God’s Salvation

January 4

(Luke 3:4-6 NIV) “As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. {5} Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. {6} And all mankind will see God's salvation.'"

(Acts 28:25-28 NIV)  "They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet: {26} "'Go to this people and say, "You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving." {27} For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' {28} "Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!""

(1 Timothy 2:1-6 NIV)  "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- {2} for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. {3} This is good, and pleases God our Savior, {4} who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. {5} For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, {6} who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time."

John the Baptist and Paul the apostle were from very different backgrounds, but had much in common. Both saw Isaiah’s prophecies fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Both realized that God wants all mankind to see His salvation and be saved. Both ended up addressing rulers in authority, and both were eventually martyred for their uncompromising faith proclamations. The reason they were uncompromising is that God is uncompromising. The Lord wants the world to be saved, but will not compromise on how we receive that salvation. There is only one way… only one name that can save us: Christ Jesus. We must leave our crooked ways and come to Him. We must step out of darkness and into His wonderful light. We must acknowledge our sin, forsake our sin, and be willing to let Him wash our sins away. Jesus is the only way for all mankind to see God’s salvation. Proclaim it! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Get Right With God

January 3

(Luke 3:3 NIV) “He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

(Matthew 4:12-17 NIV) “When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. {13} Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali-- {14} to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: {15} "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles-- {16} the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." {17} From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.””

John wasn’t a prosperity preacher who taught that God just loves everybody and wants to bless them. He was not a purveyor of the “I’m OK, You’re OK” philosophy. He was an “in your face” kind of communicator -- an equal opportunity offender who coddled no one. He preached that our sins separate us from God. He preached that the way back to God was in repentance. This is the kind of repentance that requires turning away from sin and walking toward God with our hands up in surrender. It’s the kind of repentance that puts one on a completely new road. His message to everyone was the same: “Repent of sin and get right with God. Change your life and be baptized in water as a sign of your repentance.” It’s a message that Jesus echoed in His early preaching. And it’s a message that we should echo if we want to preach the whole truth. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Sent By God

January 2

(Luke 3:1-3 NIV) “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar--when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene—{2} during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. {3}He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

(Matthew 3:1-3 NIV) “In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea {2} and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." {3} This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.””

John the Baptist was an abrasive prophet, who had no fear of preaching the truth. He would have lasted about fifteen minutes in many of our churches today before they turned off his mike and escorted him from the platform. Church growth gurus would have condemned him for being judgmental. His style was not “seeker sensitive”. His location was poor. His preaching was confrontational. His worship band was non-existent. His clothes were out of style. But his attendance numbers were phenomenal. The word of God came to John and he preached it. He was sent by God to prepare people for the coming of Christ, and the Lord sent people out into the desert to hear the truth. That is still our mission today Christians. We too, have been sent by God to preach the truth about Christ and His coming. Anything less and we fall short of our calling. In word and deed, preach the truth. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Physician Speaks

January 1

(Luke 1:1-4 NIV) “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, {2} just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. {3} Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, {4} so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.”

(Colossians 4:14 NIV) “Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.”

Luke was a physician from the Greek city of Antioch. He had not walked with Jesus, but likely heard about the Lord through Paul the apostle. After his conversion to Christianity, he went on to become much more than just your average pew warmer. He became one of Paul’s most loyal companions, serving with him on several missionary journeys. Luke was also a writer and a meticulous historian. He wrote the Gospel of Luke, and a history of the early church called the book of Acts. As Christianity took wing on the resurrection of Jesus, these two books chronicle its rise from a local sect to a world religion. Hopefully this year, through Luke’s faithful efforts and the illumination of the Holy Spirit, our faith can also spread its wings and move out into the world. As the physician speaks to us in the next fifty-two weeks, let’s prepare to rise above being just a “Sunday Christian”. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day