Monthly Archives: May 2024

Bible, Blessing, Following, Glory, Heaven, Praise, Scripture, Spiritual

BLESS YOUR HEART

EPHESIANS 1:3

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”

“Bless your heart” can be an expression of disgust or an expression of wishing someone well. It’s really our choice how we use it. It’s kind of joke here in the South when you use that expression “bless your heart.” It usually means you feel sorry for the person. You see yourself as smarter or wiser than them. If only they could measure up to you.

That is not how Paul uses it here. He is truly worshipping God. He is praising Him for “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” The word “places” is not in the original Greek. Actually “heavenly places” is one word, epouranios. It means the heavenly sphere or the sphere of spiritual activities.” Paul knew we live in a spiritual dimension, not just a physical. And he knew God operates in our lives through the spiritual.

APPLICATION

Let’s look at both sides of this “blessing.” Paul first blesses God. Some people think we are not told to bless God. In Luke 2:28 we read this about Simeon, “then he took Him in his arms, and blessed God…” Over in James 3:9-10 where James talks about the tongue, we read, “9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way.” Our blessing of God is lifting our praise to Him, recognizing all He has done in and through us.

Then Paul says God has blessed us. We read in Hebrews 6:13-14, “13 For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear an oath by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, ‘INDEED I WILL GREATLY BLESS YOU AND I WILL GREATLY MULTIPLY YOU.’” God promised His blessings to Abraham, and He promises them to us.

In one of Christ’s last acts on earth He blessed the disciples. Look at Luke 24:50-51, “50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven.” Wow! The last thing the disciples heard from Him was His blessing. He is still giving it today. Do you hear Him?

Thank You, Father, for blessing me beyond what I could ever ask or think.

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Bible, Grace, Greetings, Peace, Scripture, Testimony, Witnessing

A PROPER GREETING

EPHESIANS 1:2

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

My mom used to tell me when I was five or six years old, I would walk down main street with her in our small, South Georgia town of Pelham and walk right up to people, stick out my hand and say, “Hey, how you doing?” She said she knew then I was going to be a preacher or a politician. I wouldn’t call my mom a prophet, but here I am six decades later in full time ministry.

Paul uses this expression in Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Philippians 1:2;  1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; 1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4; and Philemon 1:3. Why does he start his epistles that way? I believe it is because the recipients of these letters needed to hear it. They needed to hear more about the grace of God in their lives. They needed to hear more about peace, something which often escaped them. This greeting wooed them to read more.

APPLICATION

Unfortunately, many of us greet each other without grace and peace. We greet gruffly or inconsiderately. We harbor grudges and spurn the other person. We are not following Paul’s example of grace and peace when we do that. I know it’s now seen as a cliché but “What Would Jesus Do”? You know what He would do. He would greet each person with love and respect, in grace and peace.

Do you know what you are doing when you extend grace and peace to someone? To say “grace to you” means you wish them favor with God. Who in your life could use that? Everyone? Probably! But God’s favor isn’t just about giving them something. It’s about eternal favor through His Son, Jesus. Don’t you want that for everyone?

And to say “peace from God our Father” is to wish peace of mind. It was a common Jewish farewell. It was wishing for the best health (welfare) of an individual. Shouldn’t we be wishing that for everyone as well? We may not like someone too much but wishing them well is the right thing to do – always.

How will you greet the next person you meet? Hopefully with grace and peace.

Lord, let me greet as Jesus would have.

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Bible, Blessing, Faith, Faithfulness, Greetings, Letters, Love, Messages, Scripture

THE FAITHFUL

EPHESIANS 1:1

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are  at Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus:”

How you begin a letter can set the tone for the rest. It may determine whether the reader will actually read the rest of the letter. For instance, if you received a letter from a company to which you had applied for a job, and it started with “We regret to inform you,” you would probably just throw it in the trash. Let’s look at how Paul, the apostle with the most letters in the New Testament, starts Ephesians.

Paul knew how to start. Look at how he addresses the readers. He calls them “saints” and “faithful.” Paul loved these people, many he had personally met during his time there, because of their love for Christ. Paul spent over two years there teaching them how to live in Christ. Now, as he sits in a Roman prison (his first imprisonment), he is thinking about them and writes to further instruct them.

APPLICATION

Are you faithful? Is this a word that would be used to describe you? If I were to have a tombstone, I would want it to read, “Here lies the remains of Carl Willis, a faithful servant of Christ.” What could be more flattering? In Matthew 25:21 we read this regarding the master’s words to his slave to whom he had given the talents while he was gone. “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’” Isn’t that what you want to hear from Jesus?

