Abundant Grace

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Accountability to God

“The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness; the world and those who dwell therein.” Psalm 24:1

This psalm reminds us of our origin. We were made by God. I write books and all my books contain a copyright containing my name. I write books with a purpose – to glorify God. They do not bring Him much glory in the hands of some people, however. Sometimes they are given as gifts to people who don’t read them. The books still glorify God, but it is the people who miss the point.

God made us and the gift of the world around us. He did it all for His own glory. That people who were made by Him do not glorify Him does not diminish His glory or His purpose. But ultimately God, unlike me, will call to account all who have been created to explain what they have done with His glory. Since nature alone cannot teach man what his full accountability to God is; it is the Christ mandated duty of believers to relay that truth. That is, in fact, part of our own accountability.

Dear Father, Fill us with Your Spirit to fulfill the great commission. Amen.

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Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Nature is Half a Missionary

“There is no speech nor language where there voice is not heard.” Psalm 19:3

One careful look at nature, its scope, its power, its order, and its intricacy clearly reveal the hand of there being but one Creator, God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. Paul states in Romans 1 that a simple view of nature leaves everyone without excuse for not worshipping the one true God. The psalmist says there is no land or language where the clear voice of nature fails to declare the glory of God.

What nature cannot reveal, however, is the full redemption story of the Father sending the Son to be the Savior of the world. For that message to be known God has charged us to add our voices to His in the proclamation of His great love for mankind in sending His Son to die for our sins. Creation proclaims His glory and we, His new creation, proclaim the Gospel story.

Dear Father, Help us gladly proclaim Christ as Your creation boldly proclaims Your glory. Amen.

Monday, September 28, 2015

Missions in the Psalms

“Why do the heathen rage?” “Kiss the Son lest He be angry and you perish in the way.” Psalm 2:1 & 12

The Law, Genesis through Deuteronomy, clearly declared the missionary call that the message of salvation was for the whole earth. Salvation, as Jesus said in John 4, was from the Jews, but it was not just for the Jews. It was for all mankind who are introduced in Psalm 2 as “the heathen”. They, and the Jews together, raged against God’s divine plan for mankind.

Their raging, however, has no effect on God’s plan or His purposeful will in accomplishing that plan. He did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. Therefore this psalm ends with the grand invitation – come to the Son, embrace Him as your Friend and be saved lest you perish and face only the wrath of God. “Blessed are they who trust in Him.” Psalm 2:12

Dear Father, Strengthen us as we carry the message of Christ to others. Amen.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Missionaries by Simple Obedience

“Therefore be careful to observe all the {commandments} in the sight of peoples (Gentiles) who will say, ‘Surely this is a wise and understanding people’.” Deuteronomy 4:6

Do you find yourself a little tongue tied when you want to tell others about Jesus? How about if they asked you instead of you initiating the conversation? Today’s passage tells us that our lives of obedience will attract attention and cause people to ask us why we live this way. This same idea is repeated in I Peter where he tells us the world will note our changed lives and ask us why we live this new way?

The Israelites were supposed to be witnesses with their lives which were directed by living according to the Commandments. People would notice them and inquire about God? Our lives are to be a living witness as we live out the pure commandments of God. Our lives are supposed to be the world’s introduction to Christ.

Dear Father, Help us to live as imitators of Christ and be a sweet testimony to others of Your grace. 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

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Thursday, September 24, 2015

"Home" Missions

“So that you and your son and your grandson might fear the Lord.” Deuteronomy 6:2

Jesus has issued the command that we go to the ends of the earth carrying the blessed Gospel of salvation. But He also issued the admonition that there are some nearer at hand to whom we must also bring the Good News. No one exits the womb as a Christian. We all come into this world as lost sinners. God has no grandchildren, but He does have children with grandchildren.

In many years in the ministry I have seen too many children raised in the church and having given a profession of faith, no longer giving either time or care to God. Those children now have children themselves, grandchildren of concerned and faithful believers. We don’t always have to find the lost somewhere across the globe; we can find them at our grandchildren’s house. Jesus warns us not to overlook the spiritual needs of the little children. We need to make sure our missionary effort does not ignore the little children who we can most influence for Christ.

Dear Father, Thank You for grandchildren and help us make sure they know You. Amen.

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Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Love of Our Neighbor Compels Us to Missions

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Leviticus 19:18

How about you? Have you trusted Christ as your personal Savior? Based on your salvation by grace through faith do you look forward to a blessed eternity with Him, an eternity of peace and love and joy? Is that something that you love about your own future? How about your neighbor’s future? Do you love his as much as yours? Do you love your neighbor as yourself?

The Books of the Law (Genesis – Deuteronomy) are not just as set of sacrifices and “thou shalt nots”, they are books that call the followers of Christ to a life of action. Here in Leviticus we find the second great commandment, “love thy neighbor as thyself”. The Jews were to live a life that was so beautifully different than the lost around them that their neighbors were to want to know about God as well. Missions arises from this passage and continues to compel us to reach others with the hope and joy of the Gospel.

Dear Father, Help me to truly love my neighbor by witnessing to him of eternal hope. Amen

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Tuesday, September 22, 2015

The First Commandment Compels Missions

“You shall have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:3

How many gods can there be whom men might want to set above the God of heaven? The Hindus have over one million different gods, some so minor they are worshipped only in one village or another. The Muslims have but one god, but he is so strangely different from the True God that no one who knows the True God could confuse Him with their god. But these are just things we have created to pose as god.

We also create things that we call good but treat them like a god. We need money to live, but not to devote our lives to gaining or keeping. God told us to take a break from labor and to rest, but we have elevated sports and activities to the level of god. All of this idol worship is condemned by God and brings eternal judgment. Before idol worshippers perish they need to be warned of their fate and told of how to be saved. On Mt. Sinai God established the need for missions.

Dear Father, Help us to worship You only and to warn the lost of their fate. Amen.

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