HEARTLIGHT — A Year with Jesus

Don't be surprised at what is happening around us today; our world is la"Passion and Truth in Praise" — A Year with Jesus for 10/17/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Beloved, 

Today you will read two powerful passages of praise. The first is from Paul's letter to the Colossians and the second is from Paul's letter sent to several churches in Asia, with Ephesus being the most notable one and the one whose name is used for the book in your New Testament — Ephesians. 

The first passage is a great summary of My pre-existence before creation, My work in creating the universe, My work at sustaining the universe, and My triumph over the cross and death. My work was to not only reconcile you back to the Father, but to also reconcile all of creation back to the Father. The burst of praise in this first passage, this song of glory dedicated to Me, ends with an exhortation for you to hold onto these truths about Me. You need to know that I stand before the Father and the angels of heaven and announce you to the Father as His beloved child who is "holy, blameless, and totally free of imperfection." 

Paul reminds you that as you praise Me and remain faithful to your praise of Me, then you are presented to the Father as His perfect child. So I want you to read this first passage aloud. Do it several times. Read it one time to honor Me — so concentrate on Who I AM and what I've done for you. The second time do it to remind yourself that these truths are important, that they allowed Me to be the sacrifice that not only atones for your sins, but also makes you God's perfect child. The third time read the passage aloud to remind yourself to hold onto this confession of both Who I AM and who you are because of Me. Don't ever denigrate who you are, because I AM the One who has made you holy at high cost! 

The Colossians needed these truths because they were being lured away by false teachers who told them they were lacking things needed to be truly holy. People will do the same in your day to get you to follow their special "enlightened" teachings on how to be really holy. Remember, your holiness comes from Me and from being joined to Me — go take a peak at Colossians 3:1-17, for example, to see what that ultimately means! 

The second passage is a burst of praise that has a kind of chorus near or at the end of the major points of the message — you can see this chorus highlighted with bold text below. Paul again mixes praise for the Father and Me with a description of who you have been made to be by the Father's plan, My sacrifice, and the Holy Spirit's power at work in you. Paul emphasizes that this work of grace, your adoption into our holy family, came about through Me, by Me, and in Me. Although you can't see Paul's original writing of this passage, translators over the centuries have rightly said that this is one long burst of praise that comes from the Holy Spirit's inspiration of Paul's heart that flows out into a stream of words that cannot be properly punctuated. Paul's words are the language of the heart, the language of praise, and they are more poem than prose and more song than speech.
Verses to Live

Sometimes truth is found most powerfully communicated in poetry and song. These two great passages of praise do just that. I want you to let them fill you with a sense of glory at Our — Father, Son, and Spirit's — identity and then realize that I poured out Our love for you in your world in tangible ways so that you can share the glory of our world!
He [Jesus] is the exact image of the invisible God, the firstborn of creation, the eternal. It was by Him that everything was created: the heavens, the earth, all things within and upon them, all things seen and unseen, thrones and dominions, spiritual powers and authorities. Every detail was crafted through His design, by His own hands, and for His purposes. He has always been! It is His hand that holds everything together. He is the head of this body, the church. He is the beginning, the first of those to be reborn from the dead, so that in every aspect, at every view, in everything — He is first. God was pleased that all His fullness should forever dwell in the Son who, as predetermined by God, bled peace into the world by His death on the cross as God's means of reconciling to Himself the whole creation — all things in heaven and all things on earth. 

You were once at odds with God, wicked in your ways and evil in your minds; but now He has reconciled you in His body — in His flesh through His death — so that He can present you to God holy, blameless, and totally free of imperfection as long as you stay planted in the faith. So don't venture away from what you have heard and taken to heart: the living hope of the good news that has been announced to all creation under heaven and has captured me, Paul, as its servant. 
(Colossians 1:15-23) 

Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One, who grants us every spiritual blessing in these heavenly realms where we live in the Anointed — not because of anything we have done, but because of what He has done for us. God chose us to be in a relationship with Him even before He laid out plans for this world; He wanted us to live holy lives characterized by love, free from sin, and blameless before Him. He destined us to be adopted as His children through the covenant Jesus the Anointed inaugurated in His sacrificial life. This was His pleasure and His will for us. Ultimately God is the one worthy of praise for showing us His grace; He is merciful and marvelous, freely giving us these gifts in His Beloved. 

Visualize this: His blood freely flowing down the cross, setting us free! We are forgiven for our sinful ways by the richness of His grace, which He has poured all over us. With all wisdom and insight, He has enlightened us to the great mystery at the center of His will. With immense pleasure, He laid out His intentions through Jesus, a plan that will climax when the time is right as He returns to create order and unity — both in heaven and on earth — when all things are brought together under the Anointed's royal rule. In Him we stand to inherit even more. As His heirs, we are predestined to play a key role in His unfolding purpose that is energizing everything to conform to His will. As a result, we — the first to place our hope in the Anointed One — will live in a way to bring Him glory and praise. 

Because you, too, have heard the word of truth — the good news of your salvation — and because you believed in the One who is truth, your lives are marked with His seal. This is none other than the Holy Spirit who was promised as the guarantee toward the inheritance we are to receive when He frees and rescues all who belong to Him. To God be all praise and glory! 
(Ephesians 1:3-14)
Response in Prayer

You, O God, are worthy of all praise. You are worthy for showing us Your grace in sending Jesus — worthy because You are merciful and marvelous, freely giving us Your gifts through Your Beloved, Jesus the Anointed One. We, Your children, those who have placed our hope in the Anointed One, commit to live in a way to bring You glory and praise. In the name of Jesus and through the intercession of the Holy Spirit I pray. Amen. 
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
Heartlight is proud to promote Compassion International. See children who were sponsored today!
© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

Grace, Glorious Grace" — A Year with Jesus for 10/18/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Child of Grace, 

Paul powerfully tells the truth about where each person is, and where every single one of My disciples was, before becoming My disciple and without grace:
You were the offspring of the prince of the power of air — oh, how he owned you, just as he still controls those living in disobedience.
Many of the people to whom Paul was writing had been worshipping idols and clearly "living in disobedience." However, as Paul points out elsewhere — for example, the first three chapters of his letter to the Romans — it doesn't matter how good you have tried to be because "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23, NIV). Everyone needs the Father's grace, and Paul shares one of the most powerful statements of reversal and redemption as the centerpiece of today's short passage on grace:
But God, with the unfathomable richness of His love and mercy focused on us, united us with the Anointed One and infused our lifeless souls with life — even though we were buried under mountains of sin — and saved us by His grace.
You are a recipient of grace. You are a treasure. Your life is now united with My life and your future is now salvation because of grace. You did not earn it. You did not deserve it. There is no room for bragging about your good deeds that achieved this new life of salvation:
For it's by God's grace that you have been saved. You receive it through faith. It was not our plan or our effort. It is God's gift, pure and simple.
Verses to Live

Read and then re-read this passage. Let the wonder of grace sweep over you. Let the promise of salvation undergird you. Then let your praise to God flow out of you. You are saved by grace and are alive in Me to accomplish the Father's will! 
As for you, don't you remember how you used to just exist? Corpses, dead in life, buried by transgressions, wandering the course of this perverse world. You were the offspring of the prince of the power of air — oh, how he owned you, just as he still controls those living in disobedience. I'm not talking about the outsiders alone; we were all guilty of falling headlong for the persuasive passions of this world; we all have had our fill of indulging the flesh and mind, obeying impulses to follow perverse thoughts motivated by dark powers. As a result, our natural inclinations led us to be children of wrath, just like the rest of humankind. 

But God, with the unfathomable richness of His love and mercy focused on us, united us with the Anointed One and infused our lifeless souls with life — even though we were buried under mountains of sin — and saved us by His grace. He raised us up with Him and seated us in the heavenly realms with our beloved Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King. He did this for a reason: so that for all eternity we will stand as a living testimony to the incredible riches of His grace and kindness that He freely gives to us by uniting us with Jesus the Anointed. For it's by God's grace that you have been saved. You receive it through faith. It was not our plan or our effort. It is God's gift, pure and simple. You didn't earn it, not one of us did, so don't go around bragging that you must have done something amazing. For we are the product of His hand, heaven's poetry etched on lives, created in the Anointed, Jesus, to accomplish the good works God arranged long ago. 
(Ephesians 2:1-10)
Response in Prayer

O Father, thank You for Your glorious and amazing grace. Thank You, Jesus, for paying the price to give me this grace. I thank You for this new life of purpose and meaning and for a future of eternal glory. In Jesus' name I praise and thank You. Amen. 
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
Heartlight is proud to promote Compassion International. See children who were sponsored today!
© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

"The Freedom of Grace" — A Year with Jesus for 10/16/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Disciple, 

Sometimes people romanticize what life was like in the early church. They look past the enormous cultural challenges, relationship issues, and sin that confronted these early believers. Yet My earliest disciples faced many challenges in living out the gospel. 

My good news would not have been good news if My disciples didn't live up to what I taught them to pray:
"Our Father in heaven, let Your name remain holy. Bring about Your kingdom. Manifest Your will here on earth, as it is manifest in heaven." 
(Matthew 6:9-10)
My people were to be the manifestation, the living example, of the Father's will lived out on earth. To do this in a pagan culture full of slavery, inequality, and prejudice was not easy. Two letters Paul wrote while in prison, Colossians and Philemon, were sent to address some of these problems. 

Paul taught that My coming changed everything. He saw the implications of My life, death, and resurrection in cosmic terms. At the same time, he also applied My lordship to personal and cultural issues as well. Each of these realms — cosmic, cultural, and personal — needed redeeming. For redemption to be real, change was necessary. Navigating that change was hard, messy, and challenging because Paul's message intersected each of the three realms and created conflict with their powers, cultures, and rulers. 

Paul reminded the Colossian believers:
[Y]ou have sloughed away [removed] your old skin along with its evil practices for a fresh new you, which is continually renewed in knowledge according to the image of the One who created you. In this re-creation there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian and conqueror, or slave and free because the Anointed is the whole and dwells in us all. 
(Colossians 3:9-11)
Based on this "re-creation," Paul challenged one of the most entrenched and evil social realities of your world: slavery. He did this both in a personal and in a communal way when he sent the runaway slave, Onesimus, home to his "master" named Philemon. Onesimus had run away from Philemon and eventually found himself in prison with Paul. Paul had led Onesimus to faith in Me and made a brother in faith out of a runaway slave. 

Paul knew Philemon well. He had previously been blessed by Philemon's generosity. So this was a deeply personal and risky matter for Paul, Philemon, Onesimus, and the church in Colossae. Paul could lose a friend and supporter. Onesimus could lose his freedom. Philemon could lose face and give up his faith. The church could lose its place to meet and several of its key leaders. 

Roman law gave Philemon great freedom to do what he wanted to do with his runaway slave. Paul could not take on the whole Roman Empire and a world culture steeped in slavery. How would Onesimus' freedom be secured and not damage Paul's relationship with Philemon or harm the church in Colossae? 

What Paul said and did was delicate and deliberate. It was also transforming! He sent Onesimus back to Philemon and to the church that met in Philemon's house in Colossae. Onesimus returned with two letters and was accompanied by other friends of Paul. One letter was for the whole church — and indeed the whole region around Colossae. The other letter was to Philemon, but was read before the whole church. 

Both letters have a powerful message about liberating culture from its evils. This liberation had to come from the power of the kingdom of God lived out in My disciples. For Paul, slavery was an evil that needed to be removed from My people (1 Corinthians 7:20-23). Paul didn't want slavery to divide My disciples into different classes of people. He used a powerful statement to describe new life in My family:
[F]or in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. 
(Galatians 3:26-29 ESV)
For Paul and for Me, there must be no second-class citizens in My family. From a Jewish male perspective, Greeks, slaves, and women were no more than second-class citizens. Yet Paul declared that each was now a legitimate and rightful son of God, a full heir of all of God's promises to Abraham. 

Paul reminded the Colossians of this powerful truth in the heart of his letter to them:
[T]here is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian and conqueror, or slave and free because the Anointed is the whole and dwells in us all. 
(Colossians 3:11)
Paul reminded masters of slaves — including, of course, Philemon — of this powerful truth:
And to you masters: treat your slaves fairly and do what is right, knowing that you, too, have a Master in heaven. 
(Colossians 4:1)
Yet there was a huge problem with saying this: the church met in the house of a slave owner and now his runaway slave was standing before this church as the two letters (your New Testament letters of Philemon and Colossians) were read to them. 

Against this background, the letter of Philemon comes to you as an example of tact, influence, relationship, and challenge. The only legal way for Onesimus to be free and to be welcomed as a brother and not a slave was for Philemon to realize all that I had done to liberate him from slavery to sin and death and to recognize all that Paul had done for him. He now could reciprocate by releasing Onesimus from slavery.
Verses to Live

As you read Paul's letter to Philemon, imagine what it was like in that small church gathering. Paul's letter to Philemon, read before the whole congregation, basically put Philemon "on the spot" and asked him to receive Onesimus as a brother, not as a slave. This kind of move was revolutionary. This is the kind of move the Father asks of you! 
Paul, a prisoner of Jesus the Anointed One, with our brother Timothy, to you, beloved Philemon, our fellow worker; and to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that gathers in your house. May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus the Anointed surround you. 

I am constantly thanking God for you in my prayers because I keep hearing about your love and faith toward our Lord Jesus and all those set apart for His purposes. Here's what I've been praying on your behalf:
Thank You, Father, for Philemon. I pray that as he goes and tells his story of faith, he would tell everyone so that they will know for certain all the good that comes to those who put their trust in the Anointed One.

My brother, because you are out there encouraging and reviving the hearts of fellow saints with such love, this brings great joy and comfort to me. 

Although I am bold enough in the Anointed, our Liberating King, to insist you do the right thing, instead I choose to appeal to you on account of love. I do this for my own sake since I, Paul, am an old man and am held prisoner because of my service to Jesus the Anointed. I make this request on behalf of my child, Onesimus, whom I brought to faith during my time in prison. Before, he was useless to you; but now he is useful to both you and me. Listen, I am sending my heart back to you as I send him to stand before you, although truly I wished to keep him at my side to take your place as my helper while I am bound for the good news. But I didn't want to make this decision without asking for your permission. This way, any goodwill on your part wouldn't be seen as forced, but as your true and free desire. 

Maybe this is the reason why he was supposed to be away from you for this time: so that now you will have him back forever — no longer as a slave, but as more than a slave — as a dear brother. Yes, he is dear to me, but I suspect he will come to mean even more to you, both in the flesh as a servant and in the Lord as a brother. 

So if you look upon me as your partner in this mission, then I ask you to open your heart to him as you would welcome me. And if he has wronged you or owes you anything, charge it to me. Look, I'll put it here in my own handwriting: I, Paul, promise to repay you everything. (Should I remind you that you owe me your life?) Indeed, brother, I want you to do me this favor out of obedience to our Lord. It will refresh my heart in Him. This letter comes, written with the confidence that you will not only do what I ask, but will also go beyond all I have asked. 

One more thing: you should get a room ready for me as I hope to be released to you soon in answer to your prayers. Epaphras (my fellow prisoner in Jesus, the Anointed One) greets you, as well as my fellow workers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke. May the grace of the Lord Jesus the Anointed be with your spirit. Amen. 
(Philemon 1:1-25)
Response in Prayer

O Father God, please give me the courage to work for the liberation and freeing of people by the power of Your grace. Use me to break down the walls that divide Your people. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
Heartlight is proud to promote Compassion International. See children who were sponsored today!

© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

"With No Hindrance" — A Year with Jesus for 10/13/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Disciple, 

Paul finally arrived in Rome in the last chapter of Acts. As you have seen over the last several days of reading, the journey had been difficult. Paul had to navigate his way through the Jewish and Roman legal systems. He repeatedly had to avoid being murdered by his enemies. He had to survive the dangerous and brutal sea voyage — which included a shipwreck. Yet, as I promised him, he finally arrived in Rome. He was under house arrest, but he had the freedom to teach others about Me and the kingdom of God. 

Notice several things from the verses that follow as Luke finishes his account of Paul's journey to Rome. 

First, when Paul met other believers upon arriving in Italy, they welcomed him and even accompanied him on his journey to Rome. Rather than being afraid to be identified with Paul as a prisoner of Rome, they shared hospitality and encouragement with Paul as he traveled. My first century followers and their love for each other were described well in the book of Hebrews:
[T]hink back to the days after you were first enlightened and understood who Jesus was: when you endured all sorts of suffering in the name of the Lord, when people held you up for public scorn and ridicule, or when they abused your partners and companions in the faith. Remember how you had compassion for those in prison and how you cheerfully accepted the seizure of your possessions, knowing that you have a far greater and more enduring possession. 
Hebrews 10:32-34
This hospitality and encouragement that came from the power of the Holy Spirit and an understanding of grace were unstoppable! 

Second, Paul invited the Jewish leaders in Rome to come and visit him. He explained to them both the reason for his being imprisoned and also the good news of My coming. While these Jewish visitors had heard bad things about Paul, none of his accusers from Jerusalem or Asia were in Rome. So not only did Paul's long sea voyage open the door for him to share My salvation message with leaders and rulers, the absence of his accusers allowed for the hostile plans and murderous intentions of Paul's Judean and Asian enemies to be thwarted. Behind all that happened, the Holy Spirit was working things out for Paul to accomplish My purpose for him as an apostle (Romans 8:28-29). 

Finally, while some Jewish people believed Paul's message, others rejected it. Paul reminded his Jewish critics that I had called him to share this message of liberation and healing with his Jewish brothers and sisters first. Their rejection of that message meant it was time for him to extend the message and invitation of grace to non-Jewish peoples (Romans 1:16-17). Paul's experience had shown him that many non-Jews would listen to this message and respond by becoming My disciples.

Luke, Paul's physician and supportive friend, closes out the book of Acts with a key, powerful, and liberating truth:
With great confidence and with no hindrance, he [Paul] proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the ultimate authority — the Lord Jesus, God’s Anointed, the Liberating King.
Even though Paul was under house arrest, he had arrived in the capital city of the great Roman Empire where he was openly, powerfully, and effectively sharing My good news of the kingdom of God. By going to Rome, Paul had reached one of his major goals. The gospel was advancing. Even the most powerful government in the world could not stop the spread of grace.
Verses to Live

Your life will be filled with paradoxes, ironies, and surprises. Doctor Luke wrote Acts to trumpet one of the greatest of all surprises: the message of a crucified and resurrected Messiah from the out-of-the-way country of Israel and the insignificant region of Galilee had spread across the Roman Empire in a mere three decades. Hearts and lives were changed. People from all sorts of countries, religious backgrounds, races, and social classes had believed and become My disciples. The greatest individual enemy of My movement had been converted and traveled the northern half of Mediterranean world effectively sharing My story. The laws of the Roman Empire had not resisted this spread, but had actually enabled Paul to get to Rome and share My story "with no hindrance." This, dear disciple, is your heritage. So as you come to the end of the book of Acts, I leave you with this one question: What are you doing to encourage, support, and participate in the spread of the good news of the Father's grace to your world?
We set sail from Malta and stopped first at Syracuse. After three days, we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. We waited there a day, and then a south wind sprang up and sped us to Puteoli. We found some believers there, and they invited us to stay with them for seven days. Then we reached Rome. The believers from Rome heard we were coming, so they traveled out to meet us at the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns. Paul thanked God and felt encouraged to see them. Once inside the city, Paul lived under house arrest by himself, with only one soldier to guard him. Three days after his arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders. 

