Purity today does not mean what it used to. A white wedding dress does not symbolize a virgin purity the way it used to, and at least in my generation, if you are "pure" you are considered to be nerdy, a goodie two-shoes, or less than. It's as if purity is equated with weakness on some levels. But that's not what Jesus said about purity...
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."
First of all, it's important for us to know that in Hebrew, the "heart" included all that was inside you -- you mind, your feelings, your will. That basically includes all of you except your actions. But as Matthew says later in chapter 15, "out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander." And in chapter 12, "out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks," be it good or bad. We think that our hearts are automatically pure, but they are not. Our hearts are automatically evil from the moment we are born, and we should not trust our hearts. They will deceive us. We need to trust the Holy Spirit in us.
So what does a pure heart look like? You have no hidden agendas -- just one goal -- and that is to live for Christ. You are purely devoted to Him, and you live transparently so others can see the work He's doing in you.
And so how do you see God? Well, no one has seen God (according to John 1:18). So, you may not see Him with your physical eyes just yet, but He will bless you with visions of Him and a knowledge and understanding of who He really is. These are the privileges granted to the angels -- and the pure in heart.
And some day soon, you will see Him face to face...
Coffee with Jesus
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-5)
The Beatitudes have always baffled me. I can tell that they are beautifully written, yet when I read them, they don't completely make sense to me. I am sure that over the course of my lifetime, I will continue to learn more about the depth of what Jesus said here, but for now I sit and ponder what Christ is saying to me today in these words.
I think the first thing that I notice in this passage is the verse even before the actual Beatitudes begin:
"Now when He saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach." He sat down to teach THEM -- His disciples! I've always thought that He was teaching to the whole crowd. But if He was teaching to the whole crowd, He would have stood on the mountain so that everyone could hear him. Jesus saw the crowds, had observed the size of the crowd that was following Him, and was concerned that the disciples would fall prey to the fame and prestige that they were beginning to acquire as "Jesus' disciples". So, He took them, His inner circle of men, and began to speak to their hearts. He's not saying all of this to the crowd of people who are just intrigued by Jesus and what He's supposedly done to the people in the community (healed them), but He's saying this to those of us who already love Him and follow Him and serve Him. He's concerned that they are going to focus on the wrong things, so here is to what He is bringing them back. He's helping them re-focus.
Today, I am looking at this passage as something personal. To me from Jesus.
First of all, in some additional reading I did this morning, I learned that the Greek and Hebrew for the word "Blessed" in these phrases is like a child who knows that they will inherit their parent's farm. The child does not have to do X in order to gain Y, but rather, these passages are saying the "key element to her happy and secure life is that she and the community around her know that the farm will one day be hers. The first statement affirms a happy state that already exists. The second statement affirms a future that allows her even now to live a happy life." This is not an "if-then" format, but rather the connecting word is "for" (Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.) The "for" signifies something that already exists.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
"Poor in spirit" is the opposite of proud. The kingdom of heaven can only be accepted by people who understand and accept their need for Jesus. In order to inherit the kingdom, just as the above girl inherited her parent's farm, we must first come to the understanding that we need a Savior and that that Savior is Jesus Christ. In order to accept that, our hearts must be in a place of humility. Humility and self-sacrifice is key in the kingdom of heaven. May I never forget what Christ has done for me in order that I will always remember my calling to be likewise.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
I can remember my mom's funeral like it was yesterday. Let me tell you, if I die on the way to work this morning, make my funeral like hers. We were in the midst of mourning her death, and the tears were never-ending. Yet, we joined with hundreds of other believers, an incredible band, and an enormous choir and sang our hearts out to the Lord. It was as if all of Heaven was singing with us. I know we were not the only beings in that room that day. Our hearts were full, and I sensed deep down in my soul that there really is something more than what we can see here. It's real. My mourning reminded me that this is not my "home", and the joy I found in singing at the top of my lungs with hundreds of people whom I love and the energy that stirred in my soul reminded me that "home" is going to be amazing! In the midst of mourning, my heart was glad and my soul rejoiced. That is the comfort that comes in knowing Jesus Christ.
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."
One author describes the meek as being "those who humbly seek God. They are neither too bold or too timid." We have "confidence in approaching God" (1 John 5:14). We aren't just silent in a corner, waiting for what God wants us to do. We are a partnership with Him on this earth -- He doesn't need us, but He wants us. Again, we need to approach Him with humility, but we should approach Him confidence. According to the book below, the Hebrew word refers to the "poor and humble" which is how many translations characterize the word meek as we relate to God. The Greek term for "meek" focuses on relationships between people. Here the "meek" refers to one who "becomes angry on the right grounds against the right person in the right manner at the right moment for the right length of time" regarding the injustice done against others. Both of these views could be gems gleaned from the text. I'm going to have to do a little more study on that myself.
I think three parts are enough to think about for one day...and, I'm late for work. Until tomorrow!
Jesus Through Middle Easter Eyes. Bailey, Kenneth E. 2008
I think the first thing that I notice in this passage is the verse even before the actual Beatitudes begin:
"Now when He saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach." He sat down to teach THEM -- His disciples! I've always thought that He was teaching to the whole crowd. But if He was teaching to the whole crowd, He would have stood on the mountain so that everyone could hear him. Jesus saw the crowds, had observed the size of the crowd that was following Him, and was concerned that the disciples would fall prey to the fame and prestige that they were beginning to acquire as "Jesus' disciples". So, He took them, His inner circle of men, and began to speak to their hearts. He's not saying all of this to the crowd of people who are just intrigued by Jesus and what He's supposedly done to the people in the community (healed them), but He's saying this to those of us who already love Him and follow Him and serve Him. He's concerned that they are going to focus on the wrong things, so here is to what He is bringing them back. He's helping them re-focus.
Today, I am looking at this passage as something personal. To me from Jesus.
First of all, in some additional reading I did this morning, I learned that the Greek and Hebrew for the word "Blessed" in these phrases is like a child who knows that they will inherit their parent's farm. The child does not have to do X in order to gain Y, but rather, these passages are saying the "key element to her happy and secure life is that she and the community around her know that the farm will one day be hers. The first statement affirms a happy state that already exists. The second statement affirms a future that allows her even now to live a happy life." This is not an "if-then" format, but rather the connecting word is "for" (Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.) The "for" signifies something that already exists.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
"Poor in spirit" is the opposite of proud. The kingdom of heaven can only be accepted by people who understand and accept their need for Jesus. In order to inherit the kingdom, just as the above girl inherited her parent's farm, we must first come to the understanding that we need a Savior and that that Savior is Jesus Christ. In order to accept that, our hearts must be in a place of humility. Humility and self-sacrifice is key in the kingdom of heaven. May I never forget what Christ has done for me in order that I will always remember my calling to be likewise.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
I can remember my mom's funeral like it was yesterday. Let me tell you, if I die on the way to work this morning, make my funeral like hers. We were in the midst of mourning her death, and the tears were never-ending. Yet, we joined with hundreds of other believers, an incredible band, and an enormous choir and sang our hearts out to the Lord. It was as if all of Heaven was singing with us. I know we were not the only beings in that room that day. Our hearts were full, and I sensed deep down in my soul that there really is something more than what we can see here. It's real. My mourning reminded me that this is not my "home", and the joy I found in singing at the top of my lungs with hundreds of people whom I love and the energy that stirred in my soul reminded me that "home" is going to be amazing! In the midst of mourning, my heart was glad and my soul rejoiced. That is the comfort that comes in knowing Jesus Christ.
