Scripture: Then he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of pictures? For they say, ‘The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.’” He said also to me, “You will see still greater abominations that they commit.” Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the Lord, and behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. Ezekiel 8:12-14
Observation: The spirit is showing Ezekiel the abominations committed by Judah. He begins by showing him images of other gods planted within the temple. Then shows something worse ... the elders and leaders and priests worshiping in secret. Then show something worse ... one lone, unnamed, unknown woman, performing the mourning of Tammuz (worshiping the Sumerian god of harvest).
This is an escalation of sin and abominations. Beyond defiling God's own temple, and priests and leaders worshiping other gods, is this: One most-ordinary person who has been lead astray. This is the true heart of God! Yes, he will bring his justice to bear upon leaders and nations that have turned away from him, abandoned his love, forsaken his blessings, and openly defied his commandments. However, even worse is when the leaders have mislead their sheep. It is one thing for multitudes of "great men" to break the commandments, but it is far worse when one impressionable and rather anonymous person breaks the laws because she simply does not know better and is following the leaders.
Application: Two weeks ago, I heard the phrase "leadership matters a lot" repeatedly. It's easy to put that into a daily life or business context. However, this is so much more true in the world and in the area of faith. This very day, our "leaders" invoke talk of idol worship - the idols being money, power, self-realization, sexuality, codependency, etc.
Our leaders advance and promote subjects in direct contradiction to God, and entirely independent of God. "Common people" join right in. This is our greatest abomination today. We talk about and effectively worship some form of control, pursuit, act, or achievement. We don't lead others in conversations about faith and a right understanding of how God acts daily in our lives and the world around us. We must not lead others astray. We must demonstrate faith in Jesus and worship of God so that, at the very least, others have a clear example of hope and faith and love through us.
Prayer: Lord, please grant me that wisdom today to show my faith in you this day to others. I am not often good at this. Help me to be a leader whom others mimic in a positive way when it comes to belief in Jesus. Amen.
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Monday, August 29, 2016
On Signs and Symbols
Scripture: Moreover, I will make you a desolation and an object of reproach among the nations all around you and in the sight of all who pass by. You shall be a reproach and a taunt, a warning and a horror, to the nations all around you, when I execute judgments on you in anger and fury, and with furious rebukes—I am the Lord; I have spoken. Ezekiel 5:14-15
Observation: In dealing with Israel, the Lord continually announces that their purpose is as being a sign and symbol. This begins with the promise to the patriarchs, continues with the exodus, proceeds through the establishment of their nation under the judges, includes promises to David and Solomon, and culminates with prophesies from several of the major and minor prophets to the kings of Israel and Judah. However, obviously the tone of that message changes over time. At first, Israel is blessed to show the blessing of God, then delivered to show the authority of God, then protected to show the love of God, and eventually destroyed to show the judgment of God.
I have observed this before, but through all of this the nations around Israel do, in fact, understand the message, and many accept Yahweh as God. We see many examples of those nations - either as full nations or small tribes - embracing the Lord or at the very least agreeing to honor the Lord. Several nations that interact with Israel adopt the Lord as their God, and worship him (though they do not appear to adopt Jewish practices). In other words, there is a cycle:
-- God acts with regards to Israel as a sign to others
-- Others acknowledge the sign and move closer to a relationship with God
-- Israel rejects God's signs and move further away from their relationship with him
Application: If the Church is now Israel and adopted into the promise of God's people, then we are also a symbol to others in how God interacts with us. So what is God doing today in the church - our local church, and the global Church - that is a sign to non-believers? We may not like the honest answers to that question ...
The answers we WANT to give are: He is growing the church; He is moving in great power in places like China and Russia to miraculously reach people groups that have long rejected God; He is creating great works in places like Africa to aid the poor; He is granting favor upon faithful congregations.
The answers we wish to ignore: He is bringing public disgrace on large numbers of sinful priests; He is allowing rogue pastors to very publicly proclaim strange versions of the gospel; He is visibly pulling apart major denominations that adopt unsound doctrine; He permits temptation of individual pastors to tear apart local churches.