Paul:
Brothers, although I committed no wrong against our Jewish people or our ancestral customs, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. The Romans examined me and wanted to set me free because I had committed no capital offense. But my Jewish opponents objected, so I had to appeal to the emperor — even though I had no charges against me and had filed no charges against my nation. I wanted to gather you together and explain all this to you. I want you to understand that it is because of Israel's hope that I am bound with this chain.
Jewish Leaders:
We haven't received letters from Judea about you, and no visiting brother has reported anything or said anything negative about you. So we are interested in hearing your viewpoint on the sect you represent. The only thing we know about it is that people everywhere speak against it.
They scheduled a day to meet again, and a large number came to his lodging. From morning until evening, he explained his message to them — giving his account of the kingdom of God, trying to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets' writings. Some were convinced, but others refused to believe. 

Paul (adding as they left in disagreement):
The Holy Spirit rightly spoke to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah, Go to this people and say, "You certainly do hear, but you will never understand; you certainly do see, but you will never have insight. Make their hearts hard, their ears deaf, and their eyes blind. Otherwise, they would look and see, listen and hear, understand and repent, and be healed." So let it be known to you that God's liberation, God's healing, has been sent to the outsiders, and they will listen.
Then the local Jewish leaders left Paul to discuss all he had told them. For two full years, he lived there in Rome, paying all his own expenses, receiving all who came to him. With great confidence and with no hindrance, he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the ultimate authority — the Lord Jesus, God's Anointed, the Liberating King. 
(Acts 28:12-31)
Response in Prayer

Father, I confess that I sometimes find myself discouraged about the health and vitality of Christianity in my time and in my culture. With the persecution and martyrdom of believers in some parts of the world and the secularization of my own culture, I worry about the future of Jesus' church. Forgive me for both my discouragement and my lack of faith. Having journeyed through the book of Acts, I am reminded that You are at work in our world, the Spirit is empowering the spread of the good news, and Jesus is still leading His church. Today, dear Father, I commit to encouraging, supporting, and participating in efforts to share the message of Jesus and grow Your kingdom. So I continue my prayer today with the words of Jesus, My Savior and Lord. This is the prayer of my heart. "Our Father in heaven, let Your name remain holy. Bring about Your kingdom. Manifest Your will here on earth, as it is manifest in heaven." Do this, dear Father, in me and through me I pray. Amen.
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
Heartlight is proud to promote Compassion International. See children who were sponsored today!

© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

"Treacherous Travels" — A Year with Jesus for 10/12/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Follower of The Way, 

Paul's path to Rome was difficult and challenging. First he faced a series of legal hearings before he even left for Rome. Then, he had the challenging sea journey to Rome, a journey that was filled with adventure, hardship, danger, and influence. 

The legal proceedings began when Paul appeared before the Jewish ruling council (Acts 23:1-11) — it was the same council, called the Sanhedrin, that years earlier had condemned Me to death. Then he was transferred to Caesarea to protect him from a plot to kill him (Acts 23:12-35). There he appeared before the governor, Felix, and was accused by the high priest and others, and there Paul gave his personal testimony (Acts 24:1-27). After two years of waiting, a new governor — named Porcius Festus — came to power and so Paul also appeared before him. When Festus threatened to send Paul back to Jerusalem to be tried there, Paul appealed to have his case heard in Rome and his appeal was granted (Acts 25:1-12). When King Agrippa arrived to pay respects to Festus, Paul then appeared before Agrippa and gave his personal testimony to him and his wife Bernice (Acts 25:13-27; Acts 26:1-32). 

While the stonewalling by the political rulers seemed to be a waste of time, Paul was actually doing exactly what I had told Ananias that Paul would do when I appeared to Ananias and sent him to lead Paul to become My disciple:
I have chosen him to be My instrument to bring My name far and wide — to outsiders, to kings, and to the people of Israel as well. I have much to show him, including how much he must suffer for My name. 
(Acts 9:15-16)
Paul was able to tell My good news before people to whom he would never have had access without his legal hearings. These people were exposed to My story and the salvation that turns people's lives around through grace. Yes, Paul had to endure suffering, but he wasn't afraid of that. He was determined to fulfill his mission for Me (Acts 20:24) and that is exactly what he did. I also kept my promise to get him safely to Rome (Acts 23:11). The trip was eventful, dangerous, and full of adventure. Yet even in this sea trip to Rome, I used Paul to bless others as he shared My message of grace both in word and in example.
Verses to Live

The passages below are excerpted from the account of Paul's sea journey to Rome. Notice how I ministered through Paul to those who were his captors and how his influence positively impacted all those he contacted. Remember, your journey may not be easy, but if you will trust in Me, I will make sure your journey matters... eternally... to both you and those whom you influence! 
The date was set for us to depart for Rome, and Paul and some other prisoners were transferred to the custody of a Roman officer named Julius, a member of the Augustan Division. I, Luke, was permitted to join Paul for his journey to Rome, along with Aristarchus, a Macedonian brother from Thessalonica. We boarded a ship from Adramyttium... 
(Acts 27:1-2) 

Sailing conditions were adverse to say the least. Finally we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea on the south coast of Crete. We had lost a lot of time already — it was late in the year for sailing — following the Day of Atonement, and conditions had deteriorated from adverse to dangerous. Paul tried to warn those in charge. 

Paul:
Sirs, if we proceed, I can see that our voyage will be dangerous and will involve heavy loss, not only of cargo, but of the ship itself; not only of the ship, but also of our lives.
But the officer ignored Paul and instead trusted the ship's pilot and owner who felt they could proceed. 
(Acts 27:8-11) 

One day a moderate south wind began to blow, which made an attempt [at sailing west up the coast] possible. We weighed anchor and sailed west, staying near shore. Then things got scary. A violent northeaster, the Euraquilo, blew down across Crete. We were caught. We couldn't turn and sail into this fierce wind, so we had no choice but to let it drive us. 
(Acts 27:13-15) 

Imagine what happened: It's the 14th night of our nightmare voyage; we're being driven by the storm somewhere in the Adriatic Sea. It's about midnight, and the sailors are taking soundings, fearing we might run aground. "Twenty fathoms," somebody calls out in the darkness, then a little later, "Fifteen fathoms." We're nearing land! But hope quickly gives way to a new fear. At any moment in this darkness, they realize, we could be smashed onto unseen rocks. So they drop four anchors from the stern and pray for first light. 
(Acts 27:27-29) 

We wait. Just before dawn, Paul again gathers everyone on the ship — all 276 of us. He urges everyone to eat and encourages us not to lose hope. 

Paul:
Listen, men, we've all been under incredible stress for 14 days. You haven't eaten anything during this whole time. I urge you to take some food now because it will help you survive what we're about to face. And I want to assure you — not one of you will lose a single hair from your head. We're all going to make it — all 276 of us!

Then Paul takes a loaf of bread and gives thanks to God in front of all of them. He breaks it, takes a piece, and begins to eat. A fresh surge of courage seems to fill their hearts as they also begin to eat. After satisfying their hunger, the crew lightens the ship by throwing the remaining wheat overboard. Day finally breaks. They survey the coastline and don't recognize it, but they do notice a bay with a beach — the best place to try to run ashore. 
(Acts 27:35-39) 

The soldiers start talking about killing the prisoners so they won't swim away and escape; but the officer wants to save Paul, so he stops them. He tells those who can swim to jump overboard and swim to the shore, and those who can't, he tells to hold on to planks and other pieces of the ship when it breaks apart. Some hours later, we reassemble on the beach, each one safe and sound. 
(Acts 27:42-44) 

We quickly learned that we were on the island of Malta. The Maltese people found us and were extraordinarily kind to us. They kindled a bonfire and welcomed us around it, which we greatly appreciated because it was raining and cold. Paul was gathering firewood and helping build the fire. A viper had been hiding in some of the wood, and as it tried to escape the heat, it bit Paul on the hand. It sank its fangs in and wouldn't let go. The natives saw it dangling from his hand. 

Natives:
This man must be a murderer. He escaped the sea, but now justice has caught up with him.
Paul simply shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no harm. The natives knew what to expect — rapid swelling followed by death — but when they waited a long time and saw that Paul suffered no ill effects of the bite, they changed their minds and concluded that he was a god. 

The leading man of the island, Publius, owned large amounts of land near this beach. Publius received us and hosted us for three days. Publius's father was sick, bedridden with fever and dysentery. Paul visited the invalid and prayed for him, placing his hands on Publius' father. The man was cured. Soon people from all over the island who had diseases came, and they were cured as well. 

We stayed on Malta for the next three months and were treated with great honor. When spring arrived, we prepared to continue our journey on a ship that had wintered there — an Alexandrian vessel with the Twin Brothers as its figurehead. The Maltese people showed us a final kindness as we departed: they came with all the provisions we needed for our journey and put them on board. 
(Acts 28:1-11)
Response in Prayer

O Father, give me strength as I try to be faithful under trial and a good example and a good influence for others while I face challenges. I want You to be glorified, Jesus to be known, and the Holy Spirit's refreshing presence to touch the lives of all with whom I come in contact. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
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© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

"You Will Do the Same in Rome!" — A Year with Jesus for 10/11/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Follower, 

Paul was saved from being beaten to death by an angry Jewish mob who mistakenly thought he had taken a Gentile named Trophimus into the Jewish-only portion of the Temple. The people in the crowd were "out of their heads mad" at Paul and they stormed him and began to beat him until the Roman soldiers intervened, picked him up, and carried him to safety (Acts 21:27-36). 

Paul asked to speak to the crowd and they quieted down when he spoke to them in their own native language. They followed his message intently until he talked about Jesus sending him to "outsiders" (Gentiles). At the mention of that one word, they went berserk again (Acts 22:1-23). They were determined to kill him. Their plots during the next several stages of Paul's twisted path through the Jewish and Roman legal system form a back-story that should repeatedly remind you that Paul's life was in jeopardy every single day. Yet under this incredible pressure and scrutiny, Paul repeatedly gave his testimony and kept his head when everyone else around him went mad with anger and hatred. 

Paul used his Roman citizenship to preserve his life, appeal for justice, prevent beatings, and ultimately get to Rome. Despite all the threats and attempts on his life, My promise sustained him until he realized that promise in Rome:
"Keep up your courage, Paul! You have successfully told your story about Me in Jerusalem, and soon you will do the same in Rome."
Verses to Live

My work repeatedly preserved Paul's life; his cunning maneuvers, quick wit, and use of his Roman citizenship brought him safely to Rome. Safely! Despite the threats, plans, and attempts on his life. Safely! Despite being a prisoner and being caught in a shipwreck. Safely! Despite a potentially deadly snake bite. Never forget that I AM at work in your life, but I want you, like Paul, to use all the tools at your disposal to secure your freedom, to protect your life, and to safeguard the ministry entrusted to you. I have given you your abilities, so use them in My service. If the journey is hard, please remember these words of My great apostle Paul whose journey to Rome proves them true:
Now I'm sure of this: the sufferings we endure now are not even worth comparing to the glory that is coming and will be revealed in us. 
(Romans 8:18)
As you read Paul's journey, remember My promises... both to Paul and to you. Your goal isn't Rome as Paul's was, but for you glory awaits!
They [the crowd Paul was addressing] were listening quietly up until he mentioned the outsiders. 

Crowd (shouting):
Away with him! Such a man can't be allowed to remain here. Kill him! He must die!
Chaos broke out again. People were shouting, slamming their coats down on the ground, and throwing fistfuls of dust up in the air. The commandant ordered the soldiers to bring Paul to the barracks and flog him until he confessed to whatever he had done to stir up this outrage. 

Back at the barracks, as they tied him up with leather thongs, Paul spoke to a nearby officer. 

Paul:
Is this legal — for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial? The officer went and spoke to the commandant.
Officer:
What can you do about this? Did you know this fellow is a Roman citizen?
Commandant (rushing to Paul's side):
What's this? Are you really a Roman citizen?
Paul:
Yes.
Commandant:
I paid a small fortune for my citizenship.
Paul:
I was born a citizen.
Hearing this, those who were about to start the flogging pulled back, and the commandant was concerned because he had arrested and bound a citizen without cause. He still needed to conduct an investigation to uncover the Jews' accusations against Paul. So the next day, he removed the ties on Paul and called a meeting with the chief priests and council of elders. He brought Paul in and had him stand before the group. 
(Acts 22:22-30) 

Paul stared at the council and spoke. 

Paul:
Brothers, I have always lived my life to this very day with a clear conscience before God.
Ananias the high priest signaled those standing near Paul to hit him on the mouth. 

Paul:
You hypocrite! God will slap you! How dare you sit in judgment and claim to represent the law, while you violate the law by ordering me to be struck for no reason?
Bystanders:
The nerve of you insulting the high priest of God!
Paul:
I'm sorry, my brothers. I didn't realize this was the high priest. The law warns us to not curse the ruler of the people.
Paul noticed that some members of the council were Sadducees and some were Pharisees, so he quickly spoke to the council. 

Paul:
Brothers, I am a Pharisee, born to a Pharisee. I am on trial because I have hope that the dead are raised!
That got the two parties arguing with one another because the Sadducees say there is no such thing as resurrection, heavenly messengers, or spirits, and the Pharisees believe in all three. Soon these leaders were shouting, and some of the scholars from the party of the Pharisees rose to their feet. 

Pharisees:
There is nothing wrong with this man. Maybe he really has encountered a spirit or a heavenly messenger.
The two parties were about to start throwing punches, and the commandant was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces, so he sent in his soldiers to intervene. They took Paul back into custody and returned him to their barracks. That night the Lord came near and spoke to him. 

The Lord:
Keep up your courage, Paul! You have successfully told your story about Me in Jerusalem, and soon you will do the same in Rome.
(Acts 23:1-11)
Response in Prayer

In the middle of my struggles, hardships, and hurts I trust in You, O God my Father and Redeemer and Friend. Sustain me with your never-ending love and the power of the Holy Spirit as I live my life in honor of Jesus my King. Amen. 
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
Heartlight is proud to promote Compassion International. See children who were sponsored today!

© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

"Arrested to Serve and to Save" — A Year with Jesus for 10/10/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Disciple, 

Paul's long anticipated visit to Jerusalem finally happened. Accompanied by Christians from the churches in Asia and Europe who wanted to bless their impoverished Jewish brothers and sisters in Christ, Paul arrived in Jerusalem. All along the way, he had been warned by friends and by the Holy Spirit that trouble, hardship, danger, and arrest awaited him (Acts 20:22-25; Acts 21:4; Acts 21:10-14). 

In an attempt to keep the peace with the Jewish people of Jerusalem and to preserve the fragile peace the Jewish Christians enjoyed with their fellow Israelites, Paul followed a suggestion that James made. He went to the Temple with other Jewish Christians to show he still respected his heritage. However, some people from Asia who hated Paul were at the Temple. They had previously seen Paul with a fellow named Trophimus, who was a Gentile from Ephesus. They wrongly assumed Paul had taken Trophimus into the Jewish-only portion of the Temple compound. 

A Gentile in this portion of the Temple was an offense punishable by death under both Roman and Jewish law. So in their fury, they seized Paul. They screamed for others to help them beat Paul to death. Roman soldiers rushed to the scene and arrested Paul, but the riot had grown so intense, they had to carry Paul to safety. 

Paul had invested so much of himself in the Gentile churches' collection for the poor Jewish Christians of Jerusalem. He had so hoped that this act of generosity would tear down the walls of race and prejudice that divided My church in many places in that day. Unfortunately, this act of generosity was not received well by non-Christian Jews. Paul's attempts at reconciliation had blown up in his face as an ugly riotous mob had tried to kill him. 

Years earlier, on My last trip to Jerusalem before My crucifixion, I warned My disciples repeatedly about the hostile rejection, arrest, and crucifixion that awaited Me. Paul and others had warned that he would be rejected and arrested in Jerusalem. Just as I had gone to the Temple to honor the Father, so had Paul. Just as I had met with the hostility of the people in the Temple, so had Paul. What I said on My trip to Jerusalem still rang true in Paul's day:
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God's messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me. And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate. For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, "Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD!" 
(Matthew 23:37-39 NLT)
My lament is similar to Paul's words you read previously from the book of Romans — words that partially explain why Paul went to Jerusalem despite facing rejection and possible death. Paul wrote:
With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it. My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed — cut off from Christ! — if that would save them. 
(Romans 9:1-3 NLT)
Paul's trip to Jerusalem wasn't made because he was foolhardy or had a death wish. Paul went there because of the love he had for non-believing Jews, because of his desire to unite the world Christian movement beyond racial lines, and because he wanted to help impoverished Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. 

I share all this because I want you to notice that sometimes — even those times when you have the best of motives — things don't turn out as you would want. They didn't for Me on My last trip to Jerusalem. They didn't for Paul on his last trip to Jerusalem. Yet despite the disappointments and apparent failure of Paul's mission, the Holy Spirit worked to bring great good out of this awful situation and used this shocking turn of events to enable Paul to testify before rulers and authorities and ultimately to get to Rome. 

So please, don't give up in despair when your best efforts and your finest intentions end up in a mess that Satan wants to use to destroy you. I AM at work even when circumstances suggest I have abandoned you. The Father is working for your good even when you can't immediately see that good. Paul's words of assurance were ultimately proved true for him on this visit to Jerusalem and they will be ultimately proved true in you:
We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan. From the distant past, His eternal love reached into the future. You see, He knew those who would be His one day, and He chose them beforehand to be conformed to the image of His Son so that Jesus would be the firstborn of a new family of believers, all brothers and sisters. 
Romans 8:28-29
What Paul promised to you, I accomplished and proved true in him. But that, My dear disciple, will be shown in more detail in our subsequent days together as we continue to remember Paul's journey to Rome!
Verses to Live

Luke told this account of Paul's arrest very matter-of-factly. So I want you to let your imagination catch you up into this story. Imagine yourself as one of the angry mob: how do you feel believing Paul had desecrated the Holy Temple of YHWH (Hebrew for the name of God)? Imagine yourself as Paul, trying to accommodate everyone's wishes and having such deep longing to share My grace with those in Jerusalem: how would you feel captured by the angry, riotous, murderous mob? Now I want you to imagine My heart as I watch Paul in the places I had ministered and as he went and faced many of the same things I faced on My last visit Jerusalem. Only this time, give thanks that I had faced these things and triumphed over the death inflicted by the angry mob so that you, Paul, and even the angry mob could have the opportunity of true salvation!
So we knew what we were getting into as we prepared to ascend the foothills toward Jerusalem [because of the repeated warnings of friends and the Holy Spirit]. Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us and led us to the home of Mnason, a Cypriot and one of the first disciples, with whom we stayed. We continued on to Jerusalem and were welcomed warmly by the brothers there. The next day, we went together to visit James, and all the elders were there with him. Paul greeted them and then reported account after account of what God had done through him among the outsiders. When they heard his story, they praised God. 

James and the Elders:
Brother, we have a problem. You can see that we have thousands of Jewish believers here, and all of them are zealous law keepers. They've heard all kinds of rumors about you — that you teach all the Jews living among the outside nations to forget about Moses entirely, that you tell believers not to circumcise their sons, that you teach them to abandon all our customs. We need to deal with this situation, since word will spread that you're here in the city. So here's what we would like you to do. We have four men here who are fulfilling a vow. Join them. Go through the rituals of purification with them. Pay for their heads to be shaved according to our ritual. That will show that the rumors are false and that you are still observing and upholding the law. For the outside believers, we've already written in a letter our judgment on their situation: they should not eat food that has been sacrificed to idols, they should not eat meat with blood in it or meat from animals killed by strangulation, and they should abstain from all sexual misconduct.
Paul complied with their request. The very next day, he publicly joined the four men, completed the initial purification rites, entered the temple with them, and began the seven-day ritual purification process, after which a sacrifice would be made for each of them. The seven days of purification were almost completed when some Jews from Asia recognized Paul in the temple. They grabbed him. 

