Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.
1 Thessalonians 4:9,10

Brotherly Love

When the word Philadelphia is mentioned, one of the largest cities in the United States will likely come to mind. But when the apostle Paul used the word Philadelphia in the first verse of our Bible reading today, he was not referring to Pennsylvania’s largest city.

The Greek word philadelphia is literally translated brotherly love. The Greeks used this word to describe the love family and relatives have for each other. Paul elevates the meaning of the word to express the love that Christians, as members together in God’s spiritual family, have for each other.

As a Christian, you are privileged to be a member of two families. By your physical birth, God connected you to people with whom you are related by blood. By your spiritual birth through your baptism, God connected you with him by the blood of his Son and joined you together with all of his children through faith in Jesus.

You have come to know and experience the love of God—love that moved him to give his only Son as the sacrifice for your sins to make you his own and give you a blessed and glorious life with him forever.

As God has shown you his love, he teaches you to love others, especially those who are members of his family, by faith. As you respond to God’s merciful love, practice philadelphia toward your brothers and sisters in Christ, and “do so more and more.”

Prayer:
My heavenly Father, I praise and worship you for making me a member of your spiritual family. Thank you for teaching me your love. Now help me to love others, especially those who share with me the faith in Jesus. Amen.

[Jesus said] “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:20

Heaven Is for Perfect People

It might surprise you, but it’s true. Heaven is for perfect people.

But if we’re honest with ourselves, we must admit we’re not perfect. True, most people can avoid committing the kind of heinous felonies that end up as breaking news. Most of us will never be the subject of a crime docudrama. Many people manage to be considered helpful neighbors by those who live next door. But getting through life without committing a capital offense—or, conversely, accumulating a long list of friends—doesn’t mean you’re perfect. Frankly, no one’s perfect.

But Jesus tells us, “unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” At the end of Matthew chapter 5, he says again, in no uncertain terms. “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (verse 48). Do you want to get into heaven? Perfection is the only way.

So does that leave us out in the eternal cold? It would if Jesus hadn’t come to save us from our sinful selves. You see, what we cannot do, Jesus can do. Indeed, he has done it. Jesus is “a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:19). He’s perfect, sinless, and completely righteous.

But he’s not perfect for his own sake. He’s done it for us, for everyone. You want to be perfect? You are and will be in Jesus—forever. Sinners who acknowledge their imperfections but then throw themselves before God’s mercy, seeking forgiveness, receive perfect forgiveness in Jesus alone.

How is that possible? St. Paul tells us. “God made him who had no sin [Jesus] to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness [perfection] of God” (1 Corinthians 5:21). In other words, because of who Jesus is and what he has done, God declares you perfect in his sight. We switch places with Jesus. We can confidently believe that heaven is ours, not because we’re perfect, but because Jesus is. And his perfection is our perfection.

Believe it. It’s true!

Prayer:
Jesus, help me see that you are my perfection, my guarantee of heaven. Amen.

[Jesus said] “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
Matthew 5:17

Jesus Is the Real Deal

Purchasing something that is 100% genuine is generally preferable. For instance, there’s a big difference between buying a new living room recliner made from genuine leather and one made with cheap imitation material. In most cases, you can feel and smell the difference. The real deal is better.

What’s true of leather is also true of saviors from sin. There are plenty of cheap imitations, people and things that promise to be just as good as the real thing but also end up being what they are: cheap imitations that don’t add up and never really satisfy. When it comes to the work of salvation, there is only one real deal, and his name is Jesus, the world’s one and only genuine Savior.

But what did Jesus have to do to prove that he and he alone is the real deal? First and foremost, he couldn’t cut any corners. In other words, he had to be all-in, 100%, no holds barred.

That meant, as he tells us today, he didn’t come into this world “to abolish the Law or the Prophets.” In other words, he didn’t claim to be above the law of God. He didn’t say, “God’s Word doesn’t apply to me, so I don’t have to follow the rules.” No, just the opposite! He came to obey and fulfill God’s Word perfectly. He came to live a life that sinners like you and me cannot. Perfect love. Perfect sacrifice.

But never for himself. For us, yes, for everyone. For you. Because, you see, fulfilling God’s law perfectly required more of Jesus than simply scoring 100% on some test measuring his genuineness. It also means that he fulfilled his Father’s perfect will—through all the pain and suffering he endured in doing so—to win a place in heaven, not for himself, but for you and me. And not because we deserved it or he owed it to us. He did it because he loves us, no strings attached.

That’s what makes Jesus the real deal, the Savior.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, help me to believe through your Word and Spirit that you are the only genuine Savior from sin and death forever. Amen.

[Jesus said] “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”
Matthew 5:13

The Spice of Life

When I went away to school, there were plenty of things I missed about home. But one of the biggest things was my mom’s cooking. Don’t get me wrong; she wasn’t the world’s greatest chef. She made some dishes I could have done without, especially her tuna casserole with green peppers. But there is one thing I could always say about her cooking: even if I didn’t like it, her food tasted like something.

That couldn’t always be said of the fare served in our school cafeteria. One of the most frightening sights you could witness during Monday morning breakfast time was the school chef lurking in the kitchen stirring his infamous red sauce with a boat oar. You knew you were in for a tough week. It wasn’t that his red sauce dishes tasted bad. They just didn’t taste like anything. To call them bland would be an insult to the word “bland.”

When it comes to food, bland is bad. That’s why God created spices. They bring out the flavor and heighten the contrasts. They’re meant to be different, savory, and interesting.

You could also say that’s why God creates Christians. In this dying world of sin, Christians are meant to be different. Knowing what God has done to save them from their sins, they want nothing more than to follow his will—even if that means speaking and acting differently from others in this world.

That is the point Jesus is making with his words in Matthew chapter 5. He’s warning God’s children not to blend in with the worldly-minded masses. They’re called to be different, to be the salt of the earth.

Why? Because through their very differentness, they can call attention to the One who has saved them from their sins and made them his followers. And, having grabbed the attention of the people of this world, they will have the opportunity to tell those people about Jesus. He is, after all, their Savior too.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, through your Word and Spirit, grant me the strength I need to be the salt of the earth. Amen.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:5

The Meek

Meekness is not a trait that will get a person very far in life. In a dog-eat-dog world success is attained by a bold, assertive spirit which is not afraid to climb over others to get ahead. How different Jesus wants his disciples to be! Responding in thankfulness to God for their salvation, they are to be gentle, patient, humble, quietly resigning their all to God’s will. They don’t seek revenge when others offend. Instead they love others like Jesus meekly did: “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats” (1 Peter 2:23).

Jesus says that the meek are blessed. God knows their hearts and gives them a life on earth of blessing after blessing. I have a Christian friend who often remarks, “I’m so blessed!” He looks at his family, job, and possessions and thanks God for the many blessings he has. I can learn from people like my friend to recognize how my loving God fulfills his promise to bless me in all matters of life. Even when it doesn’t seem so, every minute God is with me and caring for me.

“The meek,” Jesus says, “will inherit the earth.” Not only do Jesus’ followers have a life of blessing on earth, but they also have the blessing of eternal life on a new earth. The Bible teaches: “In keeping with God’s promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:13). On the Last Day, God’s creation, including our planet earth, will be destroyed. But God promises that he will make a new creation for his believers, and it will be perfect and last forever.

The meek—all of God’s believers—will be blessed in the next world, as they are blessed in this one, too. Our merciful God has given us the most important gift of all through Jesus—he has taken away the guilt of our sins. By faith in Jesus, we are humbly grateful to have a life of blessing now and are boldly hopeful for even greater blessings to come.

Prayer:
Jesus, you humbly came into this world to bless me with God’s love for this life and for eternity. Impress on my heart the benefit of meekly following you and living in thankfulness for all your blessings. Amen.

Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1:31

Brag

Bragging is big business. It’s big business not only because it seems to be in our wiring to brag. It’s also big business because companies can make money helping people brag in a way that it doesn’t sound like bragging.

One example. A few years ago, author Peggy Klaus wrote a book entitled, Brag! The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It. The book became a best-seller, featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and on The Today Show. Another example. Some companies have begun bragging on behalf of their customers. For instance, a fitness company posts a personal video on a customer’s Facebook page, praising that customer for becoming so fit. A resort does the same thing, praising a customer for planning such a fantastic vacation. The customer then, understandably, passes all this bragging on to their social media friends. In return, the companies receive good publicity.

Bragging is big business. And while one might debate the pros and cons of such promotion in the business world, when it comes to standing alone before God, you and I know we have nothing about which to brag. Standing alone before the God of perfect goodness and perfect justice—all I can point to is my sinful failure and rebellion. All I can point to is my sinful genius for self-absorption, disregarding others, and drifting away from God.

God would have had every right to look at me—to look at us—turn his back in contempt and walk away forever. But he didn’t, and he hasn’t. Instead, he became one of us. God the Son, Jesus Christ, lived a life of perfect humility on our behalf. For all our sins of self-absorption, he endured the full weight of divine punishment in our place. And now, through faith in the Son, God declares us holy, forgiven, and sons and daughters of the King.

Does this compel us to brag, to boast? Yes. But it’s not about us anymore. It’s all about our Savior.

Prayer:
Lord, you have rescued me from the emptiness of self. Praise be to your holy name. Amen.

They will eat and lie down, and no one will make them afraid.
Zephaniah 3:13

Ultimate Relief

The health magazine, Elemental, published a compelling article about the human experience of relief. The article begins with a simple example that goes something like this. There is an itch on your back you are unable to reach. The discomfort is terrible. Finally, a trusted friend is able to reach the spot and scratch. The relief you feel is so great that your brain lights up in the same area that responds to addictive substances.

But then the article goes on to speak of bigger things. Beyond relief of physical irritations like an itch, there is relief from another kind of pain that’s far more significant. It quotes a neuroscience professor from Dartmouth College. In part, the professor says, “Every time you think about something that makes you feel dread or concern or shame, your [deep emotional] pain is refreshed. And so relief from those negative experiences—for example, relief from…years of intermittent sadness, anger, dread, and embarrassment—can be profound.”

Which brings us to the kind of relief that God describes in the Bible. In the Old Testament book of Zephaniah, God is speaking to souls who are facing dark, difficult days. As he does, however, he gives them an assurance. He assures them that a great relief is on the way. All the things that vex them, all the things that haunt, discourage, and weigh them down—all those things are temporary. As God describes it, one day his people “will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid.” In other words—relief that is lasting and true.

This Ultimate Relief has arrived. His name is Jesus Christ. On our behalf, he has lived a life of perfect goodness—the life you and I have failed to live. In our place, he has suffered and died to wash away our every wrong. Now, through faith in him, his full forgiveness gives us a peace that surpasses understanding. And one day, when we enter life eternal, we will experience full release from the presence and effects of sin. Relief that is lasting and true.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, through your gospel remind me of the true relief I possess in your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
1 Corinthians 1:26,27

Wisdom and Strength

Most people are drawn to the rich and famous or those who are intelligent or powerful. We aspire to be at the top of the heap.

It’s interesting to note that God has completely different ideas about wisdom and strength. What truly makes us wise is knowing that we have broken God’s laws with our actions, words, and even in our thoughts. We realize that we don’t deserve anything good from God. The knowledge that Jesus Christ came to this earth to be our Savior makes us wise beyond all measure. Jesus did what we could not do when he followed his Father’s will to the letter. Jesus also suffered and died on the cross to pay for our sins so we wouldn’t have to. When Jesus rose from the dead, he announced to the world that he had completed everything necessary for our salvation.

It may have appeared that Jesus was weak when he gave up his life for us. Yet, God was actually showing his strength in controlling the situation so that our salvation would be accomplished. He further showed the strength of his love for us when he willingly sacrificed his Son so that we would be saved.

Many will not agree with these standards of wisdom and strength. We thank God that he has revealed these standards to us.

Prayer:
Thank you, Lord, for using your wisdom and power to bring about my salvation. Lead me always to trust in your wisdom. Amen.

Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.
1 John 2:7-11

Walk in the Light

Jesus once said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). What did he mean by that? Did Jesus mean he had special LED skin pigment? Or did he use the term “light” like the philosophers of the 17th and 18th centuries, who said the truth made them enlightened? In other words, is he the light of the world because of what he knew in his head?

In the reading above, John explains what Jesus meant. Jesus is the Light of the world because he took God’s ancient command, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18), and made it new by living it. He loved his neighbor so much that he gave up his life to pay for their sins, including yours and mine. John says his act of love brought light into our dark world.

Now John turns to us, applying this truth to our hearts. He says if we claim to be in Jesus’ light but don’t love our brother or sister, then we are mistaken. On the other hand, when we love our brother or sister, we show we are genuinely enlightened by Jesus. In other words, to be in the light as Jesus is in the light does not mean we glow or even that we have some kind of special knowledge. It simply means we live a life of love. Or as John puts it, “We love because (Jesus) first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

Prayer:
Jesus, you are the light of the world. Let your light of love shine in my heart. Amen.

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Matthew 4:17

Turn From Darkness to the Light

The darkness and evil in our world are overwhelming. Where does a person begin to make a positive difference? Should we start by protecting the unborn? Or maybe feed the poor? What about those who are lonely? How about victims of abuse? Or who is going to confront injustices at the institutional level? What should we be doing to bring light to a grim world?

When Jesus began his public ministry, he told us where to start. He said first repent, which means acknowledging and turning away from the darkness in our hearts. All that wickedness in the world is also in us. So any real change must begin with a change in our hearts.

Then he tells us that the kingdom of heaven is near. In Jesus, God’s good and gracious rule dwells among us. King Jesus governs his people with forgiveness and love. We know that because he laid down his life for us. And so, we now lay down our lives for others.

From this place of humble gratitude, we can now make a difference in our small corner of Christ’s kingdom. Maybe we take care of the sick or teach children. Perhaps we run for office or a business in service to our community. Whatever we do to make this world better, we must start by letting God’s light shine in us before we can illuminate others.

Prayer:
Jesus, you are the light of the world. Shine your light into the darkness and evil of my heart. Then help me to be your light in the world. Let me use the gifts and opportunities you have given me for your glory. Amen.

When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
Isaiah 8:19,20

In Times of Darkness

I know of a woman who lost her son in a tragic accident. In her intense grief, she consulted a psychic, hoping to make some connection with the spirit of her son.

You may never have participated in a séance or tried a Ouija board, but we have all been tempted to look for answers to life’s questions in places other than the one place God promises to speak to us–the words of the Bible.

This is not a new temptation. Almost three thousand years ago, the nation of Israel felt utterly helpless, wondering if God had abandoned them. The pagan Assyrians attacked and destroyed their country. And they were beginning to wonder if the God of Israel was real, willing, and able to rescue them from their enemies. And so they started to consult mediums and spiritists, who promised power and access to the spiritual realm. The prophet Isaiah confronted them, calling them to abandon such deadly dark demons. Instead, he challenged them to consult the truth found in God’s Word.

When you face tough times and are looking for answers, look to the words of the Bible. There you will find the many promises God has made to love and care for you. Even if he doesn’t provide an answer to every question, he provides answers to the most important questions. Questions such as: does God love me? (He loves you so much he died to pay the price for your sins.) Will God take care of me? (He promises to take care of you in whatever way is best for you.) Is God listening to me? (He promises to hear and answer every prayer.)

There are many places you could go to try to find answers to life’s most important questions. Go to the one place you can be sure to hear the truth from God himself—the Bible.

Prayer:
Lord God, in my moments of darkness and despair, comfort me with the promises in your Word . Amen.

“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
Isaiah 49:6

Not Satisfied

Head hung low; the young man approached his father. “Dad, I didn’t do very well on my last test.”
“Oh? What grade did you get, son?”
Shaking his head in disgust, “I messed up on a couple of questions and got a B.”
“And how has that impacted your final grade?”
“Oh, I still have a solid A.”
“I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” his father encouraged.

You might smile and completely agree with the father, “Wow, that kid is really hard on himself. He should just be happy about his overall grade. Clearly, he worked hard and should be satisfied with what he has done so far.”

There is, however, a certain amount of respect we have for someone who is constantly striving to do more and isn’t satisfied with “good enough.” Thankfully, that is the kind of God that we have.

The one and only God is not satisfied with bringing just a few people into his family. It is not enough for him to spend eternity with some. He wants all to be saved. That’s why he sent his Son, Jesus, to bear the sins of everyone who has ever lived and to pay the price for those sins with his life.