And here is the issue for our church ... we need to have a message about ALL of this so that the world can see the mighty hand of God at work on a global scale, and like the nations all around Israel begin some level of belief in the Lord. As the church in the U.S. crumbles due to the adoption of political correctness and feel-good theology - and the church in the Far East rises due to a pure understanding of love and the need for salvation through Jesus - we need to call out BOTH of these facts as evidence of our mighty God. He is at work everywhere, in powerful ways, and not pointing this out to others wastes an opportunity.
Prayer: Lord, as a resident of the U.S., I know that the collapse of your church here will hurt. We are headed into a time of persecution and sacrifice. Like the remnant of Jerusalem, we will suffer. Guide us in glorifying you during that suffering. Help us to reveal your glory to our detractors, so that even those who attack acknowledge your might and learn of you. I pray that we may be blessed to be a blessing ... but if we are judged to show your mercy may we praise you continually and openly. Amen.
Observation: In dealing with Israel, the Lord continually announces that their purpose is as being a sign and symbol. This begins with the promise to the patriarchs, continues with the exodus, proceeds through the establishment of their nation under the judges, includes promises to David and Solomon, and culminates with prophesies from several of the major and minor prophets to the kings of Israel and Judah. However, obviously the tone of that message changes over time. At first, Israel is blessed to show the blessing of God, then delivered to show the authority of God, then protected to show the love of God, and eventually destroyed to show the judgment of God.
I have observed this before, but through all of this the nations around Israel do, in fact, understand the message, and many accept Yahweh as God. We see many examples of those nations - either as full nations or small tribes - embracing the Lord or at the very least agreeing to honor the Lord. Several nations that interact with Israel adopt the Lord as their God, and worship him (though they do not appear to adopt Jewish practices). In other words, there is a cycle:
-- God acts with regards to Israel as a sign to others
-- Others acknowledge the sign and move closer to a relationship with God
-- Israel rejects God's signs and move further away from their relationship with him
Application: If the Church is now Israel and adopted into the promise of God's people, then we are also a symbol to others in how God interacts with us. So what is God doing today in the church - our local church, and the global Church - that is a sign to non-believers? We may not like the honest answers to that question ...
The answers we WANT to give are: He is growing the church; He is moving in great power in places like China and Russia to miraculously reach people groups that have long rejected God; He is creating great works in places like Africa to aid the poor; He is granting favor upon faithful congregations.
The answers we wish to ignore: He is bringing public disgrace on large numbers of sinful priests; He is allowing rogue pastors to very publicly proclaim strange versions of the gospel; He is visibly pulling apart major denominations that adopt unsound doctrine; He permits temptation of individual pastors to tear apart local churches.
And here is the issue for our church ... we need to have a message about ALL of this so that the world can see the mighty hand of God at work on a global scale, and like the nations all around Israel begin some level of belief in the Lord. As the church in the U.S. crumbles due to the adoption of political correctness and feel-good theology - and the church in the Far East rises due to a pure understanding of love and the need for salvation through Jesus - we need to call out BOTH of these facts as evidence of our mighty God. He is at work everywhere, in powerful ways, and not pointing this out to others wastes an opportunity.
Prayer: Lord, as a resident of the U.S., I know that the collapse of your church here will hurt. We are headed into a time of persecution and sacrifice. Like the remnant of Jerusalem, we will suffer. Guide us in glorifying you during that suffering. Help us to reveal your glory to our detractors, so that even those who attack acknowledge your might and learn of you. I pray that we may be blessed to be a blessing ... but if we are judged to show your mercy may we praise you continually and openly. Amen.
Thursday, August 18, 2016
You Are my Refuge
You're the place I call home,
You're the fire I feel inside my bones,
You're the one that won't let go.
My soul it sings to you!
Oh God, you are my refuge!!
You're the fire I feel inside my bones,
You're the one that won't let go.
