LookingtoJesus

January 4

Bible Reading: Matthew 3

Even in his declining health, my friend Leroy would drive his motorized wheelchair to the prom in Seaside so he could pass out Gideon New Testaments and talk to folks about Jesus.   But then, having loved and faithfully served Jesus in so many ways and for so many years, he came to realize that the time for his departure was drawing near.  He had but one request for me as we discussed a forthcoming memorial service: “Don’t be talking about anything I might have done, talk about Jesus, and above all else, share the gospel!”  He was always making much of Jesus that way.

John the Baptist was a man “sent from God” (John 1:6).  “He came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through Him, He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light” (John 1:7-8).

He came to share the news of the coming of the Christ.  His ministry was utterly unconventional.  The religious leaders of that day sat “in the chief seats in the synagogues” (Matthew 23:6), John the Baptist “came preaching in the wilderness” (Matthew 3:1).  The Pharisees and Scribes espoused a religious of self-righteousness “(tying) up heaven loads and laying them on men’s shoulders” (Matthew 23:4), John the Baptist preached a message of repentance in view of the immanence of the “Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 3:2-4).  The leaders of his day richly adorned themselves with religious garb drawing attention to themselves, John the Baptist—akin to the prophets of old—had “a garment of camel’s hair, and a leather belt around his waist” (Matthew 3:4).  Those leaders loved “place of honor at banquets” (Matthew 23:6), John the Baptist ate “locusts and wild honey” (Matthew 23:4) in the wilderness.

Despite his unconventional ways (or, because of them) the multitudes were drawn to him.  “Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea, and all the district around the Jordan” (Matthew 3:5).  Even the religious leaders came, only to suffer his rebuke as he sensed their hypocrisy (Matthew 3:7-12).  Amongst his followers were some who would later become Jesus’ disciples (John 1:37).

He came to “bear witness of the light” and that is a matter in which his example has direct relevance to us.  He was always directing people to Jesus (not to himself).  When the religious leaders sent men to ask, “Who are you?” he replied, “I am not the Christ” (John 1:19-20).  When they asked again, he affirmed his God-given role as a “voice crying in the wilderness (to) make straight the way of the Lord” (John 1:22-23; Isaiah 40:3).  He spoke of the One who would come after him “whose sandal (he) was not worthy to untie” (John 1:27).  He saw Jesus and declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).  Though he was born first, he spoke of the eternity of Christ in saying “He existed before me” (John 1:30).  When it came time for Jesus to be baptized, he hesitated, saying: “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me? (Matthew 1:14).

He spoke to the essence of his ministry’s endeavor this way: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).  He came to make much of the Christ, not of himself.  And that is the nature of the ministry of any good witness for Christ—to make much of Jesus.  

“The main thing is keeping the main thing the main thing!” 

Dwight L. Moody

The main thing for any Christian is Jesus, and we do well in serving Him when we make much of Him.

We do well in our witnessing efforts when we make much of Jesus with our lips and in our lives.

There is a name I love to hear,
I love to sing its worth;
It sounds like music in mine ear,
The sweetest name on earth.
Oh, how I love Jesus,
Oh, how I love Jesus,
Oh, how I love Jesus,
Because He first loved me!

January 3

Bible Reading: Matthew 2

On any given Sunday, people around the world will gather in their local churches to worship Jesus, singing songs of praise to Him and hearing from His Word.  Though they’ve not seen Him, they love Him!  On any given day, around the world, you can hear others cursing Him, choosing His name, amongst all other possibilities, to decry their plight or particular situation.  There is no one more polarizing figure than Jesus.  No one more loved or more hated.  Indeed, the “thoughts from many hearts” are revealed through Him (Luke 2:35).  He is at the epicenter of the long war against God.  You can love Him, or you can hate him (Colossians 1:21), but no one will be able to ignore Him forever (2 Thessalonians 1:8-10).

Our chapter speaks to these two dueling responses.  The “magi from the east” came from afar to worship the newborn king.  They were not kings, but Babylonian “king-makers.”  It is amazing that God would call these Gentiles from such a faraway place to acknowledge the birth of the newborn King!  There were undoubtedly more than three, since when the king heard of their presence in Jerusalem, “he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him” (Matthew 2:3).   The thought of three is but a tradition likely rooted in the three-fold gifts.

The worship of the magi involved extraordinary sacrifice.  They left their comfortable homes.  They endured a dangerous and arduous journey, covering hundreds of miles, through “field and fountain, moor and mountain.”  Still, they never stopped following the star which “went on before them, until it came stood over where the Child was” (Matthew 2:9).  That star led them to Jesus.  Having found Him, “They fell down and worshiped Him; and opened their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh” (Matthew 2:11).  Their gifts served to acknowledge His identity as God (frankincense; Matthew 1:23), King (gold; Matthew 2:2), and Savior (myrrh; Matthew 1:21).  True worship involves much love and sacrifice. 

