Whom Jesus Stays With

Scripture: He left them, went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there. Matthew 21:17

Observation: After Jesus has his famous arrival in Jerusalem, the week he will be crucified, he leaves to stay in Bethany. It isn't said, but he is likely staying with Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, who live there.

Jesus knows this is the week everything culminates in Jerusalem, and he was just celebrated and praised while making this same >2 mile walk into the city. His coming days will be full of both Passover-related events, and chaotic confrontations. However, instead of simplifying his time by remaining close to everything to come, he prefers to put out a little extra effort, leave the city, and stay with friends.

Application: Am I a person Jesus would want to stay with for the night? If Jesus came to visit the town of Bothell, at the end of his day would he walk a mile up to my house? We would certainly provide him with a good meal and a better bed than he could find on Main Street, but ... would Jesus consider me his friend and want to spend time with me?

Probably not. I am too structured in my faith to be called a friend. I fail to simply chat with Jesus and interact with him as a familiar companion. I doubt that is unique, as many certainly have great faith but a relationship with Jesus that is more about worshipful reverence, respectful lordship, and praise-filled recipient of salvation. We are more like the worshipful crowd along the road ... actively telling others that Jesus is great, following him all day, celebrating his miracles, listening to his teaching ... but that night he'll go sleep somewhere else, enjoying conversation with others.

It makes me sad to recognize my shortcomings in this regard. I don't think I should be Jesus' best friend, and wouldn't think he would have any reason to see me over anyone else, not matter what I did. But I could have a better daily relationship with the Lord. I should have a better daily relationship with the Lord.

Prayer: My Lord God almighty, and Jesus Christ my Lord and savior, I desire to simply chat with you more each day. My mind remains filled with too much other stuff. May I remember today and every day to simply be with you, to chat with you, and to share my life with you. Amen.

Attributing Hardship to Sin

Scripture:
Think now, who that was innocent ever perished?
Or where were the upright cut off?
Job 4:7

Observation: Eliphaz is the first of the friends to speak to Job in his misery, and he actually begins with some good observations and truth. He correctly points out that no person can truly be righteous before Yahweh. He discusses how the Lord is faithful in grace and mercy, lifting us out of hardships and providing all kinds of blessing and provision. He encourages Job to simply surrender to God and seek his redemption.

However, his first statements introduce a significant error in understanding ... that there is a judgment that involves earning rewards or receiving punishment based on our righteousness. He calls this out directly, asking if anyone has ever seen a righteous person punished by God. Of course the answer is 'no', but not because of the implied cause-and-effect. Rather, no righteous person has ever been punished because there are no fully righteous people.

We know Job is not being punished, but he is the victim of evil that has infested the world. His condition has nothing to do with any sin, which is not to say he is sinless. It is to say that the circumstances of this world, and our relationship with the Lord, are independent paths that influence our lives.

Application: I see this attitude toward Christians from others ... that if our faith were real, we would have better lives. By this logic, the fact that we have hardships means that, at best, faith in Jesus has no value. However, often the conclusion is that there are actually dire consequences to believing but sinning.

Yes, our sin may be evidence of a failure of ours to fully accept, follow, and obey the Lord. But we are not punished because we have forgiveness through faith in Jesus. Our hardships and our faith are independent, except where the Lord chooses to demonstrate his love by assisting us out of trouble and then using those issues for good in our lives.

Prayer: Lord, I see your hand in the goodness of my life, and I feel your love when it is with me during the troubles and storms of life. Please forgive my sin and help me to be better at obeying you. I cannot be fully innocent and upright, and my life will not be without troubles. I thank you that these two statements are not directly tied to each other. Amen.

Identifying the True Enemy

Scripture: A messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were feeding beside them, and the Sabeans fell on them and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword." ... Another came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants." ... Another came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three columns, made a raid on the camels and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword" ... Another came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house, and suddenly a great wind came across the desert, struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead" Job 1:14-19 (excerpts)

Observation: The Lord said that satan was in control of all that Job has, and this is the result. Everything is destroyed, and his children are all killed. However, there is something interesting about all of this. At no time of satan ... actually appear to do anything.

There are four events that cause the destruction of Job's world. Two are caused by other people - the Sabeans and Chaldeans raid his livestock. Two are caused by nature - a fire from above (lightening) and a great wind strike and kill his sheep and family.

In this way, it would be natural for Job to blame mankind, or to blame God (the second servant even does that, calling if the 'fire of God'). And this is what almost everyone in the world does during times of hardships ... they look at the immediately "causes" of the issue - which may be other people acting as individuals up to large society movements, or natural disasters that appear to be violent moves of the created world - and they question the role of God in these causes. Certainly the problems are the result of either God's created world, or God's ambivalence toward 'wrong' people.

