7.31.2011
John 2:15-16 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!”
What a curious sight – Jesus making a whip. Hey Lord, whatcha doin? Something that shoulda been done a long time ago. Whoa! Jesus! Dude, what you planning on doin’ wit’ dat!? C’mon! We’re going to the Temple, you’ll see…
I read a commentary that said the whip Jesus made wasn’t really a whip but a symbol to the people in the Temple that what they were doing was wrong. Okay, whatever. I tend to think it was really a whip and Jesus really used it – it really got results; start swinging a whip around and people tend to get out of the way… You see, if we tame down the whip we might tend to tame down the overturning the tables and the yelling and chaos that ensued. Jesus was very insulted that the Temple – the Footstool of the Lord – was being used so disrespectfully. Their religion had become a circus sideshow complete with ponies!
Jesus was good at crafting things. John 1.3 says, Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. John 1.10 says, He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. And to think that He showed up at the Temple that day with a symbolic whip…I don’t think so! The Creator of the universe crafted up a real whip and chased a real crowd out of the real Temple to make a real point: all of this animal buying and money-exchanging was a load of crap and He wasn’t going to passively sit by and let it happen anymore. Enough! Jesuscraft.
Sometimes I think it’s important for us to think about what led up to some (or all) of the events of Scripture. God never intended for us to live such weird lives and do such weird things under the label of: In His Name. Just because we call it, In His Name, doesn’t mean it is. Most of our religion seems to be the result of peoplecraft, not Jesuscraft. What gets people all fired up is when the Creator of the Universe starts swinging a whip around…watch out, that thing hurts!
Makes me want to take inventory of my life and ask, Lord Jesus, what am I doing that isn’t of You; and how do I stop it (short of You beating me with a whip)? Jesus by His Spirit now calls me a Temple and if that’s the case, I should live accordingly lest He craft up something to make me quit using His Father’s property improperly. It’s worth thinking about…
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
R.I.P.
7.29.2011
Isaiah 57:1-2 The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. 2 Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death. NIV
Probably not many of us are going to think about our death today. I sat in the living room minutes ago and thought about all of the things I have to do today; death wasn’t even on the list! I’m gonna get ready for work here in a few and then go and do until I come home again this evening and relax for a bit and then fall into my bed, sleep and get up and do it again – amen.
I’ve always wondered where the notion rest in peace came from; where’d we ever get that? I know we say that for many whose passing is great relief to us all; their lives were such a shambles. I know we say that for great people whose contribution to society was appreciated by many and their efforts, diligence, and passion will be greatly missed. I know we’ve shaken our heads over the passing of some and we’ve said, their pain is gone; they’re in a better place now. Are they really? Do we know that for fact?
Isaiah words slapped me upside the head when I read them today, “…no one understands the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.” Hmmm, try that one on for size. Or this one: Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death. Wow! Those are big, big words.
It’s not the statesman who finds peace in death; nor the tormented, nor the tormentor – it’s the righteous. And when the righteous leave we all ought to sense the hole left on earth at their passing. The righteous make a difference in the atmosphere of life on the whole planet! The righteous are those whose prayer is an offering to God of immeasurable proportion. It’s the righteous whose holy lives look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. The Day of the Lord is not high on the list for many of us today either. But it is coming, and the righteous play a huge part in how soon it appears.
I will make a difference in this world today just by how I live and Whom I serve. I’m probably not going to think much about death today but I am going to think about how I live and what difference that makes in the lives around me.
Lord, for the sake of Your Kingdom and the lives of others, help me to walk rightly and uprightly this day – amen!
Isaiah 57:1-2 The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. 2 Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death. NIV
Probably not many of us are going to think about our death today. I sat in the living room minutes ago and thought about all of the things I have to do today; death wasn’t even on the list! I’m gonna get ready for work here in a few and then go and do until I come home again this evening and relax for a bit and then fall into my bed, sleep and get up and do it again – amen.
I’ve always wondered where the notion rest in peace came from; where’d we ever get that? I know we say that for many whose passing is great relief to us all; their lives were such a shambles. I know we say that for great people whose contribution to society was appreciated by many and their efforts, diligence, and passion will be greatly missed. I know we’ve shaken our heads over the passing of some and we’ve said, their pain is gone; they’re in a better place now. Are they really? Do we know that for fact?
Isaiah words slapped me upside the head when I read them today, “…no one understands the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.” Hmmm, try that one on for size. Or this one: Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death. Wow! Those are big, big words.
It’s not the statesman who finds peace in death; nor the tormented, nor the tormentor – it’s the righteous. And when the righteous leave we all ought to sense the hole left on earth at their passing. The righteous make a difference in the atmosphere of life on the whole planet! The righteous are those whose prayer is an offering to God of immeasurable proportion. It’s the righteous whose holy lives look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. The Day of the Lord is not high on the list for many of us today either. But it is coming, and the righteous play a huge part in how soon it appears.
I will make a difference in this world today just by how I live and Whom I serve. I’m probably not going to think much about death today but I am going to think about how I live and what difference that makes in the lives around me.
Lord, for the sake of Your Kingdom and the lives of others, help me to walk rightly and uprightly this day – amen!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Channeled
7.28.2011
Isaiah 54:9 9 “To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. NIV
Have you ever wondered about the statements the Lord makes, like this one above? I think it’s important that we do if only because it reveals His character and His heart to us. Think of the magnitude of these words: So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. That is a massive statement only because of how God has been treated since these words were recorded.
In Hebrews 12 God is quoted as saying, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” (Hebrews 12:5-6 NIV) The difference is relationship and the kind of relationship. And the difference is discipline versus anger.
God’s compassion shows that He is gracious, patient, and forgiving. For God to say that He has sworn not to get angry ought to get our attention because when God says something, no matter how bad things get, it’s said; it's done; it's finished! How marvelous and gracious our God to put up with what He puts up with and always continuing to have faith in His plan to redeem us to Himself. How resolute and final His word.
Isaiah 55.10 says: “…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11 NIV) This from the mouth of the One who says He will never again deal with us in anger but through Christ will help us and redeem us in love. What a God!
So, today I go out with joy and by His Holy Spirit, I am led forth in peace because my God loves me and is for me. Yes, I will bear up under His discipline but that is only to make me better through my trials and cause me to depend upon only upon Him. Today, I know the anger of the Lord has been successfully channeled away from me through the sacrifice of His Son and I am eternally safe because of it.
Isaiah 54:9 9 “To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. NIV
Have you ever wondered about the statements the Lord makes, like this one above? I think it’s important that we do if only because it reveals His character and His heart to us. Think of the magnitude of these words: So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. That is a massive statement only because of how God has been treated since these words were recorded.
In Hebrews 12 God is quoted as saying, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” (Hebrews 12:5-6 NIV) The difference is relationship and the kind of relationship. And the difference is discipline versus anger.
God’s compassion shows that He is gracious, patient, and forgiving. For God to say that He has sworn not to get angry ought to get our attention because when God says something, no matter how bad things get, it’s said; it's done; it's finished! How marvelous and gracious our God to put up with what He puts up with and always continuing to have faith in His plan to redeem us to Himself. How resolute and final His word.
Isaiah 55.10 says: “…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11 NIV) This from the mouth of the One who says He will never again deal with us in anger but through Christ will help us and redeem us in love. What a God!
So, today I go out with joy and by His Holy Spirit, I am led forth in peace because my God loves me and is for me. Yes, I will bear up under His discipline but that is only to make me better through my trials and cause me to depend upon only upon Him. Today, I know the anger of the Lord has been successfully channeled away from me through the sacrifice of His Son and I am eternally safe because of it.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Autobiography
7.27.2011
2 Peter 1:5-7 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. NIV
It is always comforting for me to read Peter’s epistles and hear (in the voice of my mind as I read) how much Peter changed over the years. Peter, the brash and impulsive one was graciously mellowed in his old age, having been seasoned in the crucible of life’s sufferings. When I read his words I feel I am reading his autobiography.
Peter mentions self-control at least four times in his letters. Peter, as an old man came to understand the beauty and strength of self-control. Life hadn’t left him bitter – suffering made him better. Peter’s life is an encouragement to me. The changes he went through give me hope in my now later years.
I look back on my life and especially my life in Christ and I see that I have hung up my high-powered doctrine guns; there are simply too many bodies in the wake of my scathing arguments that led nowhere and often angered people to the point where they simply avoided me. Peter said if we have theses things (listed above) and own them in increasing measure, then our lives will be fruitful and productive. But if we crowd them out, we run the risk of losing sight of what is truly important: salvation in all its fullness, and relationship with God and with others who share our faith.
Self-control plays a major role in how well we relate to God and to others. Peter understood this well and had painful memories of his gaffes and yet joyous experience of walking right alongside the Savior and seeing his own life change in the process.
I’m learning, albeit ever so slowly, that self-control for me is just as beautiful and strong in my own experience as it was for Peter in his. But reading Peter is one thing, sharing his experience in Christ and through the fellowship of the Spirit is quite another. Autobiographies are not immune from embellishment if one simply wants to garner attention; however, living life openly, honestly, and humbly in the midst of suffering causes people to pay closer attention... and then perhaps ask why you are what you are…
2 Peter 1:5-7 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. NIV
It is always comforting for me to read Peter’s epistles and hear (in the voice of my mind as I read) how much Peter changed over the years. Peter, the brash and impulsive one was graciously mellowed in his old age, having been seasoned in the crucible of life’s sufferings. When I read his words I feel I am reading his autobiography.
Peter mentions self-control at least four times in his letters. Peter, as an old man came to understand the beauty and strength of self-control. Life hadn’t left him bitter – suffering made him better. Peter’s life is an encouragement to me. The changes he went through give me hope in my now later years.
I look back on my life and especially my life in Christ and I see that I have hung up my high-powered doctrine guns; there are simply too many bodies in the wake of my scathing arguments that led nowhere and often angered people to the point where they simply avoided me. Peter said if we have theses things (listed above) and own them in increasing measure, then our lives will be fruitful and productive. But if we crowd them out, we run the risk of losing sight of what is truly important: salvation in all its fullness, and relationship with God and with others who share our faith.