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."
One author describes the meek as being "those who humbly seek God. They are neither too bold or too timid." We have "confidence in approaching God" (1 John 5:14). We aren't just silent in a corner, waiting for what God wants us to do. We are a partnership with Him on this earth -- He doesn't need us, but He wants us. Again, we need to approach Him with humility, but we should approach Him confidence. According to the book below, the Hebrew word refers to the "poor and humble" which is how many translations characterize the word meek as we relate to God. The Greek term for "meek" focuses on relationships between people. Here the "meek" refers to one who "becomes angry on the right grounds against the right person in the right manner at the right moment for the right length of time" regarding the injustice done against others. Both of these views could be gems gleaned from the text. I'm going to have to do a little more study on that myself.
I think three parts are enough to think about for one day...and, I'm late for work. Until tomorrow!
Jesus Through Middle Easter Eyes. Bailey, Kenneth E. 2008
Monday, August 15, 2011
Matthew 4:18-22 (Jesus Calling You)
"As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him."
As I'm reading through Matthew, my purpose is to learn more about WHO Jesus was as a human being (while still being God...I know, it's crazy). What I see here is that Jesus, walking along the shore of the sea when He sees these two brothers, "Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew." And they were in the middle of doing their job. "They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen." Jesus approaches them and begins to have a conversation with them, and He says, “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Or as the NLT puts it, "Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!"
What stuck out to me is that, as I know to be true with Jesus, His greatest concern is ALWAYS people. Here I see Him calling these two people to come follow Him, and this is the Peter that would deny Christ three times and then later be willing to die by crucifixion upside down for the name of Christ! Jesus knows that in calling these people to follow Him, He is going to change their lives forever for the good. He also has a concern for other people -- the people for whom he's asking Peter and Andrew to help him fish. People are a big deal -- the biggest deal -- the God. They matter most!
What I really love, is that Jesus is the ultimate story-teller and parallel-maker. He's not asking Peter and Andrew to give up their hands-on trade of fishing to become mathematicians or artists. He's telling them, I can use your gifts and talents as they are to bring people to Me! No matter what you do, Jesus is saying, I gave you those talents and gifts so you could develop them and then use them for my Kingdom. Jesus said " Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!" If you are a teacher, He would say to you, I will show you how to teach my people. If you are a musician, He would say to you, I will show you how to lead my people in worship to Me. If you use your hands in construction, He would say to you, I will show you how to build relationships as you serve the people around you (maybe even through what you physically build).
Jesus is not asking us to follow Him and leave all the things we can do well behind, but instead, He has developed those gifts and talents in us so that He could be seen in us as we do them. So I ask you, how can you use the talents you have to serve the people around you? Jesus is calling you to do what you do -- for Him.
No matter what you do, or where you work, He's calling us to do what we do for His glory. I love the new song by Steven Curtis Chapman called "Do Everything." I hope you can take the time to listen to it today if you haven't heard it, or even if you have. Just click the link below, and it's the first song that comes up (at least on the day that I posted this).
No matter what we are doing today, let's do it for Him. Be encouraged my friend, no matter what you do, "let me remind you it all matters...just as long as you do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you."
http://stevencurtischapman.com/
As I'm reading through Matthew, my purpose is to learn more about WHO Jesus was as a human being (while still being God...I know, it's crazy). What I see here is that Jesus, walking along the shore of the sea when He sees these two brothers, "Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew." And they were in the middle of doing their job. "They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen." Jesus approaches them and begins to have a conversation with them, and He says, “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Or as the NLT puts it, "Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!"
What stuck out to me is that, as I know to be true with Jesus, His greatest concern is ALWAYS people. Here I see Him calling these two people to come follow Him, and this is the Peter that would deny Christ three times and then later be willing to die by crucifixion upside down for the name of Christ! Jesus knows that in calling these people to follow Him, He is going to change their lives forever for the good. He also has a concern for other people -- the people for whom he's asking Peter and Andrew to help him fish. People are a big deal -- the biggest deal -- the God. They matter most!
What I really love, is that Jesus is the ultimate story-teller and parallel-maker. He's not asking Peter and Andrew to give up their hands-on trade of fishing to become mathematicians or artists. He's telling them, I can use your gifts and talents as they are to bring people to Me! No matter what you do, Jesus is saying, I gave you those talents and gifts so you could develop them and then use them for my Kingdom. Jesus said " Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!" If you are a teacher, He would say to you, I will show you how to teach my people. If you are a musician, He would say to you, I will show you how to lead my people in worship to Me. If you use your hands in construction, He would say to you, I will show you how to build relationships as you serve the people around you (maybe even through what you physically build).
Jesus is not asking us to follow Him and leave all the things we can do well behind, but instead, He has developed those gifts and talents in us so that He could be seen in us as we do them. So I ask you, how can you use the talents you have to serve the people around you? Jesus is calling you to do what you do -- for Him.
No matter what you do, or where you work, He's calling us to do what we do for His glory. I love the new song by Steven Curtis Chapman called "Do Everything." I hope you can take the time to listen to it today if you haven't heard it, or even if you have. Just click the link below, and it's the first song that comes up (at least on the day that I posted this).
No matter what we are doing today, let's do it for Him. Be encouraged my friend, no matter what you do, "let me remind you it all matters...just as long as you do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you."
http://stevencurtischapman.com/
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Matthew 4:1-11 (Temptation)
I have recently really come to love this part of the Bible where Jesus is tempted. Not because I desire that Christ would have to endure temptation, but because of the example He sets for us on how to overcome it, when it happens, and why it happens.
First of all, we must realize who is behind ALL of our temptations: satan. Many Christians today believe that satan is more a spirit or an idea of evil rather than an actual being. But here, it is quite clear that he is a real creature as he interacts with Jesus. Remember how we've recently talked about satan being a liar -- that it is his nature to lie? A temptation is a lie! It's the thought in your head that if you could just get _____ then you would be _____. But unless it is found in scripture, it is not true.
