Month: February 2025

 

Happy are the people who know the joyful shout; Lord, they walk in the light from your face.
Psalm 89:15, CSB

A. W. Tozer said, “The people of God ought to be the happiest people in all the wide world! People should be coming to us constantly and asking the source of our joy and delight.” Charles Spurgeon felt the same way, writing, “God made human beings as He made His other creatures, to be happy…. They are in their right element when they are happy.”

One day the world will be filled with joy when Christ returns. Isaac Watts wrote, “Joy to the World,” which is actually based on the Millennial passage of Psalm 98 about the Second Coming. But we don’t have to wait for the return of Christ to be happy. He lives in, among, and through us right now by His Spirit. Choose happiness today!

Francis of Assisi said, “Let us leave sadness to the devil and his angels. As for us, what can we be but rejoicing and glad!” And Jonathan Edwards added, “He has created man for this very end, to make him happy in the enjoyment of himself, the Almighty, who was happy from the days of eternity in himself.”

Man is more joyful and with reason to be full of joy…when Jesus is the fundamental thing in him.

 

 

Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah 9:7

With the advent of DNA technology came the use of that technology in solving crimes. The Innocence Project, founded in 1992, has used DNA testing to overturn the convictions of more than two hundred wrongly convicted persons. Even in our modern criminal justice systems, it is still possible for justice not to be reached. In a fallen world, when justice is administered by fallible human beings, the outcomes can lead to injustice.

There will be no such injustice when Jesus Christ rules with perfect justice during the Millennium. As Isaiah prophesied, “And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears; but with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth” (Isaiah 11:3-4). The justice will be perfect because the Judge will be perfect.

If you have ever been judged unfairly without recourse, put your faith in the just Judge who will balance the scales “even forever.”

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

 

 

The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

–Luke 19:10

Some atheists have a better understanding of Christianity than most Christians. Celebrity magician and atheist Penn Jillette once made a surprising comment about Christians who don’t share their faith (or, as he called it, “proselytizing”). He said, “I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize. I don’t respect that at all. If you believe that there’s a heaven and hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life, or whatever, and you think that it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward . . . how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? I mean, if I believed beyond the shadow of a doubt that a truck was going to hit you, and you didn’t believe it, and that truck was bearing down on you, there’s a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that.”

Isn’t that an astounding comment from an atheist? Jillette was echoing the theme of the passage we’re going to study this week. Paul said, in essence, “If Jesus Christ is really central in your life, then you’re going to devote your life to attracting people to the gospel.”

In Colossians 4, Paul said one test of your Christlikeness is your relationship with God. Jesus devoted His life on earth to fulfilling God’s agenda. As Jesus Himself said, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). If you’re becoming like Christ, then you will have the same devotion to God’s agenda of seeking and saving the lost.

That certainly was Paul’s priority. In Colossians 4:3–4, he wrote, “[Pray] at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.”

When Paul wrote these words, he was under house arrest, awaiting trial. Notice that Paul did not write, “Pray that God will open the doors of justice so that I can be free.” More important to Paul than being free was being faithful. Paul knew his purpose was to share Jesus Christ with as many people as possible, so his priority was opening the door for ministry. And if Jesus Christ is central in your life, then sharing the gospel will be your priority as well.

 

 

Jhn 17:19  And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Eph 5:26  that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

Tit 2:14  who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

1Pe 2:24  He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

Col 1:22-23  he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast

Heb 2:11  For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source.

Jhn 15:5  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Gal 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control

Love (tenderness, attachment, devotion, passion, appreciation, compassion, warmth, unselfishness, benevolence, zeal, caring, kindness, treasure, deep affection), 

Joy (rejoicing, happiness, delight, radiant, satisfaction),

Peace (calm, quietness, still, composure, at rest, contentment, security, joy, harmony, untroubled, at ease), 

Long-suffering (patient, tolerant, uncomplaining, accommodating, forgiving, meek), 

Gentleness (tenderness, lenience, mercy, forgiveness, understanding, sympathy, compassion, love, mild, peaceable, considerate),     

Goodness (respectable, purity, just, fair, benevolent, decency, compassionate, tender, kind, helpful, thoughtful, polite, nice),

Faith (trust, belief, conviction, reliance, dependence, hope, persuasion, confidence),    

Meekness (humility, humbleness, obedience, softness), 

Temperance (self-restraint, restraint, moderation, self-control, self-discipline, self-denial)

Genuine sanctification will show itself in an habitual desire to live up to the standard which St. Paul sets before the churches in his writings. That standard is to be found in the closing chapters of nearly all his Epistles. The common idea of many persons that St. Paul’s writings are full of nothing but doctrinal statements and controversial subjects— justification, election, predestination, prophecy and the like—is an entire delusion and a melancholy proof of the ignorance of Scripture which prevails in these latter days. I defy anyone to read St. Paul’s writings carefully, without finding in them a large quantity of plain practical directions about the Christian’s duty in every relation of life, and about our daily habits, temper and behavior to one another. These directions were written down by inspiration of God for the perpetual guidance of professing Christians. He who does not attend to them may possibly pass muster as a member of a church or a chapel, but he certainly is not what the Bible calls a “sanctified” man.

