“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.“You shall have no other gods beforeme. Exodus 20:2-3 (ESV)

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.” Matt. 6:10 (ESV)

          There is an interesting similarity between the giving of the Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer. It is seen in the structure and priority of these two well-known verses. It is seen in the focus on our vertical relationship with the Lord before our relationships with others and our own needs.

          In the Ten Commandments, our setting aside the Lord first and foremost takes place before the commands that focus on our horizontal relationships with others.

          In the Lord’s prayer, our worship and the desire for the Lord’s Kingdom and will to be done come before expressing our needs and desires. Our prayers too often begin by jumping into what we need from the Lord. It is when we begin with a focus on the Lord, His presence will guide what we ask for, and we will align our lives with the faith and will to do what we desire from Him.

          Consider this priority in other Bible passages. Psalms 16:8 (ESV) I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. In the following verses, David states that the Lord will provide safety, stability, and joy in his life.

          Consider 1 Peter 3:15 (ESV) But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect. If Christ is not honored as Lord in our lives, our faith just becomes a philosophical argument. This is how Charlie Kirk approached his dialogue with college students. He was first and foremost a believer in Jesus Christ.

          It is often pointed out that a cross is the intersection of two lines. One vertical and the other horizontal. Through the cross, we are reconciled to God, and through the cross, we can be reconciled with others.

          I am reminded of the story of a father who was trying to occupy a small child. He tore a page from a magazine with a picture of the world and told the child to put it together. The child came back way sooner than the dad anticipated. “How did you do this so quickly?” he asked. The child responded, “On the back was a picture of a man. When I put the man together, the world came together.”

          Henry Varlie, a British Revivalist, once told a young D.L. Moody, “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him. By God’s help, I aim to be that man.”

          That is a commitment to always put Christ first and foremost. It is what gives the Ten Commandments meaning, it is the foundation of the Lord’s Prayer, and it is what enables us to live our lives rightly ordered in this present age.

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,

the name of the LORD is to be praised. Psa. 113:3 NIV

          I thought of this verse that reveals the Lord’s praise across the nations last Sunday during our worship service. My pastor referred to how worship was taking place that was moving across time zones as people gathered for worship around the world.

          It made me think of the “wave” that can be viewed at football games as the crowd begins to lift their arms, section by section, and the cheers circle the stadium. What a tremendous view from the heights of heaven as God’s people worship the Lord across the international timeline and across time zones in a continual wave of praise and worship.

          This perspective is a foretaste of what is described in Revelation 7.

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, ¹⁰ and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” ¹¹ And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Revelation 7:9-12 (ESV)

          Remember, when you worship and lift your voice in praise to the Lord, you are not alone. Your church gathering is not alone. See heaven’s view of God’s people across a city, across a state, a nation, and the world, lifting their voices and hands to the Lord. So, join in and be a part of a great multitude of worshippers.

As I read through scripture, I notice the recurring wording following an action of the Lord or His servants. It is often worded as “In order to,” “In order that,” or “So that.”

          This time around, I am reading the Good News Translation. In this Bible version, those phrases occur twenty-one times in the Old Testament books and eighteen times in the New Testament books.

          When these phrases occur, they describe more than a cause-and-effect relationship. They show intentionality and purpose. There is an ultimate goal or outcome that is desired to be achieved.

          I remember when I was a pastor in my first church, the church had experienced stability and growth that it had not known for many years. Many new people came to the church from various backgrounds and church affiliations. As a result, they had their own ideas about what our church should do or be like. After a service, I remember one lady approaching and making the statement, “You really do know what you are doing!” I wasn’t quite sure how to take that statement. I didn’t know if I was coming across so inept that I needed help, or if, since I was willing to listen to comments from others, what someone said would be adopted into the church. She realized that I did know the vision I had for the church, and that it was not open to being thrown off track by others, even if they were well-meaning.

          The point is, I did have an outcome in mind behind the values and practices of the church. As you read the Bible, you see that the apostles and Jesus had the same desire for God’s people and their lives; they, however, did a better job than I did as a young pastor.

          Consider the following example,

Jesus prayed, And for their sake I dedicate myself to you, in order that they, too, may be truly dedicated to you. John 17:19 (GNT)

But these have been written in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through your faith in him you may have life. John 20:31 (GNT)

It was only right that God, who creates and preserves all things, should make Jesus perfect through suffering, in order to bring many children to share his glory. For Jesus is the one who leads them to salvation. Hebrews 2:10 (GNT)

I have worked for you and for the people in Laodicea and for all others who do not know me personally. I do this in order that they may be filled with courage and may be drawn together in love, and so have the full wealth of assurance which true understanding brings. In this way they will know God’s secret, which is Christ himself. Col. 2:1-2 (GNT)

By our baptism, then, we were buried with him and shared his death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from death by the glorious power of the Father, so also we might live a new life. Romans 6:4 (GNT)

So far as the Law is concerned, however, I am dead—killed by the Law itself—in order that I might live for God. I have been put to death with Christ on his cross, Galatians 2:19 (GNT)

          You get the idea of what scripture is communicating in these and other passages. What we read in the Bible is to have an impact on our lives just as it did for those who were the original recipients of the message.