My soul it sings to you!
Oh God, you are my refuge!!
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Never a Burden
Scripture: And as for the prophet, priest, or one of the people who says, ‘The burden of the Lord,’ I will punish that man and his household. Thus shall you say, every one to his neighbor and every one to his brother, ‘What has the Lord answered?’ or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ But ‘the burden of the Lord’ you shall mention no more, for the burden is every man's own word, and you pervert the words of the living God, the Lord of hosts, our God. Jeremiah 23:34-36
Observation: False prophets have been using the phrase "the burden of the Lord" to describe the messages they say God has given them. However, there is a very simple correction here that also serves as an indicator of falsehood - the Lord is never a burden to us! The word of the Lord - even a harsh word spoken to guide and correct - is a wonder to assist us. It cannot be a 'burden'.
God goes a step further - the only 'burden' we have is man's own thoughts and words. We burden ourselves with our own beliefs, pursuits, thoughts, fears, goals, and designs. By claiming God's word is a burden, we 'pervert the words' of God.
Application: How often do faithful people - myself included - fear the whispers of God as something we do not want to pursue, while we think on our own plans as the "easy" thing we should be doing? Jeremiah teaches that this is backwards ... our plans and thoughts are a burden we carry in life, and God's instructions are answers to prayer that are never a burden. These verses, of course, go even deeper, indicating that any man who considers God to be a burden will in fact be punished severely.
Do I see any whispers of God in my life right now that I consider a burden? Perhaps some of the ideas I received last week about prison outreach and how to leverage my position to assist. I received a whisper, but I worry about how to act. This lesson makes it clear - I must not consider this a burden, but rather guidance. I need to pray on this, but then act, knowing that God will make the way easier (not 'easy' but 'easier) than my path would be if I failed to act or sought my own plan.
Prayer: Lord, thy will be done. I will continue to pray, and I will engage in your work following your plan as you reveal your will. Amen.
Observation: False prophets have been using the phrase "the burden of the Lord" to describe the messages they say God has given them. However, there is a very simple correction here that also serves as an indicator of falsehood - the Lord is never a burden to us! The word of the Lord - even a harsh word spoken to guide and correct - is a wonder to assist us. It cannot be a 'burden'.
God goes a step further - the only 'burden' we have is man's own thoughts and words. We burden ourselves with our own beliefs, pursuits, thoughts, fears, goals, and designs. By claiming God's word is a burden, we 'pervert the words' of God.
Application: How often do faithful people - myself included - fear the whispers of God as something we do not want to pursue, while we think on our own plans as the "easy" thing we should be doing? Jeremiah teaches that this is backwards ... our plans and thoughts are a burden we carry in life, and God's instructions are answers to prayer that are never a burden. These verses, of course, go even deeper, indicating that any man who considers God to be a burden will in fact be punished severely.
Do I see any whispers of God in my life right now that I consider a burden? Perhaps some of the ideas I received last week about prison outreach and how to leverage my position to assist. I received a whisper, but I worry about how to act. This lesson makes it clear - I must not consider this a burden, but rather guidance. I need to pray on this, but then act, knowing that God will make the way easier (not 'easy' but 'easier) than my path would be if I failed to act or sought my own plan.
Prayer: Lord, thy will be done. I will continue to pray, and I will engage in your work following your plan as you reveal your will. Amen.
Monday, August 15, 2016
The Mighty Oceans
Scripture:
The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty;
the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
you are from everlasting.
Observation: Nature itself proclaims the Lord. The great oceans lift up their sounds - the roar of waves and storms - in honor of God, who himself is so much mightier than nature itself. In what ways is the Lord mighty? He reigns is majesty, with a belt of strength. He has always existed. He has established the world itself, and the roar of the oceans honor him. He is mightier than the oceans themselves - the greatest force on earth, the Lord is so much mightier than them. He is trustworthy, holy and our Lord forever.