Self-control plays a major role in how well we relate to God and to others. Peter understood this well and had painful memories of his gaffes and yet joyous experience of walking right alongside the Savior and seeing his own life change in the process.
I’m learning, albeit ever so slowly, that self-control for me is just as beautiful and strong in my own experience as it was for Peter in his. But reading Peter is one thing, sharing his experience in Christ and through the fellowship of the Spirit is quite another. Autobiographies are not immune from embellishment if one simply wants to garner attention; however, living life openly, honestly, and humbly in the midst of suffering causes people to pay closer attention... and then perhaps ask why you are what you are…
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Learning to Believe
7.23.2011
1 Peter 2:2-3 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
1 Peter 2:23 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. NIV
It occurs to me that growing up in our salvation means just that: growing up. When Peter made the comment: Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. (1 Peter 2:1) it sounds to me like he meant just that: take responsibility for yourself and your testimony and get rid of all the things that give people cause to criticize you; he may have meant: quit being selfishly malicious, deceitful, hypocritical, envious and slanderous yourself so that others can see your maturity and the validity of your faith.
And so it occurs to me that by craving pure spiritual milk we are so nourished that the battle for the emotions is won by being cleansed, taught, encouraged, and admonished by the Word of God so that we can in turn entrust ourselves to Him who judges justly. Whining and griping, complaining and being selfish is a huge turn off to people who hear us talking about the Lord and then acting like spoiled babies. At least when they act that way, they aren’t held accountable to a higher standard – they simply live in the world of kill or be killed.
Today, these words are yet another reminder for me to take seriously my walk with the Lord, and my testimony before men. My walk with the Lord is to be free from pettiness, anger, fits of rage (as Paul says in Galatians 5), selfishness and self-centeredness. The presence of these things bear testimony that the power to entrust myself to God in tough times is either missing or powerless. And if I cannot shine in moments of light difficulty how will I ever endure in moments of great stress, tribulation, and trouble?
Life is a process of learning to believe that what the Scripture calls me to is valid and necessary. There are actions I must take all on my own and I must rid myself of all that is in me that makes Jesus look bad or weak or absent. That’s a huge order, but it is biblical. I can only do that by submitting myself to Him and allowing Him to point out everything that is within me that refuses to obey His every word. Our ancient friend Peter had to learn it the hard way – who am I to think that I won’t have to learn it that way also?
1 Peter 2:2-3 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
1 Peter 2:23 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. NIV
It occurs to me that growing up in our salvation means just that: growing up. When Peter made the comment: Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. (1 Peter 2:1) it sounds to me like he meant just that: take responsibility for yourself and your testimony and get rid of all the things that give people cause to criticize you; he may have meant: quit being selfishly malicious, deceitful, hypocritical, envious and slanderous yourself so that others can see your maturity and the validity of your faith.
And so it occurs to me that by craving pure spiritual milk we are so nourished that the battle for the emotions is won by being cleansed, taught, encouraged, and admonished by the Word of God so that we can in turn entrust ourselves to Him who judges justly. Whining and griping, complaining and being selfish is a huge turn off to people who hear us talking about the Lord and then acting like spoiled babies. At least when they act that way, they aren’t held accountable to a higher standard – they simply live in the world of kill or be killed.
Today, these words are yet another reminder for me to take seriously my walk with the Lord, and my testimony before men. My walk with the Lord is to be free from pettiness, anger, fits of rage (as Paul says in Galatians 5), selfishness and self-centeredness. The presence of these things bear testimony that the power to entrust myself to God in tough times is either missing or powerless. And if I cannot shine in moments of light difficulty how will I ever endure in moments of great stress, tribulation, and trouble?
Life is a process of learning to believe that what the Scripture calls me to is valid and necessary. There are actions I must take all on my own and I must rid myself of all that is in me that makes Jesus look bad or weak or absent. That’s a huge order, but it is biblical. I can only do that by submitting myself to Him and allowing Him to point out everything that is within me that refuses to obey His every word. Our ancient friend Peter had to learn it the hard way – who am I to think that I won’t have to learn it that way also?
Friday, July 22, 2011
Feelings or Faith
7.22.2011
Isaiah 37:14 14 Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. NIV
What happens when we get bad news? Many are prone to panic. Many slip off somewhere to scheme. Many viciously vent. Some pathetically pout. Some are ardently angry. Others willfully worship. It’s one thing when a peasant or a pawn does this – it’s altogether different when a leader does one of the above.
One thing Hezekiah did throughout his reign was to keep his eyes (mostly) on the Lord. Oh he had his moments, but overall he was one of the greatest kings of Judah. And when bad news came to him? He read it and spread it.
How would it make us feel if today in Washington D.C. our national leaders decided to get together and fall on their faces in repentance and humility seeking the Lord with all their hearts, waiting upon Him for a solution to our current crisis (whatever that is, because in government, there always is a current crisis). I wonder what the people of Judah thought when their king went up to the Temple to seek God after he received the threatening letter from the Assyrians; I wonder how they felt.
We don’t live by feelings but feelings tell us a lot about how we view things. If I feel good about something, I usually see it as something of benefit or goodness. But what happens when a leader does something? That goes a long way to either lift peoples emotions, or dash them. Hezekiah read the news and then spread it out before the Lord. I’d feel pretty good about that. But you know, if he wadded it up and threw it over the city wall, I’d probably feel good about that too; the second scenario would be faulty feelings based on self, attitude, and bravado. Attitude and bravado might win some battles, but God wins every battle – the ones around me, and more importantly, the ones within me. It all depends on how I approach them.
Sometimes I’m right and I know it. Sometimes I’m right but I need to let God be God. I think that’s what Hezekiah did; and I think that’s what I am supposed to do. The more often I depend upon me the more I betray a heart that says to God, “Relax, I can handle this!” Arrogant bravado or humble faith – it’s up to me to see the difference and then act appropriately.
Isaiah 37:14 14 Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. NIV
What happens when we get bad news? Many are prone to panic. Many slip off somewhere to scheme. Many viciously vent. Some pathetically pout. Some are ardently angry. Others willfully worship. It’s one thing when a peasant or a pawn does this – it’s altogether different when a leader does one of the above.
One thing Hezekiah did throughout his reign was to keep his eyes (mostly) on the Lord. Oh he had his moments, but overall he was one of the greatest kings of Judah. And when bad news came to him? He read it and spread it.
How would it make us feel if today in Washington D.C. our national leaders decided to get together and fall on their faces in repentance and humility seeking the Lord with all their hearts, waiting upon Him for a solution to our current crisis (whatever that is, because in government, there always is a current crisis). I wonder what the people of Judah thought when their king went up to the Temple to seek God after he received the threatening letter from the Assyrians; I wonder how they felt.
We don’t live by feelings but feelings tell us a lot about how we view things. If I feel good about something, I usually see it as something of benefit or goodness. But what happens when a leader does something? That goes a long way to either lift peoples emotions, or dash them. Hezekiah read the news and then spread it out before the Lord. I’d feel pretty good about that. But you know, if he wadded it up and threw it over the city wall, I’d probably feel good about that too; the second scenario would be faulty feelings based on self, attitude, and bravado. Attitude and bravado might win some battles, but God wins every battle – the ones around me, and more importantly, the ones within me. It all depends on how I approach them.
Sometimes I’m right and I know it. Sometimes I’m right but I need to let God be God. I think that’s what Hezekiah did; and I think that’s what I am supposed to do. The more often I depend upon me the more I betray a heart that says to God, “Relax, I can handle this!” Arrogant bravado or humble faith – it’s up to me to see the difference and then act appropriately.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Reaching Heaven
7.20.2011
2 Chronicles 30:27 27 The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, his holy dwelling place. NIV
I have often been critical of Hezekiah for being a phony. He wasn’t; I just adopted the thought that he was. The whole illness thing and the Babylonian envoys really disappointed me. And yet today, I repent of thinking that way for I see Hezekiah was truly a good man and a real servant of the Lord. He wasn’t without fault and he blew it towards the end but he was a good guy and he led the parade back to the courts of worship of God.
The verse above comes from the historical record of the first Passover celebrated under Hezekiah’s rule. What catches my attention is the little phrase that says, “…for their prayer reached heaven…”. That’s what prayer is all about: reaching heaven. If prayers don’t reach heaven, why pray?
Their prayer was for the blessing of the people and God heard their prayer. Sometimes we might think just because God hears our prayer that life will be easy and ripple-free. Not true. But when our prayer reaches heaven, then something divine occurs and when something divine occurs then life changes for people, places, and things. Do we think our prayer ought to reach heaven for our national, state, and local leaders? Do we want our prayer to reach heaven for our kids, our relatives, and our churches? Of course we do!
Their prayer reached heaven because they returned to God and obeyed Him. If my prayers are hitting the ceiling, then I might need to look into how I’m treating the Lord and if I’m doing the last thing He told me to do. Prayer that reaches heaven is prayer that is offered in humility, respect, and worship to the True King.
Do we know where our prayers go? Can we say with assurance that they make it all the way to heaven? Do God hear our selfish, self-centered little tirades about how miserable our lives are or does He hear the prayers that come from broken and obedient hearts? We can be the judge of that just by honestly and openly examining our hearts – are we really being true?
God answers prayer. God hears prayer. But it appears that God is especially pleased when prayer is lifted to Him out of humble and broken, obedient hearts. It would be quite a testimony to have on the tombstone written: His prayer reached heaven. I say let’s live our lives toward that end today.
2 Chronicles 30:27 27 The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, his holy dwelling place. NIV
I have often been critical of Hezekiah for being a phony. He wasn’t; I just adopted the thought that he was. The whole illness thing and the Babylonian envoys really disappointed me. And yet today, I repent of thinking that way for I see Hezekiah was truly a good man and a real servant of the Lord. He wasn’t without fault and he blew it towards the end but he was a good guy and he led the parade back to the courts of worship of God.
