Thursday, January 31

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019

 

“In days to come, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘With a mighty hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.  When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed the firstborn of both people and animals in Egypt.  This is why I sacrifice to the Lord the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.’  And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the Lord brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand.” (Exodus 13:14-16)

 

 

The Scriptures overflow with images and symbols:  the rainbow, the Passover Lamb, the Vine and the Branches, and the Bread of Life.  God clearly communicates with us through these symbols.  Reflecting on them unlocks deeper meanings in the Scriptures.  In fact, our Lord Jesus Christ chose to communicate a great portion of His teaching through parables, whose meanings become deeper and richer with further reflection.

 

In today’s passage from Exodus 12 and 13, we read about the first Passover.  For those Israelite houses with doors covered by the blood of the Passover lamb, God would “pass over” them while carrying out a terrible 10th plague against the Egyptians:  the killing of the firstborn of every household.  The Passover lamb played a clear role in this historical moment, but it also pointed forward to another eternal Passover Lamb:  the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

In John 1:29, John the Baptist greets Jesus with these words:  “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”  He would indeed live up to those words, dying in our place to take away our sin.  His death would come at the time of Passover, going to the Cross after celebrating the Passover feast with His disciples and remembering that first Passover in Egypt.  The imagery and symbolism are unmistakable.

 

The Word of God calls us to remember God’s faithfulness in the past, trust in it for the present, and anticipate it in the future.  The testimony of Scripture shows that God will intervene and bring ultimate freedom from the bondage of sin and any oppression in this life.  He  intervenes out of love and compassion for His people.  We will experience joy as we celebrate and live in the freedom that He has provided:  “But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

 

 

Lord God, thank You for securing our freedom through the Cross.  We celebrate Your goodness and love today.  We trust You for tomorrow and beyond.  Give us a greater measure of faith and a deeper knowledge of Your compassion.  Provide opportunities for us to share Your message of hope and freedom with those who are struggling and in despair.  In Jesus’s mighty Name, amen.

 

 

Jan 30

Psalm 25

Simply entitled "A Psalm of David".  David is often found crying out to God, so this particular Psalm could have come from several occasions.  In any event, it is a heartfelt outcry from the heart that fits not only David's live but ours as well.  In this Psalm we see David, with "his Holy trust, his many conflicts, his great transgressions, his bitter repentance and his deep distresses are all here, so that we see the very heart of 'the man after God's own heart'" (Charles Spurgeon). When we are troubled the only One to lift our soul up to is God. Sometimes "lifting our souls" might sound to some who don't understand as a simple cliche, or a figure of speech.  However, to us who believe, lifting our souls places us spiritually in a position of surrender to God where we wait upon the One who created us and gave us life to embrace us in our surrendered state with His love, mercy and grace.  It's in that spirit of prayer that our Lord is able to break the chains that bind us to our earthly addictions, and do what only He can do, fill us with His love and give us mercy.  David expects God to honor the trust he has in the God who loves him for His name sake (v. 11), as he comes surrendered.  To be honest, so do I. When I pray with tears rolling down my face I am counting on who God is, His character, His chesed (mercy) to lift me out of the pit. It has nothing to do with who I am but everything to do with who God is and who He says I am in Him. We are all daughters and sons, who like David, can call out to God and surrender our lifted souls. We all need guidance and direction and answered prayers don't always look like what we think they should, but at the throne of God's mercy and grace we receive just that. My prayer is that God directs me and everyone reading this, and teaches us according to His mercy, goodness and grace. I pray for all of us that we surrender our souls, God meets us where we are and His love fills our hearts.

Randi

🎵Who is this King of Glory? 🎵

January 29, 2019

Exodus 8-9, Matthew 19:13-30, Psalm 24, Proverbs 6:1-5

Who is this King of Glory? 

A nonstop mash up of Christian songs have been looping through my head all day. "Give us clean hands...Oh God let us be, a generation that seeks, seeks your face oh God of Jacob."  

Then you throw in Third Day's "King of Glory" and it's a great medley.... "

"Who is this King of glory with strength and majesty

And wisdom beyond measure, the gracious King of kings

The Lord of Earth and Heaven, the Creator of all things

Who is this King of glory, He's everything to me"

We see a giant picture of the Great and Mighty God in today's reading. He is The All-Powerful God who sends impossible plagues to Egypt. Who tells Pharaoh, the most powerful man on Earth,  "For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."

Exodus 9:15-16 NIV

He is the King of Glory. 

David wrote Psalm 24. David was a man who served a powerful king. He was a man who became an even more powerful king and yet he asked "Who is the King of Glory?" He knew the answer was not found on Earth, but by the Maker and Creator of Earth. "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters."

Psalm 24:1-2 NIV. 

So...

"Who is he, this King of glory? l Lord Almighty— he is the King of glory."

Psalm 24:10 NIV. 

He is the King. I am not.  I am so little compared to His greatness, and yet He still loves and wants me. The same King who created all I see. The same King who did the impossible in Egypt. The same King who sits (as Jesus said in Matthew 19, "His glorious throne."  

