Wealth Won’t Save You on the Great Day of the Lord

Scripture: Zephaniah 1: 14-18

The great day of the Lord is near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the day of the Lord will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. I will bring distress on the people and they will walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like filth. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth.

Scripture Commentary: The great day of the Lord is near and coming quickly

At the time of Zephaniah’s prophesy, the great day of the Lord was near. The Babylonians would soon come and destroy Jerusalem.

The day of the Lord is also near us. God promises a final judgement, a day of worldwide destruction. The Babylonians’ conquest occurred just as surely and horribly as Zephaniah predicted.

God’s final day of judgement is also sure, but so is his ability to save. Recognize, you have sinned. Know that your sin will bring judgement and that you cannot save yourself. God alone can save you from damnation.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Zephaniah Chapter 1

Do Not Turn to the Right or Left; Keep step with God

Scripture: Mark 10: 38-39

“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

Scripture Commentary: Stay on point with God – do not turn to the right or left

James and John wanted honored places alongside Jesus. They wanted to know where their places were. Would they sit at Jesus’ right or left at the table?

Today, people think they are working toward having a physical spot next to Jesus. We don’t realize that, if we live and love as Jesus did, there would be no need to question our place.

Jesus died and rose; he paid the price for our sins. We have an opportunity to turn to God. God’s plan is to give us what we want out of love, and in return we love him with faith.

We suffer, just as James and John, with serving others. Jesus will not ridicule us for wanting to know where we stand. Remember that God wants us with him.

Take it upon yourself to remove sin from your life. Repent and find a place with God. Live a Christ-like life and minister to the needs of others. Fill your life by serving Jesus Christ.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Mark Chapter 10

Honor the Father so That It May Go Well with You

Scripture: Malachi 1: 6-7

“A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty. “It is you priests who show contempt for my name. “But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ “By offering defiled food on my altar. “But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’ “By saying that the Lord’s table is contemptible.

Scripture Commentary: Give the Lord the honor he deserves

Are you worshipping the lord out of faith; giving him honor, thanking him and giving him praise? Or, are you worshipping him in hopes of getting something in return?

In your offerings, do you give God what is his, or are you giving him the smaller portion?

Keep in mind, all is God’s. What you have, he has given to you. God’s law requires only perfect goods from you, not your leftovers. If you give God your leftover time, money, and energy, then you repeat the same sin as those worshipers in Malachi’s time. They didn’t want to bring anything valuable to God.

What you offer to God reflects the honor you give Him.

Your way of giving shows your real Christian self. Give God only the best you have, not only the material things but also your time. God gave you his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, because he loves you. In return, give the best of yourself and love Him.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Malachi Chapter 1

Man Despised and Rejected Jesus

Scripture: Isaiah 53: 1-3

Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Scripture Commentary: God will cut off those who despise his son.

Jesus doesn’t “fit” into the mold of our narrow expectations of who the Messiah would be. People despised and rejected him. God chose to save the world through a humble servant, not a glorious king. Jesus, the Messiah, suffered for the sins of all people. God revealed this to his prophet, Isaiah.

The idea of a humble servant being the hero is contemptible to our human pride.

We create super heroes who fit worldly definitions of beauty and strength. We do not acknowledge the unbeatable and most awesome deed Jesus did for us. He, who was faultless, died for our sins.

We can’t understand how God works.

We don’t recognize what God is doing in our lives. There was nothing beautiful or majestic in the physical appearance of God’s servant. Israel miscalculated the servant’s importance and considered Jesus an ordinary man. Jesus is no ordinary man. God sent him to open the doors of his kingdom to us. Jesus gave us the possibility of an eternal life in heaven.

Do you despise Jesus? Are you living a life where Jesus is ordinary?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Isaiah Chapter 53

Other Posts from the Book of Isaiah:
The Pit of Corruption is Dug for the Wicked
Jesus Is the One and Only
Value Others As You Do Yourself

Seek to Learn and Understand the Words of the Lord

Scripture: Amos 8: 11-14

“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land – not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. Men will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it. In that day, the lovely young women and the strong young men will faint because of thirst. They who swear by the shame of Samaria, or say, ‘As surely as your god lives, O Dan,’ or, ‘As surely as the god of Beersheba lives,’ they will fall, never to rise again.”

Scripture Commentary: Place the words of the Lord in your heart

When Amos brought his teachings, the people had no appetite for the words of the Lord. God took away the opportunity to hear his word as a consequence for their apathy.

Help those in your life turn to the Bible to answer their questions and needs

We have God’s word, the Bible. Many people still look everywhere for answers to life’s problems except in scripture. You can help by directing people to the Bible. Show them the verses – the words – that speak to their special needs and questions. God’s word is available to us. We have a duty to help others find it before the time comes when they cannot.

When you give time to God, are you devoting your heart to worship or is your religion a front for unethical practices? Do not turn a blind eye to the truth of God’s word.

There will come a time when you will not be able to turn to the Word. Seek him before it is too late.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Amos Chapter 8

The Lord Offers You A Seat At His Table

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10: 21,31

Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.(21) Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.(31)

Scripture Commentary: You cannot have both a seat at the Lord’s table and a seat at the devil’s.

