Revelation 7: Disciples of All Nations

Today’s reading is Revelation 7.

In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus commissioned the apostles, saying:

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (ESV).

As the seals were broken, Jesus went out conquering and to conquer, but was followed by war, famine, death, and hades. Some in Jesus’s army were executed such that they lamented beneath the altar, “How long?” They were told to wait until all the executions took place.

But now we learn something else was going on this whole time. Jesus actually was conquering. He was not conquering in the sense of slaughtering enemies. Rather, He was conquering in the hearts of men and women among “every tribe of the sons of Israel.” However, not only there, but also “from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” (Revelation 7:9, ESV). His kingdom was defeating the enemy within the hearts of multitudes from all nations.

In this picture we learn why when Jesus went out conquering and to conquer, He didn’t immediately crush the Romans or any other nations. He could have. The Jews expected it. But He had a better plan. He will crush the enemies. However, before that He wanted and wants to give everyone the option and the means by which they can avoid the judgment and instead enjoy His kingdom.

Understand this. That has allowed us to be in the kingdom. Perhaps now we can see why the martyrs behind the fifth seal were under the altar. Like our Savior, they were killed that we might be in the kingdom. No, their deaths were not sacrifices for our sins. Only Jesus’s death pays that debt. But the world continued, beset by sin and full of sinners, and these suffered because of it. In a sense, we are saved through their patient suffering. When we face hardship, persecution, even death, keep in mind others are being brought into the kingdom. God’s patient endurance of our suffering is the salvation of others, just like it was for us. If we too end up on the altar, think of those being saved because we patiently endure while God works out His full plan. Be faithful unto death not simply because we overcome through such faithfulness, but because such faithfulness gives time and motivation for others to bow their knee to and confess the name of Jesus.

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Revelation 7

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Revelation 7 admonish you?

Psalm 66: Every Knee Shall Bow

Today’s reading is Psalm 66.

This week’s psalm and last week’s have multiple overlaps. One of the most significant are the parallel declarations regarding all the earth.

O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come.

Psalm 65:2 (ESV)

All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.

Psalm 66:4 (ESV)

The psalmist declares God will be universally praised and glorified. However, don’t miss Psalm 66:3: “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you” (ESV). We might balk at the word “cringing,” however this is not the first time we’ve read it in the psalms. In Psalm 18:44-45, David wrote: “As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me; foreigners came cringing to me. Foreigners lost heart and came trembling out of their fortresses” (ESV). This concept of cringing describes those who come reluctantly–enemies who realize they have no choice but to submit.

God will be worshiped by two kinds of people. First, by those who delight in worshiping Him. Those who offer themselves freely in the day of His power. Second, by those who despise it, but see no other option. This second group will, no doubt, wait until it is too late for the worship to do them any good.

God declares this same point in Isaiah 45:23: “By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance'” (ESV). Paul takes up this very quote in Romans 14:11 explaining from it how all people will stand before God’s judgment seat. In Philippians 2:9-11, however, Paul takes this point and pivots with it.

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (ESV).

Who is the God to whom the entire world will come, bowing, worshiping, confessing allegiance? Jesus Christ.

The question is which group will you be in? The group voluntarily, joyously, delightedly worshiping and confessing Jesus being saved by Him or the group cringing and cowering before Him too late and too reluctant for it to do any good? I’m sure you can tell for yourself which group you’d rather be in.

Next week’s reading is Psalm 67.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

What do you want to share with others from Psalm 66?

Confess and Pray

Today’s reading is James 5.

With all the things James has warned us against regarding our speech, what kinds of things can we say? Obviously, there are plenty of things we can say. But as he wraps up this letter, he drives home a couple of the best things we can do with our speech.

We can confess our sins to one another and pray for one another. Do you want to grow? Do you want to gain victory? Do you want to overcome weakness? Do you want to find healing from spiritual sickness and avoid death? Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that we may be healed. Why? Because when the righteous pray, God works.