Amen. 

bible blog (x2) Monday January 28th

God Is Always Faithful!  Are We Holding Onto That Hope?  (Exodus 5:22 - 6:13)

Hebrews 10:23 says, "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for HE who promised is faithful."

This verse is an encouragement.  It challenges us to remember that we have a God who is faithful to all His promises.  It is meant to be a life preserver when we find ourselves trying to swim in the seemingly overwhelming, sometimes drowning, circumstances in life.  It is our only source of true hope and hope is what buoys the heart when life discourages.

From yesterday's reading in Exodus to today's I watch not just one person but a whole nation go from believing and worshiping God in His promises to becoming discouraged.  It all happened because they lost focus and let go of Hope.  Their circumstances got worse before they got better and they doubted.  They heard God's promises and were excited at the start but His timing and theirs were not the same.  He had told the people that the heart of Pharaoh would not be so easily broken which would mean their yoke of slavery would not be so easily broken, but it would indeed break.  It was going to take "time".  When that "time" brought with it greater struggle it also brought the opportunity to doubt.  It brought with it the garden serpents original question first asked of Eve, "did God really say...."???  They began to question God's goodness, God's faithfulness, God's love by weighing it against the circumstances they saw and experienced and they let go of the truth, they let go of the hope of God's faithful promises.

So what about us?  Life often feels like a stormy sea, full of ups and downs.  We each encounter different circumstances, different situations that try and capsize our focus from the hope God has given us through His promises.  Do you hold tight to the life preserver of hope, God's promises, when things seem beyond your control?  Do you hold tight to the hope of a faithful God when things seems to get worse before they get better?  Do you hold firmly to the hope that you have a God who loves you and is always there to hold onto you even if you let go of Him?  Do you hold onto the hope that you have a God who's timing is perfect and works all things together for good (Romans 8:28)?

We know what happened to the discouraged and captive Israelite's.  We know the whole Exodus story.  We know that it kept getting seeming worse before the heart of Pharaoh was broken, before their release from bondage was complete, before God brought them safely to other side of the sea of their struggles and washed away their past behind them.  God has a plan and therefore God has a hope you and I can firmly hold onto.  Let us be encouraged by this.  Let us encourage each other with this.  Let us not allow our circumstances to be our focus and discourage us.  Whatever life holds for us let us hold onto the hope that is found in the promises of our faithful God and Father.  He is already there, waiting on the other side of whatever we find ourselves in, we just need to trust and hope in Him and He will see us through.

The following is a link to a song that hopefully will encourage you and bring you joy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qtg9axTtNLg

January 27: "Childlike Faith in a Childish World"

Exodus 4:1—5:21

Matthew 18:1-20

Psalm 22:19-31

Proverbs 5:15-21

 

"…unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3)

 

Jesus presents us with a reversal of human values. To be great, he says, is to like a child. But what does it mean to have "childlike" faith?

 

Usually, being compared to a child is a bad thing. We might dismiss a friend's behavior for being "childish." Yet the world around us seems bent on turning us into spoiled brats. Childish virtues are rooted in such things as status. Wealth. Achievement. Reputation. Childish virtue is characterized first and foremost by self-interest. For some, it's the self-righteousness that comes from personal success. For others, it's the self-pity that comes from life's hard edges.

 

But childlikeness is nothing like childishness. How so? In Jesus' day, children were looked at differently than they are now. Parents loved their kids, mind you, but high child mortality rates meant that children never ranked that high on the ladder of social importance. Childlike faith, therefore, is the renunciation of self-importance. Childlike faith values humility over status, generosity over privilege, and sacrifice over success. And why not? If my identity is secure in Christ, I have everything I could ever want or need. The gospel sets me free from trying to "earn" worldly status.

 

Again, Jesus presents us with a reversal of human values. The more we grow in Christ, the more childlike we become. We live in a childish world. Help us, Lord, to be more childlike.

January 26: Of Despair and Its Cure

Exodus 2:11-3:22

Matthew 17:10-27

Psalm 22:1-18

Proverbs 5:7-14

When you look at what is going on in the world, do you ever feel tempted to fall into despair?  Leave aside whatever problems you might be facing - family, finances, employment, health.  The burdens you bear make you want to look outside you for hope you cannot find within…and then you face a world where people deny things as fundamental as the right to life and the immutability of gender, where truth cannot get in the way of a "narrative".  

I freely admit I write this today because, having endured the insistent absurdity that a wall is not a barrier to passage, the celebration that accompanied a newly passed New York permitting abortion until just before a baby comes to term was difficult.  Bad enough the celebration that surrounded the signing of the bill, perhaps worse the lighting of the Empire State Building to commemorate. 

