The Birth of Jesus and the Death of Death

Death-of-Death

Fear not, I am the first and the last—the living one. I died… I am alive forevermore… I have the keys of Death_” (Rev.1:17-18). “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more.” (Rev. 21:4)

Lord Jesus, I’ve underlined many passages and promises in my old, single-column NIV Bible. But no single phrase in your Word means more to me this December 2022 than this one: “And death shall be no more.” I know it’s an exaggeration, but it feels like I have as many friends getting dressed for funerals as they are for Christmas parties.

I don’t know what Mary did and didn’t know about everything you’d accomplish, as you left her womb for our world. But I am so grateful that your birth was pregnant with death’s dying. 10,000 times 10,000 thank you for coming to save us from our sins. Equally so, thank you for coming to destroy death —every expression of death in every sphere of life.

You are both the grace giver and the grave robber. You were “born that we no more may die,” and you died that death no more may live. We now grieve with hope and weep without despair, all because of you.

It really hurts… but our pain and our tears have an expiration date. Jesus, You have “the keys of Death”—accidents don’t, karma doesn’t, depression doesn’t, cancer doesn’t. The “valley of the shadow of death” will soon be the playground of eternal life and joy. Hallelujah, and So Very Amen.

Scotty Smith

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Messin’ with Your Heroes

Therefore be imitators of God — Ephesians 5:1

Really? Is it so wrong for us to emulate the life of another man or woman? Is it so wrong to hold another person up, as a role model? Well, the answer is (as it often is) . . . it depends. It depends on what exactly, in the person, we long to emulate. If it’s Christlikeness only—if it’s only how the person demonstrates Jesus Christ to us and to others—then, no, it’s not so wrong. We’re meant to be, for one another, physical examples of how to follow Jesus ever more closely. Watching another person move further into the character of Christ helps us move further, too. That’s how it’s supposed to work. The Apostle Paul wrote: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Too often, though, that’s not the way it actually works. Too often, we look up to men and women—and strive to emulate them—for the purpose of becoming more like them, and not more like Jesus. Too often, it’s worldly things that draw us in: a person’s success, their achievements, their talent, their career, their money, their power, their possessions. We men fall into this a lot. And the problem is the same whether the things coveted are secular or ecclesiastical in nature. We can lift any person too high: magnate or minister, entrepreneur or entertainer, priest or professor. We can lift them so high they begin to obscure Jesus.

Okay, so what do we do?
Hero worship is a sensitive subject. We men like our heroes. And we don’t like people to mess with them. We must be careful, though, that no person (great though they may be) gets between us and the ultimate hero. Examine your heart. Wrestle with the issue. Discuss it openly with some brothers—and with God, in prayer.

Justin Camp
from his Wire Devotions

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Goals Versus Desires

Goals Versus Desires

“[Elijah] went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He went and sat down under a shrub and asked the Lord to take his life: ‘I’ve had enough! Now, O Lord, take my life. After all, I’m no better than my ancestors.’” –1 Kings 19:4, “NET

In His book “Victory Over the Darkness,” Neil Anderson states, “To live successful lives, we need to distinguish a godly goal from a godly desire. This liberating distinction can spell the difference between success and failure, inner peace and inner pain for the Christian…. We will struggle with anger, anxiety and depression when we elevate a desire to a goal in our own minds.”

See here that Elijah has done just that. His expectations appear to be for national revival, for Ahab to stand up to Jezebel or for Jezebel’s repentance, and for his own unwavering courage. These things did not come to fruition. He is filled with fear, and flees. Then he becomes disgusted with his own failures, despite witnessing and partaking in a major kingdom victory. “I am no better,” he exclaims, wishing for death to overtake him.

What are our expectations in ministry? While it is right for us to desire to see visible signs of conversions and maturity, we have no leverage to bend any knee but our own. So when we make right desires (i.e. “all to come to repentance”) our objectives, we set ourselves up for either depression or pride, depending on the appearance of visible fruit (which may or may not be genuine). We will inevitably stumble, for results-based living is a walk by sight, not faith.

