Here are some thoughts:
Christianity is not an easy thing. When things are going our way, we tend to pray when we want, and go to church when it is convenient. However, when things are hard, we complain a lot, but that is when we are the most faithful to our reading and our praying. Hopefully at some point we can mature and come to a realization that God is there through the good and through the bad.
Who grows with out pain and struggle? It is in those struggling momements where you start to question your faith that you tend to grow the most (assuming you made it through those moments). It is even harder to stay focused on him when we can't understand why some of this pain has seeped into our lives. However, at what point does God lose control? Never.
In the book of Isaiah there are a lot of prophesies about the downfall of a lot of nations. Though we are not nations, we are people and a church body. There will come a day where you may feel God has turned his face from you, and has become deaf to your prayer. So do you quit worshiping? praying? or beliving? No. Rather you do them all with extra effort and extra love (as hard as that is to do). Rather than worshiping God for now (which you may not understand) worship God for who he is, and his amazing love. It is much easier to focus on the good than the bad. At the end of the day, when it is all said and done, you can look back, smile and say I learned a lot, rather than quitting.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
June 28: Early Beginnings of Captivity
1 Chronicles 5:24-26: "These were the heads of their families: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah and Jahdiel. They were brave warriors, famous men, and heads of their families. But they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria (that is, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria), who took the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. He took them to Halah, Habor, Hara and the river of Gozan, where they are to this day."
The leaders, both governmental and spiritual, have led the people astray, and they have followed willingly after other gods. They are to receive their due punishment: removal from the land that marked their spiritual and physical home.
While it would be difficult to view the captivity as anything but the culmination of Israel and Judah's long moral slide, God still has redemptive purposes through this historical detour. Despite Israel and Judah's sin, God will remain faithful to His promises to give them (and later the Church) a land of their own. First, the people of God will face an exile to Assyria but will receive physical restoration in the land less than 100 years later. God would then direct His Son to come to earth, demonstrating God's love and forgiveness through His life and through His death, offered as an atoning sacrifice for sin. Still, after the birth of the Church, God orchestrated persecution of the disciples, which ironically encouraged the growth and spread of the Gospel both in Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.
As I reflected on the coming exile, several verses came to mind:
Romans 4:16-17: "Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is written: 'I have made you a father of many nations.' He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were."
Hebrews 11:13-16: "All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."
Philippians 3:20-21: "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body."
Romans 8:18-25:
"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."
As we celebrate the upcoming U.S. Independence Day, may we remember our heavenly citizenship. Do you ever find yourself feeling like a "stranger" on earth? If we are seeking to live a holy life, the Scriptures tells us that we will!
I encourage you to rejoice in God's plans for the Church and for your life today: redemption. Praise Him that He leads us through mountaintop experiences and sloughs of despair. He teaches us through the mundane about the heavenly, and He never stops loving us, even as our sinful nature separates us from Him. Indeed, it is during this time of exile and judgment that God raises up a number of prophets who speak clearly about the coming Messiah, describing His birthplace, His appearance, and even His atoning death.
The leaders, both governmental and spiritual, have led the people astray, and they have followed willingly after other gods. They are to receive their due punishment: removal from the land that marked their spiritual and physical home.
While it would be difficult to view the captivity as anything but the culmination of Israel and Judah's long moral slide, God still has redemptive purposes through this historical detour. Despite Israel and Judah's sin, God will remain faithful to His promises to give them (and later the Church) a land of their own. First, the people of God will face an exile to Assyria but will receive physical restoration in the land less than 100 years later. God would then direct His Son to come to earth, demonstrating God's love and forgiveness through His life and through His death, offered as an atoning sacrifice for sin. Still, after the birth of the Church, God orchestrated persecution of the disciples, which ironically encouraged the growth and spread of the Gospel both in Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.
As I reflected on the coming exile, several verses came to mind:
Romans 4:16-17: "Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is written: 'I have made you a father of many nations.' He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were."
Hebrews 11:13-16: "All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."
Philippians 3:20-21: "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body."
Romans 8:18-25:
"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."
As we celebrate the upcoming U.S. Independence Day, may we remember our heavenly citizenship. Do you ever find yourself feeling like a "stranger" on earth? If we are seeking to live a holy life, the Scriptures tells us that we will!
I encourage you to rejoice in God's plans for the Church and for your life today: redemption. Praise Him that He leads us through mountaintop experiences and sloughs of despair. He teaches us through the mundane about the heavenly, and He never stops loving us, even as our sinful nature separates us from Him. Indeed, it is during this time of exile and judgment that God raises up a number of prophets who speak clearly about the coming Messiah, describing His birthplace, His appearance, and even His atoning death.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
June 27
Questions for the Monday Half Year Celebration
1. How has this Bible reading Journey strengthened you?
2. What are some of the truths God has taught you?
3. What is your greatest struggle in this journey?
4. How can we best help you complete the journey?
5. Where do you read the daily devotionals Email or the Blog?
Monday gathering at my house ... 7:00 Pizza and Salad.
1. How has this Bible reading Journey strengthened you?
2. What are some of the truths God has taught you?
3. What is your greatest struggle in this journey?
4. How can we best help you complete the journey?
5. Where do you read the daily devotionals Email or the Blog?
Monday gathering at my house ... 7:00 Pizza and Salad.
Friday, June 26, 2009
June 26
The Hope of the World
Micah 5:2-4 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.... and he will be their peace."
The bad news first: the nation is going to be destroyed and they are going to be in exile in Babylon. You can’t get any more bad news than that!!! The good news: a deliverer is coming and he will bring peace to the world. He will bring a standard of righteousness that will allow him to judge all peoples of the world. There will come a time of universal peace when swords will be beaten into plowshares. The time is coming when men will be able to sit under their own fig tree (this fig tree will not be owned by the government) and everyone will worship the Lord. There is coming a time when terror will disappear, a time when we will not fear North Korea missiles, the craziness of Iran or the Taliban anymore.
How is this going to happen? Is the UN going to finally get its act together? Is President Obama going to be able to talk world leaders into a peace proposal? The hope of the world lies in a promised, coming king. As the prophet looked down the corridor of history, he saw a hero arising from an obscure town of Bethlehem. God’s plan for world peace centers on ONE person. When the Wise Men came looking for the King of the Jews…. This verse was given to explain his birth location. Everyone knew Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, a small town of about 300 at the time of Christ’s birth. Do you know how many other Messiahs have claimed to have been born in Bethlehem? ZERO. Yet the world continues to overlook him.
A few facts about these verses:
1. He will come “for” God…. Sent on a mission by God the father.
2. He will rule over Israel…. He will have a throne.
3. He is eternal God… for his origins are from old, from ancient times. From the days of eternity.
Jesus stepped out of eternity into human history. Sent by the Father to die for the sins of the world. But he is also truly man, for he is born as a human child. We have here the miracle of the incarnation.
4. He will shepherd his flock… he will care for us.
5. He is the answer to the world’s problems. He will be their peace.
When considering world peace the “beauty pageant girls” always have some answer that includes big plans and some famous political figure. Who would have ever considered that the hope of the planet rests on a small baby born in the tiny village of Bethlehem.
Tolkien used this same theme in Lord of The Rings. The basic story line flows out of the idea that an evil, dark lord seeks to gain absolute power over the world at any cost. And despite his seemingly all-seeing “eye,” a true hero slips in under the radar, raised in the small, backwater region of the Shire. There, Frodo
Baggins would grow up, little knowing that he would become a hero of mythic proportions. For he would carry the instrument of the evil one’s destruction, a ring of power, right into the very heart of darkness in order to destroy it. And this one, who is least likely to accomplish such a feat, would win the victory for all in a virtuous and heroic fashion. Frodo… the hero is physically the frailest.
Jesus wasn’t born in the Shire… he was born in the backwater of Bethlehem. Jesus is the hope of the world…. He would set his face toward Jerusalem, be falsely accused, tried, and found guilty. And when nailed to a Roman cross, He would then surrender his life as a perfect sacrifice. His life would not be taken from Him! He would give it freely so that we might discover how we too might experience peace.
Micah 5:2-4 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.... and he will be their peace."
The bad news first: the nation is going to be destroyed and they are going to be in exile in Babylon. You can’t get any more bad news than that!!! The good news: a deliverer is coming and he will bring peace to the world. He will bring a standard of righteousness that will allow him to judge all peoples of the world. There will come a time of universal peace when swords will be beaten into plowshares. The time is coming when men will be able to sit under their own fig tree (this fig tree will not be owned by the government) and everyone will worship the Lord. There is coming a time when terror will disappear, a time when we will not fear North Korea missiles, the craziness of Iran or the Taliban anymore.
How is this going to happen? Is the UN going to finally get its act together? Is President Obama going to be able to talk world leaders into a peace proposal? The hope of the world lies in a promised, coming king. As the prophet looked down the corridor of history, he saw a hero arising from an obscure town of Bethlehem. God’s plan for world peace centers on ONE person. When the Wise Men came looking for the King of the Jews…. This verse was given to explain his birth location. Everyone knew Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, a small town of about 300 at the time of Christ’s birth. Do you know how many other Messiahs have claimed to have been born in Bethlehem? ZERO. Yet the world continues to overlook him.
