We Believe!

They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. John 19:17-18

He didn't overthrow an empire from that cross, and yet, we believe He did. He acknowledged His title before the governor, but few among His nation believed it. The governor wrote it on a sign over His dying head. He died that day on that cross. Had His testimony stopped right there, we probably wouldn't be celebrating this holiday or talking about Jesus of Nazareth at all. He had already told of His coming death, but He also said something extraordinary to His disciples. "You will see Me again." On the day of His passing, they may have struggled to believe such a strange thing. He had done all the raising of the dead before this time, who was going to raise Him up? And then He did rise up on that morning. And we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Have a glorious Easter weekend in Jesus!

Bucky

A Tale Of Two Persons

...as unknown and yet well-known, as dying and yet behold, we live; as punished and yet not put to death, as sorrowful but always rejoicing, as poor but making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing all things. 2 Corinthians 6:9-10

These two verses for today are but part of one of those Paul-ins, those sentences that span many verses with phrases and clauses, until you the reader pause to wonder where it all began. Way back in the latter part of verse 2 is the answer for this one. What we appear to have here today is the tale of two persons. One dying and yet living. Punished, or disciplined, yet not put to death. Sorrowful but rejoicing always. That last one describes the separations we endure at funerals quite well. We love that person, we know from his or her testimony of Jesus, that if anyone has gone to Heaven it will be that beloved one, and yet we also sorrow over that separation. Then that one gets me - dying and yet behold, we live. Truly the old son of Adam or daughter of Eve is dying, day by day, (there's nothing quite like a spring cold to make one think of death and dying!), marching to the grave. And yet, in Christ we live, forever, with Him!

The Easter Celebration of our Lord's death and resurrection is upon us! Praise God all weekend long!

Bucky

If Anyone Was

And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.  Revelation 20:15

It's the great white throne judgment and the final verse of that judgment slams the book, so to speak, on anyone not found written there. I see one of those little notes that states that the literal translation is just 'anyone was'. So, not just the name, but all about the person?  It may be from other scriptures that the translators of the LSB added 'name' and the possessive of anyone, or perhaps it is from their accustomed use of books here on Earth, but the original seems more appropriate to me. If all of the one in question is written in the book of life, then life eternal follows in Christ our Lord. Sure, a name is important, but to me that is only the label on the file. 

Is this a meaningless quibble on my part? Could be, could be, I have been known to chase a meaningless quibble now and again like a kitten chasing a leaf blowing by on a gusty wind. However, I would rather chase a quibble or two in the Bible than do a great many of the distractions this world offers to us.

Have a great day in the Word of the Lord!

Bucky

While You Have The Light

"While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them. John 12:36

Before Jesus came there was the prophecy that those living in darkness would see a great light. While He walked with the people after the triumphal entry, He said what we read in our verse for today. Then He hid Himself from them. Boop! Lights out. Wait, does that mean we live in darkness again? After His resurrection, there was another promise, one that spoke of being with us until the end of the age. Anyone may read it in Matthew 28:20. We still have the Light while we believe in the Light. But the verse does speak of a time, an opportunity, or chance to believe. While you have the Light does warn all that a time comes when there won't be that Light.

Take the time, believe in the Light!

Bucky

Lowly

And this took place in order that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled, saying,

“SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION,
‘BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU,
LOWLY, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY,
AND ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A PACK ANIMAL.’”
  -- Matthew 21:4-5

The prophets were at times commanded to shout the word of the Lord at the gates of the city, and it seems the new Legacy Standard Bible has taken that as a literal command as well. So, Zechariah shouts to us this morning from the gospel of Matthew.

So, their king comes to them just as foretold. He did not lead a procession of conquered prisoners of war, nor did he bring mounds of gold and heaps of silver. Behind him did not march tens of thousands of soldiers in gleaming armor. Instead a few disciples came after, and they probably looked a little rough around the edges from a portion 3 years on the road following their rabbi. In place of a few thousand camp followers bringing up the rear, there were just a few women He had saved from various troubles. In fact it was known about town that these were the ones supporting this little ministry. Lowly, this king fulfilled everything about the prophecy.

Indeed He did!

Bucky

Passing, Passing, Passed

Brothers, I do not consider myself as having laid hold of it yet, but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead... Philippians 3:13

The past, sometimes a tempting array of achievements leading us to think we are somehow deserving of salvation, or, a dark brown cloud of doom following us with thoughts of how terrible we are and not deserving of salvation. Wow, no wonder Paul worked hard at forgetting what lay behind him! Now the past is passing for us, and working hard to leave it behind we face where? Paul had this to say: I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (v14). Pressing on tells us there is something to press against, and it is that former nature we yet bear that made the past such a temptation or condemnation to us. Passing, it still clings to us like some sort of evil squid monster. One day though, we will see the fulfillment of the call upward to God in Christ Jesus. And like a poor lost monster, our past will have been passed forever, as we leave it staring at our dead body, its former crushing grip useless on those who have moved on to be with the Lord.

