The Passion of God’s Servant - bogardstore.org · Sunny taught eighth grade earth science, ......

Written by:Beverly BarnettRobert BrockMark Clements

EDITOR IN CHIEF:Larry E. Clements [email protected]

BUSINESS MANAGER:Wayne Sewell [email protected]

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ILLUSTRATOR: Connie Spears

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CONTENT EDITORS: Terry McKellar, Carolyn Burks Deby Turrentine, Joni Curtis

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COVER DESIGN: Jeff Allen

Copyright © 2013Vol. 24, No. 1

Bogard Press4605 N. State Line Ave.Texarkana, TX 75503-2928www.bogardpress.org1-800-264-2482

Daily Devotionals

The Passion of God’s Servant

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Dr. Robert A. “Sunny” Brock discovered America on Income Tax Day, 1941, eight months before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, born to an Oil field hand dad and child polio victim mother. He was raised by five old-country Irish uncles and was first prize winner of the National Interscholastic League Story Telling Contest. He served nine years as a US Air Force chaplain’s assistant during the Vietnam War era.

He attended Baylor University, University of Southern California and the University of Hawaii. He received his Master’s in education from Sam Houston State University and ThD from Texas Baptist Institute

and Seminary. Sunny taught eighth grade earth science, vocational agriculture and women prisoners at Huntsville, TX and has thirty-eight years of teaching and tenure at Texas Baptist Institute and Seminary. Dr. Brock has authored articles for newspapers, religious journals and textbooks—Romans—The Fifth Gospel, Teaching Methods for Bible Teachers, Developmental Psychology, Research and Writing Manual for Master and Doctoral Thesis, Bible Backgrounds, Discipleship and Interpretation of the English Bible, Criterion Press. Book credits include Salt Lick Vol. I and Vol. II, Exlibris Press, Turkey Mountain Boys: My Brother’s Keeper, Tate Publishing, OK. His current project is Laughing in the Chapel: Swamp Kids Devotional.

Mark David Clements has been Associate Pastor at New Liberty Baptist Church in Garland, Texas, since February 2008, and is now pastor since August 2013. He has been married to Jenny since 1996 and God has blessed them with four children: Noah, Mahlah, Nathan and Rhoda. Mark is a graduate of Texas Baptist Institute and Seminary and he and his family were privileged to serve in the southern Philippines as missionaries for seven years. During those seven years, Mark served as an instructor and Dean of Students at Philippine

Missionary Baptist Seminary and planted Grace Baptist Church. Mark is passionate about studying, teaching and preaching God’s Word and helping people experience transformed lives through faith in Christ.

Beverly Barnett grew up in a Missionary Baptist deacon’s home, was saved at the age of nine and joined Hatley MBC, Hatley, MS. She married Nicky Barnett in 1971. Bro. Barnett has pastored in Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi and Florida for the past twenty-eight years. In each of Brother Barnett’s pastorates, Beverly has taught children in Sunday School or children’s church. Beverly returned to school in 1985 and graduated with honors as an LPN. Then, in 1991, she graduated from Northwest Alabama Community College with an associate degree and then became a

registered nurse. She has been a guest writer for “Women of the Harvest” magazine, her hometown newspaper and writes a monthly newsletter. She continues to study the art of writing. She may be contacted at [email protected].

