For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (ESV)

Believe it or Not

Have you ever heard of Ripley's Believe it or Not column? It still runs in the comic's section of a few newspapers. It's full of interesting facts. For instance it says a dress Marilyn Monroe wore when she sang Happy Birthday to President Kennedy sold in November 2016 at auction for the world record of $4.81 million dollars. Believe it or not.

What can you believe these days? Let's talk about Jesus Christ. Can His existence be proven scientifically? No, but you can't prove what you had for lunch scientifically either. But you can have eye witnesses who saw you eating lunch verify you did down to where you ate it and what you ate. It's called the 'historical method' and is based on solid witnessed verifiable evidence. Jesus' life and miracles were witnessed by reliable men and women who beheld His majesty (1^st Peter 1:16) and reported what they saw.

Jesus gives eternal life and the Bible says that to receive Him all you need to do is believe that He shed His blood and died on a cross for the sins of the whole earth up to this very moment (including yours) and that God raised Him from the grave after three days. That's all, Just believe (Acts 16:31, 34).

Once you do the Holy Spirit will fill you with His presence (Ephesians 1:13-14, 2^nd Corinthians 1:21-22). He is the Comforter that Jesus said He would send to us (John 14:16-17). Christianity isn't some kind of killjoy experience that sucks the excitement out of your life. You will find it is elating as you develop a relationship with Christ and get to know other believers. Jesus said His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:30). Those who believe on Jesus Christ are loved by Him and the Father (John 14:21). As a friend of mine once said, “Why not trust Jesus? What do you have to lose?” Believe it or not but I hope you believe it.

Ken

Ken, attends CrossLife Church in Russellville, AR, www.crossliferuss.com

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes'? Matthew 21:42

References

A cornerstone ( or foundation stone or setting stone) is the first stone to be set in a masonry building. It is important because all the other stones are laid and set in reference to it and decides the form of the building. Jesus was a carpenter (cf Mark 6:3, Matthew 13:55) but He knew the basics of building with stone.

Jesus wasn't talking about construction though. Instead He was telling the religious leaders that they (the builders) were rejecting Him, (the stone) and His Messianic claim and that He was sent by God to be the Spiritual Cornerstone of Israel. As it was during His ministry so it was at the end that even though He did great signs and wonders in the Jewish nation He was still not believed by the Jews to be the Son of God.

It is an interesting to consider that as the spiritual cornerstone all who believed on Him or who ever would believe on Him in the future would be set in spiritual reference to Him as the Father's Cornerstone. Salvation and redemption comes only through Him (John 14:6).

It's sobering that in Jesus' next statement He says of the religious leaders there will be judgment as all the stone falls on will be crushed (vs 44).

Believers are set in their perfect place in accordance with reference to God's cornerstone with no fear of God's wrathful judgment for sin because of what Christ did on the cross for the forgiveness of our sin.

In these days when it seems the earth has no true direction it is a comfort knowing we are set in reference to God's Cornerstone; a solid rock and is also the true foundation that supports the building called the Bride of Christ (the Church). He was before all things and now holds all things together by His authoritative power (Colossians 1:17). He is the Christ of God and His Chief Cornerstone and it is marvelous in our eyes.

Ken

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 English Standard Version Bible

Three Chickens and a Piece of stale Bread

My neighbor across the road owns three chickens that come over to my front yard to eat the seeds that fall out of my bird feeders. Now we really know why the chickens crossed the road. I've found they will eat pieces of bread too. One day my wife put a piece of bread on the kitchen counter but didn't tell me it was for the chickens. After a couple of days I discovered the bread was for my neighbor's poultry but it had grown stale and hard and felt like a shingle.

David wrote this Psalm 3,000 years ago. As dealing with the human condition David's prayer is as relevant and fresh now as it was then. The human heart can at times become as stale and as hard as that piece of bread. 

Most of us know we can have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ but did you know you can have a personal relationship with God the Father too? It's entirely possible. While we must not forget God is just concerning sin He is also full of loving-kindness to those who love and put their trust in Him. God took on human flesh in the form of Jesus Christ and lived among men (John 1:14). Jesus said if you have seen Him you've seen the Father (John 14:9).

An essential knowledge of God is not a means to gratify ourselves but it is wealth of the Christian life. We can know God the Father in an intimate relationship but He rejoices in hearts that are pliable, tender and yes, you might say fresh. Seek Him and He will find you and if you are these things you'll come to know Him in a brand new relationship. You'll be the coolest thing since sliced bread.