The bible is very clear here. The problems are completely controlled, orchestrated, and initiated by satan.

Application: This is a great lesson for me to remember when hardships strike ... there is one and only one perpetrator of evil in the world. Yes, there are many people who yield to satan's manipulation and lies, and thus are the instruments of chaos and pain and hardship and hurt. Yes, there is a created nature with elements that can destroy earthly items and even kill people. However, it is satan who plants in our minds that God is to blame for any and all such hardships, and then it is satan who brings such hardships as attacks, especially against the Lord's faithful.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for reminding me of the true nature of the enemy this day. I know you are my source of strength and my protector and my provider, and I know who stands against me. May I continue to forgive those who have been used by him daily for evil and destruction and harm. Amen.

Another Lesson on Flawed Questions

Scripture: When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?" He said, "Yes, he does." And when he came home, Jesus spoke of it first, asking, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their children or from others?" When Peter said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the children are free." Matthew 17:24-26

Observation: At this time, the 'temple tax' was a Jewish tax specifically for the upkeep of the temple. Priests were exempt from paying. For this reason, this again is a kind of trick question posed to Peter ... the officials are effectively asking Peter if Jesus believes himself to be a priest or not. By his answer, Peter accidentally denies Jesus' "status" as a religious leader.

The lesson here is about understanding how to respond to challenging questions about faith in Jesus. Peter felt intimidated into needing to respond to the question with an affirmative. He felt a 'yes or no' question about Jesus required a yes or no answer. He failed to recognize that the question itself was based on an incomplete understanding of Yahweh (that Jews paid a temple tax, and only God's priests were exempt). Jesus actually pointed out this flawed logic in his lesson ... that God's son was certainly exempt also, and therefore it was the temple tax collector who did not understand the truth about the nature of Jesus.

Application: So many challenges against Jesus these days are based on totally flawed assumptions, logic, and understanding of God. Even just yesterday I heard a message about a totally different topic, talking about God's goodness, that went into the failed understanding of how badness can exist in the context of God's good.

Am I prepared to respond to flawed questions with the proper clarification? I believe I am better prepared to do than I was years ago before reading the bible regularly. I do want to be able to engage in constructive conversations when led into such situations by the circumstances God presents.

Prayer: Lord, may I always be prepared to give an account for my faith in you, as I am guided by the Holy Spirit. I am here to respond to others today and every day, if you so desire. Amen.

Blessing for Bodily Health

Scripture:
It will be a healing for your flesh
and a refreshment for your body.
Proverbs 3:8

Observation: This collection of proverbs admonishes us to look to the ways of the Lord, and we will have a good life. They tell us to remember the teaching and keep the commandments, trust in the Lord rather than on our own insight, follow God's wisdom and not ours, and give materially to God. With these, we are promised, long life, abundance, good repute, an easy life's journey, an abundance. Verse 8 also make this promise, that being of bodily health.

Application: Since good health is a blessing from God, it makes sense that satan is using fear of health to attack our world today. He has spread lies about the threat of poor health to confuse and create conflict, and to most critically drive many into isolation away from those of faith, and thus further from God.

I know many people who need to return to gathering together in faith. They need to accept this promise, that by leaning into their faith and belief in the Lord, they will receive "refreshment for your body" and physical health. That may not mean they do not get disease, but it does mean they can trust in the Lord to help them manage their health.

Prayer: Lord, I pray today specifically for friends and family who have remained in fear outside of church gatherings. I think of them by name. Please give them your peace, and remove the lies of the evil one. As they lean into your love and your wisdom, let them know that they will receive your healing and your refreshment. Amen.

Warnings about Remembering God's Provision

Scripture: Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.” The second he named Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my misfortunes.” Genesis 41:51-52

Observation: Later, the tribe of Joseph will actually be divided into two tribes, one for each of his sons and so named for them. Fast-forward on the history of Israel in the promised land, and we see that first Israel divides north and south - Israel and Judah - but later the north shrinks and shrinks until the prophets refer to it by just the one tribal holding that is left ... Ephraim.

Rewind to here in Egypt, where we will eventually see Jacob/Israel come to see Joseph. When he blesses his sons, he crosses his hands to give Ephraim the right-hand blessing despite being the second-born. In this, it is interesting to see how one can put together the two names of the sons in this order ordained by Israel, to tell the entire summary of the shortcoming of Israel in one sentence.

