January 27, 2016

The problem of pain is perplexing. Why do bad things happen to good people? If there is an answer to this enduring mystery, it is to be found in the suffering of God's Son. 

"But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand." (Isaiah 53.10)

It might seem sadistic of our Creator to be "pleased" to crush His Son, but His sacrificial death would result in His resurrection and exaltation, and the salvation of all who would come to saving faith through Him. Long-term benefit outweighed momentary suffering.

Suffering and tragedy are not easily qualified. Who truly knows what benefit will result from adversity? Character development, that positively impacts the individual and others around them, can reap far greater rewards than there would be otherwise. 

None wish to suffer, including myself. But, if real character development results, then adversity ought to be embraced rather than lamented. ("Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials" James 1.2 emphasis added)

Likely none of us will live a trouble-free life today (or any day). Pondering the plan of God for His Son will help us better see the plan for the pain as it comes our way.

Steve

©Steve Taylor, 2016
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/  

Amazon ebook & print devotional http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy
https://www.createspace.com/4500045

January 26, 2016

It's a well-worn cliche': "God loves you, and has a wonderful plan for your life." Fact is, He does.

“I am Yahweh, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations,To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the dungeon And those who dwell in darkness from the prison." (Isaiah 42.6-7)

What He stated for Israel, He states for us by extension, through Jesus. He has called us to a righteous lifestyle. He takes us by the hand to lead us, and watch over us. He has entered into a covenant with us, that we might appeal to others to join in that covenant. He desires to use us to be a light in a dark world. To give sight to the blind. To liberate captives. 

He does love us, and has an amazing plan for us. If we are willing, He will work it out through us; this God named Yahweh (Isaiah 42.8)

How will He choose to use you today? Who will He bring to light and liberation through you today? This day is pregnant with spiritual opportunity. If we carefully listen, and heed, He will work wondrous things through us.

Expecting great things today.

Steve

©Steve Taylor, 2016
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/  

Amazon ebook & print devotional http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy
https://www.createspace.com/4500045

January 20, 2016

A snake on a pole. Such an emblem is associated with the medical community and healing arts, whose origins are from Greek mythology. But, this emblem has earlier origins in the Bible, and has far more significant meaning and implications. 

During the forty year wilderness wanderings of the people of Israel, they spoke out against Yahweh and Moses. Poisonous snakes were unleashed as punishment, resulting in the death of many. After repenting, Yahweh gave these instructions: "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live.” (Numbers 21.8)

This remarkable action and symbol finds greater significance in the sacrifice of Christ: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life." (John 3.14-15) 

The serpent, the deceiver instrumental in humanity's ruin in the Garden of Eden, is mortally wounded through the One crucified on a pole. All who look to Him in believing faith can be saved. 

Many place great faith in the medical community, symbolized by a snake on a pole. I, and many others, place greater faith in the One lifted up to be crucified on a Roman cross.

May we look up to Him today, and experience the hope and healing only He can bring.

Steve

©Steve Taylor, 2016
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/  

Amazon ebook & print devotional http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy
https://www.createspace.com/4500045

January 19, 2016

t's pointless to talk about what you don't know, and to not talk about what you do know. We're called to do both.

"Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures ... Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, 'Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.' " (Luke 24.27,45-47) 

Many who profess to be followers of Christ only know about Him from the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). But, if we haven't learned of Him from "Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms" (Luke 24.44), we've scarcely come to know Him. If we truly love Him, we'll want to know all we can of Him.

But, He calls us to know so that we can proclaim and testify (Luke 24.47-48). We have little to say if we have limited knowledge, but knowledge without proclamation is a serious deficiency. 

The questions before us today are: What am I learning of Christ from all of Scripture? And, with whom am I sharing what I am coming to know and have experienced? Both are important priorities. 

There are those who may never hear unless they hear it from us, and what they will hear is dependent upon what we know and have experienced. May we be faithful in growing in knowledge and experience, and in sharing that with others.

Steve

©Steve Taylor, 2016
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/  

Amazon ebook & print devotional http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy
https://www.createspace.com/4500045

January 13, 2016

Carefully choose your battles. That's timeless advice I find truer the older I get. There are plenty of battles to be fought, but it's imperative to fight the right ones.

"Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.' ” (John 18.36) 

It was face-off time between two important men. The king of the Jews stood before a powerful government official who had "the right of the sword"; authority to kill or let live. From all appearances, this was the time for a showdown; a fight to the finish. But, these were not two equal realms, and the battle was not as it seemed. At stake was the will of God versus a visible show of might.

