Christian Living

Hope in Devotion To Jesus

by Thomas Kirkpatrick
11/04/21
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“By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.” (1 Timothy 3:16)

I have avoided writing in regards to the Corvid 19 Pandemic and the struggles of the world. I felt there was nothing fruitful to offer, as many people have a better knowledge of this virus than I do. Many now our suffering its infection, and I have grown distressed, as they have grown weary. The struggle is understandable, and I sympathize with them, but there is a way to cope. I understand their weariness but not their affliction. As of this writing, I have been blessed. If I do fall to a  victim, still I shall be blessed.

Lately, the people have grown impatient with the restrictions the government has placed upon them. It is a time when we have learned the value of the freedoms we have had and taken for granted. I cannot believe that our government is by design plotting to introduce us to a totalitarian state. They would have to disarm the people first, and that has not happened. I agree with the actions of President Trump, as I believe the best interest of all the people is at heart. It is an inconvenience, as all trials and challenges in life are. We have faced them in the past by being united in the cause, and together we will get through.

Even as some feel hopeless in the present time, the truth is some have been hopeless all their time. Others have claimed their hope in the Lord should rejoice in the day the Lord has made and be glad in it. That may seem easy to say and hard to live, but it is simple if you live in His truth. “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)

I was reading in Paul’s letter to Timothy this morning and realized the answer for the difficult times we are in now, and it is the answer to all of our living for today and the tomorrows to come. “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

Prayer is the answer for each day; everything the day offers blessings and challenges. After we recognize who our God is and praise Him for the mighty works He has done, we have the privileged to come boldly with our petitions. Our personal petitions and our intercessional petitions for others. Our petitions for His Church, as our Lord is the head of the Church body of Christ. Pray for your fellow Church family members. The government has advised us not to meet together in the Church building, but they have not restricted our faith and prayers. We have lost our freedom to assemble until it is safe to gather again.

Paul is telling us to pray for all people, the righteous and the wicked alike. We serve a God who is not partial towards anyone. (Acts 10:34-35) He gives the command, and obedience pleases our God. We desire that our parents are pleased with us and how much more is it to please our Heavenly Father? Then Paul tells us to pray for the Kings, our government leaders whom God has appointed according to His pleasure and will. “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” (Romans 13:1)

It is not meant for us to follow their suggestions blindly, as they too must obey the government's law. Here we have the privilege to vote our leaders into office, so certainly, we should vote for the leaders who abide by the law of God, for this is the law we all shall be judged by on that great day. God appoints them according to His will and purpose, and we must be obedient. It may not be what we want, but it is what we are to do. We are to pray for our leaders. Pray they are leading us to the full revelation of God’s plan. Pray that they receive His wisdom in their judgments, as God’s timetable will be accomplished, “It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding.” (Daniel 2:21)

Our prayers for our leaders are acceptable to God, who desires all men to come to a saving knowledge of His truth. As His Church, this is in line with the Church’s purpose. The Church gathers to be equipped and empowered to “Go” into all the world. The Church plants the seeds of His truth into every heart that will receive. The Church is not a gathering place for social pleasures. It is a place to gather to praise and worship our God through His Son Jesus. It is a place where we gather to learn and “Go and Show” live the gospel message before the world. The Church’s body is His light to shine in the darkened world that mankind will know the truth. Prayerfully we hope that the worldly will receive His truth and repent from their worldly way and turn to the Kingdom of God.

Most people will reject the truth of Jesus Christ. Some do not believe in a Sovereign God as the Creator of all. Some do not believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Some reject His truth because they find the gospel offensive. I know that they do just as my sons rejected the truth of my discipline. Them when they were caught, they hated feeling guilty. When people hear ‘God’s Word in the Power of the Holy Spirit, they are convicted. They realize their guilt and shame, and they hate it. They do not see the freedom of righteousness and therefore have no desire for forgiveness and salvation. Now they know and have made their choice, which is why they need our prayers. The seed sower cannot plant before the soil is prepared. Praying is the key to heart preparation. Only God can change a heart!

The text we are looking at this morning is a doxology that Paul wrote to Timothy. A doxology is a formula for praise to our God and Savior. In chapter 3, verse 9, Paul made this statement about godliness. “Holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.” In the context of that statement, we can view this doxology as a devotion since the focus is on God. In our devotion to our Lord and Savior Jesus, we have plenty to praise Him for and share with any who do not accept Him as the incarnated God in the flesh.

No one denies that Jesus lived in history; they will not accept Him as a God. They may admire His personhood, but they do not believe who He is. Unbelief makes all men who reject Jesus as the Son of God is enemies of God. “All will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.” (John 5:23) Confrontation is not our message. Our message is Jesus loves them, and the gospel is His grace.

Jesus was manifested in the flesh that mankind could see God by their sight and believe in Him by faith. “For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” (Colossians 1:19-20)

Jesus went to the cross as the Lamb of God to pay the sin debt of the world. (John 3:16) He went willingly out of His love for mankind for their reconciliation to God. “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.” (Acts 2:33)

The Heavenly Host, the angels of God, worship Jesus. We see this at the announcement of His birth, “And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” (Luke 2:13-14)

His Word, the gospel of the Kingdom of God, has been preached to the world. They started with the Apostles and now by His many disciples. His message of Good News has reached the nations of the world. What began on the Day of Pentecost can be held in our hearts today from two thousand years ago. “But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have; “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.” (Romans 10:18)

Jesus promised that the gates of Hades could not prevail against His Church. For two thousand years, the message of Jesus has been received and being revealed by multitudes daily. Many are quickened and have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. “Has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth.” (Colossians 1:6)

Jesus came from the Father, was received back to the Father when His work in the world was finished. He was glorified by the Father and will share that glory with His own. His own who have faith in His Word will share in the riches of His glory. “Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you--not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.” (1 Peter 3:21-22)

We will always have trials and tribulations in this world, but do not forget we have blessings from God. It’s hard to recognize them all each day, but praise Him for the ones we receive. In all life challenges, prayer is the answer, with praise, petition, and giving the Lord the glory. Remember our Lord suffered as we and knows the way to overcome the world’s challenges. Remember that our neighbors need to know that truth and share it with them. Share so they, too, can find inner peace and the hope that comes from our Lord.

Thomas Kirkpatrick

First Baptist Church Durant, April 24, 2020