Ken

Be a Berean

Devotions Today

Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.  Acts 17:11 (NASB)

Is Walt Disney really in a deep freeze at Disneyland?  There is a continuing story of his body being placed below the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction in a state of cryogenic freeze until a day when medical science can revive him and repair his body.  In fact, Mr. Disney died at St. Joseph Hospital in Burbank, CA of lung cancer December 15, 1966. His remains were cremated two days later on December 17.  His ashes are interred at Forest Lawn Memorial park in Glendale, CA. If you have access to the Internet I am sure you have received emails that were hoaxes. For myself I judge that 98 out of a hundred I receive are fabricated.  In Berean style I do my homework when I receive any story to ensure what the truth of the matter is.

I've heard people say that the story of Jesus Christ is a hoax.  In actuality there is more historical evidence for the existence of Christ than any other person that lived in ancient times. Some of this evidence is from non-Christian sources.* Peter apparently was hearing voices of disbelief in his own time for he wrote For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty (2^nd Peter 1:16).

The Apostle Paul brought the good news to the people of Berea who were of a mind to investigate his claims through researching the Scripture.  In being diligent in their research they found that this just wasn't Paul’s wild fable and a hoax.  Is Jesus God’s Christ, the Messiah?  Hit or myth?  If you’re not sure look into it yourself.  Be sure.  Be a Berean.

*Thallus (Roman Historian, 52 AD) wrote of darkness and an earthquake at the crucifixion of Christ.  Pliny the Younger (Roman governor,112 AD) wrote a letter to Emperor Trajan concerning Christians and the person of Jesus Christ.

No Need to Turn Around

Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; In Thy presence is the fullness of joy; In Thy right hand there are pleasures forever.  Psalms 16:11 (New American Standard Version)

When my niece was three years old my brother and sister-in-law visited the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.  In the museum was an 18’ statue of a Native American Indian Warrior portrayed sitting on his pony in total discouragement.  The statue, by the late artist James Earle Fraser, is called The End of the Trail.  It is meant to portray the final and sad ending of early Native American culture.  As my niece gazed on the statue she asked “Why is the Indian so sad, Daddy?”  My brother said “Because he’s reached the end of the trail, honey.”  My niece looked at her dad with wonder and asked “Then why doesn’t he turn around and go back?”

I’ve met many folks in my lifetime that felt as though they’d reached the end of a reasonable existence and their trail of life was over. Nothing else in life held an answer to their problems.  In the beginning the purpose of their lives appeared to have a direction but somewhere along the way those things lost perspective and reason. 

Dejected people are the specialty of God the Father and His Only Begotten Son.  There is still real hope and the trail does not have to end.  The earthly life of Jesus Christ was to bring hope to all, to preach the good news of God’s kingdom, proclaim release to the captives, recovery of sight of the blind and to free the downtrodden (Luke 4:18, 19).  When we reach the end of the trail we need not turn around and head back.  Christ is waiting at the end of any trail to lead, encourage and guide. He will light our path not to show us the end but to illuminate a new direction for our lives. With Christ the end of the trail can become the beginning of a new journey.

Jesus, when I feel as though I’ve reached the end of my trail I ask that the One I meet there will be You.  Guide and teach me by Your Holy Spirit.  Give me Your wisdom to see it as a new beginning.  Let Your Word be a lamp unto my feet.

Ken

Ten Little Words

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Genesis 1:1

If one can believe the first ten words in the Bible they will have no problem believing the rest of it.  Belief in the Book of Genesis that God was the Creator of all things and spoke them into existence from nothing is the foundation stone for Biblical faith.   This was the prominent point of view of the church throughout her history and only began to be seriously challenged by cynics during the “Age of Enlightenment” which began in the 18^th century.  Now the theory of Darwinian evolution is taught as fact in classrooms beginning in grade school and the Genesis account of Creation is met with disparagement and hostility even within some churches.

Jesus corroborated His belief in Genesis when He confirmed the existence of Adam and Eve (Matthew 19:4) Noah and his time and even the Great Flood of Genesis 6 (Matthew 24:37-39).  Kids are asking questions of their Christian parents and teachers and are either not being answered or told to “Just trust Jesus” and not worry about it.  You can bet if a young person asks “What about dinosaurs and the Bible?” that if a Christian doesn’t have the answer there will be a secular school teacher or college professor that will and not from a Biblical perspective. It is a serious problem.  The George Barna Research Group did a survey several years ago that found between 70-75% of teens are leaving the church after high school due to intellectual skepticism (research ‘Barna Group-75% of teens leaving the church’ for the results).

