Saturday, November 28, 2015

Saturday, November 28, 2015

[by Keesha Sullivan]

"Why should I be grateful? Tell me one thing the Lord has done for me" my friend said in a slightly serious tone with a hint of sarcasm. I replied, "You have a great job. You have a place to live. You…" Before I could finish naming off the many blessings that were in my friend's life, he looked at me incredulously and cut me off. "You're serious aren't you? I am the one that got my job. I am the one that works hard every day for the place that I live in. Everything that is good in my life I've had to work for. It wasn't given to me. You really believe that you have your job because God gave it to you?" I was so startled by the backlash I had caused that I could only nod, "Yes." He laughed and smiled "You seriously are something special. I totally don't get you, but I gotta run." I waved goodbye and smiled back and thought until next time.

I love my friend's honesty. He is always, always telling me exactly what he thinks and feels. He gives me insight into the way that many people think. Most non-Christians and many Christians feel as though the Lord has not helped them get anywhere. They feel as though they've had to do it all on their own. 

The same thing happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. In Daniel 5:18-20, it said, "18 "Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor. 19 Because of the high position he gave him, all the nations and peoples of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled. 20 But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory."

In other words, Nebuchadnezzar took credit for his sovereignty, greatness, glory, and splendor. He thought to himself and most likely told others that he worked hard for all these things. When he became arrogant and thought too highly of himself and all of the gifts God had given him, the Lord stripped him of everything. Nebuchadnezzar was driven away from the people that he ruled and given the mind of an animal. Nebuchadnezzar was humbled, so that he would remember to fear, honor, and glorify God. 

James 1:17 says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." Our jobs, our family, our friends, our home, our clothes, our gadgets, our everything comes from the Lord almighty. He is the great and mighty Provider. In this season of life, I need to remember to thank God, because everything that I have is due to Him.

Lord, please help us to remember that you give every good and perfect gift. Help us to remember to keep our eyes on you and to think highly of You instead of ourselves. Thank You, Lord, for always being there with us and for us. Thank You for teaching us how to serve You and to be more thankful. We love You, Lord. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen! 

November 27

Daniel 4 

"If God were good, he would wish to make His creatures perfectly happy, and if God were almighty, He would be able to do what He wished. But the creatures are not happy. Therefore God lacks either goodness, or power or both. This is the problem of pain, in its simplest form.  C.S. Lewis wrote this in his book, "The Problem of Pain." 

From our perspective it seems like a cruel joke for God to cause the insanity of King Nebuchadnezzar.  Seven years of living on the "funny farm" is not a laughing matter. Yet it is so clear that God is the author this event. What could be the possible reasons for the Lord laying such a heavy trial on King Nebuchadnezzar?  The same reasoning that lies behind the trials and sufferings we face in life. God wants to change us to reflect the image of his son Jesus.  

Philosopher Peter Kreeft puts it this way, "The meaning and purpose of suffering in history is that it leads to repentance. Only after suffering, only after disaster, does Israel, do nations, do individuals turn back to God. Suffering brings repentance."

C.S. Lewis agrees by stating, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world."

We all know that this is true. We hear the voice of God much clearer when we are in the fiery trials of life. How often does trouble-free living cause us to forget God? The short of it is; no pain, no gain. That is why this story is so important for us to remember. Without the 7 years of insanity the King would never have known the salvation that God was offering him.

When metallurgists work with silver they use fire to purity it. How does the metal worker know when the metal is pure enough; when he can see his reflection in it?

So the next time you find yourself in the fiery trials of life, if all you can do is respond with anger and resentment, then you are robbing yourself of the intended benefit. Allow the fire, the sanding, and the grinding to polish you for a fantastic finish. Don't let the fires make you bitter, let the fires make you better.

 

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, November 26

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015

Daniel 2:24–3:30

1 Peter 4:7–5:14

Psalm 119:81–96

Proverbs 28:15,16

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!  For what or whom may you give thanks today?  How could you spread this attitude through the other days of this year?

 

Today, we read two passages about suffering for righteousness, and it may seem strange that the Scriptures encourage us to “rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:13)  In Daniel 3, we find a fiery furnace for Daniel’s three friends, who had committed the crime of failing to idolize Nebuchadnezzar.