Application: Next week, I will be in Hawaii, and I love nothing more when there than looking at the ocean in the morning. It is so vast and amazing. It teems with life, and is just made of gentle water, yet it is completely unstoppable even in relatively small amounts. On a calm day others would describe is as quiet, and yet it makes continual noise and currents move, waves role and break, and the water moves over the sand.
When I watch the ocean, I always see God. I see his mighty hand and amazing creation. There is a majesty to huge mountains and expansive forests, that is true, but there is something in the flat eternal view of the ocean that is both beautiful and humbling. The Lord's hand is so mighty, and yet he takes time to care about small issues in my daily life. The Lord's plan is absolutely eternal and larger than I can imagine, and still he has a plan for me and my family. The Lord can create the earth and every living thing, and yet would like me to join with him on small tasks to serve others.
May I keep the Lord in my heart all the days of my life.
Prayer: Lord, I am often not worthy of my heart being your dwelling place - your temple. I pray your forgiveness for my sins and shortcomings. May I be strong in you at all times. I look forward to quiet times of contemplation with you, oh Lord. I love just the quiet of your roar. I love the comfort of your might. I seek your face and your love, please do not withhold them from me. Amen.
The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty;
the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
you are from everlasting.
The floods have lifted up, O Lord,
the floods have lifted up their voice;
the floods lift up their roaring.
Mightier than the thunders of many waters,
mightier than the waves of the sea,
the Lord on high is mighty!
the floods have lifted up their voice;
the floods lift up their roaring.
Mightier than the thunders of many waters,
mightier than the waves of the sea,
the Lord on high is mighty!
Your decrees are very trustworthy;
holiness befits your house,
O Lord, forevermore.
Psalm 93holiness befits your house,
O Lord, forevermore.
Observation: Nature itself proclaims the Lord. The great oceans lift up their sounds - the roar of waves and storms - in honor of God, who himself is so much mightier than nature itself. In what ways is the Lord mighty? He reigns is majesty, with a belt of strength. He has always existed. He has established the world itself, and the roar of the oceans honor him. He is mightier than the oceans themselves - the greatest force on earth, the Lord is so much mightier than them. He is trustworthy, holy and our Lord forever.
Application: Next week, I will be in Hawaii, and I love nothing more when there than looking at the ocean in the morning. It is so vast and amazing. It teems with life, and is just made of gentle water, yet it is completely unstoppable even in relatively small amounts. On a calm day others would describe is as quiet, and yet it makes continual noise and currents move, waves role and break, and the water moves over the sand.
When I watch the ocean, I always see God. I see his mighty hand and amazing creation. There is a majesty to huge mountains and expansive forests, that is true, but there is something in the flat eternal view of the ocean that is both beautiful and humbling. The Lord's hand is so mighty, and yet he takes time to care about small issues in my daily life. The Lord's plan is absolutely eternal and larger than I can imagine, and still he has a plan for me and my family. The Lord can create the earth and every living thing, and yet would like me to join with him on small tasks to serve others.
May I keep the Lord in my heart all the days of my life.
Prayer: Lord, I am often not worthy of my heart being your dwelling place - your temple. I pray your forgiveness for my sins and shortcomings. May I be strong in you at all times. I look forward to quiet times of contemplation with you, oh Lord. I love just the quiet of your roar. I love the comfort of your might. I seek your face and your love, please do not withhold them from me. Amen.
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
I Just Don't Know
Lord, I just don't know what to do. The lost are SO lost that it seems all your words are hopeless. I read Jeremiah and I can't even think about it because every passage says the same thing ... the people have so turned away from you that the recourse is to pass your perfect judgment so that perhaps individuals can be humble. I fear simple, direct words will always be ignored. I fear love will be misunderstood. I fear the hearts are hardened. However, I trust in you, my Lord and my God. I seek your clarity and guidance. I seek your love and correction. I seek your truth and your ways. I seek justice and mercy. May I walk humbly with you. Amen.