Herod, on the other hand, did not share in the magi’s worshipful ways.  He summoned the chief priests and scribes, inquiring of them where the Christ was to be born.  With ill intent, he then summoned his own wise men to determine the timing of the star’s appearance.  He feigned worship, but had no love or place in his heart for the newborn king.  The wise men found Jesus, but then returned to their country on a different route, thus tricking Herod.  Herod responded by slaughtering all the male children in Bethlehem two years of old and under.  Why?  He loved his power and position and prosperity and had nothing but disdain for anyone who would work to usurp his sinful ways or his worship of himself (John 3:19-21).  He hated the newborn Christ and his hatred spilled over in horrific ways to cause immeasurable pain and sorrow to many.

And so, it remains to this day.  You can love Him, or you can hate Him, but you’ll not be able to ignore Him forever (Philippians 2:9-11).  The wise men of old have set a good example for us to follow.  They “rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” when they saw the star and were led to the Savior (Matthew 2:10).  True, Spirit-led, worship leads us to do the same (1 Peter 1:8b).  Wise worshipers still seek Him and love Him!

You can love Jesus, or you can hate Him, but you’ll not be able to ignore Him forever.

Once to every man and nation
Comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth with falsehood,
For the good or evil side;
Some great cause, God’s new Messiah,
Offering each the bloom or blight,
And the choice goes by forever
Twixt that darkness and that light.

January 2

Bible Reading: Matthew 1

The Christmas hymn, “Who is He in Yonder Stall?” asks what is arguably the most important of all life’s questions, for a Spirit-led, by-faith, correct answer to that question will ultimately work to determine the course of a person’s life and eternal destiny.  So, who is He?  Before we look at this chapter for answers to that most important question, it’d be good for us to establish in our minds why we are doing what we are doing.

In this Read Thru the NT in 2023 endeavor we’ve set out on a journey.  But why travel this path?  What do we hope to achieve?  We’ve been told that it’s good for us to read our Bibles, and so it is.  But our chief goal is not simply to know our Bibles better.  The book is all about Jesus, and so we seek to know Him better.  In the gospel accounts, we read of His life.  The book of Acts tells us of the birth and expansion of His church.  In the epistles, we will read of His specific instructions to us.  The book of Revelation foretells His future unveiling.  Through it all, we will marvel at His glory!  And there we find the right direction unto which we should set our compass.  We would see Jesus!  And behold His glory as we are Spirit-led in our reading day after day.

Be encouraged as you journey down this path by this tribute to the Scriptures found in the front of every Gideon Bible:

“It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter. Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.  CHRIST is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of God its end.  It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.”

This chapter establishes for us a good starting point in our journey.  Who is He?  He is the promised King of Israel.  Generation after generation looked forward to His coming.  Genealogies were extremely important in those days and were used to authenticate a person’s right to possess something.  Jesus’ genealogy (through Joseph) authenticated Him to be the rightful heir to the throne of David.  Still, we find something even more astonishing!  That babe in the manger was no mere human babe.  A centuries-old prophecy foretold of the birth of a child who would be called “Immanuel,” which translated means “God with us!”  The babe is none other than the divine Word which became flesh to dwell among us (John 1:14).  Still, there is more!  The angel instructed Joseph to give the child the name Jesus, for as he was told, “He will save His people from their sins.”  The name means literally “Jehovah saves,” and we find in Jesus a Savior who is both the promised King of Israel and God-sent Savior of all.  King, God, and Savior.  One capable of lifting us from the depths of our human depravity to the heights of His glory in heaven, where we will one day marvel at Him in seeing Him as He is.  What a glorious Savior!

Our purpose in reading is not simply to know the Scriptures better, but to behold the glory of the One of whom they speak.

Who is he born in the stall,
at whose feet the shepherds fall?
Who is he in deep distress,
fasting in the wilderness?

‘Tis the Lord, O wondrous story!
‘Tis the Lord, the King of glory!
At his feet we humbly fall,
crown him, crown him, Lord of all!

Love Incorruptible

Bible Reading: Ephesians 6

Ephesians 6:24, “Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.”

Paul begins and ends his epistle with a “grace to you” theme (Ephesians 1:2).  But in the end, the appeal is limited to a select group—those who love Jesus with an undying love. 

To love Jesus is the most noble and enduring privilege that has been given to men.  There is no love as precious or necessary as is love for the Lord Jesus Christ.  He is the one object in all of creation—in both His person and work—that is most worthy and deserving of our affection.  It is as Charles Spurgeon has said, “Jesus is to believers the one pearl of great price, for whom we are willing to part with all that we have.  He has so completely won our love, that it beats for Him alone; to His glory we would live, and in defense of His gospel we would die.”

This kind of incorruptible love is sourced ultimately in God, who loves with an “everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3).  He who demonstrated such love by His “while we were still sinners” sacrifice (Romans 5:8), has bound us to Himself in an inseparable bond of love (Romans 8:35-39).  His is a love that “never ends” (1 Corinthians 13:8).