Yet when we put our expectations solely on the goals of the gospel, aligning our aim to only what our LORD has promised, our shield of faith deflects all flaming arrows of doubt (Eph 6:16). For HE will remain by our side till “the end of the age” even through storms and valleys of darkness (Mat 28:20; Mark 4:35-41; Psa 23:4); HE will work all things for our good (Rom 8:28); HE will faithfully keep us and see us to completion (John 6:39; Phi 1:6) until HE return and rescues us from God’s wrath (Rom 5:9).

This is how we guard our hearts against the depression of darkness that hinges our happiness on circumstances and results over things we have no power to bring to fruition. Our role is obedience. Leave the results to God.

Billy Neal

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Greater Love

Greater Love

Nick Waldon

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The Diamond, Part III

diamond

“Some things in [Paul’s] letters are hard to understand, things the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they also do to the rest of the scriptures. Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard that you do not get led astray by the error of these unprincipled men and fall from your firm grasp on the truth. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the honor both now and on that eternal day.” –2 Peter 3:16-18

Yet we must approach this exercise of community seeking with great caution. For if we affix our attention upon the person and his words rather than the light of scripture and the diamond it illuminates, we will be “led astray” (2Co 11:3; Gal 2:13). Our intellect may grow, but so will our pride (1Co 8:1). And once men congregate under a prideful tower, God’s opposition is certain (Gen 11:3-8). We will have moved no closer to Christ, nor flourish in fruitfulness (John 15:5-8).

The only thing another man can offer us is perspective, an invitation to stand where he is and gaze upon an arresting facet that we have scarcely considered.

Paul Washer made this observation: “If I have two men with the exact same theology and the exact same doctrine, and one got it from scripture and the other from good books, I’m going to be able to tell the difference when I talk to them. There is no substitute for scripture.”

Therefore, let us seek to grow, not in intellectual knowledge of a book, but in the “knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Be humble (Phi 2:3) and quick to listen to the perspectives of others (Jam 1:19). But remain focused on the diamond, listening to the Spirit for truth on all things (John 16:13).

Billy Neal

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The Diamond, Part II

diamond

“Did the word of God begin with you, or did it come to you alone?” –1 Corinthians 14:36

Let us stand before the diamond of the Gospel. We are short-sighted and our strides so small that we could not possibly walk around such a mountainous jewel or study its every facet, even if given a thousand lifetimes. There is so much of God and His gospel that I fail to see from my current position—for my eyes are limited and my feet are often too stubborn to explore.

Yet God knows “we are made of clay,” and “a person’s life is like grass” (Psa 103:14-15). And so He has given us a community in which to immerse ourselves in order to grow from deep doctrinal discussions (saints beside us) and theologically robust books (saints from afar). A brother-in-Christ, whose experiences do not match my own, stands in a unique position in contrast to mine. God has revealed to another man things about His glory that I have not seen. Remember: “God has placed each member of the body just as he decided,” and “blended together” parts that are not alike (1Co 12:18,24). Just as we need one another serving in our spiritual giftings, we also need one another for unique insight and experiential offerings “for the strengthening of the church” (1Co 14:26).

Tim Keller puts it his way: “Each denomination has its strengths and weaknesses. Every one of them has limitations. [We need] way more collaboration…. Presbyterians have got doctrine and deep exegesis. Baptists have outreach and evangelism. Charismatics and Anglicans have worship. They have all got their own vitamin that is their own specialty, [where] the other denominations will never do as well. Unless you know each other really well, you won’t be able to learn from the other denominations and traditions.” (Special Interview from “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill” Podcast).

Consider the diversity of the saints. Consider our own blind spots, and that we perhaps share visual obstacles with those whom we naturally gather. Consider that our flesh works against us, avoiding challenges to our comfort zone. Let us actively work against this constraint, seeking the visual aid of many brothers- and sisters-in-Christ.

Billy Neal

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THE DIAMOND

diamond

“Some things in [Paul’s] letters are hard to understand, things the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they also do to the rest of the scriptures.” –2 Peter 3:16

Do you find things in scripture “hard to understand”? Paul Washer says, “Join the exclusive club.” Should we expect anything less from the “Most High” who must “stoop to look down on heaven and earth” (Psa 113:4-5)? It is not an easy thing to comprehend the “eternal God” (Isa 40:28) whose power is “awesome” and wisdom is “limitless” (Psa 147:5), from whose mouth comes “everything—both calamity and blessing” (Lam 3:38), whose thoughts and ways are far beyond our comprehension (Job 36:26; Psa 139:6; Isa 55:9).

