Sanctify Us

You can tell a lot about a person’s priorities by the way they present themselves. We portray an image to others that represents what it is important to us and how we want people to think of us. Sometimes we do this deliberately and strategically, but it can also be without any forethought. Either way, we learn about ourselves when we consider what we want to be known for most of all. 1) Most of all, I am rich.  The human race has always been obsessed with wealth. Most people want more money than they have, regardless of their current level of wealth. When abused, the drive for more money can lead to overwork (Prov. 23:4-5), get-rich-quick schemes (Prov. 28:19-20), and dishonest gain (Prov. 20:10, 17).   Many are also interested in looking like they have more money than they actually do. We covet status symbols like cars, clothes, and jewelry that will signal to others that we are wealthy. Oftentimes the utility of the item is not even the important part—fake designer bags and...

Faithfulness is not defined in a single moment. It is shown over time as consistency and reliability to do what one has committed to do. The Bible is full of exhortations to be faithful and warnings about our fate if we turn back. But God does more than just tell us to be faithful—He shows us how to do so through His own example. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful” (Heb. 10:23). 1) Man is fickle. It doesn’t take any special insight to know that people are inconsistent. We experience it every day in ourselves and others around us. Sometimes the fickleness comes from malice while at other times it is simply neglect. Either way, we know that people cannot always be counted on. 2) We sometimes expect God to be like us. In Numbers 22-24, King Balak of Moab feared the Israelites who camped nearby in a great horde. Balak recruited Balaam to invoke a curse upon them with the promise of a great reward if he is successful. Balaam a...

One of the unsung heroes of faith in the New Testament is a disciple named Tabitha. Her story is simple and easily overshadowed by the other events in the book of Acts, but she still provides much for us to learn from and imitate. Acts 9:36-43 gives us her story. 1) Full of good works and acts of charity. Tabitha had no office or title, but that was not necessary for her to live a life full of good works. She was well known for her generosity and kindness, and when she died, there was a literal crowd of people who could show the physical proof of her life’s work. Tabitha did not look for honor and deference from her brethren. She didn’t need people to serve her nor was she concerned with what she stood to gain. She saw the needs of the widows and steadily worked to relieve them.   2) A “small” work. Tabitha is easy to overlook because her work doesn’t seem noteworthy or important. As far as we know, she didn’t travel the world converting pagans or attain any legendary accomplishmen...

2 Peter 2:4-10 uses several examples from biblical history to teach about the final judgment of mankind. One of those is the cataclysmic flood in the days of Noah. We can follow Peter’s  lead and learn many lessons about  salvation and judgment from this event. 1) God is willing to judge evil. God was not impotent or undisturbed in the face of the great evil in the ancient world. God saw their wickedness and the intention of their hearts (Gen. 6:5) and was grieved (v. 6). He determined to bring destruction against the earth on a broad and terrifying scale (v. 7). This was not merely a passing thought—He followed through and the flood came as He planned. Peter tells us what lesson we should learn from this. If God reacted in this way to sin back then and followed through with His judgment, why should we expect that He is any different today? In fact, this is just one example of three that Peter used. If we intend to bet on God suddenly having a different personality and att...

When Jesus celebrated the Passover with His inner circle for the last time and instituted the new observance of the Lord’s supper that they would carry into their life in the kingdom, He also had some final conversations with them about important things. One bombshell that He dropped was the revelation that one of the twelve would soon betray Him. The ensuing discussion is fascinating and has several applications for us.   The concept of betrayal was shocking. “And as they were eating, he said, ‘Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.’ And they were very sorrowful…” (Matt. 26:21-22a).   The disciples knew that Jesus had enemies. The religious leaders of their community hated Jesus and tried to undermine Him at every turn. They made false claims about Him (Matt. 12:24), asked insincere questions and demanded signs in an attempt to trap Jesus (Matt. 12:38-42; 16:1-4; 19:3-9; 22:15-22; John 8:3-11; etc.), and plotted to kill Him (John 11:45-57). They saw Him as a threat ...

The model prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 is something Jesus gave His disciples to teach them how to pray. Christians throughout the ages have benefited from this example, even if some missed the point and repeated it as an incantation. Another way we can learn how to pray is by looking at how Jesus prayed in His own life. When and how did Jesus pray? Ordinary prayers. Jesus deliberately carved out time at the beginning of His day to pray. Mark 1:35 mentions Him waking up early in the morning while it was still dark, going to a secluded place, and praying to the Father. That is some serious commitment! It is not like Jesus didn’t have plenty to do—we know He stayed busy teaching the multitudes, His own disciples, and traveling from place to place. He was also subject to the same need for rest and sleep that we experience. Matthew 14:22-23 describes another incident when Jesus did something similar, but in the evening. He took time to be alone and pray after a day that had been filled with...

Isaiah 55 is a call for people to come and enjoy the blessings of the LORD. Whereas we were once separated fr om God because of our sins, we now have the opportunity to be with Him and partake of His bles sings. T his is possible because of the work of the Messiah as God had promised would come from the house of David. Chapter 53 also speaks of that redemptive, sacrificial work of Jesus. But n ow in 55:6-9 we see a key component to that call to be with God. If we want to be with Him, we must b e like Him. That seems impossible to do, yet it is necessary.   Forsake wicked ways.  “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the  wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he  may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:6-7). The open call in verse 1 is given an urgent twist. God is accessible and ready to receive us—what a blessing! But the time t...