A few facts about these verses:
1. He will come “for” God…. Sent on a mission by God the father.
2. He will rule over Israel…. He will have a throne.
3. He is eternal God… for his origins are from old, from ancient times. From the days of eternity.
Jesus stepped out of eternity into human history. Sent by the Father to die for the sins of the world. But he is also truly man, for he is born as a human child. We have here the miracle of the incarnation.
4. He will shepherd his flock… he will care for us.
5. He is the answer to the world’s problems. He will be their peace.
When considering world peace the “beauty pageant girls” always have some answer that includes big plans and some famous political figure. Who would have ever considered that the hope of the planet rests on a small baby born in the tiny village of Bethlehem.
Tolkien used this same theme in Lord of The Rings. The basic story line flows out of the idea that an evil, dark lord seeks to gain absolute power over the world at any cost. And despite his seemingly all-seeing “eye,” a true hero slips in under the radar, raised in the small, backwater region of the Shire. There, Frodo
Baggins would grow up, little knowing that he would become a hero of mythic proportions. For he would carry the instrument of the evil one’s destruction, a ring of power, right into the very heart of darkness in order to destroy it. And this one, who is least likely to accomplish such a feat, would win the victory for all in a virtuous and heroic fashion. Frodo… the hero is physically the frailest.
Jesus wasn’t born in the Shire… he was born in the backwater of Bethlehem. Jesus is the hope of the world…. He would set his face toward Jerusalem, be falsely accused, tried, and found guilty. And when nailed to a Roman cross, He would then surrender his life as a perfect sacrifice. His life would not be taken from Him! He would give it freely so that we might discover how we too might experience peace.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
June 25
Micah 1-2
We've been reading about a lot kings lately. Judah and Israel had many kings since Solomon. With the exception of a few, they had all done evil in God's eyes. It's almost reads like a broken record! They don't ever seem to get it right. They murder, plot, steal, cheat, worship useless idols. The Lord used Micah to tell Israel that He had enough and His patience was coming to an end.
Exodus 34:6-7 says "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation." Micah was letting the people know that God will not let their wickedness go unpunished. He has been patient, compassionate, and gracious. But the people have shown no regard for God's law. They know His commands, yet deliberately disobey. Micah 1:9 describes Judah as suffering from an incurable wound. This wound is something that we all suffer from - SIN.
This is not the first time God had had enough. He sent a flood to wipe out the whole earth except Noah and his family. He sent fire down on Sodom and Gomorrah. The Israelites had many examples to show them that God would not just stand by and let sin rule their lives.
It's easy for me to read about all these kings and wonder: Didn't they know better? Why couldn't they get it right? Then I realize that all of us, including me, are disobedient and test God's patience daily. We should remember that although we serve a compassionate, loving God, he is also powerful and just.
We've been reading about a lot kings lately. Judah and Israel had many kings since Solomon. With the exception of a few, they had all done evil in God's eyes. It's almost reads like a broken record! They don't ever seem to get it right. They murder, plot, steal, cheat, worship useless idols. The Lord used Micah to tell Israel that He had enough and His patience was coming to an end.
Exodus 34:6-7 says "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation." Micah was letting the people know that God will not let their wickedness go unpunished. He has been patient, compassionate, and gracious. But the people have shown no regard for God's law. They know His commands, yet deliberately disobey. Micah 1:9 describes Judah as suffering from an incurable wound. This wound is something that we all suffer from - SIN.
This is not the first time God had had enough. He sent a flood to wipe out the whole earth except Noah and his family. He sent fire down on Sodom and Gomorrah. The Israelites had many examples to show them that God would not just stand by and let sin rule their lives.
It's easy for me to read about all these kings and wonder: Didn't they know better? Why couldn't they get it right? Then I realize that all of us, including me, are disobedient and test God's patience daily. We should remember that although we serve a compassionate, loving God, he is also powerful and just.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
June 24
Some Observations
a. The sad ending to the life of Uzziah. This guy was the Barack Obama of his day. He had achieved rock star status in his life time. He was king, general, designer, gardener, inventor yet the epitaph for his life “he had leprosy.” A reminder of how difficult it is to finish the race well.
b. The mission of our life. In the year that King Uzziah died Isaiah received his mission. There is a three step process to his mission and ours.
1. To see the Lord. We must have a face to face encounter with God. Now Isaiah had a physical encounter with the Lord. For most of history this is extremely rare. But we can have a face to face with God’s Word every day. The purpose of this encounter is to see the character of God. To know what he is like so that we can trust him.
2. Transformation. Isaiah realizes that he is a man of unclean lips and he is transformed by having his guilt taken away. A changed life is the second step of our mission. But it is not the final step.
3. The final step is “GOING.” Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Going and proclaiming the gospel is the third step of our mission. Who are you mentoring and discipling?
So the questions for us on June 24th...... have you seen the Lord today? Are you being changed? Who are you going to tell?
a. The sad ending to the life of Uzziah. This guy was the Barack Obama of his day. He had achieved rock star status in his life time. He was king, general, designer, gardener, inventor yet the epitaph for his life “he had leprosy.” A reminder of how difficult it is to finish the race well.
b. The mission of our life. In the year that King Uzziah died Isaiah received his mission. There is a three step process to his mission and ours.
1. To see the Lord. We must have a face to face encounter with God. Now Isaiah had a physical encounter with the Lord. For most of history this is extremely rare. But we can have a face to face with God’s Word every day. The purpose of this encounter is to see the character of God. To know what he is like so that we can trust him.
2. Transformation. Isaiah realizes that he is a man of unclean lips and he is transformed by having his guilt taken away. A changed life is the second step of our mission. But it is not the final step.
3. The final step is “GOING.” Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Going and proclaiming the gospel is the third step of our mission. Who are you mentoring and discipling?
So the questions for us on June 24th...... have you seen the Lord today? Are you being changed? Who are you going to tell?
Monday, June 22, 2009
June 22
Accountability day.
Planning ahead ... next Monday, 7:00 PM at 251 Courtland Ave... a celebration party for reaching the half way mark!! Let me know if you are attending. So far I have Len, Dom, Jan, Ron, Juan, Helena, Barb and Laurie.
Pride and Prejudice
It was the most magnificent ship ever designed. Everything imaginable was built into it. Not only was it the biggest, it was sleek, fast, and absolutely unsinkable. The designer of the ship boasted, "Not even God could sink the Titanic." Every proven safety feature and several new ones went into its construction. It slid out to sea from Liverpool, England, on a serene April morning. Gleaming against the sky, it was majestic. The pride of Britannia rode out to sea. New York was its next harbor. The notables of society were its passengers and they basked in the splendor of its luxury. Elegance was the word for Titanic's interior. Lavish in its decor, menus, and entertainment, it surpassed the highest expectations of its passengers. But three quarters into its maiden voyage, on the fringe of Newfoundland's frigid banks, the Titanic became a catastrophic nightmare. Even when the Titanic struck the iceberg, the crew and passengers were confident that everything was fine, that they didn't take immediate action. Yet within two hours, on April 15, 1912, the unsinkable Titanic plunged to its death 4 miles below the icy surface, taking with it 1500 passengers, most of its crew, and all of its treasure.
I think you can make a strong case that pride was the cause of the sinking of the Titanic. Pride and the delusion that accompanies it is a deadly foe. Not only did it claim the Titanic but pride also has claimed many individuals through history. Today we read about pride claiming the life of King Uzziah. “But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall.” What a sad commentary on a life that was well lived up to that point.
It is a warning to all of us who live in Stamford to beware of the dangers of success.
Do you know how to discern if you have a dangerous amount of pride in your lives? The litmus test for pride is prayer. If you pray you are trusting God, if you don’t pray you are trusting yourself.
A timeless lesson for us from Uzziah, our strength is our weakness. In the area that we think we are strongest, that is the exact area we are less likely to depend upon God. We are ripe for a fall when everything is going well. Confidence leads to overconfidence, independence, pride, insulation from God which leads to destruction
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before stumbling.
Planning ahead ... next Monday, 7:00 PM at 251 Courtland Ave... a celebration party for reaching the half way mark!! Let me know if you are attending. So far I have Len, Dom, Jan, Ron, Juan, Helena, Barb and Laurie.
Pride and Prejudice
It was the most magnificent ship ever designed. Everything imaginable was built into it. Not only was it the biggest, it was sleek, fast, and absolutely unsinkable. The designer of the ship boasted, "Not even God could sink the Titanic." Every proven safety feature and several new ones went into its construction. It slid out to sea from Liverpool, England, on a serene April morning. Gleaming against the sky, it was majestic. The pride of Britannia rode out to sea. New York was its next harbor. The notables of society were its passengers and they basked in the splendor of its luxury. Elegance was the word for Titanic's interior. Lavish in its decor, menus, and entertainment, it surpassed the highest expectations of its passengers. But three quarters into its maiden voyage, on the fringe of Newfoundland's frigid banks, the Titanic became a catastrophic nightmare. Even when the Titanic struck the iceberg, the crew and passengers were confident that everything was fine, that they didn't take immediate action. Yet within two hours, on April 15, 1912, the unsinkable Titanic plunged to its death 4 miles below the icy surface, taking with it 1500 passengers, most of its crew, and all of its treasure.
I think you can make a strong case that pride was the cause of the sinking of the Titanic. Pride and the delusion that accompanies it is a deadly foe. Not only did it claim the Titanic but pride also has claimed many individuals through history. Today we read about pride claiming the life of King Uzziah. “But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall.” What a sad commentary on a life that was well lived up to that point.