God made Israel fruitful in the land he gave them, but they forgot all about their father the Lord.

In addition, Joseph himself focuses on the negative part of life. The names of his sons mean "making to forget" and "to be fruitful", however in both explanations he adds a memory of his problems. He is pleased to forget "my hardship", and he is fruitful in the land "of my misfortunes". He focuses on the struggles, but not the blessings of having been the favorite son of a rich man, nor the delivery from his struggles to be the most powerful person in Egypt.

Application: The Lord is my provider. If I would spend my time in total wonder and thankfulness for his blessings, two things would happen in my life. First, I would be - in this act and the resulting mindfulness - worshipping and praying continuously. This is the right heart to have on a daily basis. Second, I would never forget all the Lord has done, and all that he can do, for me, my family, and everyone. I would never move away from that knowledge and that relationship.

I am sure that even Joseph moved a little away from God after 20 years in Egypt, married to the daughter of a priest of another god, and this is reflected in his memory of his past. However, the naming of his sons also give us the warning about how to avoid that state.

God has made me fruitful here in the time and place he has given me. Will I forget about him, forget about his blessing, and focus on the hardships of my life? Or will I celebrate the fact that I live in my father's embrace, in his love, and in his kingdom?

Prayer: Lord, again I pray today, may I forget about all the problems, evil, and failures of the past, and remember only your love and blessing in my life. And may my thoughts, attitudes, and actions in all things and at all times overflow from that memory of your great love in my life. Amen.

God Reveals Himself to Anyone

Scripture: Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "Pharaoh’s dreams are one and the same; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do." Genesis 41:25

Observation: Joseph is about to be liberated by prison, through the fact that God allows him to discern the meaning of dreams. However, Joseph makes an interesting statement in verses 25 and 28. In both, he states the fact that God has revealed to Pharaoh what he (God) is about to do.

God could have revealed his objectives to Joseph, as the most fervent of the believers of Yahweh in Egypt. Instead, he revealed his objectives to a person who had no faith at all. God didn't want to bring about plan just by using Joseph, but instead he wanted to directly use Pharaoh, communicating with him and then allowing all the other dominos that had already been put in place - the cupbearer's time in prison, Potiphar's wife's false accusations, and the selling of Joseph by his brothers - to now fall orderly.

It isn't just that God can make a good outcome from bad situations. God can in fact actively use non-believers within the bad circumstances to fulfill his long-term plan.

Application: There is so much happening in the 'bad situation' of our lives today. Believers in Jesus Christ know he can turn it for good. However, do we also believe that he can use those non-believers who are currently operating out of fear and hopelessness to actually produce that 'turn'?

I do believe that, as long as I am also willing to do my part, speaking in love and truth about Jesus when given the chance. Joseph was bold to say that God would reveal through him what Pharaoh's dream meant. But he was also discerning when he understood God himself had revealed his purpose to Pharaoh, employing Pharaoh in the revelation of the plan. God can reveal his plan to ... anyone, in any station, with any mindset, and in any state of faith.

Prayer: Lord, you love all people, and we believers do not own a monopoly on your love and kindness and blessing and support. May we all look for opportunities to do your will, especially when that will is to discern your love when it is given to those who are far from you. Amen.

Selling Out for the Kingdom

Scripture: The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Matthew 13:44

Observation: In this parable and the subsequent one, Jesus is very plain in his metaphor. When a person truly discovers the kingdom of heaven - and discovers its great value to their life - that person sells everything else in order to possess the kingdom. In this example about the field, it is not even the treasure itself that the person buys, but rather the field. The important point is that he sold everything else to buy the field.

Jesus is clear that we are to give up our other worldly goods in order to be part of the kingdom of heaven. We do this joyfully, because we know that the kingdom is actually of greater value than everything of the world. We are getting the better end of the bargain when we sell everything we have, and buy just the one thing that is the treasure of the kingdom.

Application: I wonder if I have kept anything of my old life that prevents me from fully owning the kingdom of heaven. I still hold onto some past memories and hopes that have evolved into a fantasy life that never existed, and that reflects the ways of the world and not God. However, I have left behind my life and lifestyle from circa 1992 and before.

I have followed the Lord into a life of family, peace, and even cats ... a life so much better than I dared hope for back then. I gave up hopelessness and emptiness and artificial living. I bought a family and joy.

The last thing I need to sell is any and every thought about worldly treasures that may or may not even have existed, but are shiny distractions anyway from the true treasure of heaven. I need to set my sights and my thoughts on only the treasure of Jesus Christ, which is no longer hidden from me, but in fact I own the field where it resides and have it now in my hands.

