4/4/14

4/4/14

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, "Lord, doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me." But the Lord said to her, "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:38-42 NLT)

So, what is it that the Lord finds fault in with Martha? Is there a problem with making meals for people and serving? I think what Christ is most upset with is that Martha is not listening. She is being busy, and not taking the time to listen. After all, the words that come out of Jesus' mouth are the most important that you could ever hear. Which brings me to my point. If the word of God is the most important thing that you could ever hear, then why don't we sit like we are at the Lord's feet listening? Do we use the excuse that we are too busy? We need to be like Mary, sitting at the Lord's feet and listening, not like Martha, too busy to hear the words of the King of Kings.

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Thursday, April 3

THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014

Deuteronomy 23:1–25:19

Luke 10:13–37

Psalm 75:1–10

Proverbs 12:12–14

 

 

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

 

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

 

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”  (Luke 10:36,37)

 

 

The Parable of the Good Samaritan resonates in my mind as a crucial corollary to the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9–14).

 

In that passage, the Pharisee proudly “‘stood by himself and prayed:  ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’”  In short, the Pharisee leans on his own righteousness in approaching God and, because of his separation from the tax collector’s lifestyle, deservedly and prudently stands at a distance.

 

Meanwhile, the “‘tax collector stood at a distance.  He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’”  Jesus then explains that “this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.  For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’”

 

When we have a proper view of ourselves, recognizing that we are God’s image-bearers but also that we have fallen short of His glory and His standards, we may approach life with a humble and grateful attitude.  We have never deserved righteousness; instead, we receive it as a free gift, the penalty paid only through the shed blood of Jesus on the Cross.  Because of Christ’s atonement, God grants redemption -- a buying back from our slavery to sin and victimization – and victory to His children.  Pride merely separates us from God and reveals our lack of gratitude towards what God alone has done.  Despite this redemption, we still struggle with sin, causing us to cling more and more to God and to seek the filling and empowering of the Holy Spirit for daily living.

 

By extension, the Parable of the Good Samaritan suggests the way in which the redeemed sinner should interact with a hurting world.  Instead of distancing ourselves from the injured and broken, compassion calls us to step in and give freely from that which God has blessed us.  The priest and Levite in the parable did not wish to associate with this outcast, but the Samaritan, inherently humbled by his birth and by the ongoing detest he faced, became involved and ensured this traveler’s survival.  By extending generosity to the poor and needy, we may initiate and propagate a cycle of blessing and the increase of God’s glory and praise for what He has done through His people.

 

How may we develop our hearts of compassion?  Please find below a few brief thoughts:

 

1.        We must draw near to “the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love a faithfulness… ” (Exodus 34:6)  We read the Word and pray to receive a revelation of His character, so that we may reflect it in this world.

 

2.       We must truly see other people.  We must seek to understand before being understood.  We may begin by asking questions, such as:  “What is his or her experience like?  What family circumstances have they encountered in life?  Lord, how have you shaped this person?  How may I love them in a similar manner as You love them?”  Observation stirred compassion in Jesus’s heart:  “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36)

 

3.       We must draw near to people.  We must be willing to invest the time and emotional deposit of being willing to face hurt and rejection.  Bless others, through the Holy Spirit living within you, with your presence.

 

4.       We must remember that the grace we have received is all-sufficient.  “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.” (1 Corinthians 15:10a)  “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)  “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12)

 

 

Lord Jesus, bring forth in us a tender compassion for the people in our community and around the world.  Give us opportunities to bless others with Your presence and with the gracious gifts that You have poured into our lives.  Grant us eyes to see and ears to hear those who are suffering and alone.  Give us the courage not to look away but to engage.  Take our lives, Lord.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

 

 

“Take My Life”

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QzHnVGDGt0)

By Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio

 

Take my life, and let it be consecrated to Thee.

Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.

Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.

 

Take my voice, and let me sing always, only for my King.

Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold.

Take my intellect, and use every power as You choose

 

Here am I, all of me!  Take my life; it's all for Thee!

 

Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.

Take my heart; it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love, my Lord; I pour at Your feet, its treasure store.

Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.

 

Here am I, all of me!  Take my life; it's all for Thee!

Here am I, all of me!  Take my life; it's all for Thee!

Here am I, all of me!  Take my life; it's all for Thee!

Here am I, all of me!  Take my life; it's all for Thee!

 

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Wed Blog on Luke 9

I have never faced death in the eye. Or at least I don't think I have. Maybe there have been Final Destination scenes and moments in my life where I could have died or life would be completely different if I had showed up 30 minutes later. This week we are hanging out with the Coetzee clan and are fortunate to go on adventure in the African bush. We saw a lion that was pretty close and there was nothing in between us. I was in an open air vehicle about 3 feet off the ground, but within easy reach . We joked that since I was the smallest, and have the whitest meat, I would be first do go. The chills that ran down my back when that Aslan-like creature looked at me were unforgettable. I'm just glad he already had a full belly.

