March 30: Of the Challenge of Salvation

March 30

Man: "Salvation is impossible."

Jesus: "Challenge accepted."

Deuteronomy 13:1-15:23

Luke 8:40-9:6

Psalm 71:1-24

Proverbs 12:5-7

I'm a father who loves his children, but is at times flabbergasted by their thinking, appalled at their actions, and humbled by the realization my own mother is still waiting for the payback of seeing my three kids give me as much trouble combined as I gave her and my dad all by my lonesome.  

I bring this up because in today's OT scripture we read about some of the trouble our children can cause, and how if our "son or daughter...secretly entices you, saying "Let us go worship other gods"...[we] must certainly put them to death."  In fact, our "hand must be the first in putting them to death." 

When I think of the trouble I got into, if my parents had followed the OT to the letter, I would DEFINITELY not have made it to puberty.  I am pretty certain my antics, long before pimples and prom, enticed them to worship at the altar of Johnny Walker and Smirnoff.  And at that  young age, I was just getting started, on a rather steep downslope to perdition, incapable of behaving properly as to save myself.

Which is why today's NT reading, while a frequently recurring theme, is so uplifting to those who, like me, have pasts so checkered a chessboard looks plain by comparison.  When salvation seems impossible, Jesus reminds us the impossible is His specialty.  Consider: a woman 12 years ill with no hope of recovery is cured by His power; a sick, 12 year old girl dies and is raised by His will.  This is the reassurance that, when faced with the impossibility of overcoming our sinfulness, we can turn to Him, pray like the psalmist, and know that the impossibility of our salvation is His specialty.

"Jesus, in You I have taken refuge.  Let me never be put to shame.  In Your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn Your ear to me and save me.  Be my rock of refuge to which I can always go, give the command to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress....For You have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.  From birth I have relied on You."

March 29

Luke 8

March 29, 2019

 

You Know You're Getting Old When...

 

1. Your joints are more accurate than the National Weather Service.

2. Kidnappers are not very interested in you.

3. You have a party and the neighbors don't even realize it.

4. Happy hour is a nap.

5. Your back goes out more than you do.

6. "Getting a little action" means you don't need to take a laxative.

 

Aging is just one of the storms we face in life. There are many others. A few of the storms I have encountered this week include relational storms, employment storms, financial storms, health storms and emotional storms. This much is true; there is nothing more inevitable than each of us facing multiple storms in our lives. Scott Peck's book, The Road Less Traveled, opens with the sentence, "Life is difficult." Most of you reading this blog probably find yourself smack dab in the middle of a storm right now.

 

Luke gives us a few strategies on making it through the storms.

 

First, don't freak out when a storm arrives. Storms are largely unpredictable. Luke records, "A squall came down." In Matthew it says, "Without warning a furious storm came up".  Try as we may, we cannot predict the things that will happen to us. They are largely unforeseen.  None of us even know what storms will arrive in our lives over the next 6 hours.

 

Storms are impartial; they hit both "good" and "bad" people. They happen to believers and they happen to unbelievers.  They happen to all of us.  Being a Christ follower does not exempt us from dealing with storms.  Some people have the misconception that they only have tough times when they're disobeying God.  That's not true.  The disciples got into a storm after they had obeyed Jesus.

 

Storms give us an opportunity to trust God. After the storm was calmed, Jesus asked, "Where is your faith?"  This means the disciples had made the wrong choice in this test of faith. Rather than opting for peace, they chose panic, which also happens to be my default reaction. Every storm is an opportunity for us to say, "I refuse to panic because I believe Jesus is in my boat."

 

So, regardless of the storm that is in your life, you get to choose, panic or peace.

 

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, March 28

THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019

"And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?" (Deuteronomy 10:12,13)

In the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses reminds the people of God's call on their lives—both individually and as the nation of Israel.  This call includes a beautiful covenant, where the people's faithfulness would unlock God's tremendous protection and blessing.

These verses above touch on the people's commitment to this covenant, including several steps:

(1) To "fear the Lord your God."  This fear centers on "reverence," a recognition of God's awesomeness and majesty.  Properly understanding God's character and greatness will bring us to fear Him:  to revere Him in awe.  This attitude sparks the action of worship and trust in God's power.

(2) To "walk in obedience to him."  God expresses concern for His people's obedience, not to micromanage, but rather to let flourish.  Like the loving Father He is, He knows what's best for His children, and He has designed His statues to bring freedom from guilt and self- (and others-) destruction.

(3) To "love him."  Our love ties into both the fear and obedience discussed above.  Rightly understanding God's majesty and beauty, we will be drawn by the Holy Spirit into a love relationship with Him.  Our relationship with Him then calls forth our obedience, for we appreciate and accept His love for us and provision for us through His statutes.

(4) To "serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul."  This service amounts to much more than mental assent or lip service.  It calls forth our total being, submitted to the will of our Master.

How do these chords strike you today?  Are you excited to follow God today?  If so, excellent!  If not, would you consider praying that God would reveal more of Himself so that you could see Him more clearly and follow Him more closely?

