Like a Child Every Day

Scripture: "Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." After taking them in his arms, he laid his hands on them and blessed them. Mark 10:15-16

Observation: In this wonderful scene, Jesus is simply hanging out and people are bringing their children to be touched by him. He holds, them and blesses them, and even when the disciples try to protect Jesus from all he chaos of this kind of attention, he teaches a lesson about how children represent the innocence and trust and wonder of us all, and that is the proper way for all of us to come to Jesus for joyful blessing.

Application: My first thought today when reading this was, 'oh how wonderful it must have been to be blessed by Jesus himself!' I imagined the amazing life a child who was touched and blessed by Jesus directly must have had, and how such an imprint on them must have marked them and changed them for life.

And then I realized ... Jesus absolutely has touched me and blessed me!! The way he has moved in my life is tangible and real, and I must not downplay or belittle it. The way Jesus has touched me and blessed me has in fact changed my life.

In other words, sometimes I can think like a middle-aged man. I can be sinical about the modern world, looking at the way our churches work or our teachers behave or our society interacts represents a weaker, polluted, corrupt version of how the Lord intends his kingdom to function, that other times and places were/are better, and that certainly all these elements that directly surrounded Jesus himself were far superior. However, that probably isn't how Jesus sees it. The Lord put me here, now. Jesus arrived in my life and turned it around, blesses me daily in big and small ways, and still shows me is very real, very tangible, very present love on a regular basis.

When I think like a child, I remember when Jesus scooped me up in his arms, laid his hands on me, and blessed me. And I know he is still right here to do that every day if and when I let him.

Prayer: Lord, may I think like a child every day. May I receive your love like a child, full of trust and wonder and happiness and innocence. Amen.

When the Lord is Primary

Scripture: When anyone presents a grain offering as an offering to the Lord, it is to consist of fine flour. He is to pour olive oil on it, put frankincense on it, and bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests. The priest will take a handful of fine flour and oil from it, along with all its frankincense, and will burn this memorial portion of it on the altar, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Leviticus 2:1-2

Observation: In the first instructions about the burnt offerings, when it comes to "grain" the offering is to be mixed with oil and frankincense, and then a memorial portion burnt with the rest to be food for priests. The odd part of this is ... frankincense. This is a tree resin primarily used as perfume, and thus it is a natural substance that is edible, but it likely has a very distinctive taste, much like chewing on potpourri or getting a taste of a woman's perfume. Therefore, the likely result of adding this to the offering flour - to be made into the priests' bread - is as follows:

-- It will taste odd to the priests.

-- It will indeed give off a very pleasing aroma when thrown on the alter fire.

Application: As anyone considers how to give to the Lord the 'first and best' of ourselves, here is one interesting example ... when we do something for the Lord, consider the very real and tangible subject of how that thing pleases the Lord first, and make that the priority. Then, any secondary outcome or benefit can still exist, but is a (much) lower priority.

I'm pretty sure the priests would have preferred to not eat bread with perfume in it. However, the purpose of the burnt offering was to produce the "pleasing aroma" that would rise up to the Lord. Therefore, the Jews will indeed be putting perfume into their flour.

I have ways I try to serve the Lord, either by helping others, or being kind, or giving my tithe, or serving at church. In considering such items, I likely think of it as follows: "If I do X, then these people will be helped, and that will please the Lord." While the end result is good, the order is misprioritized. A better model would be, "If I do X, the Lord will be pleased, and furthermore these people will be helped."

Thinking of service in that manner may change what we actually do as a church ... or it might at least realign our hearts to the Lord. Maybe we still feed the poor, but by doing it to first and foremost please and obey the Lord, we truly bring his love more directly into the activity. Maybe we still tell others about Jesus, but by doing it first and foremost to fulfill Jesus' commission to us, we create more space for the Holy Spirit to create our words and work in the hearts of others.

Prayer: Lord, perhaps this is only a mindset issue and not a major problem, but may I consider more and more about how to truly think of you as the primary audience and recipient of everything I do. In this manner, may my heart turn to you more and more. Amen.

Examples of an Unbelieving Generation

Scripture: Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has a spirit that makes him unable to speak. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.” He replied to them, “You unbelieving generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me.” ... Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’? Everything is possible for the one who believes.” Mark 9:17-19,23

Observation: When Jesus returns from the transfiguration, he sees a crowd with his disciples. They have been trying without success to heal a boy with an evil spirit. Jesus succeeds, but after having a few sharp words.

