# 11. 2017 Dev. Mt. 5:34-35. Yes, and No! Read verses 33-36. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.

 Mathew 5: 34-35

 “But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; ³⁵ or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.”

 One wonders why Jesus had to bring up vows when it seems to us to be a less important issue. Obviously, it was a problem in the day as it is today in terms of swearing by God’s name. Vows in biblical times are the defined as: “a solemn promise made to God to perform or to abstain from performing a certain thing” (Smiths Biblical Dictionary). Vows go way back in Scripture; Jacob vowed to tithe to God if he was blessed and protected. Leviticus set the regulations of vows to God. Vows were considered worship to God.

 Today we make promises and by biblical standards we are to keep the promises we make, promises are vows we make to others and to God. For followers of Jesus keeping our promises is an act of worship. The second issue is using God’s name to reinforce the things we say. Sometimes we use euphemisms like gee, gosh or heck but they are the real thing; swearing by God or by evil.

 What Jesus is saying to us is this: don’t swear by anything, not by God, not by creation, nor by yourself. Simply say “Yes or No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one’”. Using God’s name in vain is a habit and we don’t realize that we are desecrating His name. Jesus is saying; pay attention to the words of your mouth, they are important. Thank you Lord Jesus!

© cgvanwyk, all rights reserve

# 10. 2017 Dev. Ps. 5. God’s great Love for his people. Read all of Ps 5. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Psalm 5:7-8 “But I, by your great love, (mercy) can come into your house; in reverence I bow down toward your holy temple.⁸ Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies—make your way straight before me.”

David has opposition during his tenure as the King. As a type of Christ, David will have opposition at every turn from family and from enemies. We identify with David as followers of Jesus! David calls out to God and is confident for an answer. Verses 9-10 is the opposite of how David sees himself in God’s eyes. That is the contrast of followers of God and those who rebel against God. They are not trustworthy, they take advantage of every situation and are unrepentant sinners rebelling against God and persecuting his people.

Not so for those who repent and trust God, David asks for guidance: “make your ways straight before me.” David’s request is heard because of God’s love and mercy for those who trust Him. Followers of Jesus may enter into the presence of God; He has made us His dwelling place. By the power of the Holly Spirit His kingdom dwells in our hearts. How fantastic is that! Along with David we rejoice in God’s love and mercy, his blessings and his protection. Thank you Lord Jesus!

  © cgvanwyk, all rights reserved.

 

 

 

 

# 9. 2017 Dev. Mt. 5: 31-32. Marriage, Divorce, Recovery. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Matthew 5: 31-32.    “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’^{[f] 32} But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

Jesus here is correcting the perception of that day that divorce is only a matter of giving a certificate by the husband to the wife. Jesus, speaking about divorce later explains this precept. This is the occasion: Mt 19 “When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. ² Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

³ Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”

“After saying these Things”: Take note that this discussion on divorce follows Jesus’ discussion with Peter about the number of times for forgiveness. “70 times 7” Jesus tells him and Peter’s question precipitated “The parable of the unmerciful servant” (Mt. 18: 21-35).

Jesus gives the Pharisees this answer: ⁴ “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’^{[a] 5} and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’^{[ 6} So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

⁷ “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”

⁸ Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. ⁹ I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

¹⁰ The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”

¹¹ Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. ¹² For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”

This is an amazing answer, particularly the last part in response to the disciples’ comment: “it is better not to marry”. It is obvious from Jesus’ answer that relations with the opposite sex and marriage is a matter of choice. Sex and marriage is a gift not a right. 

What are the implications for divorce? Divorce is allowed if there is sexual immorality but it is not mandatory if there can be reconciliation which is preferred. The next question is what constitutes immorality? Adultery for sure but there is also emotional adultery, emotional and physical abuse, child abuse, porn, explicit literature, and as we have already read, immoral thoughts about men and women. I think all the above are included in immorality.