The verse above comes from the historical record of the first Passover celebrated under Hezekiah’s rule. What catches my attention is the little phrase that says, “…for their prayer reached heaven…”. That’s what prayer is all about: reaching heaven. If prayers don’t reach heaven, why pray?
Their prayer was for the blessing of the people and God heard their prayer. Sometimes we might think just because God hears our prayer that life will be easy and ripple-free. Not true. But when our prayer reaches heaven, then something divine occurs and when something divine occurs then life changes for people, places, and things. Do we think our prayer ought to reach heaven for our national, state, and local leaders? Do we want our prayer to reach heaven for our kids, our relatives, and our churches? Of course we do!
Their prayer reached heaven because they returned to God and obeyed Him. If my prayers are hitting the ceiling, then I might need to look into how I’m treating the Lord and if I’m doing the last thing He told me to do. Prayer that reaches heaven is prayer that is offered in humility, respect, and worship to the True King.
Do we know where our prayers go? Can we say with assurance that they make it all the way to heaven? Do God hear our selfish, self-centered little tirades about how miserable our lives are or does He hear the prayers that come from broken and obedient hearts? We can be the judge of that just by honestly and openly examining our hearts – are we really being true?
God answers prayer. God hears prayer. But it appears that God is especially pleased when prayer is lifted to Him out of humble and broken, obedient hearts. It would be quite a testimony to have on the tombstone written: His prayer reached heaven. I say let’s live our lives toward that end today.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Sow What
7.19.2011
James 3:17-18 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. NIV
There are substances on earth that are extremely rare. Men spend their entire lives trying to identify those things and hoard them in order to gain riches, power, and control. And James said there is a form of wisdom that is bitterly envious and ambitiously selfish. It’s the fine art of men versus men to see who dies with the most toys, the biggest office, the prettiest wife, or whatever. This form of wisdom is one of the most destructive forces in all the earth for it vaunts self over all else; it is earthly and evil.
Heaven's offer is a wisdom that is pure. It is also peace-loving; it loves seeing others at peace with God. Personal peace with God is the key to global peace among the nations. It is also considerate, submissive, merciful and fruitful. It deals impartially and sincerely. These are rare things among men these days. These things take away from the commodities of bitter envy and selfish ambition; and men love and invest their entire lives jockeying for position out of envy and ambition.
Heaven’s wisdom is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. We humans mostly don’t recognize this because we mostly don’t possess it. And we can only possess it if we get it from Heaven; and we can only access Heaven if we have a Key; and we can only have a Key if God gives us one; and He has in the Person of His Son and in the presence of His Spirit. It’s God’s way or no way.
And you get what you sow: Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. Can you use a little righteousness today? I know I can. Peacemakers are all about peace with God because peace with our enemies is worthless if we have no peace with God. The wisdom of the earth is: conquer or be conquered; kill or be killed. The wisdom of Heaven is: come to know God and by doing so know peace. Know God, know peace; no God, no peace.
Fill my bag today, Lord, with the seed of peace in the presence of Your Spirit that I may see a harvest of righteousness in my world – Amen.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Payback
7.18.2011
Isaiah 34:16 16 Look in the scroll of the Lord and read: None of these will be missing, not one will lack her mate. For it is his mouth that has given the order, and his Spirit will gather them together. NIV
The scene is the throne room of heaven. There is worship, reverence, and millions and millions of angels all attending the King; awaiting His next word. The camera zooms in, and in the frame, all we can see is the mouth of the Lord; and like the sound of mighty thunder He speaks: My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; see, it descends in judgment on Edom, the people I have totally destroyed. (Isaiah 34:5 NIV) God speaks. God commands and God judges the nations. God saves the faithful and protects the innocent but whatever God does in judgment, He does firmly, and with finality. In Edom, where once was a thriving community of people and villages there was now a haunt for wild birds, jackals, and beasts.
Edom was the people-group descended from Isaac’s son Esau, the wicked twin brother of Jacob, who despised his birthright and sold it to Jacob for a bowl of chili. From Esau came a nation of people who hated the Jews – their cousins. Family squabbles may start small but in time if left unchecked can cause whole nations to hate each other and seek revenge. Such was the case of Edom; a jealous, ruthless nation that took every opportunity to viciously exact revenge on Judah. So much for brotherly love.
God notices those things. And God sees what goes on in my heart when I react to people I’m either threatened by or feel have hurt me. The calling on my life is to let God handle that but sometimes the fear is too great, or the hurt too deep. I have choices at that point – I can either let God handle it, or I can take care of it on my own. Love for God means love for and forgiveness to people – or at least it’s supposed to. The choice is mine whether I choose His way or my own.
The judgment of Edom was irrevocable and the nation of Edom with all its bitterness and jealousy, was completely destroyed just as the Lord commanded; the words came right from His lips. And God summoned (see above) the wild birds and animals to inhabit a land where once people did. When I choose my way over God’s I risk the removal of His hand of protection, and forfeit His wisdom for direction. God always pays back, with interest, on what we invest, be it righteousness, or some other way.
Isaiah 34:16 16 Look in the scroll of the Lord and read: None of these will be missing, not one will lack her mate. For it is his mouth that has given the order, and his Spirit will gather them together. NIV
The scene is the throne room of heaven. There is worship, reverence, and millions and millions of angels all attending the King; awaiting His next word. The camera zooms in, and in the frame, all we can see is the mouth of the Lord; and like the sound of mighty thunder He speaks: My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; see, it descends in judgment on Edom, the people I have totally destroyed. (Isaiah 34:5 NIV) God speaks. God commands and God judges the nations. God saves the faithful and protects the innocent but whatever God does in judgment, He does firmly, and with finality. In Edom, where once was a thriving community of people and villages there was now a haunt for wild birds, jackals, and beasts.
Edom was the people-group descended from Isaac’s son Esau, the wicked twin brother of Jacob, who despised his birthright and sold it to Jacob for a bowl of chili. From Esau came a nation of people who hated the Jews – their cousins. Family squabbles may start small but in time if left unchecked can cause whole nations to hate each other and seek revenge. Such was the case of Edom; a jealous, ruthless nation that took every opportunity to viciously exact revenge on Judah. So much for brotherly love.
God notices those things. And God sees what goes on in my heart when I react to people I’m either threatened by or feel have hurt me. The calling on my life is to let God handle that but sometimes the fear is too great, or the hurt too deep. I have choices at that point – I can either let God handle it, or I can take care of it on my own. Love for God means love for and forgiveness to people – or at least it’s supposed to. The choice is mine whether I choose His way or my own.
The judgment of Edom was irrevocable and the nation of Edom with all its bitterness and jealousy, was completely destroyed just as the Lord commanded; the words came right from His lips. And God summoned (see above) the wild birds and animals to inhabit a land where once people did. When I choose my way over God’s I risk the removal of His hand of protection, and forfeit His wisdom for direction. God always pays back, with interest, on what we invest, be it righteousness, or some other way.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Uncomfortable Ill-fitting And Un-timely
7.17.2011
Isaiah 30:10-11 10 They say to the seers, “See no more visions!” and to the prophets, “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. 11 Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!” NIV
It seems our nation is teetering on a precipice. It seems many are disgruntled and complaining, “Why don’t we just fix this stupidity!?” And while there are those who complain and groan about the government we elected; there are also those who couldn’t care less. These are those who quickly shush any mention of politics, government and/or social issues: “I don’t even want to think about it!” And off they run screaming with their hands over their ears…
Life isn’t about politics or the rulership of men. It’s true! But the rulership of men is something we simply cannot ignore. Nor can we afford to ignore the rulership of God who guides the rulership of men. But when we throw God out of the conversation, then comes the real complaint: [We] say to the seers, “See no more visions!” and to the prophets, “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!” In other words blissful ignorance is better than having to deal with the truth.
Truth demands response and accountability. Mankind (as a whole) doesn’t seem to do well with accountability. Truth demands living at a higher level of existence: Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27 NIV) We’d rather have illusions than this; widows and orphans are only getting what they deserve…
What people really want is to live without responsibility. What people really want is to live selfishly and look out only for numero uno. No, not everyone; and no, not all the time; but these two verses sure sum up a lot of the attitude of people nowadays. We crave good news at whatever cost as long as it doesn’t cost us. And we’ll gladly accept illusion and delusion rather than have to deal with uncomfortable, untimely, ill-fitting truth.
Today, I think about my friend Nita who crusades against human trafficking and sex-slavery; talk about uncomfortable, untimely and ill-fitting. What’s your passion? What makes you mad enough to act? It’s worth thinking about – and then acting upon…
Saturday, July 16, 2011
The Way God Speaks
7.16.2011
Isaiah 28:11 11 Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people… NIV
Jesus Christ said, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” (John 6:63 NIV) He also said, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” (John 3:6) When Jesus said these things He shed light on the fact that there is a spiritual realm that the natural man has no access to: what is of the spirit is not what is of the flesh. In other words, we need to be in the spirit in order to understand the things of the Spirit.
What God was saying to Judah through Isaiah the prophet was that since they wouldn’t listen to their own prophets and priests, He would speak to them through the strange tongues of a foreign people. God is not limited to including just His people in the conversation.
We might possibly take this in two ways. We might take it that God was going to speak to His people through the words and actions their conquering enemies – or through discipline. Or we might take it that God was going to speak to His people through other peoples who’d believed in Him when His own didn’t. God’s plans and purposes usually don’t wait around very long for us to make up our minds. It’s not that God’s impatient; it’s that His purposes don’t seem to tolerate apathy. It’s one thing for us to need time to be convinced; it’s quite another for us to vacillate once we’ve been given the truth. God seemed to be fed up with trying to convince His people of His own goodness and presence when they’d chosen to largely ignore Him.
God seems to have taken a different tack with us through the ministry of the Holy Spirit representing the Person of Jesus Christ. But the watchword is this: beware of apathy – it’ll get you nowhere with God. Hebrews 13.8 states, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” If the Second Person of the Trinity is the same, then it goes that the Other Two are as well: never-changing! The fruit of apathy today is the same as it was then: bitter.
