Thursday, March 31

In today's reading, we find godly instruction through Moses on the desired characteristics for a future king over Israel. Notably, Moses urges that this king should not be "above the law," but rather that he should cling to the Law and keep its contents at the forefront of his mind.

God dictates several other key criteria for this future king. First, he indicates that the king should only come from among the Israelites. We may imagine that this command emanated from God's concern for the Israelites' safety and protection, as a foreign-born king might retain alliances to his native land. Looking deeper, however, we may perceive that his lack of connection to God's law would prevent him from upholding and establishing God's law through His people.

In addition, Moses explained that the king should be free from the spiritual distractions of too much gold and silver and too many wives. These factors would cause him to become unfocused on God's law and His people, and instead to become overwhelmed by worldly pleasures.

For us, we often struggle under others' authority, bristling at their faulty leadership and direction. In our vision, we imagine that everything might be better if we had more authority or power. When we think of that scenario, we may consider the blessings of "freedom" that come from power, but we may forget the responsibilities, such as those presented here. We could easily become led astray by seeking power to its own end, forgetting to serve God first and foremost.

If we are in leadership or in follower-ship, it appears that we may remain on the right path if we live out Jesus's commands to take up our cross. This self-negating lifestyle puts the Kingdom first, others' concerns second, and ours third. How may we exhibit these priorities today? What impact would it have on our schedule? Our wallet?

God really demonstrated his amazing love by calling for this example of godly leadership. As we have opportunity, may we bless others by serving according to this standard, pointing to our loving Father.

Lord God, thank You for giving us an example of godly leadership in Moses and through these commands for your people Israel. As we follow others' leadership, help us to honor You and to serve well. As we have leadership opportunities, give us the courage to put Your concerns first, others' second, and ours third. Keep us from distraction by worldly pleasures and ego boosts. To You be all praise, honor, and glory forever! In Jesus's Name, amen.

March 30

Luke 9:1-6


Delegating authority is part of leadership training.  Jesus knew His time here was short and even though the disciples didn't really understand all that was happening, Jesus sent them out to expand His ministry.  According to Jewish customs, at the time, a person could authorize messengers to act with his full legal authority to the extent of the commission given to them.  (Bible Background Commentary) Jesus exemplifies this as He sends His disciples out with very specific instructions, and most of all He gave them the authority to carry out the mission.  The disciples didn't pack a weeks worth of luxuries before they left mostly because they didn't have any, and also the message they were spreading had nothing to do with material wealth.  By traveling light, they demonstrated their reliance on God's power to provide rather than their own provisions.  So as I was reading this, I was trying to think of how this applies to our life today.  We are all very fortunate to be involved in a church where biblical leadership training to expand the great commission is the heartbeat of our church.  Some people are called to go on overseas Missions trips, some of us find a Mission trip at our kitchen tables.  Either way, we have all answered the call and by the power of the Holy Spirit have been authorized and empowered to act and expand Jesus' ministry.  We deliver Jesus' message to everyone we talk to during the day. We can't get upset if people don't receive the message, maybe that's why Jesus told the disciples to "shake the dust off" when they left a town.  Like the disciples, we have been delegated authority to plant seeds and spread the message of the Gospel.  I don't know who God plans to put in our path today, but there will be someone who needs to hear His message. 


Randi

March 28: Of Love, Awe, and Lying Prostrate.

Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22
Luke 8:4-21

Psalm 69:19-36

Proverbs 12:2-3

What a relationship Moses must have had with God.  I'm trying to think of anyone else who might've been as close to Our Father apart from His Son, and I can't really think of anyone.  Abraham, Noah, David, Solomon - they all seem to have brief, clear conversations with God.  But Moses - Moses had long, ongoing conversations with God.  In Deuteronomy 9:9, we are reminded that Moses hung out with God for 40 days and 40 nights - no food or water.  So I did some research - so much easier these days on the internet - and found man can live without food 21 days, without water a week.  If that's the case, then Moses must have really been tight with our Father, in order for him to have survived that long - because he could NOT have done it on his own.  And he didn't do it just once.  

How good a relationship did he have with God?  He could get God to change His mind.  God wanted to punish the Israelites for their infidelity during Moses's absence; God wanted to punish Aaron for his part in the infidelity.  But Moses was so close to God he was able to persuade Him to stay His righteous anger.  

I'm trying to think of the longest I've been able to sit still.   I remember I have been able to sit quietly for a prolonged period at least thrice - each time, when I had my newborn child lying, sleeping on my chest.  And I couldn't move for fear of disturbing little Sophia, little Christian or little Thomas, for fear of waking the baby I loved; and I couldn't move, in awe of the little person with whom I had just begun a relationship.  I was completely in the moment, full of love and awe - that's why I could stay still with them.

I want that love and awe in my relationship with God.  I don't know if I will ever be able to lie still for 40 days and 40 nights like Moses did, but I would be grateful to know Him better, and consequently love Him and live in awe of Him much more.  

Good Friday

March 25, 2016

 

On this Good Friday I am broken with the fact that we killed God. I am also staggered by the fact that God not only allowed it, but he planned it so I would be part of his kingdom. It is staggering to contemplate. I was reminded this morning of a poem we have read at many of our Good Friday services. It is called "They Took Him Down" and it was written by Jamie Owens. This poem should be read at 3 o'clock this afternoon.

 

They took Him down, His poor dead body,
and prepared Him for His burial.

They took Him down, His poor pale body
drained of life, ashen, and stained
with its own life-blood.

His healing hands, now pierced and still;
Serving hands, that broke five loaves
to feed five thousand;
Holy hands, often folded in fervent prayer;
Poor gentle hands, now pierced and still.

His poor torn feet, now bloodied and cold;
Feet that walked weary miles
to bring good news to broken hearts
Feet once washed in penitent's tears;
Poor torn feet, now bloodied and cold.

His kingly head, made for a crown,
now crowned—with thorns.
His poor kingly head, crowned with thorns.

His gentle breast, now pierced by
spear-thrust, quiet and still;
His poor loving breast.

His piercing eyes, now dark and blind;
Eyes of compassion, warming the soul;
Fiery eyes, burning at sin;
Tender eyes, beckoning sinners;
His piercing eyes, now dark and blind.

His matchless voice, fountain of the Father's
thoughts, stopped—
and stilled—to speak no more.
Silence now, where once had flowed
Wisdom and comfort, Spirit and life;
His matchless voice; stilled, to speak no more.

They took Him down, His poor dead body,
and prepared Him for his burial.
     

As we will sing tonight in church….

Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble…

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, March 24

THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2016

Deuteronomy 2:1–3:29

Luke 6:12–38

Psalm 67:1–7

Proverbs 11:27

 

 

“May God be gracious to us and bless us

      and make his face shine upon us,

that your ways may be known on earth,

                your salvation among all nations.

 

May the peoples praise you, O God;

                may all the peoples praise you.” (Psalm 67:1-3)

 

 

In today’s reading, we find Psalm 67, a great hymn to God’s mission of spreading His truth.  Tied to that reading, we also read about Jesus’s selection of the 12 apostles, the “sent ones” who would proclaim the Gospel first to Israel and later to the Gentiles.  From these juxtaposed texts, we feel the loving heart of God and His concern that all would have a chance to join Him in a love-relationship through repentance and faith.

 

In a larger context, missions runs throughout the entire Scriptures.  Pastor John Piper explains that “missions exists where worship does not.”  That is, God brings forth more and more deeply committed worshippers through the spread of the Gospel.  We not only begin our love-relationship through hearing the Gospel, but God also deepen and strengthen as we follow Him in presenting the Good News.  Philemon 6 explains that partnering in the Gospel “may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.”

 

God places the nations for the very purpose of bringing people to Himself.  In Acts 17:24–28, Paul explained to the Athenians, using the philosophical discourse common to their language and culture:  “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’“ (Acts 17:24-28)

 

Throughout the New Testament, we find the disciples molding the transmission of the same message to bring people to Christ.  The truth does not change, just the contextualization.  Missions research has confirmed this idea throughout the centuries, and it has fueled the Bible translation and Jesus film movements of which Duane Troyer spoke during his recent visit.

 

 

This Easter weekend, I encourage you to take a few moments to explain the truth behind Good Friday and Easter Sunday.  You might consider simply sharing with a Christian friend to bring an air of thankfulness.  As we review this life-giving message over and over, it appears that it becomes more and more real – and our desire to share it with others more tangible.  Praise God for the precious Gift of His Son – and the secure hope of resurrection!

 

As a meditation, please consider these wonderful verses that declare our redemption:  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:  The old has gone, the new is here!  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:  that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.  And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.   We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf:  Be reconciled to God.  God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

 

 

Lord God, thank You for giving us truly good news through the Gospel.  Thank You for Your heart for the nations, including us.  We desperately need You and look to partner with You in sharing Your love with a hurting world.  Help us to speak into people’s lives with the secure hope of resurrection.  To You be all praise, honor, and glory forever!  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

 

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March 23

Psalm 66

The theme of this Psalm is so simple, yet so powerful.  God answers prayers.  While the author is unknown, the Psalm seems to be written after a great victory over a battle.  Haven't we all been there?  That time where just as fire refines silver, God brings us to a trial to stretch our faith and refine our heart.  Those times we are brought to our knees only to realize that crying out to Him is the only way to make it through. In these moments we see our total dependence on God and it's then we stand firm on His promises and His love for us. When we are standing at the Red Sea waiting for the waters to part, I believe He wants us to remember other times He has reached down to rescue us or perhaps remember someone elses' testimony of how God rescued them. The Psalmist paints a beautiful picture of how we gain a deeper understanding and discernment of who God really is when we remember all that He has created and done, and that helps us distinguish His truth from any lie. In that moment, spiritual discipline takes on a new meaning. The gift of life is something to be cherished, and every day His mercies are new.  So as we go through this day, I pray for all of us that  we shout for joy, sing the glory of His name, and make His praise glorious. It's all about worship.  Think of a time when God parted the Red Sea for you and Praise His Holy Name.




Randi

Tuesday, March 22

Luke 5:12-28
Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy

.12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy.[a] When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."

I love reading about the miracles that Jesus performed for so many afflicted with sickness, diseases and demons; even death. Often we pray for God's healing of others who are dear to us, and we even offer prayers for others when asked. I wholeheartedly believe in the power of prayer, even though the answer may not be as we hoped it would be. When the leper begged Jesus to heal him, he prayed the most important words.....Lord, if You are willing. Even though we can agonize over situations and illnesses, it is entirely up to the Lord as to what will be done. I just know that He does listen and He always welcomes our prayers. This is how we develop our personal relationship with the Lord, and this is how we gain strength to endure on this earth no matter what the outcome to our prayers may be.

Lord God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, hear our prayers as we come humbly yet boldly before You to petition healing for those we know and love. Whatever the prayer Father, I know that You listen and Your plans for us are good. Give us the strength to accept Your will as You work in our lives each day.