Jesus and His Church

Where do you believe Jesus is right now? Do you really believe that, or are you simply repeating what you have heard? How does knowing where Jesus is affect your belief and faith? What do you believe is His authority? How far do you believe His authority reaches?

Many of us have been told repeatedly that Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father. Yet, we may not fully understand what that means. We may picture it in our mind—two thrones side-by-side with the Father in one and Jesus in the other…and it may have little or no effect on us.

The Apostle Paul tells us what we have heard many times, but he explains what comes along with it. Jesus has been given authority and power over everything. His dominion does not only reach far and wide but across every person, every city, every nation, every planet, and every star. His name is above every other name. He governs, not only the present, but the past and the future.

Paul also tells us that Jesus is the head of the church and the church is His body. When Paul says Jesus is the head of the church, he is speaking of the global church. Jesus not merely the head of a specific denomination but head of every denomination. If He is not the head, it is not His church. The church is the method by which Jesus continues His work on this earth. The church is the fullness of Christ as He works through it.

I pray we all know where Jesus is right now. I pray we understand the impact of that and are empowered by it. I pray each one of us knows the global church, not a single denomination, is the body of Christ. Know where Jesus is. Be impacted by that knowledge. The church is the body of Christ.

Ephesians 1:20-23 God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Thankful, Hope, and Inheritance

Who do you give thanks for? Who do you bless? Who do you ask God to bless? Do you ask God to grant them wisdom along with protection? Do you ask for them to have their hearts lifted up by God? Do you remind them of the promises God has given them by his grace?

There are many people in our lives we can be thankful for. We are likely thankful for our parents, siblings, grandparents, cousins, and friends. We may be thankful for some really good co-workers. Having good people in our lives is a blessing. A blessing that comes from God.

Blessing those people is important. Asking God to bless them is also important. Asking God to be in their lives, to lift their hearts, to grant them wisdom, to reveal himself to them, and to fill them with hope is a blessing. Trusting God to protect them and provide for them is a testament to our faith.

Ask God to grant the hope of faith in him to them. For hope drives us to continue. The hope of God is not wishful thinking but trust in him. Reminding those we are thankful for that God has an inheritance for them. Reminding them of God’s power and he works in their best interest is a comfort for them. We all need to be reminded that God is working in our best interest.

I pray we all have people we are thankful for. I pray we ask God to bless them in many ways. I pray each one of us will remind others of God’s promises and he is working in their best interest. Be thankful for others. Bless others. Remind others of God’s promises. Remind others God is working for them.

Ephesians 1:16-19 I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may perceive what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.

Everlasting Dominion

Yesterday, we saw that Daniel’s vision of God the Father on his throne was not what we normally imagine. But have you wondered if the Israelites were truly looking for a Messiah? Have you been told they were looking for an earthly king? What if they had been told otherwise?

As mentioned yesterday, we don’t think of God sitting on a fiery throne. And often we are told that the Israelites or Jews were looking for an earthly king in the line of David. We are told they were looking for someone to bring Israel back to prominence, defeating the Romans and running them out of town.

That may be true, but they were told of a different kind of King. Daniel reported from his vision that there would be a King who would be presented before God and given dominion over every nation fore forever. Though he would look like a human, or Son of Man, He would not be merely human. For a King who never dies cannot be merely human.

As we read about the coming King in Daniel’s vision, we see that He was given glory, just as Jesus speaks of the Father glorifying Him. He comes on the clouds, just as Jesus said He would return. Daniel was given this vision about six-hundred years before Jesus was born to Mary. Therefore, the Jews had been given information from God about the coming Messiah. Are we missing what God has told us because of our own preconceptions?

I pray we all take time to read and study God’s Word. I pray we see that God has given us the information we need. I pray each one of us know that Jesus is King and His kingdom will never end. Read God’s Word. Study God’s Word. God has given his Word to us. Jesus is King. His kingdom will never end.

Daniel 7:13-14 As I watched in the night visions, 

I saw one like a human being 

coming with the clouds of heaven. 

And he came to the Ancient One 

and was presented before him. 

To him was given dominion 

and glory and kingship, 

that all peoples, nations, and languages 

should serve him. 

His dominion is an everlasting dominion 

that shall not pass away, 

and his kingship is one 

that shall never be destroyed.

Not What We Think

Have you ever wondered if someone is the same in their personal life as they are in their public life? Are you the same in your private life as you are at work? Do you act differently? Are you more formal in one while joking and laughing more in the other? How do you picture God?

Most of us project different personas based on our situation. At work, we may be more professional while at home we open up more personally. We also may act differently when we are having dinner friends than we do when at a formal business dinner.

We may also misunderstand who God is. We tend to lean toward one aspect of God’s being. Over the last few years, we hear more about God’s love, and he is often presented as being more grandfatherly or grandmotherly. Though God loves us all, he is not just a huggable teddy bear. Just as we are complex beings, so is God. He if love and he is just.