Asian Jews (shouting):
Help! Fellow Israelites! This man is an enemy of our people, our religion, our law, and this temple! He travels around the world subverting our holiest customs! He is at this moment desecrating this holy temple by bringing outsiders into this sacred place.
In this accusation, they were confused — they had seen Paul elsewhere in the city with Trophimus the Ephesian, and they assumed that one of his current companions was Trophimus. It was too late to clarify, though, because word spread and soon a huge crowd rushed to the temple. They held Paul and dragged him from the temple and shut the doors behind them. They beat Paul, and it was clear they intended to kill him. By this time, word of the uproar reached the commandant of the Roman guard assigned to Jerusalem. He led a group of soldiers and officers to the scene. When the mob looked up and saw the soldiers running toward them, they stopped beating Paul. The commandant took him into custody and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He conducted a preliminary interrogation — asking Paul's name, what he had done. Members of the crowd were shouting over each other, and the tribune couldn't hear a thing, so he ordered Paul to be taken back to the barracks. When they came to the steps leading down from the temple, the crowd was seething with such violence toward Paul that the soldiers had to pick him up and carry him. 
(Acts 21:15-35)
Response in Prayer

O dear Father, thank You for the grace that brought Jesus to us. Thank You Jesus for the pain You bore, not just when You went to Jerusalem and faced the cross, but also when You relived the events with Your apostle Paul. Thank You for delivering him in a different way than You were delivered. Thank You for reminding me that I, too, may face disappointment and harm for things I do with good intentions and pure motives. I learn from this, dear Lord, that I must trust the results and the justice to You and Your grace, believing that my future is secure in You. Thank You! Amen. 
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
Heartlight is proud to promote Compassion International. See children who were sponsored today!

© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

"The Heart of a Shepherd" — A Year with Jesus for 10/09/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Precious Disciple, 

Paul was finally on his way to Jerusalem. His trip had been delayed because of the plots against his life. He had gone back through Macedonia on his way to Troas instead of going to Asia or Syria. He wanted to be with people he knew, loved, and trusted. Then he departed for Troas alone. He had sent Luke and the representatives from the congregations of Macedonia and Greece ahead of him. These men were traveling with the special contributions from their congregations for needy brothers and sisters in Jerusalem. Rather than go back through Ephesus where enemies were planning to kill him, Paul sent word for the elders — older male leaders of the church — from Ephesus to meet him at Miletus. 

This meeting was full of emotion. Paul reminded these brothers of his own way of life and how much he risked to share the good news of the kingdom with them. He reminded them of teaching them personally in their homes and also in public venues. He hadn't changed his message to protect himself, but shared everything they needed to hear. 

Paul told the elders that despite knowing he faced danger, arrest, and persecution, he had to go to Jerusalem. His life was not worth anything to him if he did not fulfill his calling:
The only value I [Paul] place on my life is that I may finish my race, that I may fulfill the ministry that Jesus our King has given me, that I may gladly tell the good news of God's grace.
He warned the Ephesian elders he would not see them again. He also warned them that false teachers would try to mislead the people — the flock of the Father — under their care as shepherds of the church that I bought with My blood. He wanted them to recognize their high calling and feel their great responsibility through the emotion of the moment. 

In this meeting of deep emotion, Paul charged these leaders to be good shepherds. He told them to watch out for each other. He told them to shepherd and protect the flock of My sheep entrusted to their care. They must serve selflessly as Paul had served them. Then with a prayer filled with tears, these beloved brothers walked Paul to his ship and said good-bye. 

A disciple's life is filled with good-byes. Some of these good-byes are the inevitable ones when losing someone in death. This hurts, but if that person is one of My disciples, the parting is only temporary. Some of these good-byes are necessary because of My call on a disciple's heart to fulfill a mission for Me. While this may lead to a final good-bye on earth, I can assure you that no one who faithfully does work in My name will lose his or her reward. Victory is assured. Reunion is certain. The future of each faithful servant is directly connected to My future. So while good-byes may be filled with tears, remember that they are also filled with My promises of victory and reunion!
Verses to Live

Please read through these verses several times. On the first pass, notice the language of deep emotion and recognize how important it was for Paul to share this final message with these church leaders. The second time, look at the examples Paul gave of selfless ministry in his own life to guide these shepherds in their leadership. Finally, feel the strong pull of Paul's sense of mission as it led him to face hardship and difficulties. As you read through this the final time, ask yourself what you are called to do with such emotion, urgency, and conviction!
Again Paul wanted us to split up. He wanted to go by land by himself [from Troas] while we went by ship to Assos. There he came on board with us, and we sailed on to Mitylene. From there we sailed near Chios, passing by it the next day, docking briefly at Samos the day after that, then arriving at Miletus the following day. This route kept us safely out of Ephesus and didn't require Paul to spend any time at all in Asia, since he wanted to arrive in Jerusalem quickly — before Pentecost, he hoped. 

In Miletus he sent word to the church in Ephesus, asking the elders to come down to meet with him. When they arrived, he talked with them. 

Paul:
We will have many memories of our time together in Ephesus; but of all the memories, most of all I want you to remember my way of life. From the first day I arrived in Asia, I served the Lord with humility and tears, patiently enduring the many trials that came my way through the plots of my Jewish opponents. I did everything I could to help you; I held nothing back. I taught you publicly, and I taught you in your homes. I told everyone the same message — Jews and Greeks alike — that we must turn toward God and have faith in our Lord Jesus the Anointed. Now I feel that the Holy Spirit has taken me captive. I am being led to Jerusalem. My future is uncertain, but I know — the Holy Spirit has told me — that everywhere I go from now on, I will find imprisonment and persecution waiting for me. But that's OK. That's no tragedy for me because I don't cling to my life for my own sake. The only value I place on my life is that I may finish my race, that I may fulfill the ministry that Jesus our King has given me, that I may gladly tell the good news of God's grace. I now realize that this is our last good-bye. You have been like family in all my travels to proclaim the kingdom of God, but after today none of you will see my face again. So I want to make this clear: I am not responsible for your destiny from this point on because I have not held back from telling you the purpose of God in all its dimensions. 

Here are my instructions: diligently guard yourselves, and diligently guard the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has given you oversight. Shepherd the church of God, this precious church which He made His own through the blood of His own Son. I know that after I've gone, dangerous wolves will sneak in among you, savaging the flock. Some of you here today will begin twisting the truth, enticing disciples to go your way, to follow you. You must be on guard, and you must remember my way of life among you. For three years, I have kept on, persistently warning everyone, day and night, with tears. So now I put you in God's hands. I entrust you to the message of God's grace, a message that has the power to build you up and to give you rich heritage among all who are set apart for God's holy purposes. Remember my example: I never once coveted a single coin of silver or gold. I never looked twice at someone's fine clothing. No, you know this: I worked with my own two hands making tents, and I paid my own expenses and my companions' expenses as well. This is my last gift to you, this example of a way of life: a life of hard work, a life of helping the weak, a life that echoes every day those words of Jesus our King, who said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
Once again, imagine this scene: As Paul finishes speaking, he kneels down; and we all join him, kneeling. He prays, and we all join him, praying. There's the sound of weeping, and then more weeping, and then more still. One by one, we embrace Paul and kiss him, our sadness multiplied because of his words about this being our last good-bye. We walk with him to the ship, and he sets sail. 
(Acts 20:13-38)
Response in Prayer

Father, please help me discern my call and live it with passion as Paul did. I want my life to count for Your kingdom. I want my influence to fulfill Your plans for me. I want to live selflessly for Jesus, in whose name I ask this prayer and pray for the power and strength of the Holy Spirit to help me. Amen. 
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
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© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

Problem People" — A Year with Jesus for 10/07/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Precious One, 

Yesterday's note focused on valuing each person in the Father's family as precious. There are, however, some in the family who always seem to be stirring up trouble and leading others astray. Paul well described these people in the first paragraph of today's verses. His words of wisdom are "spot on perfect": "If there are people like that in your churches, stay away from them." Don't give them an audience. Don't let them weigh you down. Don't feed their ego and appetite for attention. Stay away from people who want to divide and lead you astray! 

Instead, celebrate the good in you and in your church family. Focus on the qualities that grow people and grow My family. As you do, the Father will send peace your way and will crush Satan under your feet. The evil one won't be in your way and the path you walk will lead you closer to Me and to eternal glory with the Father. 

Notice how Paul ends his letter. I will shorten it so you see the main point:
So to the One who is able to strengthen you to live consistently with my good news and the preaching of Jesus, the Anointed... 

To the one true and wise God, we offer glory for all times through Jesus, the Anointed One. Amen.
The Father will give you strength to live for Him. So bring your Father glory in how you live. As you live for the Father, I will bring your needs to His throne of grace in the presence of the angels until you can join Us at the Father's throne in glory.
Verses to Live

Romans is an incredibly powerful and practical letter that speaks about the gospel of the Father's grace, about My work as a sin offering, and about the power of the Holy Spirit at work in you. This is the message of hope for all people. So as you come to the end of it, I hope you will give thanks for Paul who wrote it, for all those through the ages who have believed it, and for the love We — Father, Son, and Spirit — have for you. Don't let anyone rob you of this gospel of grace and of its hope!
I am pleading with all of you, brothers and sisters, to keep up your guard against anyone who is causing conflicts and enticing others with teachings contrary to what you have already learned. If there are people like that in your churches, stay away from them. These kinds of people are not truly serving our Lord Jesus the Anointed; they have devoted their lives to satisfying their own appetites. With smooth talking and a well-rehearsed blessing, they lead a lot of unsuspecting people down the wrong path. 

The stories about the way you are living in obedience to God have traveled to all the churches. So celebrate your faithfulness to God that is being displayed in your lives — seek wisdom about the good life, and remain innocent when it comes to evil. If you do this, the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet soon. May the grace of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, the Liberating King, be ever present with you. 

Timothy, my coworker in the spreading of the gospel, also sends his greeting to all of you, as do my kinsmen, Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater. 

I, Tertius, the one who wrote this letter for Paul, greet you in the name of the Lord. Gaius, my host here as well as patron for the whole church, sends his best to all of you. Erastus, the city administrator, sends his greetings along with brother Quartus. May the grace of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, touch you all. Amen. 

So to the One who is able to strengthen you to live consistently with my good news and the preaching of Jesus, the Anointed, with the revelation of the ancient mystery that has been kept secret since the earliest days, this mystery is revealed through the prophetic voices passed down in the Scriptures, as they have been commanded by the Eternal God. In this time, this mystery is being made known to the nations so that all may be led to faith- filled obedience. 

To the one true and wise God, we offer glory for all times through Jesus, the Anointed One. Amen 
(Romans 16:17-27)
Response in Prayer

Father, thank You for Paul and his passion for the gospel. Thank You for the grace on which my relationship with You is built. I ask that You strengthen me and every good work I am attempting to do for You. May my life bring You glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
Heartlight is proud to promote Compassion International. See children who were sponsored today!

© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

Transitions" — A Year with Jesus for 10/08/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Faithful Follower, 

Life is full of transitions, changes, ups and downs. For the apostle Paul, this was certainly true during his ministry. In the verses below, he had just spent considerable time in Macedonia and Greece. He had written the letters to the Romans and the Corinthians. He had strengthened churches. He spent time with people he knew and loved. 

During this time he was organizing an offering for the impoverished believers in Jerusalem. Each church that was helping with this offering was sending representatives with Paul. These representatives went with Paul to convey their congregations' love and also to ensure the funds were handled and dispersed appropriately. So this entourage accompanied Paul to Jerusalem. This trip back to Jerusalem with these special gifts was important to Paul. He wanted to bring My family of believers together in spirit and fellowship even though they were scattered all over the Mediterranean world and made up of different cultures and races of people. 

However, Paul had enemies who were determined to stop him. These enemies were from Asia, and especially Ephesus. They were Jewish people who were opposed to his preaching that I AM the Anointed One, the promised Messiah of Israel. Over the next several days, you will read about Paul's journey to Jerusalem where these enemies started a riot and tried to have him killed. The Roman authorities arrested Paul and actually ended up preserving his life. Paul used his Roman citizenship to defeat the conspiracies to have him killed so that he could have his case heard in Rome in Caesar's court. 

Paul did eventually arrive in Rome, but it wasn't in the manner he had hoped. During his wild sea journey to Rome, the Spirit delivered him from great danger and brought him safely to Rome. The whole ordeal in Jerusalem and the journey to Rome gave Paul many opportunities to tell a wide number of people — both influential and obscure — about Me. 

Your readings will be full of intrigue, travel, danger, warning, opposition, deliverance, shipwreck, and imprisonment. During all of this upheaval and through all of these transitions, several things remained steadfast with Paul:
His faith in Me as the ultimate Deliverer, Savior, Lord, and Messiah.
His close fellowship with and love for believers and his sharing in close communion with them.
His passion for mentoring and growing a group of people from different churches to continue the work of the gospel after he was gone.
His desire to tie the world-wide family of God together in fellowship, mission, and love.
Verses to Live

Today's verses focus on the beginning of Paul's transitioning to Jerusalem and ultimately to Rome. Yet in every big movement of Paul's life and travels, behind the scenes are tender moments of communion, fellowship, and miraculous grace. The same is true for you if you will watch for My work in your life and live intentionally on mission for me regardless of your job or life situation. Be blessed by this tender but powerful story of grace found in the middle of Paul's travels, dangers, and transitions. Finding grace can happen when My people take time to value and commune with each other as they remember me! 
When the uproar [in Ephesus] was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia. While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece, where he stayed for three months. He was preparing to sail back to Syria when he discovered a plot by some Jews against his life, so he decided to return through Macedonia. 

Several men were traveling with him. They were Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica; Gaius from Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. They went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. After the Passover ended, we boarded a ship at Philippi in Macedonia and five days later joined them in Troas, where we stayed a week. 

On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight. The upstairs room where we met was lighted with many flickering lamps. As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below. Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. "Don't worry," he said, "he's alive!" Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord’s Supper, and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left. Meanwhile, the young man was taken home unhurt, and everyone was greatly relieved. 

Paul went by land to Assos, where he had arranged for us to join him, while we traveled by ship. 
(Acts 20:3-12 NLT)
Response in Prayer

Father, please give me a sense of Your grace, the Spirit's guidance, and Jesus' abiding presence as I go through the transitions in my own life. As the old hymn says, "Be with me Lord, I cannot live without Thee, I dare not try to take one step alone." By the authority and in the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
Heartlight is proud to promote Compassion International. See children who were sponsored today!
© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

"Precious People" — A Year with Jesus for 10/06/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Precious One,

Has anyone told you lately you are precious? You are! You are a blood-bought child of the Father, rescued from sin, death, and hell because I consider you too precious to live without you and I left heaven to reclaim you. You are precious. My apostle Peter said it this way:
You know that a price was paid to redeem you from following the empty ways handed on to you by your ancestors; it was not paid with things that perish (like silver and gold), but with the precious blood of the Anointed [Jesus Christ], who was like a perfect and unblemished sacrificial lamb. God determined to send Him before the world began, but He came into the world in these last days for your sake.
(1 Peter 1:18-20)
What you find in today's verses is a long list of people in Rome whom Paul greeted. As you go through this list, I hope you find it amazing. Paul had never visited Rome, yet he knew all these people and he also knew that they were part of the church in Rome. So here are some things I want to place on your heart as you consider some of the implications of this list of names.

First, you live in an unprecedented time of travel and communication. When you travel, don't take a vacation from My work and My people, but use your travel — whether business or recreation — to bless My people and spread the gospel!

Second, people are Our — Father, Son, and Spirit — most precious resource. Encourage them to be active in My church. Don't fight over who can do what and who can have what role. Notice that both men and women are mentioned with important roles, responsibilities, and titles in Paul's list. Don't limit what people can do based on a distinction between clergy and laity whether it is a clergy of ordination, gender, or education. Don't preen or pout about the titles you or others are assigned. Serve others. Encourage your precious brothers and sisters to serve others. And like Paul, affirm the good work done by your brothers and sisters in Our family.

Third, value people more than buildings, programs, projects, and religious affiliations. These things can become points of arrogance and areas of contention. Remember it is worthwhile to walk away from all of those things to bring a single person back into the family (Matthew 18:10-14). People count far more than physical and temporal things. People are eternal. Buildings will crumble and fall. Programs go out of style and another program becomes the latest church fad. Projects move toward an end. Religious labels are human creations and divisions that separate rather than call My people to unity focused on Me, My mission, and My will. So value people above all things. Things are temporary; people are precious because they are eternal.

Fourth, express your family relationship with each other with both words and actions. Why have you let the holy kiss go out of use in many of your Western churches when it is a frequent command found in your New Testament (Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14)? You're family. Each person who gathers around My table is precious. So love each other and greet each other as family — as people who are eternal, precious, and beloved by their Father!
Verses to Live

As you read Paul's words of love, commendation, and friendship, think about the people in your life who are like those that Paul mentions. Make a commitment to write them a note of encouragement and thanks for what they mean to you. Pray for them! Value them! They are like you: precious!
I commend to you our beloved sister Phoebe; she serves the church in Cenchrea as a faithful deacon. It is important that you welcome her in the Lord in a manner befitting your saintly status. Join in her work, and assist her in any way she needs you. She has spent her energy and resources helping others, and I am blessed to have her as my benefactor as well.

Give my best to Prisca and Aquila; they are not only my colleagues in my profession of tent making, but more importantly they are my fellow servants of Jesus the Anointed. They put their lives on the line to keep me safe. Not only do I owe them my thanks, so do all the churches of the non- Jews. Send my regards to the church that meets in their house.

Send greetings to Epaenetus. I love him dearly and celebrate his journey to faith because he was the first to believe in the Anointed One in all of Asia.

Salute Mary for me; she has worked hard for all of you.

Give my regards to Andronicus and Junias, who are part of my own family and served time in prison with me. They are well known among the emissaries and have been in the Anointed longer than I.

Give my best to Ampliatus whom I love in the Lord, and greet Urbanus (our fellow worker in service to the Anointed One) and my beloved Stachys.

Send greetings to Apelles, a tried and true believer in the Anointed, and to the entire family of Aristobulus.

Do not forget to greet Herodion, another of my relatives, and everyone in the family of Narcissus who belong to the Lord.

Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, faithful laborers in the Lord, and our beloved Persis, who also has accomplished a great deal in the Lord.

Give my best to Rufus, clearly one of the Lord’s chosen, and also his mother. She’s like a mother to me.

My regards also go to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and all the brothers and sisters who are along with them.

Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and let me not forget Olympas and all the saints who journey with them.

Greet each other with a holy kiss. All of the churches of the Anointed under my care send their greetings to all of you.
(Romans 16:1-16)
Response in Prayer

Father, I repent for the times I have not valued the children of Your family as You value them. I recognize them as important, but I can grow frustrated with some who irritate me, bored with those who do not amuse or engage me, hurt by those who think themselves too good for me, and neglectful of those who always seem to need something from me. I shock and shame myself when I say these words, but they are true of me in my worst moments. Forgive me. Lord Jesus, as I take the bread of Holy Communion and remember Your body on the cross, open my eyes to see Your body, the church — the people for whom You died and whom you have brought together to serve the world as You did on earth. Holy Spirit, as the Father pours love into my heart through Your presence, channel that love through me to others who need to be touched by it. I ask and confess all of this so that I might view each of Your children as being as precious as You do. Amen.
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
Heartlight is proud to promote Compassion International. See children who were sponsored today!

© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

"Please Pray" — A Year with Jesus for 10/05/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Beloved, 

The apostle Paul is known as a great missionary and the writer of many of the letters you find in your New Testament. However, there is a side of Paul's ministry that is not emphasized enough in your world. This lack of emphasis — which relates to a practice that is neglected by so many of My people in your day but should be a real passion for them — inhibits the success of your mission efforts. 

Paul was powerfully effective in reaching the lost, living out his calling, and blessing new Christians because of his prayer life. Paul's letters are full of his prayers — prayers of thanksgiving, prayers of intercession, prayers of blessing, and prayers of focus to help new Christians know what to work on in their lives. 

You've already read several of Paul's prayers of blessing in previous passages from Romans (Romans 15:13 for example). In addition to Paul's many prayers for those in My family, he also sought the help of new Christians to pray for him, for his team, for his boldness, for his courage, for open doors, and for his mission efforts. The power of mission has always been tied to the work of the Holy Spirit in response to My people's passionate prayer! 

Special Note: 
To see places around the world that are responding to Jesus, check out this blog post: The Top 20 Countries where Christianity is Growing the Fastest. For more on the power of prayer for missions, you are encouraged to read Miraculous Movements: How Hundreds of Thousands of Muslims Are Falling in Love with Jesus. 

Verses to Live

Paul made very clear to his brothers and sisters in Rome that there were difficulties, obstacles, and dangers that awaited him in his journey to them. He knew that he could not overcome these on his own power or by his own cunning or through his own skill. He needed divine power and supernatural deliverance if his plans were to be fulfilled. So he asked these new believers to join him in prayer for these plans. Paul's foresight was correct: great hardships awaited him, great challenges confronted him, and harsh realities met him in Jerusalem and on his way to Rome. But, his anticipation of arriving in Rome and being "refreshed" by their presence proved accurate(Acts 28:14-15). 
Because of many issues, I have not been able to visit you in the city of Rome. But my time to serve those here is coming to an end, there's no room left for me in this region, and I have longed to come to you for many years. So I plan to visit you on my journey to Spain. I am hoping that I will not only see you face-to-face, but that you will assist me in the journey west after I have enjoyed our time together. But right now I must make the journey to Jerusalem to serve the saints there. Those in Macedonia and Achaia decided it was a good idea to share their funds to help the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. I must tell you that they were thrilled to be able to help. They realize that they are indebted to the believers in Jerusalem. If the nations share in the Jews' spiritual goods, then it's only right that they minister back to them in material goods. When this work is complete and the funds we've collected are delivered, I will make my way to Spain through your grand city of Rome and enjoy some of your hospitality. I'm sure that when I come to you I will come as a blessing and as one fully blessed by the Anointed One. 

My brothers and sisters, I urgently plead with you by the name of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed, and by the love of the Spirit to join together with me in your prayers to God for my success in these next endeavors. Pray that I will be rescued from those who deny and persecute the faith in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem will meet the approval of all the saints there. If that happens, then my journey to you will be filled with joy; and, if God wills, I can rest and be refreshed in your presence. I pray the God of all peace will be with you all. Amen. 
(Romans 15:22-33)
Response in Prayer

Father, I have several missionaries and ministries on my heart today. I pray that You not only bless and protect them, but that You also empower them to make an eternal impact in the lives of those they seek to reach. Give them courage and boldness. Give them Your sense of timing. I ask this in Jesus' name and for the triumph of His message of grace. Amen. 
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
Heartlight is proud to promote Compassion International. See children who were sponsored today!
© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

"The Hope for Unity in Christ" — A Year with Jesus for 10/03/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Disciple, 

Paul is coming to the end of his letter to the Christians in Rome. Today's verses, along with the four days of messages following today, are filled with closing thoughts, blessings, prayers, advice, and personal testimony. These messages are practical, yet rich with emotion. 

Today's verses give you another glimpse of Paul's heart and what he yearned to see happen in the important and influential capital city of the Roman Empire. He wanted Jews and Gentiles to join their hearts together in unity so that they "will share one voice" as they "glorify the one True God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, our Liberating King." 

Paul made clear that this is not just a dream in his old apostle's heart, but it is also a promised reality for the Father's new covenant people spoken by the prophets even long before Paul wrote to the Roman Christians. You will notice that he included a series of quotations. These quotations all come from the Old Testament: the Torah, Prophets, and Writings — the three divisions of the Jewish Bible as they were known in Paul's day. Paul's prayer for unity between Jewish and non-Jewish Christians in Rome is based in the promises of Scripture. 

The last part of Paul's life was focused upon bringing the family of believers from all over the world together into one unified people who lived up to the promise of his words written to the Galatian believers:
For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you. 
(Galatians 3:26-29 NLT)
Verses to Live

One of the most famous blessings of the apostle Paul closes today's verses. As you read these verses, notice how the blessing at the end is a fitting culmination to the things he wrote in today's passage and also the things he wrote in the whole letter. The words of this closing blessing should become imprinted on your heart so that you can share them with others! Be blessed today by Paul's dream and his assurance in hope that this dream of a unified people will happen. Please know that this is not just Paul's dream, but the dream I want to be in your heart as well(John 10:14-16; Revelation 7:9-12).
So now what? We who are strong are not just to satisfy our own desires. We are called to carry the weaknesses of those who are not strong. Each of us must strive to please our neighbors, pursuing their welfare so they will become strong. The Anointed One Himself is our model for this kind of living, for He did not live to please Himself. And as the Scriptures declared, "When they insult You, they insult me." You see, everything written in the days of old was recorded to give us instructions for living. We find encouragement through the Scriptures and a call to perseverance that will produce hopeful living. I pray that our God, who calls you and gives you perseverance and encouragement, will join all of you together to share one mind according to Jesus the Anointed. In this unity, you will share one voice as you glorify the one True God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, our Liberating King. 

So accept one another in the same way the Anointed has accepted you so that God will get the praise He is due. For, as I am fond of saying, the Anointed One has become a servant of the Jews in order to demonstrate God's truth. Effectively this confirms the promises He made to our ancestors and causes the non-Jewish nations to glorify God for His mercy. As the Scriptures say,
For this I will praise You among the nations 
and sing praises to Your name.
Again the Scriptures say,
Nations, celebrate with His covenant people.
And again,
Praise the Lord, all nations. 
Raise your voices, all people; let your praises flow to God.
Again Isaiah says,
Then, the root of Jesse will emerge — 
He rises to rule all the peoples of the world 
who come to Him for guidance and direction. 
In Him they place their hope.
I pray that God, the source of all hope, will infuse your lives with an abundance of joy and peace in the midst of your faith so that your hope will overflow through the power of the Holy Spirit. 
(Romans 15:1-13)
Response in Prayer

Father, our world is so torn apart by national, racial, ethnic, and religious hatred and rivalry. Please heal our world by calling all peoples to Yourself through Jesus. We commit to share the message of Jesus to all peoples, but we need the power of the Holy Spirit to live out Paul's dream in our day. Father, I know this unity is Your will for all people, so I pray that in Your sovereign power You will grant these things to happen in our day and heal the deep fractures in our wounded and dying world. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
Heartlight is proud to promote Compassion International. See children who were sponsored today!

© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

"Beyond the Bucket List" — A Year with Jesus for 10/04/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Beloved, 

Let me ask you several questions to get you started thinking about today's verses from Paul's letter to the Romans:
What makes you tick?
What drives you?
What is the Father's call for you and your life?
What matters most to you that remains undone on your bucket list — especially your spiritual bucket list?
These are the issues that Paul shares from his heart to the Roman believers in the closing words of this letter to them (Romans chapters 15 and 16). 

Today's verses focus on Paul's very clear sense of his call to share the good news, My story, with all the nations. He recognized that he had been specially called to reach the non-Jewish world. His heart was passionately drawn to reach people who had never heard of Me or My story. He recognized that this call, this grace given to him by the Father, was what made him who he was, what drove him to do what he did, what made him tick, what mattered most, and what he desperately wanted to accomplish before he died. 

As important a city as Rome was during Paul's time, and as badly as Paul wanted to visit there, he saw Rome as a stepping stone to the lands and peoples who lived west of Italy and Rome. He wanted the Christians in Rome to help him get to those lands. As you will see over the next several weeks, Paul's trip to Rome didn't materialize quite as he had hoped. But he will get to Rome and he will have ministry after and beyond Rome. He will give his life pursuing his ministry. In the end, he will powerfully testify that he accomplished the work he was given to do (2 Timothy 4:6-8; cf. Acts 20:24). My hope for you is that you will have that same confidence and sense of accomplishment in living your life for Me!
Verses to Live

Especially today, as you read the verses below, I want you to feel the passion Paul had for his calling. I want you to commit to finding that kind of passion for your calling to serve Me. Most of you will not be a missionary like Paul. That is fine and as it should be. But please realize this: I placed you in the circle of relationships and with the network of people you find in your life for you to fulfill My calling for you. You are not less a minister and you do not have less of a calling if you have employment that is not church-related. In fact, I want you to realize that much of what happened to spread the good news in the first century happened because business people and traveling families took My message with them wherever they went(Acts 8:1-4). Remember that people like Paul did their work as they shared My message — Paul was a tent maker, along with Priscilla and Aquila, and then there was Apollos who was a traveling businessman, along with many others whose names you don't know. I will share more with you about this in a few days as Paul mentions all the people he loves and knows in Rome, a place he has never visited, but today I want you to focus on Paul's passion to live out his calling!
My brothers and sisters, I am ultimately confident that you are full of goodness, knowledge, and the ability to help and instruct one another. I have written to you with unflinching honesty on many topics because I do not want you to ever lose sight of the tremendous grace God has given me. His grace makes me who I am, a minister of the Anointed One, Jesus, called to serve the nations. 

The good news of God is the focus of my priestly work. In effect, these nations have become an offering to God, totally acceptable, indeed made holy by the work of the Holy Spirit. So in Jesus, the Anointed One, I have reason to celebrate the things I do for God. I don't want to be presumptuous, so I will restrict myself to what the Anointed has accomplished through my words and actions, which has culminated in the obedience of the nations. My words and actions have been rooted in Spirit-empowered signs and miracles. The upshot is this: I have been able to preach the good news of the Anointed One in city after city from Jerusalem all the way around the Mediterranean to Illyricum. I have dreamed of preaching the gospel in places where no one has ever heard of the Anointed so that I do not build on a foundation laid by anyone else. But as the Scriptures say,
They will see Him even though they've never been told about Him; 
they will understand even though they never heard of Him.
Because of many issues, I have not been able to visit you in the city of Rome. But my time to serve those here is coming to an end, there's no room left for me in this region, and I have longed to come to you for many years. So I plan to visit you on my journey to Spain. I am hoping that I will not only see you face-to-face, but that you will assist me in the journey west after I have enjoyed our time together 
(Romans 15:14-24)
Response in Prayer

O Father, help me know in my heart what You have called me to do to live for Jesus. I ask that the Holy Spirit not only help me know what this calling is, but that the Spirit will also fill my heart with a burning flame of passion like Paul demonstrated in today's verses. I want to be alive to Your calling and mission in my life. I ask for this help and this grace in Jesus' name. Amen.
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
Heartlight is proud to promote Compassion International. See children who were sponsored today!

© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

"Know What Time It Is!" — A Year with Jesus for 10/01/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Follower, 

"Wake up. It's nearly dawn. Put on your clothes. It's time for living in the daylight." 

Paul chose powerful images for today's passage from his letter to the Roman Christians. It's as if someone is trying to rouse a sleeping friend who can't quite "come awake" at the beginning of the day. But it's time to wake up, get up, and get dressed because the new day is starting. 

Paul's message was written about My return and the sense of urgency needed by the Christians in Rome. This verse captures Paul's sentiment well:
The darkness of night is dissolving as dawn's light draws near, so walk out on your old dark life and put on the armor of light.
Also notice this glorious promise in another truth Paul wrote for those early Christians:
[F]or salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed.
Here's the point: if you are truly My disciple, you must live like it. Walk your talk. Practice what you preach. Reach for what you pray. Remember that life is fragile and transient. Expect that I could return at any moment. 

My return will be joyous for those who are Mine and already living in eager expectation of My return. For those who are not, this is the wake up call, the alarm clock sounding, and the powerful reminder that I AM coming. You want to be ready when I arrive. Live as sacrifices offered to God. Live as people whose hearts and minds have been remade by your conversion. Live as people whose hearts are captured by the amazing grace of the Father. Stay away from "dark living" and do not fuel your "sinful imagination" with thoughts of depraved rebellion. Wrap yourselves in Me!
Verses to Live

In the section in his Roman letter on practical Christian living, Paul used various metaphors. He began this section urging the Roman Christians and you to live as sacrifices. He then talked about you Christians being My body. In today's verses, he used the familiar images of darkness representing evil while light represents things that are good and holy. The call is to wake up and live in the light.
And now consider this. You know well the times you are living in. It is time for you to wake up and see what is right before your eyes: for salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The darkness of night is dissolving as dawn's light draws near, so walk out on your old dark life and put on the armor of light. May we all act as good and respectable people, living today the same way as we will in the day of His coming. Do not fall into patterns of dark living: wild partying, drunkenness, sexual depravity, decadent gratification, quarreling, and jealousy. Instead, wrap yourselves in the Lord Jesus, God’s Anointed, and do not fuel your sinful imagination by indulging your self-seeking desire for the pleasures of the flesh. 
(Romans 13:11-14)
Response in Prayer

Almighty God, forgive me for piddling around with my life of faith and procrastinating about living with holy devotion. I commit to live with urgency and anticipation of Jesus' return and pray for Your forgiveness for the times when I have not done so. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
Heartlight is proud to promote Compassion International. See children who were sponsored today!

© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

"Giving Grace" — A Year with Jesus for 10/02/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Beloved, 

Part of the challenge of being a multi-cultural people is that people who are different from you are... different! Their background experiences are different. Their cultures are different. Their customs are different. Their foods are different. Their manners and matters of courtesy are different. Some things that you may have been trained from the crib to reject as crude or unsavory may be common practice and treasured by another culture. So in a multi-cultural congregation, learn to appreciate your differences as long as I AM Lord, the Father is exalted, and the Holy Spirit lives in you. 

In addition, remember this "two-sided" principle:
In light of this, we must resolve never to judge others and never to place an obstacle or impediment in their paths that could cause them to trip and fall.
It is your responsibility to not judge your fellow brother or sister on cultural issues even if they are offensive to your sense of what is proper. Also, just because you are free to practice something in your culture because you have an understanding of grace, don't then use that freedom to interfere with, impede, or cause a brother or sister to stumble just so you can celebrate your freedom (see for example Galatians 5:19-21). 

Why is this two-sided principle so important? It is important because you will stand before the Father in judgment. Either he will use the grace with which you have treated, accepted, and lived for others to judge you, or He will use the harsh and condemning standard you have used on others. I don't think I have to tell you which one of those you will need! 

But even more than just trying to avoid the Father's harsh judgment because you have judged others harshly, I want you to follow My example of grace, not only in regard to cultural differences but also in all interactions with others. Treat people in your day in the way I treated them in my day. Go back and read Luke 7:1-50, then John 8:1-11, and also Romans 5:6-11. Recognize how I welcomed all sorts of different people. Remind yourself of who you were before I welcomed you. And finally, remember what Paul taught in the verses below about not judging others and not causing others to sin. The theme of today's verses will continue into tomorrow when you will read these words:
So accept one another in the same way the Anointed has accepted you so that God will get the praise He is due. 
(Romans 15:7)
That's the point!
Verses to Live

The issue in today's verses is about not trying to prove yourself right — right about what you eat, what you wear, what your culture thinks is right, what your culture thinks is wrong. The issue is also about not trying to prove someone else wrong. However, the overriding issue is whether or not you will treat your Christian brothers and sisters who are different from you in the same way that I treated people and welcomed them, differences and all, into My fellowship. Paul made a very plain and emphatic declaration that you will find in today's verses:
[I]f God has accepted them, you have no reason to reject them. How could you think for a moment that you have the right to judge another person's servant?
That, My dear disciple, is very clear!
It's high time that you welcome all people weak in the faith without debating and disputing their opinions. 

Here's the issue: One person believes that nothing's off the menu; he'll eat any food put before him. But there's another believer — we'll call him the weaker — who eats only vegetables because the meat is tainted through contact with an idol. If you are an eater of all things, do not be condescending to your vegetarian brother or sister. In turn, those who abstain from certain foods on religious principles should not judge your brothers and sisters who eat meat — if God has accepted them, you have no reason to reject them. How could you think for a moment that you have the right to judge another person's servant? Each servant answers to his own Master, and he will either stand or fall in His presence. The good news is that he will stand because the Master is able to make it so. 

There may be a believer who regards one day as more sacred than any other, while another views every day as sacred as the next. In these matters, all must reach their own conclusions and satisfy their own minds. If someone observes a day as holy, he observes it in honor of the Lord. If another eats a particular diet, he eats in honor of the Lord since he begins by giving thanks! If yet another abstains from that same food, he abstains out of respect for the Lord and begins his meal by thanking God too. The truth is that none of us live for ourselves, and none die for ourselves. For if we live, we live for the Lord. If we die, we die for the Lord. So in both life and death, we belong to the Lord. The Anointed One, the Liberating King, died and returned to life to make this a reality: through His death and resurrection, He became Lord of the living and the dead. 

So how is it that you continue to judge your brother? How is it possible for you to look down on a sister? We will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written,
"As I live, so I promise," says the Lord, "every knee will bow down to Me. 
Every tongue will confess to God."
So every one of us, regardless of our eating habits, should expect to give an account for our own lives to God. 

In light of this, we must resolve never to judge others and never to place an obstacle or impediment in their paths that could cause them to trip and fall. Personally I have been completely convinced that in Jesus, our Lord, no object in and of itself is unclean; but if my fellow believers are convinced that something is unclean, then it is unclean to them. If the food you eat harms your brother, then you have failed to love him. Do not let what you eat tear down your brother; after all, the Anointed laid down His life for him. Do not allow people to slander something you find to be good because the kingdom of God is not about eating and drinking. When God reigns, the order of the day is redeeming justice, true peace, and joy made possible by the Holy Spirit. You see, those who serve the Anointed in this way will be welcomed into the whole acceptance of God and valued by all men. Join us, and pursue a life that creates peace and builds up our brothers and sisters. 

Do not sacrifice God's work for the sake of certain foods. It is true that all things are clean, but it's wrong to eat if you know that eating something will cause offense. It is right for you to abstain from certain meats and wine (or anything else for that matter) if it prevents your brother from falling in his faith. Hold on to what you believe about these issues, but keep them between you and God. A happy man does not judge himself by the lifestyle he endorses. But a man who decides for himself what to eat is condemned because he is not living by his faith. Any action not consistent with faith is sin. 
(Romans 14:1-23)
Response in Prayer

O gracious and holy Father, thank You for welcoming me into Your family. Thank You for the gift of Jesus. Thank You for the grace You offered to me through Jesus. Thank You for the brothers and sisters in Christ who accepted me into their fellowship and made me part of their spiritual family. Please use me to do the same for those seeking to find a place in Your family and my fellowship. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
Heartlight is proud to promote Compassion International. See children who were sponsored today!

© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

"Good Neighbors Make Good Citizens" — A Year with Jesus for 09/30/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Beloved, 

You are reading from a letter the apostle Paul wrote to believers in Rome. They lived in the seat of the Roman Empire's government and power. For much of the Pax Romana (the two hundred years, including New Testament times, of relative peace under the Roman government), the government offered great blessings — a stable legal system, relatively safe travel on highways and the seas, mail service, oversight of regional and city governments, and stability for commerce to thrive. The Father had worked in history to bring about this time so that history was ready for My coming (Galatians 4:4-7). 

