Fresh Start

FRESH START
1Peter 5:8-11
The Message: “Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only one plunged into these hard times…The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes He does.”

“Thud. Thud. Thud.”

Josie ran to the window and saw a U-Haul truck. The opened rear gate showed furniture and boxes. She ran outside her apartment. In the third floor hallway, a couple lugged a couch up the stairs. A boy followed, loaded down with an overstuffed backpack. He looked into her green eyes, noticing her brown pony tail, and nodded at her.

“Hi!” Josie welcomed the people, looking at the boy. “So you’ll be my neighbors across the hall!”

The couple grunted; the boy approached. A tingle rose up Josie’s spine when she looked into his dark eyes and smiling face framed with black hair. “Hi back. My name’s Ladell.”

“I’m Josie. Will you be going to my school? I’m in fifth grade at Overbook Elementary. Classes won’t begin again until next Monday, January 11th.

“Cool. I’m in fifth, too.”

Josie’s Dad stepped into the hall as Ladell’s Dad opened their front door. “Welcome, neighbors. Moving day’s a drag. Let me help.”

“Many thanks.” Ladell’s Dad said, approaching with an outstretched hand. “We’ll register Ladell this Monday. Get acquainted, Son. We’ll do the moving.”

Ladell’s Mom smiled at the kids. “Glad that you’re right across the hall, Josie.”

Ladell threw down his backpack. “Whew! We’re finally settling down. We’ve been homeless this whole year.”

“That’s awful, Ladell!” Josie said. “2009’s been the worst year ever—for me, too. My Mom died this past July.”

Ladell sat down. “I’m really sorry, Josie. Let’s take a calendar of 2009 and shred it!”

Giggling, Josie sat down. “Great idea, Ladell! As 2009 shreds, I’ll cheer, ‘Good riddance, good-bye, and farewell. When 2010 arrives, I’ll welcome it by ringing my bell.’”

“Are you a cheerleader?”

“How can you tell? Do you play football?”

Take Home Nugget

Starting over brings hope after a season of hardship, trial, and tribulation. Persevering through trouble takes courage. Never give up, for tomorrow is a new day. 1Peter 5:7 advises us, “Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for you.”

God’s grace is present whatever we face, for He provides power for us to persevere.

J.D. Griffith

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Angels Part 6 of 6

ANGELS Part 6 of 6
Luke 1:26-35
“In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.’”

“‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’”

“The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. The holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.’”

First, Gabriel blew Zechariah’s mind, and now, Mary’s. Notice that Mary didn’t disbelieve the angel; she only asked him a question. Zechariah asked a question, too, but he doubted Gabriel’s news. Do you see the difference between Zechariah’s unbelief, and Mary’s embracing the angel’s news? In fact, her words to Gabriel: “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be as you have said” in Luke 1:38.

Gabriel must have grinned from ear to ear!

Mary’s first impulse was identical to how you or I would react after getting good news: she wanted to tell someone. She went to see her cousin, Elizabeth. Delighting each other with news about their pregnancies, each knew that her son would impact the whole world.

John successfully pointed people to their long-awaited Messiah, Jesus. Jesus came to deliver all people from their sin and eternal death. Can you see the proud Father beaming at His Son from heaven?

Luke 2:8-15 shows angel’s announcement to shepherds.

Angels broadcasted their joy by celebrating in the night sky (Luke 2:13-14). Have you shared the good news about Jesus with someone?

Isaiah foretold the Savior’s birth 700 years before Jesus arrived:

“For unto us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders.
“And He will be called ‘Wonderful Counselor’, ‘Mighty God’, ‘Everlasting Father’, ‘Prince of Peace.’” (Isaiah 9:6).

Take Home Nugget

Christ came to us so that we could live with Him.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! YOUR MESSIAH HAS COME. IMMANUEL—GOD WITH US!

J.D. Griffith

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Angels Part 5 of 6

ANGELS Part 5 of 6
Luke 1:11-20
“Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or fermented drink, and will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he bring to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of their fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’

Then Zechariah asked the angel, ‘How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.’

The angel answered, ‘I am Gabriel, I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true in their proper time.’”

How would you react if an angel suddenly appeared? How would you distinguish between angels and ordinary people? Angels simply emerge exactly at the right spot, and right time that God appoints. They seem to bring news from God to a specific individual. Usually, angels first words are “Do not fear.” Then they release a bombshell.

Did you get what happened to Zechariah? He was struck dumb, unable to speak. Why? Because he didn’t believe! Both he and his wife, Elizabeth, were old…but doubting an angel? Gabriel had power to shut Zechariah up on the spot. Was that Gabriel’s decision, or God’s?

What would blow your mind so much that you couldn’t believe?