And look who took Jesus out to be tempted! The Holy Spirit. Verse 1 says, "Then Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted there by the devil." It seems cruel, doesn't it? But in Deuteronomy 8:2, we read that God led Israel into the wilderness to humble and test them. The Lord wants to see if we, His people, will really obey Him in times of pressure. It's not to be cruel and to watch us suffer, but rather so that there is proof of your convictions -- will you stay strong or give into temptation? The Lord knows us, so I can't imagine that the testing and temptation would be merely for His sake, but I fully believe tempting is also for our sake. I can know, for myself, that when I don't give into temptation that my convictions are strong. And, I also know the Truth of the lack of my convictions when I have fallen into temptation. I can't lie to myself about the strength of my convictions if I've just fallen into temptation, can I? If you aren't sure of the strength of your trust in Jesus, just wait for a little temptation to come (and it will come).
The fact that it will come doesn't have to be a burden to us though, because my favorite part about what Jesus demonstrates here is what to do in the midst of temptation. He fights satan's lies with the Word. Satan catches onto this little game, and even satan himself uses a passage of scripture to tempt Jesus. But Jesus knows the context of that scripture, so He refutes satan with the truth in a different passage. We have GOT to learn the Word, my friends! We can't know if what is in our heads is our voice, satan's voice, or God's voice unless we know what He says. One verse I came across lately has been challenging me when it comes to learning the Word. It's in Deuteronomy 6, and it says, "And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." My mom did this so well when we were kids. There was Scripture in our house on the walls and refrigerator that I memorized just by seeing it so often, and she bought different scripture memory cassette tapes that we'd listen to in the car, singing along at the top of our lungs. Those verses are sealed in my brain, and they HAVE come up time to time when I have needed to know Truth. We don't just have to sit and read an index card over and over until we have a verse memorized, but we can let it be just part of our day. We don't have to literally wear it on our foreheads, but that is a picture of close it should be us -- near by, easy to access, and dear to our hearts.
Finally, Jesus commanded satan to leave, and he did. In Jesus' name, we can do the same thing -- I've done it! The One who is more powerful will protect you. In a few verses previously, satan quotes the following to Jesus when he tempts Him to jump off the highest point in Jerusalem saying, "He orders his angels to protect you. And they will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on stone." But Jesus reminds satan that "the Scriptures also say, 'Do not test the Lord your God.' " And I find it interesting that satan knows this scripture about angels protecting us, because this is exactly the scripture we need to know when we are feeling tempted and want satan to flee! It comes from Psalm 91 (read the whole thing, it's amazing, but here's part of it). Verse 9 begins with,
"If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.
11 For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!"
When we are being tempted, we need to verbally say who we serve and who our refuge is! (Remember, satan can't read your mind, but he can hear your voice). Declare that Jesus Christ is your Lord, and in His name, you can command satan to leave. Then just as they did for Jesus, His angels will come and care for you and protect you.
You are safe today, my friend. Call on His name when you are tempted, and He will rescue you!
First of all, we must realize who is behind ALL of our temptations: satan. Many Christians today believe that satan is more a spirit or an idea of evil rather than an actual being. But here, it is quite clear that he is a real creature as he interacts with Jesus. Remember how we've recently talked about satan being a liar -- that it is his nature to lie? A temptation is a lie! It's the thought in your head that if you could just get _____ then you would be _____. But unless it is found in scripture, it is not true.
And look who took Jesus out to be tempted! The Holy Spirit. Verse 1 says, "Then Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted there by the devil." It seems cruel, doesn't it? But in Deuteronomy 8:2, we read that God led Israel into the wilderness to humble and test them. The Lord wants to see if we, His people, will really obey Him in times of pressure. It's not to be cruel and to watch us suffer, but rather so that there is proof of your convictions -- will you stay strong or give into temptation? The Lord knows us, so I can't imagine that the testing and temptation would be merely for His sake, but I fully believe tempting is also for our sake. I can know, for myself, that when I don't give into temptation that my convictions are strong. And, I also know the Truth of the lack of my convictions when I have fallen into temptation. I can't lie to myself about the strength of my convictions if I've just fallen into temptation, can I? If you aren't sure of the strength of your trust in Jesus, just wait for a little temptation to come (and it will come).
The fact that it will come doesn't have to be a burden to us though, because my favorite part about what Jesus demonstrates here is what to do in the midst of temptation. He fights satan's lies with the Word. Satan catches onto this little game, and even satan himself uses a passage of scripture to tempt Jesus. But Jesus knows the context of that scripture, so He refutes satan with the truth in a different passage. We have GOT to learn the Word, my friends! We can't know if what is in our heads is our voice, satan's voice, or God's voice unless we know what He says. One verse I came across lately has been challenging me when it comes to learning the Word. It's in Deuteronomy 6, and it says, "And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." My mom did this so well when we were kids. There was Scripture in our house on the walls and refrigerator that I memorized just by seeing it so often, and she bought different scripture memory cassette tapes that we'd listen to in the car, singing along at the top of our lungs. Those verses are sealed in my brain, and they HAVE come up time to time when I have needed to know Truth. We don't just have to sit and read an index card over and over until we have a verse memorized, but we can let it be just part of our day. We don't have to literally wear it on our foreheads, but that is a picture of close it should be us -- near by, easy to access, and dear to our hearts.
Finally, Jesus commanded satan to leave, and he did. In Jesus' name, we can do the same thing -- I've done it! The One who is more powerful will protect you. In a few verses previously, satan quotes the following to Jesus when he tempts Him to jump off the highest point in Jerusalem saying, "He orders his angels to protect you. And they will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on stone." But Jesus reminds satan that "the Scriptures also say, 'Do not test the Lord your God.' " And I find it interesting that satan knows this scripture about angels protecting us, because this is exactly the scripture we need to know when we are feeling tempted and want satan to flee! It comes from Psalm 91 (read the whole thing, it's amazing, but here's part of it). Verse 9 begins with,
"If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.
11 For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!"
When we are being tempted, we need to verbally say who we serve and who our refuge is! (Remember, satan can't read your mind, but he can hear your voice). Declare that Jesus Christ is your Lord, and in His name, you can command satan to leave. Then just as they did for Jesus, His angels will come and care for you and protect you.
You are safe today, my friend. Call on His name when you are tempted, and He will rescue you!
Monday, August 8, 2011
Matthew 3 (The Proof is in the Fruit)
We've talked about fruit before. The genetic make-up of an apple tree makes it produce apples; pear trees produce pears, etc. It is my desire as I continue in my walk with Christ, that He would take away the parts of me that produce sin (because of my gentic make-up as a sinful human being), and replace those parts with Himself so that I may grow in my production of Christ-likeness.
Today, the main focus of this chapter revolves around the Pharisees and Sadducees. As they approach the Jordan River to be baptized, John the Baptist actually denounces them by saying, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee the coming wrath?" My goodness, that sounds harsh to someone who is coming to be baptized. Yet, John knew where their hearts really were, and they were coming to baptized for all the wrong reasons. Let's take a closer look at who they were.
