mrtonyfrench

Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

John 19:41-42

Hope is real.

Hope never fails.

It may seem that all hope is lost. But, it is not. Hope remains under the surface.

Perhaps your going through a season of hopelessness. Maybe you are in the Saturday between crucifixion and resurrection. Never fear, hope is on the way!

Tony French

As  the Easter Season draws near, don’t forget the cross. Let us not forget that Christ took upon Himself our sin and shame while he dwelt upon the cross. He didn’t deserve to be there, yet, He willingly gave His life for the redemption of our sin.

This Easter Season, look deeply at the cross. Jesus endured the shame and disgrace that was rightly ours. Let us never forget the remarkable love that Christ revealed to sinners as He died for the sins of all.

When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of glory died;

My richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.

See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down;

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.

Issac Watts

Tony French

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.  Daniel 1:8

…We should trust in God’s Word.

Daniel resolved in his heart to live a holy and Godly life. Daniel made this decision in the midst of a pagan, decadent society. While he was not perfect, he was able to keep himself pure over the course of many years. 

What allowed Daniel to keep his witness while serving in the highest levels of government? While many things come to mind, I’m sure one of them was this—Daniel trusted in God’s Word.  His faith in God’s revelation kept him grounded and steady as he sought to live for Yahweh.

Daniel knew the Word of God. He knew the Law of Moses and he understood what was required of God’s people. If we are to persevere and keep our witness in tact we must spend time in the Bible as well. We have to read it and study it often to know what God expects of saved, born-again Christians.

Daniel trusted in God’s Word. He made a decision to follow its teachings even when it was difficult. He resolved to live by the Torah even though it did cost him and his friends. We ought to trust in Scripture for our daily lives. God knows what is best for us and He reveals that in His Word. We can trust Him through the difficulties, trials, and puzzling times of life. 

Finally, Daniel obeyed God’s Word. He choose the path of obedience and God blessed him. Let us resolve to obey the Word of God as well. Our obedience may not lead to the prominence that Daniel received. But, our obedience is necessary for God to work mightily in us.

Trust in God’s Word, Believer. It won’t be easy. But, obedience will always be worth the cost.  

Tony French

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.  Daniel 1:8

Believers can trust in God’s presence.

An abiding belief in the unwavering presence of God was inherent in Daniel’s courage and obedience. While this facet of Daniel’s faith is not mentioned implicitly in this verse, Daniel’s trust that God was with him allowed him to follow God and obey God’s law. He knew that Yahweh was with him and that made all the difference.

As New Covenant believers, we have the same promise from God. Jesus declared He would be with us until the very end (Matthew 28:20). The letter of Hebrews reminds that God “will never leave us or forsake us.” (Hebrews 13:5)  We can live by this promise just as Daniel did so long ago.

I would add one caution today.  While we know that God is with us, it will not always FEEL like God is with us. We will not always have the ability to sense His presence. But, even when don’t feel it, we know that God’s Word is true and that His promises never fail. We can press forward in obedience knowing God’s eternal presence is with us each step of the way. 

Be encouraged, dear Christian. You are never alone. Christ is with us and will be forevermore. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Tony French

¹⁷ Do not let your heart envy sinners, But be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day;
¹⁸ For surely there is a hereafter, And your hope will not be cut off.¹⁹ Hear, my son, and be wise; And guide your heart in the way. ²⁰ Do not mix with winebibbers, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat; ²¹ For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.

Proverbs 23:17-21

Proverbs 23:17-18 command us to zealously fear and reverence God. Believers should not live their lives envying the lost and undone. Instead, followers of Christ should behave in light of eternity and remember that we will stand before Christ’s judgement seat (2 Corinthians 5:10). Christians should use their time wisely and not waste their lives with drunkenness and gluttony. 

Verses 19-21 gives us specific warnings. God’s people are to avoid drunkenness and be sensible in our diets. Both drunkenness and gluttony lead to a poverty of spirit and monetary ruin. These sins cause people to lose their dignity and their ability to reason properly. We should flee these sins realizing the pain and destruction they cause.

Alcohol is powerful and deceptive. While the Bible does not give blanket restrictions on the consumption of alcohol, the Scriptures do give numerous warnings about getting drunk (1 Corinthians 5:11, Galatians 5:21, Ephesians 5:18). Many terrible decisions are made when someone is under the influence of strong drink. Because of the deceptive nature of wine and spirits, Christians would do well to avoid alcoholic beverages as they often lead to heartache.

Believers are commanded to act with self-control. Paul teaches us that self-control is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:23). Let us be content with what God has provided and live by the Spirit. Such a course of action is far better than drunkenness.

Tony French

Daniel said, “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him. “It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding. “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, And the light dwells with Him. “To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, For You have given me wisdom and power; Even now You have made known to me what we requested of You, For You have made known to us the king’s matter.” 

 Daniel 2:20-23

When God gives the answer, be thankful!

Sometime after Daniel entered the service of the King, a crisis arose. Nebuchadnezzar had experienced a dream and knew it meant something. However, after summoning all the wise men in the kingdom, no one could interpret the dream. This fact threw Nebuchadnezzar into a rage and he threatened to kill all the wisdom class in his kingdom.

Daniel heard of the Kings murderous decree. He and his friends cried out to God for mercy and understanding. God was gracious to Daniel and revealed the meaning of the dream. This dream foretold the succession of kingdoms that would arise after Nebuchadnezzar had faded off the scene. Daniel and all the wise men of Babylon had been spared.