 

Why might we rejoice even in these sorrows?  The Bible explains that, in some way, our worldly struggles help us to identify with and even unite with our living Savior.  In the Book of Hebrews, we found this encouragement to press onward:  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

 

We know that the Lord Jesus Christ faced the same opposition and challenges – and much more powerfully – than we have.  He remained committed to serving God’s Kingdom purposes, even to the point of an undeserved death on the Cross to the pay the penalty that we rightly deserved.

 

The “secret” of living in such undivided devotion to our Lord God lies in counting everything as loss.  This decision of the will does not mean that we devalue this earthly life; rather, we must see it in right perspective vis-à-vis the eternal.  In other words, why sacrifice the eternal good for a temporal gain – that really isn’t that great after all?  In this light, Kingdom matters rise in importance, high above earthly matters.  The change in perspective, revealed through God’s Word and by His Holy Spirit, brings the truly important into focus.

 

Daniel’s three friends recognized that they could not allow their earthly commitments to Nebuchadnezzar and their service in Babylon to overtake their eternal commitments to serving God.  They reasoned that God would remain faithful to them, even if they persisted in their “disobedience” to Nebuchadnezzar.  While they most likely didn’t anticipate rescue from the fire – and God’s clear intervention therein – they trusted in God’s provision.  Their faith relates closely to Abraham’s, where he submitted even to the death of the son of God’s promise.

 

According to 1 Peter 4, there appear to be rewards for those who persevere through trials, both in this earthly life and the eternal.  He mentions that those who “are insulted because of the name of Christ” receive the blessings of the “Spirit of glory… rest[ing] on you.” (1 Peter 4:14)  The revelation of God’s glory in the Second Coming of Christ will bring great joy to those who have suffered, to those who have committed to following God.  Therefore, Peter concludes that “those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” (1 Peter 4:19)

 

In this last verse, we understand the truth behind counting everything as loss.  We must see and trust in God’s faithfulness to His promise.  Since He will not abandon us, we cling to Him in the midst of adversity, knowing that He planned it for us.  Our good Father will carry us through challenging moments and transform us more into the likeness of His Son through them.  And, like Daniel’s three friends, we may be able to stand together in this trust, spurring one another on towards love and good deeds.

 

Thank you for loving and serving the living God.  May you be encouraged today to continue running the race with perseverance, as you experience God’s loving presence and trust in His promises.  You might find it edifying to read Romans 5:1–5; Hebrews 12:4–13; and James 1:2–5.

 

 

Lord God, thank You for Your goodness to us.  We remember with thanksgiving all the great people that You have placed into our lives who have helped us to know You better.  Thank You for the freedom to serve and honor You.  Thank You for Your rich blessings by providing food, shelter, and clothing.  Thank You for an awesome church family who loves You and one another.  Thank You for our cities and towns, that they are places of opportunity for us.  Thank You for Your Word, that instructs, guides, and corrects us.  Thank You for Your loving presence in our lives.  We desperately need You and want to know You more.  Help us to bless others by demonstrating Your love.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

 

________________________________________
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Nov. 25

1 Peter 3:15

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect.

On our Women's Retreat we talked about "being a fool" for God and taking risks because of our faith that might not make sense to "the world".  We all ask the Lord to give us opportunities to witness and share our faith but when that opportunity presents itself are we ready to take the risk, show the grace, or be the witness with a heavenly mindset and let our actions or words give the answer for the hope that we have?  We left the retreat refreshed and recommitted, filled with our hearts set apart for Christ.  Today's passage reminded me of how I felt when I left the retreat.  We are being encouraged to remember not only of our love for Jesus, but His love for us which sets Him apart in our hearts.  He is the reason for our hope and we should always be ready to share our story of the love and grace we received.  We've all got a story.  As we get ready for Thanksgiving and the Christmas season, I pray for all of us that we get a chance to share the reason for our hope with our hearts set on Christ, with His love and His grace.



Randi

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Saturday, November 21, 2015

[by Keesha Sullivan]

"Hey...Keesha?" cried my friend over the phone. "Hey!" I exclaimed slightly surprised. I hadn't spoken with this friend in years. She sounded frustrated and slightly disheveled. "Um...I need prayer. I know you pray, so I figured I'd call you," she explained in an exasperated tone. She went onto explain her situation. It was quite dire. My eyes welled up with tears. She was in trouble and desired to go to God. I couldn't believe my ears, but I was so happy. I knew that God would touch. I wasn't sure how or what He exactly would do, but I knew something would change.

