Week 52 Devotions

December 24 - - The best evidence when trying a criminal case in a human court is always an eye witness. Circumstantial evidence is helpful in supporting the eyewitness testimony, but it is much more difficult to come to a conclusion of innocence or guilt based solely on circumstantial evidence. The apostle John outlived all the other of Jesus’ apostles. During his lifetime, there were those who tried to say that Jesus was only a figment of people’s imaginations, that he had never really lived or existed. John was able to say without hesitation that he had seen Jesus with his own eyes. He had even touched Jesus and everything he had seen and heard of Jesus proved to him beyond a doubt that Jesus was the Son of God and the Word of Life (I John 1:1-4). Now, one of the major teachings of Jesus was that we love one another (John 13:34&35). In fact, John repeats over and over that our inability to love others is proof that we haven’t truly come to love Jesus (I John 2:9-11; 3:10-20,23; 4:7-21). When asked by the Pharisees what the greatest commandment was in the Law of Moses, Jesus replied without hesitation, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40; Mark 12:29-31). IF we truly love God, we will love those created in God’s image. And IF we love those created in God’s image as God loves those created in His image, we really don’t need any other laws. In fact, no other laws we create mean anything unless we do have love for God and love for God’s creation. Jesus summed up the law of love in this one command: “Do for others what you would like them to do for you. This is a summary of all that is taught in the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12; Romans 13:8-10; Galatians 5:14). December 27 - - The end of each year is usually a good time to take inventory in our lives and evaluate whether we are accomplishing for God all He has equipped us to do. We would be wise to do the same as congregations of believers in Jesus Christ, as well. In Revelation 2&3, Jesus has a message for seven different churches located in Asia. Interestingly enough, many modern day congregations can usually see themselves in one of these seven churches. Like the church at Ephesus (2:1-7), some churches do many right things, but they seem to have lost their momentum. They have forgotten why they exist and need to remember the mission and purpose given to them by Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). Like the church at Smyrna (2:8-11), some churches are going through great persecution because they are doing what Christ has called them to do, very well. Jesus assures them to keep going for he will be with them and they will overcome. Like the church at Pergamum (2:12-17), some churches have remained loyal to Christ in spite of intense persecution and pressure, but they are tolerating teachings within their congregations that are leading many faithful from the truth. Jesus says they need to root out the false teachers if they expect to ultimately be victorious. Like the church at Thyatira (2:18-29), some churches do many things well, but they permit evil to exist within their congregations, that threatens to influence the entire congregation like leaven, if they don’t deal with it. Like the church at Sardis, (3:1-6), some churches have a lot of activities going on and many would think they are alive and active, but in reality, their activity masks their spiritual deadness. Jesus says those churches need to concentrate on their spiritual growth instead of their outward programs. Like the church at Philadelphia (3:7-13), some churches are doing exactly what Jesus has called them to do and consequently, he promises to continue opening doors to them for further witness to him. And like the church at Laodicea (3:14-22), some churches are doing nothing more than going through the motions of looking like a church. They aren’t on fire, but neither are they totally ineffective. Jesus is nauseated with lukewarmness and promises to bless those churches prayerfully asking for his blessings. Which congregation does your church look like?