Line Up Under God's Rule

 LINE UP UNDER GOD’S RULE

Genesis 1:26:  “Then God said, ‘Let us make men in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’”

            If you decided to change your behavior in 2017, may your New Year’s resolution change things for the better.  If the previous devotion, Our Own Love, inspired you to develop a relationship with God, believe that things will definitely get better! 

            A relationship with you is exactly what God wants.

            Seriously. 

            Jesus ushered God’s new covenant into the world at His resurrection.  Believers-in-Christ are covered under that covenant of grace, a dominion covenant.  We’re protected and provided for.  Jesus promises in Matthew 6:33: “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

            “All these things” include food, drink, and clothing that are provided under the grace/dominion covenant that Jesus covers over His Believers.

            Lining up under God’s rule means that we agree He knows what’s best for us.  Created creatures—humanity and the heavenly host—are inferior to the omnipotent (all-powerful) Creator.  When Satan tried to be God, he got tossed out of heaven (Revelation 12:9).  Check out the lesson linked below.

            Earth is the devil’s playground where Believers are engaged in spiritual warfare every day.  We never need to be afraid because Jesus already defeated the devil when He rose to life!  Believers win the war when we line up under God’s authority and kingdom rule. 

            We choose victory in life when we operate under God’s sovereign will instead of challenging Him.

Take Home Nugget

            Being made in God’s image equips humans with power to rule, as the opening Scripture says.  That rule is limited, though.  Jesus gave His followers authority to heal the sick, raise the dead, and to cast out evil spirits in Matthew 10:7-8, PLUS authority to use the keys of the kingdom of heaven to bind and loosen circumstances on earth in Matthew 16:19. 

            Jesus said in Matthew 28:18-20: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

            God gave people free will to see who freely comes under His sovereign rule.  Our authority to rule is limited to what Jesus commanded—just like Jesus’ authority is second to the Father’s sovereign rule. 

Holy Father, teach me to line up under Your sovereign rule in my life, in the precious name of Jesus, Amen. 

Adapted from “Aligning with God’s Will” by Dr. Tony Evans.  November 19, 2016.  The Urban Alternative at LightSource.com.

J.D. Griffith

 

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Our Own Love

 

OUR OWN LOVE

Malachi 1:2-3:  “‘I have loved you,’ says the Lord.

But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’

‘Was not Esau Jacob’s brother’ the Lord says, ‘yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I hated, and I have turned his mountains into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.’”

 

            When: Around 430 B.C.

            Who: The Jews resettling into Judah after Babylonian exile.

            Why: The Israelites in the prophet Malachi’s time felt unworthy and unlovable.

            Jewish descendants from such a dynasty of patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are proud of their heritage.  Centuries later, even Apostle Paul bragged about being a “Hebrew of Hebrews” in Philippians 3:5.  (See lesson linked below).

            So, why were the Israelites in Malachi’s time so depressed?  Their bondage to Babylon had ended, they were resettled in Israel, and their Temple was rebuilt.  This should have been a time of joy and celebration. 

            But really, Israel was in a shambles.  Poverty was rampant.  God sent Malachi to encourage and correct His sad people.  The first thing Malachi taught was to know God’s love for them. 

            But the people couldn’t believe him.  They thought that God’s grace and mercy was only because of the worth from their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  In fact, Jewish daily prayers began, “Blessed are you God, our God, and the God of our forefathers…”   They emphasized that God is the God of their forefathers.  They forgot that God is their God, too.

            Malachi reminded them that they are God’s children.  He encouraged them to come to Him personally as their God.  He told them what God said, “Take a good look.  Then you’ll see how faithfully I love you and you’ll want even more, saying, ‘May God be even greater, beyond the borders of Israel!’” (Malachi 1:5 The Message).

            Our relationship with God must be personal.  Christians claim Jewish inheritance from our forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, too.  But God’s love for our patriarchs only goes so far.  Otherwise God would have loved arrogant Esau, as well as Jacob. 

Ultimately, God’s love is based on one person and Himself. 

Take Home Nugget

            Many of us come from families where parents or grandparents were faith warriors.  And we stand on their shoulders.  But their faith is not enough.  We’re adopted into God’s family through our own faith.  Every person must discover a personal connection to God—before we can enjoy the benefits of our blessed heritage. 

            God cannot be inherited. The relationship must be cultivated by each individual.  The trials we endure develop our own faith.  Then, God’s love is for our own sake, not based on family ties.  

            Eventually, God becomes our own love.

            Maybe this is your “New Year’s” resolution?

Father, help me to embrace You as my God, my own love.  Amen. 

              

Adapted from “A Love of Our Own” by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein.  December 2, 2016.  Holy Land Moments Daily Devotional

J.D. Griffith

 

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Alpha & Omega

ALPHA & OMEGA

Ninth of nine in Who is Jesus? Advent series

Revelation 21:6:  “He said to me: ‘I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.  To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.’”

 

            Apostle John writes a book as a prisoner on the Mediterranean island of Patmos.  One Sunday, John is literally “carried away” in the Spirit while worshipping. 

            The last book in the Bible—Revelation—is John’s worship masterpiece.  Transported by an angel into the presence of the resurrected Christ to record Jesus’ testimony and the vision that “must soon take place,” John begins Revelation 1.  The book of Revelation challenges readers’ imagination and intelligence, certainly deepening our awe of God.  

            “Because the time is near.”  (See the lesson that’s linked below).

            John introduces himself in Revelation 1:4-5, … 6: “I, John, to the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from among the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

            “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father—to Him be the power and glory forever and ever!  Amen.”

