Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 18, 2010

“Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation”

Today’s devotion covers Mark 14:32-42 which covers Jesus’ passion, pleadings, and prayers in Gethsemane.  We will focus on verse 38.
 
“38  “Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation;  the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  Mark 14:38.
 
Like the disciples, we are prone to casualness and sleep.  We tend to let our guard down. 
 
We need to be reminded of 1 Peter 5:8:  “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.  Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
 
Even after Jesus successfully resisted the temptations by the devil during the forty days in the wilderness, Jesus could not relax, free from temptations.  “When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.”  Luke 4:13  (Emphasis added.)  In other words, the devil went away for a while, but would come back when an opportunity presented itself (“an opportune time”). 
 
We may see others tempted and not feel tempted in the least, and we may smugly think that we are above and immune from such temptations.  However, we read:  “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.”  1 Corinthians 10:12
 
In addition to our Scripture for today exhorting us to be on our guard and “Keep watching”, our Scripture exhorts us to keep “praying”.  Our model for prayer, The Lord’s Prayer, includes the prayer request: ” ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]’ ”  Matthew 6:13
 
In addition to these two exhortations of what we should do (“Keep watching and praying”), there is much encouragement in Scripture about what God will do to help us.  Here are just a couple of examples.  You will think of more.
 
“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”  1 Corinthians 10:13.
 
“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One (Jesus Christ) who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.  Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:15-16. 
(Parenthetical identification is added.) 
 
1 John 2:1
“[Christ Is Our Advocate ]  My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.  And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;”
 
We also have the Holy Spirit.  “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”  Galatians 5:16.  “so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”  Romans 8:4.   
 
1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
 
2 Timothy 4:18
“The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom;  to Him be the glory forever and ever.  Amen.”

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 17, 2010

“STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP SHALL BE SCATTERED.’

Today’s devotion covers Mark 14:27-31.
 
“27  And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written, ‘I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP SHALL BE SCATTERED.’
                                       

 28  “But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”

 29  But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away, yet I will not.”

 30  And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times.”

 31  But Peter kept saying insistently, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all were saying the same thing also.”  Mark 14:27-31.

At first reading, it may seem strange that God would want to “STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP SHALL BE SCATTERED.’   By reading the full quote in Zechariah 13:7-9, we better understand this phrase and why God would allow this to occur.     

“7  “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd,
         And against the man, My Associate,”
         Declares the LORD of hosts
         “Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered;
         And I will turn My hand against the little ones.
    8  “It will come about in all the land,”
         Declares the LORD,
         “That two parts in it will be cut off and perish;
         But the third will be left in it.
    9  “And I will bring the third part through the fire,
         Refine them as silver is refined,
         And test them as gold is tested
         They will call on My name,
         And I will answer them;
         I will say, ‘They are My people,’
         And they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.'”  Zechariah 13:7-9.  (Emphasis added.) 

God does refine us, His people, and test us as gold.  God refined and tested Jesus’ disciples, and God will also refine and test us.

Proverbs 17:3
“The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests hearts.”
                                 
1 Peter 1:7
“so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”
 
We may flee like Jesus’ disciples and Jonah, but God will seek us and save us.
 
Ezekiel 34:16
“I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick; but the fat and the strong I will destroy.  I will feed them with judgment.”
                                     
Luke 19:10
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
 
We may fall, but we will not escape the grip of God. 
 
“When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong,
         Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.”  Psalm 37:24. 
 
When we focus on man, such as when we focus on Peter’s denial of Christ and the fleeing by all of Jesus’ disciples, and even when we focus on our own fleeing and falling, we can be discouraged. 
 
But, when we focus on God, such as when we focus on God seeking and saving us who were lost and when we focus on God holding our hand, we can be encouraged.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 16, 2010

What was actually accomplished by Christ’s death on the cross, by His blood?

Today’s devotion covers Mark 14:22-26 which covers the Last Supper. 
 
“22  While they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is My body.” 
                                            
 23  And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
                                         

 24  And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

 25  “Truly I say to you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

 26  After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”  Mark 14:22-26.    

What was actually accomplished by Christ’s death on the cross, by His blood of the covenant? 

Did such blood only serve as an option of salvation that men can accept or refuse by their alleged “free will”? 