When we are in serious trouble as people, many times no matter what we believe, we know that we need prayer. We know we need God; we need something bigger and more powerful than us. We realize that we can no longer handle the situation in our own power. It will only be by the grace of our Almighty God that we will come out on the other side.

In our reading from today in James 5:16, it says, "16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." By praying for one another, we get to see the hand of God move. The reason that a righteous person's prayer is powerful and effective is because they have a powerful and effective Father backing them. The righteous know that their righteousness comes from the blood of Jesus. They know the Source of every good and perfect gift.

Prayer brings comfort, peace, and it always brings change. Although the circumstance might not change in the way that we are quite looking for it to change, God intervenes and helps us. That day as I prayed with my friend she encountered the Holy Spirit. As we finished talking and praying, she exclaimed, "I already feel better. I feel so peaceful." God had brought about immediate change. I don't remember whether her exact prayer request was answered in the way she wanted, but I know that she came to me in tears and left with peace and joy.

Lord help us to pray more. Help us to remember that our prayers are powerful and effective because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross. We are covered in the blood of Jesus as we enter Your courts and come before Your throne. There is nothing that is too hard for You! Thank you, thank you, thank you for always being there. Thank You for always hearing our prayers and bringing about change. We love you so, so much! We are so grateful that no matter how bad our circumstances are that we can always go to You. Help us to remember to share that gift of prayer that You have given us with others. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

November 20

James 4

We are as close to God as we choose to be.

"Come near to God and he will come near to you.." James 4:8

 

A few questions for today…

 

Who is responsible for the closeness of my relationship with God?

If God seems distant to me, I wonder who has moved.

Am I a robot that God controls or am I culpable for my actions?

What are the consequences of my actions when it comes to my relationship with God?

 

James says loud and clear that I am responsible. I must act. I must exercise my volitional muscles. I must choose godliness. I must decide to move nearer to God. If I sit back and expect God to do it all I will never experience his closeness.

 

God does want to come near to us but he will not force himself upon us. He is waiting for us to become seekers. To seek hard after God is the way to experience the nearness of God.

 

When we link up with God then his redemptive power flows through us. So the prayer should not be this, "Lord, come near." The prayer should be, "Lord, help me to want to be near to You. Lord, help me to overcome my reluctance, help me to overcome my love of the world. Lord, help me to have the heart of a seeker."

 

Jerry Bridges in his book "The Pursuit of Holiness" puts it this way, "We are 100 percent responsible for the pursuit of holiness, but at the same time we are 100 percent dependent upon the Holy Spirit to enable us in that pursuit."

 

The pursuit of holiness is not a pull-yourself-up-by-your-own bootstraps approach, it is a realization that our hearts don't naturally seek after God. We no more seek after God than a robber seeks after a policeman. But as Christ followers we want to seek after God and so we need his help each step of this journey. So today take the necessary steps to draw closer. Ask for the Holy Spirit to give you the strength and desire to seek the Lord. Our responsibility is to ask, God's responsibility is to supply.

 

 

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, November 19

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015

Ezekiel 39:1–40:27

James 2:18–3:18

Psalm 118:1–18

Proverbs 28:2

 

 

Today’s reading from James continues the teaching of this practical exposition on the Christian life.  Written by the Lord Jesus Christ’s brother, James expounds on the truth from the Sermon on the Mount and touches upon key elements of living as a Christ-follower.

 

James reminds us consistently to tie our practice of faith to our profession of faith.  This practice of faith means living out the Word of God and reaping a harvest of blessing:  “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” (1:22–25)

 

In Chapter 2, James helps to resolve a crucial question on the nature of faith.  The world often calls faith “blind.”  The implicit message from this definition concludes that faith involves a passive assent to some observations or even mere wishful thinking.  In contrast, James confidently declares that “faith without deeds is useless.”  As evidence, Abraham’s “faith and… actions were working together” in showing his trust in God, even with the pending sacrifice of the son of promise, Isaac.  Abraham received God’s commendation as “righteous” on the basis of this active faith.  Only active faith represents true faith.  The natural outgrowth of coming into relationship with the living God is a transformed heart, intent of honoring and serving Him.

 

He then presents an excellent example of this active faith:  making peace with others through a spirit of humility.  With God’s having purchased peace with Him through the shed blood of Christ, we may focus on taking a different path than the world.  James recognizes that the worldly perspective includes “envy and selfish ambition,” which promote “disorder and every evil practice.”

