IN CHRIST, GOD IS FOR YOU, NOT AGAINST YOU!

Word from the Center
Written By Dr. Gregory Seltz

WORD FROM THE CENTER: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2023

Welcome to “Word from The Center” MONDAY, a devotional word from the Center of our faith, Jesus Christ, with reflections on His Word. I’m Gregory Seltz. Today’s verses are 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18 where St. Paul writes,

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

IN CHRIST, GOD IS FOR YOU, NOT AGAINST YOU!

We’re not exactly sure what was troubling the Thessalonian Christians. But one thing is clear. They were confused about the Second Coming of Christ. They may have even worried that their loved ones would somehow miss out because they had died before Christ had come back again. Death is one of those realities that shakes us all. It confronts each one of us with not only our mortality, but our sinful inability to be the people God created and intended us to be, people united in life and hope. In this letter to the Christians in Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul comforted these worried and weary believers with the fact that their loved ones who died in the Lord would not be forgotten or miss out on Jesus’ return. There was a much better plan than they were imagining. God is gracious and will take care of every detail. INDEED, IN CHRIST, BELIEVERS ARE BLESSED IN ALL THINGS, EVEN IN DEATH. “BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHO DIE IN THE LORD” (Revelation 14:13). WOW!

That's great to hear, isn't it? But isn't it ALSO true that you and I tend to be like those Thessalonians? WHEN FACED WITH TROUBLE, even those of us who know and trust in God’s grace still tend to doubt His goodness.

How many times have you experienced a blessing and, suddenly, as you reflected on it, you wondered, “When will the other shoe drop?” Or just after you got that great job or promotion, you immediately began to doubt if you can handle the job or you wonder if there’s another person more qualified or talented than you. Or perhaps you looked at your beautiful sleeping child and immediately began to dread the thought of losing him or her when they get older. Maybe you celebrated your wedding anniversary, but thoughts of losing your spouse came swooping in amidst that moment of joy. Perhaps you enjoyed an invigorating walk or run and immediately started to worry about losing your health. “This can't last,” you think to yourself. “If things are good right now, I’d better prepare myself for the worst!” All of this thinking imagines that God is not for you, but against you at every turn. We so easily doubt that God is for us, AND THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST SEDITIOUS RESULTS OF OUR BROKENNESS AND SIN.

But the Apostle Paul EMPHATICALLY PROCLAIMS WHAT WE NEED TO HEAR DAILY. God is not against us; in and through Jesus Christ, He is ACTUALLY on our side amidst it all

(see Romans 8:31-32). In today’s reading, Paul unfolds God's beautiful end-time plan FOR ALL BELIEVERS.

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17).

Who could imagine a better chain of events AT THE END OF THE WORLD? God will not only take care of our deceased loved ones. They “will rise first” WHEN JESUS COMES AGAIN TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD.

That's the truth about God for you right now as well. Many feel like the world is unraveling as never before. We wonder if “end time” chaos might be upon us as we speak. We don’t see many quality leaders anywhere. We don’t see sane policies or civil politics even in this, the freest country in the world. Wavering, duplicitous, cowardly, brash, and arrogant are adjectives that describe many in our day. But what happens when death is all around us, or the uncertainties of life besiege us? In the midst of such realities, Paul reminds us about who God is and what He has done for us all. He reminded those believers in Thessalonica that God, unlike us, doesn’t waver. He makes His promises; He fulfills His promises. And because He fulfilled His promise to send our Savior Jesus Christ, their future and ours is secure in Him even now. In the fickleness of this moment in our culture, when you can’t get anyone to say a clear “Yes” or “No” and actually mean it, “St. Paul comforts us with the fact that God’s promises are always “Yes” in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 1:20).”And that’s something to be counted on today, tomorrow, and even when Christ comes again to judge the living and the dead.

PRAYER – Dear Lord Jesus, teach us to be useful instruments in Your hands so that we might be a blessing to the culture in which we live. But never let us forget the ultimate mission of our time on this earth. It is the work of offering real hope to all people in the message of eternal life that comes by grace through faith in You alone. May we continue to comfort each other with those words. To those ends, bless us. AMEN

Other Devotions
FOR UNITY, YOU NEED THE TRUTH!
FOR UNITY, YOU NEED THE TRUTH!