About the Writers

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Date Daily Devotionals Daily ReaDingso November 25 Hebrews 2:9 Romans 1—4o November 26 Psalm 2:4-7 Romans 5—8o November 27 Hebrews 11:6 Romans 9—12o November 28 2 Chronicles 20:20-25 Romans 13—16o November 29 Hebrews 12:1, 2 1 Corinthians 1—4o November 30 1 John 5:14, 15 1 Corinthians 5—8o December 1 2 Peter 1:16-19 1 Corinthians 9—12o December 2 Matthew 20:25-28 1 Corinthians 13—16o December 3 Luke 14:10, 11 2 Corinthians 1 —4o December 4 Luke 17:1, 2 2 Corinthians 5—8 o December 5 Romans 14:13 2 Corinthians 9—12o December 6 1 Corinthians 10:32, 33 2 Corinthians 13; Galatians 1—3o December 7 Titus 2:12 Galatians 4—6; Ephesians 1o December 8 Philippians 2:3-8 Ephesians 2—5o December 9 Genesis 2:20-23 Ephesians 6; Philippians 1—3o December 10 Matthew 5:31, 32 Philippians 4; Colossians 1—3o December 11 1 Corinthians 7:10, 11 Colossians 4; 1 Thessalonians 1—3o December 12 Ephesians 5:22-33 1 Thessalonians 4; 5; 2 Thessalonians 1; 2o December 13 Hebrews 13:4 2 Thessalonians 3; 1 Timothy 1; 2o December 14 Psalm 78:4-7 1 Timothy 3—6o December 15 Malachi 2:14-16 2 Timothy 1—4o December 16 1 Peter 3:18 Titus 1—3; Hebrews 1o December 17 Hebrews 2:14, 15 Hebrews 2—5o December 18 1 Timothy 2:5, 6 Hebrews 6—9o December 19 2 Corinthians 5:21 Hebrews 10—13o December 20 John 13:14, 15 James 1—4o December 21 John 1:29 James 5; I Peter 1—3o December 22 Isaiah 53:3-12 I Peter 4; 5; 2 Peter 1; 2o December 23 Mark 11:27-33 2 Peter 3; 1 John 1-3o December 24 Galatians 4:4-7 1 John 4; 5; 2 John o December 25 Luke 2:25-33 3 John; Jude; Revelation 1; 2o December 26 2 Samuel 7:16, 17 Revelation 3—5o December 27 Zechariah 9:9 Revelation 6—9o December 28 Amos 9:11-15 Revelation 10—13o December 29 John 1:10-13 Revelation 14—16o December 30 Mark 12:41-44 Revelation 17—19o December 31 Matthew 17:24-27 Revelation 20—22

, December Scripture Readings ,

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o January 1 Genesis 1; 2; John 1:1-27o January 2 Genesis 3; 4; John 1:28-51 o January 3 Genesis 5—7; John 2o January 4 Genesis 8; 9; John 3o January 5 Genesis 10; 11; John 4:1-27o January 6 Genesis 12; 13; John 4:28-54 o January 7 Genesis 14; 15; John 5:1-27 o January 8 Genesis 16—18; John 5:28-47 o January 9 Genesis 19; John 6:1-21 o January 10 Genesis 20; 21; John 6:22-40o January 11 Genesis 22; 23; John 6:41-71o January 12 Genesis 24; John 7:1-29o January 13 Genesis 25—27; John 7:30-53o January 14 Genesis 28; 29; John 8:1-27o January 15 Genesis 30; John 8:28-59o January 16 Genesis 31; John 9:1-18o January 17 Genesis 32; 33; John 9:19-41o January 18 Genesis 34—36; John 10:1-21o January 19 Genesis 37; 38; John 10:22-42o January 20 Genesis 39; 40; John 11:1-27o January 21 Genesis 41; John 11:28-57o January 22 Genesis 42; 43; John 12:1-25o January 23 Genesis 44—46; John 12:26-50o January 24 Genesis 47; 48; John 13:1-20o January 25 Genesis 49; 50; John 13:21-38o January 26 Exodus 1; 2; John 14o January 27 Exodus 3; 4; John 15o January 28 Exodus 5; 6; John 16o January 29 Exodus 7; 8; John 17o January 30 Exodus 9; 10; John 18:1-18o January 31 Exodus 11; 12; John 18:19-40

, January Scripture Readings ,

This new year marks a change in the reading through the Bible plan. No longer will the Daily Devotionals appear here. They may still be found in the Adult Quarterly. A complete reading through the Bible in one year will now appear here. The plan will allow you to read through the Old Testament and New Testament simultaneously.