Our love for Christ is revealed in our glad-hearted obedience to Him, as He said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15).  And so, in this epistle, as the Apostle Paul commends to us the grace, peace, and love that is ours in Christ, he also exhorts us to respond with a love incorruptible.  The first three chapters of the epistle focus on the love of Christ for us.  The final three speak to our “love for Christ” response whereby we endeavor by grace to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which we have been called” (Ephesians 4:1; 1 John 4:19).

We are to keep on loving, keep on obeying, and keep on serving Jesus—that is the nature of this incorruptible love.  H. W. Beecher puts it this way: “Grace be upon all theologians that tend to promote love; upon all services that tend to inspire love; upon all organizations that tend to promote love.  No grace upon anything else.  That which does not touch love does not touch anything religious which is worth our consideration–certainly not worth our suffering for.”

Given what we know about the future of the church in Ephesus, it is noteworthy that Paul closed his epistle with this particular benediction.  This church was ministered to by Paul, Timothy, and by the Apostle John.  The Apostle John referred to this very same church some years later in the book of Revelation.  Christ Himself spoke to the church and commended it for its “works…toil…and patient endurance” (Revelation 2:1-3).  But then He chastised them for they had “abandoned the love (they) had at first” (Revelation 2:4).  They had started out well, motivated by love for Christ, but their fervent devotion had morphed into a loveless, “going through the motions,” kind of unacceptable religiosity.   Jesus rebuked them and called them to repentance.

Jesus exhorted them to “remember, repent, and re-do” (Revelation 2:5).  They were to remember from where they had fallen.  There had once been vitality.  Christ had reigned supreme in their hearts.  They were to remember that time.  To call to mind the excitement, the fulfillment, the sense of purpose and the peace they had possessed.  They were to long for renewal and revival.  They were to repent.  To repent is to experience a change of direction.  They were to change their thinking about the importance of Jesus Christ to them.  They had allowed other priorities to come into their lives and crowd Him out.  They were to re-do (i.e., “do the works you did at first” (Revelation 2:5).  It was not so much that the Church was doing nothing—they were praised in verse 2 for their deeds.  The problem was inadequate, misguided motivation. 

Christ also gave to the church a warning—they were to repent, or he would remove their lampstand.  In other words, they would lose their witness.  We know from history that Ephesus and the church in Ephesus did indeed cease to exist.  Paul’s benediction prophetically spoke to the church’s greatest need and cause of its eventual demise.

The hymn, “My Jesus, I Love Thee,” was written by William Ralph Featherston soon after his conversion to Christ as a 16-year-old teenager.  The last two verses of the hymn speak to our theme: “I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death, and praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath; and say when the death-dew lies cold on my brow, ‘If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus ‘tis now.’  In mansions of glory and endless delight, I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright; I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow, ‘If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus ‘tis now.’

MY JESUS, I LOVE THEE

My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine;
for thee all the follies of sin I resign;
my gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou;
if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now.

I love thee because thou hast first loved me
and purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree;
I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow;
if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now.

I’ll love thee in life, I will love thee in death,
and praise thee as long as thou lendest me breath,
and say when the deathdew lies cold on my brow:
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now.

In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow:
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now.

Loving Like Jesus

Bible Reading: Ephesians 5

Ephesians 5:1-2, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

For better or for worse, children imitate adults. We know this.  From their youngest years, their small eyes and ears see and hear what we say and do.  They readily soak it all in, and it doesn’t take long until they replicate what they’ve witnessed. In today’s world, children grow up exposed to countless other examples, be they good or bad, through the media and social media.  There are even influencers who work to inspire or guide the action and behavior of others.  Unfortunately, our society is guilty of oftentimes putting forth the worst kind of heroes before our young people.  People lacking morality or values worth emulating.  We have need of a legitimate hero!

When it comes to imitating others, there is but One perfect example that will never fail us, and that is God Himself. Be shocked by the exhortation in Ephesians 5:1—“Therefore be imitators of God!” Imitators of God! How is such a thing possible? Such a virtuous path is availed only to those who have been born again, having thus experienced a change in their spiritual genetics. Having previously been “sons of disobedience,” led by the devil himself to carry out the desires of the body (Ephesians 2:1-3), it is by His love they are created anew to love as children of God.

Love comes from God, and it flows freely by the Spirit in the hearts and through the lives of His beloved children.  Such love is the mark of the Christian, even as 1 John 4:7-8 explains, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.  Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”  Like Father, like son is the expected spiritual reality for those who are born again.  It is so because of the indwelling Spirit whose fruit is love (Galatians 5:22).

The walk of Christ and His willing sacrifice has set the parameters when it comes to defining what God’s kind of love looks like.  Even as 1 John 3:16-17 reminds us, “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?”  The example of Jesus is one of putting the needs of others ahead of one’s own, even if it requires great sacrifice. 