In his younger days, Bob Barker, former host of the television show, “The Price is Right,” hosted another show called “Truth or Consequences.” On this program contestants were asked questions and if they gave incorrect answers, there were consequences. There was a penalty for getting things “wrong.” Now the consequences weren’t life threatening. They involved comical stunts which may have been a bit embarrassing, but were endured as good-natured fun. At the close of every program, Barker signed off saying, “Good night, hoping all your consequences are happy ones.” It was an instant and enduring hit from the 1940s through Barker’s time with the show in the 1960s.

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE?
ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE?

In All’s Well that Ends Well, William Shakespeare wrote, “Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.” The Beatles remind us of the same idea in their song, “All You Need Is Love.” But is it really that easy? If love is all we need, if love alone matters, and if love works, then what’s the problem? Why are we as a country at each other’s throats? Why are divorce rates so high? Why are so many people not even getting married at all? Why are children growing up in increasingly broken homes? Why aren’t people loving each other if that is all we need to do? Good question

THE FRUIT-PRODUCING POWER OF FAITH IN CHRIST FOR LIFE!
THE FRUIT-PRODUCING POWER OF FAITH IN CHRIST FOR LIFE!

Many people come to Washington, D.C., because they want to make a difference. They want their lives to matter, to mean something. Who doesn’t? Unfortunately, politics tends to promise what it can’t deliver. In fact, a truly meaningful life is more than politics, more than the accumulation of wealth or influence, and more than one’s vocational skills and abilities can produce. Ironically, the key to a purposeful life isn’t primarily about your works at all. It’s not about “who” you are or what you do, but about “whose” you are. Jesus reminds us that He is the Vine, the source for real, lasting life. We are like branches.

SO WHAT MAKES A LIFE WORTH LIVING?
SO WHAT MAKES A LIFE WORTH LIVING?

The following saying is often wrongly attributed to G.K. Chesterton: “When people stop believing in God, they don’t believe in nothing — they believe in anything.” He actually said that if we stop believing in God we lose our common sense.1 For many, that’s that same thing. When you deny the one who is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6), and who calls Himself the “Good Shepherd” (John 10:11), you don’t replace Him with nothing. Instead, you tend to replace Him with the most absurd “other things.”

WHAT FIRES BURN IN YOUR HEART TODAY?
WHAT FIRES BURN IN YOUR HEART TODAY?

What a Bible study it must have been that day! On the road to Emmaus, Jesus ROOTED those disciples in the firm promises of the Bible that had come to fruition in Him. Even more, Jesus set their hearts on fire by anchoring their faith in Him in all things (verse 32). That’s a fire which comes from God’s love and grace through faith in the Son of God.

BELIEVING IS TRULY SEEING!
BELIEVING IS TRULY SEEING!

Is seeing believing? Or are there things that are very real, even very true, that we cannot see with our eyes? Our garage doors open by unseen forces at the touch of a button. We put our food and drinks into little rectangular devices and hit the button believing that, absent a heating element or a flame of any sort, microwaves will make our food or beverages piping hot. Even the most empirical of scientists has things which he/she believes long before they are tested or visible to human eyes.

CHRIST’S RESURRECTION – REAL HOPE FOR YOUR LIFE!
CHRIST’S RESURRECTION – REAL HOPE FOR YOUR LIFE!

Jesus is risen; He is risen indeed! But there’s even more good news for those who believe in Him. He clearly says, “Because I live, you will live also” (John 14:19). Wow! What a statement. In the midst of wars, rumors of wars, fears, violence, and the growing cultural pressures to jettison biblical truth for public acceptance, in the midst of it all, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus call all people to an everlasting life of repentance and faith that the world can never take away. It calls believers to a confident hope that comes from knowing that even death itself has been conquered by the One who created and redeemed us.

WHAT A MINDSET, WHAT A MISSION
WHAT A MINDSET, WHAT A MISSION

Mindsets matter. I remember back in my playing days how important my “frame of mind” was on the day before a big race or a big game. If I was confident in my training, confident in the game plan, and physically and emotionally focused, my mindset often gave me an edge when the contest began. Search the internet and you’ll find all kinds of “mindset” programs and seminars that will help prepare you for the big game, as well as for the big presentation, investment, or promotion. Mindsets matter.