Daniel’s prayer of praise and thanksgiving serves as a model for us. God gave the answer and he responded with thankfulness. In the same manner, when God reveals His answers to us, we should be thankful.

Perhaps you are waiting on God’s answer to a particular issue of life. Waiting is difficult but often required in God’s economy. Have patience, trust in the Lord, and listen for His answer. And when His answer arrives, don’t forget to thank Him!

Tony French

¹⁶ So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, ¹⁷ which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. ¹⁸ Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.

Colossians 2:16-18

We come to an interesting passage in the study of Colossians this week. Paul gives instruction about how Christians are to live in light of their freedom in Christ. I pray God’s blessing and strengthening upon you as you study the Word of God.

The Apostle’s basic point is this—the Colossian Christians had been saved by grace through the sufficiency of Christ and they were not to allow others to dictate there life in the Savior. Apparently, some within this church were teaching adherence to rules and regulations related to the Jewish law. Paul, himself a Jew, implores the Colossian Believers to not let anyone steal their reward through pride in their works and religious observances.

Christians are justified by faith and faith alone. No amount of works and rule-keeping can save anyone. Therefore, people are to trust in Jesus and Jesus alone for their salvation. Works can never be enough. Jesus is always sufficient and mighty to save.

God’s people are commanded to live holy lives and to represent Christ to the nations. Under the New Covenant, Believers know that works are not the cause of their salvation. Rather, works are the result of the new birth given to every Christian. Good deeds do not save anyone, but, God’s people will pursue a sanctified life to provide evidence of their justification.

What about you? Are you trusting in your goodness and obedience to religious regulations to save you? According to the Bible, those things will never be enough and will leave you lost forever. Believe in Jesus death, burial, and resurrection. Trust in Christ to save you, forgive you, and justify you. He has the power to save you fully, completely, permanently.

Tony French

And Daniel made request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego over the administration of the province of Babylon, while Daniel was at the king’s court.

Daniel 2:49

**Use our position to influence others.

Daniel 2 tells of the incredible vision that God gave the King. Daniel interprets the dream in this manner—a line of successive kingdoms would arise and conquer most of the know world. The dream came to pass exactly as Daniel prophesied and was ultimately fulfilled after Daniel faded from the scene.

After this interpretation was given, Daniel requested that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be made rulers over the entire Babylonian Empire. The request was granted and Daniel’s friends were promoted. Daniel used his position to influence others.

We ought to be looking to do the same as Daniel. Granted, not many of us will ever rise to this level of power and authority. Nonetheless, we should use our influence to help, encourage, and lift others up.

Has the Lord given you a position of authority? If so, realize that it is He that has lifted you up. And then look for times where your influence can change things for the better. You are where you are for a reason. Don’t miss what God may have for to you do especially while you have the occasion to effect positive change.

Position doesn’t last forever. May we redeem the time by using whatever platform God has given us to tell others about Jesus.  Daniel didn’t waste his opportunity to did good for his companions. Neither should we!

Tony French

But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”  Daniel 3:18

**There will be challenges to your faith.

We have been examining principles that help us thrive in a culture that is becoming more and more foreign to us as Believers. The book of Daniel is replete with wisdom on this subject. And the principle that we will examine this week is very apropos to our time and place.

Challenges to the Christian faith abound in our day. Basic principles of right and wrong have now been rejected and replaced with subjective feelings on any given subject. What was once considered right and good is now thought to be phobic and oppressive. What was once considered to be immoral is now celebrated in our culture at most every level. (Isaiah 55) The complete makeover of our society is almost here. How can we hold to the truth of God’s Word?

First, we must trust in God to help us meet the challenges. It will not always be easy and simple. God will bring us through and strengthen us in those times when our beliefs are tested. We can trust in Him!

Also, we must realize that we are not alone. God is always with us. And other Christians down through the centuries have faced the same challenges in their day. The Lord brought them through and He will bring us through victoriously in His time.

Finally, we must abide in God’s constant, immutable Word. He doesn’t change and His Word is eternal. Culture may evolve for the worse, but, the Scriptures remain our constant, never-ending guide. Read the Bible every day. Immerse yourself in its truths, principles, and precepts. The Word of God will never steer you wrong.

Challenges to our faith are consistent in our time. Don’t give up, dear Christian. You will make it through the difficulties and you will overcome through the blood of Jesus. You may lose some battles. But the war is already won. To God be the glory, great things He has done!

Tony French

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Ephesians 2:8-10

Christians love the concept of grace. We sing about it, preach about it, and proclaim it regularly. Grace will always be beautiful to God’s people.

How would we define grace? There are many ways to accomplish that task. One of the best ways to think about grace is this—grace is God’s riches at Christ’s expense. Jesus paid the debt so that we could free. Jesus bore our sin upon the cross so that we may receive His righteousness. Christ endured the horrors of God’s judgement so that we might be gifted the glory of Heaven. This definition is succinct and accurate and seems to encompass what is meant by the word grace.

How should God’s people respond to all this? Christians respond through worship, praise, and thanksgiving. We give thanks for the grace of our Lord which saves, secures, and leads us to our eternal home with Christ. And of this we can be sure—there is no other word for grace but amazing!

Tony French