What Paul wrote about honoring the government in today's passage spoke into their political situation in a time of a relatively stable government. As you read the New Testament, you will also find very good teaching about how to live as My disciple when the government is growing more hostile (both the early chapters of Acts and the letter of 1 Peter reflect this kind of situation) and also when the government becomes aggressively hostile to your faith (the letter of Revelation). The last years of Paul's life and ministry were spent using all the legal tools available to him to protect himself and his ministry from an increasingly hostile government that would eventually execute him (Philippians 1:19-23; 2 Timothy 4:6-8; In addition, don't forget the Old Testament resources of Daniel and Esther as examples of faith in hostile times!). 

I promised My disciples the Holy Spirit as their Comforter, Advocate, and Helper — chapters 14-16 of the gospel of John record this extended conversation with My closest disciples. The Holy Spirit was sent both to them and to you to help "guide you into all truth" (John 16:13). As Paul told the Corinthians, The Holy Spirit will help you understand both the times and My will for you in these times (1 Corinthians 2:6-16). 

I share this with you so that you will understand that the things Paul said here are principles on how to live as My disciples with the government. The context is a government that is not openly hostile to you, but the circumstances will soon change. Even as a government grows more hostile, I want you to realize that there are other resources in the Scriptures to help you know how to live faithfully, honoring your commitments to love the Father with all that you are and to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:36-40). 

The specifics of honoring the government for each changing circumstance addressed in scripture can be a little different. However, basic underlying themes — being a good citizen, not resorting to violence, making sure any suffering you face is not because of your own bad behavior, being a people of peace, living at peace with all people, being peacemakers, and being a blessing to others — are found throughout the New Testament witness. In addition to these scriptures, the Holy Spirit within you, My example lived before you, and your brothers and sisters of faith around you can help you know the best way to follow Me faithfully through all kinds of different political climates. 

Paul's words today focus on honoring a political government. Your Father in heaven is the God of order and beauty, not chaos and lawlessness. So governments are put into place with the divine intention to help and to bless people. When the governments become ruthless and tyrannical, the Father will work behind the scenes of history to bring them down (Psalm 2:1-12; the letter of Revelation), although there is no way for you to know the Father's timing. 

You must honor the government and obey its laws as a good citizen when these laws do not contradict My calling to you. "Do the right thing" and "live with a clear conscience." "Pay your taxes" and don't "owe anyone anything" as you "love one another." Once again, what Paul wrote the Romans brings you back to My second great love command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." This principle will make you a good citizen, because when you live this principle, "love achieves everything the law requires."
Verses to Live

In the last third of Romans (chapters 12-16), Paul repeatedly gives practical applications on how to love your neighbor as you love yourself and especially how to love your brothers and sisters in faith. Today's verses focus on this responsibility as a good citizen.
It is important that all of us submit to the authorities who have charge over us because God establishes all authority in heaven and on the earth. Therefore, a person who rebels against authority rebels against the order He established, and people like that can expect to face certain judgment. You see, if you do the right thing, you have nothing to be worried about from the rulers; but if you do what you know is wrong, the rulers will make sure you pay a price. Would you not rather live with a clear conscience than always have to be looking over your shoulder? Then keep doing what you know to be good and right, and they will publicly honor you. 

Look at it this way: The ruler is a servant of God called to serve and benefit you. But he is also a servant of God executing wrath upon those who practice evil. If you do what is wrong, then you'd better be afraid because he wields the power of the sword and doesn't make empty threats. 

So submission is not optional; it's required. But don't just submit for the sake of avoiding punishment; submit and abide by the laws because your conscience leads you to do the right thing. Pay your taxes for the same reason because the authorities are servants of God, giving their full attention to take care of these things. Pay all of them what you owe. If you owe taxes, then pay. If you owe fees, then pay. In the same way, give honor and respect to those who deserve it. 

Don't owe anyone anything, with the exception of love to one another — that is a debt which never ends — because the person who loves others has fulfilled the law. The commands given to you in the Scriptures — do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not take what is not yours, do not covet — and any other command you have heard are summarized in God's instruction: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Does love hurt anyone? Absolutely not. In fact, love achieves everything the law requires. 
(Romans 13:1-10)
Response in Prayer

Father, I am blessed by a stable government that is not horribly hostile to my faith. I thank you for this blessing, but my prayer today is for those who face persecution and martyrdom for their faith. Please dear Father, work in our time and intervene in the governments of humankind and bring about the changes that will protect all peoples' freedoms and rights to worship you and to help grow Your kingdom on earth. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
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© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

What Love Looks Like!" — A Year with Jesus for 09/29/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Disciple, 

In the first part of Paul's letter to the Roman believers, he gave his great explanation of how all people have sinned and fallen short of the Father's standards for holy character (Romans chapters 1-3). Next he explained how all people — both Jews and non-Jews — are invited into the Father's family by grace which they receive through faith in My death, burial, and resurrection (Romans chapters 4-6). He then explained that will-power and works of law cannot make anyone, or keep anyone, righteous: all people need the power of the Holy Spirit living in them to be the kind of people they want to be as the Father's children (Romans chapters 7-8). Paul finished his great explanation of grace by writing about the place of both Jews and Gentiles in God's plan of salvation (Romans chapters 9-11). 

Yesterday's note focused on Paul's great outburst of praise (Romans 11:33-36) that finished this first section of the letter on salvation by grace through faith. Paul then began his challenging call for holy behavior in My family of faith: all disciples need to offer themselves as living sacrifices to the Father because of all He has done for them to bring them grace (Romans 12:1-2). Today's verses focus upon some of the principles of living this kind of life to bless others. 

If you recall, I had told you that loving your neighbor as you love yourself is second only to loving God and that these two love principles form the foundation for all of God's demands for right living in relationship with others (Matthew 22:36-40). In today's verses, Paul laid down principle after principle, all of which find their foundation in loving your neighbor as yourself. If you want to know what loving your neighbor looks like, read these verses very carefully. These are not laws to be obeyed but principles which must be adopted and which show what the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) looks like in everyday living. This behavior is not only your goal in loving others, but this behavior is also the "Spirit-natural" fruit of the Holy Spirit's work in you. When you make the effort to live this way, the Holy Spirit will furnish the power to produce this holy fruit as the Father pours His love into your heart through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).
Verses to Live

The phrase that best summarizes Paul's principles in the verses below is "Live in true devotion to one another..." This is the kind of behavior and the kind of love that I am calling you to incorporate into your life as My disciple!
Love others well, and don't hide behind a mask; love authentically. Despise evil; pursue what is good as if your life depends on it. Live in true devotion to one another, loving each other as sisters and brothers. Be first to honor others by putting them first. Do not slack in your faithfulness and hard work. Let your spirit be on fire, bubbling up and boiling over, as you serve the Lord. Do not forget to rejoice, for hope is always just around the corner. Hold up through the hard times that are coming, and devote yourselves to prayer. Share what you have with the saints, so they lack nothing; take every opportunity to open your life and home to others. 

If people mistreat or malign you, bless them. Always speak blessings, not curses. If some have cause to celebrate, join in the celebration. And if others are weeping, join in that as well. Work toward unity, and live in harmony with one another. Avoid thinking you are better than others or wiser than the rest; instead, embrace common people and ordinary tasks. Do not retaliate with evil, regardless of the evil brought against you. Try to do what is good and right and honorable as agreed upon by all people. If it is within your power, make peace with all people. Again, my loved ones, do not seek revenge; instead, allow God's wrath to make sure justice is served. Turn it over to Him. For the Scriptures say, "Revenge is Mine. I will settle all scores." But consider this bit of wisdom: "If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink; because if you treat him kindly, it will be like heaping hot coals on top of his head." Never let evil get the best of you; instead, overpower evil with the good. 
(Romans 12:9-21)
Response in Prayer

O Father, I so desperately want my life to be full of the character, conduct, and compassion that Paul calls on these early Roman disciples to have in their lives. Empower me by the power of Your Holy Spirit to be transformed to be ever more like Christ in all these qualities as I live in relationship with those around me as Your child. Please help me to hold onto the passion I feel right now as I long to love others in Jesus' name and follow His example. Amen. 
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
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"Be a Living and Holy Sacrifice" — A Year with Jesus for 09/28/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Beloved, 

Paul spent the first two thirds of his letter to the Romans explaining the principle of salvation by grace through faith. In Romans chapters 9-11 he has tried to explain how the Jewish people and the promises of the Father to Abraham fit into that plan, especially with many Jews in Paul's time rejecting the Father's message of grace and many Gentiles accepting it. As Paul came to the end of this powerful teaching, he finished with a burst of praise and then began the next part of his letter with a call to these Roman Christians to offer themselves to the Father and to live for Him. These are two of the most beautiful and cherished passages of Scripture in your New Testament. 

In the first passage below, Paul acknowledged that the Father's plan is challenging and not necessarily easy to understand, but it is glorious. Paul's words are an admission in praise that you cannot understand all, or even most, of the Father's ways. Your finite mind cannot begin to imagine the plans of mercy and grace of the infinite God. Your mortal brain cannot plumb the depths of meaning and heights of grace in the mind of the immortal God. So when you reach the point that your ability to understand is exhausted and your mind is confused about the ways of God and His plan of salvation, there is little left for you to do other than to praise Him and offer yourself to Him in thanks for all that He has done for you. 

In the second passage, which followed immediately after the first passage in Paul's original letter to the Roman Christians, he gave a concise but challenging summary of the response that should be made — the choice that the Roman Christians should make and the choice you should make today. 

My beloved disciple, you — like these first century believers in Rome — were redeemed at great cost. I did not, and I still do not, regret that high price. However, the love behind this sacrifice that brought you mercy should capture your heart and convict you to refuse to live like the rest of the world that does not know My love and the Father's grace and mercy. Offer all that you are to the Father. That is what it means to love Us — Father, Son, and Spirit — with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:36-38). Please notice that Paul pointed out that We will assist you in your efforts to know the Father's will and to be transformed as you live for Us. Most of the remainder of this letter to the Romans was devoted to some of the specifics of living for Us, including fulfilling My emphasis on the second love command — to love your neighbor as you love yourself (Matthew 22:39-40).
Verses to Live

While the words speak for themselves, I want to ask you to do two things with these passages. Read the first set of verses several times. Read these verses slowly. Read them out loud. Let the beauty of these words wash over you. Then, take a few minutes and pray a prayer of praise. Don't ask for anything in this prayer. Instead, offer the Father praise for Who He is and what He has done as declared in Scripture to redeem you and adopt you into Our family. Then, I want to encourage you to memorize the second passage. Even if you know it in another translation, put these words to memory and recite them each morning and each evening over the next week.
Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!
For who can know the Lord's thoughts? 
Who knows enough to give him advice? 
And who has given him so much 
that he needs to pay it back?
For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen. 
(Romans 11:33-36 NLT) 

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice — the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. 
(Romans 12:1-2 NLT)
Response in Prayer

O Father, You are "the highest God above, Who is and always will be, the only One Who is holy"! I am thankful that even though you "live in a high and holy place" you also have chosen to live with people like me — "the low, the weak, and the humble... [to] renew their vitality and revive their strength." I thank you for both Your awesome ways and Your gracious and merciful love. I offer myself to You, because You alone are worth all that my life can be. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 


Today's prayer is a response both to Paul's words in Romans 11:33-36 and also to Isaiah's words in Isaiah 57:15.
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
Heartlight is proud to promote Compassion International. See children who were sponsored today!

© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

"So All Can Be Saved!" — A Year with Jesus for 09/27/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Disciple, 

You are saved by grace. You received that grace through faith. There is no room for boasting about being saved. Neither is there any room for belittling Jews who have rejected the message of grace. This rejection by ethnic Jews opened the way for Gentiles to hear the message of grace, to become My disciples, and to become recipients of Abraham's promises. However, this is no excuse for non-Jewish believers to feel superior. They — including you, if you are not a Jew — have been grafted into the Father's covenant people and promises. They depend upon the root, the history, and promises of the Father to Abraham and to his Jewish descendants for their salvation. 

In Paul's day, there was a righteous remnant of Jewish people who had faith in Me, just as the prophets had said. In addition, the hardening of Jewish hearts toward Me was part of the Father's plan to redeem all people. Some Jewish believers had seen faith in Me among the Gentiles and they became jealous of these Gentiles being included as recipients of the promises to Abraham. Their jealousy led them to re-examine Me and come to faith in Me. In the future, after the full number of Gentiles has come to Me, those who are part of ethnic Israel will be brought to faith in Me and, through that faith, will be received back into the family of Abraham's promises. The Father will not forget His promises to His Jewish people. So since the hardening of Jewish hearts in Paul's time meant salvation for the non-Jews, think of how much greater the joy of salvation will be when the descendants of Israel come to faith in Me as their Messiah and they are joined with all the non-Jewish people who have faith in Me!
Verses to Live

The Father's wonderful and mighty plan was to reach all people of every nation with the message of grace so that all who truly trust in Me as their Lord and Savior can be saved — both Jew and non-Jew alike. There is no room for arrogance if you have been saved: you have been saved by grace and you received this salvation by faith. Instead, there should be a deep appreciation for the Jewish heritage on which you stand as a believer in Me and a joyous anticipation of the celebration when all of My family, Jew and non-Jew, celebrate My victory in the presence of the Father(Revelation 7:9-12). Read carefully, as Paul explains this to the Christians in Rome. 
So I ask: did God's people stumble and fall off the deep end? Absolutely not! They are not lost forever; but through their misconduct, the door has been opened for salvation to extend even to the outsiders. This has been part of God's plan all along, and so is the jealousy that comes when they realize the outsiders have been welcomed into God's new covenant. So if their misconduct leads ultimately to God's riches coming to the world and if their failure turns into the blessing of salvation to all people, then how much greater will be the riches and blessing when they are included fully? 

But I have this to say to all of you who are not ethnic Jews: I am God's emissary to you, and I honor this call by focusing on what God is doing with and through you. I do this so that somehow my own blood brothers and sisters will be made jealous; and that, I trust, will bring some to salvation. If the fact that they are currently set aside resolves the hostility between God and the rest of the world, what will their acceptance bring if not life from the dead? If the first and best of the dough you offer is sacred, the entire loaf will be as well. If the root of the tree is sacred, the branches will be also. 

Imagine some branches are cut off of the cultivated olive tree and other branches of a wild olive (which represents all of you outsiders) are grafted in their place. You are nourished by the root of the cultivated olive tree. It doesn't give you license to become proud and self-righteous about the fact that you've been grafted in. If you do boast, remember that the branches do not sustain the root — it is the system of roots that nourishes and supports you. 

I can almost hear some of you saying, "Branches had to be pruned to make room for me." Yes, they were. They were removed because they did not believe; and you will stay attached, be strong, and be productive only through faith. So don't think too highly of yourselves; instead, stand in awe of God's mercy. Besides we know that God did not spare the natural branches, so there is no reason to think He will spare you. Witness the simultaneous balance of the kindness and severity of our God. Severity is directed at the fallen branches withering without faith. Yet kindness is directed at you. So live in the kindness of God or else prepare to be cut off yourselves. If those branches that have been cut from the tree do not stay in unbelief, then God will carefully graft them back onto the tree because He has the power to do that. So if it is possible for you to be taken from a wild olive tree and become part of a cultivated olive tree, imagine how much easier it would be to reconnect branches that originally grew on that olive tree. 

My brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be in the dark about this mystery — I am going to let you in on the plan so that you will not think too highly of yourselves. A part of Israel has been hardened to the good news until the full number of those outside the Jewish family have entered in. This is the way that all of Israel will be saved. As it was written, so it also stands:
The Deliverer will come from Zion; 
He will drive away wickedness from Jacob. 
And this is My covenant promise to them, 
on the day when I take away their sins.
It may seem strange. When it comes to the work of the gospel, the fact that they oppose it is actually for your benefit. But when you factor in God's election, they are truly loved because they descended from faithful forefathers. You see, when God gives a grace gift and issues a call to a people, He does not change His mind and take it back. There was a time when you outsiders were disobedient to God and at odds with His purpose, but now you have experienced mercy as a result of their disobedience. In the same way, their disobedience now will make a way for them to receive mercy as a result of the mercy shown to you. For God has assigned all of us together — Jews and non-Jews, insiders and outsiders — to disobedience so He can show His mercy to all. 
(Romans 11:11-32)
Response in Prayer

Thank you, Father, for including me in Your family because of your amazing grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.

Receiving God's Promises Through Faith" — A Year with Jesus for 09/25/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Child of grace, 

Many people in your fallen world judge others — accept them or reject them — based on race. They take pride in their own ethnic heritage and exclude those who are not of their race. The Christians in Rome, and really all over the world during the time Paul wrote his letter to the Roman Christians, struggled with the issue of race. The divide between Jew and Gentile was a hard one for many of the early Christians to overcome. 

As I look at your time, My heart breaks at both the physical violence done in the name of race and also the more subtle forms of exclusivity, prejudice, bigotry, and racial arrogance that go on in people's hearts and in groups based on racial identity. I came to tear down these racial divisions and bring about a new humanity not based on race ( Ephesians 2:11-22). I came to establish "one new humanity" based on faith and not on race, creating peace between different peoples through My sacrifice on the cross ( Ephesians 2:15-16). The future I bring has all nations, races, languages, and peoples joined together in joyous worship, praise, and fellowship ( Revelation 7:9-12). 

My human racial identity was Jewish. I came as the answer to the Father's promise to Abraham and David to bring the Anointed One (the Messiah) of Israel — Me — through their descendants. The Father chose Israel to be His people — not because they were better, wiser, more numerous, or more powerful, but because of His love and faithfulness to His promises to these great Israelite patriarchs. 

John the Baptizer, My cousin and forerunner, had warned people that being Jewish descendants of Abraham didn't guarantee their righteousness because the Father "is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham" ( Matthew 3:7-9). Both John and I warned that if a person claims to be a descendant of Abraham, he or she must live a life of righteousness like Abraham ( John 8:37-40; Romans 4:13). So what Paul said in chapters 9-11 of Romans shouldn't be a complete surprise. We will be looking at these chapters today and the next few days. 

Paul wanted everyone to know that just as all have sinned — both Jew and Gentile — all can be children of God through faith in My sacrificial death and triumphant resurrection. Race is not what makes a person a part of God's Israel, his chosen people, but faith. The Father, in His Sovereignty, chose Israel and gave Israel the great benefits of "the glory, the covenants, the gift of the law, the temple service, and God's promises" as "their rightful heritage". So the Jewish people should be loved and respected because they provided the story, the heritage, the Scriptures, the promises, and the Messiah that make salvation available to all people. However, Paul reminded them:
The truth is that not everyone descended from Israel is truly Israel. Just because people can claim Abraham as their father does not make them his true children.
For a time, all but a small group of Jews have stumbled because of the truth that is found in Me, the Anointed, the "rock". But just as many Gentiles have been brought into My family through faith, a time is coming, and indeed has already begun, when My fellow Israelites will find themselves a part of the Father's promises by faith.
Verses to Live

Today and the next several days, you will be reading from Romans chapters 9-11. Paul's discussion can appear confusing at times. This is because he was using the way of teaching he learned as a young rabbi. But the basis of his reasoning is fairly clear. The Father is sovereign. He works in the way he does to fulfill His promises and to fulfill His desire to bring all people who will receive His grace to salvation. But rather than race, ethnicity, law-keeping, and heritage being the guarantee of this salvation, the Father accepts people based on their faith in Me. In this way, salvation can come to all people and all people can be accepted into My family without prejudice or racial division or any other distinction. Spiritual Israel, the people of God, is made up of those who receive the promises of God by faith and choose to share this grace with the nations.
Now let me speak the truth as plainly as I know it in the Anointed One [Christ Jesus]. I am not lying when I say that my conscience and the Holy Spirit are witnesses to my state of constant grief. It may sound extreme; but I wish that I were lost, cursed, and totally separated from the Anointed — if that would change the eternal destination of my [Jewish] brothers and sisters, my flesh and countrymen. They are, after all, Israelites who have been adopted into God's family; the glory, the covenants, the gift of the law, the temple service, and God's promises are their rightful heritage. The patriarchs are theirs, too; and from their bloodline comes the Anointed One, the Liberating King, who reigns supreme over all things, God blessed forever. Amen. 