Understand the goal of such confession and prayer. It is not, as happens too often in supposed accountability partnerships and groups, merely a matter of the cathartic cleanse. Too many Christians decide to be accountable with one another and meet weakly (yes, that was initially a typo for “weekly”, but I decided to leave it) to vomit up all the spiritual sickness they engaged in over the previous week. Like with a stomach bug, they feel better after getting it all out, but that is short lived. They just start being sick again after a little while.

Today, there is a prize for merely being authentic, real, vulnerable. We like to tell everyone how messy our lives are. We begin to think as long as we’re honest about the mess, we can just linger in it. Not so. We confess and pray so we can be healed. No doubt, if the mess lingers, we continue to confess and pray. Keep working the plan until the plan works. But the goal is not to give us license for messy lives. The goal is to hand the mess to God and let Him give us victory over it by His grace.

Don’t slander others. Don’t speak evil of others. Don’t grumble against others. Don’t judge others in partiality. Instead, be honest about self. Confess to one another and pray for one another. That is where growth and victory lie.

Tomorrow’s reading is James 5.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. Is there anything you need to confess now? If so, what? To whom can you confess it?
3. Is there anything for which you would like prayer now? If so, what? Of whom can you request prayers?
4. Is there anyone for whom you can pray right now? If so, whom? For what? Will you pray?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?

Above All, Do Not Swear

Today’s reading is James 5.

James has clearly focused on sins of the tongue. He has explained the tongue is a world of iniquity and can set the entire course of our lives on fire. We shouldn’t curse others, grumble against others, slander others, or judge others in partiality. However, as he wraps up this letter, he drops the bomb. “Above all,” he says. That is, more than anything else he’s talked about. Most especially. Most importantly. Don’t miss this.

Don’t swear.

Really? That’s the most important one? Above everything else he has mentioned, abstaining from oaths is the most important bit of instruction he has to give us? What is that all about?

It may be James is merely driving home the need for honesty. Certainly, when Jesus deals with the issue of oaths in His Sermon on the Mount, the matter of honesty seems to be at the forefront. However, I think there may be something more to this. Especially when we remember James’s earlier encouragement to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, this comment about swearing and taking oaths calls to mind an ancient wisdom teaching.

In Ecclesiastes 5:1-7, the ancient Preacher explains we need to guard our steps when we draw near to God’s house. Specifically, though he uses different words, we need to be quick to hear and slow to speak. Even more specifically, we need to be slow to make vows and oaths to God. Rash vows will lead your mouth to sin. If you have made an oath, you must pay it, especially if you “swore to God.” In James’s context of facing judgment, the Preacher’s question rings in our ears: “Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands?”

How many people, in the midst of suffering start bartering with God? How many start making promises? “God, if you’ll just get me out of this, I promise, I’ll give half of every paycheck to the church.” “God, if you’ll end this pain and suffering, I swear I’ll never miss another worship service again.” We pile up the promises, making rash oaths, writing checks we cannot possibly cash. When we face God in judgment, we don’t want to string of rash, reckless vows and oaths on our ledger.

If you’ve already made them, seek forgiveness. Draw near to God to listen, be slow to speak. Be honest. Let your yes mean yes, and your no mean no. But above all, don’t swear.

Tomorrow’s reading is James 5.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. What do you think of Edwin’s suggestion about the point of James’s warning about oaths and swearing? Is he on to something or do you think he’s missed it? Why?
3. Why is honesty important?
4. Why should we avoid making oaths to God?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?

Blessing and Cursing

Today’s reading is James 3.

When James gives a tremendous example of the evil the tongue can enact he doesn’t trot out false doctrine, cussing, or dirty jokes. Rather, he mentions the poison of cursing people. We might think it is no big deal to curse people. After all, we aren’t like those wicked rich people we learned about in the last chapter who blaspheme God. We bless God. In the context of this chapter, a teacher in the church might think speaking highly of God, praising God, proclaiming the truth about God makes up for cursing, belittling, speaking evil of, grumbling against people. James says otherwise.

