The story of Solomon's wisdom isn't new to me. When God appeared to him in a dream, and asked Solomon what he wanted, Solomon pleased God by asking for wisdom to do God's will in the job God had given him - not wealth, not success, not the death of his enemies. Two things I took away from this this morning:
1. Solomon was humble. He'd just been promoted to a new job, and he understood how thoroughly unprepared, how thoroughly unqualified he was for the position. Consider how sharply that contrasts with so many who are given a promotion - how they feel they need to be able to show everyone - their bosses in particular - that they are competent for the role. I remember coming out of graduate school 20 years ago, and becoming a stock broker; I thought I was already supposed to have the answers - in my pride and foolishness, I failed to realize I not only did not know the answers, I did not even know the questions.
2. God did not appear simply out of the blue - Solomon called to him, repeatedly, fervently. Consider: "The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar." God came to Solomon in response to Solomon's prayers. God came to Solomon because Solomon demonstrated how fervently he needed God, how desperately he wanted to know God.
Today's reading makes me think two things. First, I may not be a king, but I am still thoroughly unqualified for the tasks and the roles God has set before me: at home, as husband and father; at work, and in church. I need His help, His guidance, His strength. And second, in order to receive that guidance, I need to reach out to Him like I mean it, like it truly matters to me.
#2 isn't always easy - it seems there constantly is reason to forego or postpone or shorten prayer. I need to remember: a thousand burnt offerings. That's what Solomon was prepared to do to get the help he knew he needed. As I love my wife and kids, as I value my church and my place of work and my family and friends, how could I do any less?
Monday, June 8, 2015
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Saturday, June 6, 2015
[by Kenny and Keesha Sullivan]
"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus"
(Acts 4:13).
People noticed the change in Peter and John when they observed their actions and words. Peter and John's boldness, wisdom and conviction amazed those around them. People could tell that there was something extra ordinary about these men. Even though, from a worldly perspective, they were "unlearned and ignorant," they were wise enough to have spent time with Jesus.
You and I were created to be mirrors (see Genesis 1:26). We become like whatever or whomever we spend the most time with. So, when we spend time with Jesus, people can see something extra ordinary about us, just as many did with Peter and John. People notice the difference. Spending time with Jesus causes us to be bold and courageous. Spending time with Jesus pushes us to do things the world would not do. It causes us to act in a way that is not ordinary to this world, like loving enemies, boldly standing in the midst of persecution, and keeping our faith in Jesus when everyone else has lost all hope.
We should start our days with spending time with Jesus, even if it is for just a few moments. I believe that as we seek His face and spend time with Him that people see the remnants of the extra ordinary on us and in us. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)
Lord thank you so much for desiring to spend time with us. Thank You for the supernatural change that occurs in us as we spend time with You. Help us to seek You first each day, so that we emulate Your love, Your wisdom, Your ways, and Your boldness. Help us to be more like You with each and every day. We love You Jesus! Thank You for being our God. In Your name, we pray. Amen.
Friday, June 5, 2015
Thursday, June 4
THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2015
2 Samuel 22:21–23:23
Acts 2:1–47
Psalm 122: 1–9
Proverbs 16:19,20
In Acts 2, we read about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as Jesus promised earlier in Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” This promise would start to bear fruit immediately on this Pentecost day. Once timid and too quick to speak, Peter gave powerful testimony that day of Jesus’s identity as the Messiah, and 3,000 people came to trust in Christ as Lord and Savior that day.
There are several brief lessons to take away from this great chapter:
1. Take God at His Word and proclaim His truth. Having earnestly prayed for 10 days, Peter and his fellow disciples recognized that Scripture pointed towards the living Christ. They trusted in God’s faithfulness and provision, seeing all the pieces to the puzzle fall together with the Crucifixion and Resurrection. Jesus took care to reassure and prepare His disciples in those 40 days before His Ascension. Peter boldly proclaimed the fulfillment of prophecy in the life, death, and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. His inclusion of Scripture here provides an excellent example of how Christ-followers may rely on the sufficient Word of God as their guide and motivation for seeking and proclaiming truth.