Marriage is not a contract where there is a reciprocal relationship that can be easily broken. Marriage is a vow. Couples should vow to be committed one to the other even if love is not always reciprocated. Love is like the love of Christ, He loves us regardless of our response. He loves us and nothing we can do will make Him love us more or love us less! That is the basis for love in marriage. However, if one does think about divorce every effort must be made to reconcile by being honest with each other, then by agreeing to counseling by Christian counselors or by someone you respect, a pastor, an elder or a couple you know.  The above will work if both partners want to save the marriage. If one party files for divorce over the other party’s objection and every realistic compromise has been extended to the spouse filing, not much can be done by way of reconciliation.

Paul writes (I Cor. 7) about an issue current today: He agrees with Jesus but he also writes about unbelieving spouses. “¹⁰ To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. ¹¹ But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife”.

^12 “To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. ¹³ And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy”.^15 “But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace”.

The bottom line is that God knows our thoughts, our motivations and every situation in which we find ourselves. Further, “God has called us to live in peace”! On the basis that God loves and takes care of His people, God in Jesus is merciful, forgives, and extends grace to those who belong to Him in order to cope with and recover from the pain of divorce. Thank you Jesus!

 © cgvanwyk, all rights reserved.

 

 

 

# 8. 2017 Dev. Ps. 4:4-5. Trust God! Read all of Ps. 4. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.

 Psalm 4: 4-5 “Tremble and^[d] do not sin; (or “do not sin in your anger”) when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. ⁵ Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the Lord.”

David continues with his prayer, he asks God to listen to him, to “hear my cry for help”. The title indicates that this is a liturgical song, or is spoken at worship representing the congregation, “many are asking ‘who can show us any good?” Is the king being questioned or is this a lack of trust in God? David answers this question with a request; asking for God’s face to light his way and to fill his heart with joy. “Only God is good!” Only God does good to us!

 In times of difficulty we also allow doubt and discouragement to affect our prayers,  to affect our most intimate thoughts as we ponder our relationship to God and think about the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. When we are discouraged do we look for help in the right places? Do we have the right state of mind? Do we ask ourselves the right questions? Do we look to God and His Word? As in David’s time there is delusion of the truth all around us and a running after false gods.

 Let us not be discouraged. Today is a time to look to God, to stay close to Jesus and along with David we say: “Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him.” God loves His people in Christ Jesus and He forgives us in Christ Jesus! Therefore, we “will lie down and sleep in peace for you alone, O lord, make me dwell in safety,” Praise be to God!

 © cgvanwyk, all rights reserved.

 

 

# 7. 2017 Dev. Mt. 5: Adultery. Read verses:27-30. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Matthew 5:28 “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart”.

 What Jesus tells us here may be the most ignored precept by both men and women.  It turns the thinking of adultery upside down. Adultery is usually understood as a physical act with someone other than one’s spouse. Jesus is telling us that adultery begins in our thoughts turning both women and men into objects, something less then fully human. 

It is difficult to reconcile Jesus’ precept with the reality of modern life, not that this kind of thinking about people in that way is a new thing. Since the fall, the beauty of sexuality is an adulteration of God’s original intention for sex given to Adam and Eve, it is part of the order of creation found in Gen 2: 24 “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” Sex is meant to be enjoyed and celebrated in the context of marriage, one man and one women! Male and female is part of the image of God giving couples the privilege of participating along with God to create new life and are given the awesome responsibility of raising children to know and love Jesus.

Today, God’s precept is politically incorrect and borders on hate language. For some Christians today, Jesus’ words do not hold true any longer sexually, everything is accepted, sex is considered a right. For followers of Jesus sex is a privilege and there is no way around that precept. Paul raises the stakes for believers and condemnation for unbelievers in Eph. 5:31 “for we are members of his body. ³¹ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ ³² This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.”  What Paul is saying to us is that our sexual relations, not the act but what leads up to it: complete love, absolute commitment and total surrender one to the other is what mirrors the love of Christ for His people. Raising our marital relations on to a spiritual level that is difficult to understand (“a profound mystery”) and completely lost on non believers. Add to that having children and the responsibility of raising them.