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Proper Incentives
Scripture: And the Lord said to me, "Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah." Jeremiah 3:11
Observation: Jeremiah has just spoken the difference between Israel and Judah in their unfaithfulness. Israel was unfaithful, pursued other gods, a did not return to the Lord, so they were destroyed. Judah saw this, and decided to copy the behavior of Israel, but when threatened with destruction attempted to return to God only to preserve themselves. In other words, Israel only chose to be faithless toward God, but Judah attempted to manipulate God.
Application: We can never lie to God about our intentions when it comes to seeking his love and his promised salvation through Jesus. We need to seek these things out of our love and honor toward God ... through the truth that he is Lord, we honor and obey him, and seek his love. We must not pursue the gift of love and eternal life out of a fear of death, or desire to escape the punishment of hell, or a wish to have burdens of life removed from our shoulders.
In other words, actions matter. If we are honest in our actions - and upon correction turn away from the actions - we can be redeemed. However, if we are deceitful in our actions, and turn away from them not to be redeemed but to avoid punishment - the Lord does not honor that behavior and will not remove the punishment.
I know there are actions and thoughts I need to turn away from. In my mind, I want to turn away from them because I know God hates that behavior and wishes me to be honorable, kind, and gentle toward others. Therefore, I need to keep this lesson firmly in front of me, and that is to keep the love of God central in my attention and the focus of my repentance. I do seek the will of God out of my love for him, and my desire to serve him as a direct result of his love for me. I will continue to focus on his word, his law, and his love as the driving force behind my behavior and thoughts.
Prayer: Lord, you have given us loving instruction, fatherly guidance, and eternal promises. I seek to repent of my sins and align myself to you will at all times, as my daily response to your love and goodness and grace. My I seek your face in all things, at all times, in your ways. Amen.
Observation: Jeremiah has just spoken the difference between Israel and Judah in their unfaithfulness. Israel was unfaithful, pursued other gods, a did not return to the Lord, so they were destroyed. Judah saw this, and decided to copy the behavior of Israel, but when threatened with destruction attempted to return to God only to preserve themselves. In other words, Israel only chose to be faithless toward God, but Judah attempted to manipulate God.
Application: We can never lie to God about our intentions when it comes to seeking his love and his promised salvation through Jesus. We need to seek these things out of our love and honor toward God ... through the truth that he is Lord, we honor and obey him, and seek his love. We must not pursue the gift of love and eternal life out of a fear of death, or desire to escape the punishment of hell, or a wish to have burdens of life removed from our shoulders.
In other words, actions matter. If we are honest in our actions - and upon correction turn away from the actions - we can be redeemed. However, if we are deceitful in our actions, and turn away from them not to be redeemed but to avoid punishment - the Lord does not honor that behavior and will not remove the punishment.
I know there are actions and thoughts I need to turn away from. In my mind, I want to turn away from them because I know God hates that behavior and wishes me to be honorable, kind, and gentle toward others. Therefore, I need to keep this lesson firmly in front of me, and that is to keep the love of God central in my attention and the focus of my repentance. I do seek the will of God out of my love for him, and my desire to serve him as a direct result of his love for me. I will continue to focus on his word, his law, and his love as the driving force behind my behavior and thoughts.
Prayer: Lord, you have given us loving instruction, fatherly guidance, and eternal promises. I seek to repent of my sins and align myself to you will at all times, as my daily response to your love and goodness and grace. My I seek your face in all things, at all times, in your ways. Amen.
Monday, August 8, 2016
The Core of Faith
Scripture: So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me. John 10:24-25
Observation: In answering the question about his Messiahship, Jesus provides a definitive answer - he says he does the work of Messiah, and that would prove his authority to anyone who believes. And what are the actions that Jesus has done? He has restored sight to the blind, fed thousands, turned water to wine, walked on water, spoken of love, healed the crippled, restored life to the dead. He has done these things not once, but dozens of times - probably hundreds. In all cases, each action should be enough to prove his status. And in each case, what he does also fulfills prophesy.