2. Recognize that power for ministry comes from God alone. Throughout the Book of Acts, we find strong examples of the Holy Spirit’s empowering of the early disciples for ministry. His presence at Pentecost through “tongues of fire” emboldened the disciples, giving them confidence to step outside the Upper Room into Jerusalem, which teemed with Jews gathering for the Feast of Weeks. In Acts 4:24–31, we read about the disciples’ prayer and God’s reply: “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” Later, Paul would acknowledge that “our competence comes from God.” (2 Corinthians 3:5) To the Thessalonians, Paul observed: “… We know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.” (1 Thessalonians 1:4,5a)
Many times, we may approach ministry and service opportunities tentatively, wondering if we have the capacity. This calculation places the onus for ministry on our shoulders, instead of trusting in God’s gracious provision. God’s love and concern for people, demonstrated most clearly in His sending the Lord Jesus Christ as the only payment for man’s sin, far surpasses our own, and we do well to lean completely on Him. God desires for His people only to commit to His purposes and seek the filling of the Holy Spirit so that we may serve as fully competent ambassadors for our heavenly King.
3. Anticipate opposition. Even during these first days of the Church, the disciples faced opposition and skepticism. Despite the suggestions that their speaking in tongues had resulted from drunkenness, they persisted and trusted God at His Word. The early disciples did not remain cloistered in the Upper Room or even in Jerusalem. The disciples’ faithfulness in spite of severe opposition would encourage others to consider their truth claims. Given their willingness to suffer and die for the Gospel, outside observers would have to consider the validity of their claims, given their total self-abnegation.
4. Set a course for godly action. Peter urged the people to place their faith into action: “Repent and be baptized.” The Gospel’s proclamation would require a response, a willful commitment to truth and to allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ. The faith would grow due to the presentation of “Christ crucified” rather than “fine-sounding arguments.” The truth would indeed set God’s people free, but first they would need to take it to heart and turn from self to the living Christ (repentance). Baptism would provide an outward sign of this inward change and bring encouragement to their fellow believers.
Then, the disciples built a community around the Word, love, and fellowship in the Holy Spirit. Their commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ compelled them to lessen personal allegiances to the greater good: for both the Church and their fellow believers.
Lord Jesus, thank You for living a blameless and holy life and giving Yourself for our sake. We trust in You today and gladly receive the gift of Your righteousness. Thank You for preparing us adequately to serve You through sending the promised Holy Spirit. Give us the boldness and faith that the early disciples experienced. Help us to overcome fear and weakness through Your all-sufficient grace. May Your Name be glorified in all the earth! Amen.
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June 5 Friends
2 Samuel 23
Friends
"A Band of Brothers" is a book and TV series based on the WWII experiences of the Easy Company of the 101st Airborne Division. The story tells about the friendships and camaraderie that developed among these men as they fought the war in Europe.
In 2 Samuel 23 we find the "band of brothers" that surrounded David. These men are called the "Mighty Men." They stood with David during his most difficult battles in life.
The times we most experience this level of camaraderie is during the trials of life. When we find ourselves in a life battle or sense the intimidation of being in the minority, it is very comforting to have someone stand beside you.
The problem with Christianity today, and this is particularly true for men, is that we have portrayed the successful Christian life as being the Lone Ranger not being part of the Salvation Army. This means we fight most of our battles alone and cry most of our tears secretly. Our individualism also means we lose most of these battles. I am so grateful for the men and women of Grace Church who have stood with me during the difficulties of my life. For those brothers and sisters who have come along side of me during the "dark night of the soul" and said, "you can count on me" I say, "thank you." Your friendship is worth its weight in gold. So thank you for being my band of brothers and sisters.
"Multiplying leaders to change the world"
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
June 3
Acts 1
Generally when we think of an epidemic it usually has a negative connotation. We might think of small pox, swine flu, whopping cough, polio, or a host of other fatal diseases that spread throughout the world. For a moment, let's take the word epidemic, or outbreak, and reframe it in terms of the Gospel. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (v. 8) Clearly, the church received authority and began to grow by the power of the Holy Spirit. Through personal testimony and bold teaching, the disciples were commanded to cause an epidemic and spread the Word to the ends of the earth. Notice it wasn't a request, it was a command. So here we are, 2000 years later, and now we are part of the Body of Christ and have been commissioned to continue to spread the epidemic of the Gospel. Jesus did not leave us to carry out His mission alone. We have been given the same authority as His disciples through the power of the Holy Spirit. So if there is someone I haven't extended grace, forgiveness or love to, the same way Jesus has given it me, then I haven't reached the ends of the earth in my mission. If I haven't introduced Jesus to a friend, family member, or my neighbor then again I haven't reached the ends of the earth. The end of the earth doesn't mean I have to go to China. An epidemic starts by being in contact with people one at time. Lord I pray that through the power of your Holy Spirit we all become a part of spreading the epidemic of the Gospel. Thank you Lord for the Cross. I pray we all are bold witnesses for You today in our actions and our words.