God will get His message across to us and He will use many means, including others, to do it – we just have to be open to recognize that and to be about the business of listening to Him daily through His word and the counsel and fellowship of other believers. Sometimes people will say strange or foreign things to us we don’t (or can’t) understand. When that happens, we need to go to God and ask for translation that we may learn and grow in His grace.
Isaiah 28:11 11 Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people… NIV
Jesus Christ said, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” (John 6:63 NIV) He also said, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” (John 3:6) When Jesus said these things He shed light on the fact that there is a spiritual realm that the natural man has no access to: what is of the spirit is not what is of the flesh. In other words, we need to be in the spirit in order to understand the things of the Spirit.
What God was saying to Judah through Isaiah the prophet was that since they wouldn’t listen to their own prophets and priests, He would speak to them through the strange tongues of a foreign people. God is not limited to including just His people in the conversation.
We might possibly take this in two ways. We might take it that God was going to speak to His people through the words and actions their conquering enemies – or through discipline. Or we might take it that God was going to speak to His people through other peoples who’d believed in Him when His own didn’t. God’s plans and purposes usually don’t wait around very long for us to make up our minds. It’s not that God’s impatient; it’s that His purposes don’t seem to tolerate apathy. It’s one thing for us to need time to be convinced; it’s quite another for us to vacillate once we’ve been given the truth. God seemed to be fed up with trying to convince His people of His own goodness and presence when they’d chosen to largely ignore Him.
God seems to have taken a different tack with us through the ministry of the Holy Spirit representing the Person of Jesus Christ. But the watchword is this: beware of apathy – it’ll get you nowhere with God. Hebrews 13.8 states, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” If the Second Person of the Trinity is the same, then it goes that the Other Two are as well: never-changing! The fruit of apathy today is the same as it was then: bitter.
God will get His message across to us and He will use many means, including others, to do it – we just have to be open to recognize that and to be about the business of listening to Him daily through His word and the counsel and fellowship of other believers. Sometimes people will say strange or foreign things to us we don’t (or can’t) understand. When that happens, we need to go to God and ask for translation that we may learn and grow in His grace.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Tomorrow Consequences
7.15.2011
Isaiah 22:13 13 But see, there is joy and revelry, slaughtering of cattle and killing of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine! “Let us eat and drink,” you say, “for tomorrow we die!” NIV
Often we get to the place where we just don’t care. Sometimes it’s a trial, a sickness, a sour relationship, a tough job – we get to the place where we could just care less. There is a small amount of hope that it will end and another small amount that the lessons learned will be of some value; but the main thought is it will be over at some point and the sooner the better; we just don’t care.
In Isaiah’s day, God was trying hard to get His people to believe in Him and trust in Him. In fact, He was doing to them as He promised in the curses of Deuteronomy 28 if they forsook Him (and they had). God uses human events to both reach and teach His followers; and God is somehow able to use all of the earth’s events collectively to protect and direct His followers. In that day, the world around Judah was falling apart, and enemy kings were flexing their muscles and making their moves. And so through His prophet God invited His people to repent and return to Him so that He could save them. But their attitude was, “Whatever… Let’s eat and drink for tomorrow we die! We just don’t care… Let’s live today like there’s no tomorrow!” Only God gets to determine if there’s a tomorrow and what we’re to do about it.
Every human ever born has to deal with tomorrow. Many live in the glory, or the misery, of yesterday; some cannot face the hope of tomorrow, another chance; somehow making amends for yesterday. But when faced with disease, disaster, disappointment, divorce, or what have you, all we really have is today; and the Lord’s help today. How we live today determines how we’ll hope in tomorrow. Isaiah said, “The Lord, the Lord Almighty, called you on that day to weep and to wail, to tear out your hair and put on sackcloth.” (Is 22:12) But all they did in response was party – they didn’t care about tomorrow.
One of the greatest sins of our time is our apathy about tomorrow. As we look at the financial and moral mess our nation is in, it’s obvious a lot of this was done with no thought of tomorrow. Leadership in the family, the church, or in a nation takes care of today, but never forgets about the tomorrow consequences of today. To live like there’s no tomorrow is altogether foolish and short-sighted; it disrespects both God and people. I need wisdom to live for today but grace to never forget about the consequences I’ll face as a result tomorrow.
Isaiah 22:13 13 But see, there is joy and revelry, slaughtering of cattle and killing of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine! “Let us eat and drink,” you say, “for tomorrow we die!” NIV
Often we get to the place where we just don’t care. Sometimes it’s a trial, a sickness, a sour relationship, a tough job – we get to the place where we could just care less. There is a small amount of hope that it will end and another small amount that the lessons learned will be of some value; but the main thought is it will be over at some point and the sooner the better; we just don’t care.
In Isaiah’s day, God was trying hard to get His people to believe in Him and trust in Him. In fact, He was doing to them as He promised in the curses of Deuteronomy 28 if they forsook Him (and they had). God uses human events to both reach and teach His followers; and God is somehow able to use all of the earth’s events collectively to protect and direct His followers. In that day, the world around Judah was falling apart, and enemy kings were flexing their muscles and making their moves. And so through His prophet God invited His people to repent and return to Him so that He could save them. But their attitude was, “Whatever… Let’s eat and drink for tomorrow we die! We just don’t care… Let’s live today like there’s no tomorrow!” Only God gets to determine if there’s a tomorrow and what we’re to do about it.
Every human ever born has to deal with tomorrow. Many live in the glory, or the misery, of yesterday; some cannot face the hope of tomorrow, another chance; somehow making amends for yesterday. But when faced with disease, disaster, disappointment, divorce, or what have you, all we really have is today; and the Lord’s help today. How we live today determines how we’ll hope in tomorrow. Isaiah said, “The Lord, the Lord Almighty, called you on that day to weep and to wail, to tear out your hair and put on sackcloth.” (Is 22:12) But all they did in response was party – they didn’t care about tomorrow.
One of the greatest sins of our time is our apathy about tomorrow. As we look at the financial and moral mess our nation is in, it’s obvious a lot of this was done with no thought of tomorrow. Leadership in the family, the church, or in a nation takes care of today, but never forgets about the tomorrow consequences of today. To live like there’s no tomorrow is altogether foolish and short-sighted; it disrespects both God and people. I need wisdom to live for today but grace to never forget about the consequences I’ll face as a result tomorrow.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Noticed by God
7.14.2011
Hebrews 11:5 5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
Enoch is one of my favorite Bible people. Enoch must’ve been a shining light of belief to those around him, but more importantly he was a shining light to God. Enoch was commended as one who pleased God. Many try to please God. Cain (Enoch’s ancestor) tried to please God by taking credit for something that only God could do. There are those who go through immense effort to try to get God’s attention by trying to show Him what they’re made of and what they can do. God is only pleased with faith.
Enoch was taken away by God because of one reason: his faith was so pleasing to God that God, in response, noticed him and took him away. Wow! So does that mean God responds to us because of our faith… or lack thereof? The Bible says Enoch, before he was taken, was commended as one who pleased God. You do the math. What has God noticed about you?
I won’t be noticed by God for how often I have my devotions. I won’t be noticed by God for my church attendance or service in the Church. I won’t be noticed by God for my work ethic, intelligence, charm, wit, tact, or poise; I will only be noticed by God for my faith in Him, and my faith in His presence in me. Without faith it is impossible to please God. No sense in trying to manipulate it any other way. God only notices faith and the actions that are both born in faith and borne by faith. Enoch was that kind of person and God noticed.
Father in Heaven,
You notice everything about my life and there is nothing in me, or that’s a part of me, that is unfamiliar to You. So because of that, strengthen my faith. Deepen my faith. Grow my faith, stretch my faith. May my only desire be to please You as one who believes You and does what You command. That is how I am commended. Through Christ, amen.
Hebrews 11:5 5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
Enoch is one of my favorite Bible people. Enoch must’ve been a shining light of belief to those around him, but more importantly he was a shining light to God. Enoch was commended as one who pleased God. Many try to please God. Cain (Enoch’s ancestor) tried to please God by taking credit for something that only God could do. There are those who go through immense effort to try to get God’s attention by trying to show Him what they’re made of and what they can do. God is only pleased with faith.
Enoch was taken away by God because of one reason: his faith was so pleasing to God that God, in response, noticed him and took him away. Wow! So does that mean God responds to us because of our faith… or lack thereof? The Bible says Enoch, before he was taken, was commended as one who pleased God. You do the math. What has God noticed about you?
I won’t be noticed by God for how often I have my devotions. I won’t be noticed by God for my church attendance or service in the Church. I won’t be noticed by God for my work ethic, intelligence, charm, wit, tact, or poise; I will only be noticed by God for my faith in Him, and my faith in His presence in me. Without faith it is impossible to please God. No sense in trying to manipulate it any other way. God only notices faith and the actions that are both born in faith and borne by faith. Enoch was that kind of person and God noticed.
Father in Heaven,
You notice everything about my life and there is nothing in me, or that’s a part of me, that is unfamiliar to You. So because of that, strengthen my faith. Deepen my faith. Grow my faith, stretch my faith. May my only desire be to please You as one who believes You and does what You command. That is how I am commended. Through Christ, amen.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Worth Remembering
7.13.2011
Hebrews 10:1-4 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, 4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. NIV
There are things we need to be reminded of; there are things we need to hold close to our hearts. And then there are things we need to let go of; things that need to be written off as mistakes, lessons learned, and the never-do-agains. The problem with the sacrificial system is it reminded people of their failures. It brought up the same old bad news again and again. The sacrifices never did what they were intended to do and so day after day and year after year was an appointment with God to say over and over, “I’m sorry for what I’ve done.”
What we need to be reminded of these days – what I need to be reminded of – is that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ was a once for all sacrifice and by remembering that and believing in that my sin issues with God are forever taken care of. I don’t need to go to God to be reminded of my sins and shortcomings; I go to God to find help in time of need! I’m not forced to make a sacrifice and go through a ritual every time I want to go to God; I simply point to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and celebrate God’s goodness in free access through Him! Yeah!
The logic of Hebrews 10 is astounding because it takes on the things we think will make us better and points us to the only thing that ever will help us: the Supreme Sacrifice of Jesus Christ on our behalf and statements like: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” (v. 17) That’s worth remembering. That’s worth celebrating!
Father in Heaven,
Although my life is far from perfect and filled with all kinds of faulty defaults, I need the daily reminder that it’s all been taken care of forever through Your Son, my Savior; through Him my sins and transgressions are remembered no more. Thank You! Today I remember Your love and mercy and I remember that You are in control of my life – draw me close and keep me focused on You, I pray in Jesus’ Name, amen.
Hebrews 10:1-4 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, 4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. NIV
There are things we need to be reminded of; there are things we need to hold close to our hearts. And then there are things we need to let go of; things that need to be written off as mistakes, lessons learned, and the never-do-agains. The problem with the sacrificial system is it reminded people of their failures. It brought up the same old bad news again and again. The sacrifices never did what they were intended to do and so day after day and year after year was an appointment with God to say over and over, “I’m sorry for what I’ve done.”
What we need to be reminded of these days – what I need to be reminded of – is that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ was a once for all sacrifice and by remembering that and believing in that my sin issues with God are forever taken care of. I don’t need to go to God to be reminded of my sins and shortcomings; I go to God to find help in time of need! I’m not forced to make a sacrifice and go through a ritual every time I want to go to God; I simply point to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and celebrate God’s goodness in free access through Him! Yeah!
The logic of Hebrews 10 is astounding because it takes on the things we think will make us better and points us to the only thing that ever will help us: the Supreme Sacrifice of Jesus Christ on our behalf and statements like: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” (v. 17) That’s worth remembering. That’s worth celebrating!
Father in Heaven,
Although my life is far from perfect and filled with all kinds of faulty defaults, I need the daily reminder that it’s all been taken care of forever through Your Son, my Savior; through Him my sins and transgressions are remembered no more. Thank You! Today I remember Your love and mercy and I remember that You are in control of my life – draw me close and keep me focused on You, I pray in Jesus’ Name, amen.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
What We Delight
7.12.2011
Isaiah 11:2-3(a) 2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord— 3(a) and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. NIV
Today, I have needs. Among all the other things I’m facing in life, I am considering a course of action and for that I need wisdom. I am looking at something for which I’ll need understanding. And if this course is the way to go, I’ll need divine power to do it, and I’ll need knowledge; and the only way to pull it off, will be through humble fear of the Lord – respect for His Name.
And if it turns out that I remain on my current path, I’ll still have needs and still need wisdom, knowledge and understanding. I’ll still need counsel and power and I can never overlook the fear of the Lord – respect for His Person and for His Name.
And regardless of my needs, today I consider my delight. The Scripture says that [He] will delight in the fear of the Lord. We do what we delight. We set aside time for those things in which we delight. We think about and speak about the things in which we delight. We often share the things in which we delight.
The temptation today is to delight in what I can get from the Lord and overlook the Lord. The temptation is to seek Him for my needs and forget Him in friendship. Jesus delighted in the fear of the Lord; in serving God, seeking God, hearing from God and obeying God. My life will be somehow empty if I seek things from God but forget Him. My life will be complete only if I conduct it from this day forth in the delight of fearing (respecting) Him and daily celebrating who He is in my life and who I am in His. Like my own kids are in my life, I am in His and He says He delights in me – I ought to at least return the favor.
Father in Heaven,
You are the Delight of my life. Without You I am incomplete and completely on my own. Today my perspective has become a little more formed to understand that I’ll do what I delight. And my delight is in You for my understanding now knows that although on earth there are many things that make big promises, there is only One God Who delivers: You! Thank You for the things that are in my life but more than any thank You for being my Delight – amen.
Isaiah 11:2-3(a) 2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord— 3(a) and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. NIV
Today, I have needs. Among all the other things I’m facing in life, I am considering a course of action and for that I need wisdom. I am looking at something for which I’ll need understanding. And if this course is the way to go, I’ll need divine power to do it, and I’ll need knowledge; and the only way to pull it off, will be through humble fear of the Lord – respect for His Name.
And if it turns out that I remain on my current path, I’ll still have needs and still need wisdom, knowledge and understanding. I’ll still need counsel and power and I can never overlook the fear of the Lord – respect for His Person and for His Name.
And regardless of my needs, today I consider my delight. The Scripture says that [He] will delight in the fear of the Lord. We do what we delight. We set aside time for those things in which we delight. We think about and speak about the things in which we delight. We often share the things in which we delight.
The temptation today is to delight in what I can get from the Lord and overlook the Lord. The temptation is to seek Him for my needs and forget Him in friendship. Jesus delighted in the fear of the Lord; in serving God, seeking God, hearing from God and obeying God. My life will be somehow empty if I seek things from God but forget Him. My life will be complete only if I conduct it from this day forth in the delight of fearing (respecting) Him and daily celebrating who He is in my life and who I am in His. Like my own kids are in my life, I am in His and He says He delights in me – I ought to at least return the favor.
Father in Heaven,
You are the Delight of my life. Without You I am incomplete and completely on my own. Today my perspective has become a little more formed to understand that I’ll do what I delight. And my delight is in You for my understanding now knows that although on earth there are many things that make big promises, there is only One God Who delivers: You! Thank You for the things that are in my life but more than any thank You for being my Delight – amen.
Monday, July 11, 2011
The Last Thing People Want
7.11.2011
The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread... (Isaiah 8:13 NIV)
I hold that God is not at all as we assume Him to be. I contend we would that God be like us: fickle and capricious, easily manipulated; but overall friendly and jolly like the Ghost of Christmas Present in the Dickens novel. I believe many would have God be a chum, Someone to pal around with.
I also hold that the Devil himself doesn’t really understand God either; I think he fancies God to be Someone other that He really is. Otherwise, why would he try to wrench the Kingdom out of God’s hands and ‘do it better’?
Isaiah the prophet received bad news from God; bad news in the sense that God, loving and caring, was about to destroy His own people because they had rejected Him. The verse above caught my attention this morning; it made me stop and think.
Last night on Facebook was some joking around about the Casey Anthony trial. The reference was a photo-shopped picture of Anthony and OJ and the punch line was: Who says Match.com doesn't get it right?? A friend of mine commented, “Thankfully justice wins out in the end because our God is a just God.” I think that’s the last thing people want: God to be just. And as the verse says above, I think the last Person people want to dread is God. We want God to be merciful, not just.
What do we do with a just God whose character and Name are impugned by the actions and testimonies of His people? What do we do with a just God who says, “If you want to be really afraid, don’t’ forget about Me. If you want to be uneasy queasy with dreadful knots in your stomach, think about Me.”
I want to know Him but I want to know Him who says, The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread… I either take all of Him or none of Him.
Father in Heaven,
Reading Your word sometimes makes me queasy. Thinking about Your justice causes me to wince because I know what I know about me. I thank You for Jesus and I praise You for Your mercy. I pray for the filling of the Holy Spirit this day to remember Who You really are; may my life and conduct bring honor and glory to Your holy Name, amen.
The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread... (Isaiah 8:13 NIV)
I hold that God is not at all as we assume Him to be. I contend we would that God be like us: fickle and capricious, easily manipulated; but overall friendly and jolly like the Ghost of Christmas Present in the Dickens novel. I believe many would have God be a chum, Someone to pal around with.
I also hold that the Devil himself doesn’t really understand God either; I think he fancies God to be Someone other that He really is. Otherwise, why would he try to wrench the Kingdom out of God’s hands and ‘do it better’?
Isaiah the prophet received bad news from God; bad news in the sense that God, loving and caring, was about to destroy His own people because they had rejected Him. The verse above caught my attention this morning; it made me stop and think.
Last night on Facebook was some joking around about the Casey Anthony trial. The reference was a photo-shopped picture of Anthony and OJ and the punch line was: Who says Match.com doesn't get it right?? A friend of mine commented, “Thankfully justice wins out in the end because our God is a just God.” I think that’s the last thing people want: God to be just. And as the verse says above, I think the last Person people want to dread is God. We want God to be merciful, not just.
What do we do with a just God whose character and Name are impugned by the actions and testimonies of His people? What do we do with a just God who says, “If you want to be really afraid, don’t’ forget about Me. If you want to be uneasy queasy with dreadful knots in your stomach, think about Me.”
I want to know Him but I want to know Him who says, The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread… I either take all of Him or none of Him.
Father in Heaven,
Reading Your word sometimes makes me queasy. Thinking about Your justice causes me to wince because I know what I know about me. I thank You for Jesus and I praise You for Your mercy. I pray for the filling of the Holy Spirit this day to remember Who You really are; may my life and conduct bring honor and glory to Your holy Name, amen.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Just Think ... Then Act
7.10.2011
Hebrews 7:4 4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! NIV
Abraham is a pretty important person to the Jews – he is the father of their nation. He’s also pretty important to the Christians – he’s the father of their faith. The writer of Hebrews understood the meanings of things and was very skillful in bringing their importance to light. For instance, he mentions that Abraham, the father of the Jews and the father of the faithful, tithed to Melchizedek. Nowadays we think, “And!?” That’s because we today don’t understand the import that the ancients placed on tithing.
In those days to give a tenth (a tithe) of what you had to someone was a huge deal. It was your approval of who they were and what they stood for. To give taxes to foreign governments, to the Jews, was tantamount (I love that word!) to treason. But to give a tithe, that was a volitional act of complete approval, and submission. No wonder the writer says, “Just think how great [Melchizedek] was…!”
I’m reminded today in reading this, to just think about how great God is. I am reminded to just think about how great Jesus Christ really is and what He’s done for the benefit of you and me. Just think about how blessed we are to be called His brothers and fellow-heirs of His glory. And my ‘just thinking’ ought to lead to my just doing as Abraham did: just giving to His cause in the earth today. Today I should stop and think about the magnitude of God’s efforts in the world to bring men unto Himself… and then just get involved!