How to deal with despair?  Today's scripture gives us wonderful, practical guidance.  A man despairing of his son's seizures came to Jesus, whose disciples had been unable to cure the boy.  Jesus not only alleviates the cause of the man's despair, he tells us the cure: faith, with which "nothing will be impossible for you."  In this story's version in the Gospel According to Mark, the boy's father exclaims "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

Faith allows us to look beyond the causes of our despair, to know that there is victorious resolution, even in the face of what was supposed to have been the greatest victory of sin - when, as it says in the psalm, "they pierce my hands and feet…they divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment."

Father it is easy to get overwhelmed by the seeming hopelessness of our condition.  Give us the faith not just to endure, but to triumph over the despair in the knowledge Your Son "has overcome the world."

Jan 25

Matthew 16

The story is told about a business traveler who was stranded at O'Hare airport in Chicago during a snowstorm. He approached the harried counter agent who was trying to book dozens of frustrated travelers on other flights. The man approached the counter, cutting ahead of the line, demanding to be cared for right away. When told he would have to go get back in line, he pressured the agent, forcefully saying, "Do you know who I am?" The agent picked up the microphone at the counter, accessed the public address system, and said, "May I have your attention please? We have a gentleman who seems to have forgotten who he is. If there is anyone who can help him discover his identity, please help the poor man out."  The cranky passenger realized he had been bested and sheepishly took his place at the end of the line.

We are all like the frustrated traveler; we too need someone to tell us who we are. Before any of us can journey with Christ, we must know who He is and who we are in Him.

In the conversation between Peter and Jesus, we gain clarity on both. Jesus clearly accepts his identity as the Messiah, the "anointed one" of Israel. This is the first time in history that this declaration was made. Declaring Jesus as Messiah will give us incredible confidence and security as we face the gates of Hell each day.

But in this story, Jesus also changes the identity of Peter by calling him "Rocky." Knowing who we are is essential to our victory each day of life.

I frequently struggle with my identity, so I have a list of declarations that I verbally proclaim.

I am a son of God.

I am a disciple of Jesus.

I have the keys of the kingdom in my hands.

I am in the care of a sovereign God.

I am assured that all things work together for good.

I have been bought with a price; I belong to God. My soul is of infinite worth.

I am free forever from condemnation.

I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.

I can find grace and mercy to help in time of need.

I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me.

I am committed to God and the building of His eternal kingdom.

I am always taken care of.

I am a temple of God.  

Join me today in declaring Jesus as Messiah and proclaiming our identity in Him.

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, January 24

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

"Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 'I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.'

"His disciples answered, 'Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?"

"'How many loaves do you have?' Jesus asked.

"'Seven,' they replied, 'and a few small fish.'" (Matthew 15:32-34)

I would like to offer two takeaways from today's readings: that God has blessed us to participate in His Kingdom ministry and that protecting our hearts must remain a key priority.

We see in the history of Jacob's family, particularly in the series of blessings that he shares in today's passage, that every individual has a unique purpose to which God has called us. Sometimes, for security, we might long for the same clear path as another person, wishing secretly that God might change our rockier path. Yet, His individual and personal love for us is one of His hallmarks.

In our ministry gifts Bible study last night, we reviewed the warning of James 4: that we should not boast about our plans, but rather remember to submit to God's will and follow after Him. If we wish to invest in eternity, we may consider where God is working and partner with Him. In the example of feeding the Four Thousand, Jesus's compassion welled up, but He involved the disciples in the great work. Given His power and majesty, Jesus might have brought the miralce out of nothing (ex nihilo). Instead, however, He chose to demonstrate compassion and to expand the disciples' faith.

Turning back to the warning in James 4, we could easily venture through life, dictate our agendas to God, and then seek His blessings afterwards. As a task-oriented person, I often struggle with this attitude. Yet, seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness means setting aside time to hear from Him and to follow Him. Before we may lead others spiritually, we must first be following Christ. We are servants in His Kingdom ministry — not in our (lower-case) kingdom ministry.

And we are immeasurably blessed that the holy, awesome God of the universe would care for us and dignify us with the call to join Him in serving and loving His people!

"Above all else, guard your heart,

    for everything you do flows from it.

Keep your mouth free of perversity;

    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

Let your eyes look straight ahead;

    fix your gaze directly before you." (Proverbs 4:23-25)

Jesus urges His disciples to avoid the yeast of the Pharisees. While they initially misunderstand, His teaching penetrates into their hearts. We must "guard our heart." Older NIV translations described the heart as the "wellspring of life." That analogy is perfect: a polluted heart will sicken us and those downstream. We bear responsibility for guarding our hearts and our minds, thinking on those concepts that will honor God. (Philippians 4:8,9)

Jesus provides great examples for us who wish to make disciples; He simplifies profound concepts by making them into carry-out sandwiches. We see the whole picture upon first receiving it, but we have the opportunity to break down the message later into many layers. We also can apply the message in multiple venues and reflect on it wherever we go. What sandwiches has God given you so far in 2019?

Lord God, thank You for the tremendous blessing of being called into Your Kingdom ministry. Help us to be sensitive to where You are leading and to partner with You there. Give us opportunities to invest in eternity today and to demonstrate Your love and compassion to those in need of it today. Help us to guard our hearts and minds so that we may give You the best. In Jesus's Name, amen.

