JUNE 27, 2024

 “One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.” (John 1:40-42)

The book of John opens by describing Jesus as “the Word” and clarifying that He is God’s Son. After this prologue, the chapter tells us who John the Baptist was and his role in paving the way for Christ, saying that he “came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.” (Vs.7-8) This role is made clear in verses 35-37 when John the Baptist is standing with two of his followers, John, son of Zebedee, and Andrew, and they see Jesus a ways off. Upon seeing this, John encourages his followers that this is “the Lamb of God” whom they should follow instead.

Andrew and John, the writer of this book, are the first to respond to John the Baptist’s call and begin their journey with Jesus. Scripture does not specify whether Andrew and John were the only ones who heard John, at all, or if they were simply the only two who grasped the significance and acted on it. Regardless, these two men, in their immediate and unwavering response, set the precedent for all future disciples of Jesus.

After this profound encounter with Jesus, Andrew doesn’t hesitate for a moment. He sprints to his brother Simon, unable to contain the joy and excitement of the news. In a powerful display of brotherly love, he shares the revelation of the true Messiah’s arrival with his brother. Imagine the radiant smile on Andrew’s face as he eagerly imparts the most significant news to one of the most important people in his life. “He’s here! I told you He’d come!” he probably exclaimed, his voice filled with anticipation and conviction, as he led Simon to Jesus. Bringing people to Jesus seems to be Andrew’s instinctive response to every situation or new development, and who could blame him.

Jesus will soon rename Andrew’s brother Simon, “Peter.” This is from an Aramaic word transliterated into Greek as Kēphas and translated into Greek as Petros, meaning “stone.” Peter proves to be an emotional, volatile man in the New Testament. It’s safe to assume he already had that reputation when he met Jesus for the first time. There’s divine humor in Jesus naming a volatile, emotional, unstable person “Rock.” I used to think that Jesus’ renaming of Peter was simply His understanding that He would have multiple Simons in His crew. However, knowing the Greek origin and the irony is essential when understanding the man. Long before he’d done anything worth noticing, Jesus could already see his potential and gave Peter a name worthy of his future.

Andrew tells Peter that Jesus is “the Messiah.” John often explains Jewish customs and words to his readers, and he translates this word as “Anointed One.” Hebrew writing uses the word Mashiyach. The term is translated in Greek as Christos, from which we get the English title “Christ.” He excitedly tells his brother about the Christ.

When you have good news to tell, of an essential nature, like Andrew did here, who is the first person you tell? For many, it might be a beloved sibling, a best friend, or a parent. I had this friend in college who, after receiving a good grade, would immediately call and inform her mom about it. Her mom would celebrate with her, and express how proud she was. This is to say that when a person obtains big news, a loved one is typically at the top of the list for people to inform. If Peter hadn’t been home, I do not doubt that Andrew would have waited at his house for his return or actively sought out his brother, wherever he was.

JUNE 25, 2024

 “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:” (Titus 1:5)

Notice the apostolic, biblical, view of church order and discipleship. When Paul sent Titus to Crete, he sent him with an appointed task. Titus had the Spirit of God as much as Paul had the Spirit of God. As the Spirit of God had taught Paul, so the Spirit of God taught Titus. Yet, Titus received instruction from Paul and did as Paul asked him. Paul did not send Titus open-ended, stating, “When you get to Crete, do what you think is best,” or, “Whatever you are led to do, do it.” This was not the case because the Kingdom of God is one of order. Titus was being led of the Spirit when he was directed by Paul and submitted to Paul’s instruction. One not led of the Spirit is not willing to neither hear instruction nor submit to instruction.

But it must be noted that the instruction Paul gave was not that of his own, but he had directed Titus according to the will of God. Paul had said of himself that he was a wise masterbuilder. He said this not in pride, thinking highly of himself, but he made such a statement because he was taught of Christ and followed after Christ. Christ is the Wise Masterbuilder Who has been building His church and does build His church! Paul had sent Titus with an appointed end because he knew the will of God and sought for God’s will to be accomplished in the church of God. Titus did as Paul had asked him because Titus was persuaded that Paul knew the will of God and he was being taught by Apostle Paul! Paul was a mature man in the faith, while Titus was growing in the faith.

The church is never without these two men. The church is never without mature men in the faith and men who are growing in the faith. Therefore, God’s Kingdom is never without church order and discipleship.

JUNE 20, 2024

 “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5:24-26)

Those who trust in Christ have been set free. The Galatians were in danger of wasting that freedom by veering off in one of two directions. On the one hand, false teachers were pressuring them into circumcision to be sure of being right with God. On the other hand, freedom can also be squandered on serving only our sinful desires instead of investing it through serving others in love. God’s Spirit gives us the power to do that if we will follow His lead. Life in the Spirit bears powerful and positive fruit in a Christian’s life. Paul has vehemently argued that we are saved by faith alone and that our works are helpless in obtaining salvation. Paul not only taught that this meant we were saved by grace alone, but that true salvation could not be lost due to our works, either. While this teaching is actual, Paul also adds that those who belong to God give up the right to keep holding on to their sin.

