Category: Year C

Revelation 3:14-22

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
            I am a pastor in the Reformed tradition.  That means I have a high view of God’s rule and reign over the world, his ability to deliver people from disobedience and hell, and his divine prerogative in judging the living and the dead.  In short, it’s all about God’s ability because apart from him I can do nothing.  Yet, having said that, this does not mean we lack responsibility before God, as if whatever is going to happen is going to happen and I’m just a passive player.
 
            Today’s New Testament lesson is Christ’s words to the ancient church in the city of Laodicea.  It seems the church folks in that city were less than zealous about their faith.  Maybe they thought God was going to do whatever God was going to do and felt no compunction to act.  Their attitude seemed like a “Meh, whatever” kind of response to the Christian life.  It was as though they wondered if what they did or didn’t do was really noticed, or really accomplished anything substantial.
 
            The Laodicean believers got noticed enough to warrant a letter to them from Jesus; I’d say someone was watching!  Please notice this interesting response of Jesus to them:  “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”  Jesus does not break down any doors to accomplish his will; Christ does not impose himself.  Instead, our Lord is persistently knocking, waiting for us to respond and answer.  If there is anyone not noticing, it would be us, not Jesus.  He desires fellowship and interaction with us.  Jesus longs for us to respond to his overtures to meet with us.  Will you let him in today?
 

 

            Lord Jesus, forgive me for those times in which I thought you weren’t paying attention.  I hear you knocking, and I am answering the door.  Let us meet together and enjoy one another’s company.  Amen.

Psalm 122

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
            This is a psalm of ascents, meaning that the faithful pilgrims living outside of Jerusalem would enter the city, literally walking uphill and continuing up to the temple mount.  There they would worship God at the holy place.  As they would spend the hours and/or days walking and anticipating the worship, the people would quote the several psalms of ascent together.
 
            Within this psalm we are told that part of Israel’s decree in approaching the Lord is to give thanks.  The Jews were to have an attitude of gratitude when they came to Jerusalem and the house of God.  Each pilgrimage to Jerusalem was to have a marked expression of thanksgiving to God for giving them a place to worship and a land to dwell within.
 
            I cannot help wondering if our current situation of attending church services would be much more appreciated and impactful if we took the mental and emotional posture of gratitude when approaching worship.  Within my own church building there is a flight of stairs to ascend in reaching the sanctuary.  Slowly up the stairs I can give thanks for one thing in each step.  Even if you attend a church with a zero entry, you could still give thanks to God while walking from the parking lot to the building.  The point is that worship of God is not to be approached idly without thought or intent.  Just showing up and flopping down in a seat almost daring that the worship leaders and pastor bless them is very far from the imagination of the psalmist for approaching the sovereign God.
 

 

            Mighty God, you have given me a place to live and to worship.  I give thanks to you this day for your grace and saving actions through Jesus Christ, my Lord.  Amen.

Revelation 2:8-11

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
            What is unique about chapters two and three of Revelation is that Jesus himself is the speaker to seven different churches.  Today’s lesson is addressed to the church at Smyrna, a large and beautiful port city in the ancient world.  Jesus was letting the believers in Smyrna know that they were about to experience some severe persecution.  They need not be fearful, but faithful because their Lord knows all about suffering.  The church’s perseverance under such trouble would result in the crown of life, given to them by Jesus himself.  This was surely an encouragement to the believers as they underwent difficulty.
 
            The congregation at Smyrna was facing imprisonment and, for some, even death for their faith.  The heart of the message by Jesus is to remain faithful.  There will always be cowards among the church who will fold when the going gets tough.  But persecution and hardship have a way of purging the soul and the church of its dross.  Suffering is inevitable; how we handle it is completely under our own control.
 
            Few of us will ever likely face a hardship that could result in martyrdom.  So, how much more we really ought to be able to deal with the daily irritations and trials that God puts in our way in order to refine us and shape our faith.  Jesus is not looking for perfect people, just faithful followers willing to endure suffering with the truth that our Lord stands with us. 
 

 

            King Jesus, you have something to say to all of us in the church who follow you.  Enable me with spiritual courage and resolve so that I might endure every hardship with Christian forbearance, mercy, and understanding that eternal life awaits me.  Amen.

Revelation 1:9-20

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
            Easter Sunday may have come and gone, but the church remains in the season called “Eastertide,” which is the forty days until celebrating Christ’s ascension to heaven.  This means that Easter is not just a one day affair; it is a joyous time of focusing on new life and exulting in our resurrected Lord.  The Apostle John had a vision of the resurrected Jesus in his glory.  Although John was quivering in his sandals, the Lord said to him: “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one.  I died, and behold I am alive forevermore.”
 
            Jesus is alive!  Since Christ is risen, God’s people are united with him in his resurrection.  That means the church is alive.  Yes, the church is a-l-i-v-e, alive!  The term “dead church” gets bantered around quite a bit these days.  But that is really an oxymoron; a genuine Christ redeemed Body of believers cannot possibly be dead; they are alive!  If a church is dead, it is not a church.  It could be a country club, a benevolent organization, and even a moral institution, but a church is not a church if it is dead because Jesus is alive and his body is not dead.
 
            Christians have life in Jesus Christ.  We are alive forevermore because Jesus will never again die.  So, then, we are to live as vigorous and vibrant believers.  What things will you do differently since you know you cannot die?  How will the knowledge of your eternal alive-ness impact you today and every day?  The truth is:  we have been raised with Christ to new life; we cannot die because death no longer has mastery over us.  We can now live by faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave himself for us.
 

 

            Living Lord, I give you thanks for the gift of life.  Help me to live, really live, in the light of your resurrection so that I can glorify your Name with everything I am.  Amen.