Or, did it accomplish more? 

Let us look at The Canons of Dordt, Article 8 of the “SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby”.

Article 8.  “For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation:  that is, it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to him by the Father;  that he should confer upon them faith, which together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death; should purge them from all sin, both original and actual, whether committed before or after believing; and having faithfully preserved them even to the end, should at last bring them free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own presence forever.”  (Emphasis added.) 

God’s sovereign and saving actions to fully save His elect extend from “Unconditional Election’, the “U” of “TULIP” through “Limited Atonement“, which is this blood of the covenant and the “L” of “TULIP” through “Irresistible Grace“, the “I” of “TULIP” through “Perseverance of the Saints” better described as “Preservation of the Saints“, the “P” of “TULIP”.  No wonder we love “TULIP” so much!   

“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”  Romans 8:29-30.

Thus, as stated above in Article 8,  “the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect” but “only” to the elect, and is therefore “limited” in that sense.  But, it is “unlimited” in the sense that it accomplishes much more than only presenting an option of salvation that men can accept or refuse by their alleged “free will”.  This blood “effectively redeems” the elect and “purchases” faith and “all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit” such that it “purges them from all sin” and “faithfully preserves them even to the end” and “brings them free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own presence forever”.

I think the following “bridge” analogy is helpful to consider this third point of “Limited Atonement”.  Think of a wide bridge available for everybody, but the wide bridge only goes half-way over hell.  In comparison, think of a narrow bridge only available to the elect, but the narrow bridge goes all the way over hell to safety and salvation.     

Arminianism believes that God loves everyone, Christ died for everyone, and God wants to save everyone, and thus, this plan of salvation is comparable to a wide bridge available for everyone.  The only difference between the unsaved and saved is that some take what I will call “a leap of faith” from that wide bridge of universal atonement (which wide bridge illustrates that Christ died for everyone). Arminians believe that everyone has an equal opportunity to be saved (at least in comparable situations), but that Christ’s death saved no one;  Christ’s death only provided the opportunity and option to be saved.  Only those who exercise their “free will” and take the leap of faith (to the other side of safety and salvation as the illustration) will be saved. Thus, the bridge is wide, but it only goes halfway across hell.

In contrast, Calvinism believes that God only loves His elect and only wants to save them. Christ died only for the elect, and God does everything necessary for the salvation of His elect. In comparison to the wide bridge of Arminianism, Calvinism is the narrow bridge because salvation is only available for the elect.  But, but unlike Arminianism’s wide bridge which only goes half-way across hell, Calvinism’s narrow bridge completely crosses over to the other side of safety and salvation because God provides all that is necessary for salvation, and God handles all the points of salvation.

Because Man is so totally depraved (first point of Calvinism) that he is “dead” in sin, hostile to God, cannot please God, cannot understand the things of God, and is in bondage to sin and Satan, God must make His elect “born again” or “alive” or “draw” them to Christ, or else no one would believe and be saved. God does everything for the elect, including giving them faith, sanctifying them, and preserving them to salvation, so that all the elect will be saved. See the golden chain of salvation in Romans 8:29-30.

Arminian doctrine believes that man’s work of faith is the only variable which can bring man from universal atonement to salvation; whereas, Calvinist doctrine believes that God’s work is the only variable which brings man from total depravity to salvation. What appears to be “a doctrine of the precepts of man”? 
                                           
Remember also Jesus’ words in Luke 13: 24: “Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and not be able.” Likewise, Jesus tells us in Matthew 7: 12: “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.”  These Scriptures should cause us to pause and consider whether or not Arminian’s doctrine in universal atonement and a doctrine based on “man’s leap of faith” may be the broad way that leads to destruction.
                                                   

Arminianism rests on “the wisdom of man” while Calvinism rests on “the power of God”.  Is it true faith to believe that salvation is dependent on man’s choice – “the wisdom of man”?  Certainly, Arminianism is more attractive and wise and just to our natural human mind to believe that everyone has an equal opportunity to be saved and to believe in free will and to believe in sufficient goodness in man and to believe that salvation is ultimately controlled by us as to whether or not we will choose Christ and be saved.  However, our faith should not rest on the wisdom of men (Arminianism) but on power of God (Calvinism).  See I Corinthians 2: 5.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 15, 2010

Predestination, Punishment, and Justice

Today’s devotion covers Mark 14:10-21 which concerns the intent to betray by Judas and the revelation by Jesus of the upcoming betrayal.  This devotion focuses on the following verse 21.    
 