So what is the answer? Given secular society today where the emphasis is on being attractive in every way, people dress that way and act that way: entertainment, advertisements, provocative dress, we are in a sexually charged society and that is considered normal, even healthy. The answer is that we must recognize our own culpability in our thoughts about sexuality before our thinking can be corrected. We thank God for His mercy and ask Jesus to extend His grace to us. In this area every man and woman must ask God for forgiveness and to keep us close to Jesus Christ.  

Paul in Philippians 4:8-9 gives us a solution: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you”. Praise be to God!

 © cgvanwyk, all rights reserved.

# 6. 2017 Dev. Ps. 3. Call on God! Read all of Ps. 3. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.

 Psalm 3:4 “I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain.”

 The introduction is followed by a series of 12 Psalms of prayers. (3-14). Ps. 3 is titled “When David fled from his son Absalom”. David is in great distress; he points out his needs to God “many are my foes.” These foes are his own people and his own much beloved son. For David and for us family conflict is the most disturbing and destructive in our lives. Many others have abandoned him, only a few fled with David. We can identify.

 He cries out to God and he anticipates an answer, he continues with confirming God’s care, His blessings and protection for him over the years. He sleeps in peace knowing that God is with him. We need to be reminded of that again and again. He is not afraid even with great odds. That also is a great reminder for us. David comes down to trusting God for his life, for his kingdom and for the calling God placed on him. How easily are we overwhelmed sometimes and we allow doubt and despair to slip into our spiritual life affecting all that we do. This Psalm is an exercise in trusting God!

Verse 7 is David’s prayer proper: “Deliver me, O my God!” Here David uses a metaphor asking for physical action against his enemies (strike the jaw, and break the teeth of the wicked) but this has a spiritual meaning. God will and does deliver us in this life and prepares us for living with Jesus in the Kingdom: the salvation of our bodies and souls, God’s ultimate plan for His people. Praise be to God!

© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved.

# 5. 2017 Dev. Mt. 5:23-24. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Matthew 5: 23-24 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”

Mt. 5:23-24 is part of the section of Jesus’ sermon labeled “Murder” (V.21-26). Murder is here redefined into a truth that may make us uncomfortable. We now cannot reject our brothers and sisters whatever the differences in conviction. What Jesus is saying is that breaking our relationships is akin to murder. I believe that Jesus is highlighting the importance of our relationships. How do we get along in our families, how do we get along in our church family, how do we get along with our neighbors and how do we see those who do not yet follow Jesus?

This has everything to do with what we think about people, particularly what we think about those who differ from us and what we think about those who do not know Jesus. Further, it has a lot to do with our actions particularly worship. Our worship is unacceptable to God if we have an unresolved conflict with someone. All of life is worship but here it is a particular part of worship, giving our gifts to God and receiving God’s gifts in worship; his Word, His blessings, communion at God’s table and fellowship with God’s people.

What we think about is important but what we do may be more important.  Jesus says: Leave your gift at home; worship, funds, praise to God, and go find that person you are in conflict with so that you repair your relationship.  Jesus adds, not to do so is akin to murder.  Tough words from Jesus but highlights the importance of our relationship to God and to each other. Thank you Jesus!

© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved.

 # 4. 2017 Dev. Ps. 2:1-12. God Laughs! The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Psalm 2:7 “I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son;
today I have become your father”.

Psalm 2 comprises the rest of the introduction to the Psalms. Ps.2 is also one of the Messianic Psalms.  Reading the whole Psalm reveals to us several truths, like it or not there is evil in the world and it is not limited to a few; kings, leaders, peoples, and nations. They say: “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” They want to remove the restraints of the Holy Spirit on sin. They reject God and they reject Jesus.

But God laughs at their rebellion, God scoffs at their actions, “God terrifies them with his wrath.” The second truth is that God is in control but God’s methods are completely upside down from what those who appose God expect or understand.

God says: “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” This is a reference to Jesus Christ. The love of Jesus (the love of God) is the truth that terrifies and angers those who oppose God.