In this season of Lent, I have been trying to remember to reflect daily on the days leading to the cross, the sacrifice, and the WHY behind it. As we have been reading Luke 9 the last couple days it shows us a picture of the price we must pay to follow Christ. What it means to be a servant, a disciple, and have an intimate relationship with our Creator. It wasn't in today's reading, but Luke 9:23 is my favorite verse in the Bible, part of my mission statement, and to me the key word is "daily."

I brought up death earlier because while reading I tried to imagine the spirit, the mood, and the thoughts of Jesus. Luke 9:51 says that Jesus looked towards Jerusalem. He knew EXACTLY what every minute would hold. He knew that the moment he walked through those gates that there was a clock ticking down and every second that passed brought him closer to the agony of the cross. By facing Jerusalem that day, Jesus was looking at pain, heart ache, and death right in the face. I wonder if his stomach was in knots. I wonder what his prayers to his Father were at that moment. Maybe he was thinking of me? The amazing thing is that he also knew what was to come. That his body would rise again, that death would be defeated, and that the third morning sunrise would be the sweetest and most glorious in all creation. He reminded his disciples that his kingdom would come, but not in the Braveheart kinda way. There would not be fire from heaven, that angels would not storm the walls. He had his plan and his purpose. To save us all from ourselves and the sin that festers.

Tuesday April 1

Deuteronomy 18-20

Luke 9:28-50

Psalm 73:1-28

Proverbs 12:10

I was excited to see that Psalm 73 was in todays reading. I had an incredible experience with this Psalm last year. I've shared it before in Church and on this blog, but I'd like to share it with you again. This was a moment when I clearly heard God's voice and I will never be the same because of it.

From Psalm 73:
"Look at these wicked people - enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply
Did I keep my heart pure for nothing?
Did I keep myself  innocent for no reason?
I get nothing but trouble all day long;
every morning brings me pain....
Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside...
My health my fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; 
He is mine forever."

Last year, a word stuck in my head and I couldn't stop thinking about it. The word was bitter. Bitter, bitter. bitter. This kept going through my mind and it took me a little while to figure out that God put it there. God gave me this word because He wanted me to learn something from Psalm 73.

The first part of Psalm 73, there are complaints about the wicked and how they seem to prosper despite doing what is wrong. Doesn't God see what they're doing? Why is He allowing them to get away with it? Why am I suffering even though I'm doing the right thing? This isn't fair.

Then there is verse 21. This is the reason that God put the word bitter in my head. This is what He wanted me to learn. "Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside." I was that person in the beginning of Psalm 73 who was complaining about other people. Why hadn't they gotten what they deserve? Why don't they understand what they've done wrong to me? I was holding on to things in the past, times when other people had hurt me and I felt that the outcome was unfair to me. 

God was trying to warn me: "If you continue to focus on other people and on what you think they deserve and on what you think you deserve, then your heart will turn bitter. Is that what you want?" 

I could hear myself arguing with God. "But God, what about what they've done that's wrong? What about what they've done to me?" 

And God answered me: "It doesn't matter. You have to let it go. I will take care of it and I will take care of you. I am enough for you. You have to let it go or your heart will turn bitter."

This has been a hard lesson for me to learn because I don't easily let go of things. I can remember an argument I had with someone and be right back in the same emotions that I was feeling then... even if it was years ago. God was warning me that if I continue to hold on to past hurts and things I think are not fair, I will do nothing except hurt myself. He doesn't need me to worry about other people's outcome. He has is all worked out and He doesn't need my help in dealing with other people. He has it all under control. All I need is Him because His strength is enough for me. Again, this has not been easy, but I am learning. 

Let it go because God is enough for me.

March 31 - The 23 point comeback, the five loaves and the two fish...

Deuteronomy 16:1-17:20

Luke 9:7-27

Psalm 72:1-20

Proverbs 12:8-9

We are in the midst of March Madness, and my bracket still has a shot - so this is pretty timely.  I enjoy a good basketball game - and I've been privileged to have seen a few good ones.  One of the best ones was the college championship in Manila, in 1988.  Our school team was playing, and we had hopes.  And then the other team built a lead - a 20 point lead into the half, 23 with the first shot they took when play resumed.  We were worried, frustrated, discouraged...but we decided to stick around while others left.  Our team hit a three point shot, stole the ball, converted a three point play, and what was an 83-63 lead very quickly turned into an 85-85 tie.  And yes, we won the championship that year, and we were there to celebrate it because, whatever else we might have been thinking - this is hopeless, let's beat the traffic, let's get a bite to eat instead - we decided to stay.  It is still one of the best games I've ever seen.  A miracle, really.