It is a warning to all of us who live in Stamford to beware of the dangers of success.
Do you know how to discern if you have a dangerous amount of pride in your lives? The litmus test for pride is prayer. If you pray you are trusting God, if you don’t pray you are trusting yourself.
A timeless lesson for us from Uzziah, our strength is our weakness. In the area that we think we are strongest, that is the exact area we are less likely to depend upon God. We are ripe for a fall when everything is going well. Confidence leads to overconfidence, independence, pride, insulation from God which leads to destruction
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before stumbling.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
June 22: Amos 5-9
"Seek me and live." In Chapter Five, the LORD speaks to Israel through Amos, urging them to avoid their religious formalism and to instead seek God. If the Israelites, who have turned "justice into bitterness," do not repent, God will bring down His righteous sentence. Amos testifies to God's power by acknowledging His creation of and command over the forces of nature. The leaders have "trample[d] on the poor," exploiting them for their own gain and denying them justice. Throughout history, God has desired a living, breathing relationship with man, and He sent His Son to guarantee His forgiveness to those who truly sought Him:
1. Deuteronomy 4:29: "But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul."
2. 1 Chronicles 28:9: "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever."
3. John 17:3: "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."
4. Hebrews 11:6: "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
"Let justice roll on like a river." The pride of the spiritual leaders had reached such great heights that God has become thoroughly disgusted with Israel's religious practice. God shows great concern for the poor and needy, whom He had urged the Israelites to love. In Israel, God provided for the poor by leaving sections of the fields unpicked. God declared His concern for the poor through the Mosaic law and in the Psalms:
"Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless;
maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
Rescue the weak and needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked." (82:3,4)
As God's representatives, the spiritual leaders had neglected their responsibility to the poor. Beyond neglect, however, they had enriched themselves at the poor's expense, while luxuriating in their palaces.
"The day of the LORD." While the Israelites see this event as bringing them justice, they will instead face "darkness, not light./ It will be as though a man fled from a lion/ only to meet a bear... " While God would spare some judgment, Amos's several visions point to a certain punishment. He would destroy the "high places" but also would deny the people His presence:
"The days are coming," declares the Sovereign LORD,
"when I will send a famine through the land--
Not a famine of food or a thirst for water,
but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.
Men will stagger from sea to seas
and wander from noth to east,
Searching for the word of the LORd,
but they will not find it."
Yet, in His great compassion, God still promises that He will not totally destroy Israel. He will "restore/ David's fallen tent" and bring the people back to the land He had given them. Here, we have a beautiful picture of redemption: while the people deserve complete destruction as a sentence of God's justice, He instead shows mercy. In a similar vein for us, our sin bears severe consequences, but God does restore us daily so that we may live for Him.
QUESTIONS
1. What examples of oppressing the poor do you see today? What can you do about it?
2. Does God's justice seem warranted in today's world? How can you thank Him for His mercy?
1. Deuteronomy 4:29: "But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul."
2. 1 Chronicles 28:9: "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever."
3. John 17:3: "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."
4. Hebrews 11:6: "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
"Let justice roll on like a river." The pride of the spiritual leaders had reached such great heights that God has become thoroughly disgusted with Israel's religious practice. God shows great concern for the poor and needy, whom He had urged the Israelites to love. In Israel, God provided for the poor by leaving sections of the fields unpicked. God declared His concern for the poor through the Mosaic law and in the Psalms:
"Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless;
maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
Rescue the weak and needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked." (82:3,4)
As God's representatives, the spiritual leaders had neglected their responsibility to the poor. Beyond neglect, however, they had enriched themselves at the poor's expense, while luxuriating in their palaces.
"The day of the LORD." While the Israelites see this event as bringing them justice, they will instead face "darkness, not light./ It will be as though a man fled from a lion/ only to meet a bear... " While God would spare some judgment, Amos's several visions point to a certain punishment. He would destroy the "high places" but also would deny the people His presence:
"The days are coming," declares the Sovereign LORD,
"when I will send a famine through the land--
Not a famine of food or a thirst for water,
but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.
Men will stagger from sea to seas
and wander from noth to east,
Searching for the word of the LORd,
but they will not find it."
Yet, in His great compassion, God still promises that He will not totally destroy Israel. He will "restore/ David's fallen tent" and bring the people back to the land He had given them. Here, we have a beautiful picture of redemption: while the people deserve complete destruction as a sentence of God's justice, He instead shows mercy. In a similar vein for us, our sin bears severe consequences, but God does restore us daily so that we may live for Him.
QUESTIONS
1. What examples of oppressing the poor do you see today? What can you do about it?
2. Does God's justice seem warranted in today's world? How can you thank Him for His mercy?
Saturday, June 20, 2009
June 20
The Roar of Judgment
Amos is just an ordinary farmer who is called by God to speak on his behalf. He uses an unusual formula of “for three transgressions of ____ and for four....” This is especially confusing when he doesn’t list three or four things after he says that. View this as a literally formula to emphasis one sin above several. What I want to focus on is this special sin that God speaks against and the geographic narrowing of this sermon. The nations mentioned first are outside of Israel and you can hear the people saying.... Yeh, Lord, you go get those bad guys in Damascus, Gaza, Tyre and these outlining places. But then he brings this home and he nails the people listening to his sermon. It is easy for us to see the wrong in other places and overlook the sin right in our own land. Here is a quick list of the geography and the major complaint God has against them.
1. Damascus 1:3-5 They tortured prisoners of war.
2. Gaza 1:6-8 They sold people into slavery.
3. Tyre 1:9-10 Their crime against humanity was also slave trade with Edom.
4. Edomites 1:11-12 Their sin was an intense anger and hostility against Israel.
5. Ammon 1:13-15 Atrocities against defenseless women and children. It says they ripped open the pregnant women in order to expand their borders.
6. Moabites 2:1-3 Their sin was that of desecrating graves.
7. Judah 2:4-5 - Now he is getting closer to home. Their sin is following false gods.
8. Israel 2:6-16 Now he is speaking to the home town crowd and he lists several sins...
Oppressing the innocent and the poor (2:6b-7a)
Engaging in pagan religious practices (2:7b) Fathers and sons would use the same prostitute at the local
church sexual orgy.
What sins do you think are on God’s list concerning the USA? I see several on this list that apply to us. Now what is the best way to heal these sins? Join a political party and march in Washington? Maybe, but I think the most effective way is to make disciples of your neighbors. The hope for America is for the church to win lost people to Christ, one person at a time. Live and share the good news today.
Amos is just an ordinary farmer who is called by God to speak on his behalf. He uses an unusual formula of “for three transgressions of ____ and for four....” This is especially confusing when he doesn’t list three or four things after he says that. View this as a literally formula to emphasis one sin above several. What I want to focus on is this special sin that God speaks against and the geographic narrowing of this sermon. The nations mentioned first are outside of Israel and you can hear the people saying.... Yeh, Lord, you go get those bad guys in Damascus, Gaza, Tyre and these outlining places. But then he brings this home and he nails the people listening to his sermon. It is easy for us to see the wrong in other places and overlook the sin right in our own land. Here is a quick list of the geography and the major complaint God has against them.
1. Damascus 1:3-5 They tortured prisoners of war.
2. Gaza 1:6-8 They sold people into slavery.
3. Tyre 1:9-10 Their crime against humanity was also slave trade with Edom.
4. Edomites 1:11-12 Their sin was an intense anger and hostility against Israel.
5. Ammon 1:13-15 Atrocities against defenseless women and children. It says they ripped open the pregnant women in order to expand their borders.
6. Moabites 2:1-3 Their sin was that of desecrating graves.
7. Judah 2:4-5 - Now he is getting closer to home. Their sin is following false gods.
8. Israel 2:6-16 Now he is speaking to the home town crowd and he lists several sins...
Oppressing the innocent and the poor (2:6b-7a)
Engaging in pagan religious practices (2:7b) Fathers and sons would use the same prostitute at the local
church sexual orgy.
What sins do you think are on God’s list concerning the USA? I see several on this list that apply to us. Now what is the best way to heal these sins? Join a political party and march in Washington? Maybe, but I think the most effective way is to make disciples of your neighbors. The hope for America is for the church to win lost people to Christ, one person at a time. Live and share the good news today.
Friday, June 19, 2009
June 19
The WOW of God’s Love
Hosea 11:8 "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim?
My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.
This is one of the most astonishing verses found in the entire Bible. Why? It deals with a huge philosophical issue. How is it possible for an infinite being to be hurt by finite beings? How can GOD, the uncaused cause, the necessary being, creator of heaven and earth so identify with us that his heart breaks?
In this verse we see God crying. The word “changed” is a word that was used to describe a city that was overthrown or destroyed by an enemy. God’s heart is thrown into chaos, torn to pieces; broken, crushed when we reject his love and go after other lovers on earth. His heart is so changed that his compassion then is displayed in tears of sorrow.
Just yesterday I was talking with an unbeliever and she said, “I don’t think God cares about me.” Her idea is that God is sitting in a lazy boy chair in heaven, sipping iced tea, and watching TV while we suffer on this planet. That is not what the Bible says about God. The Bible says that God so identified with us that his heart is broken even when ours isn’t.