“21  “For the Son of Man is to go just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!  It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”  Mark 14:21.
 
Yes, there is predestination of both the actions of vessels of mercy and the actions of vessels of wrath.  But, this verse makes it clear that the people who do the evil are still responsible for doing it.  God is just, and they will be punished for doing the evil. 
 
“You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault?  For who resists His will?”  On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God?  The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it?  Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?  What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?  And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.”  Romans 9:19-24. 
 
In the few verses prior to these verses in Romans Chapter 9, we read another account of predestination in Romans 9:17:  “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.”  God predestined the actions of Pharaoh and his army to hold Israel captive for a while and then chase them through the Red Sea.  “The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he chased after the sons of Israel as the sons of Israel were going out boldly.”  Exodus 14:8.  We also read in Exodus 14:17:  “As for Me, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen.   
 
And yet, we also read that God caused these Egyptians to be killed.  “At the morning watch, the LORD looked down on the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud and brought the army of the Egyptians into confusion.  He caused their chariot wheels to swerve, and He made them drive with difficulty; so the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from Israel, for the LORD is fighting for them against the Egyptians.”  Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots and their horsemen.”  So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak, while the Egyptians were fleeing right into it; then the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.  The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even Pharaoh’s entire army that had gone into the sea after them; not even one of them remained.”  Exodus 14:24-28. 
 
The next few verses help us understand how God can use a display of His punishment on vessels of wrath to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy (as was stated in Romans 9:22-24).  “Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.  When Israel saw the great power which the LORD had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in His servant Moses.”  Exodus 14:30-31.
 
Going back to our key verse for today, we know that although Judas intended evil in His betrayal, God used it for good as part of His plan to save His people through the death of His Son Jesus Christ.  Likewise throughout Scriptures, we read similar accounts.  For example, we read about a similar type of betrayal of Joseph by his brothers.  Joseph later said to his brothers:  “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”  Genesis 50:20
                                              

Generally, we are reminded of Romans 8:28:  “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” 

In conclusion. God predestinates, God punishes, and God is just.  “but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.”  Jeremiah 9:24.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 14, 2010

Happy Valentine’s Day! Here is a devotion on extravagant acts of love.

Today’s devotion covers Mark 14:3-9.
 
“3  While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His head. 
                                            
 4  But some were indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted?
                                       

 5  “For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they were scolding her.

 6  But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you bother her?  She has done a good deed to Me.

 7  “For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them;  but you do not always have Me.

 8  “She has done what she could;  she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial.

 9  “Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”

Extravagant acts of love is the subject today.  The extravagant act of love of this woman will be spoken of in memory of her.  The extravagant acts of love of God will be considered.  Finally, we will consider what extravagant acts of love that we may do for others.

This woman’s act of love was certainly extravagant.  In the footnote to my Bible, it is stated:  “The denarius was equivalent to a day’s wage.”  Thus, this perfume cost almost a year’s wages.  How many of us have saved a year’s wages?  How many would spend a year’s wages to buy something for somebody else?  How many of us would spend it on something for somebody else that could only be used once?  

Consider the ultimate extravagant act of love by our Savior Jesus Christ who died for us.  “For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”  Romans 5:7-10.

Consider God’s extravagance in how He anoints us with so many blessings.  God anoints us to protect us from irritations like a Good Shepherd anoints his sheep to protect them from parasites and other irritations.  God anoints us with joy.  God anoints us to strengthen us.  God anoints us with salvation.  God anoints us to establish us in union with Christ.  God anoints us with the His most precious Holy Spirit.  God anoints us with teachings and understandings.  God anoints us so that we can truly see and understand.
 
“… You have anointed my head with oil;  …”  Psalm 23:5. 
 