Clearly it is not that God's word has failed. The truth is that not everyone descended from Israel is truly Israel. Just because people can claim Abraham as their father does not make them his true children. But in the Scriptures, it says, "Through Isaac your covenant children will be named." The proper interpretation is this: Abraham's children by natural descent are not necessarily God's covenant people; what matters is that His children receive and live the promise. 
(Romans 9:1-8) 

So what does all of this mean? Did the non-Jews stumble into a right standing with God without chasing after it? Yes, they found it through faith. And has Israel, who pursued the law to secure a right standing with God, failed to keep the law? Yes again. And why is that? Because Israel did not follow the path of faith. They thought that whatever they needed to be right with God could be accomplished by doing the works of the law; they tripped over the stumbling stone. As the Scriptures say,
Look what I am going to do in Zion. I'll put in place a stone that makes them stumble, a rock that trips them up, and those who trust in it will not be disgraced.
(Romans 9:30-33)
Response in Prayer

O Father, thank You for Your grace which has saved me. Thank You for the promise to Abraham to bless all nations and peoples through him. Thank You for Jesus, the Messiah of Israel. Thank You for the promises You have kept, the people You have preserved, the story You have woven, and the gift of grace You have extended through Israel to all nations because of Jesus' sacrifice. Give us — give me — courage to share this message of grace with all people and include them into the family and fellowship of Your grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
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© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

"All Who Call on the Lord" — A Year with Jesus for 09/26/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Follower, 

Paul was My apostle to the Gentiles, but he deeply loved and was deeply concerned about his fellow Israelites who had not come to faith in Me. In Romans chapter 9, Paul had powerfully and emotionally said these gut-wrenching words:
Now let me speak the truth as plainly as I know it in the Anointed One. I am not lying when I say that my conscience and the Holy Spirit are witnesses to my state of constant grief. It may sound extreme; but I wish that I were lost, cursed, and totally separated from the Anointed — if that would change the eternal destination of my brothers and sisters, my flesh and countrymen. 
(Romans 9:1-3)
What Paul wrote was a display of overwhelming love — he was willing to be lost eternally so his fellow Jewish people could be saved. This makes his words in this section of Romans (chapters 9-11) all the more poignant. He did not write out of anger or hostility, but out of love. He wrote these truths to heal the racial divide between Jew and Gentile in the church in Rome and to help them understand the message of salvation. That message was clear. All can be saved, both Jew and non-Jew, but salvation comes only through the Father's grace received through faith in My death, burial, and resurrection as God's Anointed — the Messiah of Israel and Lord of all peoples. 

While there were Jews in Paul's time who accepted this message — "God has preserved a remnant, elected by grace" (Romans 11:5) — most rejected it: they had stumbled over the "rock" of salvation — Me, the Messiah of Israel (Romans 9:32-33). In fact, if you go back and re-read the story of Pentecost in the book of Acts (Acts 2:17-41), you will find the message of salvation Peter preached that day to Jews was the same basic message as in what Paul wrote the Roman's in today's verses (Romans 10:9-13):
Believe in your heart the Father raised Me from the dead.
Confess Me as your Lord.
Call on My name as your Savior in baptism.
Be saved.
Paul had experienced this same kind of conversion himself. If you go back and read the accounts in Acts of his own conversion by Ananias, you will find these same things were emphasized (Acts 9:15-18; Acts 22:8-16). 

Paul wanted believers in Rome to realize three truths that are so important for those who love and believe in Me. These are important for every generation of believers! 

First, as I mentioned in My sermon on the Mount, I AM the fulfillment of the law (Matthew 5:17). Paul said it this way:
You see, God’s purpose for the law reaches its climax when the Anointed One arrives; now all who trust in Him can have their lives made right with God.
Second, no one is going to be saved based on law-keeping. All who are saved, both Jew and non-Jew, are saved because they have been called by the Father's grace which they received through faith in my crucifixion and resurrection (Romans 10:3-4; Romans 9:30-32). 

Third, those who send others and those who share My good news are very important because people cannot be saved unless they believe. They cannot believe unless they hear about the Father's love — demonstrated by My incarnation, death, burial, and resurrection. They cannot go and share this message unless someone sends them. As Paul did so frequently throughout chapters 9-11 in Romans, he quoted the (Old Testament) Scriptures and wrote:
Because what Isaiah said was true: "The one who trusts in Him will not be disgraced." Remember that the Lord draws no distinction between Jew and non-Jew — He is Lord over all things, and He pours out His treasures on all who invoke His name because as Scripture says, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
So send those who will proclaim this message, share this message yourself when you meet people, and know that the Father wants all peoples — Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, slave or free, male or female, young or old — to hear His call to grace and to receive that message with faith!
Verses to Live

Paul wanted all people saved. He made clear in these verses how that salvation comes to people. I hope you will read these verses and not only be heartened, but also be motivated to send and share the message of the Father's love demonstrated by My life, death, and resurrection.
My brothers and sisters, I pray constantly to God for the salvation of my people; it is the deep desire of my heart. What I can say about them is that they are enthusiastic about God, but that won't lead them to Him because their zeal is not based on true knowledge. In their ignorance about how God is working to make things right, they have been trying to establish their own right standing with God through the law. But they are not operating under God's saving, restorative justice. You see, God's purpose for the law reaches its climax when the Anointed One arrives; now all who trust in Him can have their lives made right with God. 

Moses made this clear long ago when he wrote about what it takes to have a right relationship with God based on the law: "The person devoted to the law's commands will live by them." But a right relationship based on faith sounds like this: "Do not say to yourselves, 'Who will go up into heaven?'" (that is, to bring down the Anointed One), "or, 'Who will go down into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring the Anointed One up from the dead). But what does it actually say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the good news we have been called to preach to you). So if you believe deep in your heart that God raised Jesus from the pit of death and if you voice your allegiance by confessing the truth that "Jesus is Lord," then you will be saved! Belief begins in the heart and leads to a life that's right with God; confession departs from our lips and brings eternal salvation. Because what Isaiah said was true: "The one who trusts in Him will not be disgraced." Remember that the Lord draws no distinction between Jew and non-Jew — He is Lord over all things, and He pours out His treasures on all who invoke His name because as Scripture says, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 

How can people invoke His name when they do not believe? How can they believe in Him when they have not heard? How can they hear if there is no one proclaiming Him? How can some give voice to the truth if they are not sent by God? As Isaiah said, "Ah, how beautiful the feet of those who declare the good news of victory, of peace and liberation." But some will hear the good news and refuse to submit to the truth they hear. Isaiah the prophet also says, "Lord, who would ever believe it? Who would possibly accept what we've been told?" So faith proceeds from hearing, as we listen to the message about God's Anointed. 
(Romans 10:1-17)
Response in Prayer

Father, open my eyes to those who need Your grace who are around me. Help me know when and how to share the story of Jesus with them. Forgive me for the times my heart has been closed toward those who need support in going to share your message, especially those who share Your message with other cultures. Be with those who are sharing your message in places where they are persecuted and reviled. Thank You for Your great grace and Jesus' willingness to accept the brutal consequences that have brought me this grace. I pray this in His sweet and mighty name. Amen.
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
Heartlight is proud to promote Compassion International. See children who were sponsored today!
© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

"Blessed Assurance!" — A Year with Jesus for 09/24/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Child of the Father, 

All creation waits on tiptoe for the day I return and bring you home to the Father and "the total redemption of [y]our bodies that comes when [y]our adoption as children of God is complete." However, I want you to realize that the Holy Spirit not only is your "guarantee, a down payment of the things to come," but He is also My sustaining power and presence in your life Who will help you in many ways. Here are three truths you will find in the verses today:
The Spirit intercedes for you when you pray and even "steps in and articulates [your] prayers... with groaning too profound for words" when you can't find the words to pray.
The Spirit's presence is a constant reminder that nothing can ever separate you from the Father's love because of My presence at His side.
The Spirit Whose power raised Me from the dead is your assurance of ultimate victory just as I was victorious over sin, death, and hell.
Treasure these assurances. Trust in the Spirit's presence. Glory awaits!
Verses to Live

There are so many good things that await you. Yet I know you cannot see them now but yearn for them. That is why I promised to not leave you alone, but that I would send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to be with you and to help you until I come back for you ( Acts 2:32-33; Titus 3:3-7; John 14:18-26). So today, I want you to read these verses several times. Find a few especially meaningful sentences to memorize. Then when times are tough, let the Holy Spirit remind you of these truths and fill your heart with assurance that you are the Father's child, My beloved co-heir of the kingdom of God, and a person in whom the Spirit of the almighty God lives.
Now I'm sure of this: the sufferings we endure now are not even worth comparing to the glory that is coming and will be revealed in us. For all of creation is waiting, yearning for the time when the children of God will be revealed. You see, all of creation has collapsed into emptiness, not by its own choosing, but by God's. Still He placed within it a deep and abiding hope that creation would one day be liberated from its slavery to corruption and experience the glorious freedom of the children of God. For we know that all creation groans in unison with birthing pains up until now. And there is more; it's not just creation — all of us are groaning together too. Though we have already tasted the firstfruits of the Spirit, we are longing for the total redemption of our bodies that comes when our adoption as children of God is complete — for we have been saved in this hope and for this future. But hope does not involve what we already have or see. For who goes around hoping for what he already has? But if we wait expectantly for things we have never seen, then we hope with true perseverance and eager anticipation. 

A similar thing happens when we pray. We are weak and do not know how to pray, so the Spirit steps in and articulates prayers for us with groaning too profound for words. Don't you know that He who pursues and explores the human heart intimately knows the Spirit's mind because He pleads to God for His saints to align their lives with the will of God? We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan. From the distant past, His eternal love reached into the future. You see, He knew those who would be His one day, and He chose them beforehand to be conformed to the image of His Son so that Jesus would be the firstborn of a new family of believers, all brothers and sisters. As for those He chose beforehand, He called them to a different destiny so that they would experience what it means to be made right with God and share in His glory. 

So what should we say about all of this? If God is on our side, then tell me: whom should we fear? If He did not spare His own Son, but handed Him over on our account, then don't you think that He will graciously give us all things with Him? Can anyone be so bold as to level a charge against God's chosen? Especially since God's "not guilty" verdict is already declared. Who has the authority to condemn? Jesus the Anointed who died, but more importantly, conquered death when He was raised to sit at the right hand of God where He pleads on our behalf. So who can separate us? What can come between us and the love of God's Anointed? Can troubles, hardships, persecution, hunger, poverty, danger, or even death? The answer is, absolutely nothing. As the psalm says,
On Your behalf, our lives are endangered constantly; we are like sheep awaiting slaughter.
But no matter what comes, we will always taste victory through Him who loved us. For I have every confidence that nothing — not death, life, heavenly messengers, dark spirits, the present, the future, spiritual powers, height, depth, nor any created thing — can come between us and the love of God revealed in the Anointed, Jesus our Lord. 
(Romans 8:18-39)
Response in Prayer

O Father, thank You for the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for the Spirit's ministry of intercession for me, His work in me to transform me, and His presence in me to be my Comforter. I ask, dear Father, that I will always be aware of the Spirit's presence, especially in times of hardship, trials, and temptations. I ask that the Holy Spirit open my mind and my heart to know, remember, and apply the Scriptures that He inspired. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for pouring out the Holy Spirit on me when I was born anew into the Father's family. I find great comfort in knowing that I am never alone and that the Spirit who empowered Your resurrection is working in me. Amen.
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
Heartlight is proud to promote Compassion International. See children who were sponsored today!

© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

Animated by the Spirit" — A Year with Jesus for 09/23/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Precious One, 

Live animated by the power of the Father's "indwelling presence," the Holy Spirit! Your flesh — "your fallen, corrupt nature" — cannot overcome the power and pull of sin unless you live led by the Spirit. As yesterday's note emphasized, trying to be righteous by law-keeping awakens the power of sin to use your fleshly nature to corrupt the righteous demands of the law and lead you to become enslaved to sin. Your power to overcome your fleshly nature is found in the work you allow the Holy Spirit to do in you. 

Today and tomorrow, I want to use Paul's teaching in Romans 8 to help you recognize what a great gift of grace the Spirit is for you. When you live "animated," led, empowered, and guided by the Spirit, you are freed from law-keeping that is weakened by your flesh. The Spirit, on the other hand, helps you "live up to the justice demanded by the law" by helping you with "life-giving power" and giving you assurance that you are the Father's child. As "you have invited the Spirit to destroy these selfish desires [of your flesh], you will experience life." You will be transformed and liberated to become more and more like Me with ever-increasing glory ( 2 Corinthians 3:17-18) and begin to more fully display the fruit of the Spirit's presence in your life ( Galatians 5:22-23). 

Today, begin to ask the Holy Spirit to take a more forceful lead in your life. Specifically ask the Spirit to transform you to become more like Me each day and to help you display the Holy Spirit's fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When you pray, address the Father as "'Abba! Father!' as [you] would address a loving daddy," reminding yourself of the precious and tender relationship the Father wants to have with you. When you struggle with doubts about your worthiness or My presence in your life, ask the Holy Spirit to give you comfort. Pray for the Holy Spirit to minister to your Spirit continually, even as you sleep. Ask the Spirit give you discerning eyes to recognize God's truth from the world's lies.
Verses to Live

Today's verses are the beginning of an extended teaching from Paul on the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. We will cover the remainder of his teaching tomorrow. However, I encourage you to get a notepad or use your computer or mobile device and jot down things that are promised about the Holy Spirit in both today's and tomorrow's messages. Living by the Spirit liberates you from law-keeping and the power of the flesh to control you. So seek for all that Paul teaches that the Spirit longs to bring you!
Therefore, now no condemnation awaits those who are living in Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King, because when you live in the Anointed One, Jesus, a new law takes effect. The law of the Spirit of life breathes into you and liberates you from the law of sin and death. God did something the law could never do. You see, human flesh took its toll on God's law. In and of itself, the law is not weak; but the flesh weakens it. So to condemn the sin that was ruling in the flesh, God sent His own Son, bearing the likeness of sinful flesh, as a sin offering. Now we are able to live up to the justice demanded by the law. But that ability has not come from living by our fallen human nature; it has come because we walk according to the movement of the Spirit in our lives. 

If you live your life animated by the flesh — namely, your fallen, corrupt nature — then your mind is focused on the matters of the flesh. But if you live your life animated by the Spirit — namely, God's indwelling presence — then your focus is on the work of the Spirit. A mind focused on the flesh is doomed to death, but a mind focused on the Spirit will find full life and complete peace. You see, a mind focused on the flesh is declaring war against God; it defies the authority of God's law and is incapable of following His path. So it is clear that God takes no pleasure in those who live oriented to the flesh. 

But you do not live in the flesh. You live in the Spirit, assuming, of course, that the Spirit of God lives inside of you. The truth is that anyone who does not have the Spirit of the Anointed living within does not belong to God. If the Anointed One lives within you, even though the body is as good as dead because of the effects of sin, the Spirit is infusing you with life now that you are right with God. If the Spirit of the One who resurrected Jesus from the dead lives inside of you, then you can be sure that He who raised Him will cast the light of life into your mortal bodies through the life-giving power of the Spirit residing in you. 

So, my brothers and sisters, you owe the flesh nothing! You do not need to live according to its ways, so abandon its oppressive regime. For if your life is just about satisfying the impulses of your sinful nature, then prepare to die. But if you have invited the Spirit to destroy these selfish desires, you will experience life. If the Spirit of God is leading you, then take comfort in knowing you are His children. You see, you have not received a spirit that returns you to slavery, so you have nothing to fear. The Spirit you have received adopts you and welcomes you into God's own family. That's why we call out to Him, "Abba! Father!" as we would address a loving daddy. Through that prayer, God's Spirit confirms in our spirits that we are His children. If we are God's children, that means we are His heirs along with the Anointed, set to inherit everything that is His. If we share His sufferings, we know that we will ultimately share in His glory. 
(Romans 8:1-17)
Response in Prayer

O Father of mercy, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit. I recognize Your presence in Me through the Holy Spirit. I voluntarily submit myself and ask that the Spirit take control of my heart and my life. I want the Spirit to lead me and empower me. I ask that the Spirit help me put to death the power of the flesh at work within me. I invite the Spirit to transform me to become more and more like Christ each day and give me assurance of being Your child. I do not want to be enslaved to my fleshly nature, O Lord, so transform me through and through by the power of Your Holy Spirit. I ask this in Jesus' mighty name. Amen.
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
Heartlight is proud to promote Compassion International. See children who were sponsored today!

© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

Miserable or Relieved?" — A Year with Jesus for 09/22/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Faithful Follower, 

Today's verses share different selections from his letter to Christians in Rome ( Romans 7). Paul had written in previous chapters about grace being made available through:
My sin-offering on the cross (Romans 3),
faith in My sacrifice for your sins being credited to you as righteousness (Romans 4),
My sacrifice being given to you out of the Father's loving grace, not because you deserved it (Romans 5), and
your having shared in My saving death, burial, and resurrection as you died to sin with Me through baptism (Romans 6).
Paul wants you to know that as a baptized believer saved by grace you are dead to sin and alive to live for God as His righteous child. 

But how? How do you live for God righteously? How do you live up to the Father's demands to be righteous as His child? Do you go back to law-keeping and obey the law to continue to be considered righteous? That was the easy answer for those who grew up living under the Mosaic law. So in today's verses (from Romans 7), Paul speaks to any attempt to be considered righteous by living under law — any law, but especially the Mosaic law. 

Paul wanted to help you understand that law-keeping cannot make you righteous. The problem is not the law — it is holy and just — the problem is the deceptive power of sin that takes the law and uses it to lead you to sin. Your fleshly nature — "living in the flesh" also called "the fallen human realm, owned by sin" — "awakened [y]our lust for more" sin. 

While My sacrifice saves you from sin and death, if you go back to trying to be righteous by law-keeping, you end up "absolutely miserable" and in bondage to sin once again! You do what you do not want to do — you fall back into sin again and again. Sin "owns you" and "has taken up residence in" you. The only solution is to remember that you died to sin and to the whole law-keeping way of trying to be righteous and that you can rely on the Holy Spirit to lead you to righteous living. Paul says it this way:
But now that we have died to those chains that imprisoned us, we have been released from the law to serve in a new Spirit-empowered life, not the old written code.
The Spirit's power will be the focus in tomorrow's verses. 