God’s glorious gospel is a colossal diamond before tiny human beings (ex: Isa 40:15). Yet because men are wicked (Rom 3:10-12) who themselves “walk in darkness” (Isa 9:2), God shrouds His glory (Psa 18:11; Exo 20:21). Yet for those who approach God in true faith (Heb 11:6) diligently seeking His stunning wisdom (Jam 1:5-6) and meekly led by His Spirit (Mat 5:5; Rom 8:12-15), they have their true sight restored (2Co 5:7; Luke 18:42; 24:31). By the light of God’s word (Psa 119:105), God illuminates one glorious facet at a time (Exo 33:18-23). He transforms a mundane mind (Rom 12:2) into “the mind of Christ” capable of understanding glorious truths (1Co 2:14-16). He removes spiritual scales from our eyes (Acts 9:18) and reveals things too wonderful to behold (Job 42:3-6; Psa 139:6).

O God, bless us this day with new insight. Show us just a facet of your glory!

Billy Neal

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Divided We Fall

Divided We Fall

The men of Ephraim were called to arms, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight against the Ammonites and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house over you with fire.” And Jephthah said to them, “I and my people had a great dispute with the Ammonites, and when I called you, you did not save me from their hand. And when I saw that you would not save me, I took my life in my hand and crossed over against the Ammonites, and the Lord gave them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?” Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought with Ephraim. And the men of Gilead struck Ephraim, because they said, “You are fugitives of Ephraim, you Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim and Manasseh.” And the Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan against the Ephraimites. And when any of the fugitives of Ephraim said, “Let me go over,” the men of Gilead said to him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” When he said, “No,” they said to him, “Then say Shibboleth,” and he said, “Sibboleth,” for he could not pronounce it right. Then they seized him and slaughtered him at the fords of the Jordan. At that time 42,000 of the Ephraimites fell.

Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in his city in Gilead. — Judges 12:1-7, ESV

Men, as with Gideon in ch8, the Ephraimite neighbors of the Gileadites are furious that Jephthah did not call on the tribe of Ephraim to join in the battle against the Ammonites. The Ephraimites come to Jephthah in anger, “Why did you cross over and fight against Ammon, and you did not call us to go with you?” The Ephraimites threaten to burn Jephthah’s house down with him in it. Jephthah answers, he did call on them and they refused to answer.

Remember that Gideon employed some strategic and diplomatic psychology. Jepthah uses his weapons and men. Ephraim regarded Gilead as a land of fugitives and outcasts. Gilead was made up largely of people who fled Ephraim and Manasseh to form their own identity. The Gileadites defeated the Ephraimites and sent them fleeing. Gilead also seized the crossing point of the Jordan River. As the fleeing Ephraimites approached, Gilead would test the people by their accent. Anyone with the Ephraimite accent would there be killed. 42,000 Ephraimites fell dead at the Jordan.

Jephthah continued to judge another six years, and then died, and was buried in Gilead. The arrogance of Ephraim is growing with the discord and disunity in all of Israel’s tribes. But even in the disunity and the failing of Israel as a whole to conduct themselves as children of the Most High God, the Lord God stands with those flawed individuals who trust what He says.

In our own time we find increasing national disunity. Our own great land is turning tribal with cultural identity, class, political and academic distinctions. Like Gilead and Ephraim, we too turn to fight each other instead of our common enemies. We too are jealous of each other’s victories. At what point do we recognize our personal failings to acknowledge the divisive strategies of our common spiritual enemies?

Move forward, men, striving with our brothers in unity. Celebrate with others who find victory by the Lord. Send the glory of our efforts back to the Lord instead of puffing up.

