Children vs. Adults Entering the Kingdom

Scripture: "Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." ... As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Mark 10:15,17

Observation: Jesus has two back-to-back encounters with two very different kind of people. The first are young children who are excited to simply see Jesus. Jesus not only welcomes them and removes barriers for them to see him, he also declares them as a model for entering the kingdom of God. Next, a rich man comes to Jesus and asks what he must do to receive eternal life. Jesus will interact with him differently ... he will question his understanding of who Jesus is, instruct him on the law, then tell him he must give up everything else in his life.

The difference in these two types of people involves their attachment to worldly values. Children are innocent and their cares are few. They are used to being provided for by parents. As a result, they do not much concern themselves with material goods, daily needs, social status, or general conflicts. Their minds are free to receive the good news, trust in the Lord, and simply love Jesus based on the evidence of his love for them.

Adults have all the cares. They value their self-sufficiency and work, worry about both basic daily provisions and future planning for survival, seek a level of comfort, engage in multiple levels of social and political debate, and worry about very large issues. They have learned to distrust others. They try to both follow but sometimes bend laws and rules. They would like to find a Jesus who fits into their understanding of life and gives them a procedure to follow, rather than risk loving someone outside of their immediate circle.

Jesus declares that we must come to him "as a little child", and that it is so very hard for (especially rich) adults to enter the kingdom of God.

Application: This juxtaposition is clearly intentional ... there is an innocence and trust component of faith in Jesus. Adults have learned to distrust, and frankly we have learned it well. The irony is that we have learned to distrust the evil things of this fallen world, and thus are more likely to cling to and desire those things. However, when we choose to ignore those issues, we find the love of Jesus.

I hope that most of my care about the world is now grounded in a desire to do God's will toward my family, my friends, my community, my coworkers, and this world. And I know there are days when I just want to run to Jesus for a hug and couldn't care less what others thing. Then there are days where my anger and frustration in stupid things make me just another jerk in this world, doing whatever I want, striving for my own earthly comfort and happiness.

Jesus knew we couldn't always just be innocent, carefree children. But we could always approach him with that attitude, and it is that joy - and not our riches - that brings the kingdom of God to earth.

Prayer: Lord, I ask your forgiveness for my earthly attitude recently. I am sorry for my anger, my pride, my self-centered drive for my own kind of happiness. I would like to hug you today. Please show me how to live in your kingdom this day. Amen.

Giving from Your Everyday Life

Scripture: So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing; for what they had already brought was more than enough to do all the work. Exodus 36:6-7

Observation: As work on the tabernacle begins, the people bring the materials needed. They bring so much, that it is literally too much. There is no need for any more, and yet the desire to continue to freely give is so strong that Moses must make a proclamation for them to stop giving.

This act of giving in order to create a tabernacle for the Lord to dwell in is juxtaposed against the fabrication of the golden calf. When Israel created the golden calf, they did so out of their ornamental wealth, with one person working to create the idol. This act was a great sin against the Lord, and as their punishment the calf was destroyed and the gold utterly wasted, and going forward the people did not wear ornamental jewelry anymore.

By contrast, when the people are giving to the Lord correctly, they do so from their normal everyday goods ... skins and cloth and wood, along with their own labor to fabricate walls and coverings and carvings and moldings and structures. They give freely from their everyday lives, and are so excited - and rewarded - by such giving that they have to be ordered to stop.

Application: My wife and I have been speaking a lot about giving lately, partly because of campaigns at church, but also as we teach Financial Peace University. We give our full tithe, and we give offerings as we feel called to do so, and we give to individual needs when moved as well. Sometimes I feel like we should give more, and sometimes I feel frustrated that others don't give as they should. Of course it is wrong of me to judge others in this matter, as it is only God who can judge them. However, I also recognize that they are missing out when they fail to give as they should.

That applies to me as well. I must not give out of my 'ornamental' excess. Instead, I must give joyfully from my normal everyday resources. My tithe is the start. I could cut some daily expenses and give randomly to other purposes of the Lord too. How great would it be if we were to give so much someone had to tell us to stop?!