Prayer: Lord, please give me your spirit and spiritual protection from the thoughts that distract me from your kingdom. I desire to set my mind on things above, and to meditate on your word only, day and night. May I release the last bit of anything from my previous life so I may fully own the hidden treasure of the kingdom. Amen.

This is the Story of Us All

Scripture: This is the story of the family of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers; he was a helper to the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. Genesis 37:2

Observation: This section of Genesis begins by saying that Jacob settles in Canaan, then has this simple line, 'this is the story of the family of Jacob.' Immediately, the story is about ... Joseph. To the extent anyone else appears, they are doing wrong but always in the context of Joseph's actions. First, Joseph is helping the four sons of the servant wives and is required to report them. Then the family reacts poorly to Joseph's prayers. Then the brothers plot against Joseph when he comes to check on them.

Indeed, this is the story of the family of Jacob ... people who react with anger and jealousy about one another. Every thought is a plot. Even good ideas - like Reuben planning to save Joseph - is a plot to win back good favor with his father. The sons are angry even when told about prophetic dreams in which someone else may be considered greater than themselves.

Jacob is Israel, so declaring this the story of Jacob's family means this is the story of Israel. And indeed the traits we see in the brothers reflect traits we see in all people, both in the history of Israel to come, and in the history of mankind still being played out.

Application: There is a literary technique where an author tells the reader "this is the story I'm about to tell" and immediately appears to tell a different story. The reader is to keep in mind the original intent stated by the author, for a larger point is likely being made that relates to that intent. In Genesis, the writer says he is about tell of the family of Jacob (Israel), and immediately tells the story of Josheph. And the point is that all along, all of this is actually the story of Israel; how personalities and attitudes and actions related to anger, hate, laziness, deception, arrogance, jealousy, pride, cunning ... drive their national narrative.

And these traits drive the narrative of mankind, and of me. There are certainly days where every single of these traits could be applied to something I have done that day. Some of these define major elements of my personality.

This is the story of Jacob/Israel, which by the covenant with Abraham became God's chosen people, which by the covenant of Jesus Christ is now all mankind. This story of bad actors who are eventually saved by one faithful person - who was thought dead but is alive - is the story of us all.

Prayer: Lord, I see my bad behavior in the sons of Jacob. Certainly Jesus could bring a bad report about me, and yet he does not. Instead, he covers my sins and gives me new hope every day. Thank you for your salvation and mercy and love. May I strive to be more than the status quo of mankind, and do your will wherever you have me serve today. Amen.

Actively Inventing Fault

Scripture: For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds. Matthew 11:18-19

Observation: Jesus is addressing the Jews, explicitly discussing their lack of understanding of the Messiah. In these verses, he explicitly calls out their judgmental attitude. The judge John the Baptist as unworthy because of his behavior, but then judge Jesus unworthy because of the exact opposite behavior. It is this attitude - actively inventing fault with everyone - that prevents them from accepting the good news that is proclaimed by Jesus, and the truth that was proclaimed by John.

Application: In this verse, I see two sets of fingers pointing to the truth. First, this is of course the attitude of society today toward believers. Some believers are over-the-top strict, some churches are far too relaxed, and thus unbelievers use these facts to state why they don't believe and won't listen to the gospel. However, more importantly, I see a finger pointing at me and my judgmental attitude.

I certainly have a problem with certain lifestyles and attitudes about the meaning of life. I need to examine myself and ensure that I am not judging people simply because ... they do something irrelevant that I feel is 'off'. It is one thing to embrace sin, and surprising I find myself 'judging' that less (though ... some). Instead, I will judge stupid things like how people dress, their written communications, when they arrive for appointments. I observe these things, then apply a negative interpretation of that behavior to the person.

Yes, in the context of faith in Jesus Christ, I may have preferences in style and message, but I do understand the value of all types of Christian faith. As Jesus says, "wisdom is vindicated by her deeds," so looking at the outcome of Christian practices - and not the methods - is the right way to assess faith. However, in the context of the world, I am simply too judgmental, and I care too much about meaningless behaviors. It is this that does no one - especially me - any good.

Prayer: Lord, again today I come to you seeking a heart of humility. It is in my prideful heart where I define those behaviors that I believe are proper and improper, and then apply that to others. Please forgive my judgment of others, and remove that attitude from me, so I may love others better and better as Jesus would have me do. Amen.