Blessing and cursing can’t proceed from the same heart through the same mouth any more than fresh water can come from a salt pond. Any fresh water finding its way into a salt pond will end up salinized. In other words, if our heart is full of cursing, then even the blessing of God we utter becomes cursed. As James said, if we don’t bridle our tongues, our religion is worthless. Blessing God does not make up for cursing people.

James then ties this teaching about speech to the false teachers and prophets against whom Jesus spoke in Matthew 7:15-19. We will know a false teacher by his fruit. After all, you can’t get grapes from thornbushes, figs from a grapevine, or olives from a fig tree. Cursing comes from those who are accursed.

How often do we wish we had a barometer of our standing before God. Don’t we sometimes just wish we knew what God thought of us and our relationship with Him? James is giving us one. The problem is, we tend to make excuses for this barometer. When this barometer exposes our heart, we try to act like it isn’t doing that at all. Instead, we deceive our hearts. We tell our hearts what we said didn’t really matter.

How about today we do some fearless, thorough inventory of our speech? Cursing is only one example of foul speech. If we examine our speech and find malice, clamoring, hatred, immorality, sensuality, we are seeing our heart. We often try to dismiss our speech sins by claiming, “God knows my heart.” James’s point is simply this. When we see our speech, we know what God knows about our heart.

May we submit our hearts, our mouths, and our bodies to God.

Tomorrow’s reading is James 3.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. What causes us to curse, bad mouth, belittle people?
3. Why do we like to think saying good things about God makes up for saying bad things about people?
4. When are times we do need to express that someone is judged or cursed by God?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?

Bridle Your Tongue, Bridle Your Body

Today’s reading is James 3.

James said if we don’t bridle our tongues, we deceive our hearts and our religion is worthless (James 1:26). He also said we need to learn to be quick to hear and slow to speak (James 1:19). However, in James 3, he lets us know the challenge we are up against. We will find it easier to tame a lizard than to tame our own tongue. Our mouths are restless evil and full of deadly poison.

Before proceeding, can we simply recognize James refuses to give us a copout for anything we say? Usually, we try to come up with all kinds of excuses for our mouths. “I didn’t really mean that.” “I wasn’t thinking.” “It just slipped out.” “You can’t blame me for that, I hit my thumb with a hammer.” James makes no excuses. He says the problem is sin and evil. Don’t forget James is anchored in the teachings of his half-brother, Jesus. Do you recall what Jesus said about the tongue? “What comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person” (Matthew 15:8, ESV). The problem is not simply the tongue as if it is somehow a separate entity from us. The problem is the tongue directly reflects, expresses, and exposes the heart.

However, for all the difficulty expressed in this. James does give us a powerful point. Since the tongue is so difficult to work with, if we get it under control, we’ll get everything else under control. He gives two examples. Control a horse’s mouth with a bit, and you direct the horse’s entire body. Additionally, when a pilot steers the tiny rudder, it controls where the whole ship goes. If we bridle and control our speech, we will bridle and control all our behavior. Certainly, James is saying if you can do the more difficult thing (control your tongue), you can do the easier thing (control your bodily behavior). However, I believe it goes deeper than that. When we control what we say, what we do falls in line naturally. Our bodies will follow where our mouths lead.

Of course, we’re stuck with the difficulty that no human being can tame the tongue. It’s possible we should read this as saying we’ll always stumble and fall, but we need to work really, really hard on the tongue and do the best we can. That is probably true as far as it goes. However, the application is much more likely to be instead of piloting ourselves, we hand control of our mouths over to God. We let Jesus be the pilot. We determine to let Him control and tame our speech. We fill our minds and hearts with His things so His things proceed from our hearts to our mouths, controlling not only our speech but also our bodily behavior.

Whatever else we may say about this section of James, at the very least we must learn what we say matters. We will give account for every careless word (Matthew 12:36). So, be careful little mouth what you say.