Prayer: Lord, may my heart of giving be influenced by this model of the tabernacle. May I lean into more and more giving from my normal, everyday life. May I find ways to simply trim some meaningless spending and dedicate it instead to you, Lord. Amen.

He is Jealous for Me

Scripture: (for you shall worship no other god, because the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God). Exodus 34:14

Observation: The Lord declares that part of his name and nature is "jealous". This is not the definition of 'jealous' that means envious, but rather it means that he allows no room or space for competition. The Lord is the one and only god, and as such he will claim absolutely all worship and honor and adoration. There is no room for an "and" deity. There is no "distant second" thing to also be honored. Yahweh is all there is; he claims all rights of lordship.

Yahweh declares himself "jealous" to make it clear that he stands alone as the Lord of the universe, and that he will respond and take action against anyone who chooses to worship something else. Worship of other gods will never be taken lightly or excused.

Application: It is often easy to take individual passages of the bible out of context, interpret them based on our understanding of limited words, and derive a misunderstanding of God's nature. This is a great example. It is possible to see that the Lord declares himself "jealous" and come up with the idea that ... the Lord acknowledges other gods exist and wants to ensure no one honors them ... or the Lord has petty feelings about how we act toward other things in the world. These just are not true. Instead, what is true is that the Lord is all-sufficient for us, and provides all meaning and joy and love in our lives. 

This is clear when one understands the Lord in the context of all that is in the bible, and not just one parenthetical clause in Exodus. Yahweh - the great I Am - is all-sufficient. His greatest command is to love him and only him (and then by extension of that honor, love others as his creation whom he loves). These facts are repeated over and over, and declaring himself "jealous" of any worship to other gods only demonstrates how much he cares about our worship of him.

The Lord is all that I will ever worship. I wish I were better at caring about nothing else on earth, because I know that - while I do not 'worship' anything else - I care too much about earthly things. It is good to learn that God has an emotional response when I place too much importance in my life on anything that isn't him.

Prayer: Lord, you are all that I worship, and the center of my love. I wish to focus on you more and more, and I would always only want you to feel positive toward me. Amen.

Further Teaching on Prayer

Scripture: To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. Psalm 25:1

Observation: A thousand years before Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, David knew.

Psalm 25 has a great structure reminiscent of the very prayer Jesus taught us. David declares the Lord as sovereign in his life; He declares his faith in the Lord; He asks for protection from harm and enemies this day; He asks that evil people be corrected; He asks the Lord to teach him more about his ways and his purposes and to guide his walk this day; He further asks for teaching on the word of God and his truths; He states his faith in the mercy and love of the Lord; He asks for forgiveness of his past sins; He concludes with a desire to be remembered in God's goodness this day.

When Jesus taught the disciples how to pray, it was as if the Israelites were looking for some new wisdom about what to pray for in the light of Messiah now being realized and with them. However, Jesus really just reminded them of the prayer life we should have already known and understood. David provided a model, and certain he received that from a tradition he had been taught.

Application: I desire to have a better prayer life. Sometimes I grow concerned that my most basic prayer thoughts are too basic, and simultaneously my formal prayers are not worthy due to a lack of deep reflection. David and Jesus both show me that my conversations with the Lord can and should be focused on some basic needs. My prayers just need to give God my glory and my faith, bring him my daily concerns, ask for forgiveness, and pronounce my very real belief that he will walk with me this day.

Prayer: Lord, you are my Lord and my God, the great creator and father. Thank you for all you provide to me this day. Please show me your will and purposes this day, so I may learn and grow in your ways. I ask your forgiveness, for I know I have sinned in thought and action. May your love wash over my mistakes. You are great and I worship you this day and every day. Amen.

Obeying for the Right Purpose

Scripture: Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, "Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" Jesus said to them, "The wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day." Mark 2:18-20

Observation: While Jesus' disciples continue to enjoy life - they just had a big dinner party at Levi's house - others wonder why they aren't submitting themselves to the discipline of fasting. This is not just the Pharisees challenging Jesus, but also John the Baptist's disciples are fasting, and it is "people" in general wondering about the behavior of Jesus and his disciples.