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o February 1 Exodus 13; 14; John 19:1-20

o February 2 Exodus 15; 16; John 19:21-42

o February 3 Exodus 17; 18; John 20

o February 4 Exodus 19; 20; John 21

o February 5 Exodus 21; 22; Matthew 1

o February 6 Exodus 23; Matthew 2



o February 9 Exodus 28; 29; Matthew 5:1-30



o February 12 Exodus 34—36; Matthew 6:25-34



o February 15 Leviticus 1; 2; Matthew 8:1-13



o February 18 Leviticus 7; Matthew 9:27-38



o February 21 Leviticus 12—14; Matthew 11



, February Scripture Readings ,

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Monday, November 25

He Tasted Death for UsHebrews 2:9

The idea that Jesus has already paid for the sins of every human being that would ever exist on earth is an amazing concept. Even stubborn, prideful people who reject God’s gift and go to hell, go there with their sins paid for. God says our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. There is no way we could be a perfect sacrifice. Therefore, God sent His Son, born of a woman, to be that perfect sacrifice. When Jesus went to the cross, He was receiving punishment from the Father

and transferring it to the mind of God inside that body. Therefore, God, once for all time, for all people, paid for all our sin. “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; . . . For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified (Heb. 10:10, 12, 14). Since God paid for all sin, He certainly has the right to dictate the terms by which we can receive that gift. All we have to do is believe that Jesus died for our sins, confess that we are sinners, repent and ask God to forgive and give us His gift. He is standing there with outstretched arms offering free salvation to everybody. It cost man nothing, but it cost God the supreme sacrifice, His only begotten Son.

Robert Brock

It is so amazing, how deep His love isfor mankind. Are you thankful?

Just saying

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man,” Hebrews 2:9.

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Tuesday, November 26

God’s King Will ComePsalm 2:4-7

From the beginning God has been redeeming creation back to Himself, back to a kingdom where His Redeemer is the preeminent monarch, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Mankind has need of a king who will guide his heart back to God. Otherwise, man does that which is right in his own eyes, and that is Satan’s playhouse. In America, we love the idea of democracy. Democracy is wonderful as along as the nation’s leaders guide the people back to the source of all the blessings. However, in a democracy there is a possibility that Satan’s advocates can lead the nation away from God. One nation under God, without God, does not exist. Isaiah warned Israel, “O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths” (Isa. 3:12). We must pray for our leaders, but always remember that one day Jesus Christ will sit on the throne as God’s King, and those who know Him as Savior will rule and reign with Him for a thousand years. When God’s King sets up God’s kingdom, “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. . . . I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son” (Rev. 21:4-8).

Robert Brock

The only way to enjoy a rulership is to bethe child of the ruler. Think about it (John 3:36).

Just saying

“Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion,” Psalm 2:6.

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Wednesday, November 27

The Necessity of FaithHebrews 11:6

Since everything was created by Christ for His pleasure, and since faith is the only way to bring Him pleasure, Christians would do well to understand what faith really is. God working in us to bring about His good pleasure means that to live by faith we must surrender to God and let Him work His own pleasure out in our lives (Phil. 2:12, 13). Faith is not something we can work-up, it is God working in us. Even in salvation, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that

not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8, 9). “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:16, 20). The faith and the grace is all of Christ that He may receive all the glory. Faith, hope and love are supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit. Surrender, relax, enjoy the ride and leave the driving to Jesus.

Robert Brock

For whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Rom 14:23). How much of our lives will not reap rewards

because it was not of faith?

Just saying

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him,” Hebrews 11:6.

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Thursday, November 28

The Faith Way Pays2 Chronicles 20:20-25

The faith way pays, but not in physical rewards, rather in spiritual ways. In Matthew 5:3-11 the word blessed is repeated nine times. Blessed means “happy” in the sense of spiritually prosperous. In America, we read God’s Word from an extremely physically blessed point of view. But, those who are crushed by pain and tragedy, those living under terrible circumstances in foreign lands, they all are promised the same blessings from the same Bible. God is good in any language. In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul prayed to God to heal him and make serving easier. However, God made it clear to Paul that he did not need healing; all he needed was God’s grace. Since faith is merely surrender to God’s will, not

ours, then faith brings God’s grace. If we surrender to the fact that we are the servant, and He is the King, then we can understand that when we have a problem, we don’t have a problem, Jesus does. He owns us body, mind and spirit. Therefore, when we surrender to His authority, we get what we want because we are believing that what He wants for us is best. The payoff—God’s will will come to pass. Therefore, if we want what He wants, then we get what we want all our lives.

