God Our Refuge - Closet Reflections: March 2023

Monday, March 20, 2023

What or Who Are We Living For?

John 12:27-28 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your Name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”

Jesus knew His purpose for coming to earth. He came to seek and save all who are lost. However, in order to do that He would have to die an unfair and painful death. He would have to accept rejection and betrayal from man, and abandonment from the Father. As difficult and painful as this would be, He did not stray or turn away from God's will and plan. He carried them out without complaining, and He did it faithfully, simply because He loved both God the Father and us. Jesus proved His love for us on the cross. He proved His love for the Father by His obedience. How are we doing? Have we accepted God's love, by repenting of our sins and accepting God's free gift of salvation that can only be found in Christ Jesus? If so, are we proving our love for Jesus by obeying His Word? Are we living out God's will and plan for our lives or are we living for self and the world? Are we constantly complaining about how difficult life is, even though we have not come close to suffering for Jesus as He suffered for our sake? Who or what are you and I living for today? Whatever it was that we first focused on this morning, and whatever it is that we are living for (money, material gain, power, position, fame, or the favor of a particular person) that is our god. Soon, and very soon, our life on earth will end; either by death or at the return of Jesus to get His church. When that time comes, what or who will we have lived for?

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Romans 10:13).

Friday, March 10, 2023

To Die Is To Live

John 12:23-26 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor."

In Romans 12 we are exhorted to present our bodies as living sacrifices. A sacrifice was put to death and offered up to God. How can we then be both dead and alive at the same time? Well, it is not as complicated as it sounds. In Jesus' case He allowed Himself to literally be put to death in order to purchase our salvation. Just as a seed first has to die in order for a plant to grow and produce fruit, so Jesus had to die so that a great harvest would be produced, as we put our trust and faith in Him for eternal life. However, this truth of death and life did not end at the cross and the tomb. Today, that truth still lives on as we, who are born again followers of Jesus, are called to die to self and this world and live for Jesus. We are called to take up our cross daily and crucify the flesh and its desires. We are to take up our cross and crucify our worldly desires that draw us close to, and make us friends of, this world. For when we become friends of the world we position ourselves as enemies of God. If we want to gain the most from this life, and gain the most heavenly reward, then we must die to ourselves each and every day. We must live unto God, and faithfully follow Jesus until we become absent from our bodies and present with Him, or until He returns to get us; whichever comes first. Let us never forget that to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Saturday, March 4, 2023

Sometimes, We Are No Better

John 12:12-15 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!” Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

The multitude came to honor and worship Jesus. Why? Later in this same chapter we are told that there were many who had been present when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. The news of what He did had spread, and many of the Jews had now come to receive the One they thought would rescue them from Roman oppression. However, it would not be long after this that these same people would cry out, "Crucify Him!" Why? Because, although they came out to honor and worship Him, and although this fulfilled what was prophesied about His triumphant entry, the people worshipped Him for the wrong reasons. The moment He did not deliver them in the manner in which they sought, they turned their backs and consented to His crucifixion. How often have we also become angry with God? How often have we turned from Him claiming that He did not care, or accused Him of abandoning us; simply because He did not resolve a situation the way we expected? Maybe He allowed a painful situation, or seemed to not hear or answer a specific prayer in a specific way. As a result, we allowed the devils to convince us that God had somehow broken His promises. Maybe what we need to do is step back and ask ourselves, "Why do I worship God? What is it that I am seeking from Him? Am I seeking Him to know Him and draw near to Him, or are my motives for seeking Him selfish at heart?" If we seek Him today with the wrong motivation, tomorrow (when things go sideways or the bottom falls out) instead of continuing to worship Him, give Him praise, and offer thanksgiving, we will whine, complain, and become bitter. In the end, we will be no better than those who later cried out, "Crucify Him!"

Friday, March 3, 2023

There Is Heavenly Reward for Both

John 12:9-11 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

Jesus told His disciples that the world would hate them because it also hated Him. What was Lazarus' part in Jesus' miracle? His part was a simple one. He died. That's it. However, it was obvious that once Jesus brought him back from the dead that Lazarus did not waste his second chance at living a life that glorified Jesus. These verses tell us that many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus because of Lazarus' testimony for the Lord. Can we make the same claim about our life and testimony for Jesus? Is our new life in Christ making a difference for the Kingdom? Is there such a difference in who we are now, in Christ, that those who new us before are now curious about our Christian life? Do we still diligently seek opportunities to tell others about what Jesus has done to give us new life, and does the way we now live line up with what we tell others about who we now are in Christ? On the flip side of the coin, are we also experiencing the backlash from those who reject Jesus? Are we living in such contradiction to the ways of the world that we make those who love the world uncomfortable? Our testimony and life for Jesus should bring about both. If it is not, then we must ask ourselves, "Am I not living for the Lord as I should, thereby not being the salt and light that I should be? On the other hand, am I also compromising what I believe in order to avoid persecution and rejection?" The bottom line is that our life and testimony for Jesus should be opening doors for us to share Christ, while at the same time putting us in a position to suffer for the cause of Christ. In the end, there is heavenly reward for both.

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Worship, Serve and Disregard

John 12:4-8 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”

Today, I would like to issue a warning to all of us while also offering words of encouragement. In theses verses we see the reaction of one of Jesus' disciples to what Mary did in worshipping Jesus. The warning goes out to any of us who think that we can hide the motives of our hearts from the Lord. While Judas appears to put forth a valid point, while at the same time discouraging Mary's actions, God saw right past his words, and right to his heart and intentions. He spoke words of discouragement in an attempt to seem noble, but it all fell flat before the Lord, who knew that Judas was both a betrayer and a thief. Let us be careful to examine our motives before we open our mouths to speak words to exalt ourselves, but also words that would discourage what others have done with a heart of worship. For those of us on the receiving end of discouraging words, know that Jesus always sees and knows why we do what we do, even if our actions draw criticism from others. Ultimately, we should care more about what the Lord knows and sees about us, than being overly concerned with the judgmental criticisms of men. Let us worship God with all our heart, serve Him with a heart of worship, and disregard the words of those who wrongly judge our motives; knowing that God sees what matters...our hearts.