Jan. 23

Matthew 15

Way back in Leviticus 10:10, God told the people of Israel that they were to make a distinction between the holy and the common and between the unclean and the clean.  God then went on to outline dietary laws in chapter 11 of the same book, which became part of their religion and traditions. Growing up, bacon and shellfish were never eaten in my grandmother's house, cheese was never put on a burger, and meat and fish were served on separate sets of dishes.  When my grandmother came to eat at our house, she only ate off paper plates, and all food was bought from the Kosher butcher.  Religion and tradition, but no relationship with God outside of the Torah reading.  I believe that what Jesus is teaching in Matthew 15 is that the true distinction between unclean and clean, holy and common, is not defined by what you put in your mouth, but rather what comes out of your mouth which reveals the condition of your heart. Remember, Jesus told us that he didn't come to abolish the law, He came to fulfill it (Mat. 5:17) So He wasn't negating the Kosher dietary regulations, He was revealing to the Pharisees that the holiness and cleanliness they were so desperately trying achieve just wasn't going to come from the food they were eating, or if they washed their hands before they ate it. As a matter of fact he told them that on account of their tradition, they had made void the very word of God. Jesus goes on to explain that it's the evil thoughts, slander, and false witness that make us unclean. Keeping your hands clean and keeping your heart clean are two different things.  I don't know this for sure, but being a Rabbi, Jesus most likely followed the dietary laws laid out in Leviticus 11, as did His disciples, (they were all Jewish), but He wanted them to see beyond the Torah and see the God revealed to them in the very Scriptures they were reading. (Col. 1:15)  In summary, enjoy what you eat today, and remember, Purell will keep your hands clean, only Jesus can purify your heart.

Randi

The Stormy Sea

January 22, 2019

Genesis 44-45:28, Matthew 14:13-36, Psalm 18:37-50, Proverbs 4:11-13

 

This is one of my favorite days to read during the Bible 365 plan.  I love the story of Joseph.  It has always been one of my favorites.  The story of what faith and forgiveness looks like.  I've been thinking about what I would say if I was in his shoes. He's had years and years to replay those events in his mind, the day his brothers betrayed him. Years and years of thinking "If I ever see them again, this is what I would do..." I have a couple of those instances that I think about and what I wish I could have done differently or what I should have said. Joseph's reaction is a glimpse of Christ's total forgiveness towards us. My favorite scene is his reveal and giving total Glory to God. 

But I also got Matthew 14 and one of my other favorite stories and scenes in the Bible. I'm totally cheating today because my blog entry was already written for me in two ways. Most of this I wrote in 2014 (so for some of you it will be a repeat), but the entry below I wrote back in 2005 (21 years old) in my parents living room.  I remember the day and time in my life exactly.  The storms in my life surrounded life decisions like college, majors, careers.  It included my first serious boyfriend and who was I thought supposed to marry.  I wrote this to my mom…they were just thoughts at the time, but I always look back at them because the storms have changed in my life, but thankfully God's promises ring true. There are times I am still stuck in the water and still need this reminder.

 

"I was comforted and intrigued when a couple weeks ago you reminded me about Peter walking on water with JC. This morning I couldn't help but read that story over and over again, as Matthew recorded it. I saw the storm and how each of us have one in our life. I saw and could feel the cold waves crashing in the storm and the chilling wind that made me hide.

 

I recognized in my own life how I am just a little girl standing in the middle of a tempest, the waves represented by life, careers, purpose and the unknown future. 

The winds that surround me being that special person, love, and again, the unknown future.

 

Just like Peter I look all around and I lose sight at the One standing in front of me calling my name. Like Peter, I look around and I'm scared.

 

I begin to sink. Mommy... I sink. Lower and lower...the water creeps up my legs to my knees...I panic...

 

But He is there. He grabs my hand and helps me back to my feet. He stops the storm. He is my comfort, my Protector and the One who can alone save me.

 

I am still standing in the storm, and I'm trying to walk, to keep focused. its hard. I cant help but look around me at the violent winds and storm that surrounds.  But I know the answer. It's simple. Its my Jesus standing in front of me reaching for my hand.  All I have to do is look at Him, reach out, and he will hold me."

bible blog post Monday January 21st

Who is your God?  (Psalm 18:16-36)

"For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?" Psalm 18:31

This is not a philosophical question to just brush over quickly in our reading today.  This question is one that begs us to stop and take a seriously honest look at our lives, every aspect.  Whether good times or bad, plenty or want, joy or sorrow, sickness or health, whether the path of life appears obvious or unforeseen, no matter where you are in life at any time how does your life lived out answer this question?  Do you strive to gain control and steer events in directions you desire or do you surrender control to the LORD who is God and say, "I surrender to you and need you to lead me for your way is perfect, I will follow and trust you."?  Do you face the day in fear of your weaknesses or plow ahead in your own strengths and abilities rather than pause and seek the LORD who is God and say, "you arm me with strength, you make me stable, you enable me to do things beyond what I think I can do by myself. I trust in you to be my strength and shield."?