Intentionally Acting in Ignorance

Scripture: So Jacob went up to his father Isaac, who felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” He did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him. Genesis 27:22-23

Observation: Jacob and Rebeka have completed the plot to steal the Abrahamic blessing from Esau. Certainly this was already in motion long ago, when Esau gave away his birthright, and married contentious foreign women, thus placing himself in a position of disqualification to be the line if Israel. However, no matter how angry Isaac may be in the subsequent scene, he is absolutely complicit in the deceit as he discerns the speaker is Jacob yet decides to make his final decision not by the sound of Jacob's voice, but by toughing his skin and smelling his clothes.

Jacob has the evidence that something is amiss. He hears the speaker is Jacob. He knows that not enough time passed for Esau to hunt a wild animal game. He should be able to taste that the dinner is actually just goat. He could call in Rebeka, or Jacob, or any servant, to help him discern the truth. Instead, he gathers barely enough information to justify his false assumption, and proceeds. Of all the methods of identifying a person, the texture of the skin on the back of their hands, and the smell of their coat, are limited methods at best. Isaac decides the future of God's chosen people using those methods.

In summary, Isaac actually knows he is operating with limited knowledge of the truth, and instead of admitting he is ignorant and exploring the situation more deeply, he chooses to proceed with the belief that his method for determining reality is complete.

Application: In almost every topic relevant to society today, people make major decisions using limited knowledge, of gathered through highly questionable methods/sources. One example alone: How many arguments about vaccines occur between people who have gathered their "truth" through Youtube videos published by sources they don't even know?

Isaac is not a bad or stupid person, he is just a man who assumes good intent - and thus sincerity and honesty - from others. He is more willing to act in ignorance and accept a lie, than he is willing to pursue the truth and potentially uncover someone's flaw.

I feel that is true of our society today ... we fail to explore the truth because it is easier we assume everyone has SOME element of accuracy in what they say, and thus we can find the truth by piecing together several elements. This applies to topics such as ... politics, morals, disease, sexuality, equality, poverty, and all kinds of conflicts between people groups. I am sure I form opinions and decision on limited knowledge related to these same issues, because it is hard to ask harder questions.

The most important decision is whether or not Jesus is the Messiah. On this point, I know people make decisions based on what they wish to be true to governing their lives, in the context of lies they have been told about what "religion" is, and not based on full research. I do hope we can help individuals who, when they do decide to seek more of the facts, find the truth.

Prayer: Lord, it seems that one of the flaws we have as people is our willingness to be deceived by lies, and satan takes advantage of that every day, in my life and in the lives of everyone. Please protect me from such lies, and help others to recognize your truth more and more. Amen.

But the Lord Will Not Answer

Scripture:
Because I have called and you refused,
have stretched out my hand and no one heeded,
and because you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,
I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when panic strikes you,
when panic strikes you like a storm,
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently, but will not find me.
Proverbs 1:24-28

Observation: Wisdom cries out in the street, trying to teach everyone the true wisdom that comes from knowing the Lord. However, because the world has rejected to listen to this, Wisdom will ignore their cries when calamity strikes. She will mock and laugh at their fear. Even when they now want guidance, she will turn away and allow their previous attitudes to dictate their fate.

This is of course the metaphor of the Lord's relationship with those who reject him. He has shown them wisdom, shouted it from the mountaintops, and made this truth to reign over the earth for millennia ... that he is the Lord God almighty, and salvation comes from faith in Jesus Christ. Nearly everyone has heard this, and now we see that those who have rejected it are filled with fear. The calamity has come like a whirlwind, and the words that best describe their mental state are ... panic, distress, anguish.

And God says this ... I am laughing at you, mocking you, and I will not answer your cries for help. You - those who rejected me - will not find the Lord in your time of calamity.

Application: I am so thankful I live in the promise of verse 33 of this same section ... as one who listens to the Lord, I live in security without dread of disaster. However, I have prayed for others, desiring that the current global crisis would awaken many to Christ. It has and it still will. Yet the Lord also makes it clear that he not only allows people to choose to reject him, but also will not simply respond when those who have dug in deep to their rejection panic over the earthly catastrophe that decision creates.

The Lord has spent years attempting to correct the people in our region of the U.S. They have instead turned further and further away. Today, in the midst of disaster, we are the most fear-filled and anxious region of the U.S. The Lord is clear ... this is cause-and-effect. Reject wisdom, and fear the calamity. He proclaimed this as wise counsel 3,100 years ago, and no one now should be surprised that it is true.

Prayer: Lord, while I pray for those who are removed from you so that they may be called to know Jesus, I also pray 'thy will be done.' You have given us your wisdom, and many fools have refused it. May your truth now prevail in their lives as you would see it done. Amen.