LEADERSHIP IN GOD’S KINGDOM IS DIFFERENT THAN IN THE WORLD
LEADERSHIP IN GOD’S KINGDOM IS DIFFERENT THAN IN THE WORLD

There is no such thing as “generic” servant leadership. Or is there? Whenever I read this passage of Scripture, all the servant leadership programs in our world today immediately come to my mind. And it’s not just Christian colleges or businesses who espouse such things. Evidently, there’s an eastern and a western philosophical view of servant leadership. They both call for leaders to be empathetic and active listeners who serve their employees rather than just boss them around.

GRACE IS NOT A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM!
GRACE IS NOT A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM!

An ad for the U.S. Marines pictures a sword with these words beneath it: “Earned, not given.” If you want to become a Marine, you have to earn the right to be called a Marine through sacrifice, hardship, and training. If you get it, you deserve it. In this world, there are jobs that only Marines can handle. There are even efforts that demand special forces like the Navy Seals. When it comes to maintaining law and order in this world, there have to be people who say, “This far and no farther,” so that we can all live in relative peace. But here’s the problem.

WHEN DID GOD’S LAW BECOME MERE OPINION?
WHEN DID GOD’S LAW BECOME MERE OPINION?

When did greed, coveting, promiscuity, character assassination, violence, and even intimidation become our “cultural values?” When did things like these even become entertaining to some? When did “virtue” become such a dirty word? Indeed, it seems that all too often vices have become virtues and virtues have been turned into vices. Look, I realize that all of us are sinful and broken. I also know that it’s hard to have these conversations because the finger points back at each one of us. Furthermore, we must all admit that even our best efforts at living morally and virtuously fall short, often when we needed to be at our best.

WHEN CHRIST RAISES YOU UP!
WHEN CHRIST RAISES YOU UP!

What are your deepest hurts and your grandest hopes? Do you have worries and fears, or great dreams and expectations? What happens when an ugly reality seems to rear its head no matter your planning or provision? What then? Does answering any of these questions really matter in the end?

Yes! The great preacher Charles Spurgeon was right, "We have great needs, but we have a great Christ for our needs!" And the living Christ is here for you in His word to offer you His life and His salvation as a gift. There is one question that engulfs all other questions in this life. The question comes from Jesus himself, “Who do you say that I am?” Another question springs from it, “Who then are you IN HIM?”

NOW IS THE TIME OF GOD’S FAVOR!
NOW IS THE TIME OF GOD’S FAVOR!

Now is the time of God’s favor? Really? Now?

Sometimes larger circumstances can overcome the reality of a specific situation. In other words, the things that are happening all around us are better viewed in terms of other, more significant events with even more far-reaching consequences. That’s what it was like for some of the people fighting in World War II. The ceremonial surrender of the Japanese government and the “Victory over Japan” proclamation (VJ Day) did indeed mean that the second major, worldwide conflict of the 20th century was officially over. But that did not stop the fighting of many Japanese infantrymen against U.S. Marines in the South Pacific. Some fought for many months, even though their defeat was assured, inevitable, and even officially admitted. As the website “Military History Now” notes:

A GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN FOR THE DAYS AHEAD!
A GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN FOR THE DAYS AHEAD!

I’m becoming more and more convinced that all of our modern technologies are actually making us more ignorant, rather than more informed; they also make us more prone to be isolated, rather than connected with each other. Because of our sinful rebelliousness against the moral truths of God, human beings also seem to be more clueless than ever about how to live their lives in this world meaningfully and joyfully. That’s true even amidst all the advances of science and technology. As I get older, I see this more clearly than ever. Evil truly does exist in the world and evil exists in every human heart. Unfortunately, there is no easy religious, secular, or scientific fix for this DEADLY virus. The great scientist Albert Einstein said, “It is easier to denature plutonium than to denature the evil spirit of man.”

ALL -IN!
ALL -IN!

I’m not much of a poker player. When I was growing up, my family tended not to be card players (though the occasional, raucous game of “May I” could be cited as evidence to the contrary). But I do know the meaning of the phrase, “all-in.” How about you? In cards, and especially in the game Texas Hold-Em, “all-in” is when a player decides to put all of his chips on the table. At that moment, he/she bets all they have to either win or lose everything. Back in the days of the Wild West, they called it ''betting the ranch.'' This was not just putting all that you had that night into the pot but, risking everything you owned. That’s an “all-in” commitment in a game! What about an “all-in” commitment in life?