At which table are you seated? If you wake up and tell yourself that today you will be a Christian but tomorrow you’ll act contrarily, you are wrong. If you think you can sit at both tables, you cannot.

You are either a Christian, living as God wants you to live, or you are not. There is no middle ground between God and Satan. You cannot switch back and forth moment to moment based on where you want to belong.

Your relationship with God is a commitment.

As followers of Christ, we must give him our total allegiance. We cannot, as Paul explains, have a seat at the Lord’s table and have a seat with the devil. To sit at God’s table is to commune with Jesus and identify with his death and resurrection.

To sit with Satan is to promote evil and worship of earthly things. Do not try to live two lives. At the end, you will be held accountable for one. Remember that no matter what, this life is only temporary. The next one is for eternity.

Read the Entire Chapter:
1 Corinthians Chapter 10

He Began to Cry Out, Have Mercy On Me!

Scripture: Mark 10: 46-48

And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

Scripture Commentary: Jesus hears us when we cry out to him

When we pray we cry out to Jesus. We often cry out to him seeking help; either for something we want or think we need. What are we doing in our lives that leaves us with a need for something?

God gives us everything we need, so what are we asking for? Did we use or did we waste what we had? We often call out to Jesus looking to gain something that we do not need, but something that is the object of our greed.

Jesus gives you what you need. What have you given him?

Jesus healed Bar-ti-mae’-us out of love. He gave you what you need, and sometimes he gives you the things you ask for, out of love. What have you done for Jesus out of love?

Have you taught his Word to others? Do you spread the word about what Jesus has done for you and for your family? Jesus gives you so much. What have you given?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Mark Chapter 10

Have you considered the Testimony in the Trial?

Scripture: Job 2: 2-3

And the Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”

Scripture Commentary: Have you considered why there are obstacles in your life?

God shines a spotlight with the question, “Have you considered my servant Job?” Throughout our lives we become Job. When things happen to us, good or bad, we question God’s reasons. We like the spotlight when we are the recipient of something that we want. Why does he think we are deserving of gifts? But when it’s something we don’t want, we ask why has he let something bad happen to us? When things happen to us, it may be a message from God to us, a family member, or even our friends and coworkers.

Have you considered that your obstacles are the blessings that help you grow?

Some people are only faithful to God when they feel his blessings. They do not consider the obstacles he gives us blessings because of the work and struggle they entail. Some believe that being a follower of God makes them immune to trouble, but that is not true.

If you thought you were losing everything, would you draw nearer to God or blame him for your pain? Satan believed that if Job lost everything he would curse God. It is common that when calamity strikes, people question God’s justice. That was not the case of Job, and it is not the case of those who stand by their faith.

God did not allow Satan to destroy Job, and he will not allow Satan to destroy you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Job Chapter 2

If God is for us, who can be against us?

Scripture: Romans 8: 31-34

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Scripture Commentary: Jesus intercedes for us; He is always with us

These verses are especially for those who do not think they are good enough to receive God’s love. Do you think that you are not worthy of God’s salvation? Do you exclude yourself from the forgiveness and mercy God has for us? Just remember the words in the Scripture, “If God is for us, who can be against us!”

God gave his only son, hoping we might turn to him and serve him. He gave his son to you. With his son, he gave salvation to everyone. Christ gave his life for you; he will not turn around and condemn you. He will not withhold any of the tools you need to live for him and with him.

Jesus always advocates for you

Paul says that Jesus is interceding for you in heaven. God acquitted you and removed your sin and guilt. It is Satan, not God, who accuses you and guilts you. Satan strikes all the time. Jesus always advocates for you; he stands at God’s right hand to present your case.

No matter what happens to you, no matter where you are, you can never be lost to God’s love. If you believe these overwhelming assurances, you will not be afraid of anything. In Christ, you are a super conqueror, and his love will protect you at all times.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 8

Money Can’t Buy What Is Eternal

Scripture: Acts 8: 9,13,18

But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Sa-ma’-ri-a, giving out that himself was some great one: (9) Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.(13) And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money.(18)

Scripture Commentary: Money won’t get you into heaven

In our world, everything has a price. We live in a world of wealth, of bribes, and of materialism. Simon thought he could buy the Holy Spirit’s power with money. Peter harshly rebuked him. The only way to receive God’s power is to do what Peter told Simon to do; turn from sin, ask God for forgiveness, and fill up with his Spirit. God gives the Holy Spirit in return for you giving yourself to him.

You can’t put a price on God

Can you calculate the price value of our Lord Jesus Christ? “O Lord, if you get me out of this mess, I will be good,” or “If you help me hit the lottery, I will do what you will have me to do.” Do these phrases sound familiar? Do you have a price for your service to God?

Do not put a price on giving yourself to God. God wants you to serve him out of your faith. No amount of money can buy salvation and forgiveness. None can buy God’s love. Give yourself to our Lord Jesus Christ. He will show you the way to salvation.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Acts Chapter 8