Why did God have Hosea marry Gomer? Couldn’t God have said, Hosea, go give Gomer counseling and perform an intervention in her life. The reason Hosea had to marry her is “involvement.” If he was just her counselor he would have remained at arms length and not connected with her brokenness. Hosea had to marry her to have his heart united to hers, just as God’s heart is united to ours. God was saying, unless you are married to a completely broken person you will never understand my heartache for you.
This is a WOW moment. Just think about it. The creator of heaven and earth, the one who spun the galaxies out into space, the one who worked on quantum physics and black hole development in kindergarten, this vast, awesome God is married to us. He ties himself to us and united himself to our brokenness.
If that doesn’t produce a WOW moment... you just are getting the greatness of our God.
What is an appropriate response to a God who unites himself to us this way? Unite ourselves back to him, to make him King and Lord, to marry him, to have his kingdom and his agenda as our prime directive in life.
Nothing less than a total surrender to him is demanded.
Have a great weekend... and if it rains.... catch up on your Bible reading.
We are planning a get together on Monday, June 29th 7:00 at my house. We are almost half way through our journey.
Hosea 11:8 "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim?
My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.
This is one of the most astonishing verses found in the entire Bible. Why? It deals with a huge philosophical issue. How is it possible for an infinite being to be hurt by finite beings? How can GOD, the uncaused cause, the necessary being, creator of heaven and earth so identify with us that his heart breaks?
In this verse we see God crying. The word “changed” is a word that was used to describe a city that was overthrown or destroyed by an enemy. God’s heart is thrown into chaos, torn to pieces; broken, crushed when we reject his love and go after other lovers on earth. His heart is so changed that his compassion then is displayed in tears of sorrow.
Just yesterday I was talking with an unbeliever and she said, “I don’t think God cares about me.” Her idea is that God is sitting in a lazy boy chair in heaven, sipping iced tea, and watching TV while we suffer on this planet. That is not what the Bible says about God. The Bible says that God so identified with us that his heart is broken even when ours isn’t.
Why did God have Hosea marry Gomer? Couldn’t God have said, Hosea, go give Gomer counseling and perform an intervention in her life. The reason Hosea had to marry her is “involvement.” If he was just her counselor he would have remained at arms length and not connected with her brokenness. Hosea had to marry her to have his heart united to hers, just as God’s heart is united to ours. God was saying, unless you are married to a completely broken person you will never understand my heartache for you.
This is a WOW moment. Just think about it. The creator of heaven and earth, the one who spun the galaxies out into space, the one who worked on quantum physics and black hole development in kindergarten, this vast, awesome God is married to us. He ties himself to us and united himself to our brokenness.
If that doesn’t produce a WOW moment... you just are getting the greatness of our God.
What is an appropriate response to a God who unites himself to us this way? Unite ourselves back to him, to make him King and Lord, to marry him, to have his kingdom and his agenda as our prime directive in life.
Nothing less than a total surrender to him is demanded.
Have a great weekend... and if it rains.... catch up on your Bible reading.
We are planning a get together on Monday, June 29th 7:00 at my house. We are almost half way through our journey.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
June 18
Hosea 4-9
Love of a Jealous Kind
There is a song by Jars of Clay called Jealous Kind. I couldn't help but think of that song when reading these chapters. Here is a youtube link to a video of the song with lyrics. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQAIVC1yRC4 ) At the end, there are verses that describe God's jealous love for us. I hope that the lyrics and scriptures speak to you like they did to me. Like the book of Hosea, this song drives home the point that idolatry and unfaithfulness to God are the same as adultery.
In the first part of chapter 4, you see a dangerous progression. "There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed." No God leads to sin, sin leads to death. In chapter 8, the people offer God sacrifices, but He is not pleased. The sacrifices mean nothing, because they come from unfaithful, disobedient people.
Thankfully, there is hope in Hosea 6:1-3. "Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presences. Let us acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth." We are all sinful, unfaithful, disobedient, adulterous people. We don't deserve anything from God. But no matter what sin we commit, God's love for us is greater. He will always forgive and restore those who return to Him!
June 17
Hosea and the amazing love story
There are few pains in life that exceed adultery. Over the years I have had several couples in my office talking about unfaithfulness and it is heart wrenching to see the pain in the eyes of the betrayed spouse.
Today our reading is about a prophet who was called by God to intentionally enter into this pain. God is asking Hosea to become a living parable. And in essence what God is saying is that both God and Hosea are going to love someone who will reject them. They are going to spend their time, energy, money and their lives giving love to someone who is going to be unfaithful. Hosea must experience this heartache of rejection so that he will understand how the heart of God breaks when we reject his love.
A few highlights or lowlights of our reading.
1. By the third child Hosea realizes that Gomer is sleeping with other men because he names his child .. “not my people.” This is something right off the latest Jerry Springer show. Who is the real father of my child?
2. As Gomer leaves the home she ends up with a pimp that doesn’t even care for her. Yet in chapter two Hosea goes and gives grain, new wine and oil behind the scenes, just to take care of her. God does the same with us. Even when we walk away from him he supplies us with air to breath and food on our tables.
3. Go and show love to your wife again ... this is a command and not a feeling. So Hosea goes and purchases Gomer off the auction block of slavery and rather than punish her, scold her, or seek revenge, he brings her back as his wife.
4. We are never told the end of the story. This is to help us focus on always showing God’s love regardless of the outcome.
5. Why such extreme measures in this story? Because God’s love is so far beyond our language and our human experience that he must create this wild situation. God’s love is completely different than human love. His ability to forgive is so much greater than human forgiveness and the only way to communicate the depth of his love is to use such an intense analogy.
If we don’t say WOW after this story we will never get it.
Take a moment and thank God for purchasing us off the slave market of sin and treating us so graciously even though we have committed adultery against him.
There are few pains in life that exceed adultery. Over the years I have had several couples in my office talking about unfaithfulness and it is heart wrenching to see the pain in the eyes of the betrayed spouse.
Today our reading is about a prophet who was called by God to intentionally enter into this pain. God is asking Hosea to become a living parable. And in essence what God is saying is that both God and Hosea are going to love someone who will reject them. They are going to spend their time, energy, money and their lives giving love to someone who is going to be unfaithful. Hosea must experience this heartache of rejection so that he will understand how the heart of God breaks when we reject his love.
A few highlights or lowlights of our reading.
1. By the third child Hosea realizes that Gomer is sleeping with other men because he names his child .. “not my people.” This is something right off the latest Jerry Springer show. Who is the real father of my child?
2. As Gomer leaves the home she ends up with a pimp that doesn’t even care for her. Yet in chapter two Hosea goes and gives grain, new wine and oil behind the scenes, just to take care of her. God does the same with us. Even when we walk away from him he supplies us with air to breath and food on our tables.
3. Go and show love to your wife again ... this is a command and not a feeling. So Hosea goes and purchases Gomer off the auction block of slavery and rather than punish her, scold her, or seek revenge, he brings her back as his wife.
4. We are never told the end of the story. This is to help us focus on always showing God’s love regardless of the outcome.
5. Why such extreme measures in this story? Because God’s love is so far beyond our language and our human experience that he must create this wild situation. God’s love is completely different than human love. His ability to forgive is so much greater than human forgiveness and the only way to communicate the depth of his love is to use such an intense analogy.
If we don’t say WOW after this story we will never get it.
Take a moment and thank God for purchasing us off the slave market of sin and treating us so graciously even though we have committed adultery against him.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
June 16
Here are some thoughts on today's reading:
At some point during your week, month, year, decade, or life, you ought to ask your self "when was the last time i've heard God's voice?". People in this world run away from religion and even further, from God. Yet, everyone seeks answers and wants things done their way. So if you have been keeping up with all this reading, ask your self "when was the last time i heard God's voice?".
God speaks all the time. In today's reading, he spoke to Jonah. Rather than focusing on Jonah, let's focus on the sailors. They have always been my favorite bunch of this book. I've always depicted sailors as: mean, foul mouth, whiskey drinking, beard growing, and half blind. These sailors were a little different. As weird as it is for me to even say it, they were humble. Maybe involuntarily humbled by the crazy storm around them, but humility was present for sure!.
Jonah heard the voice of God, and he heard something that he did not approve of. God was not interested in his personal opinion, nor did he ask for it. God has a plan and it must be executed. In the midst of Jonah's rebellion, the sailors came to know the Lord.
Then they took jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm.
At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the lord
and made vows to him.
So while he think he is getting away with disobedience, God uses that for his Glory. At the end of this story, God was just, merciful and loving. While some might think Jonah controlled God's will because of his disobedience. God used his disobedience towards bring people closer to him and brining Glory to himself. God is always in control! So why wouldn't people want to hear the voice of someone who is all powerful, loving and fully in control? Yeah, i don't know why either. Today is a good day to seek God's voice.
Monday, June 15, 2009
June 15
Do you trust in God to provide for you?
Today in our reading we have an interesting story about Amaziah and his campaign against the Edomites. He hired a hundred thousand mercenaries from Israel to join him in the battle, but God said no. God wanted Judah to fight this battle alone. Realistically, it takes a great amount of courage to tell 100,000 armed soldiers to pack up their gear and leave. It also takes courage to go into a battle without 100,000 soldiers. The question Amaziah asks has nothing to do with either of these issues. He asks a financial question, “But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops?” The prophet replied, “The Lord can give you much more than that.” To God 4 tons of silver is nothing.