Randi
Generally when we think of an epidemic it usually has a negative connotation. We might think of small pox, swine flu, whopping cough, polio, or a host of other fatal diseases that spread throughout the world. For a moment, let's take the word epidemic, or outbreak, and reframe it in terms of the Gospel. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (v. 8) Clearly, the church received authority and began to grow by the power of the Holy Spirit. Through personal testimony and bold teaching, the disciples were commanded to cause an epidemic and spread the Word to the ends of the earth. Notice it wasn't a request, it was a command. So here we are, 2000 years later, and now we are part of the Body of Christ and have been commissioned to continue to spread the epidemic of the Gospel. Jesus did not leave us to carry out His mission alone. We have been given the same authority as His disciples through the power of the Holy Spirit. So if there is someone I haven't extended grace, forgiveness or love to, the same way Jesus has given it me, then I haven't reached the ends of the earth in my mission. If I haven't introduced Jesus to a friend, family member, or my neighbor then again I haven't reached the ends of the earth. The end of the earth doesn't mean I have to go to China. An epidemic starts by being in contact with people one at time. Lord I pray that through the power of your Holy Spirit we all become a part of spreading the epidemic of the Gospel. Thank you Lord for the Cross. I pray we all are bold witnesses for You today in our actions and our words.
Randi
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
2 Samuel 19:11-20:13
John 21-1:25
Psalm 120:1-7
Proverbs 16:16-17
I have found myself remiss in keeping up with my post over the last few weeks; however, I tried to catch up on some days that were before my posting date. To my surprise, I am beginning to enjoy the story lines of the Old Testament. As I had mentioned previously, I usually found the Old Testament (and history in general) to be very tedious. I have a difficult time remembering what I just read. I am sure I will never remember it all or memorize verses the way many of my friends have, but I am finally GETTING INTO THE WORD and it is a very good feeling.
The general theme that I picked up on seems to center on forgiveness. As the Lord has forgiven those who follow Jesus, so have many of those followers learned to forgive others. A pay-it-forward effect. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
However, I believe the one section of my reading that struck me the most was found in John 21:15-25. After Simon Peter and his men return to the shore with nets full of fish to the spot where Jesus was waiting for them, he asked Peter three times, "Do you love me?" It was also the third time that Jesus had appeared to his disciples after He was raised from the dead. They knew Him, but did not know it was Him.
Peter was indeed hurt by the repetitive question and his response to the Lord was simple enough - "Lord, you know all things, You know that I love You." This was just Jesus' way of preparing Peter for what was to come....a death by which he would glorify God. As Jesus instructed Peter to "follow me" I believe this was his instruction to keep delivering the Gospel. Just as the net was dragged to shore with 153 fish - it was not broken. When the Gospel of the Lord is delivered to mankind, the nets will be filled, and those who love and seek the Lord will remain in the unbroken nets. Once the Lord gets a hold of you - know that He is not letting go. I also took pleasure in knowing that there were so many things that Jesus did - the world itself could not contain the books that could be written!
2 Samuel 19:11-20:13
John 21-1:25
Psalm 120:1-7
Proverbs 16:16-17
I have found myself remiss in keeping up with my post over the last few weeks; however, I tried to catch up on some days that were before my posting date. To my surprise, I am beginning to enjoy the story lines of the Old Testament. As I had mentioned previously, I usually found the Old Testament (and history in general) to be very tedious. I have a difficult time remembering what I just read. I am sure I will never remember it all or memorize verses the way many of my friends have, but I am finally GETTING INTO THE WORD and it is a very good feeling.
The general theme that I picked up on seems to center on forgiveness. As the Lord has forgiven those who follow Jesus, so have many of those followers learned to forgive others. A pay-it-forward effect. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
However, I believe the one section of my reading that struck me the most was found in John 21:15-25. After Simon Peter and his men return to the shore with nets full of fish to the spot where Jesus was waiting for them, he asked Peter three times, "Do you love me?" It was also the third time that Jesus had appeared to his disciples after He was raised from the dead. They knew Him, but did not know it was Him.