At first he calls "them" an "unbelieving generation" and laments the failure, wondering aloud how long he will have to keep showing them the truth. Then when the boy's father wonders "if" Jesus can heal the boy, Jesus shoots back about the "if" statement with the firm truth that all things are possible for those with faith. It is in the context of this second interaction with the father/crowd that we understand the first interaction ... Jesus was not frustrated by his disciples' inability to heal the boy, he was frustrated with the lack of faith by the Jews who brought the boy. It was this lack of faith that prevented the miracle. Furthermore, when Jesus concludes this scene by saying these types of spirits can only be cast out with prayer and fasting, it is not the disciples who have been failing to pray, it was the crowd and the father.

These people brought this boy for a healing, but the truth is they never believed in the Lord's ability to heal him. They 'hoped' Jesus could, but they had never taken any act of faith - prayers, requests, supplications, and humble submissions to the Lord - to pursue the Lord's response. They are an "unbelieving generation" in that they do not believe in the power and authority of the Lord. They might hope a miracle-man can do something, but that's it.

And this comes on the heels of Jesus' explaining (after the transfiguration) about the alignment between Elijah and John the Baptist. When asked about what it means when prophets have said Elijah must proceed Messiah, Jesus points out this did happen - that John proceeded him - but ALSO that the mission of Elijah/John was to prepare the Jews, and instead the Jews abused John and eventually killed him. Therefore, that is what they will do to Messiah/Jesus too.

These events - the teaching after the transfiguration, and the healing of this boy - are identical in this way. They are about the fact that the Jews want the Lord to provide for their well-being ... they want the Lord to send Messiah to deliver them ... they want the Lord to heal their sick and broken ... however, they actually don't believe he can or will, and therefore they reject the messenger sent to prepare them, they reject the Messiah sent to save them, and all along the reject disciplines they were taught to bring them into the presence and love of the Lord anyway.

Application: Yes, I believe the Lord can and will. However, I do not pray enough and I do not fast enough. I do not do the things to bring myself into the presence and love of the Lord. This is my failure, and today Jesus wonders how long he must put up with me.

Prayer: Lord, you are more than my hope. You are my trust, my rock, my Lord, my savior, my God. In you I have full trust and full belief. Help my unbelief, which takes the form of a wandering mind and lack of attention and focus on you daily. Amen.

Oh, How you Love Me

More than my heart
Could ever fathom
More than my mind
Could ever imagine
How many times
Have you proven you love me!

Redeem Us from Distress

Scripture:
God, redeem Israel, from all its distresses.
Psalm 25:22

Observation: This simple statement summarizes all other prayers and desires of this psalm. As the psalmist wishes and prays for protection and deliverance in a very personal manner, this is actually the true request ... redeem your people, or Lord. When the Lord's people are delivered as a whole, individuals are delivered as an outcome.

Application: I need to be done with social media. While almost everything everyone says bothers me, I was especially troubled the other day by a person questioning proposed actions for peace in the middle east. I can't even get into because the base assumptions of such statements are so flawed that it is impossible to actually correct the conclusions.

And here is the point ... I truly wish that the Lord would simply redeem his people from all worldly distress. I know he will someday. I know he actually does every day even though the world then attacks and encroaches on that relief.

If only I would quit paying attention to the ignorant thoughts of this world, and just keep my mind focused on the things of the Lord, and on the good things he gives us, and on his redemption and love.

Prayer: Lord, please redeem Israel from all distress. And please redeem yours who are faithful in Jesus Christ from all distress. Amen.

Trust in the Daily Bread

Scripture: He instructed them to take nothing for the road except a staff—no bread, no traveling bag, no money in their belts, but to wear sandals and not put on an extra shirt. Mark 6:8-9

Observation: When the 12 are first sent out in Jesus name to heal and bless other towns, this is part of their instructions, to take absolutely and quite literally nothing. They have the clothes they are wearing, and a staff.

There could be a practical reason for this ... the total lack of any sack or pouch, in combination with a staff, means they obviously have nothing of value a robber could want AND a functional weapon, and therefore attacking them is foolish. However, it is clear the real reason for these instructions is a matter of faith.

