Thursday, September 11

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

Isaiah 8:1–9:21

2 Corinthians 12:1–10

Psalm 55:1–23

Proverbs 23:4,5

 

 

“Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.  Three times, I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.  But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:7b–10)

 

 

In today’s reading, Paul describes a “thorn in my flesh” that, despite its inherent difficulties, ultimately leads to greater glory for God and to His manifest power in Paul.  Simply put, Paul “delight[s] in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

 

When we take an honest inventory of our lives, we recognize that “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)  Chief among these gifts is God’s grace, His unmerited favor towards us.

 

We all experience “common grace”:  the power that holds the universe in order and allows for the normal, day-to-day functioning of the world.  As Jesus explains in Matthew 5:45, in His “common grace,” God “causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”  Through this “common grace” – most elegantly displayed in the glory of Creation – God resonates with the human heart, beckoning us to approach Him:

 

“The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day, they pour forth speech;

night after night; they reveal knowledge.

They have no speech, they use no words;

no sound is heard from them.

Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalm 19:1–4)

 

 

To those whom He chooses to call, He provides saving (or “salvific”) grace.  This saving grace is effective and breaks down the veils of unbelief and separation from God.  For this reason, as we consider sharing the truth of God’s Word with family and friends, we must seek God’s intervention and foregoing movement in their lives.  When God chooses to reveal Himself, people respond with gratitude, love, and faith.  We may look back at the times in which God revealed Himself first – and continues to do so – with gratitude, thanking Him for breathing life into our dead hearts, minds, and bodies and “call[ing] into being things that were not.” (Romans 4:17)  As 2 Corinthians 5:17 teaches, “therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation:  the old has gone; the new has come!”  God brings about this renewing, giving life to the dead and calling

 

God’s sustaining grace, especially through speaking through His Word and the indwelling and filling of the Holy Spirit, allows us to follow after Him, committed both to trust and to obey.  Both trust and obedience emerge from a heart of faith, and faith originates through God’s self-revelation and an application of His grace.  We offer ourselves to become renewed and transformed, but God acts in and through us by means of His Holy Spirit.  Our spiritual growth comes by making ourselves available and then leaning on the abundant grace of our loving Heavenly Father to chisel a beautiful sculpture out of our rough rock.  Grace intervenes even to the point of giving us the desire to become available to God.

 

Let’s praise God for His grace and for overcoming our weaknesses with His awesome power and strength today.

 

 

Lord God, we bow our knee to You, recognizing that we are dead without Your grace.  We thank You for your effective grace, which brings beauty and order into this world, reveals the truth of the Gospel into our hearts, and strengthens us to serve and honor You in our daily lives.  We recognize that every good and perfect gift comes from Your hand, and we embrace You today as our Daddy.  Shepherd our hearts and our nation to hunger for You and Your righteousness.  Let us not stray into fields of unbelief, but provide Your grace to remain faithful and committed to growing under Your care.  We desperately need Your grace and are lost and dead without it.  Thank You for standing with us through every moment.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

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Tuesday September 9

Isaiah 3-5

2 Corinthians 11:1-15

Psalm 53:1-6

Proverbs 22:28-29

Isaiah 5:2 

He plowed the land, cleared its stones, and planted it with the best vines. In the middle he built a watchtower and carved a winepress in the nearby rocks. Then he waited for a harvest of sweet grapes, but the grapes that grew were bitter.

 

Out of today's reading, this is the verse that stood out to me the most. Immediately a picture came to mind of the Lord as the caretaker of this vineyard. And we are the vines. The caretaker does everything he can to make sure that the vines produce sweet grapes. He works hard at preparing the land and protecting the vines. He even makes preparations for using the sweet fruit once it arrives. But after all that work, still the grapes were bitter. 

God does everything for us to ensure that we live in the Spirit and can then be used to glorify Him. But because we are humans and because God gave us free will, even when God makes all the conditions perfect for us to grow spiritually, unless we choose to follow His ways, we will turn out to be nothing but bitter grapes.

God wants us to be a vineyard that produces sweet fruit that can then be used for His kingdom. He makes all the conditions right so that this can happen. He does all the hard work and preparation. All we have to do in return is simply follow Him.

September 8: Of weapons and their uses...