The Father's grace brings you salvation and righteousness by providing the sin offering (My death on the cross) that atoned for your sin and by giving you the Holy Spirit to empower you to righteous living. Everything about your salvation is a gift so don't go back and try to earn your salvation or think yourself superior because you obey the law. Recognize that the Father's grace is the only way you stand before Him as His righteous child!
Verses to Live

Pay attention as you read these verses. They remind you that you are dead to the whole law-keeping principle because obeying law cannot save you — your fleshly nature and sin's deceptive power to use the law to trip you up lead you back to the principles of sin and death. Your faith in My sacrifice for your sins and the indwelling Spirit's power to help you become the person you want to be provide your only way to live righteously as the Father's child. 
My brothers and sisters who are well versed in the law, don't you realize that a person is subject to the law only as long as he is alive? So, for example, a wife is obligated by the law to her husband until his death; if the husband dies, she is freed from the parts of the law that relate to her marriage. 
(Romans 7:1-2) 

My brothers and sisters, in the same way, you have died when it comes to the law because of your connection with the body of the Anointed One. His death — and your death with Him — frees you to belong to the One who was raised from the dead so we can bear fruit for God. As we were living in the flesh, the law could not solve the problem of sin; it only awakened our lust for more and cultivated the fruit of death in our bodily members. But now that we have died to those chains that imprisoned us, we have been released from the law to serve in a new Spirit-empowered life, not the old written code. 

So what is the story? Is the law itself sin? Absolutely not! It is the exact opposite. I would never have known what sin is if it were not for the law. 
(Romans 7:4-7) 

There was a time when I was living without the law, but the commandment came and changed everything: sin came to life, and I died. This commandment was supposed to bring life; but in my experience, it brought death. Sin took advantage of the commandment, tricked me, and exploited it in order to kill me. So hear me out: the law is holy; and its commandments are holy, right, and good. 
(Romans 7:9-12) 

This is what we know: the law comes from the spiritual realm. My problem is that I am of the fallen human realm, owned by sin, which tries to keep me in its service. 
(Romans 7:14) 

I know that in me, that is, in my fallen human nature, there is nothing good. I can will myself to do something good, but that does not help me carry it out. I can determine that I am going to do good, but I don't do it; instead, I end up living out the evil that I decided not to do. If I end up doing the exact thing I pledged not to do, I am no longer doing it because sin has taken up residence in me. 
(Romans 7:18-20) 

I am absolutely miserable! Is there anyone who can free me from this body where sin and death reign so supremely? I am thankful to God for the freedom that comes through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One! So on the one hand, I devotedly serve God's law with my mind; but on the other hand, with my flesh, I serve the principle of sin. 
(Romans 7:24-25)


Special Note: 
Today's verses end with a somewhat negative tone. The next verses, which will be included tomorrow, have a completely different and incredibly positive tone as Paul will begin his discussion of life in the Spirit. 
Response in Prayer

O Father, thank you for Your grace! I am saved by Your grace. I am sustained by Your grace. I am transformed by Your grace. I have access to Your presence because of Your grace. Thank you for Your grace. In the name of Christ Jesus I thank you. Amen.
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
Heartlight is proud to promote Compassion International. See children who were sponsored today!
© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

United with Christ!" — A Year with Jesus for 09/21/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Disciple, 

You have received grace. I died for you when you were "far from God... powerless... weak... wasting [y]our lives in sin" and "enemies" in your hearts toward the Father ( Romans 5:6-10). (See yesterday's note also.) Because of My sacrificial death, the Father's love welled up into this great flood of grace. 

So what do you do with that grace? 

Do you keep sinning so that grace covers more and more sins? That was the kind of reasoning some in Paul's day had about grace. What Paul wrote the Romans in today's verses reminded them that something transformational happened in their lives when they were baptized because of their faith. 

In today's verses, Paul reminds you that in baptism you were "joined with" Me and "united with" Me in My death; you were "buried with" Me after your "old sinful selves were crucified with" Me. Because you have been "united with" Me in My death and burial through baptism, you "will also be raised to live as" I now live to honor the Father. Your faith in My death, burial, and resurrection empowers your baptism to be a participation in these saving events from My life ( 1 Corinthians 15:1-5). You died with Me and "were set free from the power of sin" and now you are "alive to God through" My power over sin and death. 

Not only have you received grace to be forgiven and cleansed from your sinful past, but you have also received grace to help you overcome the power of sin in your life. You are motivated to not sin because you recognize the sacrificial love and the cost of your redemption. But more than motivation, you have power to "put to death" the sin in your life through the Holy Spirit. In a few days, you will read what Paul says about the Holy Spirit's power. I want you to know that the Holy Spirit's presence gives you power to overcome the pull of sin and the allure of your selfish and sinful desires:
For if your life is just about satisfying the impulses of your sinful nature, then prepare to die. But if you have invited the Spirit to destroy these selfish desires, you will experience life. 
Romans 8:13)
The Holy Spirit's power helps you do what no law could ever do: to be transformed to be like Me ( 2 Corinthians 3:18) as the Spirit's fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control ( Galatians 5:22-23) is formed into your new holy life. This new life is yours because of grace, grace to be forgiven and cleansed of past sin as well as grace to be empowered to live this new life. So Paul can close this powerful chapter on grace with these incredible words of promise:
The payoff for a life of sin is death, but God is offering us a free gift — eternal life through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, the Liberating King.
Verses to Live

I want you to notice as you read these powerful words from My servant, the apostle Paul, that your baptism joins you to Me and unites you with Me and My saving work because of your faith. By faith, you are united with Me in your baptism. My life is now yours. My power over sin is available to you. My future is now your shared future. Paul later writes about this in his letter to the Colossians:
For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. 
(Colossians 3:3-4 NLT)
So don't go back to trying to earn your salvation — something Paul talks about in the next chapter — because you have already received salvation by grace through faith. But as Paul emphasizes here, don't disregard grace or the commitment you made when you were saved: in baptism, you died to sin, so don't go and give yourself back to that cruel task master. Live for your Father because you have tasted the sweetness of His grace!
Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. 

Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. 

Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God's grace. 

Well then, since God's grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! 
(Romans 6:1-15 NLT) 

Forgive me for using casual language to compensate for your natural weakness of human understanding. I want to be perfectly clear. In the same way you gave your bodily members away as slaves to corrupt and lawless living and found yourselves deeper in your unruly lives, now devote your members as slaves to right and reconciled lives so you will find yourselves deeper in holy living. 
(Romans 6:19) 

[N]ow that you have been emancipated from the death grip of sin and are God's slave, you have a different sort of life, a growing holiness. The outcome of that life is eternal life. The payoff for a life of sin is death, but God is offering us a free gift — eternal life through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, the Liberating King. 
(Romans 6:22-23)
Response in Prayer

O Father, thank You for Your amazing grace — grace to not only be saved, but to also live life knowing that My future is tied to Jesus because I have been united with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection. Forgive me for my times of weakness when I turn back to sin. Thank you for the power of the Holy Spirit Who enables Your new life to take hold in my life and Who brings Your righteous character and gracious compassion into my life through His transforming power. I thank you in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
Heartlight is proud to promote Compassion International. See children who were sponsored today!
© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

"Credited as Righteousness" — A Year with Jesus for 09/19/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Disciple, 

The promise of today's verses focuses on your answer to one question: Do you believe? Do you believe that the Father took My lifeless body and raised Me back to life as conqueror over sin, death, and hell? Faith that the Father can bring life out of death as well as beauty and order out of nothing are fundamental aspects faith. This is the kind of faith Paul talks about today in the verses you will read from his letter to Roman Christians. 

When you base your life on faith in My resurrection, everything changes. However, believing this in the face of life's most difficult challenges is not easy. Like the philosophers in Athens did with Paul, some in your day will laugh "in contempt" at you because of your faith ( Acts 17:32 NLT). You may find yourself doubting, like My apostle Thomas who wanted physical proof of My resurrection ( John 20:24-29). You may find yourself like some of My disciples who "disbelieved for joy" ( Luke 24:41 ESV); after all, if something seems too good to be true, then you assume it can't be true. Some of My disciples doubted all the way up to My ascension ( Matthew 28:16-17). 

You may be like the father who had a son controlled by a demonic spirit ( Mark 9:17-29). He wanted Me to help his son... if I could! I told that man, and I am telling you today, "Everything is possible for one who believes" ( Mark 9:23 NIV). If you struggle with believing in My resurrection, this man's prayer can become your own: "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" ( Mark 9:24 NIV). 

The kind of faith the Father calls you to have is not easy, but it is life-changing. This faith also comes with a blessing. When Thomas finally came to faith after I showed Myself to him, he confessed, "My Lord and my God!" ( John 20:28 NIV). I told Thomas:
You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me." 
(John 20:29 NIV).
I know believing in My resurrection will be hard for some of you. But please know that your commitment to believe comes with My promised blessing! 

My closest disciples had been afraid and failed Me during My trials, crucifixion, and burial. Yet they were made strong, bold, and fearless when they became convinced of My resurrection by spending time with me after My resurrection. Their testimony is written across the Roman Empire as they gave their lives to tell the world that My resurrection was true and that they were witnesses of this truth ( Acts 1:8; Acts 2:32-36). As Peter so eloquently said to disciples years after My resurrection as they were about to face bitter persecution for their faith:
You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. 
(1 Peter 1:8-9 NLT)
Paul explained to the Christians in Rome that the Father counted them as righteous because of their faith. Today, I tell you that your "right standing before God" comes from the same place that Abraham's did: faith. For Abraham, the Father credited his faith as righteousness because he believed that the Father could take his old and impotent body and Sarah's lifeless womb and create a new nation through the gift of a son out his seed and Sarah's womb. Like Abraham, your faith is credited as righteousness. 

All who stand before the Father as His righteous children do so because they have believed as Abraham believed. Like Abraham, you believe that your Father "creates out of nothing and holds the power to bring to life what is dead." You believe that this is what the Father did to raise My dead and lifeless body and liberate Me from the tomb. As Paul wrote:
The story of how faith was credited to Abraham was not recorded for him and him alone, but was written for all of us who would one day be credited for having faith in God, the One who raised Jesus our Lord from the realm of the dead. He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and raised so that we might be made right with God.
Your faith in Me is powerful, life-transforming, sin-forgiving, hope-restoring, and righteousness-giving.
Verses to Live

Paul wrote in the verses below about Abraham's great faith in the Father Who is also the One Who did the humanly impossible and raised Me from the dead. Your faith in the Father's action means He receives you as His righteous child!
The promise given to Abraham and his children, that one day they would inherit the world, did not come because he followed the rules of the law. It came as a result of his right standing before God, a standing he obtained through faith. If this inheritance is available only to those who keep the law, then faith is a useless commodity and the promise is canceled. For the law brings God's wrath against sin. But where the law doesn't draw the line, there can be no crime. 

This is the reason that faith is the single source of the promise — so that grace would be offered to all Abraham's children, those whose lives are defined by the law and those who follow the path of faith charted by Abraham, our common father. As it is recorded in the Scriptures, "I have appointed you the father of many nations." In the presence of the God who creates out of nothing and holds the power to bring to life what is dead, Abraham believed and so became our father. 

Against the odds, Abraham's hope grew into full-fledged faith that he would turn out to be the father of many nations, just as God had promised when He said, "That's how many your descendants will be." His faith did not fail, although he was well aware that his impotent body, after nearly 100 years, was as good as dead and that Sarah's womb, too, was dead. In spite of all this, his faith in God's promise did not falter. In fact, his faith grew as he gave glory to God because he was supremely confident that God could deliver on His promise. This is why, you see, God saw his faith and counted him as righteous; this is how he became right with God. 

The story of how faith was credited to Abraham was not recorded for him and him alone, but was written for all of us who would one day be credited for having faith in God, the One who raised Jesus our Lord from the realm of the dead. He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and raised so that we might be made right with God. 
(Romans 4:13-25)
Response in Prayer

O Father, I believe, but help my unbelief. As I live trusting in Jesus' victory over sin, death, and hell, I ask that the Holy Spirit not only empower me to live for You, but also increase and grow my faith. I want to not only hold this faith in my heart with conviction, but to also help others find their faith in Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection. Give me courage, O God, so that I can be a living witness to Jesus and the grace that You have given me and all who have this faith. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
Heartlight is proud to promote Compassion International. See children who were sponsored today!

© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

Lovingly Paid" — A Year with Jesus for 09/20/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Beloved, 

Today's verses are full of deeply significant words, but they are not hard to understand. Read them and let them fall into your welcoming heart as the assurance of the Father's love for you, My sacrifice for you, and the Holy Spirit's presence in you! 

Since Adam, all humans have lived under the cloud of inevitable death ( Romans 5:12-19). Death is the handmaiden of sin. As sin's toxic residue has permeated each generation of people, death has held every mortal in its vice-grip of futility and pain. Human rebellion against the Father brought this inescapable toxic cloud of sin and death. There was no escape. You needed Me as Savior, Liberator, Redeemer, and Reconciler. 

What you received from the Father through your faith in Me is glorious. Paul's opening words in the verses below emphasize this gift of grace and reconciliation with the Father I have brought to you:
Since we have been acquitted and made right through faith, we are able to experience true and lasting peace with God through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, the Liberating King.

Who you are now is a far cry from who you once were. Paul's words in today's verses were written to the believers in Rome. However, the attributes Paul described are the true spiritual condition of all people before their reconciliation to the Father. Look carefully at the phrases and words listed below — you can find them listed here and also in bold print in the verses that follow. These phrases and words describe who you once were before your reconciliation to the Father:
far from God
powerless
weak
wasting... in sin
enemies
This is certainly not a glorious list of attributes. Nevertheless, regardless of how good anyone has tried to be or how far any person may have fallen, these terms describe the condition of each person who does not take advantage of My sacrifice to be reconciled to the Father. 

As Paul wrote, in spite of the fact that you and everyone else were "far from God" and "in sin", I lovingly came to earth to pay the high price to redeem you. My sacrificial death was needed to pay that ransom price. Paul shared these words to remind you that the Father's grace is not only sufficient for you, but that His grace can also reach you no matter where you are! 

Look at the cost I paid to save you. Think about the love that led Me to pay the price to redeem you from the power and guilt that enslaved you. Notice the price I willingly paid to reconcile you from your isolation from the Father. The cost was lovingly paid but it was exorbitantly high — see the print that is underlined in the verses below and copied here:
the Anointed One died for us
the blood of Jesus has made us right with God
His [God's] Son reconciled us by laying down His life
saved by Jesus' resurrection life
Paul makes clear that I undid all that Adam had ruined by sin. I did it because of the Father's love. I did it at great cost for people who did not deserve it. Because I did it, you can now be declared right with God (righteous), liberated from sin, reconciled with God, and brought into a new and eternal life that death cannot end.
Verses to Live

All the proper sounding religious language in the following verses explains what I purchased for you in My incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection. But to put it in the language you use every day, the truth is much simpler and clearer: I loved you too much to lose you, so I paid the ultimate price to reclaim you and bring you home to our Father. You are the Father's beloved and precious child and I AM your older brother in a family that will be reunited to celebrate glory together because of the Father's radical grace. 
Since we have been acquitted and made right through faith, we are able to experience true and lasting peace with God through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, the Liberating King. Jesus leads us into a place of radical grace where we are able to celebrate the hope of experiencing God's glory. And that's not all. We also celebrate in seasons of suffering because we know that when we suffer we develop endurance, which shapes our characters. When our characters are refined, we learn what it means to hope and anticipate God's goodness. And hope will never fail to satisfy our deepest need because the Holy Spirit that was given to us has flooded our hearts with God's love. 

When the time was right, [Christ] the Anointed One died for all of us who were far from God, powerless, and weak. Now it is rare to find someone willing to die for an upright person, although it's possible that someone may give up his life for one who is truly good. But think about this: while we were wasting our lives in sin, God revealed His powerful love to us in a tangible display — the Anointed One [Jesus Christ] died for us. As a result, the blood of Jesus has made us right with God now, and certainly we will be rescued by Him from God's wrath in the future. If we were [enemies] in the heat of combat with God when His Son reconciled us by laying down His life, then how much more will we be saved by Jesus' resurrection life? In fact, we stand now reconciled and at peace with God. That's why we celebrate in God through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed. 
(Romans 5:1-11) 

So here is the result: as one man's sin [Adam's sin] brought about condemnation and punishment for all people, so one man's act of faithfulness [Jesus' faithfulness] makes all of us right with God and brings us to new life. Just as through one man's defiant disobedience every one of us were made sinners, so through the willing obedience of the one man many of us will be made right. 
(Romans 5:18-19)
Response in Prayer

Father, Your grace is truly amazing. Your love is breathtaking. Dear Father and my precious Lord Jesus, I cannot thank You both enough for the cost You paid to redeem me from sin and death, cleanse me of all unrighteousness, lovingly bring me back into the family of Your grace, and give me the assurance of life with You and all who have loved You through the ages. Thank You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Holy Spirit please empower me and use me to share the news of this grace with others and to practice Your kingdom grace with those still in bondage to the ways of sin and death. I pray this because of the redeeming work of Jesus and in His powerful name. Amen. 
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
Heartlight is proud to promote Compassion International. See children who were sponsored today!
© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

"The Only Way for All" — A Year with Jesus for 09/18/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Believer, 

No one can rightfully boast about being more righteous than others — not about the superiority of his or her race, religious heritage, religious law, or even religious behavior. All humanity has failed to be what the Father called people to be. No one measures up to His righteousness. All need My sacrifice as the sin offering that paid for their sins and opened the door for a new way to be righteous based upon their trust in Me — in what I did to save them. Paul wanted both Jewish and Gentile believers in Rome to know — and I want people in your day to know — that all "people are justified, that is, made right with God through faith, which has nothing to do with the deeds the law prescribes." 

Bottom line: law-keeping cannot make anyone righteous. The Jews needed to admit this. Law can convict of sin. Law can make clear what the Father's standards are for people. The law can make clear how they have fallen short. However, law cannot pay the price for sins. Trying to live without the law isn't better. Non-Jews have to acknowledge this. No one has lived up to the Father's standards with or without the law. 

The only way to be righteous before the Father is the same for both Jew and Gentile alike:
So since God is one, there is one way for Jews and outsiders, circumcised and uncircumcised, to be right with Him. That is the way of faith.
My death satisfied the Father's justice. I paid the atoning price for sin and provided grace for all who receive the Father's gift of mercy and grace by faith. For the next several days, you will join Paul as he explains this amazing grace — how it was provided for you out of the Father's love and how you receive this grace. For today, it is enough for you to know and believe these words of Paul:
...that He [God] is just and righteous and that He makes right those who trust and commit themselves to Jesus.
That's the bottom line. That's the standard of all standards. That's the ultimate gift of grace purchased through My cross, celebrated at and validated by My resurrection, and received by faith.
Verses to Live

Paul's words to the Romans you find below come after he has strongly emphasized that all have sinned. No one has measured up to the righteousness of the Father. Jews had failed to live up to the Mosaic law. Gentiles had failed to live up to the righteous demands of the Father that they knew in their hearts as true goodness. Every person who has lived has fallen short of being holy and righteous. With the words that follow, Paul began to shift the focus toward salvation that is found in My sin offering for all people. This is the gift of God's grace and it is accepted by faith. Paul acknowledged that because of Adam's sin, the penalty of Adam's sin has been passed on to all of us: we will all sin and we will all die. We need mercy and grace, so the Father provided mercy and grace through Me.
Now for the good news: God's restorative justice has entered the world, independent of the law. Both the law and the prophets told us this day would come. This redeeming justice comes through the faithfulness of Jesus, the Anointed One, the Liberating King, who makes salvation a reality for all who believe — without the slightest partiality. You see, all have sinned, and all their futile attempts to reach God in His glory fail. Yet they are now saved and set right by His free gift of grace through the redemption available only in Jesus the Anointed. When God set Him up to be the sacrifice — the seat of mercy where sins are atoned through faith — His blood became the demonstration of God's own restorative justice. All of this confirms His faithfulness to the promise, for over the course of human history God patiently held back as He dealt with the sins being committed. This expression of God's restorative justice displays in the present that He is just and righteous and that He makes right those who trust and commit themselves to Jesus. 