My study Bible says the Pharisees were a strict group of religious Jews who "advocated obedience to the most minute proportions of the Jewish law and traditions." They were very influential people in the synagogues, where people came to worship God. They would separate themselves from anything non-Jewish, and behave as if their own religious rules were just as important as God's rules. However, they often created a standard of perfection that even they themselves could not live up to. They also believed that salvation came from perfect obedience to the law that than forgiveness of sins, and they ignored God's message about mercy and grace.
As I look on the description of them, I can be quite quick to judge them. From what we read that John the Baptist said to them and later comments Jesus made about them, it's not surprising that we would feel judgement -- they were hypocrites. There isn't a lot that I despise more than a hypocrite, and yet, I can see myself in them some, too. In our churches, we behave as if our own denominational rules are just as important as what the Bible specifically teaches -- but the Bible doesn't say a word about what kind of music we play in church, do we have candles or not, can people wear jeans or not, hymns verses praise choruses. The Church is the place where people want to come to connect with God, yet we often push people away by our quick judgements and our fake, outer shells of perfection as if you need to have all of your act together before you can be in right standing with God. Or perhaps you separate yourself from anything non-Christian? Your kids only go to Christian schools; you have only Christian friends; or you listen to 100% only Christian music with the thought that God will approve of you more for doing these things. Or worse -- others will approve of you more. Or maybe when you see someone homeless on the street, watch someone being arrested and taken to jail on t.v., or a pass a homosexual person in the grocery store you pass judgement in your mind without thinking a second thought about the heart of that person and what their life story has been. Sometimes, we all are nothing more than a brood of vipers, aren't we?
Or maybe you relate more with the Sadducees. The Sadducees believed that only the first five books of the Bible were actually God's word. They all came from priestly nobility and heritage and put great focus and energy in maintaining their status and influential positions -- often at the expense of compromising their values. Because of their wealthy backgrounds, there were often highly educated and relied primarily on their "logic" rather than the importance of faith. They also often used the Temple as a place to conduct business rather than maintaining that it was God's house and sacred.
What about you? Do you pick and choose the parts of the Bible that you want to be true? Perhaps you have come from some money, or maybe you haven't, but do you focus on your social status more than you focus on your character and value system? Maybe you have been given the gift of receiving a lot of education, but now you seem to have lost your sense of "faith" because you'll only agree with things that cane be proven or make complete sense in your mind? Or maybe you've started to view church as a place to network with people rather than a place to connect with God. Again, I can see myself in some of these attitudes. Judgement, self-righteousness, and self-centeredness are not the fruits that our relationship with Christ and our knowledge of the Bible should produce in us. If we are producing these things as the Pharisees and Sadducees did, then our hearts on not on Christ but on ourselves!
But what John the Baptist said to the Pharisees and Sadducees didn't stop there. The next line was "Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God. Don't just say, 'We're safe--we're the descendants of Abraham.' That proves nothing....Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire." It's never too late to turn to God, and the NIV says "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance," meaning that every day we need to be turning our hearts back toward Him. If our parents, children, or friends are in good standing with Christ, that means nothing about where we stand. The proof is in the fruit -- not a meticulous following of a long set of rules but of a new attitude of service to Jesus Christ!
Repent this morning of poor and selfish attitudes you've had recently, and then allow yourself to be baptized by His grace and mercy. His mercies are new every morning when we repent and decide to go in a different direction. And may we not be so quick to judge when we hear the words Pharisees and Sadducees, but may we take that opportunity to be reminded to check our own hearts and attitudes. The proof is in the fruit.
Today, the main focus of this chapter revolves around the Pharisees and Sadducees. As they approach the Jordan River to be baptized, John the Baptist actually denounces them by saying, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee the coming wrath?" My goodness, that sounds harsh to someone who is coming to be baptized. Yet, John knew where their hearts really were, and they were coming to baptized for all the wrong reasons. Let's take a closer look at who they were.
My study Bible says the Pharisees were a strict group of religious Jews who "advocated obedience to the most minute proportions of the Jewish law and traditions." They were very influential people in the synagogues, where people came to worship God. They would separate themselves from anything non-Jewish, and behave as if their own religious rules were just as important as God's rules. However, they often created a standard of perfection that even they themselves could not live up to. They also believed that salvation came from perfect obedience to the law that than forgiveness of sins, and they ignored God's message about mercy and grace.
As I look on the description of them, I can be quite quick to judge them. From what we read that John the Baptist said to them and later comments Jesus made about them, it's not surprising that we would feel judgement -- they were hypocrites. There isn't a lot that I despise more than a hypocrite, and yet, I can see myself in them some, too. In our churches, we behave as if our own denominational rules are just as important as what the Bible specifically teaches -- but the Bible doesn't say a word about what kind of music we play in church, do we have candles or not, can people wear jeans or not, hymns verses praise choruses. The Church is the place where people want to come to connect with God, yet we often push people away by our quick judgements and our fake, outer shells of perfection as if you need to have all of your act together before you can be in right standing with God. Or perhaps you separate yourself from anything non-Christian? Your kids only go to Christian schools; you have only Christian friends; or you listen to 100% only Christian music with the thought that God will approve of you more for doing these things. Or worse -- others will approve of you more. Or maybe when you see someone homeless on the street, watch someone being arrested and taken to jail on t.v., or a pass a homosexual person in the grocery store you pass judgement in your mind without thinking a second thought about the heart of that person and what their life story has been. Sometimes, we all are nothing more than a brood of vipers, aren't we?
Or maybe you relate more with the Sadducees. The Sadducees believed that only the first five books of the Bible were actually God's word. They all came from priestly nobility and heritage and put great focus and energy in maintaining their status and influential positions -- often at the expense of compromising their values. Because of their wealthy backgrounds, there were often highly educated and relied primarily on their "logic" rather than the importance of faith. They also often used the Temple as a place to conduct business rather than maintaining that it was God's house and sacred.
What about you? Do you pick and choose the parts of the Bible that you want to be true? Perhaps you have come from some money, or maybe you haven't, but do you focus on your social status more than you focus on your character and value system? Maybe you have been given the gift of receiving a lot of education, but now you seem to have lost your sense of "faith" because you'll only agree with things that cane be proven or make complete sense in your mind? Or maybe you've started to view church as a place to network with people rather than a place to connect with God. Again, I can see myself in some of these attitudes. Judgement, self-righteousness, and self-centeredness are not the fruits that our relationship with Christ and our knowledge of the Bible should produce in us. If we are producing these things as the Pharisees and Sadducees did, then our hearts on not on Christ but on ourselves!