 

James then describes godly “wisdom” as breeding harmony through its active qualities:  “first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”  The fruit of wisdom emerges in a peace-making spirit.

 

 

 

Thank You, Father, for sharing these truths through Your Word.  Give us strength to honor You through an active faith.  Show us what this active faith means for each of us on a daily basis.  Thank You for your awesome character of faithfulness and grace to us.  We love You so much and give You praise this day.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

 

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Nov. 18

James 1:22

Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.

If I were leading one of my students in a guided reading group and we came upon that verse my first inclination would be to ask them to find in the text what the Word says to do.  The answer is in verse 2:8 "Love your neighbor as yourself".  That's an answer we originally read in Leviticus 19:18.  We can all agree that loving our neighbors is not that easy, especially those where extra grace is required.  One of the most anchoring thoughts is that we are not required to "do" anything on our own because God knows we can't.  We read yesterday "don't be deceived, my dear brothers.  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (James 1:17-18)  Jesus is our Perfect Gift. Keeping Jesus at the center of everything we do is how we can be "doers" -  showing love to others because we have received love first and that Perfect Gift is what enables us . Everything we do flows from our relationship with Jesus.  Today's reading brought to mind a song we often sing -  I've attached the You Tube link for Jesus At The Center of it All.


Blessings,
Randi



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQspvrTBd6E

November 16: Of Binary Questions, Futility and Trust

Ezekiel 33:1-34:31
Hebrews 13:1-25
Psalm 115:1-18
Proverbs 27:21-22

Heb:13:5-6 - Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?"

At our church, we've just concluded a series on "How to Be Rich" - not "how to get rich" but rather, in case one wakes up and finds themselves wealthy, how to be rich. And my take of the three sermons our pastor preached is that, at the core of it all, it comes down to a question: "Do I trust God or not?"

The more I reflect on that question, the more I come to believe and to realize it is a binary question, where there are two mutually exclusive answers. The answer is either a yes or a no; it cannot be a "yes, but..." or a "yes, when...". If it isn't an unequivocal yes, it is most definitely a no. At best, the only other thing one could say is "I don't know."

I am going to be honest. I do know. And for the most part, as I look back on my life, the answer has been a resounding "no". I've put my trust in money, in success, in hard work (the Martha Syndrome), in education and relationships and all these things besides God. And I've justified such thinking "carried away by all kinds of strange teachings" - like, "if God didn't want me to rely on money, He would not have created it" or some other such nonsense.

Here's the funny thing, though: if you are like me, when you put your trust in things other than God, you find yourself needing more and more of it. When I put my trust in money, I find I am always looking for more. When I put my trust in relationships, I find myself trying to build more and more of them. And when I put my trust in hard work, I find myself working increasingly, to the detriment of other aspects of my life. Putting my trust in these things I find I never have enough. One word comes to mind: "futility".

How sad is my embrace of such futility? Well, if my answer to the question above was an unstinting "yes", I would be under the care of One who "will make a covenant of peace and rid the land of savage beasts so that they may live in the wilderness and sleep in the forests in safety...I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. The trees will yield their fruit and the ground will yield its crops; the people will be secure in their land."

Call me crazy, but it didn't say anything about having to kill myself working just there...I pray we get to know Him, and lead lives that manifest a clear, unequivocal trust in our God.

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Saturday, November 14, 2015

[by Keesha Sullivan]

"Faith made him regard God as sovereign truth; hope made him think of [God] as complete happiness…" (brother Lawrence, 89). Can you imagine what type of Christians would be walking around if every person that believed in God believed that all of their happiness, hope, and worth came from Him? That Christian would be completely happy; she would always be hopeful. She would also be totally self confident and feel worthy to be loved.

As a church we read the book titled The Practice of the Presence of God by brother Lawrence. Brother Lawrence embodied these traits. People from all over the world would come to speak with him, because they wanted what he possessed. Brother Lawrence had a great example. He had Jesus.

Jesus knew that everything, whether it was happiness, hope, worth, wisdom, joy, etc., came from His Father. He knew that there was nothing in this world that could compare to the incomparable joy of knowing the Lord our God and spending eternity with Him.