So is there any place left for boasting? No. It's been shut out completely. And how? By what sort of law? The law of works perhaps? No! By the law of faith. We hold that people are justified, that is, made right with God through faith, which has nothing to do with the deeds the law prescribes. 

Is God the God of the Jews only? If He created all things, then doesn't that make Him the God of all people? Jews and non-Jews, insiders and outsiders alike? Yes, He is also the God of all the outsiders. So since God is one, there is one way for Jews and outsiders, circumcised and uncircumcised, to be right with Him. That is the way of faith. So are we trying to use faith to abolish the law? Absolutely not! In fact, we now are free to uphold the law as God intended. 
(Romans 3:21-31) 

When the law came into the picture, sin grew and grew; but wherever sin grew and spread, God's grace was there in fuller, greater measure. No matter how much sin crept in, there was always more grace. In the same way that sin reigned in the sphere of death, now grace reigns through God’s restorative justice, eclipsing death and leading to eternal life through the Anointed One, Jesus our Lord, the Liberating King. 
(Romans 5:20-21)
Response in Prayer

O Father, I believe that You sent Jesus as the sacrifice for my sin, as my atoning sacrifice that no one and nothing but Jesus' sacrifice could provide. I believe Jesus was crucified, was buried, and rose from the dead three days later, defeating sin and death. I believe that Jesus has invited me to participate in His death, burial, and resurrection through baptism. I believe I receive these mercies and Your grace through faith. So I gladly offer myself to Jesus to be used in Your work of building Your kingdom on earth, just as it is in heaven. Thank You, dear Father, for Your amazing grace and mercy. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
Heartlight is proud to promote Compassion International. See children who were sponsored today!
© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

"No One Is Righteous" — A Year with Jesus for 09/17/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Disciple, 

Unfortunately much of the world has repeatedly given up honoring the Creator and chased after worthless and depraved things and is self-condemned (yesterday's note). In addition, those who have claimed to honor the Creator have also sinned. Yet many of these religious people think that their religious knowledge and rules will save them. This was true of many of the Jews in Paul's day. It is unfortunately true for many religious people in your day as well. They think because they have made a religious confession and have read My book and have gone to religious meetings that they are somehow better. They forget my own words:
"Not everyone who calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws.'" 
( Matthew 7:21-24 NLT)
Paul wrote the parts of Romans that are now chapters 2, 3 and 7 to remind folks — all folks both religious and non-religious, Jewish people and non-Jews — that their deeds, their rules, their book, their religious pedigree, and their church attendance would not get them into My grace. Salvation is by God's grace ( Romans 3, Romans 5), received through faith ( Romans 4) and by sharing in My death, burial, and resurrection through baptism ( Romans 6), and empowered by the Holy Spirit ( Romans 8). 

So the collection of verses today is a reminder of what Paul said in Romans 2 and Romans 3 about nothing (except Me) making you righteous — not law, not Scripture, not race, not religious pedigree — because ultimately, all have failed to live up to the perfect standard of holiness. Failure in one part means failure in all parts. If you break one law, you are a lawbreaker. 

Paul wanted the Roman believers — and other believers that followed them — to understand that no one can be saved without the Father's gift of grace purchased by My death on the cross and empowered by the Holy Spirit. All people stand condemned by their failure to live righteously without flaw and to live up to Our holy standard. Jews have failed to live up to the full standards demanded by the Mosaic law. Gentiles have failed to live up to the righteous standards of holiness. Everyone needs a Savior. No one can claim religious superiority. All need grace! 
Verses to Live

Tomorrow you will read verses about grace. Today you will be reminded in the verses below that, without that grace, no one can stand before the Father and claim to be righteous. All people need Me — the only true Savior who can bring them God's grace.
So you can see there are no excuses for any of us. If your eyes shift their focus from yourselves to others — to judge how they are doing — you have already condemned yourselves! You don't realize that you are pointing your fingers at others for the exact things you do as well. There's no doubt that the judgment of God will justly fall upon hypocrites who practice such things. Here's what is happening: you attack and criticize others and then turn around to commit the same offenses yourselves! Do you think you will somehow dodge God's judgment? Do you take the kindness of God for granted? Do you see His patience and tolerance as signs that He is a pushover when it comes to sin? How could you not know that His kindness is guiding our hearts to turn away from distractions and habitual sin to walk a new path? But because your heart is obstinate and shameless, you're storing up wrath that will count against you. On the day of His choosing, God's wrath and judgment will be unleashed to make things right. As it goes, everyone will receive what his actions in life have cultivated. 
( Romans 2:1-6) 

Here's my point: just because a person hears the law read or recited does not mean he is right before the one True God; it is following the law that makes one right, not just hearing it. 
( Romans 2:13) 

Listen, if you claim to be a Jew, count on the law, and boast in your relationship with God; if you know His will and can determine what is essential (because you have been instructed in the law); and if you stand convinced that you are chosen to be a guide to the blind, a light to those who live in darkness, a teacher of foolish wanderers and children, and have in the law what is essentially the form of knowledge and truth — then tell me, why don't you practice what you preach? 
( Romans 2:17-21) 

So what then? Are we Jews better off? Not at all. We have made it clear that people everywhere, Jews and non-Jews, are living under the power of sin. Here's what Scripture says:
No one is righteous — not even one. There is no one who understands the truth; no one is seeking after the one True God. All have turned away; together they've become worthless.
( Romans 3:9-12) 

We want to be clear that whatever the law says, it says to everyone who is under its authority. Its purpose is to muzzle every mouth, to silence idle talk, and to bring the whole world under the standard of God's justice. Therefore, doing what the law prescribes will not make anyone right in the eyes of God — that's not its purpose — but the law is capable of exposing the true nature of sin. 
( Romans 3:19-20)
Response in Prayer

Father, I confess that without the grace of Jesus, I would stand before you as a sinner. I have stumbled and failed in many ways. I am so thankful that because of Jesus, You now welcome me into Your family and fellowship as Your dear child. I praise and thank You in Jesus' name. Amen.
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
Heartlight is proud to promote Compassion International. See children who were sponsored today!

© 1998-2014, Heartlight Inc.

"Paul's Reasons for the Road" — A Year with Jesus for 09/15/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Beloved Disciple, 

Paul had many reasons to be on the road. He traveled extensively all over the regions bordering the northern and eastern Mediterranean Sea sharing the gospel of the Father's grace with people who had never heard the gospel. He strengthened house churches he had helped plant on previous trips. He matured and appointed leaders in these house churches. He carried communication from one group of disciples to another. He was bringing a special financial gift to Jerusalem to bless the impoverished disciples there — he was hoping to tie together the whole brotherhood through this project. 

As you read the verses below, you will find all of those reasons for Paul's travels through Asia Minor (with key cities of Troas & Ephesus), Macedonia (with key cities of Philippi, Berea, & Thessalonica), and Greece (with key cities of Corinth & Athens) on his way back to Syria and ultimately Jerusalem. After that, Paul was determined to go to Rome, the center of the Empire. Then from Rome, he planned to go to Spain to share My story and the good news of salvation. 

The first set of verses below (from the book of Acts) is a very simple summary of a few years of time when Paul wrote the incredible letter of Romans while in Greece — we will be reading parts of Romans together over the next several days. As you read from some of the beginning and ending verses of Romans today, you will also find information and hints about Paul's travels... and what motivated them. 

Underneath all of these travels during this stage of Paul's life, there were three key influences that predominated:
Paul was Our — Father, Son, and Spirit's — chosen emissary (apostle), especially to the non-Jewish peoples of the world.
For I am not the least bit embarrassed about the gospel. I won't shy away from it, because it is God's power to save every person who believes: first the Jew, and then the non-Jew.
He was passionate about fulfilling this call. He had a special passion to take the good news to people who had never heard it:
I have dreamed of preaching the gospel in places where no one has ever heard of the Anointed so that I do not build on a foundation laid by anyone else.
Paul wanted to bring the brotherhood of Jews and non-Jews together through the offering from the Gentile churches for their brothers and sisters in faith in Jerusalem:
But right now I must make the journey to Jerusalem to serve the saints there. Those in Macedonia and Achaia decided it was a good idea to share their funds to help the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. I must tell you that they were thrilled to be able to help. They realize that they are indebted to the believers in Jerusalem. If the nations share in the Jews' spiritual goods, then it's only right that they minister back to them in material goods.
Since people were seeking to stop, and if necessary, kill Paul, he could and would alter his travel strategies based on their hostility, but he was determined to complete his travels:
He spent three months there [in Greece], and then he planned to set sail once again for Syria. But he learned that a group of Jewish opponents was plotting to kill him, so he decided to travel through Macedonia.
While in Greece, he wrote about possible additional opposition he would face when he returned to Jerusalem:
Pray that I [Paul] will be rescued from those who deny and persecute the faith in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem will meet the approval of all the saints there.
As Paul traveled to share My good news, he wrote the most complete Bible document on grace, faith, baptism, the Holy Spirit, and holy living — the letter of Romans. This is the letter we will share together in the coming days, but first, I want you to get a feeling for the passion that drove Paul along the roads he traveled!
Verses to Live

As you read today's verses, you will find much more depth of emotion than can be highlighted in this short note. So I want you to read through these verses several times listening for the passion of Paul to fulfill his call to share the gospel. As you read, also pray for the Spirit to release this same kind of passion in you and through you in your day!
As soon as the uproar ended [in Ephesus], Paul gathered the disciples together, encouraged them once more, said farewell, and left on foot. He decided to pass through Macedonia, encouraging believers wherever he found them, and came to Greece. He spent three months there, and then he planned to set sail once again for Syria. But he learned that a group of Jewish opponents was plotting to kill him, so he decided to travel through Macedonia. 
( Acts 20:1-3) 

Paul, a servant of Jesus the Anointed called by God to be His emissary and appointed to tell the good news of the things promised long ago by God, spoken by prophets, and recorded in the Holy Scriptures. All of this good news is about His Son: who was (from a human perspective) born of David's royal line and ultimately designated to be the true Son of God with power upon His resurrection from the dead by the Spirit of holiness. I am speaking of Jesus, the Anointed One, our Lord. 

And here's what He's done: He has graced us and sanctioned us as His emissaries whose mission is to spread the one true and obedient faith to all people in the name of Jesus. This includes you: you have been called by Jesus, God's Anointed. 

To all those who are God's beloved saints in Rome: 

May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, surround you. 

First, I thank my God through Jesus the Anointed for all of you because we are joined by faith as family, and your faith is spreading across the world. For I call God as my witness — whom I worship in my spirit and serve in making known the gospel — He alone knows how often I mention you in my prayers. I find myself constantly praying for you and hoping it's in God's will for me to be with you soon. I desperately want to see you so that I can share some gift of the Spirit to strengthen you. Plus I know that when we come together something beautiful will happen as we are encouraged by each other's faith. 

If, my brothers and sisters, you did not already know, my plans were set to meet you in Rome, but time and circumstances have forced every trip to be canceled until now. I have deeply desired to see some good fruit among you just as I have seen with so many non-Jewish believers. You see, I am in tremendous debt to those of various nationalities, from non-Jews to barbarians, from the wisest of the wise to the idle wanderer. So you can imagine how eager I am to join you and to teach the good news in the mighty and diverse city of Rome. 

For I am not the least bit embarrassed about the gospel. I won't shy away from it, because it is God's power to save every person who believes: first the Jew, and then the non-Jew. You see, in the good news, God's restorative justice is revealed. And as we will see, it begins with and ends in faith. As the Scripture declares, "By faith the just will obtain life." 
( Romans 1:1-17 

My brothers and sisters, I am ultimately confident that you are full of goodness, knowledge, and the ability to help and instruct one another. I have written to you with unflinching honesty on many topics because I do not want you to ever lose sight of the tremendous grace God has given me. His grace makes me who I am, a minister of the Anointed One, Jesus, called to serve the nations. 

The good news of God is the focus of my priestly work. In effect, these nations have become an offering to God, totally acceptable, indeed made holy by the work of the Holy Spirit. So in Jesus, the Anointed One, I have reason to celebrate the things I do for God. I don't want to be presumptuous, so I will restrict myself to what the Anointed has accomplished through my words and actions, which has culminated in the obedience of the nations. My words and actions have been rooted in Spirit-empowered signs and miracles. The upshot is this: I have been able to preach the good news of the Anointed One in city after city from Jerusalem all the way around the Mediterranean to Illyricum. I have dreamed of preaching the gospel in places where no one has ever heard of the Anointed so that I do not build on a foundation laid by anyone else. But as the Scriptures say,
They will see Him even though they've never been told about Him; they will understand even though they never heard of Him.
Because of many issues, I have not been able to visit you in the city of Rome. But my time to serve those here is coming to an end, there's no room left for me in this region, and I have longed to come to you for many years. So I plan to visit you on my journey to Spain. I am hoping that I will not only see you face-to-face, but that you will assist me in the journey west after I have enjoyed our time together. But right now I must make the journey to Jerusalem to serve the saints there. Those in Macedonia and Achaia decided it was a good idea to share their funds to help the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. I must tell you that they were thrilled to be able to help. They realize that they are indebted to the believers in Jerusalem. If the nations share in the Jews' spiritual goods, then it's only right that they minister back to them in material goods. When this work is complete and the funds we've collected are delivered, I will make my way to Spain through your grand city of Rome and enjoy some of your hospitality. I'm sure that when I come to you I will come as a blessing and as one fully blessed by the Anointed One. 

My brothers and sisters, I urgently plead with you by the name of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed, and by the love of the Spirit to join together with me in your prayers to God for my success in these next endeavors. Pray that I will be rescued from those who deny and persecute the faith in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem will meet the approval of all the saints there. If that happens, then my journey to you will be filled with joy; and, if God wills, I can rest and be refreshed in your presence. I pray the God of all peace will be with you all. Amen. 
( Romans 15:14-33)
Response in Prayer

O Father, I find Paul's travels amazing — he visited so many places, used different modes of travel, reached out to such diverse people, and took such great risks to share the message of Jesus. Open my eyes, O LORD, to see the opportunities near me to share your grace, and be with me as I seek to share that message with kindness, compassion, courage, and conviction. Open my eyes as well, O LORD, to the opportunities to share your grace with the lost all over the world. Whether it is in going, praying, or sending, O Father, please use me to bless Your world-wide mission. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
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"The Destructive Path" — A Year with Jesus for 09/16/2014

Note from Jesus

Dear Beloved, 

What you find in the verses below from the early part of Romans will appear to be a collection of harsh words and strong language. It is certainly not what you might expect from the premiere letter of Paul about the Father's grace, My sacrifice, the Holy Spirit's power, and your faith that connects you to salvation. And yes, I acknowledge these words are hard words, bold words, and frank words. But, dear child of the Father, these are true words. Part of what Paul was doing was demonstrating the need for the salvation and spiritual blessings that We offer and that he discussed at length later in this letter. 

Paul had powerfully proclaimed the nature of the one true God — Us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — in his sermon in nearby Athens. He had called on people to turn away from idols and seek after the One Who "made the universe and all it contains, the God who is the King of all heaven and all earth" (Acts 17:24). We made the universe and all that is in it so that all people would seek after Us and find Us — and We are close to you, not far away (Acts 17:27-28). 

Unfortunately, much of humanity has often refused to believe even after seeing the evidence in nature to Our glorious presence and the indications in the universe of Our eternal existence. In fact, people have often drifted into celebrating and worshiping the things that We created to bless them instead of celebrating Us, the source of all their blessings! 

Paul told the Roman believers that people became so caught up in chasing the thrills of their existence that they had forgotten about the Father's love, My creative attentiveness, and the Spirit's work throughout creation. They then gave themselves so completely to reveling in the created things and celebrating the created experiences that they abandoned the love, grace, and power of their Creator. They gave themselves over to all sorts of depraved distortions of Our creative gifts and they forgot the origin of these gifts. They failed to see that their ravenous desire for more of these is the sinfully destructive hook repeatedly baited by Satan to enslave them in their own depraved desire for more — they experienced one thing after another, but never had enough and never found satisfaction in what they had. Their hearts grew so cold to the Father's love and grace that He turned them over to their own lustful drives and to the destructive consequences they bring. 

Beloved, what you see so prevalent in your own culture is a similar process happening before your eyes. The Creator has largely been forgotten. Those who have been created have forgotten their Creator and become more and more self-absorbed. The result has been the exaltation of created things and special experiences to the point that they are made common — debased because they have lost their grounding in the intent of the Creator and the purpose of their creation. 

So what is the punishment for those who pursued this "counterfeit" path of self-indulgence? The Father stepped out of the way of these sinners and "turned them loose to follow the unseemly designs of their depraved minds and to do things that should not be done." They are allowed to lose themselves in the depravity they have pursued. Their destruction is of their own making and breaks the heart of their Creator!
Verses to Live

I challenge you as you read these verses not to assign them to long ago and far away. Think of how your own time and culture are reflected in the following verses. Then, choose to give thanks and praise to the Father, your Creator, the One from whom all good and perfect gifts have come (James 1:17)!
For the wrath of God is breaking through from heaven, opposing all manifestations of ungodliness and wickedness by the people who do wrong to keep God's truth in check. These people are not ignorant about what can be known of God, because He has shown it to them with great clarity. From the beginning, creation in its magnificence enlightens us to His nature. Creation itself makes His undying power and divine identity clear, even though they are invisible; and it voids the excuses and ignorant claims of these people because, despite the fact that they knew the one true God, they have failed to show the love, honor, and appreciation due to the One who created them! Instead, their lives are consumed by vain thoughts that poison their foolish hearts. They claim to be wise; but they have been exposed as fools, frauds, and con artists — only a fool would trade the splendor and beauty of the immortal God to worship images of the common man or woman, bird or reptile, or the next beast that tromps along. 

So God gave them just what their lustful hearts desired. As a result, they violated their bodies and invited shame into their lives. How? By choosing a foolish lie over God's truth. They gave their lives and devotion to the creature rather than to the Creator Himself, who is blessed forever and ever. Amen. This is why God released them to their own vile pursuits, and this is what happened: they chose sexual counterfeits — women had sexual relations with other women and men committed unnatural, shameful acts because they burned with lust for other men. This sin was rife, and they suffered painful consequences. 

Since they had no mind to recognize God, He turned them loose to follow the unseemly designs of their depraved minds and to do things that should not be done. Their days are filled with all sorts of godless living, wicked schemes, greed, hatred, endless desire for more, murder, violence, deceit, and spitefulness. And, as if that were not enough, they are gossiping, slanderous, God-hating, rude, egotistical, smug people who are always coming up with even more dreadful ways to treat one another. They don't listen to their parents; they lack understanding and character. They are simple-minded, covenant-breaking, heartless, and unmerciful; they are not to be trusted. Despite the fact that they are fully aware that God's law says this way of life deserves death, they fail to stop. And worse — they applaud others on this destructive path. 
( Romans 1:18-32)
Response in Prayer

Father God, the Creator of the universe and the God of all grace, thank you! I recognize that every good and perfect gift comes from You. I believe that You long to bless me, so I choose to see Your call to holiness and to righteous behavior to be the outgrowth of Your desire to bless me — not arbitrary rules to bind me and deny me of blessings. Forgive me for the many times I have enjoyed Your gracious gifts and assumed that I deserved what I received rather than being thankful for Your grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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The Thoughts and Prayers for 'A Year with Jesus' are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.
Heartlight is proud to promote Compassion International. See children who were sponsored today!