Today’s reading is John 19:1-20:31.

“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31).

A disciple’s testimony. Evidence submitted for review and consideration. But submitted for an ultimate purpose. John, as tradition tells us, wasn’t simply telling us stories about some man. He was telling us about a Savior. He was telling us about the hope we might have of life. Over and over again he talked about the life we might have through Jesus. In fact, Jesus is the life.

I have been dead in my trespasses and sins. There is only one way to have life. That way is not to somehow pay for my sins. In fact, the only way I can pay for my sins is through my death. But Jesus has paid for my sins that I might have life if I will simply believe Him.

As John had just written, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is 1 Corinthians 8:1-9:27.

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it” (1 Corinthians 9:24).

I’ve always read this as a contrast. In a foot race, only one receives the prize. If I want to win an Olympic race, I have to be better than everyone else in the race. However, in the spiritual race with Christ, it is not only one who receives the prize. It is anyone who surrenders to Christ and allows Christ to discipline them to victory.

What a joy. I don’t have to be better than you to win the prize. I don’t have to compete with you. I don’t have to be more spiritual than you to be alright with God. All I have to do is submit to Him. All I have to do is run with the proper aim and submit to God’s discipline. I need to practice what I preach, lest I be disqualified. I don’t have to prove myself better and you worse.

This is a race we can both win. So, instead of me trying to be better than you and vice versa, perhaps we can help each other win the race together. That sounds so much better to me.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Philippians 1:1-2:30.

Sometimes, I learn that the chapter and verse breaks were simply unfortunate. In today’s reading, I noticed a pattern from Philippians 1:27-2:18. Prior to that section, Paul was talking about his own circumstances and how he was able to find joy despite what was going on his life. After that section, he wrote about the companions he hoped to send to Philippi. It would have been easier to notice this if this section had been a chapter all by itself.

In this section, he has two parallel movements. Notice in Philippians 1:27 his statement about how the Philippians should walk whether he is present or absent. Then in Philippians 2:12, he spoke again about how they should live whether he was present or absent. The first occurrence says they should stand firm, striving side by side for the faith of gospel. Fighting as a team, they should not be frightened by the opponents who will cause them to suffer just as Paul suffered. In the second occurrence, Paul encourages them to obey God and work out their salvation with fear and trembling because they are not alone, God is working with them.

However, the parallels do not stop here. In the first movement, Paul moves from talking about how they should behave whether he is present or absent to say in Philippians 2:3, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit.” In the second movement, he moves from talking about how to live whether he is present or absent to saying in Philippians 2:14, “Do all things without grumbling or questioning.”

Both sections are talking about our relationships with one another. We need to view each other as more important. Instead of being like those erring brethren in Philippians 1:15-18, who preach out of rivalry with Paul wishing to cause him affliction, we must seek good for each other. We must not grumble and complain against each other. The terms translated “grumbling” and “questioning” often carry the idea of an internal complaint or questioning that is not voiced, but can also refer to private quarrels and complaints. I think the point is twofold. We shouldn’t “go along” with our brethren externally while muttering under our breath against them. At the same time, we must not clump together in secret groups forming up party lines and complaining secretly among ourselves against others.

This entire section is about our relationships with one another. In contrast with the conceited rivals of Paul, we must learn to get along. The “one mind” of Philippians 2:2 is not saying we must have 100% agreement on every detail, but that we must all have Jesus’ mind that puts others first.

We have enemies in the world that will attack and make us suffer. We shouldn’t act like enemies within the body, competing, politicizing, complaining, and grumbling. We must learn to love each other and lift each other up, working out our own salvation while strengthening our brethren to face the struggles Satan will launch our way.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Revelation 19:1-20:15.

Sadly, these two chapters are argued about and disagreed upon in many ways. I am decidedly amillennial. But no matter your view, the thing God wants us to see in these chapters is He wins. Glory and power belong to Him. Because of that, we ought to glorify Him and be on His side. God reigns and those who stay on His side will reign with Him.

