Abundant Grace

Friday, October 9, 2015

"My Name Shall Be Great Among the Gentiles"

“From the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles.” Malachi 1:11

Malachi is God’s final Old Testament word, and while it is directed to Israel, it clearly states God’s purpose for all the world. There is nowhere under the sun that God does not want His name to be known and for His name to be praised. Malachi begins with this message to the nations and concludes his book with the promised Messiah, the Sun of Righteousness, coming with healing in His wings; the healing of the sickness of sin for people of all nations under the sun.

This book is the perfect bridge to the introduction of Christ the Messiah in the New Testament. God’s message is not for one exclusive group, it is for everyone. Jesus is the Sun of Righteousness who will shine from sea to sea and from shore to shore. We, as His ambassadors, are to be busy proclaiming His awesome Name to every nation and tongue on earth.

Dear Father, Give us a passion for the souls of all men under the sun. Amen.

The Friday Benediction

Until Monday, my friends, may the good God envelop you with His grace; may you prove the common confession of faith, “I believe in the holy Christian church and in the fellowship of the saints”, and may you be enriched with joy and hope as you exercise that confession this weekend. Amen

Abundant Grace can be found at my website, www.davidccraig.net. You can subscribe to this daily devotion and receive it free M-F simply by placing your email address on the sidebar to follow this blog by email. You can also find Quality Christian Books on my website plus fundraising opportunities for your Christian organization or youth group.

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Christ's Invitation to all Nations

“I said ‘Here I am, here I am’, to a nation that was not called by My name.” Isaiah 65:1

Isaiah continues to present the hope of the Gospel with this invitation for all to come to the only Hope of mankind. Israel was the nation called by His name, the Gentile world was not. This is the message of the hope for all, Jew and Gentile. Jesus shouts out to them, “Here I am, here I am.” He wants no one to be left out of hearing the message, so He has sent us out as well to cry out, “Jesus saves, Jesus saves.”

When Jesus was preparing to ascend to heaven He commissioned His disciples to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth. He wants us to carry the message of Jesus, “Come to Me, come to me!” to all the nations of the world. He wants men, women, and children from every nation to believe in the one name by which men from all nations must be saved, Jesus Christ.

Dear Father, Help us to carry the name of Jesus to all nations. Amen.

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

That Captives Everywhere Might Be Free

“He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives.” Isaiah 61:1

This is another of the great evangelistic messages of Isaiah. It isn’t just a word of hope to Israel, it is the very words of hope and life to all people of all ages. It is the declaration of Jesus Christ and His work completed for all mankind.

When John the Baptist sent his disciples to Jesus to make sure that He was the promised One, this verse is part of what Jesus replied to them. Who are the captives? All of mankind are the captives for all of mankind is shackled with the curse of sin and its eternal condemnation. Jesus was sent to proclaim release to the captives. He came to die in our place, the perfect for the sinful, that we might have life through Him. That is the Gospel message and He has commissioned us to bear witness to His life giving message.

Dear Father, Thank You for sending Your Son, the Redeemer, who died and rose again that we might be freed from sin’s captivity. Amen.

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Living Water for the Whole World

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters.” Isaiah 55:1

Isaiah is particularly the evangelistic prophet. His message is for all nations to come to the fount of living water and drink. These words of Isaiah are echoed in the closing words of the Book of Revelation, “And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires let him take of the water of life freely.” (Rev. 22:17) This echoes the words of Christ to those whom he had fed with 5 loaves and 2 fish, “He who believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35) Which of course is the promise He made to the woman at the well in John 4, “But whosoever drinks of the water that I give him shall never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:14)

The whole world is thirsty for something that will last – for real peace, joy, hope, and forgiveness. We who have the Living Water need to invite everyone else to drink from it, too.

Dear Father, Help us carry the water of life to a world that is thirsty. Amen.

Monday, October 5, 2015

We Serve the Great Creator of All Things

“He is called the God of the whole earth.” Isaiah 54:5

The Apostle’s Creed begins, “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.” That means that all he made belongs to Him and is accountable to Him. Secular humanism proposes that we are the product of random chance and accountable only to ourselves. But as Romans 1 clearly teaches, their false belief does not free them from the responsibility to the truth that they are really God’s creation and accountable to Him.

As believers we have been given the wonderful work of telling others about our Savior Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the co-creator of the heavens and the earth. It is an exciting story and it is the only story that will satisfy mankind’s need for joy and hope in this life and eternal life to come. We should never forget that we serve our Maker who has made us and all things.

Dear Father, We extol Thee our Maker and Creator. Amen.

Friday, October 2, 2015

Where Has all the Money Gone?

“Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all people.” Psalm 96:2

When Jesus said, “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel” He was not initiating a new idea. The Gospel, of course, was not revealed until Christ had died and was raised from the dead, but the call to declare God’s glory and His work to all people had been the call to God’s people, the Jews, since the time of Abraham. Mostly, however, they just didn’t do it.

What about today’s church? Have we gotten lost in our vision for the world? Have we joined the idea that God loves America more than anyone else so we should invest our dollars here more than any place else? Over 80% of the world’s Christian giving comes from the United States and roughly 90% of that is used exclusively in the United States. The first part makes sense; we are the richest nation on earth. But the second part? Should 5% of the world’s population consume 75% of God’s money on ourselves? Are we serious about the command to declare His glory among the nations?

Dear Father, Give us a true heart for the world. Amen.

The Friday Benediction

Thursday, October 1, 2015

The Message of God is for Everyone

“Hear this all peoples; give ear all inhabitants of the world.” Psalm 49:1

By no means is the Bible written just for the Jews or the Christians. The Bible is God’s proclamation to all people in all places at all times. It is His perfect, inspired, inerrant, and infallible guide for all mankind. The psalmist wants the world to hear God’s message because everyone everywhere needs God’s message. Before Jesus ascended into heaven He commissioned His followers to take His message and make it known to all people.

The psalmist said he need not worry about His fate for He trusted in God. He wants everyone else to know that they can have that same assurance of hope or that they must understand their absolute assurance of judgment. That is still our message. Trust Christ and live. Turn away from His free gift and perish. God’s message has always been consistent and He has always expected His followers to be eager messengers of that message.

Dear Father, Fill us with the joy that comes from sharing Your message of grace. Amen.