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“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” —2 Timothy 4:1-2 I was meeting with a friend years ago who felt like God was calling him to be a Bible teacher. This guy was brilliant, and it was clear he had been blessed with the ability to communicate truth to others. He was hesitant, though, because as he told me, “I need to grow first in God’s Word before I share it with others.” So I looked him in the eye and I said, “Do you know who gets the most out of the messages I preach? It’s not the person on the front row. It’s me!” I went on, “I’m the one who puts the time into learning the Scripture before I preach it. And if I’ve done that properly, I’m going to grow more than anyone else.” My point was that when it comes to the Word of God, you can’t give without receiving. In preparing to share the Bible with others, you’re going to soak it in yourself. This is true of the most seasoned teacher of the Word! Now, you may not be called to preach or teach, but all of us have the responsibility to share God’s truth. So equip yourself to share God’s Word with others. It’s the best way for you to soak it in as well! SOAK IN THE WORD OF GOD TO THE FULLEST BY BEING READY TO SHARE IT WITH OTHERS!

Friday, November 2, 2018

Choosing Barabbas

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.”

John 18:38–40

Pilate knew that there were no legal or moral grounds for executing Jesus, but he also was desperate to avoid a riot by letting Him go free. So he devised what he thought would be the perfect solution. By offering to release one prisoner, as was customary during the Passover observance, Pilate figured that Jesus would be that one, and he would be off the hook for the decision. Instead, at the urging of the Pharisees, the people demanded that Pilate release Barabbas—and crucify Jesus.

Many people had suffered loss at the hands of Barabbas. He was enough of an offender to have come to the attention of the Roman authorities. No one suffered at the hands of Jesus. Instead, they were healed and blessed and fed by the Lord. Yet despite that enormous disparity, the people still chose for Barabbas to go free instead of Jesus. We rightly condemn the wavering Pilate for not doing what He knew to be right. And we rightly condemn the selection of the criminal over the spotless Lamb of God for release.

Yet in our daily lives, too often, we choose something else over obedience to God’s command. Rather than putting Him first, we seek some Barabbas—material wealth, promotion and fame, temporary pleasure in sin—over following Jesus. As believers indwelt by the Holy Spirit and given victory over sin, we are no longer compelled to do evil. Instead, it is a result of our own will exercised in defiance of God.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Putting God first is not determined by what we say, but by the decisions and choices we make every day.