What are you putting in place of the LORD as your God, hope, strength, council, light, truth, refuge, your _____________ (fill in the blank as you reflect).  Are you trusting in your abilities, government, doctors, spouse, friends, job, bank account, stock market, gym membership, _____________ (fill in the blank as you reflect).  As a side note, God does use people, situations and our abilities at times in our lives but we are not called to put our trust and hope in others but in God and leave it to Him to lead us and show us who He will or will not use in our lives.  We are called to trust Him with the events of our lives.

I know that God is always speaking but we are not always listening, we are not always ready or wanting to see things about ourselves that we need to see.  So, we need to seek the LORD, who is God, and ask for a heart and mind that is ready and wanting to know what we are putting before Him. Then we need to ask Him to reveal to us anything and everything that we put in place of Him as a god in our lives.  We need to seek to have revealed anything that we are trusting in and putting our hope in before God.  Then we need to ask the LORD who is God to give us the strength and ability to put Him back as our hope, strength, council, light, truth....back as God who is center in our lives.

God the LORD is good all the time not just when life seems like a walk on the beach so lets make sure our lives are lived to reflect all that He is all the time.  Let us live with our hope and trust in Him alone.

January 20: “The Viral Gospel”

January 20: "The Viral Gospel"

 

Genesis 41:17—42:17

Matthew 13:24-46

Psalm 18:1-15

Proverbs 4:1-6

 

"The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened." (Matthew 13:33)

 

It's called "going viral." In the world of social media, it's become something of a holy grail. The idea is simple: rather than try to capture everyone's attention all at once, you create something small. If enough people "share" your content, it eventually generates a tidal wave of interest. A single Facebook post, for example, can eventually snowball into something shared around the world.

 

The principle, of course, predates our digital age. Nature does something similar all the time: the division of cells, the growth of populations. Jesus seems to have this in mind in Matthew 13:33. It's the shortest parable in the Bible, but it packs a lot of meaning.

 

Jesus describes a woman who works "leaven" or yeast into "three measures of flour." If that doesn't impress you, we should point out that this would have been about 50 pounds—enough to feed 100 people or more. And while "yeast" was often used as a symbol of corruption and decay, here Jesus reverses the image, emphasizing the way something small can spread throughout a larger system.

 

But let's not miss a deeper point. Yeast doesn't simply work because of a mechanical process, or even a chemical process. Yeast works because it literally infuses life into the bread.

 

Christ-follower, we are called to be present in the world. We are called to share the gospel with our friends, neighbors and coworkers. At times, our contributions may feel small. The culture around us seems too hostile, too indifferent, too…lifeless. But here Jesus promises that God can take the smallest things of the world and let them "go viral," that over time our faithful presence in the world would have an impact.

 

Our world is hurting. God's kingdom is growing. Keep sharing. 

January 19: Of Joseph, Patience and Faithfulness

Genesis 39:1-41:16

Matthew 12:46-13:23

Psalm 17:1-15

Proverbs 3:33-35

Waiting is difficult.  For something we want - Christmas morning, for example, or the next time we see someone we are madly in love with - waiting is tough enough.  Waiting for relief, however - from fear and pain, from injustice, from excruciating circumstances you did nothing to cause - that kind of waiting can be maddening, the kind that drives people to extremes. 

Which is why I don't know how Joseph did it.  He not only waited out injustice and its consequences, he waited them out with faithfulness, with generosity, and eventually, even forgiveness.  Consider: from the day his brothers threw him down a cistern and from which, subsequently, they sold him into slavery, he waited:

• Around 13 years as a slave, including 
• Over two years as a prisoner, for a crime he did not commit, and
• At least 2 years during which the cup bearer he helped neglected to put in a good word for him with the king, and finally…
• A total of twenty four - count them, twenty four! - years till he could repay his brothers for the  grievous wrong they did him

And yet when he was sold to Potiphar, he served Potiphar faithfully - when Potiphar's wife demanded he sleep with her, he refused.  And when he was sent to jail - for doing the RIGHT thing! - he served the jailer faithfully.  And when the king asked for his help, he provided it willingly - without asking to be freed.  And, as we will read, when his brothers came to him in desperate need, despite the power he had to take his revenge upon them, he not only forgave them, he provided for them.  Willingly.  Generously.   

When one ponders how he was rewarded for his faithfulness, his patience and generosity, one tends to focus on the position, the power, the wealth he ended up enjoying.  I believe, though, that he was rewarded with something far more valuable - the unburdening of anger and pain without which I doubt he would have been able to serve so faithfully and generously for so long, much less forgive his brothers.  

Father, when we face adverse circumstances of Your choosing and not ours, grant us the ability to respond as Joseph did: with patience and faithfulness.  And as we exercise those gifts, unburden our spirits of any anger and hate; replace them with joy and peace. 

January 18

Matthew 12

One of the most frequent questions I get asked is, "Have I committed the unpardonable sin by blaspheming the Holy Spirit?"  I immediately ask the person to unpack the question. They usually tell me a story about a time when they were angry with God. In their anger they cursed God and told him that they hated him. Because of these words, they struggle with fears about their eternal destiny.

In Matthew 12 Jesus says this, "Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven." The immediate context of this statement is that Jesus has healed a man.  The Pharisees who saw this miracle rejected it, saying it was done by the power of Satan. These religious leaders were rejecting the grace of God revealed right in front of them. And by attributing the power of God to Satan, they weren't just doubting, they were denying the truth.

The bottom line is this: the sin of "blaspheming the Holy Spirit" is essentially rejecting Jesus. The work of the Holy Spirit is to reveal Jesus as God the Son and King of the universe. If we reject this work of the Holy Spirit, we will never come to the place of receiving forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Persistent rejection of the work of the Holy Spirit leads to a place where repentance is no longer possible. Beware!!

I encourage the person who asked this question to realize that even their concern over this issue reveals their heart is still open to the Spirit's work. The amazing grace of God can forgive every sin in our lives. What God can't do is forgive a person who willfully hardens their heart against the Holy Spirit's whisper.  If you hear his whisper today, follow his leading.

 

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, January 17

THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2019

"LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent?

    Who may live on your holy mountain?

The one whose walk is blameless,

    who does what is righteous,

    who speaks the truth from their heart;

whose tongue utters no slander,

    who does no wrong to a neighbor,

    and casts no slur on others;

who despises a vile person

    but honors those who fear the Lord;

who keeps an oath even when it hurts,

    and does not change their mind

who lends money to the poor without interest;

    who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

Whoever does these things

    will never be shaken." (Psalm 15)

Today's psalm speaks directly about character, specifically the character of one who seeks God and may approach Him. Despite clear examples of sin, David's longing for God's presence established him as a man after God's own heart and a great example for us in passionate seeking after God.

Importantly, this passion for seeking God goes beyond the "sacred tent" (in modern terms, "at church" or "in small group"). It manifests itself in a changed life that reflects God's priorities: placing God as a priority; honoring God, the truth, and others with our words and actions; holding fast to our promises; and treating people with greater respect than money.

These elements of character lead to this security: "Whoever does these things/ will never be shaken." (15:5) Given the volatility of the world, its challenges, and our feelings, how could David make this assertion? The answer lies in God's faithfulness and character: that, in committing to this honorable life, God promises to protect His servant from shame or abandonment. As Jesus explained, even amid persecution, this promise would remain secure: "In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." The promise rests in God, not our circumstances.

Does character matter today? While the media might suggest otherwise, character absolutely matters today. Character defines "how" we live, which God esteems over "what" we accomplish. The U.S. Military Academy touts this phrase: "Choosing the harder right over the easier wrong." Character may costs us in the short run, but the long-term effects lead to transformation and blessing God and others. A transformed character points to God and proclaims: "He can redeem anyone and everyone. How about you?"

Would you like to grow in character? You're on the right path by studying His Word, which creates the basis for understanding character and its implications. Have you found mentors whose character you would like to emulate?

Lord God, we come before You today and desire to grow in character. Show us where we may grow and lead us to Your Word and to mentors. Build in us the love and compassion to bless others and the wisdom to know how. Help us to avoid pettiness so that we may esteem what You esteem. In Jesus's mighty Name, amen.

The Fool

January 15, 2019

Genesis 31:17-32:12, Matthew 10:26-11:6, Psalm 13:1-6, Proverbs 3:16-18

Last Tuesday, 1/8, was the 63rd anniversary of Jim Elliot's death. He was one of five missionaries that was killed by a native village in Ecuador as they made attempts to spread the Gospel in this unreached area. Growing up I read the books about him and other great missionaries like Hudson Taylor and Amy Carmichael. I wrote some of his famous quotes in my journals, notebooks, and Bible to see daily...to inspire and encourage. His most well-known quotes was, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose."  

In 1999 as a freshman in high school, I entered the current era and reality of what we know know today, school shootings. The Columbine shooting in Colorado happened in April that year and it scared me more than I can describe. Stories of students being killed because they said they were followers of Christ shaped me and still there today. I remembered that quote from Jim Elliot even more. In Matthew 10 Jesus is teaching and speaking to His disciples. He tells them of persecution that will lay ahead, of uneasy roads, of the cost in will cost to follow Him. Even as he paints a picture of uneasy days, He gives hope, "Even the very hairs of your head are numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." 

A few verses down Christ first mentions a phrase that we see through the Gospels, "And anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Verses 37-38). God willing, we will never be martyred for our faith or ever be put in that situation, but how many times in a daily basis is our faith tested? Do we carry our cross? Do we love each precious day that we are given dedicated to God's glory? 

I pray that we live and echo David's psalm that we would, "Trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me."  (Psalm 13: 5-6). May you be blessed, take up your cross, and give up your life that you may gain eternity. 

Jan 16

Proverbs 3:19-20

By wisdom the Lord founded the earth;by understanding he created the heavens. By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth, and the dew settles beneath the night sky.

I find myself in new territory these days. I'm learning there's a turning point in the child/parent relationship where we shift from "parenting skills" to "coaching skills".  My two boys are now young men but still come to me at times for my guidance and or opinion.  While I'm doing my very best to guide them, I find myself wondering "who am I to give anyone advise?"   I've made more mistakes than I'd like to admit to, (and probably even invented some) and here I am trying to offer guidance to two of the most precious people in my life. Offering wisdom is not about being clever, it's not about accumulating knowledge and offering facts.  It's all about getting to know God better and allowing that relationship to shape our lives and guide our conversations. Along those lines,  I've realized the best wisdom can only come from God. His wisdom founded the earth and the heavens, how does what I can offer compare to anything God has to say?  It certainly doesn't.  So I find myself listening for God's voice while at the same time listening to my sons questions and praying at the same time that I say the right things.  Romans 12:2 tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  It's not our wisdom we want to offer anyone, it's God's, the One who by His knowledge set creation into motion,  and the only way to know what He would say is by knowing what He says.  Chad said it so beautifully on Sunday, there is a road map to get through this life, there is wisdom beyond anything we could dream of  and it's all found in our Bible. Lord, thank you for your truth that sets us free.  Thank you for your words that are a lamp unto our feet. I pray You increase our capacity to hear Your voice and that Your spirit of wisdom rests upon us, guiding us and leading us. 

Randi

Bible blog post Monday January 14th

What has the Lord given?  How have you used it?  (Matthew 10:5-8)

About 14 years ago my husband, Chuck, and I were able to get a mortgage and buy the house we live in today.  It was a fixer upper and we started work on it the day we closed on it.  Shortly before we were finished and ready to move in we choose to have the house blessed.  We asked Pastor Taylor to come over and preside over that.  We also asked a few friends to come and be a part of it, be witness to this event.  Several things were said and scriptures quoted but the thing that I remember most was when Chuck said, on behalf of both of us, "this house is a gift from God, it is His, may we always use it to glorify Him and have open doors to use it for his Kingdom."  Little did either of us know how God would take those words and use them.

Our home is a small 4 bedroom Cape and we have 4 (biological) children.  Yet this house would be called home as well as a place to rest from time to time for dozens of young people all with different stories, different needs, different levels of faith.  We have always had an open door policy where people were welcome to come over for dinner, find an ear to listen, receive arms to comfort, hear words to encourage, be part of a family, to be still and hang out, for whatever the need was that they had our home was open.  I don't even think I can recall how many young people as well as older have entered our small home and in doing so our lives over the past 14 years.  Even strangers who knocked on the door have ended up sitting with us for dinner (I am 100% serious about this).  Neighbors have been welcomed as friends and even friendship with the mailman, Bob is his name, has been made.  This house was a blessing from the Lord and we have tried our best to use it as a blessing to others.

Matthew 10:8 says "Freely you have received, freely give."  Christ was teaching his disciples to trust that He would provide.  He was teaching them to not look at what they didn't have but at what they did have, what Christ had given them and then to use those things as a gift, a blessing to others.  He was teaching them to not just preach the word of God but to live it out and to show it to others.  He wanted to them to discover that God does indeed freely give and they in turn need to do likewise.

Christ wants us to learn these things too and the best way to learn them is to take time to see what God has freely and generously given to us.  We are given spiritual gifts, material gifts, talents and abilities as well as passions for things.  In what ways can we offer back to God what he has so graciously given in order for others to be blessed, in order for others to experience the Love God has for them?  Do we trust Him enough to give freely?

I can tell you this, I never realized how giving our home to the Lord to use 14 years ago would not only bless so many but how in doing so we have been blessed with so much more in the process.  It wasn't always easy and at times it took sacrifice but it was, it is, so worth it.  I am challenged now to look at other areas of my life in which the Lord has given to me freely and to freely give these areas back to the Lord to use for His glory and His Kingdom.

The Lord has freely, undeservedly, generously given so much to each of us.  May we have hearts of gratitude and use these things today and every day to Glorify God, to build His Kingdom, to bless others...you will only be blessed all the more in your heart if you do.

January 13: "God's Megaphone"

Genesis 28:1—29:35

Matthew 9:18-38

Psalm 11:1-7

Proverbs 3:11-12

 

"…the LORD disciplines those he loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights." (Proverbs 3:12, NET)

 

It's human nature to look for meaning in the face of tragedy. Why did this happen? Who's to blame? How can we keep this from ever happening again? And, frustratingly, there aren't always easy answers to our questions.

 

Here, Solomon instructs future generations that suffering can be the result of the Lord's loving discipline. If we were to read these verses in the original Hebrew, we'd see that Solomon blends his image of a loving father with some legal vocabulary. Solomon is saying that suffering can be a way of restoring God's just and proper order.