“You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;  Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of joy above Your fellows.”  Psalm 45:7 
 
“But You have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox;  I have been anointed with fresh oil.”  Psalm 92:10 
 
“You went forth for the salvation of Your people, For the salvation of Your anointed You struck the head of the house of the evil To lay him open from thigh to neck. Selah.”  Habakkuk 3:13 
 
“Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.”  2 Corinthians 1:21-22.  “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.’  1 John 2:20 
 
“As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.”  1 John 2:27 
 
“I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.”  Revelation 3:18
 
We can do extravagant acts of love and good deeds for others.  “and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,”  Hebrews 10:24
 
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 informs us what love is.  “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous;  love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly;  it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;  bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 
 
The Holy Spirit produces the fruit of love within us.  Galatians 5:22.
 
In summary and conclusion, “We love, because He first loved us.”  1 John 4:19  With the rest of creation, I stand on my tip-toes to see what extravagant acts of love that you all will do for others.   “For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.”  Romans 8:19. 
 
Happy Valentine’s Day! 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 12, 2010

‘Be on the alert!’

Today’s devotion covers Mark 13:28-37 which covers Jesus’ command to be on the alert for His return.  We will focus on verse 33 which summarizes this section.
 
“33  “Take heed, keep on the alert;  for you do not know when the appointed time will come.”
 
In these few verses, Jesus tells us to “be on the alert” twice and “keep on the alert” once and uses an example of “… a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert.”  Mark 13:34.   
 
Why is it so important that we “be on the alert”? 
 
The two parables and conclusion of the judgment at the return of Christ, all in Matthew 25, provide further guidance.  Click here: Matthew 25 – Passage Lookup – New American Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com
There are two main streams of thought. 
 
On the one hand, as I presented in the devotion yesterday, we can experience great comfort when we focus on the fact that God “will gather together His elect”.  Likewise, we read in Matthew 25 that upon His return, Christ will separate the sheep (the elect) from the goats (the non-elect).  “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”  Matthew 25:34.  One could think:  “Why worry?  Why be on the alert?”  I am a sheep (the elect).” 
 
But, on the other hand, we read in Matthew 25 about the five foolish virgins to keep enough oil in their lamps.  We also read about the slave “who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money”.  We also read about those who did not feed the hungry, who did not clothe the naked, who did not host the stranger, and who did not visit those in prison.  One could think:  “I better pay closer attention to what I do with my life!”
 
Romans and Galatians and other books of the Bible focus on faith and emphasize it.  James and other books of the Bible focus on works and emphasize it.  Obviously, both faith and works are important.  But, we don’t leave the conclusion at a dichotomy (a division into two mutually exclusive groups).  We believe that a true faith produces works.  We believe that a true faith is on the alert. 
 
We, the Church, are the bride of Christ.  We believe that a true bride will long for her husband to return.  She will carefully watch for all signs of his return.  A true bride will not forget about her husband.  A true bride will not be engaged in other things when her husband returns.  A true bride will be on the alert, ready and eagerly waiting for her husband.  We also believe that a true love is on the alert.   
 
2 Timothy 4:8
“in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 11, 2010

God “will gather together His elect”.

Today’s devotion covers Mark 13:24-27. 
 
“24  “But in those days, after that tribulation, THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, 
                                                 
 25  AND THE STARS WILL BE FALLING from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken.
                                             

 26  “Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN CLOUDS with great power and glory.

 27  “And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.”  Mark 13:24-27.  (Emphasis added.) 

Sometimes, we “miss the forest from the trees”.  We focus so much on the details that we ignore (or don’t understand) the big picture.  We focus so much on the details of the tribulation and our speculations as to exactly what will happen, how it will happen, and when it will happen, that we miss the biggest point and the biggest comfort that God “will gather together His elect”. 

I often think of my youngest son (now in college) when he was in preschool.  Just before I would drop him off at Walter Fuller Recreational Center which served as the neighborhood daycare center, he would cheerfully ask:  “Dad, are you going to pick me up at the end of the day?”.  He and I both knew the answer to that question, but he liked to ask it and I liked to hear it.  I was delighted to hear that question, and I was delighted to respond.  “Yes, son, I will pick you up at the end of the day.”  He would then cheerfully leave the car and run to play with his group.  