Have you ever wondered about the crowd when Jesus worked the miracle of the loaves and fish?  How many of them left - some hungry, others remembering other things they needed to do?  How perhaps a lack of patience, a focus on the earthly instead of the heavenly that sat before them, deprived them of the opportunity to witness a miracle far greater than a 23 point comeback?  I mean, seriously - we're talking five loaves, two fish and five thousand fed with twelve baskets left over.  In the middle of nowhere, away from the town.  

When I think of the things I aspire to, this is one of them: that I learn to sit, patiently, at His feet, listening to His voice, recognizing it for what it is, without regard to whatever else the world might deem important.  And, although I continue to struggle with it, I pray to have the faith to know He will provide - in His time, and according to His purposes.  And when He does, I pray to recognize it for what it is - a miracle that far surpasses that 23-point comeback.

Saturday BlogPost 03/29/14

Saturday, March 29, 2014 [by Keesha Sullvan]

 "Remember today that your children were not the ones who saw and experienced the discipline of the Lord your God: his majesty, his mighty hand, his outstretched arm; the signs he performed and the things he did in the heart of Egypt, both to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his whole country; what he did to the Egyptian army…" (Deuteronomy 11:2-4)

Throughout Deuteronomy Moses reminds the Israelites of the past triumphs that they had due to the Lord their God as well as the defeats they suffered because of their disobedience. God told Moses to remind the people, so that they would not disobey Him or lose faith. God knew that through the Israelites remembering the past that it would bolster their faith.

I believe that this technique that God told Moses to use with the Israelites is something that we can do today to strengthen our faith. When we remember the triumphs that we had due to the Lord our God as well as our defeats we suffered because of our disobedience, it actually encourages us to move forward in our relationship with God.

One way to remember the past is by journaling. It gives us the opportunity to look at the past prayers that have been answered and the reasons God might have said "No", "Yes", or "Wait." I shared with the Young Life girls last Monday that the Christian man that I dated before meeting Kenny lived in Uganda. He was trying to come over to America to work and one day live. We knew that if it was God's will for him to come, although it is extremely hard for young men and women from African countries, that God would open the door. We also knew that if God opened this door that there was a good chance that it would lead to marriage. We prayed daily for two to three months for God to open this door. I had never been so diligent about praying for one particular desire. I was sure the answer would be "Yes".

After three months, the answer came back from the Ugandan Embassy. They said "No". We both knew that this was a closed door that would most likely never be opened again. Once an embassy denies you from coming to America, there is little chance that they will ever allow you to enter the country. Our relationship ended pretty shortly after this denial. I didn't understand it then, but of course after meeting my soul mate that changed. God had created the perfect man for me. My husband,Kenny, surpassed the man of my dreams; he was sent from my Heavenly Father. Even today as I look back at this experience, I am left teary eyed saying, "Thank You Lord that 'as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are [Your] ways higher than [my] ways, and [Your] thoughts than [my] thoughts'" (Isaiah 55:9).

Remembering can be powerful tool in growing closer to the Lord and renewing our faith. 

Lord, thank You so much for the lessons that You still teach us today through the lessons that You taught the Israelites. Thank You that You are an amazing God with extraordinary wisdom, discernment, patience, and love. Please help us to walk in the ways that You call Your children to walk. In Jesus mighty name, we pray, Amen.

--------------------

Kenny Sullivan

Grace EFC, Stamford, CT

(201) 218-0751

שלום

March 30

Let us follow other gods…  it is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere.   Deuteronomy 13

Every day of life we are caught in a battle between the gods. These gods actually are at war for control of our hearts. Our joy in life and our eternal destiny hang in the balance of this battle.  Nowadays we must move beyond the primitive understanding of idolatry. Idolatry isn’t bowing down to a piece of wood or stone, rather it’s the one great sin that all others come from. This is why idolatry is the most discussed problem in the entire Bible. Just a few of the modern gods we battle with include comfort, pleasure, performance, romance, sex, money, family, power and “me.” Behind every sin struggle that you and I have is a false god that is waging war in our lives.

When the Lord God takes His rightful place on the throne of our hearts, we will have victory. As followers of Jesus we must daily examine our lives to see which gods we have at the center. The struggle is this: are we simply making God a part of our lives, or is He our life?

The two gods I struggle most with are “me” and “performance.” The “me” god says that I am the captain of my life and I know what is best for “me.” At the top of my list are comfort and success. So the “me” god prays for a “good day” to occur. This means no problems, no flat tires, and no interruptions to “my” agenda. “Good days” end up being a higher priority than drawing close to the Lord. The “me” god focuses in on my perceived needs and wrestles control from God Almighty. Whining is the most definitive way to spot the god of “me” in our lives.  I also struggle with the performance god which ends up in image manipulation. I want people to approve of me more than I want God’s approval. Both of these gods end up denying the gospel and crowding God out of my heart. 

Anything at all can become an idol in our lives when it becomes a substitute for God. The object of your worship will determine your future and define your life. So the most important choice we will make today is, which god will we serve? 

 

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"Multiplying leaders to change the world"