A great lesson on trust and finances is found here. Many times people think they need to cut corners to get by financially. So people cheat on their taxes, pad expense accounts and are generally dishonest in their handling of money. But that is short sighted and an evidence of a lack of faith.
Many years ago Kathie and I found ourselves facing a similar test. We were living in Chicago and planning a fight back to visit our families. At the time our eldest son Jeremy was two and a half years old. The airlines had a policy that children under two would fly free. But because of our commitment to integrity, and trust in God, we paid his fare. When we had a gathering with Kathie’s father, who is an unbeliever, he was incredulous that we didn’t just lie and tell the airlines that he was under two. I will never forget Kathie’s response, “Dad, God can make up that difference so quickly. He can give us good health or have our car go without repairs for a long period of time.”
Trust God with your finances... 4 tons of silver is nothing to God.
Today is accountability day. Send me an email telling me what chapter you are on.
Looks like we have a critical mass for a gathering to celebrate our half way point to the year. We will meet at my house on Monday, June 29th 7:00. I will order pizza and have some salad for everyone. Bring your notes of praise, your God sightings, your questions for a fun evening of sharing.
So far I have “Yes” votes from Juan, Helena, Len, Dom, Jan and Ron. Everyone is invited!! Just let me know if you can attend.
Today in our reading we have an interesting story about Amaziah and his campaign against the Edomites. He hired a hundred thousand mercenaries from Israel to join him in the battle, but God said no. God wanted Judah to fight this battle alone. Realistically, it takes a great amount of courage to tell 100,000 armed soldiers to pack up their gear and leave. It also takes courage to go into a battle without 100,000 soldiers. The question Amaziah asks has nothing to do with either of these issues. He asks a financial question, “But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops?” The prophet replied, “The Lord can give you much more than that.” To God 4 tons of silver is nothing.
A great lesson on trust and finances is found here. Many times people think they need to cut corners to get by financially. So people cheat on their taxes, pad expense accounts and are generally dishonest in their handling of money. But that is short sighted and an evidence of a lack of faith.
Many years ago Kathie and I found ourselves facing a similar test. We were living in Chicago and planning a fight back to visit our families. At the time our eldest son Jeremy was two and a half years old. The airlines had a policy that children under two would fly free. But because of our commitment to integrity, and trust in God, we paid his fare. When we had a gathering with Kathie’s father, who is an unbeliever, he was incredulous that we didn’t just lie and tell the airlines that he was under two. I will never forget Kathie’s response, “Dad, God can make up that difference so quickly. He can give us good health or have our car go without repairs for a long period of time.”
Trust God with your finances... 4 tons of silver is nothing to God.
Today is accountability day. Send me an email telling me what chapter you are on.
Looks like we have a critical mass for a gathering to celebrate our half way point to the year. We will meet at my house on Monday, June 29th 7:00. I will order pizza and have some salad for everyone. Bring your notes of praise, your God sightings, your questions for a fun evening of sharing.
So far I have “Yes” votes from Juan, Helena, Len, Dom, Jan and Ron. Everyone is invited!! Just let me know if you can attend.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
June 14: 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles
Despite Joash's order to repair the Temple, the Levites did not respond immediately. After a fairly long period of time, Joash recognizes that the priests have still not acted and called Jehoiada to account for the shortcoming. Apparently, "the sons of that wicked woman Athaliah had broken into the temple of God and had used even its sacred objects for the Baals." Joash proposes a state-driven repair plan, in which the priests would turn over any contributions to the king. The people gladly bring their "tax" to the Temple for its repair.
Amid this revival, the funds for the Temple go to workmen who work diligently and for the Lord. Indeed, the leaders "did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers, because they acted with completed honesty." The priests and the workmen set to bring glory to the Lord by restoring what had been. As Hudson Taylor observed, "God's work, done God's way, will never lack God's supply."
Yet, the people revert to their wickedness almost in concert with Jehoiada's death. Despite Joash's initiative of the Temple restoration, he turns to silver-tongued officials, who lead him to "abandon the temple of the LORD, the God fo their fathers, and worship Asherah poles and idols." The die is now cast, and the downward spiral toward the Exile will continue: "Because of their guilt, God's anger came upon Judah and Jerusalem. Although the LORD sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him, and thought they testified against them, they would not listen." Their spiritual deafness and insensitivity would lead to physical blindness and the capture by foreign raiders.
We may wonder how the Israelites, with their historical record of God's manifest presence and His constant intervention on their behalf, could turn away from the Lord and so casually treat their key commitments to him. It likely revolved around their pride, believing that they could better ascertain the "right" way to worship and live. They had the revelation through Moses and other prophets but chose to live in disobedience, which would lead to pain for several generations to come.
QUESTIONS
1. How can you honor the Lord in your work this week?
2. What can you do to restore your temple: your body, mind, and soul?
Amid this revival, the funds for the Temple go to workmen who work diligently and for the Lord. Indeed, the leaders "did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers, because they acted with completed honesty." The priests and the workmen set to bring glory to the Lord by restoring what had been. As Hudson Taylor observed, "God's work, done God's way, will never lack God's supply."
Yet, the people revert to their wickedness almost in concert with Jehoiada's death. Despite Joash's initiative of the Temple restoration, he turns to silver-tongued officials, who lead him to "abandon the temple of the LORD, the God fo their fathers, and worship Asherah poles and idols." The die is now cast, and the downward spiral toward the Exile will continue: "Because of their guilt, God's anger came upon Judah and Jerusalem. Although the LORD sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him, and thought they testified against them, they would not listen." Their spiritual deafness and insensitivity would lead to physical blindness and the capture by foreign raiders.
We may wonder how the Israelites, with their historical record of God's manifest presence and His constant intervention on their behalf, could turn away from the Lord and so casually treat their key commitments to him. It likely revolved around their pride, believing that they could better ascertain the "right" way to worship and live. They had the revelation through Moses and other prophets but chose to live in disobedience, which would lead to pain for several generations to come.
QUESTIONS
1. How can you honor the Lord in your work this week?
2. What can you do to restore your temple: your body, mind, and soul?
Saturday, June 13, 2009
June 13
The Book of Joel
Don’t waste your storm
Life is full of storms. Here was a storm of locusts that totally devoured the land. Four different times an army of locust swarmed over the land and ate everything in sight. That is what you call a national disaster of the category “5” type. So what should a nation do when something of this magnitude occurs?
1. Realize that God is behind this storm not to hurt but to heal.
2. Have the leaders call a national day of repentance and return to the Lord.
The same is true for individuals. God is behind every storm in our lives. It is not that God causes every storm but God’s power is so great that he is using every storm to radically change us. Why does God use storms to change us? Because it is the only route to radical change. Instead of asking “why is this happening to me” we should ask “what does God want to teach me in this storm.” It is only when we surrender to God’s plan that the storm becomes beneficial. When we fight and try to save ourselves that is when we are in the most danger.
It is interesting how much God wants to give us a second chance. In this book God promises a second chance to everyone who experiences an inward repentance. Notice 2:12... return to me with all your heart... Rend your heart and not your garments. God is not looking for a great outward show, he is looking for genuine repentance. Once we do this we will discover that God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.
Do you find yourself in a storm today? Ask God “what” he wants to teach you. Then wait for God to become your defender. Trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Don’t waste your storm
Life is full of storms. Here was a storm of locusts that totally devoured the land. Four different times an army of locust swarmed over the land and ate everything in sight. That is what you call a national disaster of the category “5” type. So what should a nation do when something of this magnitude occurs?
1. Realize that God is behind this storm not to hurt but to heal.
2. Have the leaders call a national day of repentance and return to the Lord.
The same is true for individuals. God is behind every storm in our lives. It is not that God causes every storm but God’s power is so great that he is using every storm to radically change us. Why does God use storms to change us? Because it is the only route to radical change. Instead of asking “why is this happening to me” we should ask “what does God want to teach me in this storm.” It is only when we surrender to God’s plan that the storm becomes beneficial. When we fight and try to save ourselves that is when we are in the most danger.
It is interesting how much God wants to give us a second chance. In this book God promises a second chance to everyone who experiences an inward repentance. Notice 2:12... return to me with all your heart... Rend your heart and not your garments. God is not looking for a great outward show, he is looking for genuine repentance. Once we do this we will discover that God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.
Do you find yourself in a storm today? Ask God “what” he wants to teach you. Then wait for God to become your defender. Trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Friday, June 12, 2009
June 12
Two stories of the dangers of being spiritually lukewarm
2 Kings 10:31 Yet Jehu was not careful to keep the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart.
2 Kings 12:2 Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
Both Jehu and Joash teach us the danger of not devoting our hearts fully to God. That is a phrase that is used to give a commentary on the spiritual devotion of these ancient kings.
Jehu did a lot of good in his life by ridding the land of Baal worship. But his heart wasn’t totally sold out to the Lord. God had part of his heart but not the whole thing. It is interesting how many things of the world pull at our hearts. Approval of people and the promise of happiness in things of this world are the leading candidates in Stamford.
Joash teaches us of the dangers of focusing on externals. Joash did what was right until his mentor died. Then without the external eye of Jehoiada on him, the later years of his life will reveal a slide into compromise.
To have a successful life we must be fully devoted to God. To follow the ways of God even if they run contrary to our culture or even if no one is watching us, God is always watching us.
It is when we end up in the position of trusting and obey simply because God says something….. that is the place of victory. Beware of the danger of compromise. God wants all of our hearts.
So far we have 5 people committed to Monday June 29th for a six month victory dinner. Let me know if you can attend.
2 Kings 10:31 Yet Jehu was not careful to keep the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart.
2 Kings 12:2 Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
Both Jehu and Joash teach us the danger of not devoting our hearts fully to God. That is a phrase that is used to give a commentary on the spiritual devotion of these ancient kings.
Jehu did a lot of good in his life by ridding the land of Baal worship. But his heart wasn’t totally sold out to the Lord. God had part of his heart but not the whole thing. It is interesting how many things of the world pull at our hearts. Approval of people and the promise of happiness in things of this world are the leading candidates in Stamford.
Joash teaches us of the dangers of focusing on externals. Joash did what was right until his mentor died. Then without the external eye of Jehoiada on him, the later years of his life will reveal a slide into compromise.
To have a successful life we must be fully devoted to God. To follow the ways of God even if they run contrary to our culture or even if no one is watching us, God is always watching us.
It is when we end up in the position of trusting and obey simply because God says something….. that is the place of victory. Beware of the danger of compromise. God wants all of our hearts.
So far we have 5 people committed to Monday June 29th for a six month victory dinner. Let me know if you can attend.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
June 11
2 Kings 8, 9, 10
2 Chronicles 21, 22
Some thoughts on today's passage:
- What do you want the end of you life to be like? Jehoram king of Judah succumbs to his disease and dies in great pain. 2 Chronicles 21:20 says "He passed away to no one's regret..." What a horrible way for a man's life to end: in great pain and with no one regretting it! This made me think of the parable of the talents from Matthew 25. When the master returned, he saw his servants that had done what he had asked and was pleased. His response was well done, good and faithful servant! At the end of our lives, do we want to pass away to no one's regret or do we want to hear "well done!"
- Be careful who you trust. Jehoram's son Ahaziah was not much better. He also did evil in the eyes of the Lord. One of his mistakes was taking advice from his mother, who encouraged him to do wrong. Ahaziah had the great responsibility of being king of Judah and he did not follow Godly counsel. 2 Chron 22:4 said that this was his undoing. He was eventually put to dead by Jehu, king of Israel.
- God always keeps his promises. Ahab was already dead at this point, but his sons still lived and so did his wife Jezebel. God promised to bring judgment on Ahab and his house. Jehu was anointed king of Israel. Jehu killed Joram, Ahab's son. He also had Jezebel thrown out of a window (she died just as the Lord said she would) and wiped out Ahab's remaining family. Ahab and Jezebel committed great evil against the Lord and they paid the price for it, just as God said they would.
- When we think we know better than God, that's when things get really screwed up. That's what happened whenever Israel ignored God and that's what happens to us today when we do the same thing. God is infinite in His knowledge and infinite in His love for us. He knows whats best and we should always trust Him.
2 Chronicles 21, 22
Some thoughts on today's passage:
- What do you want the end of you life to be like? Jehoram king of Judah succumbs to his disease and dies in great pain. 2 Chronicles 21:20 says "He passed away to no one's regret..." What a horrible way for a man's life to end: in great pain and with no one regretting it! This made me think of the parable of the talents from Matthew 25. When the master returned, he saw his servants that had done what he had asked and was pleased. His response was well done, good and faithful servant! At the end of our lives, do we want to pass away to no one's regret or do we want to hear "well done!"
- Be careful who you trust. Jehoram's son Ahaziah was not much better. He also did evil in the eyes of the Lord. One of his mistakes was taking advice from his mother, who encouraged him to do wrong. Ahaziah had the great responsibility of being king of Judah and he did not follow Godly counsel. 2 Chron 22:4 said that this was his undoing. He was eventually put to dead by Jehu, king of Israel.
- God always keeps his promises. Ahab was already dead at this point, but his sons still lived and so did his wife Jezebel. God promised to bring judgment on Ahab and his house. Jehu was anointed king of Israel. Jehu killed Joram, Ahab's son. He also had Jezebel thrown out of a window (she died just as the Lord said she would) and wiped out Ahab's remaining family. Ahab and Jezebel committed great evil against the Lord and they paid the price for it, just as God said they would.
- When we think we know better than God, that's when things get really screwed up. That's what happened whenever Israel ignored God and that's what happens to us today when we do the same thing. God is infinite in His knowledge and infinite in His love for us. He knows whats best and we should always trust Him.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
June 10
The True Battle
2 Kings 6:16-18 "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, "Strike these people with blindness." So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
There is a battle going on. It is not a small battle; it is cosmic warfare and in the balance lies the lives of our loved ones, our friends, this city and this whole generation. For too long we have been thinking of the Christian life as a playground and not a battlefield. But the Bible teaches with absolute clarity that we are locked in a terrible fight for the hearts and minds of this generation. And I hate to say it, but it appears we are getting our butts kicked right now in the USA.
Secularism has advanced only the physical world we can see. Our concern even as Christ followers tends to be on the here and now. We forget in a world of Twitter and Ipods that there is an unseen world and that is more real than ours.
Elisha had the eyes to see this unseen world. He lived as if it were a reality, and in that lies his effectiveness. He believed this unseen world of spiritual beings had more of an influence on the physical world than kings and armies.
So what is your strategy to engage our true enemy? It is by prayer that we gain the victory over the unseen forces of evil. It is by prayer that we open the eyes of unbelievers. Our arguments and slick gospel presentations cannot compete with these forces of darkness.
It is time for us to wake up and get involved in the real battle.
Today, pray for the power of God to open your eyes to this conflict, and then ask God to open the eyes of your loved ones. There are so many blinded people surrounding us… only the Lord can open their eyes.
2 Kings 6:16-18 "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, "Strike these people with blindness." So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
There is a battle going on. It is not a small battle; it is cosmic warfare and in the balance lies the lives of our loved ones, our friends, this city and this whole generation. For too long we have been thinking of the Christian life as a playground and not a battlefield. But the Bible teaches with absolute clarity that we are locked in a terrible fight for the hearts and minds of this generation. And I hate to say it, but it appears we are getting our butts kicked right now in the USA.
Secularism has advanced only the physical world we can see. Our concern even as Christ followers tends to be on the here and now. We forget in a world of Twitter and Ipods that there is an unseen world and that is more real than ours.
Elisha had the eyes to see this unseen world. He lived as if it were a reality, and in that lies his effectiveness. He believed this unseen world of spiritual beings had more of an influence on the physical world than kings and armies.
So what is your strategy to engage our true enemy? It is by prayer that we gain the victory over the unseen forces of evil. It is by prayer that we open the eyes of unbelievers. Our arguments and slick gospel presentations cannot compete with these forces of darkness.
It is time for us to wake up and get involved in the real battle.
Today, pray for the power of God to open your eyes to this conflict, and then ask God to open the eyes of your loved ones. There are so many blinded people surrounding us… only the Lord can open their eyes.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
June 9
Here are some thoughts:
It is so hard to understand why God does some of the things that he does. However, that's never enough room for us to accuse God of being wrong, because he is always in control of the situation. Todays reading consited of a lot of lives lost and enough blood to fill up an olympic pool. I sat there and wondered to my self, what can you write about this? How must the people in that time feel about what is going on?
I will give you my thoughts and submit them to you for your own judgement and opinion. Every person alive is meant to worship. If you worship the new york yankees, God, your bank account or your car, you worship something. If you look at someone's schedule and where their income goes towards, you can usually find where worship is going. For example: People go to work from 9 -5 (usually) and then rather than spending time w/ God, they IDOLISE the TV. TIME goes towards watching the TV from 6 - 9. At the end of the month that's a lot of hours lost. Not only that, but people love the TV so much, they thythe to TV, $39.95 monthly. There are those individuals that idolize it so much, that they spend A LOT more, for A LOT more wasted time.
It's a silly example, but a very true one. In todays reading, we see how God ended up punishing a lot of people for Idolization and turning their backs to God. I'm not here to tell you there is nothing wrong with what ever it is you like to spend your money on. However, if that overules the time you spend with God, maybe it's time to reconsider your priorities. It's time to put an end to your idols. If the only time you spend w/ God is one hour on Sunday because of a church service, that's a problem. If you spend 3 hours daily on a television, but one hour with God, that's a problem. If then you have enough courage to ask God, "What's your problem?". Maybe it's time to ask your self that question. To know God is an AMAZING thing, but it is so quickly overlooked for the things of the world. Take time to know your creator, your every breath and the reason why you have luxuries.
It is so hard to understand why God does some of the things that he does. However, that's never enough room for us to accuse God of being wrong, because he is always in control of the situation. Todays reading consited of a lot of lives lost and enough blood to fill up an olympic pool. I sat there and wondered to my self, what can you write about this? How must the people in that time feel about what is going on?
I will give you my thoughts and submit them to you for your own judgement and opinion. Every person alive is meant to worship. If you worship the new york yankees, God, your bank account or your car, you worship something. If you look at someone's schedule and where their income goes towards, you can usually find where worship is going. For example: People go to work from 9 -5 (usually) and then rather than spending time w/ God, they IDOLISE the TV. TIME goes towards watching the TV from 6 - 9. At the end of the month that's a lot of hours lost. Not only that, but people love the TV so much, they thythe to TV, $39.95 monthly. There are those individuals that idolize it so much, that they spend A LOT more, for A LOT more wasted time.
It's a silly example, but a very true one. In todays reading, we see how God ended up punishing a lot of people for Idolization and turning their backs to God. I'm not here to tell you there is nothing wrong with what ever it is you like to spend your money on. However, if that overules the time you spend with God, maybe it's time to reconsider your priorities. It's time to put an end to your idols. If the only time you spend w/ God is one hour on Sunday because of a church service, that's a problem. If you spend 3 hours daily on a television, but one hour with God, that's a problem. If then you have enough courage to ask God, "What's your problem?". Maybe it's time to ask your self that question. To know God is an AMAZING thing, but it is so quickly overlooked for the things of the world. Take time to know your creator, your every breath and the reason why you have luxuries.
Monday, June 8, 2009
June 8
Music and Faith
2 Kings 3:15 But now bring me a harpist. While the harpist was playing, the hand of the Lord came upon Elisha.
Have you ever been at a place in your life where your spirit was troubled and you needed to calm yourself? I have visited that location many times in my life. Elisha also was a frequent vacationer there. In the story today he finds himself a little agitated at King Joram of Israel for hoping to receive God’s blessing for the upcoming battle. It was usually Joram’s practice to ask the false prophets for their always affirmative support and to neglect God. Well, Elisha is incensed and he needed to calm down in order to be in any state of mind to receive a word from the Lord. Hence the harpist was called in, the soothing chords and gently flowing music brought peace to his mind.
This is a good lesson for all of us on our Bible Reading Journey. There are particular days when we are not in the right frame of mind to receive anything from God. Yet we are committed to reading daily from his word. At that critical juncture I would suggest calling in a harpist. Now harpists probably charge over two hundred dollars an hour so that might become expensive but why not purchase a CD of some gentle praise and worship music and play that to help change your mood. Music does have a profound impact on our lives and we should use it to help us connect with God.
Today is accountability day.
Send me an email to tell me what day you are on.
I would like to suggest a celebration for the Bible Reading Group when we hit the half way point.
How does Monday June 29th work for you ... potluck dinner at my house at 7:00 pm.
Let me know if you can participate.
2 Kings 3:15 But now bring me a harpist. While the harpist was playing, the hand of the Lord came upon Elisha.
Have you ever been at a place in your life where your spirit was troubled and you needed to calm yourself? I have visited that location many times in my life. Elisha also was a frequent vacationer there. In the story today he finds himself a little agitated at King Joram of Israel for hoping to receive God’s blessing for the upcoming battle. It was usually Joram’s practice to ask the false prophets for their always affirmative support and to neglect God. Well, Elisha is incensed and he needed to calm down in order to be in any state of mind to receive a word from the Lord. Hence the harpist was called in, the soothing chords and gently flowing music brought peace to his mind.
This is a good lesson for all of us on our Bible Reading Journey. There are particular days when we are not in the right frame of mind to receive anything from God. Yet we are committed to reading daily from his word. At that critical juncture I would suggest calling in a harpist. Now harpists probably charge over two hundred dollars an hour so that might become expensive but why not purchase a CD of some gentle praise and worship music and play that to help change your mood. Music does have a profound impact on our lives and we should use it to help us connect with God.
Today is accountability day.
Send me an email to tell me what day you are on.
I would like to suggest a celebration for the Bible Reading Group when we hit the half way point.
How does Monday June 29th work for you ... potluck dinner at my house at 7:00 pm.
Let me know if you can participate.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
June 7: Elisha (2 Kings)
In today's passage, we meet Elisha, who had become Elijah's understudy and had studied Elijah's ministry in close proximity. From this vantage point, he could witness both Elijah's humanity and his deep reliance on God, particularly the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit.
In the first segment, we see Elisha's rejoicing at Elijah's triumphant entry into heaven. God did not allow Elijah to die like other men, but rather He gathered Elijah up to Himself. Perhaps for this reason, Elijah will make some other appearances in the rest of the Scriptures, notably at the Transfiguration and in the case of a mysterious letter to King Jehoram. His transportation to heaven also caused some confusion among observers in Jesus's time, as they struggled to understand the connection between Elijah and John the Baptist and Jesus.
Elisha seeks wholeheartedly to follow in Elijah's footsteps, asking for a double portion of his spirit. Clearly, Elijah's ministry did not emanate from his own personal goodness or power, but rather from the power of the Holy Spirit. If you recall, Elijah fled, afraid, from the threats of the evil queen Jezebel (1 Kings 19); in his hour of need, God strengthened Elijah with His voice and His presence.
Miracles, including those that the Spirit works through Elisha, ultimately bring glory to God, as they point out human frailty and divine power and sovereignty. Notably, the miracles in today's passages point to God's concern for physical needs: the overflowing oil to cover debts; the opening of a barren womb; the purification of water and stew; the multiplication of loaves; the raising of a dead young boy; and the floating axhead. Much like Jesus, Elisha, whose name means "God is my salvation," points to God's redemptive work through his ministry. His concern for people calls to mind the reaction of Jesus at seeing the crowds:
"Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'" (Matthew 9:35-39)
QUESTIONS
1. Where are you seeking a miracle in your life?
2. Where do you see people hopeless and hurting? How can you call upon God to bring mercy to them?
In the first segment, we see Elisha's rejoicing at Elijah's triumphant entry into heaven. God did not allow Elijah to die like other men, but rather He gathered Elijah up to Himself. Perhaps for this reason, Elijah will make some other appearances in the rest of the Scriptures, notably at the Transfiguration and in the case of a mysterious letter to King Jehoram. His transportation to heaven also caused some confusion among observers in Jesus's time, as they struggled to understand the connection between Elijah and John the Baptist and Jesus.
Elisha seeks wholeheartedly to follow in Elijah's footsteps, asking for a double portion of his spirit. Clearly, Elijah's ministry did not emanate from his own personal goodness or power, but rather from the power of the Holy Spirit. If you recall, Elijah fled, afraid, from the threats of the evil queen Jezebel (1 Kings 19); in his hour of need, God strengthened Elijah with His voice and His presence.
Miracles, including those that the Spirit works through Elisha, ultimately bring glory to God, as they point out human frailty and divine power and sovereignty. Notably, the miracles in today's passages point to God's concern for physical needs: the overflowing oil to cover debts; the opening of a barren womb; the purification of water and stew; the multiplication of loaves; the raising of a dead young boy; and the floating axhead. Much like Jesus, Elisha, whose name means "God is my salvation," points to God's redemptive work through his ministry. His concern for people calls to mind the reaction of Jesus at seeing the crowds:
"Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'" (Matthew 9:35-39)
QUESTIONS
1. Where are you seeking a miracle in your life?
2. Where do you see people hopeless and hurting? How can you call upon God to bring mercy to them?
Friday, June 5, 2009
June 5
Just a quick word of encouragement.
Keep reading the word but do it out of love and not duty.
Here is a warning Jesus gave the Bible readers of his day... John 5:39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me.
Our reading of scripture is motivated by our passion to know Jesus better... it is about knowing Him.
So as you read today ask yourself this question, “What is our passage teaching me about Jesus today?”
God bless you have a great day.
Keep reading the word but do it out of love and not duty.
Here is a warning Jesus gave the Bible readers of his day... John 5:39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me.
Our reading of scripture is motivated by our passion to know Jesus better... it is about knowing Him.
So as you read today ask yourself this question, “What is our passage teaching me about Jesus today?”
God bless you have a great day.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
June 4
Elijah
1 Kings 18, 19
Yesterday, I found out that our puppy Sawyer has an infected ear. Travis and I had to clean out the ear to get rid of the infection. Sounds easy enough? Unfortunately, Sawyer is a high-strung, energetic puppy with a hurting ear, and he doesn't understand that what we're trying to do is help! It took both of us to hold him down while trying to clean the ear with medicated solution. Honestly, he was struggling so much we probably could have used a 3rd person to assist! It was very difficult, but it had to be done in order for his ear to heal. It became abundantly clear to me that doing the right thing is not always easy or pleasant.
During Elijah's life, he had to do many things that were far from easy or pleasant. He had to tell King Ahab (described as the worst, vilest, most evil king Israel ever had) that there would be a drought lasting three years. He had to survive through that drought. As the only prophet of God left, he had to confront the 450 prophets of Baal. He was threatened by Ahab's equally evil (if not more evil) wife, Queen Jezebel and forced to flee. He had to journey 40 days and 40 nights to Horeb to receive instructions from God. He was tired, exhausted, spent, lonely, depressed. None of these things were easy to do. But Elijah did them because he was obedient to God. Ahab and Jezebel were an infection that was destroying the once great nation that God created. All the things that God instructed Elijah to do were for the purpose of restoring Israel.
Doing the right thing is rarely easy. But, like Elijah, we have God on our side. God protected and provided for Elijah every step of the way. He always had food to eat, water to drink, and his enemies never even laid a finger on him. No matter how difficult or unpleasant it may be, He will always be there to give us the strength, courage, and the ability to do what is right.