Those who trust in Christ are not immediately eradicated of all desire for sin, but Paul has written that two significant things do change when we are saved. First is recognizing that sin is a path leading only to death. Second, God gives us the power in His Spirit to win the battle against our sinful desires. We may sometimes still give in to our instinct to sin, but Christians are no longer people controlled by our sin. We have agreed sin is worthless, and we have declared, in Christ, our intention to move with Him away from sin by the grace and power of God.

Paul has described what it looks like to live as one who is free in Christ. He has been clear that this is not freedom to do whatever feels good. On the contrary, true salvation is freedom from being controlled by our sinful desires. This happens when we walk by and are led by the Spirit. True Christians trust God’s Spirit to set the direction they will follow.

Paul says living by the Spirit involves keeping in step with the Spirit. It consists in adjusting our life according to the direction the Spirit leads. In other words, it involves submitting to God’s way, but we are still the ones taking each next step. This will not happen automatically. It is something we must choose from day to day. We must often decide to let the Spirit lead moment by moment as we follow after Christ.

In this chapter, Paul describes how those in Christ should live. Believers ought to live in the power of and by the direction of the Spirit of God. Life in the Spirit of God is the pinnacle of human experience on this side of eternity.

But what if we skip this kind of obedience? What if a Christian doesn’t participate in walking by the Spirit? Paul answers that in Vs. 26: We become conceited, proud, and arrogant. Life in the Spirit of God requires submission to God and humility. It is about Him and not us. Proud people are in the business of self-promotion, which provokes others to compete with us instead of serving alongside us.

Without the power and direction of the Holy Spirit, our life becomes a destructive and self-serving religious existence. Rather than fall into that pit, let us hear what the Apostle is saying and seek to follow the Spirit’s lead.

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JUNE 18, 2024

 “…I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.” (Ezekiel 36:11)

The wise man said, “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof.” (Eccles. 7:8) We might feel inclined to challenge such a statement with respect to many things. Is “the day of death” really better than “the day of one’s birth”? (Eccles. 7:1) These seemingly incredible statements make perfect sense when seen as pertaining to the new life in Christ. God’s dealings with His people are best at last. Godliness has the “promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” (I Tim. 4:8) Even now we have life more abundant, but that which is to come hereafter will be glorious beyond description. In the context of this earthly life itself, God’s dealings are best at last. They have much kindness and mercy in the morning, but they shall have more in the evening. “I will settle you after your old estates.”

This principle held true with God’s ancient people, the Jews; they had the best wine at the last. They had milk and honey flowing, just as the Lord had before promised but the feast of fat things, full of marrow and wine on the lees well refined, were given at the latter end of their day, when Christ and the Gospel at last appeared in the New Covenant.

When other nations fall, they rise no more, but to the covenant people, a future remained. They were carried away, but their return, which had been promised beforehand, occurred. Their glorious temple was destroyed by the Babylonians, but under order of the Persian King Cyrus, whom the Lord called “Mine anointed,” the returning captives built a new one, which glory excelled the first, in that, “The Desire of All Nations,” came into it.

The true glory of Israel is seen in the latter days, when the Lion of the tribe of Judah appears: He Who is“the Son of David, the Son of Abraham,” Whose Kingdom shall know no end. It is to Him that the gathering of the people shall be, and they shall be gathered from every nation, so that the seed of Abraham shall include all who are gathered to Christ from all nations of the earth. All who will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ shall share in the excellent glory.

What about the good of our own beginnings, and the better things that we can look for afterward? As Israel’s land, in the beginning, flowed with milk and honey, so our first estate had a singular blessedness about it. Jeremiah calls upon us to “remember the love of thine espousals.” Oftentimes in looking back, we might sing-

“Where is the blessedness I knew

When first I saw the Lord?

Where is the soul-refreshing view

Of Jesus and His Word?”

From day one, we enjoyed a vivid sense of full forgiveness, and the joy of true faith. We enjoyed victories through grace over sinful inclinations and temptations. We enjoyed new delights in prayer, the Word, and communion with the saints. Truly all things were becoming new, and the joy of the Lord was our strength. These were all new delights that before we thought impossible.

Can we really look for something better than our beginnings? The Lord will surely keep the promise of the text if we will walk more closely with Him. He will strengthen our faith and make us more steadfast. He will give us greater understanding. Surely, He will make our love more constant, practical, and enduring, so that when we remember the love of our espousal, we shall find that it has not diminished, but rather grown richer and stronger. Our usefulness will be more extended and more abiding; our whole being will be more mature. We are to shine “more and more unto the perfect day.” (Prov. 4:18) Growth in grace brings with it many good things. May we be ever advancing in grace as we “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:14)

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