Todays scripture...

[WillyCamaro]

Jeremiah 17:7-8
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

[Meridian_Mike]

Amen!!

Thanks for posting those scriptures Willy!

[WillyCamaro]

Amen brother, it tis my pleasure.

[WillyCamaro]

"Sanctified by God the Father."
Jude 1

"Sanctified in Christ Jesus."

1 Corinthians 1:2

"Through sanctification of the Spirit."

1 Peter 1:2

Mark the union of the Three Divine Persons in all their gracious acts. How unwisely do those believers talk who make preferences in the Persons of the Trinity; who think of Jesus as if he were the embodiment of everything lovely and gracious, while the Father they regard as severely just, but destitute of kindness. Equally wrong are those who magnify the decree of the Father, and the atonement of the Son, so as to depreciate the work of the Spirit. In deeds of grace none of the Persons of the Trinity act apart from the rest. They are as united in their deeds as in their essence. In their love towards the chosen they are one, and in the actions which flow from that great central source they are still undivided. Specially notice this in the matter of sanctification. While we may without mistake speak of sanctification as the work of the Spirit, yet we must take heed that we do not view it as if the Father and the Son had no part therein. It is correct to speak of sanctification as the work of the Father, of the Son, and of the Spirit. Still doth Jehovah say, "Let us make man in our own image after our likeness," and thus we are "his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." See the value which God sets upon real holiness, since the Three Persons in the Trinity are represented as co-working to produce a Church without "spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing." And you, believer, as the follower of Christ, must also set a high value on holiness--upon purity of life and godliness of conversation. Value the blood of Christ as the foundation of your hope, but never speak disparagingly of the work of the Spirit which is your meetness for the inheritance of the saints in light. This day let us so live as to manifest the work of the Triune God in us.

AMEN!!

[WillyCamaro]

Matthew 4:4
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

[WillyCamaro]

"God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry?"
Jonah 4:9

Anger is not always or necessarily sinful, but it has such a tendency to run wild that whenever it displays itself, we should be quick to question its character, with this enquiry, "Doest thou well to be angry?" It may be that we can answer, "YES." Very frequently anger is the madman's firebrand, but sometimes it is Elijah's fire from heaven. We do well when we are angry with sin, because of the wrong which it commits against our good and gracious God; or with ourselves because we remain so foolish after so much divine instruction; or with others when the sole cause of anger is the evil which they do. He who is not angry at transgression becomes a partaker in it. Sin is a loathsome and hateful thing, and no renewed heart can patiently endure it. God himself is angry with the wicked every day, and it is written in His Word, "Ye that love the Lord, hate evil." Far more frequently it is to be feared that our anger is not commendable or even justifiable, and then we must answer, "NO." Why should we be fretful with children, passionate with servants, and wrathful with companions? Is such anger honourable to our Christian profession, or glorifying to God? Is it not the old evil heart seeking to gain dominion, and should we not resist it with all the might of our newborn nature? Many professors give way to temper as though it were useless to attempt resistance; but let the believer remember that he must be a conqueror in every point, or else he cannot be crowned. If we cannot control our tempers, what has grace done for us? Some one told Mr. Jay that grace was often grafted on a crab-stump. "Yes," said he, "but the fruit will not be crabs." We must not make natural infirmity an excuse for sin, but we must fly to the cross and pray the Lord to crucify our tempers, and renew us in gentleness and meekness after His own image.

Charles Spuregon

[Meridian_Mike]

Thanks Willy!

[WillyCamaro]

My pleasure Mike.

[WillyCamaro]

Philippians 2:9-11
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

[Meridian_Mike]

Philippians 2:9-11
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

When I read this, I began to wonder a bit about the "things under the earth" part of this scripture.

Do you think this means those who have died and are buried in the earth?

I know there are creatures that live just below the earth's surface but I guess I never really thought about the dead whether saved or lost that have died.....(????)
Maybe this is saying, just because you have died without Jesus, you will STILL BOW before Him at the great White Throne Judgement.

Any thoughts?

[WillyCamaro]

Philippians 2:9-11
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

When I read this, I began to wonder a bit about the "things under the earth" part of this scripture.

Do you think this means those who have died and are buried in the earth?

I know there are creatures that live just below the earth's surface but I guess I never really thought about the dead whether saved or lost that have died.....(????)
Maybe this is saying, just because you have died without Jesus, you will STILL BOW before Him at the great White Throne Judgement.

Any thoughts?

Great points Mike, I believe you are spot on. If I can remember correctly, that is the definition of "things under the earth".