Given the breadth of people fasting, this is likely occurring on some official 'day of fasting' ... some day when it is generally accepted that those people of serious obedience to God are expected to fast. By not doing so, the real question is ... do Jesus and his disciples not take their obedience to God seriously? Jesus will follow up his answer by providing metaphors about the old and new law - new cloth to patch old clothes, and new wine in old wineskins - and that seems like a dismissal of all old 'rules'. That isn't the case however, as Jesus does say that there will be a time when his disciples fast.

Instead, Jesus is making it clear that today is not the day for fasting. There might be some tradition that says today is a fasting day, but the truth is that fasting is done for a purpose, such as sharpening one's focus during prayer, or humbly submitting to the Lord for a time of devotion and learning. Right now, on this day, the Messiah himself is with the disciples; they do not need to do those things, and in fact they need to remain healthy and sharp so they may learn from Jesus all they can before he is taken away. If someone fasts to be nearer to God, how could they possibly need to fast when already sitting is the same room with God?

Fasting has a purpose, just like the elements of the old law do also. However, it is a mistake to apply those laws and precepts without understanding or purpose. Simply fasting on a fasting day is missing the point. There is a proper understanding and application of the law, and it always begins with God's purpose for our lives.

Application: I often think about Christians who attend church, and do little else as Christians. Honestly, I have been that kind of Christian. In fact, sometimes I still am for stretches at a time. I need to remember Jesus' lesson here during those times.

We can all "comply" with certain behavior, but our faith comes from our hearts aligning to the will of Jesus, and evidence of our faith comes from our actions pouring out of that Christ-filled heart. Just doing stuff ... is just doing stuff. This includes fasting, church attendance, even serving.

Prayer: Lord, I continue to seek your Holy Spirit to fill my heart. May your love overflow from my heart into my hands and feet, so I may do your work for your purposes here on earth. Thy kingdom come, and they will be done, Lord. Amen.

Permanent Memories of God

Scripture: On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, as well as a thick cloud on the mountain, and a blast of a trumpet so loud that all the people who were in the camp trembled. Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, because the Lord had descended upon it in fire; the smoke went up like the smoke of a kiln, while the whole mountain shook violently. As the blast of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses would speak and God would answer him in thunder. Exodus 19:16,18-19

Observation: What a vision this was! The Lord has arrived on earth to speak to the nation of Israel, and he occupies an entire mountain. It is engulfed in smoke, and it is a thick and heavy smoke like from a kiln. There is lightning and thunder, but also trumpet blasts so loud it scares people in camp before they even go to the mountain.

As Moses explains, God has chosen to show himself if great power so the people can forever remember this moment and have it greatly impressed upon them. These are moments that must be so strong in the memory of everyone that they, in fact, exist as memory for future generations not even there. Certain acts of God are so great that the echo through history far beyond the conversations of those who were there, and far beyond even the testimony of eyewitnesses. Some exist beyond even the stories told by those who believe in God.

There are a handful of events like this in history. The flood and the parting of the sea are among them. So is the resurrection of Jesus, a moment so amazing that even people who reject all aspects of faith have often heard of the event.

Application: I have memory of how God has shown up in my life, as do many others whom I know. We can tell those stories to others as evidence of our personal faith, and I can praise the Lord from a heart filled with love for how he has shown up in my life and saved me.

However, it is something else when God shows up in a way that impacts humans - the world - forever. These moments resonate within a collective psyche. They become intertwined with our general understanding of the world. (How many people would 'generally' envision that, if an all-powerful being arrives on earth, they would do so amid dark and stormy clouds with loud noise all around? Where do they get that image from?)

One of the great proofs of God is that non-believers still have holes in their lives where God should fit. General needs for faith and meaning fit this description. But so does collective, cultural memory of how God is in the world.

Prayer: Lord, you are so great and powerful and almighty, and we know this because we sincerely know it and remember it of you. You have shown us your greatness. May we as a people more and more often turn to our collective understanding of you as a basis for understanding the world. Amen.