The disciples will be completely dependent on the 'daily bread' the Lord provides along the way. This goes beyond forgoing self-sufficiency, and moves into the realm of complete trust in the Lord alone. In addition, this opens the door to the idea that the Lord's provision often comes from the goodness of others, and from one's own work being aligned to the Lord's instructions regarding kindness and mercy. As the disciples do the work of the Lord, and as they serve and help others in Jesus' name, they will then receive all they need every day, without fail.

Application: The other day I needed to drive somewhere in inclement winter weather. I changed clothes, took an extra coat and extra shoes, and put them in my four-wheel drive truck. In other words, I had equipment specially designed for what I was doing, and still grabbed a few extra items on the way out the door just in case. This is normal behavior. Going on a walking journey for a month or two without a nickel in your pocket or even a change of shirts is not normal behavior.

That is the point, of course. Jesus doesn't call us to 'normal'. The Lord isn't looking for people who are acting and thinking in accordance with the world's operations. We are called to faith.

I don't think grabbing a coat on your way out the door in winter demonstrates a lack of faith, as my coat was provided by God. Having twenty bucks in my pocket as I walk around isn't due to lack of faith, it is because the Lord provides me with money. That said, faith does involve trusting that the Lord will solve my daily issues, will direct my daily steps, will provide my daily food and drink, will care for my daily health. I do trust in him in all matters.

Prayer: Lord, please do provide us this day our daily bread. You are so loving and so wonderful, may I remember daily that all I need is you alone. Amen.

Claiming the Promise of Faith

Scripture: Having heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothing. For she said, “If I just touch his clothes, I’ll be made well.” Instantly her flow of blood ceased, and she sensed in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Immediately Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” Mark 5:27-30

Observation: Compared to the other healings of Jesus, something obviously unique occurs with this woman. She is healed entirely as an act of her own faith. She believes, touches Jesus clothes, and is healed. Jesus does not touch her, he does not speak to her, and he does not make a decision to heal her. In fact, his healing power is taken from him by her touch, and he is aware of that power leaving him.

This is soon juxtaposed with the people of Nazareth, who doubt Jesus because they have known him and his family for years. The question his power and authority, and as a result Jesus is "not able to do a miracle there" (v6:5) even though he may want to.

There is no doubt as to the message here ... far beyond Jesus' decision-making process for whom he may or may not heal, the miracles of the Messiah are tied - by the very will of the Lord - to the faith of the human individual. It is by faith that the will of the Lord can be initiated. Meanwhile, since it is the Lord's will for us to receive salvation by faith in Messiah, a lack of faith (or perhaps by a declaration of non-faith) can cause the Lord to withdraw his power.

Application: Yes, this is a well-understood concept - that this woman was healed by faith - but it bears importance to remember that the way the Lord can and will act in my life is based on my faith. Yes, of course the Lord has power and authority to do all things, but one of the ways he has chosen to act is by giving humans authority in their own lives, and as stewards of creation itself, and therefore he has decided to align his miracles to our belief.

Right now, I keep wishing that the Lord would fix my mind. I feel like there is something wrong, and it is causing distraction, and these distractions take me further and further from the interactions I should be having with the Lord himself, with the Holy Spirit, and with my wife. I feel like I need a miracle, or at least his power and assistance. Therefore, today I say this ... I fully believe he can help me. I have faith in Jesus as my Lord and savior, and I know the Holy Spirit can redirect my mind to being effective, fruitful, focused, and useful again. Claiming the promise of faith, I reach for the hem of Jesus' robe ...

Prayer: Jesus, please heal my mind. Amen.

Smaller than my Desk

Scripture: They are to make an ark of acacia wood, forty-five inches long, twenty-seven inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high. Exodus 25:10

Observation: The first instruction given to Moses for building the tabernacle is not actually for the tabernacle, but rather for the ark upon which the Lord will sit when meeting with Moses. These are its measurements ... 3 feet 9 inches wide, but 2 feet 3 inches deep and tall.

Application: By comparison, the desk I'm sitting at right now is about the same depth as the ark, but 5 feet wide and close to 3 feet tall. The ark just wasn't very large.