Set against the sin-rooted backdrop of man’s depravity and its associated selfish ways, the life of Jesus shines in the glorious beauty of its radical selflessness.  His was a perfect life.  Never demanding.  Always loving.  Always serving.  Its glorious divergence cries out to us from the majesty of His inner virtues.  He’s marked out for all a narrow path of self-sacrifice which beckons to those weary of the broad path’s selfish and hurtful ways.  The cross represents to the believer not only the basis of salvation, it also sets before us the manner of life to which we are called, according to the example of Christ in His self-sacrificing way of thinking and living.  Jesus is the best example to us in every virtuous way, and especially when it comes to loving one another.  We do well to follow in His steps!

I came across this quote recently.  It reminds us that to follow in Jesus’ steps is to take the path less traveled.  But in doing so, we’ve a tremendous opportunity to point others in Jesus’ direction.  It said, “Be that one. That one who forgives when the deep offense has been committed. That one who loves when no one else does. That one who gives kindness to those who are mean. Be that one who looks past the insult, instead of seeing the pain that motivated it. That one who shines light upon those who sit in utter darkness. Because the impact of being that one runs far and wide. It brings healing to the wounded, joy to the sad, and hope to those in despair. Be that one.” Imitate God! Walk in love. Just like Jesus!

OH, TO BE LIKE THEE!

Oh! to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Refrain:
Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee,
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

Oh! to be like Thee, full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wand’ring sinner to find.

Oh! to be like Thee, lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer, others to save.

Oh! to be like Thee, Lord, I am coming,
Now to receive th’ anointing divine;
All that I am and have I am bringing,
Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.

Oh! to be like Thee, while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love,
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.