Isaiah 1:1-2:22

2 Corinthians 10:1-18

Psalm 52:1-9

Proverbs 22:26-27

2 Cor 10:3-4 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.  On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

And thank God for that.  Have you ever been frustrated by a bad, sinful habit?  Could be something as simple as throwing a bad word out regularly in casual conversation, could be something worse, like constant envy or ill will (what was that the Lord said about "Raca"?), a habit which, try as you might, with all your heart, you just cannot break?  Not easy to break a sinful habit, and more likely as not beyond the abilities of the one who fell into the bad habit in the first place.  Even worse, sometimes we don't realize the habit for the sin that it is!  Jerry Bridges, in his book "Respectable Sins", discusses the "sins we tolerate" - things like anxiety and frustration, discontentment...yes, these are sins - and they are also tough habits to break.  We need help.

Funny enough, we KNOW we need help.  Pastor Scott mentioned that, in the US, we now have more therapists than we have dentists.  So we know we need help...but we are looking for it in the wrong places.  How much better that we can turn to one whose weapons, with which He arms us, are NOT of this world, who has the power to "thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities", Who, "though your sins are like scarlet" can make them "white as snow".  And He doesn't even exact a price - there is no need for the meaningless offering, the worthless assemblies.  What He wants is for us to be "willing and obedient", to "throw away to the moles and bats [our] idols of silver and idols of gold, which [we] made to worship."

Thank You, God, that though we have turned from You, still You do not forsake us.  You are still willing to welcome us back into Your care.  Accept our submission and obedience, and reveal to us our sinful habits..and then demolish the strongholds of our sin with your weapons of divine power.

Blog Saturday 9/6/14

Saturday, September 6, 2014 

3 All night long on my bed
    I looked for the one my heart loves;
    I looked for him but did not find him.
2 I will get up now and go about the city,
    through its streets and squares;
I will search for the one my heart loves.
    So I looked for him but did not find him.
3 The watchmen found me
    as they made their rounds in the city.
    "Have you seen the one my heart loves?"
4 Scarcely had I passed them
    when I found the one my heart loves.
I held him and would not let him go
    till I had brought him to my mother's house,
    to the room of the one who conceived me. (Song of Songs 3:1-4)

Today's reading had me imagine times when I've woken up to a half-empty bed. After being married for even a short  six years, it feels weird to wake up and no one is there. There have been times when this has happened to me and I was startled thinking, "What happened to my wife? Where is she?" In these moments, I have gone from room to room to find her, not stopping until I satisfied my search. I thought about this today and asked myself, "Do I search for Jesus this way?  When I'm confused or feel disconnected, do I look for Him and search relentlessly for My Savior?"

Feeling disconnected from the Lord can be nerve-racking. I often wonder what God is trying to teach me in those moments. Is He "hiding" on purpose? Am I missing something? But, what I see in this passage is the Beloved so desirous of her Lover that she will stop at nothing to find Him.  From her bed to the city streets, to the watchmen, she is on a mission - she NEEDS Him!

13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)

Jesus is worthy of "all your heart" effort. Songs is calling us higher in our love for God, our passion for His Presence, our commitment to the relationship, and our time spent in intimacy.  We will have times of disconnection, times when we feel like the bed is half-empty.  Father, help us not to be half-hearted in seeking you.  Help us to search for you with all our heart.

---------

Kenny Sullivan

soli Deo gloria

September 5th

September

Don't let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, "Life is not pleasant anymore." Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop. Remember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly. Remember him before the door to life's opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then all their sounds will grow faint. Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire. Remember him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral. Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don't wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. (‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12‬:‭1-7‬ NLT)

In this passage the word remember is used 6 times, and is the precursor to almost 20 different descriptions of old age. I think that Solomon is trying to get the point across that it is important to remember God. Not to give up on him, or to leave Him behind while you live your life. I think that Solomon is looking back on his life and maybe even looking at who his son Rehoboam is becoming, and regretting the distancing of his life from God. He relied on the wisdom that was bestowed on him, yet forgot about the One who gave it to him. He had set his mind on what was going on in his life, and yet left a God in his dust. But God wanted to be the center of the life he had made, after all, it was God who gave him the wisdom to get to where he had gotten. When you live a life without God as the center, there will be regrets when you look back on the life you have lived. God want to be, in fact he designed us to have Him be the center of our lives.

We are in day 5 of our Church's 40 day prayer challenge, and God is on the move. God moves when people submit their lives to Him. Looking forward to what we are going to see God do in the next 35 days!