Jesus spoke of this fullness when teaching the crowds, but He later showed just how much He meant it through His actions. In our Scripture from today, it says, " Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Jesus knew what it meant to spend eternity with God. He endured the cross because he knew that he would suffer for just a short while before being reunited with His Father. He would be with Him for eternity. He would have the chance to forever live in happiness, hope, and worth. Because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross, we too have this opportunity, so let's take Paul's words to heart. "Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith…" (Hebrews 12:2).

Lord, help us to become men and women that embody happiness, hope, and worth. Help us show the world that the things of this world don't matter. All that truly matters is You! You are God, which means that You are our Everything. We need only You. Please help us to seek You first. Help us to seek Your kingdom and rule on earth. We love you Lord. Thank You for truly blessing us with every good and perfect gift. In Jesus's name. Amen!

[excerpt taken from The Practice of the Presence of God, by brother Lawrence]

November 13

Ezekiel 28

      

Most people today have no idea about the spiritual conflict that we are engaged in. They believe that the whole world consists only of what we can see with our eyes and feel with our hands. The idea of another world that is invisible to the human eye is simply preposterous. The Bible frequently reminds us that we are involved in a daily spiritual battle. It is critical that all of us understand the exact nature and scope of this conflict.

 

Ezekiel's description of the ruler of Tyre contains oblique references to Satan. You can see Satan's dirty little paws all over the actions of this human king. What the ruler of Tyre had in common with Satan was the sin of pride, which in Satan's case apparently was based on the fact that he is the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. Most often we picture Satan as grotesque and hideous, but in reality he is beautiful. Because of a misunderstanding of his form we misunderstand his tactics. Satan tricked the King of Tyre not with wickedness but prayerlessness. He whispered into the king's ear, you don't have to pray today, you are so wise and have such great skill you can do this by yourself. Why take the time to pray when you can work?

 

Beware of the oldest tactic of Satan, tempting us to be hard working and prayer slackers.

 

I have this little motto pasted up in my office to remind me about the importance of relying on God in prayer.

 

"The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying, the devil fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion.  The devil laughs at our toil, mocks our wisdom, but Satan trembles when we pray."                                    

                                                            Samuel Chadwick (1860-1932)

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, November 12

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015

Ezekiel 12:1–14:11

Hebrews 7:1–17

Psalm 105:37–45

Proverbs 27:3

 

 

Have you ever felt that you didn’t belong?  I am referring not to the feelings of insecurity that we sometimes encounter, but rather the recognition of being out of place or simply unlike the others.  We may commonly find this experience when we travel internationally.  We may have a number of reasons for visiting this faraway place, but we are definitely not “home.”

 

In Hebrews 11, the author introduces us to the Hall of Faith and recounts the faithfulness of key Old Testament figures.  He defines faith as “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (11:1)  Each of the individuals mentioned herein overcame uncertainty through faithfully following God -- and experiencing His faithfulness in return.  The nature of faith involves “earnestly seek[ing]” after God.  It includes a rational understanding of truth and a passionate engagement of the heart.  True to His Word, God will indeed meet us when we seek Him.

 

In 11:13-16, we read about the “pilgrim” nature of these Old Testament heroes.  These heroes “did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.”  Their hearts focused on seeking God and His Kingdom.  In turn, “God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he prepared a city for them.”  The Lord Jesus Christ described homes only in heaven; throughout the Scriptures, this world seems just temporary in relation to the permanence of heaven.

 

What may we learn from this “pilgrim” existence?  What does it mean for us in 2015?  In short, I believe that we may imitate our predecessors in the faith through declaring our allegiance to and committing our lives to God’s Kingdom.  This Kingdom does not start only in heaven; rather, He has called us to invest in the lives of people and in knowing Him better right now.  Our hearts find great joy in resting in Him and believing Him for transformation, integrity, and fullness.  “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you as well.” (Matthew 6:33)

 

Therefore, please do not worry if you feel that you don’t belong.  Clearly, many people of faith have experienced similar feelings, and it seems a natural outcropping of the pilgrimage of seeking God.  Rejoice in His awesome purpose and the joy of joining Him!

 

 

Lord God, thank You for calling us to be pilgrims and foreigners in this world but giving us a true home in heaven.  We seek You today and desire to know You better and to honor You through loving Your people.  Give us wisdom in how we allocate our time and resources to fulfill Your purposes.  We love You and rejoice in You.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

 

 

“We Are Not Home Yet”:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-A1u-Zfal8

 

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November 11

Hebrews 10:23-24

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for He who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.