Lord God, thank You for establishing Your covenant with the nation of Israel and, later, with us through Your Son's sacrifice in our place.  Help us to invite You to take the throne of our lives and to experience the fullness of Your majesty and strength.  We love You and honor You today.  In Jesus's mighty Name, amen.

March 26, 2019

Shema

Deuteronomy 5-6, Luke 7:11-35, Psalms 68:19-35, Proverbs 11:29-31

"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 NIV

For devout Jews, the first few verses of Deuteronomy 6 are some of the holiest and most important. Verses 4-9 are known as the Shema and are prayed every morning and every night. 

These verses are located at the entrance of Jewish homes in a Mezuzah- a literal place, written on "the door frames of your houses and gates". At the beginning of the Hebrew nation, God was establishing His power and glory to the people, knowing they would be entering lands of idols and distractions. He commanded that we LOVE God with our heart, soul, mind, and strength. With our emotions, intellect, being, and physically...everything that makes us into who we are. It is a constant way of living, which is why it was prayed morning and night. Dwelling on the essence of who God is. 

As I'm sitting here waiting for this second child to pop out I've been so convicted and challenged to take these verses up daily. To take on these Jewish traditions of daily teaching and remembering these verses. We teach our children, but I reflect on how I lack as a parent. My prayer is to keep these words, meditate, and act on them daily. To really know and love God with all, not just parts....keep this Shema in my heart too. 

March 20

Deuteronomy 8

God Humbles Israel

Some think that God's work of humbling is accomplished just by bringing us into a humble place. But it is where our heart is while we are in the humble place that God is really concerned about. God gives the children of Israel a warning in this chapter - Do Not Forget the Lord. Everything that God wants us to learn comes from the first step of humility.  If we aren't humble, we aren't teachable. I have notes in my Bible next to this chapter.  It was from a time when my family and I were going through the wilderness. It was when I first trusted Jesus and started to even read my Bible. we learn in this passage in verse 3 that "Man does live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord".  I lived off of God's word during that time. Reflecting, I learned that just as God carried the Israelites over the 40 years of walking through the desert, He carried me and my family. When we are in that place, in the wilderness in our own lives, we have to remember that it's for a purpose and it usually has something to do with the condition of our hearts. More importantly, we have to trust our Sovereign God who put us there and humble our hearts. When we realize our total dependency on the One who created us, and we submit our hearts and our lives to His plan, He leads us out of the desert. Just as God humbled the people of Israel, He humbles us. 

Randi

Bible blog post Monday March 25th

Unpacking Memories (Deuteronomy 4:1-49)

My parents are moving this week and I have been helping them pack so they will be ready for the big day.  While packing we have come across photo's, nick knack's, gadgets, furniture, dishes, jewelry, art, toys, holiday items, papers, crafts, heirlooms, lamps........lots of things.  What we found in so many of these things were memories.  I was brought back to days from my childhood of watching my mom cooking in the kitchen using spoons and dishes that I was now holding in my hand.  I remembered nights as a little girl when my dad would read me books as we sat next to the big barrel end table that held the eagle based lamp that I was now helping them pack.  I was carefully wrapping up nick knack's that I remembered dusting in order to earn my allowance as a teenager.  I respectfully folded hand crocheted doilies that my Grandmother had made when she was young and then passed down to mother and father and reflected on the experiences and conversations I had with her before she passed away.  The process of helping my parents pack reminded me of a childhood of memories that my parents (and grandparents) helped foster and create.  Good times as well as the not so good were remembered.  I didn't have a perfect life, nobody does.  But through all the times that were remembered as we packed I was reminded that I have been loved and cared for through it all by my parents.  I survived into adulthood  and I carry with me a lifetime of memories and lessons that no one can take from me.  It was so very good to have this time to remember as I often go through the day, and day after day, not remembering, not reflecting on these life building memories.

When I read Deuteronomy 4:1-49 it reminded me of packing for my parents move.  The Israelite's were moving.  It was a long move from Egypt to the Promised land (a 40 year venture).  A lot had happened during this move.  Now that the Israelite's were ready to go in and settle into their new home we read how Moses wanted to take them on another journey - down memory lane.  Moses wanted them to remember both the good and the bad of their experience so that they would reflect on who their God was, His love for them, and all that He had done.  Moses wanted them to remember so that they might not make some of the same mistakes again.  He wanted to make sure they reflected and knew the importance of passing on the these reflections and memories to their children.  Moses knew that life after their move was not going to be a smooth road, there would be bumps and challenges ahead.  It was important for them to remember the bumps and challenges that God had brought them through during their move and how their fears and focus on those challenges rather than their God made their move much more difficult (and lengthy).