External vs. Internal Influence

Scripture: John proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Mark 1:7-8

Observation: John's ministry in the wilderness is marked by two elements. The first is baptism - the ceremonial cleansing of the people for sin - and the second is the alignment of John to the prophet predicted by Isaiah that would precede the Messiah. John himself declares the message of the second element, stating that Messiah is coming. He performs the first element, baptizing people in the Jordan river.

However, John is also very clear about this baptism. This is just a ceremonial washing. It involves confession of sin, and then dunking as a way of symbolically washing away past mistakes. John clearly tells everyone that ALL he is doing is baptizing with water, and this is differentiated from the Messiah's future act of baptism, which will involve the introduction of the Holy Spirit into people's lives.

Messiah - Jesus - brings a new definition of baptism ... one where people can confess their sins, be ceremonial washed, and emerge as a new creation filled with the Holy Spirit. What John is doing might look exactly the same, but he is very clear and explicit that it is not the same.

Application: This is a recurring theme in understanding the difference Jesus makes in the world ... the theme that there are many things that "look" like goodness in the world, but they are not the same as faith in Jesus and life in the kingdom of heaven. The list of words, deeds, attitudes, and actions that have the appearance of goodness, love, caring, and even belief, is extensive. And many of these items are so much better than the alternative ways people could act. However, we also see how such behavior also creates division and even violence.

Faith in Jesus is much different than "being good". This is because Jesus happens to us on the inside. My external life should change with that internal change, but it will be the Holy Spirit that motivates me, and not an external 'washing' that produces any internal result.

Prayer: Lord, once again I ask for more of the Holy Spirit in my life. May I live in the Spirit today, making decisions based on your influence in my heart. I look to your power in my life as all I need to sustain me and guide me. Amen.

Complaining Against God by Proxy

Scripture: So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, "In the evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaining against the Lord. For what are we, that you complain against us?" Exodus 16:6-7

Observation: The Israelites complain "against Moses and Aaron" for their lack of food in the wilderness, and to feed them the Lord is about to produce the miracle of manna. As Moses receives the Lord's instructions and prepares for this, he twice addresses the people, stating that they are "complaining against the Lord" and not actually against he and Aaron.

Again, the people are complaining that they have been brought into the wilderness, only to die of hunger. If Moses had accepted even their complaints - if he had accepted the idea that they were complaining about himself and Aaron - it would imply it was he who brought them there. By twice reminding the people that they are complaining against God, his is pointing out this fact ... it is the Lord who has delivered them, so therefore complaining about some aspect of that delivery means they are complaining against the Lord, regardless of who or what they 'name' in their complaint.

Application: If the Lord is sovereign over all things, then what aspects of life am I often complaining about that, if properly framed by God's sovereignty, means I am complaining against the Lord? I sometimes complain about my job, which is a construct for distributing money by which the Lord blesses me and my family. I complain when there is nothing good on TV, which probably means I should spend time with my family or meditating on God instead of in mindless entertainment. I complain about my current health, despite having been delivered through disease and overall taken care of by the Lord's hand.

I would keep in mind there are valid things to complain about, which are caused by evil appearing through people and things in life. Even Jesus complained about the money changers in the temple, the treatment of the poor, and the legalism of the Jewish system. We can complain about elements of the world. However, there are plenty of things which the Lord has given me ... and I complain about some aspect of them. Even if I name others in the complaint, Moses points out that such complaints are against God himself.

Certainly I do not want to complain against the Lord. He has provided me with so much love. I should be careful then of what I complain against, reserving such thoughts for the elements of the world that stand against God's kingdom, and praising those aspects of my life that are true provisions of God.

Prayer: Lord, you are such a great provider of blessing, happiness, and even leisure. May I never complain against you by complaining about the things in life that are 'of' you. Amen.

Struggling to Fully Live our Faith

Scripture: Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before all of them, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” Matthew 26:69-70

Observation: When Jesus predicted earlier this very night that everyone would abandon him, Peter swore he never would. If anyone knew for certain that Jesus was Messiah, it was Peter. Peter had declared it publicly before everyone. Moreover, Peter had witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus into his glorified persona, had been right there present when Moses and Elijah arrived to meet with Jesus, and had heard the voice of God declare Jesus as his son. Peter knew for absolute certain that Jesus was Messiah, come to save and redeem all the world.

