Here’s the link to download the manuscript if you are interested:
Monthly Archives: November 2023
Daily Encouragement
We were not eyewitnesses to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ but there were eyewitnesses like Peter who beheld his majesty. They heard the Father speak to the Son from heaven. Let me repeat that…they heard God say, “This is my Son with whom I am well pleased.” It seems that one could not get anything better than that.
However, even though we were not eyewitnesses we have something more sure—the written Word of God. Not only are God’s utterances from heaven recorded but we are told what they mean. The details of which the apostles didn’t probably know were given to them by God the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:21
[21] For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
The image is that of wind being blown into a sail to carry along a ship. The Holy Spirit (Wind) carried along those eyewitnesses to write the prophetic word and it is more sure!
2 Peter 1:19
[19] And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts
We think that eyewitness accounts can’t get any better or we might even think since I wasn’t there then I’m lacking information and therefore cannot believe. Well the eyewitnesses have given us the Word that is more fully confirmed. It is the trustworthy source by which to know God! Be thankful for the Word and pay close attention to it.
Daily Encouragement
As I begin my yearly trek through the mountainous terrain of the book of Job, I bring with it certain expectations as well as an eagerness to see new things. As I prepare for this week’s sermon from Hebrews 5:11-14, I feel the warning there to be careful not to become dull of hearing. I’ve read the book of Job at least 20 times but like hearing the flight attendant on the plane explain the safety measures that I no longer listen to because I’ve heard them many times, I don’t want to do that with God’s word.
The simple but complex question that comes to mind from Job is that of Satan’s question concerning Job:
Job 1:9-10 Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.”
In other words, does Job only trust God for what he can get out of God? If trusting the Lord meant that he got nothing out of it or even worse he suffered because he feared God and turned away from evil would he continue to trust and fear the Lord.
The book of Job answers that question for Job. He passed the tests. It however doesn’t answer that question for us. How are we doing in the daily tests from the Lord? Would we stay with Christ even if we get nothing out of it now but must wait until the end? What if our obedience causes us to suffer? Will we give up?
We ought to continue to grow through the tests. If not we might stumble:
2 Peter 1:8-11 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
Keep trusting the Lord and the fruit of your faith will blossom into gardens of righteousness for the glory God.
The Word Is Not Imprisoned 