1 Kings 18, 19
Yesterday, I found out that our puppy Sawyer has an infected ear. Travis and I had to clean out the ear to get rid of the infection. Sounds easy enough? Unfortunately, Sawyer is a high-strung, energetic puppy with a hurting ear, and he doesn't understand that what we're trying to do is help! It took both of us to hold him down while trying to clean the ear with medicated solution. Honestly, he was struggling so much we probably could have used a 3rd person to assist! It was very difficult, but it had to be done in order for his ear to heal. It became abundantly clear to me that doing the right thing is not always easy or pleasant.
During Elijah's life, he had to do many things that were far from easy or pleasant. He had to tell King Ahab (described as the worst, vilest, most evil king Israel ever had) that there would be a drought lasting three years. He had to survive through that drought. As the only prophet of God left, he had to confront the 450 prophets of Baal. He was threatened by Ahab's equally evil (if not more evil) wife, Queen Jezebel and forced to flee. He had to journey 40 days and 40 nights to Horeb to receive instructions from God. He was tired, exhausted, spent, lonely, depressed. None of these things were easy to do. But Elijah did them because he was obedient to God. Ahab and Jezebel were an infection that was destroying the once great nation that God created. All the things that God instructed Elijah to do were for the purpose of restoring Israel.
Doing the right thing is rarely easy. But, like Elijah, we have God on our side. God protected and provided for Elijah every step of the way. He always had food to eat, water to drink, and his enemies never even laid a finger on him. No matter how difficult or unpleasant it may be, He will always be there to give us the strength, courage, and the ability to do what is right.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
June 3
2 Lessons from the Life of King Asa
In the history of Israel we now begin to see the difference faith makes. There will be 19 kings in the northern kingdom of Israel and none of them will have faith, none of them will be considered good kings. There will be 20 kings in the southern kingdom and 8 of them will be faithful men. Asa is one of the good guys but even he did not finish well in his faith journey.
Some lessons:
1. A good start doesn’t guarantee a good finish. We must work at keeping our relationship with God fresh and vibrant. This could be a problem for any of us. It is fantastic to have you committed to reading through the Bible this year but even Bible reading can become perfunctory and stale. If our Bible reading doesn’t originate from love and gratitude they will slip into an attitude of duty and routine. Guard against this.
2. When Asa came down with his foot problem later in life it is a test to see where his faith lies. 2 Chron 16:12 says Asa sought help from his physicians but not from the Lord. The Bible never speaks badly of physicians. Even the apostle Paul took Dr. Luke on his journeys, but there is a huge difference between a physician and going to THE PHYSICIAN. To pray for God for healing should be the first step any believer takes when physically ill. It is amazing how many people of faith like Asa minimize the power of God to work directly in the healing process. There are certainly safeguards we need to have from some of the phony “faith healers” of today, but healing by faith is never a sham.
2 Chron. 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.
Prayer: Lord, our hearts are fully committed to you today. Our lives and our health are in your hands. Bring healing to the various diseases we suffer from to you and we ask for healing. We trust in you and your mighty healing power. In Jesus Name, Amen.
In the history of Israel we now begin to see the difference faith makes. There will be 19 kings in the northern kingdom of Israel and none of them will have faith, none of them will be considered good kings. There will be 20 kings in the southern kingdom and 8 of them will be faithful men. Asa is one of the good guys but even he did not finish well in his faith journey.
Some lessons:
1. A good start doesn’t guarantee a good finish. We must work at keeping our relationship with God fresh and vibrant. This could be a problem for any of us. It is fantastic to have you committed to reading through the Bible this year but even Bible reading can become perfunctory and stale. If our Bible reading doesn’t originate from love and gratitude they will slip into an attitude of duty and routine. Guard against this.
2. When Asa came down with his foot problem later in life it is a test to see where his faith lies. 2 Chron 16:12 says Asa sought help from his physicians but not from the Lord. The Bible never speaks badly of physicians. Even the apostle Paul took Dr. Luke on his journeys, but there is a huge difference between a physician and going to THE PHYSICIAN. To pray for God for healing should be the first step any believer takes when physically ill. It is amazing how many people of faith like Asa minimize the power of God to work directly in the healing process. There are certainly safeguards we need to have from some of the phony “faith healers” of today, but healing by faith is never a sham.
2 Chron. 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.
Prayer: Lord, our hearts are fully committed to you today. Our lives and our health are in your hands. Bring healing to the various diseases we suffer from to you and we ask for healing. We trust in you and your mighty healing power. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
June 2
Here are some of my thoughts:
We read a little bit about Jeroboam and Rehoboam, both who were far from God. Both who also were stubborn in their ways. At times I sit here and read these stories and say to myself, wow you're dumb. Reality is, so am I. I do the same things these kings do. This next statement might sound a little judgmental, but I'm willing to say you do, too.
In life, when things come out the way we want them to be, we are happy with God. When they don't, we think God is a moron. We say, but God if this would have came out my way it would have been a lot better. So instead of trying to figure out what God wants from us, we shell up and go about our ways. We then pick our own route and avoid God because instead of us bowing down to him, we want him to bow down to us because our plans seem smarter than his.
That's where we find Jeroboam and Rehoboam. They aren't individuals who have never heard of God, but rather individuals who think they can do it better than God. That if they worship what feels to them more beneficial, they will get ahead. What they fail to see is, God wants the best for us. Sometimes it feels like he doesn't because catastrophes might come about. That doesn't mean we shell up and walk away. That means we stay humble, worship and ask God for his guidance and strength. Both Rehoboam and Jeroboam end up upsetting God with their derailed ways. They are no different than us. If we don't repent, stay humble and seek his guidance, we too will be judged for our actions. That's something worth thinking about.
Monday, June 1, 2009
June 1
I Kings 12 Two Leadership Mistakes
In the division of Israel and Judah we observe two fatal leadership mistakes. The first mistake is made by Rehoboam, king of the southern kingdom. He doesn’t care about the people he leads. He rejects the advice of the elders and listens to the counsel of the young men he had grown up with. Rather than reduce the burden on the people and lighten the load, he oppresses them. Caring about people is a top priority of a leader. A good leader knows the hearts of the people underneath them. Jesus is our best example of a good leader. In Matthew 9 we see his heart for people. Jesus was serving an area forty miles wide and seventy miles long, roughly the size of Puerto Rico. The ancient historian Josephus tells us that there were some two hundred cities and villages in this area and that the minimum population of a village there and then was fifteen thousand. This means Jesus was ministering to at least three million people at this time. This must have been a tremendous burden for him. Yet Matt. 9:36 says, “Seeing the people, he felt compassion for them.”
When Jesus saw the crowds he saw more than an obstacle getting in the way of his mission. He saw his mission, and he felt compassion for them. It is easy to think that people are sent by God to help us reach our goals, but the truth is, leaders are sent by God to help the people reach their goals. Jesus teaches us that our responsibility as leaders is to help people reach their maximum kingdom potential.
The second mistake is made by Jeroboam, king of the northern kingdom. He thought he could lead without God. Jeroboam was afraid of people going back to Judah, the southern kingdom, for the religious celebrations so he set up a false God and a false religion in the north. The selection of two golden calves shows that either he was totally ignorant of history (remember the desert calf) or he was acting like modern day politicians, by giving the people what they wanted (the local deity was a calf.) On top of that he set up a false religion to look like the real one with special days for celebration so he could take the people away from the true God.
We succumb to Jeroboam’s mistake when we spend more time reading the newspaper than praying, or talking to people about God than talking to God about people. The mistake of Jeroboam was leading without praying.
Today is accountability day. Send me an email telling me where you are in your daily reading. We are closing in on the half way point of our journey!!!!
In the division of Israel and Judah we observe two fatal leadership mistakes. The first mistake is made by Rehoboam, king of the southern kingdom. He doesn’t care about the people he leads. He rejects the advice of the elders and listens to the counsel of the young men he had grown up with. Rather than reduce the burden on the people and lighten the load, he oppresses them. Caring about people is a top priority of a leader. A good leader knows the hearts of the people underneath them. Jesus is our best example of a good leader. In Matthew 9 we see his heart for people. Jesus was serving an area forty miles wide and seventy miles long, roughly the size of Puerto Rico. The ancient historian Josephus tells us that there were some two hundred cities and villages in this area and that the minimum population of a village there and then was fifteen thousand. This means Jesus was ministering to at least three million people at this time. This must have been a tremendous burden for him. Yet Matt. 9:36 says, “Seeing the people, he felt compassion for them.”
When Jesus saw the crowds he saw more than an obstacle getting in the way of his mission. He saw his mission, and he felt compassion for them. It is easy to think that people are sent by God to help us reach our goals, but the truth is, leaders are sent by God to help the people reach their goals. Jesus teaches us that our responsibility as leaders is to help people reach their maximum kingdom potential.
The second mistake is made by Jeroboam, king of the northern kingdom. He thought he could lead without God. Jeroboam was afraid of people going back to Judah, the southern kingdom, for the religious celebrations so he set up a false God and a false religion in the north. The selection of two golden calves shows that either he was totally ignorant of history (remember the desert calf) or he was acting like modern day politicians, by giving the people what they wanted (the local deity was a calf.) On top of that he set up a false religion to look like the real one with special days for celebration so he could take the people away from the true God.
We succumb to Jeroboam’s mistake when we spend more time reading the newspaper than praying, or talking to people about God than talking to God about people. The mistake of Jeroboam was leading without praying.
Today is accountability day. Send me an email telling me where you are in your daily reading. We are closing in on the half way point of our journey!!!!
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