But what John the Baptist said to the Pharisees and Sadducees didn't stop there. The next line was "Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God. Don't just say, 'We're safe--we're the descendants of Abraham.' That proves nothing....Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire." It's never too late to turn to God, and the NIV says "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance," meaning that every day we need to be turning our hearts back toward Him. If our parents, children, or friends are in good standing with Christ, that means nothing about where we stand. The proof is in the fruit -- not a meticulous following of a long set of rules but of a new attitude of service to Jesus Christ!
Repent this morning of poor and selfish attitudes you've had recently, and then allow yourself to be baptized by His grace and mercy. His mercies are new every morning when we repent and decide to go in a different direction. And may we not be so quick to judge when we hear the words Pharisees and Sadducees, but may we take that opportunity to be reminded to check our own hearts and attitudes. The proof is in the fruit.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Matthew 2 (Warfare and Worship)
Matthew 2 paints a startling picture.
As I read this chapter today, I was surprised to remember that this is part of the Christmas story, but it's the untold part. Remember, Herod has asked the Magi (wise men) to find Jesus and then tell him where He is so that he too "may go and worship him" (vs. 8). Yet, we as the readers, know that this was not Herod's true intention. Later, when Herod finds out that the Magi outwitted him, "he was furious, and he have orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi" (vs. 16) because the Magi had previously told him when they saw the star first, and therefore, when Jesus was born.
That is all that is said about this evil act of human history, but today, I stopped and thought about it more. Imagine this gruesome picture with me. How brutal for soldiers to come storming into your home, rip your one year old son out of your arms, and slice him with a sword until he bled to death in front of you! I know that's not "fun" to picture, and yet, this event as well as much other political unrest was taking place during the time of Christ's birth. I know why we don't include that in the Christmas story -- it comes just four verses after the part about the Magi -- but killing babies doesn't sell well during the holiday season. Yet, it is true. This is part of the Christmas story. And why does it matter?
Jesus didn't come to the world in a time of peace on earth and goodwill toward men. And he didn't leave this earth that way either -- a brutal death on a cross was the other bookend to His life story.
Yet, this is why we can worship Him.
He came when humanity needed Him most, and we still need Him most today. Remember that Mark 2:7 says, "Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” He came when they needed Him, and He's still here as we need Him, and in the midst of warfare and evil all around us and in our world, He says, “Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told" (Hab.1:5).
He came. He hasn't left us to fend four ourselves! Even in Matthew chapter 2 today, I was amazed to see all the ways that God guided and directed His people for their safety. In the midst of Herod's evil scheme, the Lord directed the Magi to Jesus with a star (that was never in the sky before, and the Magi were astronomers, so what better way to guide them?); He also directed the Magi (more than one of them) in dreams to not return to Herod; and He directed Joseph in a dream to take Mary and Jesus away from Herod and when they could return and be safe!
In the midst of warfare, He does guide and direct us, doesn't He? This is not just something He did for Joseph, Mary, and Jesus. In the midst of whatever you find yourself in, "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way, walk in it'" (Isaiah 30:21). He says, "I will instruct you and teach you in the ways you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you" (Psalm 32:8).
So, “Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders" (Deut. 33:12). In the midst of warfare all around us, we can rest and worship our Lord. He is faithful to you, and He is your protector and peace-giver in the midst of the warfare. This is why He came.
Rest between His shoulders today. He's got you.
As I read this chapter today, I was surprised to remember that this is part of the Christmas story, but it's the untold part. Remember, Herod has asked the Magi (wise men) to find Jesus and then tell him where He is so that he too "may go and worship him" (vs. 8). Yet, we as the readers, know that this was not Herod's true intention. Later, when Herod finds out that the Magi outwitted him, "he was furious, and he have orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi" (vs. 16) because the Magi had previously told him when they saw the star first, and therefore, when Jesus was born.
That is all that is said about this evil act of human history, but today, I stopped and thought about it more. Imagine this gruesome picture with me. How brutal for soldiers to come storming into your home, rip your one year old son out of your arms, and slice him with a sword until he bled to death in front of you! I know that's not "fun" to picture, and yet, this event as well as much other political unrest was taking place during the time of Christ's birth. I know why we don't include that in the Christmas story -- it comes just four verses after the part about the Magi -- but killing babies doesn't sell well during the holiday season. Yet, it is true. This is part of the Christmas story. And why does it matter?
Jesus didn't come to the world in a time of peace on earth and goodwill toward men. And he didn't leave this earth that way either -- a brutal death on a cross was the other bookend to His life story.
Yet, this is why we can worship Him.
He came when humanity needed Him most, and we still need Him most today. Remember that Mark 2:7 says, "Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” He came when they needed Him, and He's still here as we need Him, and in the midst of warfare and evil all around us and in our world, He says, “Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told" (Hab.1:5).
He came. He hasn't left us to fend four ourselves! Even in Matthew chapter 2 today, I was amazed to see all the ways that God guided and directed His people for their safety. In the midst of Herod's evil scheme, the Lord directed the Magi to Jesus with a star (that was never in the sky before, and the Magi were astronomers, so what better way to guide them?); He also directed the Magi (more than one of them) in dreams to not return to Herod; and He directed Joseph in a dream to take Mary and Jesus away from Herod and when they could return and be safe!
In the midst of warfare, He does guide and direct us, doesn't He? This is not just something He did for Joseph, Mary, and Jesus. In the midst of whatever you find yourself in, "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way, walk in it'" (Isaiah 30:21). He says, "I will instruct you and teach you in the ways you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you" (Psalm 32:8).
So, “Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders" (Deut. 33:12). In the midst of warfare all around us, we can rest and worship our Lord. He is faithful to you, and He is your protector and peace-giver in the midst of the warfare. This is why He came.
Rest between His shoulders today. He's got you.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
A Savior for All (Matthew 2:1-2)
"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
I will be quite brief today, but the point I want to make is so powerful. If you have attended church much, you are used to the phrase "Jew and Gentile." Gentile refers to anyone of non-Jewish heritage, and in the Bible, often refers to Christians. The book of Romans is full of references to both these people groups, but with the main intention to make the point that, "Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too" (Rom. 3:29). Jesus did not just come to save any particular group, race, gender, or social standing of people. When we are talking about Jews and Gentiles (anyone who is non-Jewish, so...everyone else), it is clear that Jesus came to save everyone.
Now, what I came across this morning as I was reading Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth E. Bailey, is that when we want to know more about these wise men and where they came from, we have to ask ourselves "where is East?" Of course, the answer to that depends on where the writer is. If I live in Indiana and am referring to NYC, I would say they came from the East; however, if I was living in England and referred to NYC, I would say they came from the West. Christians in Rome would think "East" and think of Babylonia, where also the word Magi comes from in Greek. However, if the writer was living in the Holy Lands, and the Jewish nature of the book of Matthew suggest that it was written in the Holy Lands, then "East" would have been the Arabian dessert. This makes sense because the frankincense and myrrh the wise men brought are harvested from trees that ONLY grow in Southern Arabia.
So....why is this a big deal? Well, Arabs were not of Jewish decent, and therefore they were Gentiles. So at Jesus' birth he was worshiped by the shepherds (who were Jewish) and the wise men (who were Gentiles), which represents all the people that Jesus was born to save! In the Christmas story, the two groups of people who came to visit were Jews AND Gentiles. I don't know if that makes you as excited as it does me, but it makes me smile to think that Gentiles (the one-day Christians) were able to worship Him when he arrived, too.
That's all I have today. :)
I will be quite brief today, but the point I want to make is so powerful. If you have attended church much, you are used to the phrase "Jew and Gentile." Gentile refers to anyone of non-Jewish heritage, and in the Bible, often refers to Christians. The book of Romans is full of references to both these people groups, but with the main intention to make the point that, "Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too" (Rom. 3:29). Jesus did not just come to save any particular group, race, gender, or social standing of people. When we are talking about Jews and Gentiles (anyone who is non-Jewish, so...everyone else), it is clear that Jesus came to save everyone.
Now, what I came across this morning as I was reading Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth E. Bailey, is that when we want to know more about these wise men and where they came from, we have to ask ourselves "where is East?" Of course, the answer to that depends on where the writer is. If I live in Indiana and am referring to NYC, I would say they came from the East; however, if I was living in England and referred to NYC, I would say they came from the West. Christians in Rome would think "East" and think of Babylonia, where also the word Magi comes from in Greek. However, if the writer was living in the Holy Lands, and the Jewish nature of the book of Matthew suggest that it was written in the Holy Lands, then "East" would have been the Arabian dessert. This makes sense because the frankincense and myrrh the wise men brought are harvested from trees that ONLY grow in Southern Arabia.
So....why is this a big deal? Well, Arabs were not of Jewish decent, and therefore they were Gentiles. So at Jesus' birth he was worshiped by the shepherds (who were Jewish) and the wise men (who were Gentiles), which represents all the people that Jesus was born to save! In the Christmas story, the two groups of people who came to visit were Jews AND Gentiles. I don't know if that makes you as excited as it does me, but it makes me smile to think that Gentiles (the one-day Christians) were able to worship Him when he arrived, too.
That's all I have today. :)
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Matthew 1 (Families and Honor)
For our next book of study, I've chosen Matthew. It seems that sometimes, Western, Evangelical Christians (myself very much included) tend to lean toward Paul's writings because he gives us steps, and we can follow them. He tells us exactly how we should behave, what to do and what not to do. That's easy. We love easy "steps" to become a better Christ-follower, do we not? But what I have been thinking about is that the central figure in the Bible, Jesus, gives us a perfect picture of how to be when we read the accounts of His life. Yet, if you've grown up in the church, as I have, I think I've only read through any of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John) only once. But Paul's writings, oh, I read those all the time. Yet, Paul is not my Savior! He is absolutely an inspired and authoritative Biblical author, and I am sure that His writings are God's words; however, I think it's about time that I looked directly at Jesus' life and examples. So, please crack open your Bible, or open a second browser window to biblegateway.com and follow along in Matthew. Read chapter 1.
Two things stick out to me most in Matthew 1. First of all, why another long list? I loved my creative writing class in high school, and I can distinctly remember the lesson on "catchy introductions" to grab your readers attention. Umm...Matthew... Buddy...that list does not grab my attention and make me want to keep reading! But, as I look down that list of names, it DOES grab me! This is Jesus' lineage. His family. The Jews were expecting someone of noble descent to be their Messiah. If you look at American Presidents in the past couple decades you might see some similarities: handsome, well-spoken, charismatic, sense of humor, lots of money. Apparently, in America, we have our own ideas of what leaders should be, too! I really wonder if FDR could be re-elected this day in age while speaking from his wheelchair...something tells me that our image-obsessed society wouldn't go for that. And neither would the Jews in Jesus' day. So when I see that in Jesus lineage is Jacob (a liar and manipulator), Rahab (a prostitute), David (a murderer and adulterer), Manasseh (an evil leader), and then a bunch of names I know nothing about because perhaps they were just "average", why would I expect God's son to be placed in that line?
But, oh how lovely it is to know that even Jesus' family wasn't perfect. Is there some craziness in your family? There was in Jesus' too! We do not have to have had perfect parents, grandparents and siblings to be welcomed into the arms of Christ! And just as God used the lives of all kinds of people to lead up to the birth of the Messiah, He can use all kinds of people to do His work today. I don't know about you, but seeing that list allows me to connect with Christ in a way that I can feel comfortable coming to Him in my great imperfection. Whatever I might have in my history will not shock or surprise Him. I can come as I am with whatever my history might be. Now THAT makes me want to read more about Jesus and who He was despite His family history!
The other thing that sticks out in a new way to me this morning is Joseph. What a tender heart he had! We are so used to talking about Mary, and she gets more of the credit for this "mother of Jesus thing" doesn't she? But what about Joseph? Three things stick out to me:
1) In verse 19, "Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly." He believes that his fiance, whom he loves deeply, has cheated on him! That's the only reason that she could possibly be pregnant! Yet, I know he loves her deeply and he loves God, because he wants to save as much of her honor as he can and break the engagement quietly. I tell you what, I hope I could have one tenth the grace he showed (believing that Mary had cheated and then lied about it). He still put her honor before his own pride and vengeful desires!
2) Not only that, but he then is told the truth by the angel and chooses to honor and obey the Lord by marrying her, which is what he was told to do. Knowing people, they did the math. When that baby was born, people probably could have figured out that something between the marriage date and the child's birth date didn't quite add up. I wonder how much grief those two suffered because people didn't know the truth -- but Joseph and Mary obeyed anyway.
3) Also, what blows me away is that after they were married, he again honored and obeyed God by not sleeping with her until AFTER the baby was born in order to fulfill the promise that Jesus would be born of a virgin! He's got the ring on her finger, he's a young man with...certain drives, we'll say, and he shows self-control until after Jesus is born. So I'm just wondering, why does Mary get all the credit?? What an incredible, honorable man Joseph was. If he can do it, so can I.
So what about you? Is there anything in your family history or your past that is less than "attractive"? That's okay with Christ. Allow Him to use you because of that. Or maybe you're just kind of average -- a blue collar worker, like Joseph. God wants to use you, too!
And don't you want to just give Joseph a hug? I do! Where in your life today can you continually surrender your will to God's and choose obedience to Him? It is possible, as we see in the young man Joseph's example. But it is a choice.
It's been a joy to soak up some scripture with you this morning! May it stick with us throughout the day...