I have thought often recently about the ark. I am one of those people who believes it still exists somewhere, and that its future public reveal will begin a new era of faith, either with great revival or perhaps part of the great tribulation. There are a couple places that claim they have the ark and won't ever let anyone see it, and I'm not sure I believe any of them are telling the truth. I do understand that the ark was not documented as one of the treasures taken by the Babylonians during the fall of Jerusalem, and therefore not destroyed at the time of the exile (and also therefore not returned for the reconstruction of the temple).

I like to think the ark still exists, but I also know that ... it really doesn't matter. While there would be significance if it resurfaced, there wouldn't be any negative significance to it not resurfacing. My faith has nothing to do with the ark, nor does my hope in the Lord, nor my expectations for Jesus' second coming. The ark is a tangential element I like to think upon, but that isn't part of any core element of my belief.

I feel like there are many elements of "faith" that should be described like that ... interesting to think upon, but not core to belief ... and issues arise when we do make them 'core'. I don't need to list all of these, but they certainly occupy a great amount of conversation and attention among believers. And the fact is, compared to the greatness of God, the love of Jesus, and the value of our faith, these issues are all just ... small, certainly smaller than we might think they are, and smaller than even the normal "stuff" we are supposed to be focused on in our everyday walk with the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, I do love the idea of the ark reemerging one day. I wonder upon what might happen in the world if this were to occur. However, I also know that such an event doesn't really matter in comparison to the wonderous things you already do every day, and the way in which you love us. I thank you and honor you today, Lord, for your greatness and splendor. Amen.

He Rules the Nations

Scripture:
All the ends of the earth will remember
and turn to the Lord.
All the families of the nations
will bow down before you,
for kingship belongs to the Lord;
he rules the nations.
Psalm 22:27-28

Observation: Psalm 22 is so clearly a prophesy about the Messiah that it is difficult to read any other way. After verses about a suffering servant being shamed and crucified, with his enemies taking all his possessions, we then discover that by this action the entire world will know the Lord. People from every nation will come to bow down before the Lord, for his servant accomplished the work.

Application: We have reached a time with "all the ends of the earth" have heard of Jesus, and remember him, and by him can turn to the Lord. Yes, not every person does, and that was never going to be true, but the word about a Jewish carpenter who never held a steady job, and never traveled outside his own country, and never visited a town larger than about 25,000, and never wrote a document himself ... has spread to where, 2,000 years later, news of him is everywhere.

Kingship belongs to the Lord, and to Jesus the Christ who sits at his right hand. He rules the nations.

Prayer: Lord, you are the great ruler of not just creation, but of all created. You rule the nations. May you rule our nation, giving all the leaders at all levels wisdom to bring your good into our land. Amen.

Wondering About Moses' Lie

Scripture: The Lord spoke to Moses: "Consecrate every firstborn male to me, the firstborn from every womb among the Israelites, both man and domestic animal; it is mine." ... "For seven days you must eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there is to be a festival to the Lord." ... You are to present to the Lord every firstborn male of the womb. All firstborn offspring of the livestock you own that are males will be the Lord’s. Exodus 13:1,6,12

Observation: When Israel has left Egypt, these are the first conversations. The Lord declares a time for the firstborn to be consecrated to him. As an assembly, they then complete the seven days of the Passover that began on the night when the firstborn of Egypt were killed. Next, Moses reviews what the meaning and purpose of the consecration of the firstborn is about. Finally, they go and make camp in a specific spot, which will be the place Pharaoh will attack them and they will cross the Red Sea to safety.

In other words, upon leaving Egypt, Israel didn't dash to a place by the Red Sea, fearing pursuit from Pharaoh, get trapped and need an escape. Instead, they finished a festival prescribed by the Lord, took an action to dedicate themselves to the Lord, and made camp. It was truly Pharaoh's next action - attempting to make war against them and kill them all - that ultimately put a sea between Israel and Egypt and truly pushed them away forever.

Application: I have often had this thought ... Why was it okay for Moses to lie as part of the Lord's plan? Moses tells Pharaoh that the reason Israel wants to leave is to worship the Lord - not to escape slavery - and that to this ends they must take all their people AND all their livestock. When he says this, we know that the real mission here is 'delivery from slavery', aka escape. So Moses is lying ... right? And lying is a sin ... right? And the Lord hates sin ... right? So how could the Lord make sin part of the exodus plan?