The third truth is God’s decree; verse 7.  “I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, ‘You are my son; today I have become your father”. This is a direct reference to God the Son. The book of Hebrews (Heb5:5) quotes this decree as Biblical proof that God appointed God the Son (Jesus) as the Savior of the world and through the miracle of the incarnation Jesus becomes our brother.

This is where the rubber hits the road: Believers are brothers and sister of Jesus and as such we share in His inheritance, in His resurrection and in due time, in His glory. This truth puts us under the grace of God, under the salvation of God, under the protection of God and under the blessings of God. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Ro. 8:31). Praise be to God!

 © cgvanwyk, all rights reserved.

 

# 3 2017 Dev. Mt. 5:19. “The Least and the Greatest. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Matthew 5:19 “Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven”.

This passage is part of a section in Jesus’ sermon called: “The Fulfillment of the Law”(Mt. 5:17-20). Further, from the verse we are looking at “therefore” points to what is written before it. Jesus is the fulfillment of the law, Jesus fulfills the law as the Lamb of God, Jesus fulfills the law as was prophesied about Him, Jesus fulfills the law by His perfect life. He does what we can not do and He does it for us! Since Jesus does that for us we are released from the Old Testament demands of the law but not from the obligations of law. Jesus added the law of love (Jn.13:34) as we see it in the summary of the law (Mk. 12:30-33).

Today the law teaches us about God’s Holiness. The law teaches us about our shortcomings (sin). The law teaches us God’s will for our lives. The instruction is there for us; a guide in a broken world but the condemnation of the law is set aside in Christ.

We are righteous by faith in Him (Ro.10:4). We are justified by faith in Him (Gal 3: 23-25).  We have peace in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:13-18).

 All of the above Jesus teaches in His sermon with a promise and a warning, obeying or not obeying the law has consequences for our standing in the Kingdom of God. Those who do not pay attention to the law of God and teach others to ignore the law will be the least in the Kingdom. Yet, they still are in the kingdom, confirming the new covenant; by faith alone in Christ we are saved.

But all those who adhere to the law and teach others to do so will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. Salvation and regeneration is by faith in Jesus Christ alone but Christ honors those who faithfully serve Him. Praise the Lord and keep serving Him with the gifts He has given us!

 © cgvanwyk, all rights reserved

# 2 2017 Dev. Ps. 1:1-6. “Blessed”. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Psalm 1:3 “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers”.

There is much to be said about the Psalms but most of it is beyond the scope of this devotional. Suffice it say that the Psalms are divided into 5 books of which Psalm 1 and 2 is an introduction and Psalms 146 -150 are a series of Psalms beginning with and ending with “Praise the Lord” that most likely is the conclusion to the book. The Psalms are mostly a collection of hymns consisting of prayers, petitions and praise.

We look at verse 3 but Ps. 1 is best read as a whole. This Psalm is a stark contrast of the two ways of the world; one of righteousness and one of wickedness already obvious in the first two verses. The first verse is a “negative progression”, one who does not, in that if one walks in the council of the wicked long enough you will stop in the way of sinners and if you linger long enough you will also sit down. Wickedness is like that eventually taking over one’s whole life.

In contrast is the positive way of righteousness, one who does delight in the law of the Lord, more so, one who meditates on God’s law (God’s will) day and night. This person is one who does what is right in God’s sight. Righteousness, continually practiced eventually takes over his or her whole life.

There is more, a promise of blessing. V.3 That person is like a tree planted near a clear and pure stream (God’s will). There is nothing like a healthy well watered mango tree for fruit, and for shade; a metaphor for a multitudes of blessings for those enjoying the fruit and shade. That person is blessed and a blessing to others, “whatever they do prospers”.

 This Psalm will be offensive to some I expect because there is no alternative, there is no middle way. There is the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked; not with standing our human short comings. God forgives if we desire His Grace. In God’s economy one walks in righteousness or wickedness one or the other. Do what is right, seek His Grace and be blessed!

 

© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved