Matthew 5:3-16

Contrary to popular but poor theology, salvation doesn’t guarantee an easy life. It’s tempting to present the Christian faith as a safe haven from which to watch the world swirl past, the door keeping out hardship and letting in only obvious blessings. That brand of “faith” might sell well in the marketplace, but it isn’t real.

The truth is that in this world, we cannot escape conflict but must learn to face it with courage and wisdom. The joy of our faith is that the Lord gives us all we need to deal with whatever comes our way–and He’s able to use difficult things for good in our lives. We may feel tempted to just keep quiet and blend in rather than deal with ridicule. But while we’re called to be peacemakers, that doesn’t mean isolating ourselves from all who oppose our faith.

Consider the Lord’s example. While Jesus was fully God, He was also fully human; He understood the sting of rejection, just as we do (Heb. 4:15). Yet He was so fearless in challenging the status quo that religious leaders called for His death. He was at the center of controversy throughout His ministry, which is one reason He so often slipped away for time alone with His Father. So, when we are in the midst of persecution, we can come to know Him in a deep, new way.

Just as salt brings out the true flavor in food, our presence can impact those around us even when they criticize or reject us. Make a powerful impact on the world simply by being the person God created you to be. As you practice faithfulness, trust that He is at work!

 On any given week, three to five biographies make The New York Times best-seller list for non-fiction. Though historical biographies have changed with time, human interest in the genre is long-standing. The first known biographies were commissioned by ancient rulers to assure records of their accomplishments. The Old Testament writings, detailing the lives of patriarchs, prophets, and kings, are also some of the earliest biographies in existence. Throughout the Middle Ages, biographical histories were largely in the hands of monks; lives of martyrs and church fathers were recorded with the intention of edifying readers for years to come. Over time and with the invention of the printing press, biographies became increasingly influential and widely read, portraying a larger array of lives and their stories. 

 The popularity of the genre is understandable. As writer Thomas Carlyle once said, “Biography is the most universally pleasant and profitable of all reading.” Such books are pleasant because in reading the accounts of men and women in history, we find ourselves living in many places; they are profitable because in doing so, we hear fragments of our own stories. The questions and thoughts we considered our own suddenly appear before us in the life of another. The afflictions we find wearying are given meaning in the story of one who overcame much or the life of one who found hope in the midst of loss. Perhaps we move toward biography because we seem to know that life is too short to learn only by our own experience.  

 Christianity embraces a similar thought. The most direct attempt in Scripture to define faith is done so by the writer of Hebrews. The eleventh chapter begins, “Now faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see.” To be honest, it is a definition that has always somewhat eluded me, and I was thankful to read I am not alone. John Wesley once observed of the same words, “There appears to be a depth in them, which I am in no wise able to fathom.” Perhaps recognizing the weight and mystery of faith and the difficulty of defining it, the writer of Hebrews immediately moves from this definition to descriptions of men and women who have lived “sure of hope” and “certain of the unseen.” From Noah and Abraham, to Rahab and saints left unnamed, we find faith moving across the pages of history, the gift of God sparkling in the eyes of the faithful, the hope by which countless lives were guided. In this brief gathering of biographies, the writer seems to tell us that faith is understood functionally as much as philosophically, and that our own faith is more fully understood by looking at lives God has changed long before ours. For in between the lines that describe any faithful man or woman is the God who makes faith possible in the first place. 

 At the end of his compelling list, the writer of Hebrews thus concludes: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” The lives of those who followed Christ before us urge other onward, strengthening hearts with stories of faith, stirring minds at the thought of God’s enduring influence, reminding us that God moves in our biographies and yet beyond them. 

 Jill Carattini is managing editor of A Slice of Infinity at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia.

 

 

 Morning “Exceeding great and precious promises.” / 2 Peter 1:4

 If you would know experimentally the preciousness of the promises, and enjoy

them in your own heart, meditate much upon them. There are promises which are

like grapes in the wine-press; if you will tread them the juice will flow.

Thinking over the hallowed words will often be the prelude to their

fulfilment. While you are musing upon them, the boon which you are seeking

will insensibly come to you. Many a Christian who has thirsted for the promise

has found the favour which it ensured gently distilling into his soul even

while he has been considering the divine record; and he has rejoiced that ever

he was led to lay the promise near his heart.

