by George | Apr 12, 2021 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
As One Man
“And when the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem.”
Ezra 3:1
The phrase “as one man” is used several times in scripture.
The first time is in Numbers 14:15 when Moses is pleading with God not to destroy Israel.
“Now if you kill this people as one man…”
We find this phrase again in Judges 6:16 when God tells Gideon: “…But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”
The term “as one man” can also signify unity, gathering together in one accord, for a common purpose.
In Judges 20:11, the nation of Israel assembled as a united army against the tribe of Benjamin. “So all the men of Israel gathered against the city, united as one man.”
In 1 Samuel 11:7, Saul put fear into the hearts of the
people in an effort to get them ready for war by tearing up a yoke of oxen and sending it to them.
“… Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out as one man.”
In today’s verse, the people gathered together “as one man” to rebuild the altar, offer burnt offerings, and to observe the feasts that the LORD commanded.
Nehemiah 8:1 says:
“And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate…”
They assembled “as one man” to hear the word.
Jesus prayer for His disciples, and for us, is that we would be one.
“that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
John 17:21
So as we go forward today. Let’s be a voice of unity, not division, taking Paul’s advice:
“endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Ephesians 4:3
by George | Apr 9, 2021 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
God Is Love Be Like Him
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
I John 4:7-8
“Be like Mike” was a popular phrase over 20 years ago. It encouraged us to be like Michael Jordan, arguably one of the best basketball players ever.
Recently, I saw this sign on the marquee at a church: “God is love. Be like Him.”
While it’s great to strive to be like someone we admire, it’s far better to strive to be like our Heavenly Father.
Remember that God SO loved us that He gave His Son. (John 3:16)
Because God is love, and He showed us His love in giving His Son for us, we should love others.
“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
I John 4:9-11
Jesus, God’s Son, showed us how to truly love, not just in words, but in deeds.
Remember how Jesus washed His disciples’ feet? Some of them were more concerned with status, what position they would hold in His kingdom.
Jesus taught them “servant leadership.”
“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”
John 13:14-15
“God is love. Be like Him.”
by George | Apr 2, 2021 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Good Friday
“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”
Isaiah 53:5
Justin Holcomb, in an article called “What’s So Good About Good Friday?” says:
“… why call the day of Jesus’ death “Good Friday” instead of “Bad Friday” or something similar? Some Christian traditions do take this approach: in German, for example, the day is called Karfreitag, or “Sorrowful Friday.” In English, in fact, the origin of the term “Good” is debated. Some believe it developed from an older name, “God’s Friday.” Regardless of the origin, the name Good Friday is entirely appropriate because the suffering and death of Jesus, as terrible as it was, marked the dramatic culmination of God’s plan to save his people from their sins.”
Though we don’t know for sure where the term “Good Friday” came from, one thing is for sure, if not for Jesus taking our place on the cross, we would be hopelessly lost in sin.
Paul said:
“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”
Colossians 2:13-14
This was a fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy:
“Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.”
Isaiah 53:4-8
So let’s raise our voices in praise and thanksgiving for the Savior who redeemed us by His blood!
“Man of sorrows, what a name
For the Son of God who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim
Hallelujah! What Savior
Stand unclean, no one else could
In my place condemned He stood
Now his nearness is my good
Hallelujah! What a Savior
Hallelujah, praise to the one
Whose blood has pardoned me
Oh what a Savior, Redeemer and King
Your love has rescued me.”
(“Hallelujah What a Savior” by Austin Stone Worship)