Therefore, when asked if his it the Christ, Jesus is telling the Jews that they need to first understand what the Christ is and what he does, and then they will find Jesus has done all those things. With that, they can answer the question for themselves.
Application: At the core of faith is ... faith. No one believes in Jesus because they are told to. They believe in Jesus because they believe. They believe in signs and wonders. They believe in God as creator and in the redemption model of Jesus. They believe in the love of God manifested in the sacrifice of his son for our sins.
I believe in God, and I believe in Jesus, and I believe in the Holy Spirit. I believe in the miracles of Jesus, the love of God, the power of the Spirit, and in everlasting life through that faith.
Prayer: Lord, today I only pray that others I know come to faith through belief in Jesus. I pray others will understand your love, and they will accept your grace. I pray they will recognize their sin and shortcoming, understand your forgiveness and path to redemption, and will accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Amen.
Observation: In answering the question about his Messiahship, Jesus provides a definitive answer - he says he does the work of Messiah, and that would prove his authority to anyone who believes. And what are the actions that Jesus has done? He has restored sight to the blind, fed thousands, turned water to wine, walked on water, spoken of love, healed the crippled, restored life to the dead. He has done these things not once, but dozens of times - probably hundreds. In all cases, each action should be enough to prove his status. And in each case, what he does also fulfills prophesy.
Therefore, when asked if his it the Christ, Jesus is telling the Jews that they need to first understand what the Christ is and what he does, and then they will find Jesus has done all those things. With that, they can answer the question for themselves.
Application: At the core of faith is ... faith. No one believes in Jesus because they are told to. They believe in Jesus because they believe. They believe in signs and wonders. They believe in God as creator and in the redemption model of Jesus. They believe in the love of God manifested in the sacrifice of his son for our sins.
I believe in God, and I believe in Jesus, and I believe in the Holy Spirit. I believe in the miracles of Jesus, the love of God, the power of the Spirit, and in everlasting life through that faith.
Prayer: Lord, today I only pray that others I know come to faith through belief in Jesus. I pray others will understand your love, and they will accept your grace. I pray they will recognize their sin and shortcoming, understand your forgiveness and path to redemption, and will accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Amen.
Friday, August 5, 2016
Sign of the Times
Scripture: And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest and the priests of the second order and the keepers of the threshold to bring out of the temple of the Lord all the vessels made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron and carried their ashes to Bethel. 2 Kings 23:4
Observation: In chapter 23, here is the list of everyone Judah is worshiping that Josiah destroys: Baal, Asherah, the moon, the sun, the constellations, hosts of heaven, Molech, Ashtoreth, Chemosh, Milcom, and an unnamed cult with male prostitutes. That is six named gods, one unnamed cult, and four natural objects. My first reaction in reading this is, "How could one nation have a dozen different gods when the Lord was so good to them and so blessed them?" Of course, that question is immediately answered ...
Application: How many "gods" do we have in the United States? Probably thousands. In just looking at core religions, we have gods ranging from Vishnu to Buddha. Just as Asherah started as a warped concept about Yahweh, we have Allah. We have constellation worship (astrology). We have unnamed practices. We have religions that think they worship some version of a god that blends every god into one nature (Bahai). We have people who worship Satan, people who worship 'nature', and people who worship a collection of self-help principles (Scientology). We have people who simply think sex is a religious experience. And we have people who ignore absolutely all of it and worship ... themselves.
For the practices of Judah and Israel related to a dozen alternative belief systems, God destroyed them. I'm not saying ... I'm just saying.
Prayer: Lord, it is obvious that there are only two possible outcomes for our country. We will be destroyed and removed from the landscape of mankind, or we will reverse course with an awakening of faith. Well, I certainly don't see a King Josiah anywhere in our future. So please come, Lord Jesus. I do hope you remove your Church before those things that must occur, but no matter what your remnant will be faithful. Amen.