Robert Brock

Since we are God’s personal possession, admitting it in every situation is faith (1 Cor. 6:20). Two options: faith it or fake it.

Just saying

“Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, . . . Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established . . . so shall ye prosper. And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them . . . they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much,”2 Chronicles 20:20, 25.

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Friday, November 29

Focus on JesusHebrews 12:1, 2

Jesus has set the race of life for each of us to run. Our focus determines how we will run that race. Fellowshipping with God must be through Jesus. God has made Jesus the finish line. He hung on the cross, writhing in pain, but he had joy in His heart because He knew He was bringing many children to the Father. Isaiah said that Jesus would be set as our banner, a flag, seen from afar to help orient the weary, lost traveler. My youngest son once ran an important physical training test in the Army Reserves

with a young African sergeant from Kenya. They were racing against the clock with a mile to go. The sergeant said, “Let’s make like a female lion is chasing us.” That would definitely make one goal-oriented, concentrating on the finish line. Abraham was promised a city and a great nation of children. At the time he was a pilgrim in a strange land with no children. He died believing that God would keep that promise. He was focused on the One who made the promise and in faith lived his life toward that goal. Focusing on the goal gave him courage to keep running the race. We must not expend all our energy concentrating on the problems that occur in the race, but look unto Jesus. He promised us a city where there are no more tears, pain or death. Keep your eyes on the finish line; He’s waiting with open arms.

Robert Brock

A plowman looking backward alwaysplows a crooked row (Luke 9:62).

Just saying

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God,” Hebrews 12:2.

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Saturday, November 30

Confident Prayer1 John 5:14, 15

Some have preached that God does not want you poor; He does not want you sick. Evidently, Lazarus, the beggar, covered in sores and Paul, the sick apostle, did not hear that message. Paul surrendered to God’s will and experienced satisfaction in the face of his many trials (2 Cor. 12:10). In 1 John 5:14, John explains that the confidence must rest in the source of the

blessings. We have had people promise us something, and we didn’t even consider it possible that the promise was valid because we didn’t trust the integrity of the promiser. In the heat of adversity, some make promises they know they can never fulfill. We cannot always heal every hurt and carry every burden. Just like with Paul, often adversity is God’s best teacher. Sometimes all we can do is pray and hold the hand of the hurting while God carries them forward. Paul’s confidence came from personal experience: “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengthenenth me” (Phil. 4:11-13). The confidence must be in Him, not in our ability to back Him into a corner and use twisted Scriptures to force God to come through with the desires of our heart.

Robert Brock

Confiding in the confidant increases confidence and security. Just saying

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us,” 1 John 5:14.

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Sunday, December 1

Eyewitness of His Majesty2 Peter 1:16-19

God elevated the experience of Jesus’ transfiguration when He announced from Heaven, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 17:5). Peter did not understand the entire situation at that time, but later, when the Holy Spirit enlightened his mind, he understood that, if a man will listen as God speaks to his heart through the Word, he will see Jesus Christ clearly, a more sure word of prophecy, Creator—the Shekinah glory of God—the Light, the Comforter.

Like a dim light shining in a dark room, the Old Testament presented Christ clearly enough to know that man is a sinner. Then, when He walked among us in the New Testament Gospels, it was like the sun had risen and shined in the window, paling the dim light of the Old Testament. We saw His glory as of the Only begotten of the Father, and He became our standard of measurement to see that we fall far short of God’s glory. But, better than that, when the day star arose in our own hearts, we saw clearly that He didn’t come to condemn us with the schoolmaster—the Law. He came to save us from the awful consequences of our sin. We don’t have to concentrate on how evil we are. In Hebrews 10:5, we see how much God really loves us and cleansed us for His fellowship. Hebrews 4:12 teaches that God’s Word does spiritual cataract surgery on us, and then in verse 13 we can be quiet and revel in His glory.