The beast and the false prophet may think they have the upper hand, but they will be destroyed in the pit. Satan may think he is going to win with his mediocre copies of God’s things, but he will be bound and then ultimately damned. He can gather an unimaginable army, but all his power cannot remotely threaten God. 

GOD WINS!!!

I need to remember that today. Sometimes it seems the battle is just going to keep raging and there is no end. Sometimes it seems that every defense or offense is useless. The enemies of Christ keep pouring forth. Why keep fighting? 

I need to carry a banner to remind me why we keep up the fight. GOD WINS!!! 

Keep working, keep striving, keep fighting the fight of faith. GOD WINS!!! You want to be on His side.

***Question: How do you stay on God’s side every day?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is Ephesians 5:1-6:24.

Ephesians 6:12 scares me: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (ESV). That right there says the enemy is too much for me. How can finite, little me ever stand up to such powerful forces? Clearly, if my enemy were my next door neighbor, I could pump up at the gym a little bit and probably take him/her out. But my enemy is the devil and his spiritual forces. I’m sunk.

However, I don’t have to beat Satan. God already has. I don’t have to strengthen me and try to take on Satan. All I have to do is be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Did you catch that? Not in the strength of my might because I’m so spiritual. No, in the strength of His might. 

I can’t help but think of the psalmists. I encourage you to read the psalms with the thought in mind of  how they addressed God. Psalm 18:1-3 is a great example.

I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer.
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.

I don’t have to be strong in my might, I need to be strong in God’s might. I need to let God be my fortress, my rock, my stronghold. I simply need to rely on Him. How do I do that?

The text says, put on God’s armor. In other words, if I’m going to be strong in the might of the Lord, I need to put on the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness. I need to prepare my feet by taking up the gospel of peace. I need faith as a shield to extinguish the darts of the devil. I need to don the helmet of salvation and carry the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. When I’m wearing this armor, I’m relying on God and His strength.

One question I automatically ask is where to get this equipment. Where is God’s armory? 

I know when we think of this list, we equate the Word with the sword of the Spirit. However, I cant’ help but notice the Word is integrally tied to each of these.

John 17:17 says, “Your word is truth.

II Timothy 3:16 says training in righteousness comes from God’s scripture.

Colossians 1:5 says the gospel is found in the word of truth.

Romans 10:17 says faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ.

II Timothy 3:14-15 says scripture makes us wise unto salvation.

How do I put on God’s armor? Get into God’s word. That’s why what we are doing here is so important. Staying in the word is not the daily Christian homework assignment. It is the only way we’ll ever overcome the tempter. We can’t win this battle apart from God’s word. The issue is not can I read my Bible enough to be a good enough to go to heaven. The issue is life, strength, and armor are found in the Word, without which I can’t survive the battle.

Think of it this way. Can you imagine a soldier saying, “Do I really have to put on my body armor for today’s battle?” Of course not. Are they putting the armor on because it is their assignment in the military? Of course not. They do it because they know it will be the thing that preserves their life.

So, as always…

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out today’s reading?

Perhaps it is providential I’m reading these chapters today. On an intellectual level, I have no doubts about God or His power. Sometimes on an emotional gut level, I have all kinds. As I struggle daily to be holy and overcome temptation and sin, I sometimes wonder where God is in my life. That especially happens if I slip and fall. I can even have times of despair wondering if God will ever lift me up out of this mire and get me over all these sins like He has promised.

I John 4:4 is like a beacon to me this morning: “…for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (ESV). Satan is attacking. He is actively trying to get me to fall. But Jesus, who is in me and in whom I abide, is greater. That doesn’t mean I’ll never ever mess up. It simply means Jesus is working His plan to conform me to His image. As Romans 8:28-30 says, God is working everything in my life together for my ultimate good and I will become conformed to the image of His Son. 

Satan cannot possibly when this war unless I give up on Jesus. As long as I’m hanging on the Jesus as my Lord, surrendering my life to Him, He will overcome through me in the end. 

What a comfort.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC