last Day, when Christ will return in judgment.  But it is not only a day of judgment.  It is also the day of salvation for all who put their trust in Him.  For Christ has already defeated our captors of sin, death, and the devil through His death and resurrection.  They do not have any hold on us.  He has plundered Satan's house, taking all the captives to live in the freedom of His reign forever. (Matthew 12:29 - "Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.") This is truly only because of the Hand of the Lord.

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to be our

Savior, who has freed us from the captivity to sin, death,

and the devil.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Saturday, November 30

The Unchanging Christ: The Same Yesterday

The Unchanging Christ: The Same Yesterday

All of my life I have heard the plea for a relevant “new Christ for a new age.”

The truth is Jesus Christ is God’s final word to men in all ages. He is relevant for every age. He is “the same yesterday, today and forever” (Heb. 13:8).

The same Jesus sits today “on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3). He is the same person as He was when here on the earth.

When we read the words, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday” we are carried back to the long ages before He became flesh. I can point to a date, time, and place when I was born. However, Jesus did not begin to live when He was born in the flesh of the virgin Mary in Bethlehem. He simply changed His robes.

The apostle Paul tells us Jesus was in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, divested Himself of His garments of glory that had been His from all eternity and clothed Himself in the garments of a common household slave in the flesh and was obedient unto death. He was God-man. He was fully God and fully human (Phil. 2:5-8).

The absolutely essential fact is He was the same in past eternity; He changes not.

I search for an absolute in an age of change; He changes not, and I therefore have security.

He came from the Father and He returned to the Father. He dwelt in the ageless past in the bosom of His eternal Father. The apostle John tells us, “in the beginning was the Word.” When everything else had a beginning He already existed and He had no beginning. His beginning had no beginning. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men” (John 1:1-4).

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday . . .” His eternal existence is declared in these words, “in the beginning was the Word.” He is no vacillating whim of the age. “The Word was with God,” a distinct personality of the true and perfect deity because “the Word was God.” His personal relationship with the Father is unchangeable. He “was in the beginning with God,” and because of His resurrection and ascension, He still is in the presence of the Father in a perfect relationship.

Moreover, His understanding of man never needs to change. No one knows me like the one who made me. “All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.” “In Him is life.”

Where would you turn for a relevant Christ that is not found in the historic Christ? Would you, like the modern self-made cults, turn to your own making, or to some new age “enlightenment”?

God in Christ has already become one of us in order to demonstrate His love for us, and to show us what God is really like. God came and revealed Himself to sinful and disobedient rebellious men.

I don’t need a greater “light.” I only need to respond to the One true and all supreme Lord of all creation. Why should I turn to some lesser “light”? All other spiritual lights are only creepy shadows of the one who masquerades as “the angel of light,” Satan himself.

We don’t have to look afar to discover what evil lurks within the heart of man. God has fully revealed Himself (Heb. 1:1-3), and man in his stubborn rebellion cries for something greater and better like selfish, pampered, narcissistic children whining for something new.

God has spoken. He has not changed and He will not. He is the same as He was yesterday, and I find stability for my soul and eternal peace with God. Because He is the same I have eternal security of a right relationship with Him, not of my self-making, or choosing, but in His all-sufficient wisdom and grace.

Because He is the same yesterday, I know that what He has said will still remain true for you and me today. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

That great truth will not change, because our Savior changes not. His word and eternal promises remain the same throughout all eternity. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” Thank God.