One Day Jesus Will Return

When Jesus was on trial before He went to the cross, He had an encounter with the chief priest. He asked Jesus, “Are you the Christ?” and today’s verse was Jesus’ response. Jesus let the chief priest know who He was and what He was going to do. One day Jesus will return.

‭‭Mark‬ ‭14:62

“And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.”

The version of the Bible that I’m using for this devotion is the New American Standard. I love how it uses all caps with certain words Jesus spoke. Jesus tells the chief priest that he will see Him sitting at the Father’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven. Those are some powerful words to speak to the chief priest, but they both truthful and prophetic. Jesus ascended to heaven (Acts 1) and will one day return on the Clouds for His church (1 Thess 4:17). The question is whether we believe it or not?

Be the Salt and the Light of Jesus

Several times a month, our church feeds close to 200 families with enough groceries for several days. We have been doing it for over four years, but when COVID hit, the need went through the roof. We started handing out food every Tuesday and on the last Friday of the month. We typically get a line of cars 40-50 lined up down the street. Our incredible team of servants can get them all taken care of in a matter of hours, but it’s about more than the food. It’s about our people being the Salt and Light of Jesus.

‭‭Mark‬ ‭14:7‬

“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.”

Sometimes we can be so servant-minded that we miss the presence of the one we truly serve, Jesus. It is essential to feed the hungry and serve the poor, but if we go to them without Jesus, it will just be charity. Jesus addresses this issue with the crowd that was criticizing the woman who anointed Jesus. They said that the oil should’ve been sold and given to the poor. Jesus replies that you will always have the poor, but I won’t always be with you.

Jesus Stays Faithful

Have you heard the story of the dog who waited for his owner to return on the train every day? This faithful dog would meet his owner at the train station every day after work. Sadly, his owner died in the 9/11 Twin Towers tragedy, but it didn’t stop his dog from showing up every evening when the train arrived. He remained faithful for years until he died. Did you know that Jesus stays faithful even when we don’t? God won’t change who He is.

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:11-13

“It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.”

By the time Paul is writing this to Timothy, people are dying for their faith. He tells him that if we die for Jesus, we will live with Him in eternity. If we endure the persecution, we will also reign with Him during the millennial reign. Those are promises that Jesus proclaimed and that upon which we can stand. He is faithful and will not forsake His people.

The Greatest Commandment

Jesus was questioned by the Sadducees and Scribes right before He went to the cross. The subjects they challenged Him on covered almost every area of the Jewish faith. They were hoping to catch Him is some doctrinal error, but His answers not only answered, but astounded. One of the final questions came from the scribes asking Him the greatest commandment. He gave them two.

‭‭Mark‬ ‭12:30‬

“AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.'”

This command was first given in the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy. It is known as the Shema. Jews were to write this on a scroll of paper and then put it into a tiny box and nail it to their house doorpost. It was to remind them of what was most important. Jesus uses this to tells the Jews the greatest commandment. He summarizes the first four commandments into one.

Back Into Alignment

I have a friend who’s dad is a retired ironworker. He had built huge buildings and bridges over his career. Just recently, they called him out of retirement to help with a project that had gotten out of control. It was a high rise building four inches out of plumb by the fourth story. They…

Follow the Pattern

Were you very good at drawing within the lines? I wasn’t. It not that I was trying to be a rebel; I just had too heavy of a hand on my crayon. I know it is hip today to draw outside the lines because it supposedly expresses creativity. That can get us into trouble in other areas. When we stray outside the lines of doctrine, it gets us in trouble. Paul tells Timothy to follow the pattern.

2 Tim 1:13-14

Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

As the Apostle Paul begins his final letter, he gives some sound advice to his protege, Timothy. He tells him to follow the pattern of sound words he has heard and guard the good deposit the Holy Spirit has installed in him. To follow the sounds words means to stick to the teachings in which he was taught. Timothy followed Paul around for years, and Paul is telling him to follow his example. All of that good teaching needed to be guarded against unsound doctrine.

Learning to Forgive

Have you ever noticed how selfish toddlers can be? Their favorite word is “mine!” They don’t like sharing, and if someone takes their toy, they will often hurt the person. Teaching them to ask for forgiveness can be straight-up comedy. Nothing in their body wants to cooperate. Learning to forgive others when they have done something wrong is even more difficult.

‭‭Mark‬ ‭11:25

“Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.”

Jesus was never shy when He spoke on the topic of forgiving other people. Here He tells us that if we are in church worshipping and haven’t forgiven somebody, then we need to go and make things right so that God will forgive us. Essentially what Jesus is saying is that we need to want to forgive others as much as we want God to forgive us. That’s easier said than done.

Your Greatest Gain

Yesterday the stock market hit a new high, property values reached all-time levels, and consumer confidence is on the rebound. The gurus would have you believe that the rebound is happening, and prosperity is right around the corner. Before you drink the kool-aid and buy into what they are selling, ask yourself one question, “Is this all there is?” Your greatest gain shouldn’t be in your portfolio or bank account but in your spirit. Your greatest gain comes with the combination of godliness and contentment.

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:6

“But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.”

As a young pastor, Timothy has a lot of challenges coming at him all at once. It would be easy to focus on the wrong goals and end up frustrated. His mentor, Paul, tells him how to take those in stride. Before Timothy was to work on the issues of the church, he was to work on himself. Paul tells him to build godliness and be content. If Timothy concentrated on those, the mounting stress of the church would diminish.

Eye of the Needle

The legend has it that there was a small gate in the wall that surrounded Jerusalem. When they closed the main gate at sunset this small gate, called the “eye of the needle” was the only way you could get in and out of the city. It was only big enough for a human to walk through. If you had a camel and needed to get inside, the camel would have to get on its knees and crawl. That wasn’t an easy task, and Jesus uses it as an example to make His point.

‭‭Mark‬ ‭10:25‬

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

This scripture always catches people off guard. First, you ask yourself, “Is it impossible for a rich person to go to heaven?” Next, you look at it and wonder how a camel can go through the eye of a needle? Jesus is trying to make a point. Money can get in the way of us following Him. Paul tells us that the desire for money is the root of all evil. If we allow it to consume us, it will make us do things we would’ve never considered before.

Provide for Your Family

One of the primary responsibilities, when you get married, is to provide for your family. This means the essentials like food, clothing, and shelter. For most people, this is a no-brainer, and we do it willingly. For others, it is a struggle because of the hard-luck that has befallen them. To forsake our families when we are capable of working is one of the lowest acts in God’s eyes.

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭5:8

“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Paul was big on Christians being responsible. Previously, he had said that if you do not work, you will not eat. Today, we look at a verse directed at the men of the house and their responsibility to provide for their family. If they don’t, it is an act that is equal to denying their faith, and you rank lower than an unbeliever. You can almost sense from the tone of Paul’s words that he is tired of dealing with this issue.