We've heard it said that it's possible to win the battle and lose the war. That's what was really at stake that day in a Roman courtroom. Powerful Rome was no match for the kingdom of God and its king. But, winning this battle would have meant losing the war and the will of God. Without Christ's sacrificial death at the hands of that Roman government, all would literally be lost.

There are battle before each of us today. Wisdom requires that we know which ones are worth fighting. We can assert our rights and will, but easily lose our witness and God's will. It is not for us to right every wrong; only to be about the justice that serves God's will. What's best for the kingdom of God is determined by the king; not our misguided efforts.

May we fight the battles that truly matter this day. 


Steve

©Steve Taylor, 2016
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/  

Amazon ebook & print devotional http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy
https://www.createspace.com/4500045

January 12, 2016

The standard for forgiveness has never been set higher. No one ever experienced a greater injustice, and yet so graciously offered unconditional forgiveness. 

"Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

There is an urge to disagree with Jesus on this point. From all appearances, all actions taken against Him were cold-blooded and calculating. Far from being done in ignorance, His abuse and death was deliberate, malicious actions. But forgiveness chooses to see these actions as misguided deeds by blinded people. 

False conclusions and wrong decisions result from faulty or insufficient information. The tragedy for those who orchestrated Jesus' death was that their actions were based on faulty information. They did not truly comprehend the implications of their actions against God's Son. 

Are we so different? Appalling as it is to think about deliberately putting Him to death, do we take other painful actions against Him without truly knowing the consequences or implications? Do we wound Him by wounding one of His precious children? Do we act in an unloving way by being unloving to one He died for?

Just as I am ready to point an accusing finger at those who acted against Jesus, I realize there is something of that murderous crowd within me. And, what I most want is not the justice I deserve, but the lavish forgiveness of the One who offers it to me, as well as those who crucified Him.

May we be as lavish with our forgiveness as was the greatest Forgiver of all.


Steve

©Steve Taylor, 2016
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/  

Amazon ebook & print devotional http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy
https://www.createspace.com/4500045

January 6, 2016

It happened at three o-clock one day. A lonely figure was in the throes of death, amidst a daytime darkness so thick it could almost be felt. This was no ordinary man, and this was no ordinary death. 

"And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit." (Matthew 27.50) 

The sinless, guiltless Son of God died like any ordinary mortal, but it was so much more than a martyr's death. 

"And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised ... Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, 'Truly this was the Son of God!' ” (Matthew 27.51-52, 54)

This death, like no other, was prelude to a dramatic miracle that reverberates down to us today. But, it was a very real, agonizing death; acquainting God's Son with the entire realm of human emotion and suffering. He really was, and is, one of us. Not the self-existing One, wrapped in human flesh who could not truly be touched by death, but His only precious Son who knew the frailty of life as we do. 

Through agonizing death comes victory and hope. While it might appear that dreams and hopes died on a Roman cross that day, tragedy would give way to triumph. And, it is because of that cross that our greatest defeats can become overwhelming victories.

Everything changed one day at three o-clock in the afternoon, and for that we are eternally thankful.

Steve

©Steve Taylor, 2016
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/  

Amazon ebook & print devotional http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy
https://www.createspace.com/4500045

January 5, 2016

I grew up with a large extended family. Holiday gatherings consisted of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins packed in to a moderately-sized home for a joyous celebration. Seating for meals was challenging, but there was always a kid's table with a place for each of us. There is a place at His table for us as well. 

"While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body.' And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.' ” (Matthew 26.26-29) 

I didn't deserve to be a member of the large extended family I belonged to; I was born into it. I don't deserve to belong to the family of God either, but I've been "born again" into it. Through grace and forgiveness, I belong; not through personal merit. 

It's an imperfect family, saved by grace. Even Judas the betrayer was at that new covenant Passover meal. Deplorable as his heart and actions were, a reconciling invitation remained.

The Lord's Supper communion is practiced in some form in nearly every church. It's not a rite of the elite, but rather a humbling observance by the forgiven guilty ones. It's a place of mercy rather than a showpiece of the perfect.

The Last Supper, as it is commonly called, is a hopeful observance: "I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” This humbling remembrance of grace is also a toast to the feast to come; the paradise of God on a renewed earth when King Jesus comes again to drink the cup of joy that was once His cup of sorrow and suffering.

May the day we drink it with Him come soon.

Steve

©Steve Taylor, 2016
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/  

Amazon ebook & print devotional http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperb