Category: Devotion of the Day

“The Central Verity”

Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
1 Corinthians 12:3

Dr. G. Campbell Morgan says Paul is here stating the central verity of the church, the absolute Lordship of Christ. Both the cult of Caesar and the cult of Christ used the term Kurios. It was “Nero Kurios” (Nero Lord) or “Kurios Jesous” spirit of truth. Polycarp the martyr paid with his life because he refused to call Caesar, Lord, and said each time, “Lord, Jesus.”

Of course, it is easy to call Him, Lord, Lord, and not do His commands (Mt. 7:21-23). Only the Spirit of God can make real to the soul of Lordship of Jesus Christ. Just because Nero is dead makes no difference-there is still the cult of Caesar, and a man cannot have two Lords. A day of cheap discipleship, with churches filled by baptized pagans, needs to be startled into taking seriously the battle cry, “Jesus Is Lord.”

There are too many religious Sauls who need to become regenerated Pauls asking, “Lord” what wilt thou have me to do?

“Prove Me Now”

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Jeremiah 33:3

We are inclined to pray as though this world were in the grip of cold, fixed laws, with only the remote possibility that God might occasionally break through. We timidly whisper a few feeble petitions barely hoping, but certainly not believing that we shall receive. But God is not a prisoner in His own universe. Jesus is the Lord of all creation, King of kings and Lord of lords. The devil can go only so far as God allows him to go.

God is waiting to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward Him. He invites us to prove Him. He longs to demonstrate what He can do, exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think, great and mighty things which we know not.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

This is our Father’s world. God is till on the throne of creation. Call on Him and He will answer.