Tomorrow’s reading is James 3.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. Why do you think the tongue is so difficult to tame?
3. What sins of the tongue do you struggle with the most?
4. How can you hand control of that over to God?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?

Not Many Teachers

Today’s reading is James 3.

James says, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers.” The author of Hebrews said, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you…” So which is it? Should we all be teachers or should not many of us be teachers?

Perhaps we gain clarifying insight in James 3:13-14. If not many should be teachers, who should? Wouldn’t it be those who are wise and understanding? Who then is wise enough and understanding enough to be one of the few, the humble, the teachers? Not those who are prompted by jealousy and selfish ambition. Rather, those who by their good conduct show their works in the meekness of wisdom. Recognize those who have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in their hearts, are false to the truth when they boast. Did you catch the connections to previous statements in this letter? Those who don’t bridle their tongues deceive their hearts (James 1:26). The unbridled tongue boasts of great things (James 3:5). Teachers who do so from selfish ambition boast, deceive, and generally pursue and promote a worthless religion.

Having now seen where James is going to end up, we can more fully grasp the warning in this first verse. James doesn’t say not many should ever teach, but not many should “become teachers.” We all teach even if only by example (see Colossians 3:16). But not all have a role or work as a teacher (see Acts 13:1; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Timothy 1:6-7). Some, competing for greater honor, desire to have the role of teacher. These need to recognize they aren’t signing up for greater honor; they are signing up for greater judgment.

The danger is, of course, we all stumble in what we say. James has already said of all disciples, if we don’t bridle our tongues, we are deceiving our hearts and pursuing worthless religion. Much more so as teachers. If teachers don’t bridle their tongues, they are doubly in trouble. They are pursuing worthless religion and promoting it to others. But what a charge and warning. Think about it. How hard is it to bridle your tongue when your role is to speak? That sounds really hard.

I find it interesting as James goes on to discuss the sins of the tongue for teachers, he actually doesn’t highlight teaching error. He highlights cursing, judging, grumbling, quarreling, speaking evil of our brothers. Certainly every teacher and everyone who teaches must fear lest we teach error, but perhaps there are some other sins of the tongue of greater concern to which teachers are susceptible.

Not many of us should be teachers because it takes work and maturity to be a teacher. But all of us should be teachers because all Christians should grow and work at maturity.

Tomorrow’s reading is James 3.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. What sins of the tongue must teachers be most concerned about?
3. How can a teacher balance the need to bridle the tongue when the teacher’s role is to speak?
4. What must we work on and grow in so we can teach?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?

Pure and Undefiled Religion

Today’s reading is James 1.

James has already told us we must be quick to hear and slow to speak. In context, we know he isn’t simply talking about interpersonal relationships. He is talking about how we relate to God’s Word. Therefore, it doesn’t surprise us to find out if we don’t bridle our tongues, whatever religion we have is useless. If we speak more than we listen, our worship, our piety, our religion, and our religious actions aren’t doing either us or God any good.

However, James goes farther. We are not only to be hearers of the Word but doers. He defines some of the doing. Pure religion, undefiled religion is not walking through religious rituals mouthing the proper words, dressed in the right clothes, wearing the appropriate facial expressions. Pure and undefiled religion before God has two components. One, caring for others in their afflictions. Two, remaining unstained from the world.

Is this anything less than, more than, or different than the two greatest commands? We are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and might (remain unstained from the world) and we are to love our neighbors as ourselves (care for others in their afflictions). Don’t read these instructions in a vacuum. These statements James is writing to Jewish Christians are anchored in what they should have learned from the Law and the Prophets. In the Law, the Jews were to care for the widows and orphans among them as well as the poor and needy. Recall Isaiah 58. There, the Israelites couldn’t understand why God didn’t notice their fasting, their religious observance. God’s response was their fasting was nothing more than ritual. The purpose of fasting was not to wear sackcloth or bow the head. The purpose was to grow compassion for those in need among them. James will come back to this as he discusses faith in chapter 2. If we are the kind of people who tell our brothers and sisters in need to go be warmed and filled (even if we do this in prayer) instead of the kind of people who give them what they need, our faith is useless. So is our religion.