Sent from my iPad

Thursday, September 4

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

Ecclesiastes 7:1–9:18

2 Corinthians 7:8–16

Psalm 48:1–14

Proverbs 22:17–19

 

 

Today’s passage touches upon the key differential between depression (worldly sorrow) vs. godly sorrow.  Paul carefully indicates that these two types of sorrow have different sources and different outcomes.

 

Although chemical imbalances may cause lasting depression, I have often found that negative thoughts (often, lies) can deliver the type of “worldly sorrow” that Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 7:8-11a:  “Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it.  Though I did regret it -- I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while -- yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance.  For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us.  Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.  See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done.”

 

Godly sorrow leads to conviction and repentance.  Recognizing that we have a judgmental attitude or that we have thought frivolously about God leads us to confess and seek restoration with the Father.  Clearly, these steps are beneficial for our growth in character.

 

Yet, we often face sorrowful (worldly) thoughts.  These sorrows may arise through actual circumstances or feared circumstances that we create in our minds.  We may be remorseful for our performance or others’ opinions of us.  These thoughts may cause us to question God’s goodness and presence in our lives.  I am convinced that the Evil One uses our thoughts against us, in order to entrap us and keep us from experiencing the victory (and proclaiming the glory) of Christ.  He desires to thwart God’s work:  “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)

 

In short, we must seek God’s guidance on the nature of the sorrows we face.  Has He genuinely sent this sorrow for our repentance or growth?  Or are these words lies from the Evil One meant to set us astray?

 

Like Paul, we need God’s grace for a healthy mind and spiritual heart:  “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10)

 

Lord God, thank You for godly sorrow, which draws us back to Your side and restores our full fellowship.  Help us to sort through our daily thoughts, to determine which thoughts come from You and lead us to You and those that come from this world or the Evil One and lead us to depression.  Bring freedom as we understand how You have created us and rejoice in Your createdness in us.  Help us to serve as ambassadors and bringers of hope by introducing You to hurting people, who have become overcome with worldly sorrow.  May we bring glory to You through the renewing of our minds and reaching out to others.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

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September 1: I love a happy ending...

Job 40:1-42:17

2 Corinthians 5:11-21

Psalm 45:1-17

Proverbs 22:14

Who doesn't love a happy ending?  From our youth, we celebrated Pinocchio becoming a real boy, Prince Charming defeating Maleficent and saving Briar Rose, Luke Skywalker blowing up the Death Star.  Last night, Carla and I saw the movie "Heaven is for Real" (highly recommended - and what a blessing hearing how God moved in Todd and Colton Burpo's lives) - and that had a happy ending (not spoiling it for anyone - read the book or watch the movie!).  

Today, we had another.  Long story - leaving church yesterday, my car key battery was out, which meant I had to unlatch the physical key and unlock my door manually.  I put my iPad down on the roof of the car...and promptly forgot about it.  I drove off and, needless to say, it wasn't there when I got home.  I drove back to church hoping I'd spot it, but it was nowhere to be found. 

Where was the happy ending?  I was exhausted and fell asleep yesterday afternoon, and while I slept, my family prayed, and asked God to give it back.  I woke up to an email from Apple tech support reporting it had been found, with the finder's email address.  After a couple of text messages, phone calls and a 40 mile drive to Brooklyn, I had it back, in working condition (wow!).  And I was grateful and happy.

I don't think my happy ending in any way compares with Job's.  Let's think about this for a second: Job's lost his family, his wealth, and the friends who choose to hang out with him insist it's all his fault.  Then he effectively starts calling out God, asking for an explanation...and God Himself responds.  If there was ever a bigger "bad to worse moment", I cannot think of one.  After all, Job didn't know that God had permitted everything to happen to him as part of His perfect plans.  The good news is that God gives Job his happy ending as well - God restores his fortunes, and given him more sons and daughters.  "And so Job died, an old man and full of years."  Great, right?

I want to go back to "Heaven is for Real" for a moment - with a bit of a spoiler alert.  As wonderful as it was getting my iPad back; as magnificent as it was for Job to have his fortunes restored, the happy ending little Colton Burpo tells makes it clear that, with God, however difficult, painful or unbearable our circumstances might be today, our ultimate happy ending is indescribable. If, like me, you love a happy ending, how wonderful for us we have this to look forward to...