Robert Brock

If you are an eyewitness of Jesus’ majesty in your life, no one on earth can say you haven’t seen what you saw (John 14:21).

Just saying

“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty,”2 Peter 1:16.

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Monday, December 2

Follow Christ’s ExampleMatthew 20:25-28

“Even as” has the connotation that whatever one is doing, it parallels something or someone else. Christ is definitely an impeccable example to follow. Jesus proclaimed, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). When we walk in His Light,

there is no way we can not be good examples. Sounds like a great deal with an awesome guarantee. Follow Him, and you will be an example to follow. Paul invited his disciples to follow him as he followed Christ. We have many little and big people hanging onto our shirt tails. If we are walking in Jesus’ Light, they can’t go wrong. When I was a child, I thought my grandfather, Allen Riley, was God. I followed him everywhere. He was a four foot eleven inch, Irish leprechaun with curly black eyebrows across his forehead. I basically worshiped him. He could do no wrong. Then, I grew up and could easily rest my arm on his shoulder, but he never stopped being ten feet tall. Many people will excel or fall because of their example. If our example is a reflection of Jesus, those who follow us can’t go astray as they follow Jesus in us. “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it” (Luke 9:23, 24).

Robert Brock

When we look down the path of a Christian’s life, we see two sets of footprints, one behind the other. When there’s only one

set of prints, Jesus is carrying somebody on His shoulders.

Just saying

“Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many,”Matthew 20:28.

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Tuesday, December 3

Humility—The Wayto Greatness

Luke 14:10, 11

To humble oneself to be exalted is an oxymoron. James and Peter also gave the same admonition. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Since the grace of greatness is only afforded by God to those who are humble, it would benefit us to find out what it means to humble oneself. Jesus publicly accused the Pharisees of false piety for publicly

advertising their fasts and disfiguring themselves to appear humble and submissive. Humility that God recognizes is supernatural, a gift of the Holy Spirit, like the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22, 23). Humility appears not to be the result of praying for it, but rather surrendering oneself to God’s control. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (James 4:10). Here, we see James, Jesus’ blood brother, advising us to humble ourselves to be lifted up by God. One basically has to lift an empty cup for God to fill. “Blessed are the poor in spirit [spiritually bankrupt] for their’s is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:3). Greatness in the eyes of God may be opposite man’s idea of greatness. Jesus told twelve jealous apostles that the greatest people in the kingdom are those with a servant’s heart, willing to serve others rather than be served. Jesus Himself came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.

Robert Brock

Here’s my cup, Lord. Fill it up and run it over into others’ lives.Just saying

“For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted,”Luke 14:11.

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Wednesday, December 4

Offenses—Inevitable but CostlyLuke 17:1, 2

In Matthew 18:5, Jesus rewards compassion for others; it is easy to offend others when we are focused on ourselves. Often we offend others and do not even know it. About forty years ago, I heard the statistic on radio that each year Americans spend hundreds of millions on chewing gum and billions on dog food. I had the clever idea that, if we put the

same cost of our pet care in a jar and sent it to missions, what a blessing it would be. Then I made the statement that some people care more for their dogs than they do for God’s work. The lady on the third row was terribly hurt by the statement because everyone but me knew that her two twin giant poodles regularly got thirty dollar hair-dos. Since I did not know the lady even had a dog, I felt excused. But, after many years of dealing with people and innocently offending some, I have learned that even the slightest cute remark can break someone’s heart because others hear what we say between their own two ears, and there are a lot of factors in there that we do not realize. Today, think of someone you may have offended, even if in jest, pray about it, and then make it right with that person. Eating crow is always a good elixir for one’s spiritual health. Offenses can become baggage that we drag all through our lives, rendering us nonfunctional as mature Christians.

Robert Brock

Pluck all the black feathers off a crow, bake it to a golden brown, season it with prayer and tears,

and it tastes just like Pharaoh quail.

Just saying

“Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come,” Luke 17:1.

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