 But besides meditating upon the promises, seek in thy soul to receive them as

being the very words of God. Speak to thy soul thus, “If I were dealing with a

man’s promise, I should carefully consider the ability and the character of

the man who had covenanted with me. So with the promise of God; my eye must

not be so much fixed upon the greatness of the mercy–that may stagger me; as

upon the greatness of the promiser–that will cheer me. My soul, it is God,

even thy God, God that cannot lie, who speaks to thee. This word of his which

thou art now considering is as true as his own existence. He is a God

unchangeable. He has not altered the thing which has gone out of his mouth,

nor called back one single consolatory sentence. Nor doth he lack any power;

it is the God that made the heavens and the earth who has spoken thus. Nor can

he fail in wisdom as to the time when he will bestow the favours, for he

knoweth when it is best to give and when better to withhold. Therefore, seeing

that it is the word of a God so true, so immutable, so powerful, so wise, I

will and must believe the promise.” If we thus meditate upon the promises, and

consider the Promiser, we shall experience their sweetness, and obtain their

fulfilment.

 

Evening “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect?” / Romans 8:33

 Most blessed challenge! How unanswerable it is! Every sin of the elect was

laid upon the great Champion of our salvation, and by the atonement carried

away. There is no sin in God’s book against his people: he seeth no sin in

Jacob, neither iniquity in Israel; they are justified in Christ forever. When

the guilt of sin was taken away, the punishment of sin was removed. For the

Christian there is no stroke from God’s angry hand–nay, not so much as a

single frown of punitive justice. The believer may be chastised by his Father,

but God the Judge has nothing to say to the Christian, except “I have absolved

thee: thou art acquitted.” For the Christian there is no penal death in this

world, much less any second death. He is completely freed from all the

punishment as well as the guilt of sin, and the power of sin is removed too.

It may stand in our way, and agitate us with perpetual warfare; but sin is a

conquered foe to every soul in union with Jesus. There is no sin which a

Christian cannot overcome if he will only rely upon his God to do it. They who

wear the white robe in heaven overcame through the blood of the Lamb, and we

may do the same. No lust is too mighty, no besetting sin too strongly

entrenched; we can overcome through the power of Christ. Do believe it,

Christian, that thy sin is a condemned thing. It may kick and struggle, but it

is doomed to die. God has written condemnation across its brow. Christ has

crucified it, “nailing it to his cross.” Go now and mortify it, and the Lord

help you to live to his praise, for sin with all its guilt, shame, and fear,

is gone.

 “Here’s pardon for transgressions past,

 It matters not how black their cast;

 And, O my soul, with wonder view,

 For sins to come here’s pardon too.”

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?  Romans 8:33

Most blessed challenge! How unanswerable it is! Every sin of the elect was laid upon the great Champion of our salvation, and by the atonement carried away. There is no sin in God’s book against His people: He sees no sin in Jacob, neither iniquity in Israel; they are justified in Christ forever. When the guilt of sin was taken away, the punishment of sin was removed. For the Christian there is no stroke from God’s angry hand—no, not so much as a single frown of punitive justice. The believer may be chastised by his Father, but God the Judge has nothing to say to the Christian except “I have absolved you: you are acquitted.”

For the Christian there is no penal death in this world, much less any second death. He is completely freed from all the punishment as well as the guilt of sin, and the power of sin is removed too. It may stand in our way and agitate us with perpetual warfare; but sin is a conquered foe to every soul in union with Jesus. There is no sin that a Christian cannot overcome if he will only rely upon his God to do it. They who wear the white robe in heaven overcame through the blood of the Lamb, and we may do the same. No lust is too mighty, no besetting sin too strongly entrenched; we can overcome through the power of Christ.

Do believe it, Christian—your sin is a condemned thing. It may kick and struggle, but it is doomed to die. God has written condemnation across its brow. Christ has crucified it, nailing it to His cross. Go now and mortify it, and may the Lord help you to live to His praise, for sin with all its guilt, shame, and fear is gone.

Here’s pardon for transgressions past,

It matters not how black their cast;

And, O my soul, with wonder view,

For sins to come here’s pardon too.

Family Reading Plan Jeremiah 23  Mark 9