Tag: jesus

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.

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.

Isaiah 52:13-52:12

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment


             “He had no majestic bearing to catch our eye, no beauty to draw us to him.”  As I was reflecting on this phrase this morning and contemplating the life and death of Jesus on this most holy of days, Good Friday, I began to think about Abraham Lincoln, of all people.  You see, in his ascendancy to the presidency and in his time in office Lincoln was routinely caricatured in political cartoons as an ape or baboon.  Memoirs of people who had seen the president often commented on how extremely normal and homely he appeared.  In fact, Lincoln was quite gangly; he was tall with very long arms and legs.  Indeed, he did look something like an oddity.  Yet, when Lincoln spoke, people listened and were amazed at his intelligence, ability to connect with people, and his grasp of political philosophy.
             Sometimes I wonder if our Lord was actually physically here on earth today if most people would even remotely recognize him.  Perhaps Jesus would be ridiculed and despised, just like he was all those centuries ago.  I think it is safe to say that he would not make it to the cover of GQ, or make commercials selling underwear.  Instead, Jesus came as a humble servant.  He suffered throughout his life, endured a horrible death by torture, and secured for us deliverance from the power of sin.  God has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
             Most people have forgotten that Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on Good Friday in 1865.  Just as the press did not miss a beat to castigate Lincoln while he was alive, they quickly recognized the parallels between him and Christ in their respective deaths.  But while Lincoln was clearly identified with the American people in their baptism of blood with the Civil War, his was not a salvific death.  Only Jesus, in his singular suffering, died as a substitute for us.  Perhaps Jesus had no outward beauty, but his inward beauty has not only drawn me to him, but saved me from an empty life of sin.  Praise be to God!
             Lord Jesus, you were the suffering servant who has pioneered salvation for me.  Thank you for your sacrifice, and I give eternal praise and gratitude for your willingness to endure the cross.  My heart and life is yours; use it as you see fit.  Amen.