"Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God." (Luke 12:8)
Tomorrow we confess Him through our attendance, singing, praying, the Lord's Supper, the collection, the preaching of His gospel, and the edification we express to His brothers and sisters. He will join us and confess us before our Father's angels. Will you be there?
Jason Cicero
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
Draw Near to Him
Song: Nearer My God To Thee
Scripture: Luke 15
"Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, 'This Man receives sinners and eats with them" (Luke 15:1-2).
Sinners drew near to the Holy One of Israel and He did not recoil.
Sinners drew near to Immanuel and He received them.
There is hope for me too: "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you..." (James 4:8).
Jason Cicero
Scripture: Luke 15
"Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, 'This Man receives sinners and eats with them" (Luke 15:1-2).
Sinners drew near to the Holy One of Israel and He did not recoil.
Sinners drew near to Immanuel and He received them.
There is hope for me too: "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you..." (James 4:8).
Jason Cicero
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Those Who Cannot Be His Disciple
Song: Jesus Calls Us
Scripture: Luke 14:25-35
According to Jesus, there are four classes of folks who "cannot be" His disciple.
1. Those who love their physical family more than Jesus. "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters...he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:26).
2. Those who love their own lives more than Jesus. "...yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:26).
3. Those who do not bear their own cross for Jesus. "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:27).
4. Those who do not forsake all for Jesus. "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:33).
To be this Man's disciple is to "count the cost" (Luke 14:28).
Jason Cicero
Scripture: Luke 14:25-35
According to Jesus, there are four classes of folks who "cannot be" His disciple.
1. Those who love their physical family more than Jesus. "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters...he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:26).
2. Those who love their own lives more than Jesus. "...yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:26).
3. Those who do not bear their own cross for Jesus. "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:27).
4. Those who do not forsake all for Jesus. "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:33).
To be this Man's disciple is to "count the cost" (Luke 14:28).
Jason Cicero
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Do You Suppose
Song: Give Me The Bible
Scripture: Luke 13:1-5
Near the close of Jesus' ministry Pilate mixed the blood of some Galileans with some sacrifices. There were those who were of the belief that those Galileans must have been "worse sinners" because they had "suffered such things." Those who were of that belief were wrong. "I tell you, no," Jesus said.
Two observations are in order. Just because I believe something doesn't make it true. It is not unloving to correct someone. The "some" of Luke 13:1 believed something that wasn't true. Jesus corrected them.
To be this Man's disciple is to know Him, to understand His mind, to think His thoughts, to believe what He believes, to speak His truth, to receive His correction when I "suppose" incorrectly.
Jason Cicero
Scripture: Luke 13:1-5
Near the close of Jesus' ministry Pilate mixed the blood of some Galileans with some sacrifices. There were those who were of the belief that those Galileans must have been "worse sinners" because they had "suffered such things." Those who were of that belief were wrong. "I tell you, no," Jesus said.
Two observations are in order. Just because I believe something doesn't make it true. It is not unloving to correct someone. The "some" of Luke 13:1 believed something that wasn't true. Jesus corrected them.
To be this Man's disciple is to know Him, to understand His mind, to think His thoughts, to believe what He believes, to speak His truth, to receive His correction when I "suppose" incorrectly.
Jason Cicero
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Your Father's Good Pleasure
Song: Seek Ye First
Scripture: Luke 12:31-32
Jesus would have me to seek the kingdom of God. The needful things of life - food, clothing, and shelter - will be added to me if I seek the Father's rule in my life. To seek His rule and to enter His realm will result in everything else working out in my life.
As I seek I am not to fear. If I seek I will find. My Heavenly Father is good. It is His good pleasure to give to me what I seek. He thinks it good to give Him His rule and to convey me into His realm.
What a blessed hope in which I live: "But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:31-32).
Jason Cicero
Scripture: Luke 12:31-32
Jesus would have me to seek the kingdom of God. The needful things of life - food, clothing, and shelter - will be added to me if I seek the Father's rule in my life. To seek His rule and to enter His realm will result in everything else working out in my life.
As I seek I am not to fear. If I seek I will find. My Heavenly Father is good. It is His good pleasure to give to me what I seek. He thinks it good to give Him His rule and to convey me into His realm.
What a blessed hope in which I live: "But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:31-32).
Jason Cicero
Monday, March 2, 2009
Lord, Teach Us To Pray
Song: What A Friend We Have In Jesus
Scripture: Luke 11:1-4
Notice the disciples did not ask Jesus, "Lord, teach us how to pray." They asked Him, "Lord, teach us to pray." Notice the difference between the two.
An Intellectual Exercise. They did not ask a "how to" question. They were not interested in learning about something. They were not interested in learning a doctrine they could teach others.
A Way of Life. They asked the Lord to teach them "to do" something. They had seen Him pray. They longed to pray as He prayed.
Notice how He responded to their request. He taught them. He'll teach you too.
Jason Cicero
Scripture: Luke 11:1-4
Notice the disciples did not ask Jesus, "Lord, teach us how to pray." They asked Him, "Lord, teach us to pray." Notice the difference between the two.
An Intellectual Exercise. They did not ask a "how to" question. They were not interested in learning about something. They were not interested in learning a doctrine they could teach others.
A Way of Life. They asked the Lord to teach them "to do" something. They had seen Him pray. They longed to pray as He prayed.
Notice how He responded to their request. He taught them. He'll teach you too.
Jason Cicero
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Hidden in My Heart
"As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him..." (Colossians 2:6; NKJV)
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