NOW IS THE TIME FOR REPENTANT FAITH!
NOW IS THE TIME FOR REPENTANT FAITH!

In a Charlie Brown cartoon, little brother Linus is looking very forlorn. He asks big sister Lucy, “Why are you always so anxious to criticize me?” Lucy, looking very self-righteous, replies, “I just think I have a knack for seeing other people’s faults.” Linus turns indignant. “What about your own faults?” he asks. “I have a knack for overlooking them,” says Lucy.

COME AND SEE!
COME AND SEE!

Someone said that the medicine of modern life is the “joy of not knowing where you’re going, the confidence of not knowing how to get there so that you can have the peace of not worrying about when you’ll arrive.” Well, the God who became man in the Babe laid in the manger seeks to shake us from such doldrums and give us the gift of forgiveness, life, and salvation on His terms alone.

A SAVIOR WITH HIS HANDS IN THE DIRT!
A SAVIOR WITH HIS HANDS IN THE DIRT!

The baptism of Jesus is one of those events in the Bible that will help you come to grips with who Jesus is, who you are without him, and who you are by grace through faith in Him alone. Baptisms, as a rule, are for people who are dirty and need to get clean. Yet religious washings tend to be about more than outward personal hygiene.

Are You Ready for the Party that Matters?
Are You Ready for the Party that Matters?

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are a time when our culture looks back and then looks forward. It’s a time when we try to come to grips with the failures and successes of the year that is passing away so as to be ready to face the challenges and opportunities of the year to come.

“GOD WITH US” – DON’T SETTLE FOR ANYTHING ELSE!
“GOD WITH US” – DON’T SETTLE FOR ANYTHING ELSE!

Who could refuse this offer: “Peace that lasts, forgiveness that holds, and life abundant now and forever because God is with us.” Well, many do. Why? Because as sinful, rebellious people by nature, we tend to settle for counterfeits instead of the real thing.

A BATTLE OF WILLS!
A BATTLE OF WILLS!

The amazing proclamation of the Bible is that the person and work of Jesus in history stands as the concrete expression of the will of God the Father for all people. Out of His love for us, He sent His Son into this sinful world to save it.

REPENTANCE, ANYONE?
REPENTANCE, ANYONE?

That is a prayer of repentance to God for His gracious forgiveness. It sounds like something that John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus, might call us to say. Repentance, the God-induced sorrow for our sins in response to His Law, also causes us to fall at the feet of Jesus seeking the forgiveness for our sins that only He can grant.

READIED FOR TIMES LIKE THESE!
READIED FOR TIMES LIKE THESE!

Those who attend churches that follow a commonly used series of Sunday readings probably heard 1st Corinthians 1:3-9 in worship yesterday.

CONCERNED CITIZENS OR CONCERNED DISCIPLES?
CONCERNED CITIZENS OR CONCERNED DISCIPLES?

The last few years have witnessed incredible Novembers, haven’t they? Even when it was Thanksgiving, it seemed like we were always under siege, whether it was the virus, our jobs, the economy, or chaos in our cities.

PREPARATION FOR THE FINAL ELECTION
PREPARATION FOR THE FINAL ELECTION

Morale soared that day. It was a day of failure, but it was a day when those who were rotting in one of the worst prisons in Vietnam suddenly realized that they had not been forgotten.

IN CHRIST, GOD IS FOR YOU, NOT AGAINST YOU!
IN CHRIST, GOD IS FOR YOU, NOT AGAINST YOU!

“We’re not exactly sure what was troubling the Thessalonian Christians. But one thing is clear. They were confused about the Second Coming of Chris.”

THE REAL PICTURE…GET THE PICTURE?
THE REAL PICTURE…GET THE PICTURE?

“It’s November in America and this is the month people focus on politics and elections, even when they are still a year away. “

SET FREE TO LIVE FREELY!
SET FREE TO LIVE FREELY!

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

TWO KINGDOMS TRUTH? IT’S GOOD NEWS AND GREAT NEWS!
TWO KINGDOMS TRUTH? IT’S GOOD NEWS AND GREAT NEWS!

22:18-21, where the Bible says,

But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius,

The Joy-Filled, Joyful Journey!
The Joy-Filled, Joyful Journey!

The Joy-Filled, Joyful Journey!

Dr. Gregory Seltz
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