Peter was indeed hurt by the repetitive question and his response to the Lord was simple enough - "Lord, you know all things, You know that I love You." This was just Jesus' way of preparing Peter for what was to come....a death by which he would glorify God. As Jesus instructed Peter to "follow me" I believe this was his instruction to keep delivering the Gospel. Just as the net was dragged to shore with 153 fish - it was not broken. When the Gospel of the Lord is delivered to mankind, the nets will be filled, and those who love and seek the Lord will remain in the unbroken nets. Once the Lord gets a hold of you - know that He is not letting go. I also took pleasure in knowing that there were so many things that Jesus did - the world itself could not contain the books that could be written!
Monday, June 1, 2015
June 1: A Father's Forgiveness
2 Samuel 18:1–19:10
John 20:1-31
Psalm 119:153-176
Proverbs 16:14-15"
When I think of all the trouble I put my parents through, and I read about Absalom, as bad as I thought I was I was very much an amateur next to David's son. Let's go through the checklist, shall we? Usurped his father's throne? Check. Caused his father to flee in fear for his life? Check. Slept with his father's concubines? Check. Mobilized the army to go out and finish the job? Check, and check.
For all that Absalom did, David could be forgiven if his last instructions to the armies as they marched out to battle Israel were something like "oh, and if you catch Absalom, kill him. Slowly. Over a slow fire. Or watching reruns of Keeping up with the Kardashians." Or something like that. But that isn't what David said. He said "Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake." For my sake! Despite all he has done, be merciful to him for me, the aggrieved party, the one he wants to kill.
When I was younger, I could not understand this thinking. I could not understand why David would have forgiven Absalom, or why my parents continued to forgive me despite all I did. Now I have children of my own, and I have begun to understand. The forgiveness is easy because of the love I have for my kids, the love my parents have for me, the love David had for Absalom.
Here's the amazing thing: as tremendous as David's love for, and forgiveness of, Absalom would seem, they pale in comparison with the love and forgiveness our Father in Heaven has for each and every single one of us. David was called to forgive only those sins Absalom committed against him; God forgives all our sins, for whomever they might be directed against, they are first and foremost offenses against Him. Yes, His love for us is THAT great.
If you are like me, despite all the evidence to the contrary, you are also tempted to believe there are sins beyond the pale, sins we've committed God could not possibly forgive. I hope that, like me, you will take courage from the fact that if an earthly father like David could find such a tremendous love for Absalom in himself as to forgive the litany of Absalom's grievous offenses, our Father in heaven's love for us is infinitely greater, as is His ability, His willingness and His readiness to forgive our sins, however grievous.
John 20:1-31
Psalm 119:153-176
Proverbs 16:14-15"
When I think of all the trouble I put my parents through, and I read about Absalom, as bad as I thought I was I was very much an amateur next to David's son. Let's go through the checklist, shall we? Usurped his father's throne? Check. Caused his father to flee in fear for his life? Check. Slept with his father's concubines? Check. Mobilized the army to go out and finish the job? Check, and check.
For all that Absalom did, David could be forgiven if his last instructions to the armies as they marched out to battle Israel were something like "oh, and if you catch Absalom, kill him. Slowly. Over a slow fire. Or watching reruns of Keeping up with the Kardashians." Or something like that. But that isn't what David said. He said "Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake." For my sake! Despite all he has done, be merciful to him for me, the aggrieved party, the one he wants to kill.
When I was younger, I could not understand this thinking. I could not understand why David would have forgiven Absalom, or why my parents continued to forgive me despite all I did. Now I have children of my own, and I have begun to understand. The forgiveness is easy because of the love I have for my kids, the love my parents have for me, the love David had for Absalom.
Here's the amazing thing: as tremendous as David's love for, and forgiveness of, Absalom would seem, they pale in comparison with the love and forgiveness our Father in Heaven has for each and every single one of us. David was called to forgive only those sins Absalom committed against him; God forgives all our sins, for whomever they might be directed against, they are first and foremost offenses against Him. Yes, His love for us is THAT great.
If you are like me, despite all the evidence to the contrary, you are also tempted to believe there are sins beyond the pale, sins we've committed God could not possibly forgive. I hope that, like me, you will take courage from the fact that if an earthly father like David could find such a tremendous love for Absalom in himself as to forgive the litany of Absalom's grievous offenses, our Father in heaven's love for us is infinitely greater, as is His ability, His willingness and His readiness to forgive our sins, however grievous.
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