He swears he would never abandon Jesus. How could he given what he knows as unequivocal fact? Yet mere hours later ... he does exactly that, over and over again.

Application: The other day I was watching a lecture by one of today's great intellects, who was discussing his faith. He "believes" but struggles with all elements of faith. One of the things he said struck me hard. He wondered how in the world Christians could believe everything they believe, and then still fail to live life as Jesus commanded. How could we sincerely believe that an all-knowing, all-powerful, all-loving God exists, that this God has defined for us exactly what an ideal life looks like, that to help us he sent his only son Jesus as a sacrifice for our mistakes, that Jesus taught and showed us even more about love and hope and faith, and then on a day-to-day basis ... we fail to do it, over and over and over and over again?

He has a great point, and that point bothered me because ... well, I am "that" Christian. I fully believe in God and Jesus. I love them and desire to serve and obey them. And every day I totally fail. Maybe every HOUR I fail in some way. And this intellect is right ... how is that even possible? How can I say I believe with all my heart, and not obey? How can I - and so many other Christians - be such terrible failures.

This has to be the hope given me by Peter. Peter KNEW. He - with maybe John and James - is probably the only person in all of history who one could say absolutely had it spelled out for him. It was like God sat him down and introduced him to Jesus himself, and said, "this is the Messiah, got it?" And Peter absolutely promised to Jesus' face to never deny him ... then did ... adamantly ... three times ... just hours later.

If Peter failed, then of course I will. I can't not fail, as I am a fallen human. And this of course is why we need Jesus in the first place.

I can't dwell on my failings. Instead, I must lean into the grace available to me by faith, knowing that is the only hope I have in the world.

Prayer: Lord, I know you forgive me for my failings through my faith in Jesus. Thank you for that, because you also fully know that I could never, ever be redeemed by my actions, which cannot meet your standards. That said, please do help me in coming closer to meeting your standards. I would like a life that somewhat approaches the life you promise, and I know that comes only by your wisdom. Thank you for your love. Amen.

Walking Along the Paths of Life

Scripture:
I have taught you the way of wisdom;
I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
Do not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of evildoers.
Proverbs 4:11,14

Observation: The teacher talks of the paths of life. Several times in this section, he refers to the paths to be walked along. There are paths of uprightness, and paths of the wicked. On the righteous paths we can run and not stumble, but on the wicked paths we will stumble even when just walking along, as if walking in the dark.

Application: I often ask the Lord to hold my hand as I walk with him. However, I certainly cannot do that if I am walking on the wrong paths in my life. If I am walking on an evil path, the Lord cannot be there, and I will stumble.

I need to analyze this. Is my secular work a worldly, evil path? Is my personal pride? Is my thought life? Which of these paths are wicked, and thus the Lord cannot be there with me? And are there paths of wisdom I am on where the Lord is present with me, such as at church?

I want to be on paths of uprightness all the time. I want to walk with wisdom, holder her tightly, as the Lord himself takes my hand and keeps me from ever stumbling. 

Prayer: Lord, may I find better ways to avoid the wicked paths of life, the ways of which I do not want to enter. I desire to walk humbly with you every day, on your paths. Amen.

Obeying a Terrible Order

Scripture: When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. Exodus 2:3

Observation: In what is truly a terrible decree, Pharaoh has said that all male Jews are to be thrown into the Nile at birth. Moses' mom is able to hide him three months, but then cannot. Of course, very quickly Moses will be discovered in the basket by Pharaoh's own daughter, saved, and raised in a manner of skill and learning and privilege that will eventually make him qualified to speak before Pharoh.

However, this is all only possible because Moses' mom ... complies with the declaration of Pharaoh. In fact, her voluntary compliance likely saves Moses' life, as if she had waited for the Egyptians to find Moses and throw him in the river, he would have drown. Pharaoh made an evil declaration designed to kill and destroy. God used it for good, and did so not through having his faithful people fight, but rather by guiding them toward a form of compliance.