In 1 Corinthians 4:17, Paul says this about Timothy. “For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church.” Paul didn’t hand out that description lightly. He saw faithfulness in the life of Timothy and told others.

We are faithful to our Lord because He is always faithful. He will never leave us or forsake us. He is there when we are low and when we are high. He is there in our hurts and our joys. God is the Faithful One. I pray your faithfulness will grow. I pray you will strive to please the One who has given you everything. Be faithful.

Father, thank You for giving me a faith that grows and grows.

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Bible, Eternal Life, Eternity, Farewells, Goodbyes, Grace, Love, Messages, Scripture

FAREWELLS

GALATIANS 6:18

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen”

Saying goodbye can be hard. When you know you probably won’t see someone for a long time, it can be even harder. My daughter had a baby shower recently, and a lot of her friends came. Some were her friends from high school. I had the privilege to see a couple of them before they left our home. When they left, we hugged, knowing it may be years before we see each other again. I love those girls (they will always be girls to me) and look forward to our next visit.

Paul signs off this letter to the Galatians with a simple but heartfelt goodbye. He wishes them grace but not just any grace. He wishes them “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Notice he said “our” and not “your.” He joins himself with them. They are brothers in faith. You may notice in your translation that “and sisters” is italicized. These words are not in the original Greek but are implied. Paul would not mean to imply that he was leaving the women out. He just addresses the men. Then he wishes this grace upon their spirit. A comforting last thought.

APPLICATION

Matthew Henry says this about verse 18. “We need desire no more to make us happy than the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle does not pray that the law of Moses, or the righteousness of works, but that the grace of Christ, might be with them; that it might be in their hearts and with their spirits, quickening, comforting, and strengthening them: to all which he sets his Amen; signifying his desire that so it might be, and his faith that so it would be.” What a great way to explain these last words.

If you had to write a letter to someone today, knowing you may never see them again, what would you say? How would you close the letter? Jesus’ last words to us are in Matthew 28:18-20. “18 ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.;” That’s quite a sendoff.

How about the very last words of the Bible in Revelation 22:20-21? “20 He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.” Isn’t it interesting that John closes the Bible with the same words – the grace of the Lord Jesus? When you have experienced His grace, goodbyes to fellow believers are not forever. We will see each other again. Amen?

Thank You, Lord, for securing my future so that my goodbyes are just temporary.

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Affliction, Attacks, Battles, Bible, Challenging, Consequences, Enslavement, Following, God's Will, Healing, Markers, Scars, Wounds

THE MARKS OF JESUS

GALATIANS 6:17

“From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.”

I’ve got several scars on my body. I can tell you all about them. Cut knee when I was just a boy. Pencil point in my palm, cancer surgery on my chest. Should I go on? I am sure you have your own scars and your own stories. Today, as Paul comes to the next to the last verse of his letter to the Galatians, he reminds them once again of his legitimacy as an apostle of Christ.

Paul had obviously been given trouble by these Judaizers who were trying to undermine what he had taught. They were constantly questioning his right to even teach. But he reminds them all that he had paid the price. We know of Paul’s beatings by rods. We remember how he was stoned. Paul had his share of scars and his own stories for each one. They were all for the cause of Christ, and he bore them proudly.

APPLICATION

What scars do you have in your journey to follow Jesus? You may have some emotional scars? You may have been beaten for your faith. The Greek word for “marks” is stigmata. It is only used right here in the New Testament. It literally means the brand a slave had burned upon him to show his master’s ownership. It also referred to the brands inflicted on those who were committed to serve in a pagan temple. Paul had his marks, as I mentioned above, which showed his loyalty to Jesus.

I am writing this blog on Memorial Day, a holiday we keep in the U.S. to remember those who have given their life in service to our country. They bore the ultimate sacrifice. They were mortally wounded. Their scars cost them their lives. There are people all over this world today who have given their lives for the cause of Christ. Just this week an American couple was killed in Haiti. They were missionaries who were killed by gang members. They entered heaven bearing the marks of Christ.

Reread the crucifixion verses and see the marks Jesus received. He was scourged, beaten, nailed to a cross, speared in His side. We may never receive those kinds of marks, but we will have marks. Wear your marks proudly. When people see you, let them be reminded of your loyalty to your master.

I thank You, Lord, for allowing me to be scarred for Your sake.