Take Home Nugget

Zechariah took what seemed to be forever to burn incense inside the temple. The folks outside began to worry, and when Zechariah finally exited the temple, he couldn’t speak. Using his hands, he signed to the people what had happened. His voice returned on John’s 8th day, at his naming ceremony.

John paved the way that pointed people to Jesus.

J.D. Griffith

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Angels Part 4 of 6

ANGELS Part 4 of 6
2Peter 2:4-9
“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.” Emphasis, mine.

St. Peter’s lengthy discussion makes a case about how angels who mess up are punished, compared to others’ sentences. In contrast, righteous children are rescued from that same fate. Also, angels have free will.

Jude 9
“But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’”

Angels argue amongst themselves. (The devil, a fallen angel, and the archangel Michael are equal in power). Michael, a fierce warrior, refuses to insult him—some battles belong to God. We’re to learn to speak carefully, and live in awe of the Lord.

Revelation 12:7
“And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.”

The devil (“the dragon” in this passage), leads his fallen angels in warfare against Michael and the righteous angels.

WOW—angel warfare in heaven!

Matthew 25:41
“Then He will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’”

Jesus separates the goats, (on His left), from the sheep, (on His right) v. 35. His judgment is decisive, deliberate, and final. Goats symbolize the wicked, while the righteous are referred to as sheep in this passage.

Take Home Nugget

1Corinthians 6:3: “Do you not know that we will judge the angels?” St. Paul confirms that God’s saints (you and me) will judge in future times.

There are angels both good and bad
Who, just like people, follow the one who’s their lord,
This makes the Holy Spirit very sad.

J.D. Griffith

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Angels Part 3 of 6

ANGELS Part 3 of 6
Matthew 18:10
“See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.”

Hebrews 1:14

“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”

Jesus tells us to lead children in truth and love. He lets us know that angels are assigned to their safety, AND to those who are sealed with salvation. Angels get to see God face to face.

Hebrews 2:7

“You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor and put everything under his feet.”

Men were created to be lower than angels, but tended by them. People have authority to care for everything on earth.

Hebrews 1:4

“So He became as much superior to the angels as the name He has inherited as superior to theirs.”

These Hebrews passages prove heaven’s hierarchy (HIRE-ark-y, meaning chain of command). Jesus is superior to angels, who were created to be higher than people. The earth is what’s in man’s control. Sovereign authority belongs solely to the Triune God: Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit. (See Triune Wonder devotion).

1Thessalonians 4:16

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.”

1Peter 1:12

“It was revealed to them [the prophets] that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.”

Hierarchy among angels reveals archangel’s superiority, who have the power to launch major events in God’s calendar. With the exception of fallen angels, (those in league with the devil), all others are anxious for God’s kingdom to come. To His glory, everything will become the awesome creation that God originally intended.

Take Home Nugget

David wrote in Psalm 8:3-5: “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You set into place, what is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings.”

Are you convinced about heaven’s hierarchy?

Triune God
Heavenly beings
Man
Animals

Before we think we’re “All that”,
Perhaps we should face the fact:

Consider our worth by looking up high
And see the tier that unfolds from the sky.

J.D. Griffith

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Angels Part 2 of 6

ANGELS Part 2 of 6
Daniel 8:16-26
Vv 16-17: …“Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of this vision.” As he came near the place where I (Daniel) was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. ‘Son of man’, he said to me; ‘understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.’”

New angel information: This angel’s name is Gabriel, and he sounds like a man who foretells the future. This time Gabriel is speaking to Daniel, a prophet. Daniel wrote the book that’s named after him in the Bible. Find Daniel, the 8th book after Psalm, the book in the center of the Bible.

Daniel’s book addresses the Hebrews, who were exiled in Babylonia between 605-530, B.C. Gabriel gives the vision that foretells End Time events. It sounded scary, and Daniel was so frightened—because of the vision, or because God’s angel was addressing him?—that he fell face down on the ground. (Prostrate means face-down). This proves that angels deliver God’s messages to people.

Daniel 9:21-23: “While I (Daniel) was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the Lord my God for his holy hill—while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. He instructed me and said to me, ‘Daniel, I have now come to give you my insight and understanding. As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed.’”

Aha—more angel information: Swift flight means that angels do fly. He looks like a man, (no wings), and gave Daniel further instructions as an answer from God. Gabriel also gave Daniel his “insight and understanding”. So, angels think and reason on their own, knowing God’s message. What was Daniel's reaction to being highly-esteemed (by God)?

Daniel12:1: “At that time, Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.”

“Delivered” means saved, liberated from the wages of sin.

Take Home Nugget

Michael is a great prince of angels who protects God's people, and also foretells the future. “Your people” are God’s chosen: Jews and Gentiles, whose name is written in “the book”—see Revelation 21:27.