WEEK OF	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY
JAN 2-6	Matt. 1 (1/2)	Matt. 2 (1/3)	Matt. 3 (1/4)	Matt. 4 (1/5)	Matt. 5 (1/6)
JAN 9-13	Matt. 6 (1/9)	Matt. 7 (1/10)	Matt. 8 (1/11)	Matt. 9 (1/12)	Matt. 10 (1/13)
JAN 16-20	Matt. 11 (1/16)	Matt. 12 (1/17)	Matt. 13 (1/18)	Matt. 14 (1/19)	Matt. 15 (1/20)
JAN 23-27	Matt. 16 (1/23)	Matt. 17 (1/24)	Matt. 18 (1/25)	Matt. 19 (1/26)	Matt. 20 (1/27)
JAN 30-FEB 3	Matt. 21 (1/30)	Matt. 22 (1/31)	Matt. 23 (2/1)	Matt. 24 (2/2)	Matt. 25 (2/3)
FEB 6-10	Matt. 26 (2/6)	Matt. 27 (2/7)	Matt. 28 (2/8)	Mark 1 (2/9)	Mark 2 (2/10)
FEB 13-17	Mark 3 (2/13)	Mark 4 (2/14)	Mark 5 (2/15)	Mark 6 (2/16)	Mark 7 (2/17)
FEB 20-24	Mark 8 (2/20)	Mark 9 (2/21)	Mark 10 (2/22)	Mark 11 (2/23)	Mark 12 (2/24)
FEB 27-MAR 3	Mark 13 (2/27)	Mark 14 (2/28)	Mark 15 (3/1)	Mark 16 (3/2)	Luke 1 (3/3)
MAR 6-10	Luke 2 (3/6)	Luke 3 (3/7)	Luke 4 (3/8)	Luke 5 (3/9)	Luke 6 (3/10)
MAR 13-17	Luke 7 (3/13)	Luke 8 (3/14)	Luke 9 (3/15)	Luke 10 (3/16)	Luke 11 (3/17)
MAR 20-24	Luke 12 (3/20)	Luke 13 (3/21)	Luke 14 (3/22)	Luke 15 (3/23)	Luke 16 (3/24)
MAR 27-31	Luke 17 (3/27)	Luke 18 (3/28)	Luke 19 (3/29)	Luke 20 (3/30)	Luke 21 (3/31)
APR 3-7	Luke 22 (4/3)	Luke 23 (4/4)	Luke 24 (4/5)	John 1 (4/6)	John 2 (4/7)
APR 10-14	John 3 (4/10)	John 4 (4/11)	John 5 (4/12)	John 6 (4/13)	John 7 (4/14)
APR 17-21	John 8 (4/17)	John 9 (4/18)	John 10 (4/19)	John 11 (4/20)	John 12 (4/21)
APR 24-28	John 13 (4/24)	John 14 (4/25)	John 15 (4/26)	John 16 (4/27)	John 17 (4/28)
MAY 1-5	John 18 (5/1)	John 19 (5/2)	John 20 (5/3)	John 21 (5/4)	Acts 1 (5/5)
MAY 8-12	Acts 2 (5/8)	Acts 3 (5/9)	Acts 4 (5/10)	Acts 5 (5/11)	Acts 6 (5/12)
MAY 15-19	Acts 7 (5/15)	Acts 8 (5/16)	Acts 9 (5/17)	Acts 10 (5/18)	Acts 11 (5/19)
MAY 22-26	Acts 12 (5/22)	Acts 13 (5/23)	Acts 14 (5/24)	Acts 15 (5/25)	Acts 16 (5/26)
MAY 29-JUN 2	Acts 17 (5/29)	Acts 18 (5/30)	Acts 19 (5/31)	Acts 20 (6/1)	Acts 21 (6/2)
JUNE 5-9	Acts 22 (6/5)	Acts 23 (6/6)	Acts 24 (6/7)	Acts 25 (6/8)	Acts 26 (6/9)
JUNE 12-16	Acts 27 (6/12)	Acts 28 (6/13)	Rom 1 (6/14)	Rom 2 (6/15)	Rom 3 (6/16)
JUNE 19-23	Rom 4 (6/19)	Rom 5 (6/20)	Rom 6 (6/21)	Rom 7 (6/22)	Rom 8 (6/23)
JUNE 26-30	Rom 9 (6/26)	Rom 10 (6/27)	Rom 11 (6/28)	Rom 12 (6/29)	Rom 13 (6/30)
JUL 3-7	Rom 14 (7/3)	Rom 15 (7/4)	Rom 16 (7/5)	1Cor 1 (7/6)	1Cor 2 (7/7)
JUL 10-14	1Cor 3 (7/10)	1Cor 4 (7/11)	1Cor 5 (7/12)	1Cor 6 (7/13)	1Cor 7 (7/14)
JUL 17-21	1Cor 8 (7/17)	1Cor 9 (7/18)	1Cor 10 (7/19)	1Cor 11 (7/20)	1Cor 12 (7/21)
JUL 24-28	1Cor 13 (7/24)	1Cor 14 (7/25)	1Cor 15 (7/26)	1Cor 16 (7/27)	2Cor 1 (7/28)
JUL 31-AUG 4	2Cor 2 (7/31)	2Cor 3 (8/1)	2Cor 4 (8/2)	2Cor 5 (8/3)	2Cor 6 (8/4)
AUG 7-11	2Cor 7 (8/7)	2Cor 8 (8/8)	2Cor 9 (8/9)	2Cor 10 (8/10)	2Cor 11 (8/11)
AUG 14-18	2Cor 12 (8/14)	2Cor 13 (8/15)	Gal 1 (8/16)	Gal 2 (8/17)	Gal 3 (8/18)
AUG 21-25	Gal 4 (8/21)	Gal 5 (8/22)	Gal 6 (8/23)	Eph 1 (8/24)	Eph 2 (8/25)
AUG 28-SEP 1	Eph 3 (8/28)	Eph 4 (8/29)	Eph 5 (8/30)	Eph 6 (8/31)	Phil 1 (9/1)
SEP 4-8	Phil 2 (9/4)	Phil 3 (9/5)	Phil 4 (9/6)	Col 1 (9/7)	Col 2 (9/8)
SEP 11-15	Col 3 (9/8)	Col 4 (9/9)	1Thess 1 (9/10)	1Thess 2 (9/11)	1Thess 3 (9/12)
SEP 18-22	1Thess 4 (9/18)	1Thess 5 (9/19)	2Thess 1 (9/20)	2Thess 2 (9/21)	2Thess 3 (9/22)
SEP 25-29	1Tim 1 (9/25)	1Tim 2 (9/26)	1Tim 3 (9/27)	1Tim 4 (9/28)	1Tim 5 (9/29)
OCT 2-6	1Tim 6 (10/2)	2Tim 1 (10/3)	2Tim 2 (10/4)	2Tim 3 (10/5)	2Tim 4 (10/6)
OCT 9-13	Titus 1 (10/9)	Titus 2 (10/10)	Titus 3 (10/11)	Philemon (10/12)	Heb 1 (10/13)
OCT 16-20	Heb 2 (10/16)	Heb 3 (10/17)	Heb 4 (10/18)	Heb 5 (10/19)	Heb 6 (10/20)
OCT 23-27	Heb 7 (10/23)	Heb 8 (10/24)	Heb 9 (10/25)	Heb 10 (10/26)	Heb 11 (10/27)
OCT 30-NO 3	Heb 12 (10/30)	Heb 13 (10/31)	James 1 (11/1)	James 2 (11/2)	James 3 (11/3)
NOV 6-10	James 4 (11/6)	James 5 (11/7)	1Pet 1 (11/8)	1Pet 2 (11/9)	1Pet 3 (11/10)
NOV 13-17	1Pet 4 (11/13)	1Pet 5 (11/14)	2Pet 1 (11/15)	2Pet 2 (11/16)	2Pet 3 (11/17)
NOV 20-24	1John 1 (11/20)	1John 2 (11/21)	1John 3 (11/22)	1John 4 (11/23)	1John 5 (11/24)
NOV 27-DEC 1	2John (11/27)	3John (11/28)	Jude (11/29)	Rev 1 (11/30)	Rev 2 (12/1)
DEC 4-8	Rev 3 (12/4)	Rev 4 (12/5)	Rev 5 (12/6)	Rev 6 (12/7)	Rev 7 (12/8)
DEC 11-15	Rev 8 (12/11)	Rev 9 (12/12)	Rev 10 (12/13)	Rev 11 (12/14)	Rev 12 (12/15)
DEC 18-22	Rev 13 (12/18)	Rev 14 (12/19)	Rev 15 (12/20)	Rev 16 (12/21)	Rev 17 (12/22)
DEC 25-29	Rev 18 (12/25)	Rev 19 (12/26)	Rev 20 (12/27)	Rev 21 (12/28)	Rev 22 (12/29)