My youngest son focused on the big picture.  He knew that no matter what happened in daycare that I would pick him up at the end of the day.  He knew that daycare could be rough, and the day could be long, but he trusted me and was still cheerful, because he focused on the fact that I would pick him up at the end of the day.

We should have that attitude of focus, faith, and cheerfulness.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 9, 2010

How can we endure all this?!

Today’s devotion covers Mark 13:9-13.
 
“9  “But be on your guard;  for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them. 
                                         
 10  “The gospel must first be preached to all the nations.
                                                       

 11  “When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.

 12  “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.

 13  “You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.”  (Emphasis added.)  Mark 13:9-13.

How can we endure to the end?

It is tough enough to live a normal life of working hard for your paycheck, keeping your job, staying married, and raising your kids. 

But, then we get a bad boss, jealous and mean co-workers, new job responsibilities, down-sizing, marital difficulties, and rebellious children.  Our roof leaks.  Our car breaks down.  Our parents become aged and need help.  We get fat.  We get lazy.  We get sick.  We get injured. 

How can we deal with just such normal events in life?

Then, on top of all of these normal events, this Scripture states:  “they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings … they arrest you and hand you over … Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.   “You will be hated by all because of My name …”   

How can we endure all this?!

First of all, we must live within the day.  “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  Matthew 6:34  We don’t experience all these troubles on the same day.  We should not worry about everything at once.  Rather, we should focus on the actual troubles that we have for that day.  We should not worry about tomorrow.

Second, God will help us with the troubles that we encounter for that present day.  Notice the phrase “day of trouble” in the following Scriptures.  Yet, “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”  Psalm 46:1 

Psalm 20:1
“May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble!  May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high!”
                                             
Psalm 27:5
For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;  In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;  He will lift me up on a rock.”
 
“How blessed is he who considers the helpless; The LORD will deliver him in a day of trouble.”
 
Psalm 50:15
“Call upon Me in the day of trouble;  I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.”
 
Psalm 86:7
“In the day of my trouble I shall call upon You, For You will answer me.”
 
Nahum 1:7
“The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him.”
 
Third, we belong to our God, and God will accomplish all of His purpose for us.  We may not accomplish all that we want, but God will accomplish all that He wants us to do.  God will “equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”  Hebrews 13:21  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10  “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13 
 
In summary, God will accomplish all of His good pleasure.                                                                             
“8  Remember this, and be assured;
         Recall it to mind, you transgressors.
    9  “Remember the former things long past,
         For I am God, and there is no other;
         I am God, and there is no one like Me,
    10  Declaring the end from the beginning,
         And from ancient times things which have not been done,
         Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
         And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
    11  Calling a bird of prey from the east,
         The man of My purpose from a far country
         Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.”  Isaiah 46:8-11.
 
Fourth, we believe in the “P” in “TULIP”, “Perseverance of the Saints” better described as “Preservation of the Saints”.  Here are some verses.
 
Ephesians 1: 13-14:
“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation–having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,  who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”
                                                 
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”  I Peter 1: 4-5
 
2 Timothy 4: 18:
“The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever.  Amen.”
                                        
The golden chain of salvation in Romans 8:29-30:
“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”
 
John 10:27-29:
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” 
                                     
It is not necessary for Jesus to say anything more than no one shall snatch us out of His hands.  But, to pound this point, no, to smash any thought of the Arminian view of “falling from grace”, Jesus brings the Father into discussion and obliterates any thought of His sheep losing their salvation  – “no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” . 
 
God gives us His precious Holy Spirit which produces the fruit of love within us, and this love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”  1 Corinthians 13:7

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 8, 2010

“do not be frightened”

Today’s devotion covers Mark 13:1-8.  We will focus on the following verse 7.
 
“When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened;  those things must take place; but that is not yet the end.”  Mark 13:7.  (Emphasis added.) 
 
We are beginning a section of Scripture with prophecy of both near times and end times.  Some of the prophecy concerns the siege and destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans around 70 A.D.  Other prophecy concerns the end times immediately before the coming of Christ. 
 
Eschatology, which is the study of end times, is a difficult subject and is not suited to coverage in short emails or posts, so I will not attempt anything beyond a very simple message.  There are good Reformed books and articles that can help the reader, including but certainly not limited to:  Behold he Cometh!  An Exposition of the Book of Revelation by Herman Hoeksema and More Than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation by William Hendriksen.
 