            Jesus speaks in Revelation 1:8: “‘I am the Alpha and Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.’”

            Revelation 22:12-13, 20a, “Behold, I am coming soon!  My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.  I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

            “I am He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’”

                                                                         

              As the Lord of glory, Jesus inspires constant angelic songs of praise.  Psalm 24:1 is one example: “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it; for He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.”

Take Home Nugget

            Jesus shows His followers the path to His place.  Colossians 1:18 confirms Jesus’ lead: “And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy.”

            Intersecting Faith and Life, Jesus has so many descriptions because He cannot fit into just one word. 

Thank You Jesus, for filling all our needs.  Wherever we are in life, You carry us through!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!  COME LET US WORSHIP THE NEWBORN KING!

             Adapted from “There’s a Title for That” by John UpChurch.  Crosswalk.com Contributor.  November 4, 2016,

J.D. Griffith

 

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Light of the World

LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Eighth part of nine in Who is Jesus? Advent series

2 Corinthians 4:4:  “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.”

 

            “For this is what the Lord has commanded us,” Paul begins Acts 13:47.  He completed the sentence with what Jesus passed on to Believers from Isaiah 49:6, “I have made you a light for the Gentiles [non-Jews], that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” 

            Jesus says that Satan is the prince (god) of this age, or world in John 14:30.  It is he who “has blinded” unbelievers from seeing Jesus’ light in the opening Scripture.  What is the “light of the gospel of the glory of Christ?”  Jesus began His ministry in Galilee proclaiming the good news (gospel) of God, in Mark 1:15.  Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is near.  Repent and believe the good news.”

            The kingdom of God is nearer than ever.  If Believers had succeeded in “bringing salvation to the ends of the earth”—as Jesus’ “Great Commission” commands in Matthew 28:19—He’d be reigning as King on earth today. 

            The kingdom calendar circles Jesus’ second coming.  Jesus predicted in Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached to the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”   

            Jesus fulfilled the Father’s will.  He suffered, died, and was resurrected back to life so that whoever believes in Him could have eternal life.  Now it’s up to His Believers to obey His command so that He can come again and usher in the kingdom of God! 

            Right now, Jesus is interceding for us before the Father.   “For He bore the sin of many, and made intersession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:12b.  What’s more, Jesus didn’t come from the tribe of Levi, who were priests in the Old Testament.  Jesus came from the tribe of Judah!  Jesus became priest based on His indestructible perfect life.  God made Him “a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 7:21).

            See lesson linked below for in-depth truths about these word descriptions.

           

Take Home Nugget

            These word descriptions of Jesus are all supernatural.  The weirdest one to accept is Bread/Water of life.  “I am the bread of life.  He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty.” Jesus claimed in John 6:35. 

            Believers accept that the wafer and wine at Holy Communion is Jesus’ body and blood, marking us as eternally His from John 6:53:

“Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.”

 

             Adapted from “There’s a Title for That” by John UpChurch.  Crosswalk.com Contributor.  November 4, 2016,

J.D. Griffith

 

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True Vine

TRUE VINE

Seventh part of nine in Who is Jesus? Advent series

John 15:4-5:  “Remain in Me, and I will remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.  I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.”

 

            Just like God’s covenant bound Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to Himself in a promised blessing, Jesus’ nourishing vine binds His followers to Him as branches.  Picture a vine whose branches spread out far and wide.  Nourishment springs from the vine’s root flowing throughout as living food.  Its branches depend on living food for spiritual nourishment. 

            The vine metaphor works for Believers who live victoriously by remaining in Jesus.  He’s our vine, our sustenance.  We know we cannot succeed and thrive on our own.  We know and acknowledge where every gift we receive comes from. 

            Bearing fruit comes naturally for followers of Christ.  Those branches reach deep into dark places, shining the light of Jesus’ love for the lost to grab ahold.

            Jesus is much more than a vine who keeps followers in line.  Additional word descriptions of Jesus claim that He’s a FRIEND!  Jesus is a life-giving friend to sinners, who Proverbs 18:24 says “sticks closer than a brother.”  Remember how Jesus suffered a whipping that shred the skin off His back? (Matthew 27:26).  He bled for you!  Isaiah 53:5 promises, “and by His wounds we are healed.” 

            Indeed, when insults were hurled at Jesus, He did not strike back.  He never made threats to get even at those who hated Him.  Instead, Jesus entrusted Himself to the One who judges—the One who has the final say.  Our Father in heaven is almighty and sovereign.  He judges correctly.  He can carry out whatever is His will—which no one can undo!

            (See lesson linked below for how Believers are to copy Jesus’ obedience to authority). 

                 

Take Home Nugget

            Jesus is the only friend who walks alongside His followers.  He indwells us as God’s Holy Spirit who Jesus describes in John 14:17as, “Counselor” and the “Spirit of truth.”

             Believers’ goal is Jesus’ promise in John 14:2-3: “In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also be where I am.” 

Holy Father, It is in Jesus where Your kids are guaranteed to make it through life ALIVE!  Hallelujah!  Amen.               

 

             Adapted from “There’s a Title for That” by John UpChurch.  Crosswalk.com Contributor.  November 4, 2016,

J.D. Griffith

 

Click here for Interactive-Online-Lesson for True Vine

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                   Written for http://www.Biblestudyforkids.com  

 

The latest Christmas eBook by J.D. Griffith:   To order “Meet Guardian Archangels” click here

 

Here’s another eBook by J.D. Griffith:    

 

  To order “The Thing is…” click here

 

Recent eBook by J.D. Griffith: 

  Click here to purchase a copy of Your Salvation is Jesus' Passion   eBook only $2.99