Speaking for God the prophet Micah asked, “My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me..." (Micah 6:3) the writer of Hebrews answers, “Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!” Today is a day of action in response.
Father in Heaven,
As I just think about who You are and what You’ve done, I pray for courage and spiritual strength today to give over all of what bugs me to You and to live faithfully in response to the question Micah asked, and the answer the writer of Hebrews gives. I don’t want You to just help me, what I want is for You to overwhelm me, that I may go today and live like I say I believe… in You and what You’re doing on this earth – in Jesus’ Name, amen.
Hebrews 7:4 4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! NIV
Abraham is a pretty important person to the Jews – he is the father of their nation. He’s also pretty important to the Christians – he’s the father of their faith. The writer of Hebrews understood the meanings of things and was very skillful in bringing their importance to light. For instance, he mentions that Abraham, the father of the Jews and the father of the faithful, tithed to Melchizedek. Nowadays we think, “And!?” That’s because we today don’t understand the import that the ancients placed on tithing.
In those days to give a tenth (a tithe) of what you had to someone was a huge deal. It was your approval of who they were and what they stood for. To give taxes to foreign governments, to the Jews, was tantamount (I love that word!) to treason. But to give a tithe, that was a volitional act of complete approval, and submission. No wonder the writer says, “Just think how great [Melchizedek] was…!”
I’m reminded today in reading this, to just think about how great God is. I am reminded to just think about how great Jesus Christ really is and what He’s done for the benefit of you and me. Just think about how blessed we are to be called His brothers and fellow-heirs of His glory. And my ‘just thinking’ ought to lead to my just doing as Abraham did: just giving to His cause in the earth today. Today I should stop and think about the magnitude of God’s efforts in the world to bring men unto Himself… and then just get involved!
Speaking for God the prophet Micah asked, “My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me..." (Micah 6:3) the writer of Hebrews answers, “Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!” Today is a day of action in response.
Father in Heaven,
As I just think about who You are and what You’ve done, I pray for courage and spiritual strength today to give over all of what bugs me to You and to live faithfully in response to the question Micah asked, and the answer the writer of Hebrews gives. I don’t want You to just help me, what I want is for You to overwhelm me, that I may go today and live like I say I believe… in You and what You’re doing on this earth – in Jesus’ Name, amen.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Static Promises
7.9.2011
Hebrews 6:17-18 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. NIV
The writer of Hebrews spoke of things we can really only see by our imagination or accept by faith; he used the word, unchangeable. Nothing in our current world is unchanging. In an age of time and space even the rocks age – that’s change. People go from bad to worse and alternately some go from worse to better. People change, places change. Perspectives change and above and beyond it all everything in our physical universe ages.
But add into that mix the unchangeable nature of God who never ages, never wearies, dulls, dims, or diminishes. Even that truth is so foreign to what we’re used to we really need to stop and think about it – if we even can. But it’s true. And God’s word never loses its impact or import. And God’s promises never fail and there is something powerful and mighty that happens to the person who by faith accepts God’s unchanging word and never-failing promises.
This is so wonderful that it might be easy to adopt an Elijah mentality at this point; to believe that there is no one else out there who really believes this stuff and even if they do, what good is it? Our world is changing and becoming worse and worse. But God’s word is unchanging and His unfailing promises of blessing are for those who accept the degradation of the world and the decay of the societies of men yet faithfully place their hope in God’s promises of a never-ending and glorious future of true friendship, peace, and supreme happiness. And there are many ‘out there’ who have seen the world’s fluid ‘promises’ and have rejected them in favor of God’s static ones.
And so the outcome of all this is encouragement to place all of one’s hope and faith in what God has said and what God has promised despite the realities of a changing world and its fluid promises. It is bad and getting worse, but let’s be encouraged to see God for who He is and to believe that ultimately He will one day put a stop to fluid promises and allow us to see the true fruit of our faith in Him.
Father God,
I am encouraged this morning to not take this world as I want it to be, but to accept it for what it is, and place all of my hope and trust in all that You’ve promised me through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Hebrews 6:17-18 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. NIV
The writer of Hebrews spoke of things we can really only see by our imagination or accept by faith; he used the word, unchangeable. Nothing in our current world is unchanging. In an age of time and space even the rocks age – that’s change. People go from bad to worse and alternately some go from worse to better. People change, places change. Perspectives change and above and beyond it all everything in our physical universe ages.
But add into that mix the unchangeable nature of God who never ages, never wearies, dulls, dims, or diminishes. Even that truth is so foreign to what we’re used to we really need to stop and think about it – if we even can. But it’s true. And God’s word never loses its impact or import. And God’s promises never fail and there is something powerful and mighty that happens to the person who by faith accepts God’s unchanging word and never-failing promises.
This is so wonderful that it might be easy to adopt an Elijah mentality at this point; to believe that there is no one else out there who really believes this stuff and even if they do, what good is it? Our world is changing and becoming worse and worse. But God’s word is unchanging and His unfailing promises of blessing are for those who accept the degradation of the world and the decay of the societies of men yet faithfully place their hope in God’s promises of a never-ending and glorious future of true friendship, peace, and supreme happiness. And there are many ‘out there’ who have seen the world’s fluid ‘promises’ and have rejected them in favor of God’s static ones.
And so the outcome of all this is encouragement to place all of one’s hope and faith in what God has said and what God has promised despite the realities of a changing world and its fluid promises. It is bad and getting worse, but let’s be encouraged to see God for who He is and to believe that ultimately He will one day put a stop to fluid promises and allow us to see the true fruit of our faith in Him.
Father God,
I am encouraged this morning to not take this world as I want it to be, but to accept it for what it is, and place all of my hope and trust in all that You’ve promised me through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Perfection Potential
7.8.2011
Hebrews 5:8-9 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him... NIV
I can’t even pretend to know all of what the writer is saying here but I can say this: suffering always precedes perfection, and suffering always holds potential for perfection. There is no other way.
There is something mystical about suffering that escapes the notice of most. If Jesus Christ learned obedience from what He suffered then He always saw God in the midst of His suffering. Many seem to think they can become perfect by just being good and living a life of self-restraint; but something powerful happens to us when we encounter painful things that are beyond our control. When we are left with no other options and only God, something wonderful happens, perfection begins to bud.
It is often said, nobody’s perfect. I suppose that depends on your definition of perfect. I tend to disagree because of what I read in Hebrews 5. Jesus learned obedience and was made perfect. You and I are made perfectly by a perfect God and can achieve perfection in the calling of God on our lives. What is perfect anyway – when you need a pen, you really don’t care what color the ink is; you just need a pen. When you need a screwdriver, the name brand means little – you just need the tool. Suffering causes us to be different than we are/were and sets us up for the perfection of what God has called us to do. Wow!
My problem is how I continue to react to suffering. I mostly gripe and chafe under suffering because I don’t like it and take it personally. But I need to remember what it is doing to me and in me; that’s what’s important. And without suffering – well, you do the math.
Father in Heaven,
You are perfect in whatever You do and You call people like me to achieve perfection in accomplishing Your will. Help me God to learn obedience through suffering and to trust You no matter what. Because Jesus did, amen!
Hebrews 5:8-9 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him... NIV
I can’t even pretend to know all of what the writer is saying here but I can say this: suffering always precedes perfection, and suffering always holds potential for perfection. There is no other way.
There is something mystical about suffering that escapes the notice of most. If Jesus Christ learned obedience from what He suffered then He always saw God in the midst of His suffering. Many seem to think they can become perfect by just being good and living a life of self-restraint; but something powerful happens to us when we encounter painful things that are beyond our control. When we are left with no other options and only God, something wonderful happens, perfection begins to bud.
It is often said, nobody’s perfect. I suppose that depends on your definition of perfect. I tend to disagree because of what I read in Hebrews 5. Jesus learned obedience and was made perfect. You and I are made perfectly by a perfect God and can achieve perfection in the calling of God on our lives. What is perfect anyway – when you need a pen, you really don’t care what color the ink is; you just need a pen. When you need a screwdriver, the name brand means little – you just need the tool. Suffering causes us to be different than we are/were and sets us up for the perfection of what God has called us to do. Wow!
My problem is how I continue to react to suffering. I mostly gripe and chafe under suffering because I don’t like it and take it personally. But I need to remember what it is doing to me and in me; that’s what’s important. And without suffering – well, you do the math.
Father in Heaven,
You are perfect in whatever You do and You call people like me to achieve perfection in accomplishing Your will. Help me God to learn obedience through suffering and to trust You no matter what. Because Jesus did, amen!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Mixed Messages
7.7.2011
Hebrews 4:2 2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.
I love sourdough pancakes – I’m not fond of the batter as far as taste goes, but the cooked pancakes? Bring ‘em on! The best sourdough pancakes are the ones that are properly mixed and fermented. Hebrews 4.2 makes me think of properly mixed messages – those truths mixed with faith. You could have mixed messages that are mixed with half-truths; I don’t like those; especially when I’ve been duped into believing them to be true. And then there are those messages that are mixed with half-lies; embellished a bit to make them less palpable.
The writer of Hebrews said that we have had the gospel preached to us but they (the ancient people of God) didn’t combine (or mix) the message with faith. They just heard what they wanted to hear and subsequently the message lacked value for them. The key ingredient when hearing from God is faith – faith that God really said it, means it and we can accept it as true. Many today lack the faith to mix the message properly and like improperly mixed sourdough dough, it tastes bad and cooks up poorly.
The point is, I think, that we must come to God in faith and believe Him that what He says is not only true but trustworthy. It takes faith to believe. And faith is what pleases God. What do you need God for today? I know many who desperately need God for healing. I know many who need Him for provision. I know many who are desperately seeking Him for direction and counsel – really needing Him to show the way. All it takes is faith; all it takes is the belief that what God says is true and that He never reneges on His promises.