[WillyCamaro]

"If thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it."
Exodus 20:25

God's altar was to be built of unhewn stones, that no trace of human skill or labour might be seen upon it. Human wisdom delights to trim and arrange the doctrines of the cross into a system more artificial and more congenial with the depraved tastes of fallen nature; instead, however, of improving the gospel carnal wisdom pollutes it, until it becomes another gospel, and not the truth of God at all. All alterations and amendments of the Lord's own Word are defilements and pollutions. The proud heart of man is very anxious to have a hand in the justification of the soul before God; preparations for Christ are dreamed of, humblings and repentings are trusted in, good works are cried up, natural ability is much vaunted, and by all means the attempt is made to lift up human tools upon the divine altar. It were well if sinners would remember that so far from perfecting the Saviour's work, their carnal confidences only pollute and dishonour it. The Lord alone must be exalted in the work of atonement, and not a single mark of man's chisel or hammer will be endured. There is an inherent blasphemy in seeking to add to what Christ Jesus in His dying moments declared to be finished, or to improve that in which the Lord Jehovah finds perfect satisfaction. Trembling sinner, away with thy tools, and fall upon thy knees in humble supplication; and accept the Lord Jesus to be the altar of thine atonement, and rest in him alone.

Many professors may take warning from this morning's text as to the doctrines which they believe. There is among Christians far too much inclination to square and reconcile the truths of revelation; this is a form of irreverence and unbelief, let us strive against it, and receive truth as we find it; rejoicing that the doctrines of the Word are unhewn stones, and so are all the more fit to build an altar for the Lord.

Charles Spurgeon

[WillyCamaro]

John 15:10
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

[WillyCamaro]

Bishop of Our Souls

1 Peter 2:25 “For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (v. 25).

A flock of sheep in the field is notorious for its tendency to wander about. When the flock has no shepherd, individual sheep can end up far away from their flock and in great danger.

In his prophecy of the Suffering Servant, Isaiah tells us that we are like sheep that have gone astray (53:6). Like sheep, we are prone to wandering about aimlessly. We sin and lose our way, finding ourselves in all kinds of danger. As with sheep, we are in need of a shepherd to guard us and to keep us in the fold.

Of course, as today’s passage tells us, Jesus is this Shepherd (1 Peter 2:25). Our Savior is the one who protects us and guides us. He is the one who restores us when we succumb to sin and find ourselves far from His presence.

Peter also says Jesus is the “overseer,” or “bishop” (kjv) of our souls. This is not surprising because the Greek term we translate as “bishop,” episkopos, has a meaning close to that of “shepherd.” In ancient Greece, episkopos could refer to any official who had a supervisory function. To do his job well, an episkopos had to be intimately aware of what his people were doing. He had to watch out for them to ensure they were prepared for anything that came their way.

Given that God sees all that there is, we can think of Him as the greatest bishop of all. This has frightened some people; the existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre embraced atheism because he could not stand the idea of a being who knew everything about him. For those who are not in Christ, the existence of an all-seeing God is a horrible prospect because it means that they will be subject to perfect judgment for their transgressions. Yet even though our Creator does gaze at us to evaluate the depths of our sin, we who are in Christ know that His watch over us is, in the final analysis, as a loving father.

Christ, the incarnate God Himself, is the holy, loving bishop of our souls. He is intensely concerned for His own and looks after us to preserve our souls and empower us to fulfill His purposes for us. Just as our Father in heaven knows every hair on our head (Matt. 10:30), so too does the Son have His eye on us every second. Indeed, He is concerned with even the smallest details of our lives.
Coram deo: Living before the face of God

Dr. R.C. Sproul says that you can summarize the Bible thusly: God, who by His mighty power and wisdom sustains the universe in all its complexities, nevertheless has His eye on each and every one of His people, so intent is He on their welfare. Even when human shepherds and elders fail us, Christ is leading us through the valley, keeping us safe that we might see Him one day in glory (Ps. 23). Let us be comforted by this fact no matter what is happening in our lives.

R.C. Sproul

[WillyCamaro]

James 1:21
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

[WillyCamaro]

Jeremiah 32:17
Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:

[Meridian_Mike]

Thanks for posting Willy!

I enjoy reading those devotions you are posting.

[BFORSE]

Jeremiah 32:17
Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:

God the designer, creator, sustainer and determiner of our fate; truly the only one who can save us from His own wrath. May we repent, trust and rest in what He has done for us, because we could never do it ourselves.

Thank you WillyCamaro for posting His Word.

[WillyCamaro]

Jeremiah 32:17
Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:

God the designer, creator, sustainer and determiner of our fate; truly the only one who can save us from His own wrath. May we repent, trust and rest in what He has done for us, because we could never do it ourselves.