How to Create a Crowd

Scripture: When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." Matthew 9:36-38

Observation: This fairly famous verse is an obvious metaphor. The people are the harvest of the Lord who are coming to learn about Messiah, and Jesus is telling the disciples to seek laborers who will engage with those seekers, tell them the good news about Jesus, and guide them to salvation. However, the circumstances preceding this situation are interesting.

In this chapter - in fact over the course of 16 verses - Jesus has healed two blind me, cast out a demon, healed the of woman who touched his cloak, and raised a young girl back to life. He continues in this work, going from village to village to teaching, but also healing everyone. It is in this context of healing that the crowds form.

It seems consistent in all scripture that 'laborers' are believers willing to proclaim the good news of Jesus and the kingdom of God. However, the great harvest comes about when non-believers actively seek Jesus, due to some attraction ... even an earthly or selfish attraction. This describes this crowd. It is large, but they have come for healing and hope, for they are harassed, helpless, and directionless.

This then describes part of the challenge for the Church. It isn't enough to be laborers declaring the good news if no 'harvest' is there to hear it. It is also necessary to create the crowd in the first place. The world remains in the state of harassment, helplessness, and confusion, so they need to first see and hear about the hope of Jesus that generates their desire to come and see.

Application: One of the best ways I can serve Jesus is by embodying and demonstrating the hope I have in Jesus. Continuing daily without fear - but not condemning others for their fear - is part of this. Actively expressing joy in the future is part of this. Declaring confidence in the direction of the world is part of this.

As believers, we need to understand how to generate a crowd. Certainly some of our events and programs like Alpha do this. How can I do more?

Prayer: Lord, I am a laborer willing to be sent into the harvest. Also please show me how to better plant seed in order to create that plentiful harvest for your glory, your purposes, and your great name. Amen.

Rejecting Jesus on First Appearance

Scripture: The swineherds ran off, and on going into the town, they told the whole story about what had happened to the demoniacs. Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood. Matthew 8:33-34

Observation: This village has a problem, which is two demon-possessed men who torment anyone who comes near them. Upon Jesus casting out the demons into a heard of pigs, the townspeople hear about it, and immediately ask Jesus to leave them alone. They want nothing to do with the son of God, who can help and heal and restore and teach them, leading to their opportunity to know the Lord and find eternal happiness. They would rather Jesus be on his way and quit upsetting their farmers.

These townspeople are outside of Israel and likely not Hebrew. They are likely decedents of the nationalities that use to live across the Jordan and/or north of Israel - Assyrian, Amorites, Amalekites, Hittites, Moabites, etc. - and have no real interest in Yahweh. So when a group of Jews come, and the outcome is the death of some pigs, they have no desire to hear any good news about salvation. Despite the fact that Jesus just performed a miracle that saved two men and likely eliminated a major issue in their community, they reject Jesus on first appearances, before any message is even spoken.

Application: I live in an area of the country where there are many, many people with absolutely no context for Jesus at all. And I have seen such people reject a conversation about Jesus - cutting it off in mid-sentence at the mere pronouncement of his name - because they don't want to hear anything about him. This is the way of it for many ... without context, or even rejecting the context itself, those who have this level of unbelief in God often reject Jesus without even a message being told.

I still do believe that "pre-evangelism" at least begins to create context about God. I am sad that not all Christians see the value. Tradition tells us that after Jesus' resurrection, apostles returned to this area to find a population ready to believe in Jesus ... that this event created soil for future planting of the good news. May I have the strength to continue to believe that conversations that are completely rejected at the first mention of Jesus will still have value for the long-term salvation of others.

Prayer: Lord, give me strength this day, in this dark corner of our world, to say the name of Jesus to anyone you put in my path with such a need to hear it. Amen.

Claiming the Promise of Attention

Scripture: And the angel of the Lord said to her,
"Now you have conceived and shall bear a son;
you shall call him Ishmael,*
for the Lord has given heed to your affliction."
Genesis 16:11

Observation: When the Lord comes to Hagar, he comforts her and gives her instructions to return to Sarai. But he also gives her unborn son a name, and that name* means "God hears". The Lord himself says he has heard her affliction, and has come to her. Hagar will in turn give God the name "El Roi" - God sees me - completing the sensory-based theme that, in Hagar's time of need, God absolutely paid attention and responded.

Application: I have before discovered how much I associate with Hagar. I have claimed the word of God that he sees me and has seen me in times of distress. Combined with the name Ishmael, there is a deeper promise here. God completely pays attention to me.