The Bible says that all things were made and are sustained through Christ (Colossians 1:16) and that there is nothing that exists that was not made by Him (John 1:3).  The Word also tells us to be ready to make a defense of what we believe according to Scripture (1^st Peter 3:15). There are thousands of accredited scientists (many who began as convinced evolutionists) who accept the Genesis account of Creation and have done great and detailed research into it. Their research data are available in books and online.  One good place to start is with Dr. Jason Lisle’s video The Ultimate Proof of Creation* on ‘YouTube.com.’ 

Skeptics will not believe because of their skepticism.  But when someone asks honestly where all this came from there are legitimate and viable answers that are just as plausible as any the skeptics have.  It takes as much faith, if not more, to believe once there was nothing then it exploded than to believe in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  They are ten little words that define all things. Today, if someone honestly asks ‘So what about dinosaurs and the Bible?’ a person does not have to nervously clear their throat-they can clearly give an answer.

Ken

*A few research resources for the curious and persons interested in alternative biblical answers:  Dr. Thomas Kindell PhD., Dr. Ken Ham PhD., Dr. Don Patton PhD., Dr. John Morris PhD., Mike Riddle (Mike holds a degree in mathematics and a graduate degree in education), Dr. Roger Oakland PhD., and Dr. G. Thomas Sharp PhD., among others.

Other available resources on YouTube and online:  Answers in Genesis, the Genesis Museum, Creation Magazine, the Creation Today Show and other associated links.

Well Watered

Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”  John 4:10

In Jesus’ time Jews and Samaritans in Israel didn't get along.  They didn't socialize.  The rift went back hundreds of years to the return of the Jews from the Babylonian Captivity. Among other things Jews considered Samaritans to be heretics.  In fact some pious Jews going to northern Israel would even go around Samaria so they wouldn't be defiled by interaction with ‘sinners.’  But curiously, Jesus on His way to Galilee took the direct route through Samaritan country.  At the Roman 6^th hour, approximately 6:00 p.m. (John wrote his gospel in hourly Roman time), He sent His disciples to buy food and sat down at Jacob’s well to rest.  A Samaritan woman came to draw water.  Here was a recipe for fireworks; A Jewish male and an ‘unclean’ Samaritan woman. A Rabbinic law of A.D. 66 stated a Samaritan woman was considered as continually menstruating and thus unclean.  Therefore a Jew who drank from a Samaritan woman’s vessel would become ceremonially unclean.* No self-respecting Jew would find himself in this state of affairs.

This woman was less than ‘faultless,’ religiously speaking.  She had been married five times and the man she was currently living with was not her husband.  At a point in their conversation Jesus told her to call her husband.  The woman said “I don’t have a husband.”  Notice the response from the Lord, “You have well said ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands and the one who you now have is not your husband; this you have truly said.” Notice he did not say “And you ought to be ashamed of yourself.”  Interestingly instead of countering with suggestions of behavior modification, marriage or church counseling, books on self-help, prayer or study groups, He pointed her to her need for God and His spiritual health and nourishment (Living Water).  After talking further the woman left her water pot and headed back to town.  She told all who would listen to her about a man “who told me all I ever did” adding, “Could this be the Messiah?”  Many Samaritans believed her and believed in Him.  They asked Him to stay with them and He remained another two days and many more believed in Him after hearing His words (4:42).

Jesus knew this poor woman had been with the wrong kind of company, probably verbally and physically abused, gossiped about, more than likely despised by the people who knew her, perhaps by those in her very own family, yet He begins His ministry to her with a conversation; “Give Me a drink.”  He brought with Him a well of grace that would quench eternal thirst.  He did not let her slip away without responsibility for dealing with her sin yet dealt with it in such a gracious and honestly tender way bringing repentance and making her the first missionary to the Samaritan people. “If you knew the gift of God” puts in plain words what it is. Those who drink from muddied waters will never be satisfied but those who drink from God’s well will never thirst again.  They will be well watered forevermore.

Ken

*The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvoord & Zuck, Victor Books, Wheaton, p 285