Thank you WillyCamaro for posting His Word.

Amen brother, you got it.

[WillyCamaro]

Thanks for posting Willy!

I enjoy reading those devotions you are posting.

My pleasure brother; I love reading them too. Mr. Spuregon & Sproul bring much peace, and joy to my soul. It's so refreshing to find men that were truely lead by the hand, and the spirit of God.

[WillyCamaro]

"They gathered manna every morning."
Exodus 16:21

Labour to maintain a sense of thine entire dependence upon the Lord's good will and pleasure for the continuance of thy richest enjoyments. Never try to live on the old manna, nor seek to find help in Egypt. All must come from Jesus, or thou art undone forever. Old anointings will not suffice to impart unction to thy spirit; thine head must have fresh oil poured upon it from the golden horn of the sanctuary, or it will cease from its glory. To-day thou mayest be upon the summit of the mount of God, but he who has put thee there must keep thee there, or thou wilt sink far more speedily than thou dreamest. Thy mountain only stands firm when he settles it in its place; if he hide his face, thou wilt soon be troubled. If the Saviour should see fit, there is not a window through which thou seest the light of heaven which he could not darken in an instant. Joshua bade the sun stand still, but Jesus can shroud it in total darkness. He can withdraw the joy of thine heart, the light of thine eyes, and the strength of thy life; in his hand thy comforts lie, and at his will they can depart from thee. This hourly dependence our Lord is determined that we shall feel and recognize, for he only permits us to pray for "daily bread," and only promises that "as our days our strength shall be." Is it not best for us that it should be so, that we may often repair to his throne, and constantly be reminded of his love? Oh! how rich the grace which supplies us so continually, and doth not refrain itself because of our ingratitude! The golden shower never ceases, the cloud of blessing tarries evermore above our habitation. O Lord Jesus, we would bow at thy feet, conscious of our utter inability to do anything without thee, and in every favour which we are privileged to receive, we would adore thy blessed name and acknowledge thine unexhausted love.

Charles Spuregon

[WillyCamaro]

Colossians 2:9-10
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Amen!

[WillyCamaro]

Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

[WillyCamaro]

Psalm 138:2
I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

[WillyCamaro]

The Resurrection Predicted

Matthew 17:22–23 “Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day’” (vv. 22–23).

Peter’s great confession of Christ marks a turning point in our Lord’s life and ministry (16:13–20). Following the events that happen in and around Caesarea Philppi, a town 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus begins His final journey south, setting His face toward Jerusalem where He will atone for the sins of His people (Luke 9:51–53). He is single-minded in His efforts to arrive in the Holy City and will not deviate from His course, though He will continue to fulfill His messianic calling along the way (Matt. 17:14–20; 20:29–34).

Teaching remains integral to this calling, and in today’s passage Jesus makes the second major prediction of His death and resurrection (17:22–23). Notably, unlike Peter after Christ’s first prediction, none of the disciples contests this news (16:21–23; 17:23). On the contrary, the Twelve seem to be increasingly resigned to this fact, for they are “greatly distressed” by the words of Jesus.

Their sorrow also proves that the disciples do not yet believe Christ will rise again. In one sense this is understandable; resurrection is not something you see every day. Nevertheless, Jesus’ teaching should convince them His death will be temporary. Sadly, they are guided more by experience than the Word of God (John 1:1). John Calvin warns us: “So great is the influence of preconceived opinion, that it brings darkness over the mind in the midst of the clearest light.”

The disciples should also have been able to foresee the Messiah’s resurrection because it is prophesied in several Old Testament passages. Isaiah 53 tells us that the Suffering Servant will “divide the spoil,” “see his offspring,” and “be satisfied” when His sacrifice has brought righteousness to many (vv. 10–12). All of this happens after the Servant’s death (vv. 1–9), and since dead men cannot see or share the fruit of their labor, God’s Servant must rise to life for this to be fulfilled. Hosea 6:1–2 also points us toward the resurrection. In its original context, the prophet looks forward to restored life for Israel that comes after God punishes His people for their transgressions. Fallen Israel cannot bear the Lord’s wrath on sin effectually; thus, the Messiah must do so in its place and thereby be vindicated through resurrection for Himself and His people.
Coram deo: Living before the face of God

Many Christians do not think about the future resurrection, assuming that we will live forever in heaven as spirits without a body. Yet this is not the Bible’s picture of our final state. Though there is an intermediate state in which the believer dwells with God before the last judgment, Scripture says that we will have renewed bodies in a new heaven and earth (Rev. 21). Christianity does not believe the body was created evil; it looks forward to its full restoration.

R.C. Sproul