Praise to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Bucky

By God's Grace

Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. Ephesians 3:7

We use the title phrase somewhat sparingly, not to deny God His credit, but so that it does not become a vain repetition inserted into everything we write or say. God's grace is precious to us, and we want it to remain so. Certainly to those who believe in Jesus, God's grace is the very lifeblood flowing through our spirit. We could easily say that we got up this morning by God's grace, fixed a breakfast by God's grace, and went to work by God's grace. Too much of that repetition though to our earthly flesh, and the phrase can become meaningless when we want it to have great meaning.

And have meaning it does! For by [God's] grace are we saved through faith, and not of ourselves it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8) Even in the scriptures it is understood that when we say 'by grace', it is to say 'by God's grace' as it always comes from and belongs to Him. And about grace, His grace, any of us might go on and on. Which we do since by His grace we have life in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Have a faithful day in God's grace!

Bucky

Securely Prepared

In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:2-3

Our place of dwelling is not secure here. A host of reasons for this from the physical to the financial and political may present themselves to your imagination for inspection. In other words, anxious worries will easily occur to us. When we came to believe in Jesus, we knew then that our earthly homes were only for temporary use. In place of that we have this heavenly treasure promised by our Lord Jesus, a dwelling place with Him. So, as opposed to those anxious worries about our home here, we can dwell on the promise of the securely prepared dwelling place we will have with our Lord Jesus. How do we know it is securely prepared? Easy, there is no greater security than the promise of our Lord Jesus.

Rest in His promise!

Bucky

A Call To Strengthen

Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of My God. Revelation 3:2

Ah, Friday, a day to ease on into the weekend... or is it? There are those times just before the end of something that we may feel the urge to relax and cruise on to the finish line. A quick search on social media will bring up videos of athletes who did just that, only to lose the race! In our verse for today, a call to strengthen the things that remain goes out to the church at Sardis. They have not finished and yet have gone sleepy and the flames of their faith are but a few glowing embers about to go out. The Lord by way of John sends a message that their deeds are not complete in the sight of God. Yesterday we had the temptation to show up with a resume. Today we see a resume that is incomplete, a bunch of deeds that were not finished. Imagine trying to apply for a job with a listing of partial projects that you did not see through to the end! So, while we are not saved by works, there is a place for our deeds and doings in the sight of God. And finishing does seem important too. Gulp, what deeds need completion for me?

Obey the call, and seek help in prayer to finish the race well!

Bucky

No You Can't

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.  John 15:5

It is a temptation to think that we will arrive in God's courtroom with a lengthy resume of good work achievements to present to the court. We know by the word of God that there is no deserving on our part of entry into God's Heaven by our works. We will never have enough good works to set against even one sin. When it comes to perfection before the law, we just weren't born with it. So, regarding justification for each of us by effort, the word is "No, you can't." Not only are we unable, but it has already been purchased and paid for long before our birth in this world. 

How deliciously frustrating! Jesus finished what I long to accomplish before I even knew the need for it. Praise to God for His wonderful Son!

Bucky

Careful To Keep That Love

For if you are careful to keep this entire commandment which I am commanding you to do, to love Yahweh your God, to walk in all His ways, and to cling to Him, then Yahweh will dispossess all these nations from before you, and you will dispossess nations greater and mightier than you. Deuteronomy 11:22-23

Canaan, the land of conflict, the land promised by God to Abraham. In between Abraham and this moment in our verses today came centuries of adventures for Israel including famines, slavery in Egypt, and some wilderness. Now the time had come for them to enter the promised land, but some nations had settled there in that land of Canaan. The Lord stood ready to give them good help, but there was just one thing He wanted from them: to keep His entire commandment. Woof! Sounds like a big task right there in and of itself! The Lord in His mercy gave to them that starting point though, love the Lord your God. It seems to us many years later that the walking in His ways will follow quite well if Israel, and we also, can get that first one down. Jesus named it the greatest commandment with another like it, and both were to be careful to keep that love.

Does the path of the Way seem daunting? Remember to carefully keep the love of God first!

Bucky

The Resurrection Season

Has a nation changed gods
Though they were not gods?
But My people have changed their glory
For that which does not profit.
  -- Jeremiah 2:11

Although the start of spring reminds us of it, that is not the primary reason for what is called Easter. We mourn the cross and the death of our Lord Jesus, but mourning is not to be our perpetual state. Years ago, we were given a great gift in a living Savior. Because He lives we have the greatest of hope and a new life awaiting. However, there are indications that some do not want to hold onto this hope we have in Jesus. 