You are invited and encouraged to take part in the “READ THRU THE NT IN 2023” plan.

Bible reading is an essential spiritual discipline, as Henry H. Halley once said: “The Bible is the most priceless possession of the human race… Every Christian ought to be a Bible reader… If any church could get its people as a whole to be devoted readers of God’s word, it would revolutionize the church.”

There are many “Read Thru the Bible in a Year” plans (i.e., read straight through; read through chronologically; read an OT & NT passage each day; etc.), and each has its own advantage.  The advantage of this plan is its simplicity—it involves reading a New Testament chapter a day, Monday through Friday.  The plan will take you through the entire NT in one year. 

Some keys to gaining the most benefit in this:

1. Read Prayerfully.  It is only by the Spirit of God that we can understand the Word of God as He illuminates the truth to us (John 14:26, 16:14; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 1 John 2:27).  We should therefore approach the Scriptures with an attitude of humility and prayerful dependence (Psalm 119:18).
2. Read Purposefully.  The ultimate purpose of Bible reading (and study) is to know Jesus better (John 5:39; Philippians 3:19; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Timothy 2:15).  A more thorough knowledge of the Word will also work to protect from sin and error (Psalm 119:11; Ephesians 4:14; 1 John 2:14).  Noteworthy too are the promises to bless those who read and apply the truth to their lives (Revelations 1:3; James 1:22; Psalm 1:1-3).  Read on purpose—that you might grow in your relationship with Jesus and be better equipped to serve Him (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
3. Read Responsively.  Ask questions of the Scriptures as you read—what does the passage say about God? Christ? Salvation? The Gospel?  You Walk with Christ?  Look for a particular application: Is there a sin I need to forsake?  A promise to claim?  An example to follow?   A command to obey?  Consider how the passage fits into its context and into the context of the Scriptures as a whole.  Endeavor to take one truth or one application from your reading with you each day.

Some other considerations:

1. Keep a copy of the reading plan in your Bible.  Mark off each passage as you read it to keep track of your progress.
2. Consider finding an “accountability partner” that you might mutually encourage each other in your Bible reading.  This is something you could do daily, weekly, or even monthly, by either meeting together or via the phone or internet (email; Facebook, etc.).
3. Don’t allow a missed day or days to discourage or distract you.  The goal is not your perfection in the discipline, but your spiritual growth in Christ (Proverbs 24:16).  Don’t be discouraged by temporary setbacks—ask God for strength and pick up where you left off.
4. Feel free to pass on this plan to family members and friends!

Truth is in Jesus

Bible Reading: Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4:24, “The truth is in Jesus.”

In the most unjust trial of history, when God in the person of Jesus was subjected to accusations of evil, Jesus made this bold statement, “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into this world–to bear witness to the truth” (John 18:37), to which Pilate mockingly responded, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). 

There are no doubt many in our day who’d agree with Pilate’s sentiment.  In the public discourse of these divisive times, many people claim to adhere and speak the truth, only to be met by the contradictory claims of others.  Having no agreement as to where truth is founded, we now live in a day where anyone’s idea of truth is deemed to be truth, even if makes no sense.  Having no sure basis upon which to judge truth, public sentiment and/or the latest media narrative steps in to fill the void.

On the one hand, this should not surprise us, for we live in a time in which mankind is actively working to suppress the truth (Romans 1:18).  On the other hand, we must be careful to exercise diligence in our pursuit of the truth, lest we ourselves become comfortable and acclimated to the kind of skeptical thinking once voiced by Pilate.  Pilate mocked the concept of truth in the presence of the One who embodied it.

Put simply, truth is that which accords with reality.  God is the ultimate reality, since He is the creator of all things.  The pursuit of truth must start with Him.  He is absolute truth and all truth, including His revelation to us through His Word, begins and ends with Him.  The Truth is who God is and what He does.  He is absolutely dependable, bearing no falseness of any kind.  His plans, principles and promises are completely reliable, accurate, real, and factual.