Application: We stand here today in a world that is full of evil, with people in authority who lack any Godly compass for avoiding such influences. Before the problems happen, Christians are faced with the question of what to do when we are surely told to comply with unholy instructions. Fortunately, God has already answered this. We are to trust in him, while not compromising ourselves beyond the bounds of his laws.

Moses' mom did this. She did not kill her son, nor did she allow him to be murdered. She placed him in the river as the authority required, but kept watch and trusted that the Lord would find a way to deliver him. And he did so, for the greatest of his purposes, keeping the Jews on the long-term path to be his priesthood in the world, and bless all mankind through the Messiah.

Prayer: Lord, may I keep your ways before me when I am challenged and question what to do. In all things, may I love others, but also may I trust in your great plan. Amen.

Understanding the Assignment

Scripture: Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Matthew 25:34-36

Observation: Jesus discusses judgment day and separating the good and faithful from the unbelievers. The criteria discussed is about how we are to care for and love others. The good will have provided for the poor, hungry and downtrodden strangers. Caring for them is the same as caring for Jesus himself.

Application: I struggle with this concept as there are so many poor, hungry and downtrodden strangers who themselves are not Jesus-like. I know many are in their circumstances due to the evils of the world, the influence of satan, and hardships caused by our fallen society. I can blame their "choices", but those choices came from somewhere, and were made available only through evil influences.

The point is not to judge, but simply to try to respond to the needs of others. Jesus would do that. Jesus did that. There are questions about where to start and how to proceed for sure, but the question must not be about if this is a worthwhile activity. Jesus told us to do it.

I often ask for my heart to be softened toward others, so I may love others better. This is a place I must improve. I cannot continue to be apathetic toward the homeless, or cynical toward the issues that cause such conditions. I can blame many for the flaws of the world that have created this, but in the end it is the evil one's influence in the world that has caused the issues, and I can have pity.

Prayer: Lord, may I love others as you would. Amen.

God in Our Own Image

Scripture:
With the loyal you show yourself loyal;
with the blameless you show yourself blameless;
with the pure you show yourself pure;
and with the crooked you show yourself perverse.
For you deliver a humble people,
but the haughty eyes you bring down.
Psalm 18:25-27

Observation: While the write of the psalm appears to be saying that the Lord gives to everyone based on their actions - and there is some truth to that - he is also saying that every individual perceives the Lord not in his fullness, but through their own bias and lens. Every person takes their own best attribute, and believers that too is the key attribute of God. Even the crooked and evil sinners, when they get justice, do not perceive that as correction, but rather as evidence that God likewise is evil.

The only way to properly understand the Lord is through humility. It is by being humble, and understanding that we have no understanding of God's greatness and his ways, that we can then begin to recognize his love and blessings and purposes. The haughty - those who won't submit to humility - will always misunderstand the Lord, and thus be left in a state of despair for their lack of purpose in life.

Application: Which of my attributes to I inappropriately apply to the Lord. Make no mistake, the Lord is all good things ... loyal, blameless, pure, etc. However, what element do I personally hold in high regard, which I then believe to be one of the most important elements of God, and thus my character trait makes me 'more Godlike' in my own eyes?

I am very logical. I often discuss how logical the Lord is ... in his organization of the world, his wise connection of earthly problems to his solutions, his presentation of the earth as evidence of his love. I often wonder why others cannot find such logic for themselves, and I especially declare it should be obvious that the Lord's logical model of life should be proof of his existence and love. I position logical reasoning as a great attribute of the Lord ... one I share, and which others lack.

If I decide on God's greatest or most meaningful attribute, I limit his greatness, and I limit his ability to do great things in the lives of others. If I decide that logic is how people should discover salvation through Jesus, I dismiss options for such revelations like ... miraculous curing of illness, revelation by the Holy Spirit, emotional connection to forgiveness, and many other ways.

In other words, just because the Lord appeals to me through my strength, that does not make that the Lord's best strength. He can be all things to everyone. The more humble I am, the more I can understand the complex nature of the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, I am just a lowly man who wishes to walk humbly with you this day. May I continue to learn of you more and more. I am only a disciple of Jesus, and a sinful man in need of your promised mercy. Please take my hand and lead me. Amen.