Well here is the answer. He doesn't lie! What he says is true. The people left Egypt to worship the Lord. In real time they received this instruction, that the worship was to be conducted in this new manner called Passover. They did this in a relaxed and worshipful manner, over seven days. They then had to consecrate the first born of all their livestock - from food to work animals - which was something they didn't know they would need when they left Egypt. Recovering from these acts, Pharaoh attacks with the intent to kill them all, and it is this act that actually drives them away and releases them from slavery.

We see that Moses did not lie. Israel left and conducted a week of worship of the Lord. They did so in a new way, which is why they couldn't explain it to Pharaoh. They did so in a place that wasn't revealed to them until they were on their way, led by the Lord himself, so they could not have told Pharaoh their destination. They were suddenly handed new actions to do related to their livestock, so it was clearly necessary to take them.

It is pointless to wonder what would have happened if Pharaoh had done nothing, because the Lord was in charge of both what Moses said, and how Pharaoh acted, so he had this worked out. This is just another of those elements in the bible where, on the surface there are questions, but upon inspection there is total agreement and alignment.

Prayer: Abba, my daddy, you are so wonderful and so interesting, and you have blessed me by both giving your word to all mankind, and giving me a mind to understand at least some of it by your Holy Spirit. Thank you for this day. May we glorify you and your wonderful ways and plans, this day and every day. Amen.

The Final Insult is at God

Scripture: He trusts in God; let God rescue him now—if he takes pleasure in him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ Matthew 27:43

Observation: Shockingly, THIS is the mocking sentiment of the Chief Priest and scribes ... THIS is the way they insult Jesus ... they declare that since he trusts Yahweh, let's see if Yahweh saves him.

That's right, the Chief Priest and the religious leaders don't just insult Jesus for declaring himself the Messiah. The don't just doubt his authority and power. They don't just violate the law by the very manner in which they conducted the trial and execution. Any of these acts individually would have been enough to question their knowledge and authority given their positions. No ... they insult the Lord himself, challenging the idea of trust in the Lord through faith, and mocking a Jew because he dares to believe that the Lord has power and authority.

There are certain readings of the events of the crucifixion that require a detailed reading and historical contextualization to understand the magnitude of what is happening. This is not one of those events. There is no nuance. The religious leaders of the Jews stand before the world and insult the idea that the Lord can save people.

Application: I am almost speechless reading this today. I said this issue doesn't require a close reading, but to be honest I have glossed over this concept in the past. As the very last element of Jesus' ministry, the Jews publicly declare the attitude that Jesus has accused them of all along ... they no longer have faith in the almighty delivering hand of the Lord. And in the end, this is not just Jesus making statements in interpretation of their actions, but rather it is a declaration from their own lips.

I know God doesn't always "deliver" us. That is by his choice, aligned to his purposes and plans, and far beyond our understanding. Even Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego knew this when, standing before the fiery furnace, they declared the Lord could save them, but that he may not, and that did not change the conviction of their faith and obedience to his word.

However, may I never loose faith that he can save. I know he can, in any and all situations. I know that saving may not take the form I hope for, and that's my fault for hoping for the wrong things. In the end, I may doubt what God WILL do, but I will never doubt what he CAN do.

Prayer: Lord, you are my fortress, my rock, and my salvation. I do trust in you alone. Please forgive me for when I disobey your precepts and commands, and for when my heart wanders from you. I wish to be more and more of what you want me to be here on earth. I believe in you, and that goes for every aspect by which that phrase applies. Amen.

Darkness you can Feel

Scripture: Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, and there will be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness that can be felt.” So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness throughout the land of Egypt for three days. One person could not see another, and for three days they did not move from where they were. Yet all the Israelites had light where they lived. Exodus 10:21-23

Observation: As the nineth plague, the Lord brings darkness to Egypt. This is, of course, his attack on the Egypt's sun god Ra. However, this darkness is truly amazing. It is not that the darkness is achieved by blocking out the sun and the sky. Instead, the Lord brings darkness as a 'thing'. It can be felt. It affects candles and lamps in people's homes. It is so total that even human eyes cannot adjust so the people do not even move because it would be unsafe.