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Accountability, Bible, Choices, Circumcision, Commands, Disciples, Following, God's Will, Heart, Holiness, Law, Scripture

FOLLOW THE RULE

GALATIANS 6:16

“And all who will follow this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.”

Are you a rule follower? I guess I am for the most part. I have to admit, I don’t always drive the speed limit. Other than that, I guess I follow the rules of law in our country. I pay my taxes. I don’t commit any crimes. I am just so glad I don’t have to worry about following a long list of rules set down by God. Now, don’t get me wrong, I do follow His commands set forth in Scripture as best I can. But I am free in Christ.

So, what is Paul talking about here – “all who will follow this rule”? What rule? The Greek word translated as “rule” is kanon, which means a measuring rod, usually a cane or reed used as a standard of measure. Paul expected believers to keep themselves holy. That was the measuring rod. It wasn’t about keeping the law. It was about obeying God. What is God’s standard? Holiness. Paul says when we do that, we will have peace and mercy and prove ourselves as the true Israel of God.

APPLICATION

Psalm 51:16-17 gives us a clear picture of what God expects of us. “16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You do not take pleasure in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, God, You will not despise.” This is the “rule” Paul is referring to. God isn’t concerned with gathering a bunch of rule followers. He wants sincere followers of Christ.

Paul probably had the words of Jeremiah ringing through his mind as he talked about circumcision and rules. Jeremiah 4:4 says, “‘Circumcise yourselves to the LORD and remove the foreskins of your hearts, men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,’” It wasn’t about the physical. It was all about the spiritual. Our hearts need to bear the mark of Jesus. We don’t need to bear a physical mark on our bodies.

So, let me ask you again, are you a rule follower? I pray you are. I pray you are following the rule set forth by God. Turn to His Son, Jesus, and let Him give you a new heart. If you have done that, then walk in Him. Surrender your heart to Him afresh each and every day. Amen? Amen!

Lord, I am thankful I have been considered worthy to be one of Your followers because of Jesus.

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Bible, Creation, Eternal Life, God's Will, Indwelling, Redemption, Scripture

A NEW CREATION

GALATIANS 6:15

“For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.”

Man can’t create a thing. We can make stuff from stuff, but we can’t create a single thing. We grow stuff in labs. We plant seeds and watch them grow. We paint art. All of these can display our creative nature. But we, as mere humans, do not have the capability to create anything.

In these last few verses of this letter to the Galatians, Paul begins to wrap it up. In fact, this is the last verse which is addressing the main issue raised by the Judaizers – circumcision. The remaining three verses are his closing remarks. I love how Paul finishes his diatribe on circumcision. He negates it. The key is that we are born again – created again – through Jesus. That’s the real mark of a believer, not a fleshly sign. It’s internal. It’s a circumcision of the heart.

APPLICATION

There are so many verses we could look at concerning our new creation in Christ, but one is probably the most recognized. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” The word for “creation” here and in today’s verse are the same. It’s the Greek word ktisis, which always refers to a divine work. God does this creating, not man.

In Mark 10:6 we read these words of Christ, “‘But from the beginning of creation, God CREATED THEM MALE AND FEMALE.’” Just as God created Adam and Eve in the garden, along with all our nature, He has recreated us in the image of Christ. We have a brand new life.

Let me show you one more verse – Ephesians 2:10. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Do you see it now? If you are in Christ, you are brand new. Your old self is gone, dead, crucified, buried. You are a new creation in Jesus. New babies need their parents. You, as a new creation, need your Heavenly Father. Lean on Him. He can lead you in the right path.

Thank You, Father, for giving me a new life in Christ.

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Bible, Boasting, Cross, Glorify, Glory, Mediator, Payment, Redemption, Sacrifice, Salvation, Scripture

GLORY IN THE CROSS

GALATIANS 6:14

“But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

The title for today’s blog confuses the lost world. How can we glory in such a cruel death? The following link gives you a pretty good description of the Roman cross. It was an awful way to die.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/crucifixion-capital-punishment

But we believers understand it is more than just the way Jesus died. It was that He died for us.

Paul had plenty to boast about. In fact, he lists those things in Philippians 3:4-6. “4 If anyone else thinks he is confident in the flesh, I have more reason: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.” But he knew the only thing worthy of boasting about was the Lord Jesus.

APPLICATION

I was thinking what to write here today, but I can’t say it any better than Albert Barnes. Read what he said about this boasting in the cross.