A mixed message is not necessarily bad – our understanding may be but the message isn’t necessarily so. The mixing (or combining part) is how we accept it, and what we do with it; and whether or not there is faith involved. A message of true value is the unaltered and unadulterated truth mixed with honest faith: God I believe You… that’s where I want to be.
Father in Heaven,
You give me everything I need – I sometimes just don’t accept it with faith that You’ve really done it, You really mean it, and it is really for my best. Help me to mix Your word with faith so that it takes on new meaning and real value in the life I’m living where mixed messages are a dime a dozen. I trust You Lord! Amen.
Hebrews 4:2 2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.
I love sourdough pancakes – I’m not fond of the batter as far as taste goes, but the cooked pancakes? Bring ‘em on! The best sourdough pancakes are the ones that are properly mixed and fermented. Hebrews 4.2 makes me think of properly mixed messages – those truths mixed with faith. You could have mixed messages that are mixed with half-truths; I don’t like those; especially when I’ve been duped into believing them to be true. And then there are those messages that are mixed with half-lies; embellished a bit to make them less palpable.
The writer of Hebrews said that we have had the gospel preached to us but they (the ancient people of God) didn’t combine (or mix) the message with faith. They just heard what they wanted to hear and subsequently the message lacked value for them. The key ingredient when hearing from God is faith – faith that God really said it, means it and we can accept it as true. Many today lack the faith to mix the message properly and like improperly mixed sourdough dough, it tastes bad and cooks up poorly.
The point is, I think, that we must come to God in faith and believe Him that what He says is not only true but trustworthy. It takes faith to believe. And faith is what pleases God. What do you need God for today? I know many who desperately need God for healing. I know many who need Him for provision. I know many who are desperately seeking Him for direction and counsel – really needing Him to show the way. All it takes is faith; all it takes is the belief that what God says is true and that He never reneges on His promises.
A mixed message is not necessarily bad – our understanding may be but the message isn’t necessarily so. The mixing (or combining part) is how we accept it, and what we do with it; and whether or not there is faith involved. A message of true value is the unaltered and unadulterated truth mixed with honest faith: God I believe You… that’s where I want to be.
Father in Heaven,
You give me everything I need – I sometimes just don’t accept it with faith that You’ve really done it, You really mean it, and it is really for my best. Help me to mix Your word with faith so that it takes on new meaning and real value in the life I’m living where mixed messages are a dime a dozen. I trust You Lord! Amen.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Yesterday and Today
7.6.2011
Hebrews 3:18-19 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. NIV
Yesterday, we read that Jesus suffered: In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. (Hebrews 2:10 NIV) Who is the Author of our salvation if not Jesus? Who suffered like Him? Jesus suffered because as a man, He experienced the suffering of men; and as God He suffered the sinfulness of men. Jesus learned and was made perfect in that He set aside His godhood to live as a man and experience all of what men experience but He didn’t succumb to the excuses of men or the weaknesses of men – He remained true in every way and thought to God.
There is something to be said for the magnitude of the majesty of suffering and remaining true to God in spite of it; to believe that there’s a point to it all and a purpose to achieve.
And so today, we read there is a consequence to wimping out the human way; it’s called unbelief. Belief shows that following God faithfully and dying to self along the way causes perfection. Unbelief results in faithlessness, selfishness, and not entering the rest of God which provides for calm in the storms (Matthew 8.23ff) and protection from the fires (Daniel 3).
Yesterday, the saints of old were tried by fire and tribulation. Some believed some didn’t. Today, we’re asked to do the same things in different ways but with the same desired results: we can learn from our suffering and trust in God; or we can fail to enter God’s rest because of unbelief – the choice is ours. Here’s a thought: peaceful rest in the midst of suffering is a precious jewel and only those who believe will get it. Belief accepts suffering as necessary both as a true indicator that we’re on the right path, and as a divine agent of change in our living. If Jesus accepted it as part of the gig, shouldn’t we…
Father in Heaven,
Your ways are wholesome and true and include wonderful teachers that are devoted to our change, our maturing, and our perfection as true sons and daughters of the light. Thank You – amen!
Hebrews 3:18-19 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. NIV
Yesterday, we read that Jesus suffered: In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. (Hebrews 2:10 NIV) Who is the Author of our salvation if not Jesus? Who suffered like Him? Jesus suffered because as a man, He experienced the suffering of men; and as God He suffered the sinfulness of men. Jesus learned and was made perfect in that He set aside His godhood to live as a man and experience all of what men experience but He didn’t succumb to the excuses of men or the weaknesses of men – He remained true in every way and thought to God.
There is something to be said for the magnitude of the majesty of suffering and remaining true to God in spite of it; to believe that there’s a point to it all and a purpose to achieve.
And so today, we read there is a consequence to wimping out the human way; it’s called unbelief. Belief shows that following God faithfully and dying to self along the way causes perfection. Unbelief results in faithlessness, selfishness, and not entering the rest of God which provides for calm in the storms (Matthew 8.23ff) and protection from the fires (Daniel 3).
Yesterday, the saints of old were tried by fire and tribulation. Some believed some didn’t. Today, we’re asked to do the same things in different ways but with the same desired results: we can learn from our suffering and trust in God; or we can fail to enter God’s rest because of unbelief – the choice is ours. Here’s a thought: peaceful rest in the midst of suffering is a precious jewel and only those who believe will get it. Belief accepts suffering as necessary both as a true indicator that we’re on the right path, and as a divine agent of change in our living. If Jesus accepted it as part of the gig, shouldn’t we…
Father in Heaven,
Your ways are wholesome and true and include wonderful teachers that are devoted to our change, our maturing, and our perfection as true sons and daughters of the light. Thank You – amen!
Monday, July 4, 2011
A Big Statement Unheard
7.4.2011
Hebrews 1:2 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. NIV
This is a big statement that globally is largely ignored; not too many people give a rip that Jesus Christ is the Creator of the universe in all it’s vastness and diversity. Hebrews 1 tells us not only has He created the universe, but He’s also spoken to us – He still speaks to the listening heart today.
Today, is Independence Day in the US. We celebrate our independence from the tyranny of a king and his culture; however we’re still dependent on much of the world’s resources to feed our present lifestyle. We’re largely dependent on a government. We cannot love each other so we have developed a system called political correctness in order to force us to make life fair. We define freedom as the license to do anything as long as it brings us pleasure. Independence Day, what irony.
What’s really weird is that as bad and as decadent as we are, there are still millions of people who’d rather live in the US than in their own countries where it is logarithmically worse. And in the midst of all this, is the Church.
As I look around at our world I don’t get a sense of well-being. Yes, I do have much to be thankful for, yet I know it’s all short-lived. However, I do know this and in this I find hope: in these last days [God] has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through Whom He made the universe. Our “Independence Day” may be a sham, but Jesus Christ is not and He still speaks and He still saves and He will one day right all of the wrong and bring an end to all this current crap.
Regardless of how bad it is and how bad I think it is, I am to celebrate my dependence upon Christ and share Him with anyone who will listen to the fact that He speaks and He created the universe. It is He who gives me true independence from the tyranny of this present world with its version of freedom and political correctness…
Father in Heaven,
You still speak to the listening heart. You even speak to those who aren’t listening. I pray for the filling of the Holy Spirit this day to celebrate my true freedom and to share the truth of the Speaking Christ with others – in His creative Name I pray, amen.
Hebrews 1:2 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. NIV
This is a big statement that globally is largely ignored; not too many people give a rip that Jesus Christ is the Creator of the universe in all it’s vastness and diversity. Hebrews 1 tells us not only has He created the universe, but He’s also spoken to us – He still speaks to the listening heart today.
Today, is Independence Day in the US. We celebrate our independence from the tyranny of a king and his culture; however we’re still dependent on much of the world’s resources to feed our present lifestyle. We’re largely dependent on a government. We cannot love each other so we have developed a system called political correctness in order to force us to make life fair. We define freedom as the license to do anything as long as it brings us pleasure. Independence Day, what irony.
What’s really weird is that as bad and as decadent as we are, there are still millions of people who’d rather live in the US than in their own countries where it is logarithmically worse. And in the midst of all this, is the Church.
As I look around at our world I don’t get a sense of well-being. Yes, I do have much to be thankful for, yet I know it’s all short-lived. However, I do know this and in this I find hope: in these last days [God] has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through Whom He made the universe. Our “Independence Day” may be a sham, but Jesus Christ is not and He still speaks and He still saves and He will one day right all of the wrong and bring an end to all this current crap.
Regardless of how bad it is and how bad I think it is, I am to celebrate my dependence upon Christ and share Him with anyone who will listen to the fact that He speaks and He created the universe. It is He who gives me true independence from the tyranny of this present world with its version of freedom and political correctness…
Father in Heaven,
You still speak to the listening heart. You even speak to those who aren’t listening. I pray for the filling of the Holy Spirit this day to celebrate my true freedom and to share the truth of the Speaking Christ with others – in His creative Name I pray, amen.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Where to Stand
7.3.2011
Isaiah 7:9 9 '...The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’ NIV
What do you do when it all seems to go south? What do you do with the diagnosis, the summons, the warrant, the pink slip? I know I ask these kinds of questions all the time but I think they deserve our constant attention because stuff happens – and it happens all the time. The distance between current and past stuff varies but stuff happens.
Ahaz the King of Judah was facing an impending attack by his northern brethren (Israel) and the nation of Aram. Ahaz was given an opportunity to ask God for a sign of His provision and protection but rather than ask, Ahaz feigned humility and said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.” Who knows, he might’ve thought he was being set up by the prophet. What he got for his ‘humility’ however, was a stern rebuke; when God offers an opportunity it's best to take it.
The kings of Judah had two things going for them: the promise of God to David and the prophets of God to remind them of it. Despite this they had become very good at politics – politics and God don’t mix well at all. They seemed to want to look good and their rulership tended to be all about making a name for themselves. What a pity, what a waster of talent and position…
God told Ahaz, “If you don’t stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” In America we like to stand firm. In the church we like to stand firm. The kings of Judah liked to stand firm but they didn’t stand firm in their faith – they, like us, stood firm in their position, power, nationality and possessions. Sorry, those things don’t get the job done. What do we do when it all goes south? Who do we depend on when it all goes south? Where do we take our stand when it all goes south?