Observation: In chapter 23, here is the list of everyone Judah is worshiping that Josiah destroys: Baal, Asherah, the moon, the sun, the constellations, hosts of heaven, Molech, Ashtoreth, Chemosh, Milcom, and an unnamed cult with male prostitutes. That is six named gods, one unnamed cult, and four natural objects. My first reaction in reading this is, "How could one nation have a dozen different gods when the Lord was so good to them and so blessed them?" Of course, that question is immediately answered ...
Application: How many "gods" do we have in the United States? Probably thousands. In just looking at core religions, we have gods ranging from Vishnu to Buddha. Just as Asherah started as a warped concept about Yahweh, we have Allah. We have constellation worship (astrology). We have unnamed practices. We have religions that think they worship some version of a god that blends every god into one nature (Bahai). We have people who worship Satan, people who worship 'nature', and people who worship a collection of self-help principles (Scientology). We have people who simply think sex is a religious experience. And we have people who ignore absolutely all of it and worship ... themselves.
For the practices of Judah and Israel related to a dozen alternative belief systems, God destroyed them. I'm not saying ... I'm just saying.
Prayer: Lord, it is obvious that there are only two possible outcomes for our country. We will be destroyed and removed from the landscape of mankind, or we will reverse course with an awakening of faith. Well, I certainly don't see a King Josiah anywhere in our future. So please come, Lord Jesus. I do hope you remove your Church before those things that must occur, but no matter what your remnant will be faithful. Amen.
Thursday, August 4, 2016
When Jesus Tests Us
Scripture: Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. John 6:5-6
Observation: Jesus initiates the question about how to feed 5,000 people as a stated test to Philip. Of course, Philip will go on to provide a logical, human, earthly response ... that they couldn't possibly have enough money to buy enough bread. From there, Jesus will use a handful of food provided by a young boy to perform his most famous miracle.
However, the juxtaposing of Jesus' actions and intentions in this preparatory passage is interesting. Jesus asks a question, yet already knows the answer. Jesus knows what he himself is going to do, yet he asks Philip to first evaluate the situation and provide input. In writing this gospel account, John says he did this as a test of Philip.
Application: Jesus tests his believers, allowing us to think through challenges, even though he already knows what he will do.
The question is, what do these tests look like in my life? I believe they look like ... earthly problems. They look like questions about what to do about home finances, or job status and movement, or weekend chores. The questions look like challenges set before us in our daily lives - challenges that do not obvious solutions. The challenges might be trivial, but some will be so large that solving them will seem impossible.
This is the test of Jesus: How do I respond when tested by these challenges? The correct response is to turn to Jesus and trust in what he already has planned. Personally, my likely response is to try to figure out how to solve the issue using my earthly thinking and strength. Sometimes I am more like Philip, just shrugging because it's impossible and doing nothing.
I need to be a little more like Andrew, who brings what he has and just hands it to Jesus. I do have skills, intelligence, knowledge, and ability. I don't have enough to solve every problem, but I were to give Jesus what I have clearly he can use it to overcome the test.
Prayer: Lord, this very day I will put this into practice. I have challenges ahead of me today and in the next couple weeks. I have been trying to figure out how to solve them. Instead, I lay my resources at your feet for you to solve these challenges. You already have a plan. You know what you are going to do. So I place myself into your hands, and look forward to your instructions. Amen.
Observation: Jesus initiates the question about how to feed 5,000 people as a stated test to Philip. Of course, Philip will go on to provide a logical, human, earthly response ... that they couldn't possibly have enough money to buy enough bread. From there, Jesus will use a handful of food provided by a young boy to perform his most famous miracle.
However, the juxtaposing of Jesus' actions and intentions in this preparatory passage is interesting. Jesus asks a question, yet already knows the answer. Jesus knows what he himself is going to do, yet he asks Philip to first evaluate the situation and provide input. In writing this gospel account, John says he did this as a test of Philip.
Application: Jesus tests his believers, allowing us to think through challenges, even though he already knows what he will do.