Many of the plagues are beyond powerful. They are described as the worst event of their kind in the history of Egypt. However, this isn't just 'the worst' darkness. This is a different human experience altogether. God didn't stop the transmission of light, but instead he allowed a darkness to exist in and around every person so that all they could experience was the dark. They saw only the dark. They felt the dark ... it was touching them. For these three days, darkness wasn't the absence of light ... it was its own entity that became the only thing the Egyptians could experience, even though there was still a source of light (which is why the Israelites had light).

Perhaps this was the example from the Lord ... Evil is not 'just' the absence of good, but it is an actual thing. When that evil is all that is in a person's life, and surrounds them entirely, it becomes the entirety of their experience. They can feel it, and they can't see or feel anything else or any source of good or love. And many don't move out of it.

Application: I know people whose lives are wrapped up in and committed to evil ideas and wicked ways, and every day their lives are effectively consumed by mental anguish and daily hardship ... and they see no correlation. They just remain within the ideals they now believe as truth, staying in proximity to the source of those issues, lamenting their anxiety and stress and sadness ... and they don't move.

The situation is NOT that the love of God isn't right here in the earth. It is that they are living in the evil - it is a tangible thing surrounding them - and it is what they choose to see and feel. They are walking in darkness, and not even trying to find any great light. They would rather remain where they are.

Prayer: Lord, may more people who are walking in darkness see a great light. May everyone who lives a life in such a way that all they seem to be able to 'feel' is some oppressive negativity become aware that that isn't normal, and may they respond by seeking your love, which is right there for them if they would only open their eyes and their hearts. Amen.

Choice Makes All the Difference

Scripture: Then Jesus told him, "Put your sword back in its place because all who take up the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and he will provide me here and now with more than twelve legions of angels? How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?" Matthew 26:52-54

Observation: There is an interesting logic problem contained in Jesus' words here. Jesus confirms it is the will of the Lord, as documented by prophesy in scriptures, that Jesus will go through what is about to happen to him. He also declares that he himself has the authority to call to the Lord for help to stop it from happening. Therefore, is Jesus saying that ... he has the free will to circumvent the word of the Lord? Is he saying that he could make a decision to defy the Lord's own word, and if he chose to do so the Lord himself would not just permit but assist such defiance?

The answer is surprising, for it appears to be ... yes, that is exactly what Jesus is saying. Jesus is saying that not only does he have a choice to make when comes to fulfilling the scriptures as Messiah, but that if he were to choose to not go through with it, Yahweh - the Lord God almighty who has planned this redemption for mankind from the very beginning - would provide his own heavenly resources alter that plan.

And this itself is what makes the sacrifice 'work' for all mankind. While Messiah was predestined for sacrifice, Jesus completely and 100 percent chose to accept it. The fact he could have opted out, and not only avoided the path but had the Lord's help in doing so, makes all the difference.

Application: This aspect of predestination vs. free will is exactly the same model we as Christians should understand from the rest of the bible. We ARE all both predestined to become disciples of Jesus, BUT we can choose not to believe, and if we make that choice the Lord WILL not only allow it, but will even continue with his love toward us when we are in that state of rejecting him.

Jesus is the first to really demonstrate this, as his resurrection created a different context for us to understand the longer-term promises of the Lord. His resurrection was the proof that what he said here was true and not hyperbole. 

Many of us Christians get concerned about forfeiting our faith. It is helpful to think we were chosen by Jesus, but that creates other conflicts within us about how free will may or may not exist, and about why others may not be chosen. It is a complex logic problem, but Jesus does reveal the answer. We all are chosen, then we all have a free will choice.

I know I have that choice. I choose Jesus. I choose to believe Jesus is the Messiah, my Lord and savior, the son of the Lord God almighty, creator of heaven and earth, and in him I place my faith and my hope and my life.

Prayer: Lord, I actually do thank you for the choice we have, for it is only by that choice that our faith could possibly matter. May my choice manifest as better decisions and actions today, in your name. Amen.

When we Don't 'Know' God

Scripture: The man who had received one talent also approached and said, "Master, I know you. You’re a harsh man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed." Matthew 25:24

Observation: The parable of the talents is easily understood as metaphorical, with the Lord as the master, the servants being mankind, and talents being responsibility and opportunity and blessings given to us here on earth. While two servants have used the talents to make the master a profit, the third did nothing with what he was given, and this is his reason ... he is afraid and played it safe because he knows the master. In this knowledge, he describes the master as a "harsh man", and his example of the master's harshness is that he reaps and gathers crops from fields he did not plant.