The hope that we have rests in what can't see, yet we know this hope is real.  As believers and followers of Christ, this truth is what separates us from the fallen world we live in.  When I talk with other Christians what I'm learning is that our unique bond as a church reflects our hope and our claim through our fellowship, small groups, and prayer.  I think that's what the author's message is in today's passage.  We have a responsibility to encourage and strengthen each other in our faith.  Our fellowship with each other and our prayers for each other is the chord that binds us and our life line to Jesus.  I pray we continue to encourage each other on this journey as we walk in faith displaying Jesus's love.




Randi

November 9: The apple, the tree, the parent and the child...

Ezekiel 20:1-49

Hebrews 9:11-28

Psalm 107:1-43

Proverbs 27:11

The OT reading is interesting: in v13 God declares that "the people of Israel rebelled against [Him] in the wilderness.  They did not follow [His] decrees but rejected [His] laws..."  And so God turned to the children of the people of Israel, and told them "Do not follow the statutes of your parents"...admonishing them to keep His laws and decrees.  But in verse 21, we see that "the children rebelled against [God]: they did not follow [His] decrees, they were not careful to keep [His] laws."  I suppose it isn't surprising the children were disobedient - after all, what example did they have to follow?  Their parents were disobedient, and so they must have learned that there was nothing wrong with rejecting God.  The parents acted like they knew better than God...the children learned at their feet.  After all, the apple does not fall far from the tree.

Part of the tragedy here is that the children suffer consequences as a result of the example their parents set; for a parent who loves their child, and who only wants what is best for them, the realization that their actions were responsible for the consequences the child suffers is painful.  And I find myself thinking, on the eve of my youngest child's birthday, wondering what kind of tree I've been, and what example I've given my children?  And - as I am sure is the case with many parents - I find myself confronted with all those times I could have been a better parent, given a better example.

The good news is this, though: God withheld His hand.  And in the NT reading, we are reminded of our Lord who offered Himself "unblemished to God, [to] cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death".  We read that He is the "mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance - now that He has died as a ransom to set them - US! - free from the sins committed under the first covenant."  And so we can say, with relief both for ourselves and the children to whom we have been less than perfect examples, "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever."  We are those who "became fools through [our] rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of [our] iniquities."  But we can cry out to the Lord in our trouble, and He saves us from our distress.  

"Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart..."

Thank You, God, for Your mercy and redemption - not just from our sins, but from their consequences - to us, and to the children whom we love.

Saturday, November 7, 2015

Saturday, November 7, 2015

[Kenny Sullivan]

"The people made a calf at Mount Sinai; they bowed before an image made of gold. They traded their glorious God for a statue of a grass-eating bull...The people refused to enter the pleasant land [a place of rest], for they wouldn't believe his promise to care for them."

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭106:19, 20, 24 NLT‬‬ (brackets added)

Charles Kuralt was the host of CBS's "On the Road" news program. His aim was to travel the country looking for interesting news from everyday life. Kuralt received a letter from a woman in Ohio who claimed to have a parakeet that could say, "And that's the way it is," quoting the famous closing words of CBS news anchorman Walter Cronkite. 

They arrived at the home and as they waited to enter they could hear the parakeet on the other side of the front door say, "And that's the way it is."  As they set up the cameras and lighting the parakeet said repeatedly, "And that's the way it is." They pointed the camera lens at the bird and began filming as the parakeet said, "Aaawk!" The owner tried to cue her pet by saying, "And that's the way it is." The parakeet responded to her cue by saying, "Aaaaaawwwwk!" After an hour of failed attempts Kuralt and his crew packed up their cameras and lights and left the saddened woman who really wanted her pet parakeet to be on CBS news quoting Walter Cronkite. They said their goodbyes and headed out to their vehicles only to hear the parakeet behind closed door saying, "And that's the way it is!"

Control is an elusive concept.  We are not in control of our circumstances, only how we respond to them. In like manner, as Israel found out, we are not in control of God. We are only in control of how we respond to Him. This reality disappointed Israel so much that they created a god that they could control - a golden calf. But this golden god couldn't save them, couldn't love them, couldn't protect them, couldn't heal them, etc...couldn't give them rest!

