Jesus’ Death Gives Us Life

I watched a video the other day of a father riding across the United States on his bicycle to raise money and awareness for organ donors. One stop was in Louisiana to meet the person who received his daughter’s heart after her sudden and tragic death. As he put a stethoscope on the man’s heart, he realized that her death gave life to this man. When we look at the cross, we need to understand that Jesus’ death gives us life.

‭‭Mark‬ ‭9:31‬

“For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later.”

Jesus told the disciples several times that He would have to die but that He would rise again. Each time they heard the first part and were so grieved by it that they didn’t hear the second part. Even after Jesus’ death, they forgot His words about His resurrection. It wasn’t till the ladies at the tomb told them, and Jesus appeared to them in the upper room did it dawn on them that He was telling them all along.

Profit for Your Present Life

In the Greek and Roman societies during Paul’s time, athletic ability and body image were worshiped. The Greeks had the Olympics and their gods, who were revered for their beauty and strength. The Romans had their emperors and military, which projected power and domination. Paul contrasts that by telling us what is truly profitable, disciplining ourselves for godliness.

‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4:7-8

“But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”

In the Greek and Roman societies during Paul’s time, athletic ability and body image were worshiped. The Greeks had the Olympics and their gods, who were revered for their beauty and strength. The Romans had their emperors and military, which projected power and domination. Paul contrasts that by telling us what is truly profitable, disciplining ourselves for godliness.

What Would You Say?

I had a teacher who would often say to the class, “opinions are like ears; everyone has two of them.” I would always be one of the few to laugh, not because I got it, but because it was true. Everybody usually has two opinions on the same subject, and they usually contradict one another. If someone asked you about Jesus, what would you say? Would you tell them that He is the Son of God who came to earth to forgive your sins?

Mark 7:27-29

And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”

Jesus wasn’t asking these questions for His ego. He was asking them to see if the Disciples would trumpet what others were saying or if they genuinely believed in their hearts that Jesus was the anointed one. Israel had a history of rejecting the people God had sent them. It started with Joseph, then to Moses, King David, the Prophets, and finally, Jesus. Were those Jesus picked going to profess He was the Messiah?

Desire to Do the Hard Work

Heard a sad story the other day of how a church split and went to court over who got the church building because an Elder got mad over a boy had gotten a bigger piece of ham at a potluck than he did. Sounds silly, but these issues crop up every day in the church. That is not what Paul intended when he wrote the qualifications of an elder. He was looking for those who desire to do the hard work.

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭3:1‬

“It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.”

The role that Paul is talking about here is an Elder. The Greek word used here is “episkopos,” which can be used as Elder, Pastor, or Shepherd. It is a person who is one of the overseers, or leaders, or the church. It denotes authority and means that the person has the role of responsibility in the church. The person who aspires to this office desires a good thing.

Out of the Mouth

I am confident that if people listened twice as much as they talk, this world would be eighty percent better. We put too much value into what people have to say. The problem is that there is so much chatter that you have to say something outrageous to get noticed. Jesus said what comes out of the mouth, defiles a person and reveals what is in their heart.

Mark 7:20-23

And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts… All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

I think we all will agree that our mouth has gotten us into more trouble than anything else we have done combined. Sometimes it seems like we aren’t even in control of our tongue. Words are coming out, and we are asking ourselves, “Who is this person?” That’s because the mouth reveals our real heart. Most of the time, we can keep it under wraps but add in a little anxiety and anger, and soon it is a tsunami that is destroying everything in its path. We don’t need to control our tongue; we need to root out the sin.

Prayer Changes Things

The story is told that George Mueller had a prayer list of five men who didn’t know Jesus. He prayed every day that these men would come to know Jesus. After one year, one of the men gave his life to Christ. Another one came to Jesus a decade later and then another years after that. For fifty-four years, Mueller prayed for the final two, and one gave his life to Jesus at Mueller’s funeral, and the final one did so a year after his death. The faithful prayer of one man saw five of his friends come to know Jesus. Prayer changes things.

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭2:8

“Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting holy hands, without wrath and dissension.”

There has never been a time when prayer is more needed than today. The church should be on its knees, crying out for a mighty move of God. This world is in need, and we have the solution through Jesus Christ. The only way people realize their need for Him is by the church coming together to pray.

Desire of God’s Heart

Every soul matters to God. I know that’s not a popular belief today but Scripture backs it up. He desires that everyone would come to know Jesus. As the Bride of Christ our desires should be the same. Our heart should be for the lost and those going to hell. This is the desire of God’s Heart.

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭2:4‬

This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

God desires that everyone be saved from hell and experience the forgiveness of their sins. That is the whole purpose for sending His Son. God set His plan of redemption into action as soon as Adam committed the first sin. When He looks at people today He sees our brokenness and our inability to fix it.

Always Lead With Love

The saying goes, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Showing we care shows people they can open up to you. They are afraid of being hurt. People want to position themselves as experts and give other people answers to their problems. Jesus had the ability to show…

Time to Work

There is a big debate about Unemployment Insurance here in the United States. When COVID-19 hit, the government approved a $600 a week bonus to those who lost their jobs because of the shutdown. Now those benefits have run out, and people are begging the government to keep the payments going because they get paid…

Walk in My Ways

God made it very clear to the Israelites that they were to keep His laws. If they did, He promised them great blessings. If they didn’t, it was only a matter of time before disaster was on their doorstep. God hasn’t changed His heart. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His message is simple, “Walk in my ways.”

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭20:19-20

“I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and observe them. Sanctify My sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’

Israel had a hard time keeping their eyes on God. They didn’t obey his law or set apart the Sabbath day as holy. Instead, they did what was right in their own eyes and did whatever they wanted on the Sabbath. This leads them to be corrected by God and eventually being led into captivity. If they would’ve obeyed His Word, they would’ve been close to Him.