Further, we are to be unstained by the world. We must not let the world, its temptations, its ways distract us from God. We must not be defiled by bringing their gods, their ways of worship, their values, their perspectives into our hearts and minds. We must love God and not be friends with the world. James will come back to this in chapter 4 as he points out friendship with the world is enmity with God.

Yes, of course, we are to gather as churches and worship God. Yes, we are to go into our prayer closets and worship God. But if the rest of our day and week is spent pursuing our own pleasures instead of loving God and our neighbor, let us not think our times of worship are doing us a bit of good. May our times of devotion and worship be the beginning of a life in devotion to God and His people.

Next week’s reading is James 2.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. In what ways must we bridle our tongues for our religion to be worthwhile?
3. How can we visit orphans, widows, and others in affliction in order to have pure and undefiled religion?
4. How do we remain unstained by the world in order to have pure and undefiled religion?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?

I Will Guard My Tongue

Today’s reading is Psalm 39.

David kicks off our psalm with a resolution. “I’m going to keep my mouth shut.” I don’t know all the details of why David made this decision. The only thing I know for sure is his declaration that he wanted to keep from sinning. He especially wanted to keep from sinning in the presence of the wicked.

Perhaps they were tempting him to sin with his tongue. Perhaps he was afraid of giving them a reason to discredit him. Perhaps he was afraid of giving them a reason to discredit God. Perhaps he was afraid of giving them an opportunity to justify their own sins. Perhaps he was angry at them, but knew that to respond verbally with his anger would be sinful.

I don’t know the ins and outs. However, I know this, even though he struggled, he was on to something. In James 3, we learn the tongue is a troublesome little creature. Even in this psalm, we learn James told the truth when he said it was impossible to tame. David tried to tame it, but got so worked up he had to speak. James tells us the tongue is a deadly poison, a world of unrighteousness, staining the whole body. Considering he also told us that pure and undefiled religion means keeping ourselves unstained from the world (James 1:27), we see keeping that tongue muzzled might be pretty important.

But here’s the good news for David. When he finally got to the point of no longer being able to keep his silence, instead of something sinful in the presence of the wicked, he turned to God and prayed. There’s probably a great lesson in that all on its own.

Obviously, we are going to speak. We can’t walk through all of life without ever talking. But between Psalm 39 and James 3, we should probably learn to do a lot more thinking and praying before we start talking.

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 39.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the psalm and the written devo above?
2. What are some of the sins of the tongue?
3. Why do you think it is so hard to tame the tongue?
4. What advice would you give to help our family speak in a godly way to one another and to others?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this psalm and our discussion today?

Grapevines Don’t Produce Figs

Today’s reading is James 3.

Oh, I needed today’s reading in terrible ways. It is so easy to criticize and curse others. Certainly, there is always the place for constructive criticism, provoking others to love and good deeds. But it is so easy to move from constructive criticism to useless belittling, condescension, and cursing. Of course, I always believe I’m justified. That person I’m cursing did something stupid, annoying, and often sinful. They voted for the wrong person. They cut me off on the road. They ignored some rule of etiquette. They disagreed with me about some Bible principle. They betrayed me. And yet, am I without any of these faults and sins? Doesn’t that sword cut both ways. I claim to bless God, but then I want to curse His creatures because I want to think in some way they don’t measure up to me? Who do I really think I am? When I produce figs, I can’t claim to be a grapevine. In like manner, when I produce cursing, I can’t claim to be a blessing. If salt water springs from my heart, I can’t claim to be a fresh water spring. Bless God today. Bless your fellow man as well even the ones who don’t seem to deserve it.

Tomorrow’s reading is James 4.