When Jesus Christ became flesh and dwelt among man, His disciples beheld His glory as One who was full of “grace and truth.”  He came to bear witness to the truth and embodied the truth. As He boldly proclaimed, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).  The pursuit of truth is a pursuit of Christ.  He also acknowledged God’s Word to be truth (John 17:17).  We should therefore go to God’s word for Truth, reminding ourselves it is Scriptures which bear witness of Him (John 5:39).  He was born into the world to bear witness to the truth and were it not for His intervention, we’d be hopelessly doomed to blindly follow the damning deceptions of the unmerciful father of lies. 

The good news for those weary of today’s contradictory voices is that the truth is not dead.  It’s alive and well! It cries out to those who choose to listen.  The God who is truth “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4; John 8:32).  He likewise desires His children to walk in the truth (3 John 1:4).  In possessing Jesus, who is the truth, the child of God is blessed beyond measure.  

To align ourselves with truth, is to align ourselves with Jesus.  To speak the truth is to speak His language.  To walk in truth is to walk according to His example.  It is as Thomas Watson has noted, “Oh! I beseech you, labor to be like God. He is a God of truth. He can as well part with his Deity—as his verity. Be like God, be true in your words, be true in your profession. God’s children are children that will not lie. When God sees ‘truth in the inward parts,’ and ‘lips in which there is no deceit,’ he sees his own image—which draws his heart towards us.”

O COULD I SPEAK THE MATCHLESS WORTH

O could I speak the matchless worth,
O could I sound the glories forth
Which in my Savior shine,
I’d soar and touch the heavenly strings,
And vie with Gabriel while he sings
In notes almost divine,
In notes almost divine.

I’d sing the precious blood He spilt,
My ransom from the dreadful guilt
Of sin and wrath divine!
I’d sing His glorious righteousness,
In which all perfect heavenly dress
My soul shall ever shine,
My soul shall ever shine.

I’d sing the characters He bears,
And all the forms of love He wears,
Exalted on His throne.
In loftiest songs of sweetest praise,
I would to everlasting days
Make all His glories known,
Make all His glories known.

No Greater Love

Bible Reading: Ephesians 3

Ephesians 3:17-19, “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

A 1970s BeeGees song asked the question, “How deep is your love?”  The question presupposes that there is a limit to the depth of any human’s love.  That presupposition is correct.  No matter how much we love, or are loved, in our human relationships, none of us can love infinitely or perfectly.  If our greatest need is to be fully and perfectly loved—and a legitimate argument can be made for that—then we can never be fully satisfied with mere human love.  We need to be loved by someone who knows all about us and yet loves us with a love whose depth “surpasses knowledge.”  That kind of love can only be found in Jesus.

Being a love which “surpasses knowledge,” we will always fall short in our efforts to describe it or write about it.  Even as that wonderful hymn, “The Love of God,” puts it, “Could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made; Were every stalk on earth a quill, and every man a scribe by trade; To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry; Nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky.”  And it’s so very good that the love of Jesus is that way.  How wonderful to know this in times of trouble, or loneliness, or failure, or discouragement—that in Jesus we have a Savior who loves us so much that our finite minds cannot fathom the extent. 

The verse speaks of the “breadth and length and height and depth” of the love of Christ (Ephesians 3:18).  Such language brings the cross to mind.  As the Apostle John explained, we know love in that He laid down His life for us (1 John 3:16).  Such love brought Him down from heaven’s perfection and the worship of angels to this needy world where He was despised and rejected by men.  Though He was rich yet for our sakes, He impoverished Himself that we might be made rich and be lifted one day to the very heights of heaven (2 Corinthians 8:9).  With outstretched arms, He died giving His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45), inviting Jews and Gentiles, men and women, young and old, rich and poor, and people of every tribe on earth to receive salvation and forgiveness via faith in Him (Galatians 3:28; Revelation 5:9-10)!  His love has worked to save even the vilest of offenders (1 Timothy 1:15).  It has worked to save you and me.  And though we fail Him, and even countless times, His love for us has no limit.  Indeed, nothing can work to separate us from it (Romans 8:39).

On a cold, rainy night in London in the late 1800s, Samuel Trevor Francis was walking home from work along the Thames River.  He was but a lonely teenager, struggling with his faith.  When crossing the Hungerford Bridge, he looked down upon the dark waters and thought he heard a voice in his head, saying, “Make an end to all this misery.”  Refusing the temptation, he instead asked himself, “Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?” and then replied, “I do believe with my whole heart!”  Mr. Francis spent the next 73 years of his life in ministry, as a London merchant, with a passion for hymn writing and open-air preaching. 

He wrote the hymn “O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus.”  You will notice how the words of the hymn reflect to his previous experience, speaking of how experiencing the “vast, unmeasured, boundless,” love of Jesus is like being immersed in a mighty ocean.  It is likely that he drew such words from our text.  Take some time this morning to soak it all in.  You and I have done nothing to deserve such a love.  And though He knows all about every one of us, and all about all our sins and failures, He nevertheless loved us in dying for our sins.  How deep is His love!  So deep that no matter how needy we might feel, the reality is that in Jesus we are loved with a love that will never let us go.  His love is “rolling…underneath (us), all around (us).”  His love is indeed all around us.  It is in us.  Before us.  Behind us.  Under us.  Working through us.  With us.  Near us.  How incredibly blessed we are to be so loved!  What a glorious Savior!