When Daniel is telling of his vision of God, he tells of God in grand fashion. He sets on a majestic throne. There are other thrones set around him. His is dressed in all white, representing purity. Even his hair is white. But his throne is made of fiery flames. It has wheels that are also made of fire. In the next verse, Daniel states there is a stream of fire coming from God’s throne and thousands upon thousands are serving and attending to him. This is not the image we typically think of when we think of God.

I pray we all know there are many aspects to God’s personality. I pray we seek to know all of them. I pray each one of us remember that God is majestic and more awesome than we can fathom. Seek to know all aspects of God’s personality. God is majestic. God is awesome.

Daniel 7:9

As I watched, 

thrones were set in place, 

and an Ancient One took his throne; 

his clothing was white as snow 

and the hair of his head like pure wool; 

his throne was fiery flames, 

and its wheels were burning fire.

Loved By the Father

Do you long to be loved? Do you feel like you are loved? How many people do you think continue to long to be loved? Are there promises you believe should come from the person who loves you? Are you still seeking those promises? Have you turned to the One who keeps His promises?

Love is arguably the most sought after desire of humankind. Everyone desires to be loved. Unfortunately, far too many do not find the love they are seeking. Many, if not most, are looking for the love they desire in the wrong places or the wrong people. Yet, there is one perfect love for them.

Jesus tells us when we keep His commandments, it demonstrates our love for Him. He also states that He loves those who love Him. Though His love is not dependent on our love, it is a reciprocal love. He loves us, we love Him, and we both love one another simultaneously. We demonstrate our love by obeying His commandments and living them out in our daily lives.

Not only does Jesus love us but the Father loves us, too. This is a demonstration of Jesus and the Father being One. Because Jesus and the Father love us, Jesus says He will reveal Himself to us. This is wonderful news for us! We can get to know Jesus better because He will reveal Himself to us. We can grow closer to Him as we know Him better. We can learn to trust Him more as we grow closer to Him. We can feel a deep bond between Him and us as we trust Him more. That deep bond will carry us through hard times.

I pray we all seek to obey God’s commandments. I pray we love Jesus and the Father and feel their love come into our lives. I pray each one of us trust Jesus and build a deep bond with Him as we walk through this life. Obey God’s commandments. Feel God’s love. Build a deep bond with Jesus.

John 14:21: “They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me, and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.

In Tune With the Spirit

Have you ever been promised something and disappointed when it did not happen? Has a very significant promise made to you been broken? How did you feel? Have you broken a promise you made to someone? Were you sorry you broke it? Did you attempt to make up for it?

Promises are made all the time. Unfortunately, many of them are broken. We don’t intend to break them when we make them. Others don’t either. But something happens, life gets in the way, or a higher priority takes precedence. The end result is a broken promise.

The good news for us is God does not break his promises. So, when Jesus said the Holy Spirit would be given to us, it is a promise we can count on. Jesus tells His disciples the Spirit of truth will be given to them. He also says the world cannot receive him. Why? The world doesn’t know him and does not see him. That last bit may be a bit troubling for us.

We don’t see the Spirit physically but neither did the disciples. The Spirit comes to live inside us. Therefore, we see him as he works in others. We feel him as he gently nudges us to do the right thing. We hear him speak when the thought comes to mind that we know we would never think. The more we are in tune with him, the more we will see him, feel him, and hear him.

I pray we all know we can count on God’s promises. I pray we trust we received the Holy Spirit when we accepted Jesus as our Savior. I pray each one of us seeks to be in tune with the Holy Spirit. Count on God’s promises. See the Spirit. Feel the Spirit. Hear the Spirit. Be in tune with the Spirit.

John 14:17 “This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

Continual Cleansing

How often do you take a shower or a bath? What is the purpose of doing so? Is it because you are dirty and need to be cleaned? Is it a cultural norm? Do you take your shower or bath at a specific time each day? What if you could be cleansed once for all time? Would you do that?

There is an old saying that states, “cleanliness is next to godliness.” There is a lot of truth in that statement, but I fear it has been lost. The cleanliness that is next to godliness has nothing to do with physical dirt or sweat or even body oils. It has everything to do with our conscience.

Peter tells us that baptism saves us. However, merely getting wet does not. It is our commitment to following Jesus along with the baptism that cleanses us. As Peter says, it is not for the removal of dirt but is our appeal to God to cleanse our conscience. It is not merely for forgiveness but to renew us and remind us that the blood of Christ continually cleans us. This does not mean we do not need to repent, for repentance is a recommitment to change our ways, to turn away from sin while asking for forgiveness.

Since Jesus was resurrected and is at the right hand of God the Father, we have a mediator who continually intercedes for us. He is in the midst of angels and heavenly authorities, continually proclaiming that He has paid the price for us. It is comforting for us to know that Jesus is our mediator, that He is continually cleansing us. At the same time, we must remember His cleansing is not a license to continue to sin. As we love Him like He loves us, we are to strive to follow His commandments and His example.

I pray we all know that we can be cleansed once for all time. I pray we choose to clean our conscience before God. I pray each one of us trusts that Jesus’ blood is continually cleaning us. Be cleansed. Have a clean conscience. Know that Jesus is your mediator. Know that Jesus’ blood is continually cleaning you.