Each day is a move for us.  We move from yesterday into today.  We talk about the importance of reading God's word so that we know who God is and that is so very true.  It is equally important for us to take time to reflect and remember what God has done for us as it causes us to see how we have experienced the very God that we have read about.  We need to remember how He saw us through the difficult times so that when difficult times arrive at our doorstep we know who to call and lean on - our God!  We need to reflect on God's love for us, His provision, and instruction.  We need to remember how our lives faired when we chose to listen and follow Him compared to when we chose to do things our own way.  It is easy to get comfortable during the smooth patches of life and start to live without seeking God as our counselor, after all everything is going well so we think "I got this".  It is also easy to forget and to fear or grumble when life takes turns we didn't expect.  Remembering and reflecting daily are important for a healthy relationship with the Lord and for a strong spiritual life that will keep us anchored when we need to be.  It is also important because we should be sharing theses memories with others, mainly our children and the next generation that is following behind us.  Remember our experiences and passing them on can helps others in their journey, in their move to deeper and stronger faith in the Lord.

I encourage you to take time today (and every day) to remember who God is and what He has done in your life.  To see how the God you read about is the God who truly is there for you in life.  I assure each of you that He has done much.  Whether or not you see it as such is a different story.  Pray and ask God to take a walk with you down memory lane and to help you remember, to help you unpack the memories of His love and faithfulness of yesterday as you move into the moments of today.

March 23: Of Answered Prayers and Obedience

Numbers 36:1 - Deuteronomy 1:46

Luke 5:29-6:11

Psalm 66:1-20

Proverbs 11:24-26

The Lord, through Moses: "This is how inheritance is going to work."

Clan of Gilead: "But what about Zelophehad's daughters?  If they marry into other clans, the land will pass into those clans, diminishing our inheritance."

The Lord, through Moses: "Good point.  So to fix that, Zelophehad's daughters may only marry within their father's tribal clan."

If that had been today, there would have been one more line in the dialogue:

Zelophehad's daughters: "Ok.  Wait, what?!?"

If I was one of Zelophehad's daughters, I would have wanted to be able to marry whomever I wanted, AND keep my inheritance.  I would have struggled to understand why God was resolving the issue so painfully this way, when there was a perfectly good way where I could get everything I wanted.  

I am not one of Zelophehad's daughters from long before the time of Christ; I am a man in his fifties living in Connecticut.  But I share their hypothetical struggle.  Often I come to God asking Him to fix a problem for me; in my mind, I know the solution I want.  And often God gives me something else, something that restricts me or burdens me in some way I didn't think was necessary.  I am frustrated and angry, forgetting I don't get to pick the solution; I get to decide whether or not to accept it.  Whether or not to obey.  

Father, we pray for ourselves, for our nation, and for our world.  Forgive us for the times when You answer our prayers and we reject Your solutions.  Remind us of the completeness of Your knowledge, the perfection of Your wisdom, and the fullness of Your love for us.  And when we struggle with Your commands, help us to obey.  

March 22

Luke 5

March 22, 2019

 

Today I read a prayer that contained these words, "Make me to be a more worthy follower of Him who cared for the poor and the oppressed, and who could never see disease without seeking to heal it or any kind of human need without turning aside to help."

 

When Jesus saw a leper, he reached out and touched that person.

When Jesus saw a tax collector, he reached out and called him to follow.

When Jesus saw someone paralyzed, he reached out and healed that person.

When Jesus saw someone in sin, he reached out and forgave that person.

 

Lord, give us eyes to see the world as you see it, to remember that you called us to be a light in a dark world. Help us to care for the poor, to have compassion on people, to love them, to encourage them, to heal them and finally to share the good news with them. Lord, give us your strength to do these things.  Amen. 

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, March 21

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2019

 

“When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’

 

“Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.  But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’

 

“When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.  So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

 

“When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’  For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

 

“Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.’  So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.”

 

(Mark 5:4-11)

 

 

Today, we read about Jesus’s burgeoning ministry, starting with His driving out evil spirits and healing many people.  Despite the acclaim and attention that He attracted, He didn’t concentrate on the crowds that flocked to Him.  Though He showed great compassion for the multitudes, Jesus ultimately nurtured and strengthened a much smaller group of core leaders, His disciples.

 

In this passage, we find the Lord’s calling of these disciples.  Through His sovereign power and knowledge, He demonstrated the worthiness of following Him to these exhausted fishermen.  They had labored all night without a catch, but they showed faith and recognized Jesus’s authority by being willing to try again.  God rewarded their faithfulness with a catch that overwhelmed them, physically and emotionally.

 

Have you ever experienced such a moment?  Exhausted, you appreciate anew and relish God’s amazing provision and power?  I find that these moments when my strength seems small that God’s strength and love appear much greater.  I love these opportunities!

 

From this point forward, Jesus devotes the coming three years to developing these core leaders.  He serves humbly and provides a template for their future of “catching” and discipling people.  Jesus therefore communicates a critical purpose and function of His Church:  to walk faithfully with Him as our Master; to reach out to those who don’t know Him; and to be built up and build up others as disciples.

 

Jesus’s curriculum would focus on life transformation and becoming fully human in Christlikeness.  It would not be merely instructional, but rather transformational by the power of the Word and the Spirit.  It would be straightforward enough that all could participate, but profound enough that the journey would never be predictable.

 

Have you received Jesus’s call to discipleship?  Are you following the Master?  Have you embraced His mission of helping others to know Him better?  Whom has He put into your life who you could mentor and encourage?  Maybe you could start with sharing a verse from today’s reading that might be edifying for your friend or family member?

 

 

Lord God, thank You for sending Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as our Master.  Thank You for showing us how to love and disciple others through His example.  Strengthen our hearts and minds so that we may honor You individually, and give us opportunities to pour into the lives of others so that we may all know You better.  Thank You for showing us Your sovereign power in our exhaustion and weakness.  We love You and worship You today.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

 

 

 

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March 20

Psalm 63, Luke 4

I found it interesting that David's Psalm and Luke's account both refer to a time of being in the wilderness. Though both men found themselves alone and surrounded by desert, there was certainly no desert in their hearts.  By definition, wilderness is a desert, a neglected, uninhabitable, abandoned region or isolated place. But what if God wants us to stop and think about those times when we find ourselves not so much in a physical wilderness but in spiritual wilderness? We've all been there.  Those times when hearing God's voice when we need it the most ends up in silence. When feeling His presence, and trusting in His goodness and character seem like a dream. When we feel much like the Israelites wandering through a desert, not understanding why we've been led them there. Here is where I loved the Psalm though. David's firm faith enabled him to claim God's promises as his own. He found his hope not in circumstances but in God. He compares his longing for God to being in the wilderness where there is no water and thirst becomes an unquenchable longing for the most essential support of life; - water. There is no reasoning with it, no forgetting it, and no overcoming it. Just as only water can satisfy the thirst, only God can satisfy this craving of the soul. In Luke's account, Jesus shows us His total dependency on God and His word to carry Him through His wilderness trial. Perhaps the take away from this is that when we find ourselves in the wilderness, sitting in the presence of God is the best place to be. Even though that may sound counter intuitive, it's most likely the enemy that would rather have us believe that to be true. God is sovereign and always in control. I would like to encourage us all with this quote from Charles Spurgeon: "When the bed is the softest we are most tempted to rise at lazy hours; but when comfort is gone, and the couch is hard, if we rise the earlier to seek the Lord, we have much for which to thank the wilderness." 

Randi

March 19, 2019

Numbers 28:16- Numbers 29, Luke 3:23-38, Psalms 62:1-12, Proverbs 11:18-19

Who is God and what is He like? 

In Psalm 62, David answers that question over and over with the same characteristics. He is where we find rest. He is there. When I seek rest, I seek my bed, the couch, home. A safe place that I can crawl into, relax, and let go. Be held by pillows, cozy blankets, the arms of my husband. It's comfort. The Father is where we can find rest from the anxieties we face, the worries that keep us racing. He is not only the one for physical rest, but where our soul finds rest. So much deeper and full of peace. 

David calls God our Rock, our Salvation, our Fortress and Refuge repeatedly in this Psalm. It is seen many times in the psalms. He can not be shaken. We can. We are. That is why our souls seek rest that can only be found in Him. We physically can not run to God, but again, He is the place that our souls, our hearts, and our minds should race too.

King Solomon continued this theme from his father in Proverbs by saying, "The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe."  Proverbs 18:10 NIV. We can find rest, safety, and peace by knowing God through His word, dedicating the time to Him, listening (be still! Be quiet!), but also speaking and having that prayer/dialogue with him. 

I know many of us are weary. Seek Him. Find rest in Him. 

Shane and Shane's song, Psalm 62: 

https://youtu.be/duHgF6jJMes

Bible blog post Monday March 18th

Trees In God's Orchard of Life (Luke 3:7-20)

Have you ever been to an apple orchard in the Fall to pick your own fruit?  It is something my family and I enjoy doing.  The orchard has several trees available to us to pick from and enjoy.  We pick what we can carry and bring our bounty home where we delight and share it.

When I read Luke 3:7-20 I picture an orchard of people.  The prophet John is speaking to a crowd, an orchard, of people who have been living life rooted in beliefs that are wicked, are not in keeping with the truth of God.  He calls them out according to what he sees below the surface: a brood of vipers, offspring of evil, they are trees of wickedness producing bad fruit.   He puts into a harsh visual context what lies hidden in their hearts and deceives even them. Their lives are rooted in: who they see themselves to be (chosen children of Abraham, elite), in their own works (living for the law), and in pride (seeking self first and foremost).  John calls them out and tells them, "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance." (vs 8).  He is calling out their way of living, letting them know they are rooted in what does not produce good fruit and warns them against the eternal dangers of it.  They immediately ask John what they should do, how do they produce this fruit (vs. 10)?  John's reply is based on who these people are and the roots (the things, ideas, and longings) that they are attached to.  He challenges them to give from what they have been given, don't seek more than what they need, don't take wrongly and accuse unjustly, and to be content with what they have. 

Repentance means to change your mind, purpose and actions.  John was calling them to change from the inside out, to re-root their hearts.  They needed to re-root themselves in the mercy and grace of Christ that is found in repentance.  When rooted in Christ we receive an abundant blessing we can share with others, we experience grace which can be poured out into the lives of others, and we are saturated in mercy which allows us to shower it upon others.