In our verse for today, God brought a complaint against Israel, His chosen nation. It seems that they had changed gods for 'that which does not profit'. All the world faces that same trial today. Peter warned us of this time in his letters to the exiles. To some it seems like Jesus will not return, and there is backlash against any faith in the Rapture. But for us, it is what Jesus said to His church in Smyrna: 

Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.  Revelation 2:10 

Faithful in Christ!

Bucky

Starting Up The Praise

Praise the LORD!
Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
  -- Psalm 106:1

We enjoyed such a wonderful snowfall of wet snow yesterday that a "Praise the Lord!" seems quite the thing to say this morning. So, my inquiring mind wanted to know when this little phrase began in the Bible. In the NKJV, it seems to have begun with Leah, the first wife of Jacob. Leah had a little problem of going unloved in her marriage. As it is in these days, love and marriage were not always a matched set. However, sexual activities were a part of this marriage, and the scripture reports that God opened Leah's womb and the sons came. At the first son, Leah says that her husband will now love her. That does not seem to have happened, as with the arrival of the second son, Leah reports that the Lord saw that she was still unloved. By the third son she is just going for 'attached to me', love it seems has no hope. And by the fourth son, Judah, Leah has changed to something quite different: she will praise the Lord!

Love, as we see by Leah's testimony, cannot be forced, not even with sex and babies. However, we must give the woman credit for deciding to praise the Lord God, even as an unloved wife.

For all those feeling a bit unloved today, Praise the Lord! If you feel loved, then say it twice.

Bucky

The Balaam Negotiation Method 101

And Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, to trespass the command of Yahweh my God.   Numbers 22:18

It seems noble on the surface. However, we recognize from other deals made in the scriptures that Balaam has begun a negotiation to determine at what price the prophet will indeed sell out to trespass the command of God! The king was supposed to reply by his servants something like: I know that Balaam would never accept such a great amount of loot from me, but perhaps he would trespass the command of Yahweh for this chest of gold. We don't do it that way now, but if we are not careful one might find us gazing at a new car across the street and thinking of a statement not too far from Balaam's, all the while singing a song about grace. I use this example because... well, yeah, that happened to me this morning. The Spirit showed to me the incongruity of thinking greed while singing grace. And there, my beloved, is the environment of the waiting season we have until our Lord returns. The flesh greedily wants while the spirit sings of grace! Now faith tells us that God's grace will see us through this fight, and one day there will be no more of that greed!

Whew! Praise God for that!

Bucky

Justify Myself

If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.  Job 9:20

Today, this very morning, I am going to justify myself to you. Oh, oh, oh, what a forlorn hope that would be! Job in our verse for today compares justifying oneself to others to stating that one such as even righteous Job is perfect. Perfection in regard to myself bears a humor that even one as slow as I am cannot fail to see. Simply mentioning perfection and me in the same sentence causes my written voice to become a bit on the odd side. What do Job and I mean to say? Yeah, justification and perfection by our own efforts just ain't gonna happen. This does not mean that we cannot strive to obey the law, or to improve in morality, or to become more like Jesus. What it means is that we come to know that the larger part by far of the work of reconstruction in the heart of each of us belongs to the Lord Himself. I can put on a t-shirt that states: Christian - Under Construction. But, the Lord God began His work in me before I repented and came to Him for salvation, since, well, that was His work too! 

Rejoice in the Lord today!

Bucky

Gentleness On A Monday?

Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good conduct his works in the gentleness of wisdom.  James 3:13

Monday morning and the start of the work week for most of us, and here in the verse our brother James tells us to show our good conduct. Now, on Monday morning, before that first cup of coffee, we may not be the 'most-bestest' at conducting ourselves in the gentleness of wisdom. In fact, before getting woken up and settled into the weekly routine, we might not even know anyone who deserves gentleness! Of course as with the commandments of our Lord to love one another and do unto others as we would have done for us, we are to be the initiator and it has nothing to do with any deserving by the way of our grumpy Monday-morning judgment. 

Uh, yeah, can I get some help with this? Absolutely! We will have good help from our Lord Jesus whenever we try to do the right thing by Him. 

God's blessings and love to you on this fine Monday!

Bucky

The Missing Books Conspiracy

His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3 CSB

The New Testament of the Bible contains several letters from Paul, Peter, and others. But they were writing to someone; where are the return letters from Timothy, the churches, or other believers? Did some organization hold them back in a deep vault somewhere? What about accounts of Jesus; did Nathanael, Philip, or Andrew have an account of their time with the Lord? Did a conspiracy prevent their publication? Peter does not refute or deny any possibility of deceptions or denial that may happen down through the centuries. In a method our Lord often used, Peter answers the questions by not answering the questions. Peter simply assures his readers that we are given everything we need for life and godliness. If one does not believe in the Lord Jesus and His word now, then more books will not make up the difference.

We have what we need through the knowledge of Him who called us.

Bucky