We've done the very same thing today, right? We've created our own gods (relationships, jobs, money, appearance, status, possessions, etc.) to try to satisfy us and give us rest, but we find that they don't quite "do the trick." Like Mr. Kuralt, we're left trying to make a parakeet imitate Walter Cronkite. It simply doesn't work because we are not in control. Only God is in control and offers us the pleasant rest we so desire if we would just stop trying to control Him. His aim is not to harm us, but to give us the life we've always hungered for.  We need only respond by receiving.  "And that's the way it is."

November 6

Hebrews 7 and Psalm 106 

Psalm 106:8   Yet he saved them for his name's sake

Hebrews 7:25  Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

The story is told of a man in Europe who owned a Rolls Royce. The rear axle broke one day and the man called the Rolls Royce company in England. He was instructed to ship the car to England, where it was repaired before being returned to him. When the man did not receive a bill for some time, he called to inquire about the situation. But he received a great surprise when the Rolls Royce representative told him, "We have no record of a Rolls Royce with this problem." 

If a car manufacturer will go to this length to protect its good name and reputation, how much more will God do to protect His name by securing those whom He has saved?

We have seen in Hebrews that Jesus is an amazing intercessor for us. In car terms our lives don't only have a broken rear axle; our sins have "totaled" the car. Because of sin our lives are complete junkers. But Jesus our great high priest has not given up on us. He comes along and with his amazing mechanical skills he totally transforms our car lives. He takes what is literally junk and completely transforms it. And most importantly his he now engraves his name as our vin number on our cars. We are his, totally and completely.

So if you are discouraged today. Remember that you are saved completely because of super mechanic Jesus.

Psalm 106 goes on to say that if we really believe this promise we should sing his praise. So take a minute and sing your praises to the Lord.

 

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, November 5

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015

Ezekiel 12:1–14:11

Hebrews 7:1–17

Psalm 105:37–45

Proverbs 27:3

 

 

In Hebrews 7, the author explains that Jesus serves as the Great High Priest, interceding for those who have trusted in Him.  In this manner, He fulfills the “mediator” role that Paul discusses in 1 Timothy 2:5.  For those clothed with Christ’s righteousness, God no longer holds their sin against them, fulfilling the promise of Isaiah 1:18:  “Though your sins are like scarlet,/ they shall be as white as snow;/ though they are red as crimson,/ they shall be like wool.”  Only in Christ may we find this transformation.  Praise God for His indescribable gift!

 

What makes Jesus’s Priesthood worthy and legitimate to bring about this great salvation?  The author of Hebrews points to two key factors:  its permanence and the Priest’s perfection. 

 

He carries on this discussion with reference to Melchizedek, who, like Jesus, served both in the king and priest roles.  Melchizedek served as king over Salem, which would later become Jerusalem, and provided priestly duties upon meeting Abraham and his men.  Melchizedek receives an offering from Abraham, which signified that the father of the Israelites owed no debt to any king but the Lord.  As the author of Hebrews explains, this Melchizedek serves as a type or prefiguration for the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

The author of Hebrews views Jesus’s permanent priesthood as setting aside the old covenant, which “made nothing perfect.”  The “better hope,” in the Personhood of Christ, allows His followers to “draw near to God.”  This change in the priesthood required a change in the law.

 

Jesus serves forever according to the oath sworn to Him by God the Father:  “You are a priest forever.”  This permanence allows Jesus to “become the guarantor of a better covenant.”  Because He has risen from the dead, He is and remains the living God – “the same yesterday, today, and forever” – and therefore His priesthood continues through all eternity.  By His blood, He may intercede for any believer at any time.  This readiness allows Him to “save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”  What an awesome promise!  Our salvation rests on promises and guarantees, sealed with the sturdy, solid trustworthiness of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Jesus’s priesthood also rested on His perfection, “the power of an indestructible life.”  His worthiness to serve as priest did not rest on His ancestry; in fact, Jesus descended from Judah:  “in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.”

 

The author of Hebrews talks about this “indestructible life” as being “holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.”  God desires holiness in His people (1 Peter 1:15,16), but we consistently fall short (Romans 3:23).  Prior to Jesus’s coming, God instituted the Levitical priests to “offer sacrifices day after day, first for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people.”  This priesthood required consistent application and pointed directly toward the promise of a new Priest.  The Levitical priesthood also established the means of salvation:  “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 9:22)

 

This perfect Priest therefore supersedes the human priesthood:  “For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.”  Through our knowledge and trust in this Priest, we may “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence.”  What a joy to be able to approach the One Who has created us!