The question is, what do these tests look like in my life? I believe they look like ... earthly problems. They look like questions about what to do about home finances, or job status and movement, or weekend chores. The questions look like challenges set before us in our daily lives - challenges that do not obvious solutions. The challenges might be trivial, but some will be so large that solving them will seem impossible.
This is the test of Jesus: How do I respond when tested by these challenges? The correct response is to turn to Jesus and trust in what he already has planned. Personally, my likely response is to try to figure out how to solve the issue using my earthly thinking and strength. Sometimes I am more like Philip, just shrugging because it's impossible and doing nothing.
I need to be a little more like Andrew, who brings what he has and just hands it to Jesus. I do have skills, intelligence, knowledge, and ability. I don't have enough to solve every problem, but I were to give Jesus what I have clearly he can use it to overcome the test.
Prayer: Lord, this very day I will put this into practice. I have challenges ahead of me today and in the next couple weeks. I have been trying to figure out how to solve them. Instead, I lay my resources at your feet for you to solve these challenges. You already have a plan. You know what you are going to do. So I place myself into your hands, and look forward to your instructions. Amen.
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Looking for Work
Scripture: Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” John 4:34-38
Observation: Several times in John, Jesus describes his work and ministry in terms of continuing or joining into the work of God. That connection starts here, with the discussion of reaping and sowing. God - through the trials of history and the words of the prophets - has sown seed even among the Samaritans. They worship God, wonder about his power, have questions about the best and proper way to worship him, and know of the coming Messiah. Jesus points out to his disciples that he himself has already joined in with God and is already reaping and "receiving wages." Jesus has joined into God's work and is gathering fruit, so that he and God may rejoice in the harvest.
In turn, Jesus will be sending his disciples to reap soon. They will be sent into the world, to places that are curious about God, where they will see that seed was already sown. In some cases, they will sow the seed and leave, only for a brother to come along later and reap the harvest.
Application: It seems like years ago that I studied "Experiencing God" and analyzed the way to join in work God is already doing. The hardest part, it seems, is finding what he is doing in this day and age.
We are in a time and place where people are publicly thankful that they have rejected God. Yesterday alone, I heard, read, or saw signs of multiple people who were openly promoting the fact that they have rejected Christianity and were actively happy about that. It is hard to join God in that kind of work. However, now it seems like that is the majority of the work - just trying not to be insulted when we plant seeds about love, Jesus, and eternal life.
Prayer: Lord, now I'm depressed and defeated. I seek your work where I can join you, but I see your work thwarted or ignored or rejected every day. Please ... come, Lord Jesus.
Observation: Several times in John, Jesus describes his work and ministry in terms of continuing or joining into the work of God. That connection starts here, with the discussion of reaping and sowing. God - through the trials of history and the words of the prophets - has sown seed even among the Samaritans. They worship God, wonder about his power, have questions about the best and proper way to worship him, and know of the coming Messiah. Jesus points out to his disciples that he himself has already joined in with God and is already reaping and "receiving wages." Jesus has joined into God's work and is gathering fruit, so that he and God may rejoice in the harvest.
In turn, Jesus will be sending his disciples to reap soon. They will be sent into the world, to places that are curious about God, where they will see that seed was already sown. In some cases, they will sow the seed and leave, only for a brother to come along later and reap the harvest.
Application: It seems like years ago that I studied "Experiencing God" and analyzed the way to join in work God is already doing. The hardest part, it seems, is finding what he is doing in this day and age.
We are in a time and place where people are publicly thankful that they have rejected God. Yesterday alone, I heard, read, or saw signs of multiple people who were openly promoting the fact that they have rejected Christianity and were actively happy about that. It is hard to join God in that kind of work. However, now it seems like that is the majority of the work - just trying not to be insulted when we plant seeds about love, Jesus, and eternal life.
Prayer: Lord, now I'm depressed and defeated. I seek your work where I can join you, but I see your work thwarted or ignored or rejected every day. Please ... come, Lord Jesus.
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