The Book—so wondrous!
Philippians 4:3, sojourners fair,
Lamb’s Book of Life, Revelation 21:27--
Is your name found there?

HAPPY HANUKKAH, Sisters and Brothers of Judaism.

J.D. Griffith

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Angels Part 1 of 6

ANGELS Part 1 of 6
Luke 20:36
“…and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels.”

Tricking Jesus was a game for the Sadducees. But Jesus read their minds, and enlightened them with straight talk. After the resurrection, things will be different, (Luke 20:35-36).

There’s been a lot of talk about Angels lately. Books have been published about them, cults have sprung up in angel adoration, and toy angels complete Christmas decorations. Some angels have wings, some look like genderless creatures. Wherever holiday scenes decorate the landscape, angels are found in abundance. From what Jesus said in today’s Scripture, we learn that angels are immortal.

Who is like the angels, and will never die? Jesus’ answer is clear: After the resurrection of the dead, we too, will never die.

Are angels really everywhere?

Yes.

Psalm 34:7 says, “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them.” When believers—as God’s kids—follow Jesus, we are guarded by His angels.

Does this surrounding layer of protection give you confidence? Have you ever been scared in the dark? Do you imagine bogeymen chasing you at night?

Psalms 91:11-12 says, “For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Psalm 91 is the Scripture that assures God’s children that we are protected on all fronts. God is our refuge and strength, v.2, against the terror of the night, v.5, and be with us in trouble, v.15.

Angels surround, before and behind, to the right and the left, those who love the Lord. (Read Luke 4:10-11 to see the words the devil quoted to Jesus during His temptation. Do they sound familiar?)

Fear not, for you are safe beyond measure.

“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it” comes from Hebrews 13:2. What else could this passage mean except that angels are everywhere people are? Do you suspect that you may have met an angel?

Take Home Nugget

Luke 20:38 talks about immortality: “He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to Him all are alive.” When God created the universe, death was not part of the picture. After death, we will live forever, just as angels will live forever. The question is not will you live, but where will you live?

With angels surrounding us everywhere
Of what can we be afraid?

J.D. Griffith

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Faith Icons: Assorted (Part 6 of 6)

FAITH ICONS: ASSORTED (Part 6 of 6)
Genesis 37-50, Exodus 2-Deuteronomy 34, Joshua, Judges, 1,2 Samuel, Luke 2:34-38

Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

The roll call of Faith Icons is nowhere complete, but this devotional series shows readers: who faith icons are, where to find their stories in the Bible, and what was significant about their lives.

Joseph

Joseph was Jacob’s (Israel’s) favorite son. His brothers sold him into slavery, but he shows us graceful forgiveness in Genesis 50:20, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” (Genesis 37, 39-50).

Moses

Raised as a prince and hunted down as a murderer, God got his attention with a burning bush. (Exodus 3:1-10). Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land, and received the Ten Commandments. (Exodus—Leviticus —Numbers—Deuteronomy).

Joshua

Joshua requested God to stop the sun for a whole day. It has never happened—before or since. (Joshua 10:12-14).

Rahab

Rahab believed that two spies who came to her house were sent from God, and protected them from discovery (Joshua 2).

Deborah and Barak

The judge Deborah was also a prophetess (Judges 4:4). She and Barak worked under God’s command, and together, they succeeded in everything the Lord led them to accomplish.

Gideon

Gideon found courage to lead Israeli troops against Midian—even after God trimmed down their numbers from 22,000 to 300 (Judges 7:2-21). Gideon refused earthly rewards in Judges 8:23. The Gideon Bible is found in hotel rooms across the world.

Jephthah

Disowned and kicked out, Jephthah agreed to lead Israel in battle against Ammon (Judges 11-12). He and his daughter sacrificed much when he followed through with a vow he made to God.

Sampson

Sampson’s supernatural strength sweeps through the pages of Judges 13-16. He conquered his enemies because his faith was strong.

Hannah

Hannah pledged her son to the Lord, and gave Samuel to the priest, Eli, in 1Samuel 1-2.

Samuel

After God revealed Himself to Samuel, he became a great prophet. What a rich life he lived! Check out how he anointed kings over Israel. (1 and 2 Samuel).

David

The shepherd was anointed king of Israel (1Samuel 16:13). He shows us fear and reverence for God by persevering through many trials to achieve the crown (2Samuel). David penned many Psalms that inspire us to triumph in adversity.

Anna

A prophetess, the widow Anna worshipped day and night in the temple—with prayer and fasting. Because of her faith, God let her meet baby Jesus. (Luke 2:36-38).

Take Home Nugget

Most faith icons did not see their promises come true, but were convinced of their reality. Belief=Faith. When you’re looking for good reading, adventure is awaiting you inside the Bible.

Look in the mirror to see God's newest Faith Icon!

J.D. Griffith

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