Justifying One's Self

Scripture: So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became angry. He was angry at Job because he justified himself rather than God. Job 32:1-2

Observation: The interaction between Job and his three friends ends with a long speech by Job, where he challenges the idea he has done wrong. He lists all the wrongful he has not committed ... the list goes on and on. Now Elihu will enter the conversation because he has identified this issue with Job's argument: Job defends himself through and by his own actions, rather than relying on the Lord.

It is established all throughout the bible that no person can be righteous enough to save themselves. They cannot meet God's standard. Job even says several times he needs an intermediary to make his case and provide his salvation before God. And now a young man - whose name means "my God is he" - will remind Job that he cannot justify his own redemption through his acts. He can only surrender to the Lord, with faith in the promised love and mercy of God.

Application: Is there any Old Testament book that better declares the future coming and mission of Jesus than Job? Job is all of us, a person who strives to live right, yet suffers a mix of joy and misery. In the end he breaks down and declares that life is not fair ... that he does everything "right" and still suffers is a true tragedy of the world.

It is then that God remind him that in fact ... yes, it is a tragedy, but that isn't the point. The point is to have faith in the Lord, seek his love, and to do this by believing in his Messiah for redemption and justification, because we cannot ever find sufficient justification in our lives. No matter how good we are, we will fail in some way, sometime. We need Jesus.

And sure, life will have hardship. Yet there is no relationship between our works and those hardships. There is only a relationship between God's love, and our decision to respond to that love with our faith in Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, my faith is in Jesus Christ, and I know my salvation comes from him as a gift of your love. Thank you for your blessings in my life. May I honor you this day, and even when I fail in my thoughts and deeds, may I remember that I could never have justified myself through a perfect life anyway. Amen.

An Answer Not Understood

Scripture: When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.” Matthew 21:23-26

Observation: While Jesus is teaching in the temple, the leaders ask him this question about the source of his authority. Jesus turns it around, asking about the authority of John, and the priests won't answer. They understand there are two choices - either from Heaven (of God), or from people and their acceptance - but they fear giving either answer.

In this, Jesus has actually answered the priests' question! There are two sources of authority, and the Messiah actually teaches in the authority of BOTH sources. Jesus has come with the authority of the Lord, with heavenly knowledge, ability, blessing, and power. Jesus teaches because there are people willing to submit themselves as learners, disciples, followers, and believers, who have placed their lives into his hands. Jesus does "these things" by the authority of people submitting themselves to him in faith, and that authority to be Messiah on earth was given to him by Yahweh.

Application: This is the relationship we all get to have with Jesus ... that being our ability to grant to him authority in our lives. When I declare Jesus my Lord and savior, I am saying that he has control over me, and I should be allowing him to lead, teach, correct, reward, and guide me. This opportunity to submit myself to Jesus comes only because the Lord's wisdom granted a way for a sinful world to reconcile itself through this faith in Jesus, and thus the authority of Jesus' lordship and salvation comes out of God's love.

The priests didn't even understand the question they were asking, so they couldn't understand it when Jesus helped them actually reason out the answer for themselves.

Tonight, my friend's son will attend Alpha, and he is full of questions and doubts. I am confident he will receive answers, but I hope and pray he understands his questions. He doubts the existence of God, the goodness of life, the nature of creation, the truth about love and blessing and purpose, the value of faith in Jesus. Mostly, I think he is like I was: He almost hopes none of it is true, because if it is all true ... but clearly God has abandoned him ... then the conclusion is that he is not worthy of God's love.

I pray he asks his questions, and understands the amazing answers he will receive in the weeks to come.

Prayer: Lord, I pray for Eric today. Please reach his heart. He is a good boy, who is trying so hard to become a good man while navigating what is truly a terrible time in history. This has left him questioning all knowledge. There is nothing wrong with that. I ask for your personal arrival in his life tonight and in the weeks to come. Explicitly show him he is loved and cherished and valued, regardless of where he is and what he is doing and what he is struggling to become. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen and amen.