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Today in the Word

Pastor David makes a short devotional for each week day. You are welcome to read it here or watch the video on our Facebook page. Spend a little time …. Today in the Word!

Today in the Word January 10-14

Today in The Word

Monday Jan 10, 2022

 What is our picture of Jesus? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. One of the greatest scenes in the entire book of Revelation is found in Chapter 5. John is distraught because no one can open the Father’s scroll when verse 5 reads:

 “Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah…has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll…”

 The elder is tapping into Jacob’s prophecy in Isaiah 49:9-10:

 “You are a lion’s cub, Judah…my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?

The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.”

 The tribe of Judah is the tribe of the lion. It is a royal house. It is the family of Kings. Yet Jacob is saying more than Judah is the royal line. He is saying one from the tribe of Judah will bring about the obedience of the nations. As Jesus is about to receive and open the scroll of the final judgments of mankind, he is Judah’s lion. He is the One uniquely qualified to bring judgment.

 So, in difficult times when it seems that evil regularly wins, do not weep. The Lion of the tribe of Judah will come!  

 And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.

 Today in The Word

Tuesday Jan 11, 2022

 What is our picture of Jesus? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. One of the greatest scenes in the entire book of Revelation is found in Chapter 5. John is distraught because no one can open the Father’s scroll when verse 5 reads:

 “Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, …the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll…”

 The elder is tapping into Isaiah’s prophecy of the coming Messiah in 11:1, 4, 10-11:

 “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit…with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth…In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him…In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the surviving remnant of the people…”

 It is amazing the growth from the stumps of two old cottonwood trees we cut on the church property. Jesus is the life that comes forth from a tree that has been cut down. Jesus can and will rescue when all seems lost. With Jesus, the game is never really over. With Jesus, people from every nation can be brought into the family of God. With Jesus, all will be made right in the end, even for those that seem powerless.

 Jesus is the root of David. Don’t weep. Rejoice.    

 And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.

 Today in the Word

Wednesday Jan 12, 2022

 What is our picture of Jesus? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. One of the greatest scenes in the entire book of Revelation is found in Chapter 5. John is distraught because no one can open the Father’s scroll when verse 5 reads:

 “Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah…has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll…”

 Yet in the very next verses we read:

 “Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain…He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.”

 Which is it? Is Jesus the Lion of Judah or the slain Lamb? God wants John to see both. Jesus is the royal king of all, but he is also the sacrificial offering for all. The judgments at the end of time are not just by a powerful God impatiently flexing his muscles at the human race. The judgments at the end of time are made by the One who emptied himself of that power and offered his life for the ransom of the human race. He is the Lamb that took our place. He is the Lion that has been given all authority. It is a mistake to see Jesus as only a dictator or only a martyr.

 Instead, He is both king and sacrifice.  We are not to weep. The Lion/Lamb will triumph!

 And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.

 Today in the Word

Thursday Jan 13, 2022

Who is worthy? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. In a heavenly throne room scene in Revelation 5:2-5 we read:

 “And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or even look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.””

 The scroll represents the purpose of God. John is crying because no one is up to the job. The call for someone to open the scroll seems unanswered. But the dramatic question gets an even more dramatic answer. Jesus is worthy. Jesus is worthy to advance the purpose of God. Jesus is the only one worthy to advance the purpose of God.

 The next time you are singing about Jesus being worthy, consider for a moment. He is worth worshipping because he is the only worthy one. Who is worthy? Jesus is.

 And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.

 Today in the Word

Friday Jan 14, 2022

Why is Jesus the worthy one? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. In a heavenly throne room scene in Revelation 5:2 we read:

 “And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”

 The question is answered by majestic beings that surround God the Father’s throne in verses 9:

 “And they sang a new song, saying:

You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.””

 Jesus is not worthy merely because he is a member of the Trinity. He is worthy because he was slain. He is worthy because he went to the cross for the sins of humankind. He is worthy because his forgiving and cleansing blood was shed to purchase us. And he didn’t purchase a few elite. He didn’t rescue one ethnic group, or the people of a single era. He purchased from every race and country and tongue. He gave his life to make rescue possible for us all.

 May we not rest until every people group gets the message of his purchase. He died for the entire human species. Let us work to realize Jesus’ purpose. After all, he is worthy! 

 And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David Baker