There's a major problem with this. The master is NOT a harsh man, and he does not do what the servant claims he does. Not only is there no evidence of this in the parable, there is evidence of just the opposite. He gives the servants talents because he explicitly trusts them with his very possessions. He is a rich man and likely owns all the fields anywhere these servants may know of. In other words, the problem is that this servant absolutely does NOT know the master, and as a result he completely misinterprets the actions of the master and reaches the entirely wrong conclusion about the master's character.

Application: I know Christians who absolutely and completely do not know Jesus. I sure I do not know him well enough, but I know his and the Lord's love and grace and mercy. I know of his wisdom and authority, and also his patience and kindness.

It is interesting to think upon this servant who claims to know his master when he absolutely does not ... then read this side-by-side with Job where the Lord declares all the 'experts' who 'know' him have spoken falsely and Job himself confesses that he is so ignorant of the truth about the Lord that he will never presume to speak on his purposes ever again. And then I can't help but see the words and actions of certain Christians I know who are so quick to tell me and especially my wife about what they 'know' of God and his intentions and plans.

Prayer: Lord, I pray for those I am thinking of. May they find a way to know you. Amen.

Seeing the Leaves Sprout Today

Scripture: Learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, recognize that he is near—at the door. Matthew 24:32-33

Observation: The parable about the fig tree is that, even though we cannot know the time of the second coming of Jesus, there will be signs that we can understand if we are wise and understanding of the ways of the Lord. This is a lesson Jesus has taught a couple times about both his second coming, and about his current ministry, using various signs of nature that all can understand to indicate that - if we were wise and paying attention - we would see signs of the Messiah.

Application: The real question is, what are the signs of the Messiah we should be looking for today? They are not the list of theoretical events Jesus previously listed, and certainly he did not give definitive information. However, similar to seeing signs of nature and just 'understanding' what they mean, and having experiences in the past that help us in that understanding, perhaps we can know better when the second coming will be.

In this way ... the attitudes and authority of those who oppose the Lord's precepts and teachings has that "feel" to it for sure. The spiritual war over gender and identity creates a scenario that is different in spiritual history, which sure seems like it could represent a new season coming soon.

I fail at always being prepared and on the lookout for my master's return. I clearly spend some days where I am not properly behaving, thinking, and performing as Jesus would like.  This is an area I need to clean up, for I do feel like there is a new season coming. Yes, many generations of Christians have thought that - even prayed for it - but it feels like the "leaves" are sprouting and turning, and that so many elements of the world are indicating that something major is coming.

Prayer: Lord, may I do better at preparing for your return every day. I do not know the day and hour of your coming, but I wish to be on watch and prepared. Amen.

He Despises No One

Scripture:
Yes, God is mighty, but he despises no one;
he understands all things.
Job 36:5

Observation: This entire passage of Job - the response of Elihu - is amazing for this one consistent theme ... God is so wonderous, so mighty, so great, and so wise, that even to engage in conversations about how he may or may not bless and punish anyone is pure foolishness. Elihu goes into so many examples, but all those examples are consistent with this theme.

The issue is not whether or not the Lord does or does not hold the evil accountable. The issue is not whether or not the Lord does or does not bless the righteous. The issue is not whether or not the Lord cares about our sin. The issue is not whether or not the Lord is aware of the actions of men.

Instead, the fact is that the Lord despises no one. The fact is the Lord loves everyone. The fact is the Lord controls every aspect of the world. The fact is the Lord shows his wonder and majesty and love to everyone. The fact is the Lord teaches everyone about goodness and love and righteousness. The fact is the Lord has it all under control, and to even take time to ask him about the current issues of your life - let alone the comparisons of your problems and blessings in comparison to someone else's apparent problems and blessings - is to forget that the Lord is in control.

Application: I am so amazed by this entire passage, but I am going to hold onto this truth ... the Lord despises no one. The Lord is so wonderful and perfect that he will not despise even those people who actively despise him and his creation that he loves.

Prayer: Lord, you know too well how often I have wished that you would take action to correct the issues of our day. I forget the truth that you even love those who hate you, and that you are working on a billion different things at every single moment that could overhaul their hearts if they would allow it. All I understand is that I can never understand. However, I can trust. You are in control. You are on your throne. Amen.