1 Peter 3:21-22 And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

Defend Your Faith

Have you ever had to defend yourself? Have you defended yourself physically? Have you defended your ideas or beliefs? Have you defended a position you have taken, a person you have voted for, or your favorite team? Are you ready to defend your faith?

We defend ourselves more often than we may think we do. We may not have had to defend ourselves physically, but we defend ourselves in many other ways. We defend our favorite team, our position on various topics, and perhaps who we voted for in elections.

However, when it comes to our faith, many of us feel ill equipped to do so. We read all we can find on our favorite team and can easily point out why this or that has happened. But when it comes to our faith, we struggle to state why we believe. When asked about our faith, we quickly forget what we know…and we know more than we give ourselves credit for.

We know that Jesus was born of a virgin. We know He performed miracles of healing, raising the dead, and feeding thousands. We know He was falsely accused and crucified. We know He was buried and rose from the grave on the third day. We know He lives and sits at the right hand of the Father today. We know He is the Son of God, one part of the Trinity, which is one God represented in three persons. We know He has fulfilled God’s promises and promised us eternal life. We know He taught us how we are to live our lives so we can live the abundant life He promised. We know we are forgiven because of His death, burial, and resurrection.

It is not a question of whether we know enough to defend our faith. It is a question of whether we believe deeply enough to stand up and make a defense when asked. It all comes down to our conviction and courage. If we feel ill-prepared to defend our faith, we need to study more, commit key pieces of information to memory.

I pray we all believe in Jesus. I pray we realize we know more about Him than we give ourselves credit. I pray we are convicted and courageously defend our faith in Jesus. Believe in Jesus. Trust your knowledge of Jesus. Be convicted in your faith. Be courageous in the defense of your faith.

1 Peter 3:15b-16a Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and respect.

Glorify God

Are you seeking glory for yourself? Do you give credit to people who help you along your way? Are you chasing after the things of this world? Are you trusting in yourself, and yourself only? Do you know there is a better way? Are you willing to trust in God who is in control of all things?

We often like to brag about our accomplishments. We like to puff ourselves up to feel good about ourselves. We forget that it is not our accomplishments that make us good people. We forget that not one of us can do anything on our own. We all need help along the way.

God is the one who has blessed us with talents, skills, the ability to reason, and good physical health. He is the one who provides the materials we need for our accomplishments. He is the one who picks us up when we stumble and fall. Therefore, everything we accomplish should be used to the glory of God and to pray his name.

We are not to chase after false gods like so many do. False gods of material wealth and possessions, notoriety and fame, self-pride and aggrandizement, or physical beauty. Though there is nothing wrong with any of these. The issue becomes our desire for them for selfish reasons. It is all about our attitude and who we are putting first. If we use any or all of these to glorify God, we are using his blessings for his benefit rather than our own.

Rather than chasing after the false gods of this world, we are to accept God’s blessings and praise him. For we are to trust that he is in control and the author of all our successes. It is in him that we are truly loved and we witness true faithfulness. God blesses those he chooses to bless to bring glory to him.

I pray we all accept the wonderful blessings of God. I pray we use those blessings to glorify him. I pray each one of us know God is the author of our successes and glorify him in them. Accept God’s blessings. God authors your successes. He truly loves you. His true faithfulness. Glorify God.

Psalm 115:1-3

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, 

for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness. 

Why should the nations say, 

“Where is their God?” 

Our God is in the heavens; 

he does whatever he pleases.

God Will Rescue

Have you worked for a bad boss? Have you known a company that seemed to have a revolving door of employees? Have you noticed there are some cities, states, and countries that people are leaving in droves? Have you taken time to consider why this is happening?

There are a variety of reasons for people to change jobs or move to different locations. But one of the most prominent is bad leadership in the workplace or the place where they live. People will stay at a place with good leadership, often working for less money.

The prophet Ezekiel is passing along God’s message to the leaders of Israel. God had seen that they were not following his commands and guidance while leading the nation. They were not doing what was best for the people under their leadership. They were being selfish, looking out for only themselves. God lists just a few of their failures and states these failures are the reason the people scattered to different locations.

Perhaps the most condemning accusation is the last one — they ruled harshly and with force. We might say they ruled with an iron fist. They squashed the people with demands. They used force to extract payment. They showed no care for the people other than as a source of revenue and forced labor.

God states he is against those types of leaders. He will remove them from their role as leaders. He will rescue the people from them. He equates it to rescuing a sheep from the mouth of a wolf. Though this promise came to Ezekiel nearly six-hundred years before Christ, it is a promise we can still hold on to today. God cares for his people and he will rescue them.

I pray we all recognize the bad leaders we encounter. I pray we know that God is against them. I pray each one of us trusts that God will rescue his people from bad leaders, including us. Recognize bad leaders. Trust God will rescue his people. Trust in God’s promises.

Ezekiel 34:4 You have not strengthened the weak; you have not healed the sick; you have not bound up the injured; you have not brought back the strays; you have not sought the lost, but with force and harshness you have ruled them.