In a day and age where SO many people are yearning to "be seen" and "be heard", we see God promises that he does exactly that! Today, young people are seeking to fill that seen/heard void in their life through social media likes, viral video trends, texting rules of etiquette, and empty physical interactions. They feel unloved when they are "unseen" or "not heard" based on the definition of how technology platforms define being seen and heard. However, God promises that he sees and hears everyone, from pregnant foreign slaves, to his most beloved worshipper, to me.

Prayer: Lord, today I claim your promise, that you are paying attention to me, and to everyone else. You see me. You hear me. You love me. I claim that for myself, and moreover and pray that for millions of others, that they may discover and learn and claim this same promise. Amen.

Perfection Defined: Love Everyone

Scripture: Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48

Observation: Jesus corrects the statement about loving neighbors but hating enemies by stating that we are to love our enemies. Even those who hate us and do harm against us are loved by God, so we are to treat them just as God wishes for them to be treated ... with love. He concludes this lesson with one short "therefore" statement, which is to "be perfect, therefore". The structure of this conclusion is clear: Perfection - a level of perfection that is even just like our heavenly father's perfection - is achieved when we love literally everyone.

Application: There is a HUGE difference between forgiving those who have done me wrong, and loving them. Forgiveness is an internal attitude, and even when it is difficult to achieve it is doable. Loving them becomes actionable, with tangible activities such as providing assistance and sincerely meaning kind words.

If literally everyone loved everyone, it is true there would be no room for evil. There would be no wrongdoing toward each other, and no resulting anger. This would create perfection. However, there are so many people who are not living within the context of Jesus Christ or Yahweh that this is not universally possible, and thus finding this perfection is very difficult for believers who are harmed, attacked, and genuinely wronged by enemies.

Jesus knew this. He was able to rise above it as God incarnate, even speaking well of soldiers who beat and killed him. However, certainly he knew how difficult it is for us - for me - to love enemies. He gave us this as an aspiration and defined it as perfection, knowing that perfection cannot be attained on earth by anyone other than himself. And yet, the more and more I do pursue this one objective ... love everyone ... the closer I can come to being Christlike and perfect.

Prayer: Lord, you know my heart, and you know I certainly love more people, and more kinds of people, than I used to. However, you also know I struggle with this, and especially when it comes to those who have harmed me. I sincerely ask for your spirit's strength in this matter. I would like to love more. I would like to see others as you see them more often, and to strive toward being better through love, though I know I cannot be perfect. I seek your heart. Amen.

God in the Tangential Details

Scripture: So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Genesis 12:4

Observation: The Lord has given Abram (Abraham) instructions ... go to 'the land that I will show you' ... and Abram at age 75 leaves his ~145 year old father and obeys, going to Canaan. Despite the great promise, this would have been a hard decision, as when his father moved to Haran he took just Abram with his wife Sarai (Sarah), and his grandson (Abram's nephew) Lot. Abram takes both of them with him, leaving his father without family.

This is what obedience to the Lord looks like. It isn't just about doing what God says, but it is also about trusting that he has other situations handled as part of his plan. There is no word here about Abram expressing concern for his father or their holdings. There is no word about any thoughts about his ancestral family east in the land of Ur. God tells Abram to go, indicates west to Canaan, and he goes west. He trusts that God has all the tangential details covered.

Application: I am certainly a person who tries to understand all aspects of a situation. I may not have always had a plan for my life, but I do concern myself with risk. That is not conducive to obeying God's instructions. Or perhaps more accurately, failing to have faith in God concerning the secondary issues and risks of a situation impedes my ability to obey God, and thus my ability to be used by God.

Do I trust God with the tangential details of every situation? I'd say I do, but I would likewise analyze them for myself.

When Abram was called, the promise required him to take action, but with no mention of any other detail being taken care of for his father for anyone else. He was fine with that and obeyed the Lord, trusting that God could handle both the explicit and implicit aspects of the situation. That is a good example.

Prayer: Lord, here I am. May I be called to your work as you would like to include me in your activities here on earth. And may I have trust in you for all the details of every situation. Amen.

There was Always a Lamp

Scripture: No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:15-16

Observation: Jesus begins the "sermon on the mount" with the beatitudes, then follows them with this metaphor about light. He will follow this by clarifying that he has come to fulfill the law and prophets, and that all must continue to obey the law and act in righteousness. In this manner, Jesus is clarifying that the instructions, laws, and precepts of the Lord - given to Israel - remain intact, and Jesus as Messiah is here to reinforce and fulfill the related promises.