Genuine sanctification will show itself in habitual attention to the active graces which our Lord so beautifully exemplified, and especially to the grace of charity. A sanctified man will try to do good in the world and to lessen the sorrow and increase the happiness of all around him. He will aim to be like his Master, full of kindness and love to everyone—and this not in word only, by calling people “dear,” but by deeds and actions and self–denying work, according as he has opportunity. Christ will never be found the Savior of those who know nothing of following His example. Saving faith and real converting grace will always produce some conformity to the image of Jesus.

Genuine sanctification, in the last place, will show itself in habitual attention to the passive graces of Christianity. When I speak of passive graces, I mean those graces which are especially shown in submission to the will of God and in bearing and forbearing towards one another. This is the special point which St. Peter dwells upon in commending our Lord Jesus Christ’s example to our notice: “Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: who did no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth: who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judges righteously” This is the point which occupies one third of the list of the fruits of the Spirit supplied by St. Paul. Nine are named and three of these, patience, gentleness and meekness, are unquestionably passive graces (Gal. 5:22, 23). I must plainly say that I do not think this subject is sufficiently considered by Christians.  The passive graces are no doubt harder to attain than the active ones, but they are precisely the graces which have the greatest influence on the world. Of one thing I feel very sure: it is nonsense to pretend to sanctification unless we follow after the meekness, gentleness, patience and forgivingness of which the Bible makes so much. 

 

 

Jhn 17:19  And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Eph 5:26  that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

Tit 2:14  who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

1Pe 2:24  He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

Col 1:22-23  he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast

Heb 2:11  For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source.

Jhn 15:5  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Gal 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control

Love (tenderness, attachment, devotion, passion, appreciation, compassion, warmth, unselfishness, benevolence, zeal, caring, kindness, treasure, deep affection), 

Joy (rejoicing, happiness, delight, radiant, satisfaction),

Peace (calm, quietness, still, composure, at rest, contentment, security, joy, harmony, untroubled, at ease), 

Long-suffering (patient, tolerant, uncomplaining, accommodating, forgiving, meek), 

Gentleness (tenderness, lenience, mercy, forgiveness, understanding, sympathy, compassion, love, mild, peaceable, considerate),     

Goodness (respectable, purity, just, fair, benevolent, decency, compassionate, tender, kind, helpful, thoughtful, polite, nice),

Faith (trust, belief, conviction, reliance, dependence, hope, persuasion, confidence),    

Meekness (humility, humbleness, obedience, softness), 

Temperance (self-restraint, restraint, moderation, self-control, self-discipline, self-denial)

True sanctification does not consist in outward formalism and external devoutness. This is an enormous delusion, but unhappily a very common one.I am afraid that in many cases this external religiousness is made a substitute for inward holiness; and I am quite certain that it falls utterly short of sanctification of heart.

Sanctification does not consist in retirement from our place in life and the renunciation of our social duties. In every age it has been a snare with many to take up this line in the pursuit of holiness. Hundreds of hermits have buried themselves in some wilderness, and thousands of men and women have shut themselves up within the walls of monasteries and convents, under the vain idea that by so doing they would escape sin and become eminently holy. They have forgotten that no bolts and bars can keep out the devil and that, wherever we go, we carry that root of all evil, our own hearts. Christ would have His people show that His grace is not a mere hot–house plant, which can only thrive under shelter, but a strong, hardy thing which can flourish in every relation of life. It is doing our duty in that state to which God has called us, like salt in the midst of corruption and light in the midst of darkness, which is a primary element in sanctification. It is not the man who hides himself in a cave, but the man who glorifies God as master or servant, parent or child, in the family and in the street, in business and in trade, who is the scriptural type of a sanctified man.

Sanctification is not merely the occasional performance of right actions. Rather, it is the continual work of a new heavenly principle within, which runs through one’s daily conduct in everything he does, big or small. It is not like a pump, which only sends forth water when worked upon from without, but like a perpetual fountain, from which a stream is ever flowing spontaneously and naturally.

Genuine sanctification will show itself in habitual respect to God’s Word and habitual effort to live in obedience to it as the rule of life. There is no greater mistake than to suppose that a Christian has nothing to do with God’s Word because he cannot be justified by keeping them. The same Holy Spirit who convinces the believer of sin by His Word and leads him to Christ for justification will always lead him to a spiritual use of His Word, as a friendly guide, in the pursuit of sanctification.

Genuine sanctification will show itself in an habitual endeavor to do Christ’s will and to live by His practical precepts. These precepts are to be found scattered everywhere throughout the four Gospels, and especially in the sermon on the mount. To hear some men talk and read some men’s writings, one might imagine that our blessed Lord, when He was on earth, never taught anything but doctrine and left practical duties to be taught by others! What His disciples ought to be and to do is continually brought forward in our Lord’s teaching. A truly sanctified man will never forget this. He serves a Master who said, “You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you”