The very simple message that I bring is the phrase in Mark 13:7 “do not be frightened”.  Whether the events are truly scary and surrounded by death or awesome and surrounded by wonder, we often read such words which comfort us and give us peace.
                                            
Here is one of my favorite Scriptures: 
“5  You will not be afraid of the terror by night,
         Or of the arrow that flies by day;
    6  Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
         Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.
    7  A thousand may fall at your side
         And ten thousand at your right hand,
         But it shall not approach you.
    8  You will only look on with your eyes
         And see the recompense of the wicked.
    9  For you have made the LORD, my refuge,
         Even the Most High, your dwelling place.
    10  No evil will befall you,
         Nor will any plague come near your tent.
    11  For He will give His angels charge concerning you,
         To guard you in all your ways.”  Psalm 91:5-11. 
 
From Genesis through Revelation, such as Genesis 15:1 ([ Abram Promised a Son ] “After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying,” Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you;  Your reward shall be very great.”) and Revelation 2:10 (“‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days.  Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”), there are many such words of comfort and peace.  Here is a link to 143 entries given by BibleGateway using the Keyword Search of matching all the words “do not fear”.  Click here: BibleGateway.com – Keyword Search: do not fear  Granted, some of these entries are not applicable due to the different order of words arrangement (other than as in the phrase “do not fear”), but many of these entries include  the phrase “do not fear” and are applicable to us today.  In any event, it is clear that the message of Scripture “Do not fear!” rings throughout Scripture.
 
Our God is sovereign, totally in control.  Our God is Almighty in power, and our God is Faithful as our Heavenly Father. 
Question and Answer 1 of the Heidelberg Catechism  states: 
“Question 1. What is thy only comfort in life and death?
Answer.  That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ; who, with his precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.”
  
When the nations rage and roar and when
  “2  The kings of the earth take their stand
         And the rulers take counsel together
         Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
    3  “Let us tear their fetters apart
         And cast away their cords from us!”
    4  He who sits in the heavens laughs,
         The Lord scoffs at them.
    5  Then He will speak to them in His anger
         And terrify them in His fury, saying,
    6  “But as for Me, I have installed My King
         Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”
    7  “I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD:
         He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
         Today I have begotten You.
    8  ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
         And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
    9  ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
         You shall shatter them like earthenware.'”
    10  Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
         Take warning, O judges of the earth.
    11  Worship the LORD with reverence
         And rejoice with trembling.
    12  Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
         For His wrath may soon be kindled
         How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”
 
Therefore, “Get yourself up on a high mountain, O Zion, bearer of good news, Lift up your voice mightily,O Jerusalem, bearer of good news;  Lift it up, do not fear Say to the cities of Judah,”  Here is your God!”  Isaiah 40:9           

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 7, 2010

The Widow’s Mite: A Demonstration of Faith and Cheerfulness

Today’s devotion covers Mark 12:41-44.

“41 And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums.

42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent.

43 Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury;

44 for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.” Mark 12:41-44.

It is easier for rich people to give “out of their surplus”. They don’t need what they give as an offering to survive. But, the poor widow gave the two small copper coins which she needed to keep to buy food.

Nothing is expressly said here about the poor widow’s faith. But, her actions speak louder than words. Her offering was a demonstration of faith. She trusted God to provide food for her through a different source (other than through her two coins) and keep her alive.

“16 Better is the little of the righteous
Than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked will be broken,
But the LORD sustains the righteous.
18 The LORD knows the days of the blameless,
And their inheritance will be forever.
19 They will not be ashamed in the time of evil,
And in the days of famine they will have abundance. …

25 I have been young and now I am old,
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
Or his descendants begging bread.” Psalm 37:16-19 and 25.

Nothing is expressly said here about whether or not the widow was a cheerful giver. I think we tend to imagine the widow as sad and sour and slow as one would expect an old widow in poverty. But, her actions speak louder than words. The widow was not afraid to give at the same time as the rich people. She could have given when no one was looking, or she could have asked others to make the deposit for her. But, this poor widow seems eager and cheerful and willing to participate in the offering’s festivities at the same time with the rich people.

“Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

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