O THE DEEP, DEEP LOVE OF JESUS

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore!
How He watches o’er His loved ones, died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth, watcheth o’er them from the throne!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of every love the best!
’Tis an ocean full of blessing, ’tis a haven giving rest!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, ’tis a heaven of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee!

From Death to Life

Bible Reading: Ephesians 2

Ephesians 2:4-5, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—.”

Jim Thompson was an elder in our church in Astoria.  Before he departed to be with Jesus, he had the unique distinction of having been declared dead twice.  Many years ago, he was traveling from Astoria to Portland along Highway 26.  Jim was a Navy Recruiter, and he was accompanied by a Navy Recruit.  Unbeknownst to him, the Quartz Creek Bridge was covered with ice and his car spun out of control.  It then struck another car, and he was ejected from his car onto the pavement.  When the police officer arrived at the scene, he saw Jim and declared him dead.  Needless to say—the police officer was wrong.  Jim lived for many years after that.

But Jim was actually pronounced dead a second time.  Some years after the accident, his pastor, Harold Maycumber, went to visit Jim in his home.  Until that day, Jim was endeavoring to take his children to church.  He wanted them to have religious instruction and live moral lives, but that was the extent of Jim’s spiritual concern.  Jim talked to Harold for quite a while about a lot of things, but then it came time for Harold to leave.  As he was about to leave, Harold had a final word for Jim.  He turned to him and said, “Jim, you need Jesus Christ.”  In effect what Harold was saying was “Jim you are dead, but Jesus can make you alive.”  Jim went home that night and bowed in prayer and trusted in Christ for salvation and was “made… alive together” with Him (Ephesians 2:7).

In Ephesians 2:1-3, Paul reminded the believers in Ephesus of their previous condition—the way they were.  They were spiritually dead before they had been “made… alive together with Christ” in salvation (Ephesians 2:5).  This verse also speaks to the condition of the unbeliever.  He is a person who is spiritually dead to God and unable to move a spiritual muscle regarding salvation. 

A coroner or medical examiner makes an examination of a corpse.  He ascertains that the person is actually dead and lists the cause on a death certificate.  God has diagnosed the sons of Adam—they are spiritually dead (Romans 5:12).  He likewise declares to us the cause, which is sin.  The unbeliever is one who is dead to God in sin—that’s bad news of the worst degree.  The bad news is not just that we are all born sinners (Romans 3:23), but that in sin, man is dead to God, and helpless to do a thing to rectify his situation (Romans 6:23).  It is important that we understand the gravity of the bad news.  The bad news is not just that man is sick, he is dead.  It is the impartation of life that is necessary. 

The spiritually dead are akin to Lazarus in the tomb.  Having been entombed for days, his flesh had begun to rot.  No amount of self-exertion or effort on Lazarus’ part could have worked to bring him forth from that tomb.  His condition was emblematic of us all.  Christ alone had the power to call Lazarus from that tomb (John 11:43).

George Whitefield once spoke to this matter by way of invitation, “Come, ye dead, Christ-less, unconverted sinners, come and see the place where they laid the body of the deceased Lazarus; behold him laid out, bound hand and foot with grave-clothes, locked-up and stinking in a dark cave, with a great stone on the top of it.  View him again and again; go nearer to him; be not afraid; smell him.  Ah!  How he stinketh… Was he bound hand and foot with grave clothes?  So, art thou bound hand and foot with thy corruptions: and as a stone was laid on the sepulcher, so is there a stone of unbelief upon thy heart.  Perhaps thou hast lain in this state, not only for days, but many years… And, what is still more effecting, thou art as unable to raise thyself out of this loathsome, dead state, to a life of righteousness and true holiness, as ever Lazarus was to raise himself from the cave in which he lay so long.  Thou mayest try the power of thy own boasted free-will, and the force and energy of moral persuasion and rational arguments; but all thy efforts, exerted with never so much vigor, will prove fruitless and abortive, till that same Jesus, who said, ‘Take away the stone,’ and ‘Lazarus, come forth.’ also quicken you.  Apart from the quickening voice of God, there is no hope for any man.  With it the deadest and vilest of sinners can be saved.”

NOW I BELONG TO JESUS

Jesus, my Lord will love me forever,
From Him no pow’r of evil can sever,
He gave His life to ransom my soul;
Now I belong to Him;

Refrain
Now I belong to Jesus,
Jesus belongs to me,
Not for the years of time alone,
But for eternity.

Once I was lost in sin’s degradation,
Jesus came down to bring me salvation,
Lifted me up from sorrow and shame,
Now I belong to Him; [Refrain]

Joy floods my soul for Jesus has saved me,
Freed me from sin that long had enslaved me
His precious blood He gave to redeem,
Now I belong to Him; [Refrain]