The lighted lamp is of course the gospel, but it has always been the gospel of the Lord, given to Israel. Their original gospel was that the Lord is loving and just, available to provide blessing to all, and Israel as the nation of priests was to spread that message to all. To some degree they did. And the metaphor should not have been lost on the audience, as a great lamp was a centerpiece of the tabernacle, which transitioned into the temple that is on a great hill, where holy activities are apparent for everyone from all nations to see.

Now a new lamp will be lit in Israel, and this new light will go out to the entire world. Those who carry it must have certain characteristics, alignment to the ways of the Lord, righteousness that is founded in love rather than memorization, and a willingness to tell others all about it.

Application: There was always a lamp. As the light of the world, Jesus was there at the creation, throughout the history of mankind, and still with us today. He has told us about the light of truth and of love. Now he expects us to exemplify that love and that truth through our behavior, as a way of putting the light on a lampstand to shine upon others.

I have the light. Do I shine brightly enough? Am I well placed on a lampstand? My guess is I am regularly one of the other, but not often both. By my improved behavior, I must turn up my brightness, and by my bolder faith I must better position my lamp. We Christians are the direct continuation of God's plan with Israel, and I must do a better job as part of the nation of priests.

Prayer: Lord, it is an honor to be a Christian who serves you and desires to serve you better. May I do so. May I place the light of Jesus on a lampstand, and give light to all around me. Amen.

Claiming the Promise of Provision

Scripture: Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him. Matthew 4:11

Observation: One of the underrated details of the temptation of Jesus is this, that when satan left Jesus, angels arrived and cared for on him. The implication of "waiting" on Jesus is that they fed him. Therefore, what happened immediately after Jesus resisted the temptations of satan was that everything with which satan tempted Jesus was then done for him by God:

-- Satan tempted Jesus to eat, and the angels fed him.

-- Satan tempted Jesus to test if angels would protect him, and angels arrived to care for him.

-- Satan tempted Jesus to receive earthly authority, and by sending God's own angels he showed that Jesus had all authority on earth and in heaven.

Application: Both God and satan know what I want and what I need, and they both know human desires and motivations and ambitions. Temptation involves being offered those things through earthly means that are opposed to the ways and will of God, often through sin and the harm of others. However, Jesus shows me that when I reject those paths to the things I desire, God will provide them in his time and his way, because he loves me and knows I need them.

The apostles teach this exact message. Jesus says these exact lesson. The Lord pronounces these exact promises through Moses and other prophets.

Prayer: Lord, this is my first claimed promise this year, that you will provide for both my needs and my desires, when I resist pursuing them through earthly means. Thank you for your promise and your love, and for your daily provision in my life. Amen.

Curses yet Blessings for the Other Enoch

Scripture: Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch; and he built a city, and named it Enoch after his son Enoch. Genesis 4:17

Observation: Upon being banished, Cain fathers a son named Enoch. This is not to be confused with the seventh generation of Adam in the line of Seth, also named Enoch, the grandfather of Noah who was so righteous that he was taken up by God. Cain's son Enoch seems to have no discernable notoriety, however it appears that centuries later the Samaritans established a tradition that this Enoch was buried on Mount Ebal. Mount Ebal is notable as one of the two mountains used when the Israelites entered the promised land ... they were divided by tribe, stood on two mountains and one group pronounced the blessings that would be theirs as they obeyed God, and the other pronounced the curses that would befall them if they disobeyed ... Ebal was the mountain of the curses.

Application: It is very possible that the Samaritans created this relationship between Enoch and Mount Ebal explicitly for this reason ... to align the Enoch born with Cain with the concept of curses from the Lord. Of course, Enoch was under a curse placed upon Cain, likely the first person born outside of Eden and thus outside of the Lord's blessing within the garden.

However, that is not to say he was born outside of the Lord's protection, watchfulness, or provision. Even this Enoch lives a life, has children and several more generations of descendants, and has a city named for him. He is associated with the curses of the Lord, but even as such still received a full life on earth. In this manner, we see that the Lord still provides and even blesses the lives of those who are removed from him. Those that have turned from God, he still loves and tries to aid in their lives, certainly in the hope they will return that love and honor.

The best-known Enoch was so honorable that it is said he walked with the Lord and was taken to heaven without knowing death. This lesser-known Enoch was the first of the cursed generation of Cain, becomes (perhaps mythologically) associated with curses, and yet must have been loved by God.

Prayer: Lord, even those who have fully turned away from you, you love. You are the greatest of fathers to all. I pray for our communities today, and those who have forsaken you. May they yet still find your provision and proof of your love, and turn back to you and to Jesus. Amen.