If I do not stand firm in my faith in Jesus Christ, I won’t stand at all. If I don’t stand firm in my faith everyday and remind myself of this every day then I’ll depend on something or someone else. That is utter foolishness and tantamount to spitting on the sacrifice of Christ and the promises of God – it’s that serious.
Father in Heaven,
O God, in these days may my heart be found true, as I take my stand in my faith built only upon You. May I cling to the cross as I take my stand, knowing everything else is but sinking sand. May I live my life opposed to the fall, knowing outside of Christ I won’t stand at all. Help me God – amen.
Isaiah 7:9 9 '...The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’ NIV
What do you do when it all seems to go south? What do you do with the diagnosis, the summons, the warrant, the pink slip? I know I ask these kinds of questions all the time but I think they deserve our constant attention because stuff happens – and it happens all the time. The distance between current and past stuff varies but stuff happens.
Ahaz the King of Judah was facing an impending attack by his northern brethren (Israel) and the nation of Aram. Ahaz was given an opportunity to ask God for a sign of His provision and protection but rather than ask, Ahaz feigned humility and said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.” Who knows, he might’ve thought he was being set up by the prophet. What he got for his ‘humility’ however, was a stern rebuke; when God offers an opportunity it's best to take it.
The kings of Judah had two things going for them: the promise of God to David and the prophets of God to remind them of it. Despite this they had become very good at politics – politics and God don’t mix well at all. They seemed to want to look good and their rulership tended to be all about making a name for themselves. What a pity, what a waster of talent and position…
God told Ahaz, “If you don’t stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” In America we like to stand firm. In the church we like to stand firm. The kings of Judah liked to stand firm but they didn’t stand firm in their faith – they, like us, stood firm in their position, power, nationality and possessions. Sorry, those things don’t get the job done. What do we do when it all goes south? Who do we depend on when it all goes south? Where do we take our stand when it all goes south?
If I do not stand firm in my faith in Jesus Christ, I won’t stand at all. If I don’t stand firm in my faith everyday and remind myself of this every day then I’ll depend on something or someone else. That is utter foolishness and tantamount to spitting on the sacrifice of Christ and the promises of God – it’s that serious.
Father in Heaven,
O God, in these days may my heart be found true, as I take my stand in my faith built only upon You. May I cling to the cross as I take my stand, knowing everything else is but sinking sand. May I live my life opposed to the fall, knowing outside of Christ I won’t stand at all. Help me God – amen.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Jude Viewed
7.2.2011
Jude 1-2 1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ: 2 Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. NIV
In the quiet moments of life, how do you view yourself? I contend it’s important for us to have a healthy self-view, and to build that perspective on what the Bible says about us. Life is lived easier when we know what God thinks about us.
Jude didn’t call himself anything other than a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. I too am a servant of Jesus Christ – I must always keep that foremost in my mind and let that thought rule over all I think and am. When the last day arrives I must be what I am called and yes, I could be called many things on that day but let the first and foremost be: a servant of Jesus Christ.
Jude called himself a brother of James not only because he was actually related to James by birth, but also because he was related to James by new birth. John 5 tells us there was a time in Jude’s life when he didn’t think too highly of Jesus.
And Jude wrote to those he called, “…loved by God and kept by Jesus Christ”. What greater thought is there than that – to know today we who believe are loved by God and kept by Jesus Christ!? I fear the idiocy of my ways and the propensity I have toward just plain stupid – that is, until I read a verse like this and remember the God who loves me and the Christ who saves me. I wasn’t saved to then live any old way I want; no, I was saved to remain saved, and to be of use to God and to inherit Him in all His glory on the day I go home to meet Him face to face. What greater reality is there than that – to be loved by God and kept by Jesus Christ? God loves me and Jesus keeps me – wow!
I needed that today. I need that everyday but today is all I have and I needed to be reminded today that God loves me and Jesus Christ keeps me. When I go to work in an hour and fifteen, I’ll remember that the way Jude viewed himself is the way I am to view myself: loved by God and kept by Jesus Christ.
Father God,
Amen! Help me today to recognize the reality that You love me and Jesus Christ keeps me. I am so afraid of my one potential and so assured in my other. Chisel it, set it deep in my soul – I am loved by God and kept by Jesus. Amen.
Jude 1-2 1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ: 2 Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. NIV
In the quiet moments of life, how do you view yourself? I contend it’s important for us to have a healthy self-view, and to build that perspective on what the Bible says about us. Life is lived easier when we know what God thinks about us.
Jude didn’t call himself anything other than a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. I too am a servant of Jesus Christ – I must always keep that foremost in my mind and let that thought rule over all I think and am. When the last day arrives I must be what I am called and yes, I could be called many things on that day but let the first and foremost be: a servant of Jesus Christ.
Jude called himself a brother of James not only because he was actually related to James by birth, but also because he was related to James by new birth. John 5 tells us there was a time in Jude’s life when he didn’t think too highly of Jesus.
And Jude wrote to those he called, “…loved by God and kept by Jesus Christ”. What greater thought is there than that – to know today we who believe are loved by God and kept by Jesus Christ!? I fear the idiocy of my ways and the propensity I have toward just plain stupid – that is, until I read a verse like this and remember the God who loves me and the Christ who saves me. I wasn’t saved to then live any old way I want; no, I was saved to remain saved, and to be of use to God and to inherit Him in all His glory on the day I go home to meet Him face to face. What greater reality is there than that – to be loved by God and kept by Jesus Christ? God loves me and Jesus keeps me – wow!
I needed that today. I need that everyday but today is all I have and I needed to be reminded today that God loves me and Jesus Christ keeps me. When I go to work in an hour and fifteen, I’ll remember that the way Jude viewed himself is the way I am to view myself: loved by God and kept by Jesus Christ.
Father God,
Amen! Help me today to recognize the reality that You love me and Jesus Christ keeps me. I am so afraid of my one potential and so assured in my other. Chisel it, set it deep in my soul – I am loved by God and kept by Jesus. Amen.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Life is Hard
7.1.2011
Isaiah 2:5 5 Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord. NIV
A friend of mine posted this on Facebook last night: Reading blogs and emails from hurting people leads me to reduce my theology to: Life is hard. God is beautiful. It's all I know for sure. Maybe what we need right now is a good oversimplification.
It’s that time of the year for me to spend time in the prophetic portions of the Bible. Each year from the end of June to about the middle of October my reading takes me through the collapse of Israel (the ten northern tribes) and Judah (including Benjamin). Each year I am re-reminded of the chaos of choosing one’s own way apart from God. It is sad and it is true but like my friend’s post it isn’t without hope; through it all God is there for His people.
I also had this happen last night: I went to bed with this thought on my mind: look for the light. And then I read this verse in Isaiah 2: Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord. Truth was, the house of Jacob was doing everything but walking in the light of the Lord. Truth was, life was hard because the 'kings thing' wasn’t working out, the nation had forsaken God for the most part, and they had adopted false gods.
Isaiah’s statement is both helpful and hopeful; let us walk in the light of the Lord is corrective: why walk in darkness when we can walk in the light of the Lord? Let us walk in the light of the Lord is also hopeful and encouraging – there’s a better way, a lasting way; a perfect way. Life is hard, but it’s hard for a reason and it’s not forever. The hardness of life will cause us to look for light – or at least it should. My friend’s comments are so true: life is hard… but. But, God is beautiful! Let’s never forget that. Israel! Life is hard but there is the hope of repentance if we but seek God and turn from our stupidity and self-inflicted blindness! And if ever there was an answer it is this: when times are hard and life is tough stay in the Light – and that is enough. Oversimplified? Perhaps. But it was good enough for Isaiah to tell his nation and it’s good enough for God to tell us…
Father in Heaven,
You are Light and You are Life. May I walk in the Light as You are in the Light that we may have fellowship together and the blood of Christ will purify me from complaining about my circumstances and cause me to trust in You! I’m walking in Sunshine! Amen.
Isaiah 2:5 5 Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord. NIV
A friend of mine posted this on Facebook last night: Reading blogs and emails from hurting people leads me to reduce my theology to: Life is hard. God is beautiful. It's all I know for sure. Maybe what we need right now is a good oversimplification.
It’s that time of the year for me to spend time in the prophetic portions of the Bible. Each year from the end of June to about the middle of October my reading takes me through the collapse of Israel (the ten northern tribes) and Judah (including Benjamin). Each year I am re-reminded of the chaos of choosing one’s own way apart from God. It is sad and it is true but like my friend’s post it isn’t without hope; through it all God is there for His people.
I also had this happen last night: I went to bed with this thought on my mind: look for the light. And then I read this verse in Isaiah 2: Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord. Truth was, the house of Jacob was doing everything but walking in the light of the Lord. Truth was, life was hard because the 'kings thing' wasn’t working out, the nation had forsaken God for the most part, and they had adopted false gods.
Isaiah’s statement is both helpful and hopeful; let us walk in the light of the Lord is corrective: why walk in darkness when we can walk in the light of the Lord? Let us walk in the light of the Lord is also hopeful and encouraging – there’s a better way, a lasting way; a perfect way. Life is hard, but it’s hard for a reason and it’s not forever. The hardness of life will cause us to look for light – or at least it should. My friend’s comments are so true: life is hard… but. But, God is beautiful! Let’s never forget that. Israel! Life is hard but there is the hope of repentance if we but seek God and turn from our stupidity and self-inflicted blindness! And if ever there was an answer it is this: when times are hard and life is tough stay in the Light – and that is enough. Oversimplified? Perhaps. But it was good enough for Isaiah to tell his nation and it’s good enough for God to tell us…
Father in Heaven,
You are Light and You are Life. May I walk in the Light as You are in the Light that we may have fellowship together and the blood of Christ will purify me from complaining about my circumstances and cause me to trust in You! I’m walking in Sunshine! Amen.
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