That means his desire is for you to be saved. It doesn’t matter where you live, what language you speak, or even what you have done. God loves you so much that he sent his Son to be punished for your sins so that you can live with him forever.

It is not good enough for just some to be saved. God wants you to be his forever.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for including me in your plan of salvation. Without your incredible love, I would have been stuck in my sins and lost forever. But because of your love, you sent your Son for me and all people. Thank you. Help me to live as the forgiven child you have made me so that others can see your love too. Amen.

Before I was born the LORD called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver.
Isaiah 49:1,2

God’s Hidden Weapon

Some of the most effective weapons are hidden ones. Your enemies don’t know the danger, and you catch them with their guard down. No one expects a hidden weapon. So here is the question: What is God doing with one?

In today’s Bible passage, Jesus says that before he was born, he was called by the Lord for a specific job: to be God’s hidden weapon. He mysteriously compares himself to a sword hidden out of sight and an arrow concealed from view. What does that mean?

To understand his point, think about who Jesus is and what he possesses. Jesus Christ is true God, hidden in human flesh. “In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9). For millennia before he was born, God kept him ready—hidden in his hand, concealed in his quiver—waiting for just the right moment to shoot him into the world.

Before his birth, an angel spoke his name: “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). His name revealed his targets. He was aimed at sin, death, and hell. And “when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son” (Galatians 4:4).

Like a sharpened sword, the Savior had speech that sliced and severed. Like a polished arrow, he did not fly off course. He hit the exact targets that God wanted him too. He hid himself in the form of a servant who was willing to sacrifice his life to pay for your sins. He was revealed as God’s hidden weapon at his cross and empty tomb, where he decisively defeated his enemies. And he is still a weapon so powerful that he can cut and pierce an unbelieving heart with God’s saving Word!

Prayer:
Praise to you, Lord Jesus, for defeating my enemies and saving me. Amen.

Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”
John 1:32-34

Jesus Is the One

When you search for something, how do you know when you’ve finally found it? For example if you’re shopping for shoes, how do you know when you’ve found the right pair? Do they have to be just the right size, just the right color, or the right price? Chances are the right pair are the best combination of all three of those criteria.

What about the search for a savior—someone who can rescue you from all of the sins you have committed against the holy God who made you? How do you know that Jesus already dealt with all of your sins, so you don’t have to? How do you know that Jesus saved you and not just those who followed him when he walked the earth two thousand years ago? How do you know that Jesus is the One?

Because God said so—yes, it is that simple. God gave John the Baptist specific criteria to identify the Savior, and when he baptized Jesus, they were met. He saw heaven torn open and the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus like a dove and remain on him. John saw it and gave us his eyewitness testimony. That’s how we know that Jesus is the one—the one chosen by God to take your place under his wrath, to die for your sins, and to rise from the dead to guarantee your eternal salvation!

Prayer:
Lord God, thank you for making sure I know that Jesus is your Chosen One, my Savior. Amen.

“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
Isaiah 49:6

Go Big or Go Home

“Go big or go home.” That motto reflects a characteristic that we tend to admire in an individual. It says that doing just enough to get by isn’t good enough. These individuals are not satisfied unless they give everything they have and do something spectacular.

“Go big or go home,” could be a motto that God uses. It wasn’t enough for God to put together a plan through Jesus to save a chosen few people from the damning results of their sin. His plan was to bring salvation to everyone no matter where they live or what kind of ethnic blood flows through their veins.”

He certainly carried out this plan in a “go big or go home” kind of a way. He didn’t just carry some sins to the cross. He carried every sin of every person who has ever and will ever live in this world. To say that he gave his all would be an understatement. He gave himself. He gave up his perfect life because that was the only price big enough to pay the debt owed by sinners of the world.

The God against whom we sin every day was not content to make salvation available to just a few. His love for you refused to let him exclude you from that group. It doesn’t matter where you live, what language you speak, what color your skin is, or what nationality you claim as your own. Your sins were carried to the cross and their punishment was suffered by the Son of God. Your debt has been paid. Salvation is yours.

Prayer:
Lord God, thank you for loving me enough to include me in your plan of salvation. Thank you for sending Jesus to do whatever was necessary, even dying on a cross, to remove my sins. Help me to treasure, above all else, the gift of salvation he has won for me. Amen.