“But to the Christian, that cross is the subject of glorying. It is so because:

  1. Of the love of Him who suffered there;
  2. Of the purity and holiness of His character, for the innocent died there for the guilty;
  3. Of the honor there put on the Law of God by His dying to maintain it unsullied;
  4. Of the reconciliation there made for sin, accomplishing what could be done by no other oblation, and by no power of man;
  5. Of the pardon there procured for the guilty;
  6. Of the fact that through it we become dead to the world, and are made alive to God;
  7. Of the support and consolation which goes from that cross to sustain us in trial; and,
  8. Of the fact that it procured for us admission into heaven, a title to the world of glory. All is glory around the cross.”

What else can you say? That pretty much sums it up. So today, glory in the cross of your Lord. Praise Him for what He did and continues to do for you. Give Him the honor and glory He is due.

O God, my Father, I give You praise and thank You for the cross. That sounds strange, but I know Jesus died on that cross for me and for everyone else in the world.

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Accountability, Allegiance, Belief, Bible, Commands, God's Will, Hypocrisy, Judgment, Obedience, Sacrifice, Scripture

HYPOCRITES

GALATIANS 6:13

“For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.”

Do as I say and not as I do. You’ve heard that before, I am sure. A lot of parents may not say those words to their children, but they sure live them out. “Don’t smoke!” But they light one up regularly. “Don’t drink!” But they don’t have a problem popping a cool one. “Don’t cuss!” But they let a few words slide out when they are upset. It’s easy to give directions if you aren’t holding yourself to the same standard.

Paul continues to confront the Judaizers who were trying to force the Galatians to follow the Mosaic Law in addition to accepting Jesus as Savior. As a former Pharisee, Paul knew all too well the debilitating consequences of trying to follow the law. You couldn’t pick and choose which parts of the law you wanted to follow. It was all or nothing. Fortunately, the Galatian believers needed none of it. Paul wants to make sure they know that.

APPLICATION

James said it best, I think, when he said this in James 2:10. “For whoever keeps the whole Law, yet stumbles in one point, has become guilty of all.” There you have it. You can’t say, “Get circumcised,” and not keep the rest of the law. These Judaizers were forcing the issue of circumcision without they themselves keeping the whole law. They were, in fact, guilty of breaking the whole law. It was a futile exercise.

Don’t get me wrong. The law served its purpose. It pointed out to men the impossibility of keeping it. We needed something more. We needed the perfect sacrifice to end all sacrifices. Jesus provided that. Hebrews 10:14 says, “For by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” Hallelujah, praise the Lord!

Paul was not letting the Galatians off the hook with this statement in today’s verse. They still needed to follow the Lord’s commands. They should still strive to be holy as He is holy. But now all those things are under the blood of the Lamb. He has paid the price for our failings. We obey out of love, not fear.

O Lord, help me be an example of truth and honesty, not hypocrisy.

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Attention, Attitude, Bible, Boasting, Decisions, Humility, Influence, Pride, Scripture

SHOW OFF

GALATIANS 6:12

“All who want to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.”

Some people are all show. They want everyone to see them and what they have accomplished. I love the verse that our ministry has adopted, Isaiah 26:12. “Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.” The last phrase is what we claim. It’s all Him, not us. We have nothing to brag or boast about.

Paul pointed out in this verse today that those who were trying to compel the Galatians to get circumcised only cared about themselves. They were trying to appease the Jewish leaders with their Mosaic Law following. It wasn’t about Jesus. It was about what they could do, even to their flesh, to appear more spiritual or to be a more sincere follower.

APPLICATION

What kind of “showing” are you making? Is it all about you or is it about Jesus? We should echo the words of John the Baptist. “‘He must become greater; I must become less.’” John knew he was just the forerunner of Christ. He was there to proclaim the message God had given him. He wasn’t “The Man.” Too many people today think they are.

Remember this story from Acts 8? “9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, ‘This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.’” We know what happened to him, don’t we? Are you sure? He got saved through the preaching of Philip, but he still struggled with this desire to be “The Man.”

Later in the chapter, he is confronted by Peter because Simon offered to buy the power to lay hands on people which he had seen done by the apostles. He still hungered for the attention he had earlier. Thankfully, after Peter rebuked him, he repented. As far as we know, we will get to meet Simon in heaven and ask him more about his life. What will your story be? Will it be about yourself or about Jesus? I can’t wait to see.

Hide me behind the cross daily, Lord. Let others see Jesus and not me. 

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