          God is a God of purpose. Scripture reveals the outcome for your lives when we embrace and put into practice what we are taught as we follow Jesus. The events and experiences of our lives are to serve an eternal purpose as we trust the Lord even in the valleys and dark places. Paul wrote to the Corinthians about his difficulties with this perspective. We felt that the death sentence had been passed on us. But this happened so that we should rely, not on ourselves, but only on God, who raises the dead. 1 Cor. 1:9 (GWT)

The actions of our lives should mirror that, so the actions we take will have an eternal consequence for our lives and those we influence. May we live our lives on purpose for a purpose.

Although the Bible is a collection of 66 books written by 40 different authors over 1,500 years, it is amazing the flow of the themes that appear.

          Genesis begins with the creation of the world and Adam and Eve in a garden paradise, where they enjoy the blessings of God, who is with them and whose fellowship they enjoy.

          We see that sin enters the world, and the Bible narrative shows God working to restore to people the presence of God that was so vivid in the beginning. We see glimpses of God’s presence with His people as God brings forth a nation by calling Abraham from his home to a place that God promises will be inherited by his offspring.

          As the exodus from bondage in Egypt takes place, God’s presence is seen in an awesome form in a cloud and pillar of fire that leads them through the wilderness to possess the land promised to Abraham hundreds of years before.

          During this journey, Moses is given the privilege of experiencing God’s presence. So much so that after meeting with the Lord, his face shone so bright that it frightened God’s people. At a critical moment, the Lord’s reassurance to Moses was, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14) God’s presence among His people was to distinguish them from all other people.

          In the New Testament, Jesus was with His disciples as the presence of the Lord took human form. When Jesus prepared for the cross, He told His disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit to be with them forever. The Gospel of Matthew begins with Jesus coming as Immanuel (God with us) and ends with Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am with you till the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

          The age and grand bookend of the Bible is seen in Revelation 21:3. It is there we read, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.”

          I am thankful that we can experience God’s presence through the Holy Spirit in our lives and corporately when we gather as God’s people in worship. But as the words of the old hymn remind us, this is “a foretaste of glory divine.”

“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ Matthew 25:24-25 NIV

The response of the servants who received one talent or one bag of gold (Luke 19) has always been challenging for me. It was during the discussion of this parable in my online class this last week that a student made an observation that caught my attention.

          She pointed out that the “lazy” servant resented the fact that he was doing the work and the Master was receiving the benefit. That allowed me to see that this servant did not understand the relationship with the Master and his role as a steward.

          The servants in this parable about the Kingdom of God are entrusted with money to manage on behalf of the Master. That is the essence of stewardship. I manage the money of another for their benefit. That is what financial advisors do today for their clients. The difference is that in Jesus’ day, these servants were not paid advisors or partners.

          The faithful servants and the lazy servant had different views of the Master. The faithful ones understood their role and gladly accepted it. The lazy servant resented his role and, as a result, had a negative view and attitude toward the Master. He viewed the Master as unfair and harsh. The Master could not be trusted. His laziness was a result of his resentment. He wasn’t willing to work without the guarantee of any reward.

          However, the faithful servants viewed their reward as pleasing the Master and fulfilling their responsibility. What we see is that those who were faithful were rewarded and elevated. In Matthew’s gospel, they share in the Master’s happiness or pleasure. In Luke’s account, they are rewarded with authority over cities. In this way, the servants become leaders and those with authority.

          We see Paul the Apostle reflect the attitude of stewardship in the call of God on his life. Let a man so consider us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.    1 Corinthians 4:1,2 (NKJV)

          Do you understand your role as a steward of your finances? Talents? Opportunities? How do you view the Lord? Trustworthy or unfair?

          Jesus related this parable to His coming Kingdom. His servants are called to be faithful and diligent until he returns. There is a reward for faithful stewardship. We see this in Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:46 (NLT) If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward.

          We see this promise as well at the end of the Book of Revelation. “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.” Revelation 22:12 (NLT)

          Jesus has entrusted us with resources, talents, opportunities, and good news to share with others. Let’s be faithful servants, stewards of all entrusted to us until the Lord returns.

He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ” And they remembered His words. Luke 24:6-8 NKJV

This morning, during the Easter sunrise service, our pastor said the keyword for this year at Easter is the word “remember.”

Memory is a significant part of our lives. When we get older, memories in the present can be faulty, but memories of the past seem to linger. We can’t remember what we ate yesterday but can remember our favorite meal from childhood.

Memories can elicit both pleasure and pain. They can serve as a guide when what has been learned in the past is applied in the present. Some things are not understood when they are heard but they become clearer over time. That was the case for the disciples. Jesus had spoken to his disciples about his eventual death and resurrection, but it wasn’t until it happened and they were called to remember His words that it all made sense.

In the Old Testament, the children of Israel were called to “remember the sabbath.” They were to “remember when they were slaves in Egypt.” They were to remember how the Lord had provided for them.

In the Book of Revelation, the Church of Ephesus is called to “remember the height from which you have fallen…” The writer of Hebrews challenged his readers to “remember those earlier days after you had received the light when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering.”