 

 

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your permanent and perfect Priesthood.  Thank You for interceding on our behalf through shedding Your precious blood and providing a secure means of becoming children of God.  Deepen our trust in You, and help us to grow in our grateful celebration of Your provision.  Give us opportunities to share this amazing news with our loved ones and neighbors.  To You be all praise, honor, and glory forever and ever!  Amen.

 

 

“How Deep the Father’s Love for Us”:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKDujmtyAVk

 

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November 4

Hebrews 6

Although the author of the book of Hebrews is not mentioned,  just like all the other books in the Bible it was written to illustrate the superiority and Lordship of Jesus.  This book in particular was targeted to the Jewish audience who were doubting their faith due to perhaps not fully understanding Biblical truths.  Being raised Jewish, I can tell you that the message of Jesus is hard to accept.  Once God lifts the veil from your eyes and you know the truth, it's also difficult to present the message to Jewish non-believers that all the promises revealed in the O.T. as a way to forgiveness and salvation were fulfilled in Jesus, The Messiah - the One they were waiting for.  When the book of Hebrews was written, worshiping tradition made more sense than worshiping The Man, and to some it still does.  The O.T. lays a foundation of truths that are meant to be built upon for us to grow and mature in throughout our journey.  I believe God wants us to move beyond basics and grow in spiritual maturity as today's reading teaches.  God is truth which makes each and every promise our hope and security.  Once you know this, there is no turning back.  Lord, I pray for each of us today that as we move beyond basics and mature in our faith, we enter Your court standing before Your throne of Grace with total trust and awe of who You are.  As we open our hearts to You Lord we know You are interceding for us and with the love and grace that was demonstrated on the Cross You guide our lives.  Lord give us strength so we do not become spiritually lazy but instead continue to mature and grow intimate with You.  Let us live in the security of knowing that through our faith we know we will inherit all that You have promised.

Randi

November 2: Struggling for a title...anyone have any suggestions?

Ezekiel 3:16-6:14

Hebrews 4:1-16

Psalm 104:24-35

Proverbs 26:27

The new testament reading, from Hebrews, talks about rest.  It doesn't describe it very clearly - the best description of the rest was what God did on the seventh day - He didn't work.  I confess I haven't had many of those Sundays...more often than not I've found myself running errands, or getting a head start on the week, or doing something else.  This last Sunday was different - Carla was out with a friend, Thomas was at another friend's house, and Christian was happy to hang out with me at home.  So from right after lunch - call it 1:30 in the afternoon - to about 8pm, other than pick Thomas up and make dinner, I did nothing that might've been construed as work.  Christian and I shot hoops, then Thomas came home and we watched a bit of TV, switching from football to basketball to baseball when they came on.  And it was great.  My mind was clear, my frown lines disappeared, and it was easy to smile, easy to laugh.  And I could only think how different Sunday was from Monday, when I left home before 6 and got home at midnight for yet another hour's worth of work; and how, if my Sunday rest was so relaxing, how amazing it must be to enter into God's rest.  

The rest of the NT reading is so different from the tribulation described in the OT, from the talk of sieges, of scarce and rationed food and water, of punishment, of parents having to eat their children to live, of a ruin of a nation.  As I read that last sentence, "different" does not seem to begin to cover the stark contrast between the conditions described in the OT and the NT readings.  Why so terrible a fate?  The reading is pretty clear - they abandoned God, they abandoned their covenant, in favor of their idols. The reading talks of detestable idols, of vile images and detestable practices.  

Now I will say this: it is the easiest thing to check out the speck in someone else's eye and miss the log in my own.  I am very guilty of that, and often.  And the truth of the matter is, while we are called to be accountable for our brothers and sisters, it comes down to me to identify and give up the idols in my life.  And I have to admit - after a Sunday like the other day, I realize there are a lot of things that entice me away from that part of the covenant with Him that says "honor the sabbath, keep it holy".  Identifying these idols is a start - then I might be able to "make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one [me!] will perish by following their example of disobedience".

Father open our ears, our eyes and our hearts to the words You speak, identifying the idols that distract us from You.  Then be the High Priest that empathizes with our weakness, and grant us the grace and mercy You know we need, that we might enter into Your rest.