Question: When a tree produces fruit who is the fruit for?  Does the tree produce it for itself or for others to partake?  The answer is simple, a tree produces fruit for the benefit of others.  It's main purpose is take from the roots all that it needs to live and thrive and in doing so produce a bounty of fruit for the benefit of others so that they may taste of it and desire it for themselves.  As trees of Christ living in the orchard of life, we are to be rooted in Christ and to gather from him all that we need - nothing more and nothing less.  We find out contentment and satisfaction in all that we receive from Him.  Being rooted in Christ holds us firmly in place, gives us strength, provides for our needs and allows us to grow and produce fruit which we can share with others.  We don't do anything to produce the grace and mercy found through repentance, but by rooting ourselves in the purpose of Christ we can lavish in it and thrive.  Likewise, others do nothing to produce the fruit in keeping with repentance but they should have the opportunity to benefit from and experience it.  We shower grace and mercy (the fruit of repentance) because it has been showered upon us.  The fruit is to reflect what is happening unseen in the roots of our lives, the experience of grace and mercy from Christ Jesus in us.

When we, like the crowd of brooding vipers in Luke 3:7, produce fruit that is not of Christ it is bitter and leaves a bad taste in the mouths of those who encounter us.  It can cause others to want nothing to do with the faith that we profess.  We are trees in God's orchard and we need to be certain that our fruit is a right reflection of Him, allowing others to experience a small taste of what they can have for themselves if they so choose to change their purpose, to re-root their hearts and live in the mercy and grace of Christ Jesus.

As you go through each and every day be sure to take the time to make sure your roots are firmly planted in the truths of God's word.  Prune any parts of your life that are producing bad fruit.  Ask the Lord to help you to experience daily the mercy and grace found in Christ so that you can be a tree of good fruit that will bless all who come to partake (all who come and encounter you each day).

Fwd: March 16: Of Grumbling About Perfection

Resending with edits.  

March 16: Of Grumbling About Perfection

Numbers 24:1-25:18

Luke 2:1-35

Psalm 59:1-17

Proverbs 11:14

Today's NT reading reminded me that Mary and Joseph were far from home when Jesus was born.  This leads me to wonder: what must Mary and Joseph have been like on this unexpected and untimely trip?  Were they worried about Mary exerting herself, about finding the help they needed for the delivery?  Were they frustrated, perhaps even angry that Caesar issued that decree at that time?  Did they grumble on the way to Bethlehem, the way the Israelites did in the desert? 

The reason I ask is I grumble.  A LOT.  I grumble about everything, from the trivial (slow driver ahead of me when driving to catch the morning train) to the significant (finding out years ago neck surgery was required).  I do it a lot, whenever things aren't going the way I want them to.  When they aren't perfect the way I want them to be. 

What I really should be grumbling about is my willful pigheadedness, the persistent delusion I have that I know what "perfect" is.  Because the fact of the matter is, from man's standpoint, the circumstances of His birth were only the first thing Judas would have had to grumble about.  He could have grumbled about the thickheadedness of His disciples, the betrayal of Jesus, the cowardice of Peter, and the unjustness of His agonizing death.  None of this would have made sense from a human standpoint back then, but hindsight tells us all these circumstances weren't just necessary, they were perfect - perfect for the purpose of reuniting us with the Father.  

So Lord, let me take a moment to apologize for pretending I know better than You what perfect is, and grumbling about the perfect circumstances You have chosen for me.  When I face things I don't understand, give me instead the wisdom to do as Mary did, who "treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Jose Lanuza <jose.a.lanuza@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Mar 16, 2019 at 9:45 PM
Subject: March 16: Of Grumbling About Perfection
To:

Numbers 24:1-25:18

Luke 2:1-35

Psalm 59:1-17

Proverbs 11:14

Today's NT reading reminded me that Mary and Joseph were far from home when Jesus was born.  This leads me to wonder: what must Mary and Joseph have been like on this unexpected and untimely trip?  Were they worried about Mary exerting herself, about finding the help they needed for the delivery?  Were they frustrated, perhaps even angry that Caesar issued that decree at that time?  Did they grumble on the way to Bethlehem, the way the Israelites did in the desert? 

The reason I ask is I grumble.  A LOT.  I grumble about everything, from the trivial (slow driver ahead of me when driving to catch the morning train) to the significant (finding out years ago neck surgery was required).  I do it a lot, whenever things aren't going the way I want them to.  When they aren't perfect the way I want them to be. 

What I really should be grumbling about is my willful pigheadedness, the persistent delusion I have that I know what "perfect" is.  Because the fact of the matter is, from man's standpoint, the circumstances of His birth were only the first thing Jesus would have had to grumble about.  He could have grumbled about the thickheadedness of His disciples, the betrayal of Jesus, the cowardice of Peter, and the unjustness of His agonizing death.  None of this would have made sense from a human standpoint back then, but hindsight tells us all these circumstances weren't just necessary, they were perfect - perfect for the purpose of reuniting us with the Father.  

So Lord, let me take a moment to apologize for pretending I know better than You what perfect is, and grumbling about the perfect circumstances You have chosen for me.  When I face things I don't understand, give me instead the wisdom to do as Mary did, who "treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."

March 16: Of Grumbling About Perfection

Numbers 24:1-25:18

Luke 2:1-35

Psalm 59:1-17

Proverbs 11:14

Today's NT reading reminded me that Mary and Joseph were far from home when Jesus was born.  This leads me to wonder: what must Mary and Joseph have been like on this unexpected and untimely trip?  Were they worried about Mary exerting herself, about finding the help they needed for the delivery?  Were they frustrated, perhaps even angry that Caesar issued that decree at that time?  Did they grumble on the way to Bethlehem, the way the Israelites did in the desert? 

The reason I ask is I grumble.  A LOT.  I grumble about everything, from the trivial (slow driver ahead of me when driving to catch the morning train) to the significant (finding out years ago neck surgery was required).  I do it a lot, whenever things aren't going the way I want them to.  When they aren't perfect the way I want them to be. 

What I really should be grumbling about is my willful pigheadedness, the persistent delusion I have that I know what "perfect" is.  Because the fact of the matter is, from man's standpoint, the circumstances of His birth were only the first thing Jesus would have had to grumble about.  He could have grumbled about the thickheadedness of His disciples, the betrayal of Jesus, the cowardice of Peter, and the unjustness of His agonizing death.  None of this would have made sense from a human standpoint back then, but hindsight tells us all these circumstances weren't just necessary, they were perfect - perfect for the purpose of reuniting us with the Father.  

So Lord, let me take a moment to apologize for pretending I know better than You what perfect is, and grumbling about the perfect circumstances You have chosen for me.  When I face things I don't understand, give me instead the wisdom to do as Mary did, who "treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."

March 15

March 15, 2019

Numbers 22

Is it fair that God would send Balaam on a mission and then try to kill him?

This story starts with a crystal-clear warning to Balaam that he must never speak a curse on the people of Israel. Whoever curses Israel will be cursed and whoever blesses Israel will be blessing. This has been and continues to be a boundary God has set. But the greedy and self-seeking sorcerer can only see the prestige and Swiss bank account numbers in the deal. So, despite his earlier refusal to work for King Balak he starts to yield to his corrupt motives. You can see the bribe of King Balak starting to work on his heart. To be sure, the Lord had finally given Balaam grudging permission to go down to Moab, on the condition that he would faithfully only speak a blessing on Israel. But because of the fierce struggle between duty and greed the Lord knows he is going to cave when faced with the temptation. So, it is time for a life size object lesson. In this confrontation with the angel God remind Balaam that without complete obedience to God's word he would face instant death. Hence the dramatic scene, where God used the donkey as His mouthpiece to rebuke the stubborn and thick-headed prophet that the next step of disobedience would carry mortal danger.

It is important for each of us to be completely obedient to the Lord in our words and actions. Compromise is always deadly.

 

 

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"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, March 14

THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2019

 

 

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.  The virgin’s name was Mary.  The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

 

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.  You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

 

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

 

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.  Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.  For no word from God will ever fail.”

 

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered.  “May your word to me be fulfilled.”  Then the angel left her.

 

(Luke 1:26-38)

 

 

Good morning!  Today, we have the pleasure to study Mary’s reaction to the announcement of Jesus’s birth, given through an angel.  Along with other reactions to Jesus’s birth, we may see the fullness of His deity that pre-existed His birth.  This detail underscores that Jesus didn’t become God because He had always been God.  That nuance has caused some confusion through history, but I believe that Luke 1 and 2 leave no room for doubt.

 

First, we may give thanks that the Holy Spirit moved Luke to provide such a rich commentary surrounding Jesus’s birth, particularly in highlighting what Mary experienced and the interaction between Elizabeth and Mary.  As Pastors Scott and Chris have noted, the Gospel writers’ openness to include the testimony of women, whose voices didn’t receive equal legal standing in the prevailing culture, points to the veracity of the underlying narrative.  If the early disciples had instead wanted to fabricate the Gospel story, they could have chosen -- at least in the eyes of the prevailing culture -- more credible witnesses.

 

Mary’s humble and attentive attitude contrasts with the doubting and fearful attitudes that we find with most Bible characters who experience an angelic visitation.  She desires to receive God’s goodness and to understand “how” rather than doubting “what.”  She welcomes her designation as “highly favored” and trusts in God’s fulfillment of this specific promises -- and, overall, God’s greater promises.  The final phrase from the angel -- “No word from God will ever fail” or “Nothing is impossible with God” -- provides a fitting reminder:  “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ.  And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)

 

Crucially, we have the testimony of several others’ worshipping hearts to underline Jesus’s divinity and worthiness of worship, even before His birth.  Elizabeth rejoices in receiving a visit from her cousin Mary, whose Baby she recognizes as her “Lord.”  Similarly, the Magi of the East and the shepherds come to exalt Jesus after seeing His star and seeing the angelic vision.  At the time of His dedication in the Temple, two righteous servants, Simeon and Anna, rejoice in seeing the fulfillment of God’s promises before them.