On this Easter 2024, what do you need to remember? Do you need to remember a time in your life when you were open to God’s love? Do you need to remember a past answer to prayer? Do you need to remember a time when your spiritual commitment and fervor were stronger than they are today? Do you need to remember that God loves you and that hasn’t changed? Do you need to remember that Jesus is alive and is still bringing life to that which is dead?

There is one thing you don’t need to remember: your past sins and failures that have been forgiven. The reassuring words of Hebrews 10:17 remind us of the Lord’s promise, “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” If the Lord doesn’t remember, you don’t need to either. Today, you can live a new life and have a new beginning through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! Matthew 27:40 (NKJV)

Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” Luke 23:39 (NKJV)

     Perhaps the above verses could represent the last temptation of Christ. Even when we are wrong, people have a tendency to save themselves from the consequences of their actions. This is especially the case when someone is wrongfully accused. The normal reaction is to defend, to rationalize, to protest. All of this in an effort to change our circumstances.

     We can understand someone who would save themselves. We can’t understand someone who would willing be punished and die for sins they did not commit. But that is what Christ did.

     Peter would later write, For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. (1 Peter 3:18 NIV)

     Christ died on the cross, not for His sins, but for ours. He took our place. Because He took our place, we don’t have to suffer the eternal consequences and judgment for our sins.

     Jesus’ death on the cross was the fulfillment of the Old Testament ritual of the sacrifice of a lamb for the forgiveness of sin. We can’t save ourselves. We can’t undo the wrong we have done. We can’t justify ourselves and point to how others are worse than we are in order to save ourselves. We must pay the penalty or have someone pay the penalty for us. That is what Jesus did on the cross.

Hebrews declares, “…we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10 NIV)

John writes, “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2 NIV)

We may be able to save ourselves at times from the wrath of man, but not from the punishment of our sin. That is only available through the cross. So, the proper response is not to work to save ourselves but to repent and receive the forgiveness that is available through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.

The good news is found not in understanding or believing but in receiving.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 NIV)

That’s when the day we remember the cross becomes “Good” Friday.

America! America! God shed His grace on thee,

and crowned thy good with brotherhood

 from sea to shining sea

I am greatly displeased with the nations that take my grace for granted. I was a little displeased with them, but they have only made things worse for themselves. Zechariah 1:15 (NET)

     Katherine Lee Bates, an English teacher from Wellesley College, made a trip to Colorado Springs, Colorado. As she viewed the grandeur of the scenery from the top of Pikes Peak she was inspired to pen the words that became known as America the Beautiful.

     The poem extols the beauty of the American landscape. From amber waves of grain to purple mountain majesty. It reflects on the sacrifice of patriots and the endurance of the pioneers. However, the conclusion of the poem provides a fitting conclusion. All of this that has come to define the American experience is by the shed grace of God. It is only through God’s divine providence that unity and brotherhood can be found from sea to shining sea.

     As we look from the precipice of Pike Peak today and view America in 2024, brotherhood seems to be a foreign concept. Division, strife, and conflicts of various kinds now replace a sense of brotherhood. A brotherhood that unites instead of divides. A brotherhood that does not stem from conformity but the commonality of each person being made in the image of God.

     This morning, during my morning Bible reading, the words above from Zechariah arrested my attention. “God is displeased with the nation that takes His grace for granted.”

     I am reminded of Paul’s warning to the Corinthian believers: “…we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” (2 Corinthians 6:1 (ESV). We are challenged by the impact of the grace of God on our individual lives but fail to see the grace of God working on behalf of nations.

     In times past, it was common for the leaders of our nation and the people to recognize God’s authority over the universe and our independence and growth as a nation. In President Lincoln’s call to prayer in 1863, during the height of the Civil War, he began with the words,

Whereas the Senate of the United States, devoutly recognizing the supreme authority and just government of Almighty God in all the affairs of men and of nations.

The resolution then contains this indictment:

But we have forgotten God.

 “We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us,

 and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts,

that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.”

          How true those words are for today. Our nation has not only forgotten God but has treated God with contempt. The words of Zechariah to the Medes are true to the United States today. We have treated God’s grace with contempt and have made things worse. We have turned from Divine Wisdom to human wisdom and ingenuity.

     The good news in all of this is that the grace of God is still being shed abroad. It is manifested in the lives of all those who call on Him and submit their lives to His Word. Just as in Israel’s worse days of rebellion and idolatry, there are those who were faithful to the Lord in all areas of society. There are those who are voices for righteousness and truth and the love and grace of God.

     Just because a nation takes God’s grace for granted, individuals must not. A nation is comprised of a collective of people, governments, and leaders. Regardless of what is reflected in the masses, there are individuals who are experiencing the blessings of God’s grace, and that number is growing.      In our day, just like the servant of Elisha, we need our spiritual eyes to be open. (2 Kings 6:16) When the forces of secularism, humanism, and anti-Christism seem to overwhelm, with spiritual eyes open, we can see that those who are for us are greater than those who oppose the purposes of God. While it may not apply to our nation, the words of Katherine Bates still apply to the Church, “God shed His grace on Thee and crowned they good with brotherhood…”