 

Yet for many modern Christians, these verses might jostle us a bit. Isn't "blessing" the truest mark of the Christian life? Don't sickness and suffering indicate that we are outside the will of God? Solomon would answer these questions with an emphatic "no." If we see God as merely a pathway to prosperity, then suffering will cripple us both physically and spiritually. But if we allow ourselves to listen for God's voice even in the midst of our pain, then even our negative experiences can be opportunities for growth. It's for this reason that C.S. Lewis would famously say that "God whispers to us in our pleasures…but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world." The writer of Hebrews would later quote Solomon (Hebrews 12:6) to remind the church that persecution is a part of God's plan, not some deviation from it.

 

Does that mean that all suffering is brought about by God? On the one hand, all suffering is the result of human sin. After Eden's collapse, suffering and death were set loose upon God's good creation. But that doesn't always mean that every painful experience is the direct result of my personal sin. And so we must not be afraid to affirm some degree of mystery--I can't always know when my pain is a direct result of the Lord's discipline, but I can seek to learn from it nonetheless.

 

Part of this discussion is shaped by the gospel. Grace shatters human notions of "karma," because Jesus willingly suffered for the sins we have committed. On the cross, Jesus took the wounds of God's wrath so that you and I might receive only the wounds of his mercy. And the empty tomb is a promise that one day all suffering will be at an end.

 

Until then, we live with the tension between pain and meaning. Help us, Lord, whatever our circumstances, to listen for your voice.

January 12: Of the Sick, Reality Shows and Doctors

Genesis 26:17-27:46

Matthew 9:1-17

Psalm 10:16-18

Proverbs 3:9-10

"It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick…I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

I have never been able to follow any of these "reality" tv shows (how much about them is actually reality is fodder for another blog entirely).  I have little interest in the dysfunction, the backstabbing, the tantrums, the deception, the yelling, the arrogance and dismissiveness - all traits I would rather neither see nor be.  So I don't watch.

And then I read today's OT reading, and what do I see?  Parents favoring one child over the other, a mother conspiring with her favored child to deceive her husband, a son lying to his father to steal what he believes is his brother's, a brother who earlier had so dismissively forfeited his birthright bursts out in anger, and appears to be capable of fratricide.  The drama! Why are these people in the Bible, why are they worthy examples?

They are worthy because they, like Matthew in the NT reading, are precisely the kind of people who depend on God's help.  And they give evidence of the fact that God does not call the qualified (else there would be no one to call), He qualifies those He calls.  

Two things I take away from this:

1. There is no disaster that God has not ALREADY brought good from it.  Consider that long before the drama of the stew, God had already ordained that Esau would serve Jacob, and Jacob would be Israel. 
2. There is no sinfulness that God will not forgive, no magnitude of sinner that God will not love.  The Bible is rife with examples - from Isaac's family to Matthew, to the arrogant Peter and the murderous Paul.  

Father, when I am discouraged by my sinfulness, by its gravity and persistence, by my inability to overcome it by my own strength, remind me that You call me not because I am perfect, but because I am flawed.  And keep me from the thinking that caused Adam and Eve to hide from You; rather, give me a heart that seeks You in surrender.

January 11

Matthew 8

Then a teacher of the religious law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you no matter where you go!"  But Jesus said, "Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but I, the Son of Man, have no home of my own, not even a place to lay my head."

We don't know anything about who this teacher of the religious law was. We don't know his background, we don't know if he had just heard the Sermon on the Mount or if he had just seen Jesus perform the miracles of healing at Capernaum. What we do know is that he came out of the crowd and wanted to become a disciple of rabbi Jesus.

But Jesus doesn't welcome him with open arms. Instead, Jesus reads all the fine print at the end of the advertisement. He asks this guy if he is willing to pay the price for being a disciple. Following Jesus requires we count the cost. If Jesus was rejected, harassed, criticized and even killed, his followers should expect no better treatment.  

In Matthew we see three types of followers:  The Crowds The Casual The Committed.

The crowds love the big show. They love sitting and listening in their warm, comfortable pews.  They follow Jesus because of the signs and wonders he can perform. They are excited about what Jesus can do for them.

The casual followers love being close to Jesus because he can rescue them from their problems. They want a change in circumstances without a change in their hearts. They want all the fringe benefits of Jesus without the personal sacrifice.

The committed followers simply love Jesus. Being with Jesus is the high point of the day. They love listening to him through reading the Bible. They love connecting with him through prayer. Worship is their top priority. They are willing to give everything up just to be with Jesus.

The simplest definition of a disciple is "a student," or "one who learns."  But it really means much more than that. A disciple is someone who follows a rabbi. It is someone whose life is shaped by the teaching of the rabbi. As they do life with this rabbi, they become like him in every way, adopting his values, attitudes,  actions, and principles. In short, a disciple is molded and shaped into the rabbi's image.

Jesus is still calling people out from among the crowds and the casual seekers to be his disciples.

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"