 

This testimony flies in the face of Arianism, a key heresy from the fourth century.  It taught that the divine Jesus didn’t pre-exist with Father from the beginning of time, but rather that He was merely begotten or created.  As a result, this heresy denigrated the fully divine Person of Jesus and argued that He instead had “become” God and was therefore subordinated to God the Father.  Athanasius, a Church father who also lived in Alexandria, opposed Arius and advocated vigorously for the Trinitarian view:  that each Person of God has eternally existed and stands equal in nature.  Graciously, the Church council of Nicea (325) brought clarity on the matter, declaring, in part:

 

“We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible.  And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father [the only-begotten; that is, of the essence of the Father, God of God,] Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father;  By whom all things were made [both in heaven and on earth];  Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down and was incarnate and was made man; He suffered, and the third day he rose again, ascended into heaven; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.”

 

 

The First Council of Constantinople would further flesh out this creed.  We understand from the Scriptures (and these creeds that encapsulate them) that Jesus is worthy of worship as fully God and fully man.  From the angelic announcement to His special birth to His life, death, and resurrection to His eternal reign, Jesus is forever equal with the Father:  our Lord and Savior!

 

 

Lord God, thank You for the testimony of Mary’s faithfulness and for the clear evidence of Jesus’s full Deity.  Give us eyes to see how we may become more submitted to Your will.  Strengthen us to honor You today and to worship You as You truly are.  Make Your Presence known to us as You did to Mary and Elizabeth.  In Jesus’s mighty Name, amen.

 

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March 13

Luke 1

Although Luke didn't have a direct encounter with Jesus, he did travel with the Apostle Paul.  Being a doctor, it makes sense that he did a lot of thorough research and gathered first-hand accounts before writing his own account.  Luke wrote his gospel knowing that many had already written histories of the life of Jesus, so why would he write an account if he wasn't even there? 
In the first paragraph, Luke explains his reasons for writing, "So you may know for sure the truth of the words you have been taught". Having already read Matthew and Mark's account, Luke wanted to give a third account with an emphasis on comprehensiveness, making it clear and easy to understand, making sure the events were in order, with the goal of bringing affirmation to the truth. So what does all that mean to us?  No matter who tells the story, Jesus is still the main character. From beginning to end, the Bible is His story, and what does it say? As Luke confirms through his research, Jesus stepped down from heaven, surrendered His divine rights, removed his crown, set aside his scepter, removed his royal robes and came to tabernacle with us. Why?  Because we owe a debt we cannot pay. Only a sinless man with no debt of His own could pay what we owe and put us right with God. The gap between man and God had to be bridged. This is the theme of the Gospels and Luke, not even being a disciple, brings to light this truth. In today's world, there are a few worldviews screaming for our attention.  One claims that reality is material and that everything in the universe is a product of time and chance. Another, while it claims reality to be spiritual, professes that the spiritual agent is not a person but "all that is". The Biblical view distinguishes between the Creator and the creation. We are the creation, we belong to the Creator (Psalm 24:1).  It affirms that there is a personal God who has revealed Himself to the world in the person and work of Jesus. Through his detailed account, Luke affirms that Jesus is the fulfillment of Israel's Messianic hope and the One who gives purpose and dignity to all who put their trust in Him. Lord, I lift up everyone who has joined this journey, turned away from world views and has chosen to follow You. I pray Lord that by the power of Your Spirit we remain strong in our faith and that we can live our lives as witnesses to Your truth recognizing that our earthly life is just a pilgrimage designed to prepare us for eternity.

Randi

bible blog post Monday March 11th

Finding Our Tassels  (Numbers 15:37-41)

There is so much we could look at and talk about in Numbers 15:22-16:40.  Theses verses really focus on hearts bent toward disobedience and the consequences to be had, but doesn't leave out the opportunity for forgiveness as well.  In the middle of our reading in Numbers we find a group of verses that I feel are the glue to our faith, trust and obedience - to our lives and relationship with God - 15:37-41.  The glue is found in tassels.  In these verses the people of Israel were told to put tassels on the corners of their garments with a blue thread in each and to let them serve as reminders to the importance of remembering God's word.   The idea was that when they put their clothes on in the morning, walked around during the day,  felt the tassels rubbing on their legs, when they saw the tassels on the garments of others, when they took their garments off at night, at all times they would be living surrounded by theses reminders of the importance of reflecting and living in God's word.

Why is it so important for us to remember God's words, to be obedient to them and to live surrounded by them?  It keeps our hearts in check.  It keeps us from living pride filled, self seeking lives.  It keeps us from making decisions that seem good and pleasing to our self seeking nature but that can bring harm, difficulty, or struggle instead.   It keeps us from living in sin.  It keeps us from being bad example for Christ, dim lights for God.  God's word reminds us of the obedience we are to have but it also reminds us of the love, grace, power and forgiveness that is to be found in it as well.  We are better able to live at peace with others during turbulent moments.  We can live free of fear when we are facing uncertain or challenging moments.  We can have joy during the days of sorrow.  We find hope while living in what can feel like a hopeless world.  We can live in contentment in a world that tells us we need and deserve more.  It allows us to grow deeper in our intimate relationship with God and strengthen our hearts and minds in him so that we can live our lives to the fullest and to be examples to others - to let our tassels of faith be evident not just for us but for the benefit of others as well.

Perhaps we need to find tassels to put into our day, things that will draw us back to the Lord and to remember his truths when life begins to get busy and we begin to loose focus.  Tie a string to your finger, put daily alerts into your phone, post index cards with verses in different spots reminding you, maybe leave your bible open or near you wherever you go.  It could be different for each of us but we must be sure make sure that we are reminded to always seek and remember the truths of God's word in our lives.

Be encouraged with this, we have access to God's word in abundance but we also have a built in tassel - the Holy Spirit.  John 14:26 says, "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."  The more time we spend in the word the more truth we have to remember and lean on, the more spiritual fuel we give to the Holy Spirit to use, to remind us of, in our lives, our faith, and our relationship with the Lord.  A bonus of the Holy Spirit (there are many actually) is not only does he remind us of the word, what God has spoken, but he also can empower us to live in obedience to it as well.  Knowing and remembering God's word is one thing to live in obedience to it is another - but either way we are not left alone in the endeavor.

Don't give up on spending time with God through reading his word.  It is a desperate need in our world today.  Find your outward tassels and don't ignore your built in one.  Our wisdom and faith will only increase and serve as a tassel to benefit those whom God puts in our lives.

March 9: Of Heart and Nerve and Sinew, and Tough Bullets to Chew

Numbers 11:24-13:33

Mark 14:22-52

Psalm 52:1-9

Proverbs 11:1-3

"Abba, Father," He said, "everything is possible for You.  Take this cup from Me.  Yet not what I will, but what You will."

- Mark 14:36

Three things about Kipling I will have written about in the past.  

First: the best selling post card.  Nerdish young man and flirty young woman, under a tree, the man with an open book before him.  Man asks woman: "do you like Kipling?"  Woman replies "I don't know, you naughty boy.  I've never kippled."

Second, his poem "If".  It is one of my favorites, so please indulge me.  It describes a person of strength and maturity as one who is able to master one's selfish and immature instincts, one able to respond rather than react, to fight what one ought despite all instinct to flee. The particular lines that come to mind:



 If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

    To serve your turn long after they are gone,   

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

    Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

The third, a line he wrote to commemorate the sinking of the ship Birkinhead, the first such instance where men stood by to let women and children into the lifeboats first, when soldiers on the way home mustered on deck and gave way to the younger and the fairer, as the ship burned.  He wrote 

To stand and be still to the Birkinhead drill 

   is a damn tough bullet to chew.

There are still those who say our Lord was weak, because a strong man would have tried to fight the Pharisees and the Romans, and a strong God would have won!  To them I submit that our Lord suffered as man did, and from the verse above clearly knew the ordeal He was to face.  Yet He stood and was still.   And He forced His heart and nerve and sinew to serve His turn long after they were gone.  We know why He did it.  Sometimes it serves me well to remember the cost it involved, and how He could have chosen NOT to pay it. 

Father, helps us to follow the example of Your Son who, when You called Him to pain and suffering, chose to follow Your will instead of His preferences.  When You call us to do the same, give us the Your Will, so that long after they are gone, our heart and nerve and sinew are still able to hold on.  

March 8

March 8, 2019

Psalm 51

Brokenness is the pathway to healing. Only those who are truly repentant will find the restoration of their hearts. David is writing this Psalm after a huge scandal in his life. You 've heard of Watergate; well, this is Adulterygate.

There are several notable truths here:

Don't hide the transgression. If we have the courage to confess it, God has the power to forgive it. There is healing in confession.

God is rich in mercy and grace.

God can turn apparent tragedies into triumphs, this includes our sin.

God is the God of second chances. No sin, no failure needs to be final or fatal.

One of my favorite stories took place during the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day, 1929. Georgia Tech was playing California and late in the second quarter, Roy Regals recovered a fumble for California.  In his excitement, he became confused and started running in the wrong direction. After racing 65 yards he was finally tackled by his own player at the California 2-yard line. California attempted to punt from deep in their own end zone, but the kick was blocked, and Georgia Tech scored a safety.

In the locker room at half time, Roy Regals sat in the corner with his face buried in his hands, crying. The room was silent. The coach didn't make his usual halftime speech, but shortly before the team was to take the field for the second half, he said, "The starting team is going back onto the field to begin the second half."

The whole team left the locker room except for Regals, who remained in the corner with his face in his hands. "I can't do it, Coach," he said. "I can't play. I ruined the team." The coach said, "Get up, Regals. The game is only half over. You belong on the field."

I have discovered this amazing truth about the gospel: the freest people in the world are those who do not hide their mistakes and sins, but trust God to make something beautiful of them. Walk in freedom today. The coach still wants you on the field.

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"Multiplying leaders to change the world"