Vance Durrance

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God Has Already Spoken

God Has Already Spoken

“The Lord was pleased that Solomon made this request. God said to him, “Because you asked for the ability to make wise judicial decisions, and not for long life, or riches, or vengeance on your enemies, I grant your request and give you a wise and discerning mind superior to that of anyone who has preceded or will succeed you. Furthermore, I am giving you what you did not request—riches and honor so that you will be the greatest king of your generation. If you follow my instructions by obeying my rules and regulations, just as your father David did, then I will grant you long life.” –1 Kings 3:10-14

Notice how it says “the Lord was pleased” with Solomon’s request for wisdom. Yet it is certain that God was not pleased with all of Solomon’s wayward ways. For surely Solomon had already begun amassing horses (1Ki 4:26) from Egypt (1Ki 10:26-28) after making an alliance with Egypt, the former nation of bondage (1Ki 3:1). This was in direct violation of the law for the king to do (Deu 17:6). Furthermore, he was worshipping on the high places (v.2-3), also in violation of the very law (Deu 12:5) the king was commanded to copy and read (Deu 17:18-19).

We may wonder why God did not address any of these issues in the vision. Yet, need God repeat Himself when He has already spoken from His Word? Is not the stress of absolute obedience (v.14) a confirmation of all that has already been spoken by Him?

Too often we ask for visions and expect personal direction from God, while disregarding the Scriptures where He has already spoken all the truth we need. Did our Savior not say, “If you love me, you will obey my commandments,” (John 14:15)? Are we not commanded to teach disciples to “obey EVERYTHING” that Jesus commanded (Mat 28:20)? His promises (by His divine power) are sufficient to transform our lives and affections (2Pe 1:4), every word profitable for training in righteousness (2Ti 3:16). Yet are we seeking such wisdom in faithful diligence, or in doubtful neglect (Jam 1:5-8)? For blessings reside on the one who delights in meditating on God’s commands (Psa 1:2) and seeks for such wisdom as a priceless treasure (Pro 2:3-5; Mat 13:44-46).

“I will find delight in your commands, which I love. I will lift my hands to your commands, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.” –Psalm 119:47-48

Billy  Neal

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Choose Your Role

Choose Your Role

“The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the power of his anointed.’” –1 Samuel 2:10, ESV

“This day I will give the corpses of the Philistine army to the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the land. Then all the land will realize that Israel has a God, and all this assembly will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves! For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will deliver you into our hand.’” –1 Samuel 17:46b-47, NET

Too often the account of David and Goliath is twisted into a prideful parable about pursuing selfish endeavors. We put ourselves in the place of David and cast as Goliath whatever obstacles we seek to conquer. But we are neither the author nor the director of life, although we seek to be such (Gen 3:4-6; Isa 14:14). The main characters and the battle have already been determined. The only available roles are the two supporting multitudes behind each challenger (1Sa 17:3).

How this also parallels the great battle scene in Revelation, where the anointed “King of kings” rides into battle. A great army rides behind Him and serves as witness to His single-handed elimination of His enemies with the sword of His mouth (before the bodies are fed to the birds of the air) (Rev 19:11-21).

Again, where do we stand in this battle?

“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” –Luke 11:23

Do you stand with the Lamb, your feet faithfully beside Him in obedience (Rev 14:1), clothed in righteous deeds among a conquering army (Rev 3:5) that then rides behind Him (Rev 19:14)? Are you of this armored army that simply stands (Eph 6:13) as witnesses to the chosen King’s conquering of the enemy (Acts 1:8), charging ahead into a battle that has already been won (1Sa 17:52)?

Or do you stand elsewhere? It matters not what the shape of the face, every idol is connected to the beast and wears a blasphemous name (Rev 13:1). Those who follow “might” and “proud words” ultimately worship the dragon (Rev 13:3-5) and are marked with the same number (Rev 13:17-18) and the same fate (Rev 20:15).

Let us see the clear distinction. Let us see Christ makes a clear divide (Mat 10:34-36). Let us choose this day our role, and call out to the multitudes to see there is no fence on which to sit. A decision must be made (Deu 30:19; Jos 24:15).

“Elijah approached all the people and said, ‘How long are you going to be paralyzed by indecision? If the Lord is the true God, then follow him, but if Baal is, follow him!’ But the people did not say a word.” –1 Kings 18:21, NET

Billy Neal

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