Two things stick out to me most in Matthew 1. First of all, why another long list? I loved my creative writing class in high school, and I can distinctly remember the lesson on "catchy introductions" to grab your readers attention. Umm...Matthew... Buddy...that list does not grab my attention and make me want to keep reading! But, as I look down that list of names, it DOES grab me! This is Jesus' lineage. His family. The Jews were expecting someone of noble descent to be their Messiah. If you look at American Presidents in the past couple decades you might see some similarities: handsome, well-spoken, charismatic, sense of humor, lots of money. Apparently, in America, we have our own ideas of what leaders should be, too! I really wonder if FDR could be re-elected this day in age while speaking from his wheelchair...something tells me that our image-obsessed society wouldn't go for that. And neither would the Jews in Jesus' day. So when I see that in Jesus lineage is Jacob (a liar and manipulator), Rahab (a prostitute), David (a murderer and adulterer), Manasseh (an evil leader), and then a bunch of names I know nothing about because perhaps they were just "average", why would I expect God's son to be placed in that line?
But, oh how lovely it is to know that even Jesus' family wasn't perfect. Is there some craziness in your family? There was in Jesus' too! We do not have to have had perfect parents, grandparents and siblings to be welcomed into the arms of Christ! And just as God used the lives of all kinds of people to lead up to the birth of the Messiah, He can use all kinds of people to do His work today. I don't know about you, but seeing that list allows me to connect with Christ in a way that I can feel comfortable coming to Him in my great imperfection. Whatever I might have in my history will not shock or surprise Him. I can come as I am with whatever my history might be. Now THAT makes me want to read more about Jesus and who He was despite His family history!
The other thing that sticks out in a new way to me this morning is Joseph. What a tender heart he had! We are so used to talking about Mary, and she gets more of the credit for this "mother of Jesus thing" doesn't she? But what about Joseph? Three things stick out to me:
1) In verse 19, "Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly." He believes that his fiance, whom he loves deeply, has cheated on him! That's the only reason that she could possibly be pregnant! Yet, I know he loves her deeply and he loves God, because he wants to save as much of her honor as he can and break the engagement quietly. I tell you what, I hope I could have one tenth the grace he showed (believing that Mary had cheated and then lied about it). He still put her honor before his own pride and vengeful desires!
2) Not only that, but he then is told the truth by the angel and chooses to honor and obey the Lord by marrying her, which is what he was told to do. Knowing people, they did the math. When that baby was born, people probably could have figured out that something between the marriage date and the child's birth date didn't quite add up. I wonder how much grief those two suffered because people didn't know the truth -- but Joseph and Mary obeyed anyway.
3) Also, what blows me away is that after they were married, he again honored and obeyed God by not sleeping with her until AFTER the baby was born in order to fulfill the promise that Jesus would be born of a virgin! He's got the ring on her finger, he's a young man with...certain drives, we'll say, and he shows self-control until after Jesus is born. So I'm just wondering, why does Mary get all the credit?? What an incredible, honorable man Joseph was. If he can do it, so can I.
So what about you? Is there anything in your family history or your past that is less than "attractive"? That's okay with Christ. Allow Him to use you because of that. Or maybe you're just kind of average -- a blue collar worker, like Joseph. God wants to use you, too!
And don't you want to just give Joseph a hug? I do! Where in your life today can you continually surrender your will to God's and choose obedience to Him? It is possible, as we see in the young man Joseph's example. But it is a choice.
It's been a joy to soak up some scripture with you this morning! May it stick with us throughout the day...
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Fear is a Lie (1 Peter 5:7-11)
"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.
In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen."
I was driving in the car on Sunday listening to the radio. I can't remember the name of the song, but a line caught me off guard. It said, "Fear is a lie." I had to pause to think about this. How could they be so sure that all fear is a lie? (As a side note, I thought so hard about this that I forgot to watch my speed, and I got pulled over! Thankfully, I just got a warning.) But our passage today answers that very question for me. It starts with...
"Give all your worries and cares to God..." That's a command. Matthew 6 also tells us, "Do not worry." But surely, there must be a few things that are okay to worry about right? Some of the big ones? Nope. Philippians 4:6 says, "Do not be anxious about anything..." Not a thing! Not even death itself. Okay, well why can't I worry then?
"for He cares about what happens to you." I really think if we understood how much God loves us, it would be easier to believe. He cares for us with even more than the love of a parent. Just like I said yesterday, even in the tough stuff, there is gold that can be brought out of the ashes. If you're in the midst of a trial, it's not because God is unloving. We have got to trust that He cares for us, loves us, and wants what is best for us!
But then the very next line says (and I believe the placement is of no coincidence), "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." He is the deceiver and the "father of lies." John 8:44 says, "He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies." If the TRUTH is that we should cast our cares on the Lord and not worry about anything, then the devil will whisper the LIE to us that we can't trust the Lord because of what might happen to us. Then we start to believe, "now is a time that I should be afraid!"
"Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are." This is where we must stand firm in the truth. What is the lie we are believing, and what does The Word say is True? I think it is also important to remember when we are suffering and tend to lean into worry and fear that we remember just what this says: people all over the world are going through the same sufferings I am, and worse! It's so easy in times of trial to feel isolated, that we are the only one who is dealing with this. (That is another lie that we are believing.) You are not alone in your suffering -- others are suffering, too, and more importantly, you are not alone because the Lord himself walks before you, beside you and behind you.
Here is the truth about what we should hold onto:
"In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. " There is no need to fear. When I have suffered in the past, it's easy for me to feel that my pain will never end. Yet here, Peter tries to give us some perspective: "a little while." That may mean that God will restore you on this earth, or He may restore you in Heaven. But, when we call on Him, He will support us and give us strength for today.
We are to worry and fear nothing! Nothing! Not employment, not finances, not a relationship, not the future of the government. Fear not, my friends. And don't allow yourself to believe the lies that satan whispers to you. The Truth is in His Word. If you are feeling fear today, it's a lie. It's not true.
In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen."
I was driving in the car on Sunday listening to the radio. I can't remember the name of the song, but a line caught me off guard. It said, "Fear is a lie." I had to pause to think about this. How could they be so sure that all fear is a lie? (As a side note, I thought so hard about this that I forgot to watch my speed, and I got pulled over! Thankfully, I just got a warning.) But our passage today answers that very question for me. It starts with...
"Give all your worries and cares to God..." That's a command. Matthew 6 also tells us, "Do not worry." But surely, there must be a few things that are okay to worry about right? Some of the big ones? Nope. Philippians 4:6 says, "Do not be anxious about anything..." Not a thing! Not even death itself. Okay, well why can't I worry then?
"for He cares about what happens to you." I really think if we understood how much God loves us, it would be easier to believe. He cares for us with even more than the love of a parent. Just like I said yesterday, even in the tough stuff, there is gold that can be brought out of the ashes. If you're in the midst of a trial, it's not because God is unloving. We have got to trust that He cares for us, loves us, and wants what is best for us!
But then the very next line says (and I believe the placement is of no coincidence), "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." He is the deceiver and the "father of lies." John 8:44 says, "He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies." If the TRUTH is that we should cast our cares on the Lord and not worry about anything, then the devil will whisper the LIE to us that we can't trust the Lord because of what might happen to us. Then we start to believe, "now is a time that I should be afraid!"
"Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are." This is where we must stand firm in the truth. What is the lie we are believing, and what does The Word say is True? I think it is also important to remember when we are suffering and tend to lean into worry and fear that we remember just what this says: people all over the world are going through the same sufferings I am, and worse! It's so easy in times of trial to feel isolated, that we are the only one who is dealing with this. (That is another lie that we are believing.) You are not alone in your suffering -- others are suffering, too, and more importantly, you are not alone because the Lord himself walks before you, beside you and behind you.
Here is the truth about what we should hold onto:
"In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. " There is no need to fear. When I have suffered in the past, it's easy for me to feel that my pain will never end. Yet here, Peter tries to give us some perspective: "a little while." That may mean that God will restore you on this earth, or He may restore you in Heaven. But, when we call on Him, He will support us and give us strength for today.
We are to worry and fear nothing! Nothing! Not employment, not finances, not a relationship, not the future of the government. Fear not, my friends. And don't allow yourself to believe the lies that satan whispers to you. The Truth is in His Word. If you are feeling fear today, it's a lie. It's not true.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Stuck in the Muck No More!
Well hello! Here we are -- August 1st. It has been one busy summer, and my best intentions of continuing my blog throughout the summer was thwarted by the lack of consistency in my schedule and, sadly to say, a lack of consistency in my attitude to seek Christ with my whole heart.
July was not a good blog month for me, and I was less-driven to get up early and meet with God because I knew that some of my actions were not in-line with His will. It's amazing how that happens, isn't it? When we know we're not doing right, we run and hide. Adam and Eve did, and so do we...even still. I hid from the Lord during much of the summer because of some attitudes and perspectives I had. Due to the very personal nature and the identities of those involved and the "newness" of the situation, I cannot go into the details of what happened. But, there I was. Hiding and hating how I felt, but not knowing how to lift my bitterness off of myself. Yet, in His mercy, God whispered to me just a little bit everyday. I was stuck in the muck of my own sinful nature. Yet, He gently pulled me out of my pit, and His words in scripture began to leap off the page to me until I was...convicted. Ouch. Let me assure you, that was not a fun feeling. I felt the weight of how I had behaved and what I had said and what I did or did not do. I sensed God's discipline in my life, but also trusted that God disciplines those He loves (Proverbs 3:11-12), and He was going to make me more like His Son in this painful and humbling process. May I show you some parts of Proverbs 3? It has such new meaning to me this week...(parentheses and bolded words are my emphasis):
1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you prosperity.
(How? What should I do?)
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
(Why that?)
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.[a]
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.
(Okay, and what happens if I don't do this...discipline? That doesn't sound fun.)
11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline
and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves,
as a father[b] the son he delights in.
(Why would I want God's discipline?)
13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, (through being disciplined)
the man who gains understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
those who lay hold of her will be blessed.
(That was a long list of reasons to love wisdom that I receive from being disciplined.)
19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations,
by understanding he set the heavens in place;
20 by his knowledge the deeps were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.
(And with this new wisdom, what should we do?)
21 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment,
do not let them out of your sight;
22 they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck.
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble;
24 when you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
(Despite our discipline, we can still have confidence...)
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the LORD will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being snared.
His wisdom is beyond anything a human could create, is it not?! I am in awe! My friends, I have gained wisdom from being disciplined that I will never forget, and I have also experienced what it means to receive God's mercy -- I was certainly not given what I really "deserved" for my sin. I experienced the promise that God's mercies are new every morning! Great is His faithfulness! I don't even have to wallow in my shame because Christ has paid for this very sin, and I am forgiven. Those were some great life lessons and precious reminders. More than anything, He removed my bitterness, and I am no longer stuck in the muck that I could not escape by my own doing.
If you are stuck in the muck of your own circumstances or a particular situation, I encourage you to start praying. Let God be the one to soften your heart and give you the courage to go ask for forgiveness. He WILL do it! And what a relief to know that you don't have to do it by your own power (because you never can).
I am looking forward to meeting with you again in the mornings! Tomorrow we will finally wrap up 1 Peter. His mercies are new, and so we will begin again on this Psalm 1 Walk without shame but in His freedom and love. Hallelujah!
July was not a good blog month for me, and I was less-driven to get up early and meet with God because I knew that some of my actions were not in-line with His will. It's amazing how that happens, isn't it? When we know we're not doing right, we run and hide. Adam and Eve did, and so do we...even still. I hid from the Lord during much of the summer because of some attitudes and perspectives I had. Due to the very personal nature and the identities of those involved and the "newness" of the situation, I cannot go into the details of what happened. But, there I was. Hiding and hating how I felt, but not knowing how to lift my bitterness off of myself. Yet, in His mercy, God whispered to me just a little bit everyday. I was stuck in the muck of my own sinful nature. Yet, He gently pulled me out of my pit, and His words in scripture began to leap off the page to me until I was...convicted. Ouch. Let me assure you, that was not a fun feeling. I felt the weight of how I had behaved and what I had said and what I did or did not do. I sensed God's discipline in my life, but also trusted that God disciplines those He loves (Proverbs 3:11-12), and He was going to make me more like His Son in this painful and humbling process. May I show you some parts of Proverbs 3? It has such new meaning to me this week...(parentheses and bolded words are my emphasis):
1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you prosperity.
(How? What should I do?)
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
(Why that?)
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.[a]
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.
(Okay, and what happens if I don't do this...discipline? That doesn't sound fun.)
11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline
and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves,
as a father[b] the son he delights in.
(Why would I want God's discipline?)
13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, (through being disciplined)
the man who gains understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
those who lay hold of her will be blessed.
(That was a long list of reasons to love wisdom that I receive from being disciplined.)
19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations,
by understanding he set the heavens in place;
20 by his knowledge the deeps were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.
(And with this new wisdom, what should we do?)
21 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment,
do not let them out of your sight;
22 they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck.
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble;
24 when you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
(Despite our discipline, we can still have confidence...)
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the LORD will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being snared.
His wisdom is beyond anything a human could create, is it not?! I am in awe! My friends, I have gained wisdom from being disciplined that I will never forget, and I have also experienced what it means to receive God's mercy -- I was certainly not given what I really "deserved" for my sin. I experienced the promise that God's mercies are new every morning! Great is His faithfulness! I don't even have to wallow in my shame because Christ has paid for this very sin, and I am forgiven. Those were some great life lessons and precious reminders. More than anything, He removed my bitterness, and I am no longer stuck in the muck that I could not escape by my own doing.
If you are stuck in the muck of your own circumstances or a particular situation, I encourage you to start praying. Let God be the one to soften your heart and give you the courage to go ask for forgiveness. He WILL do it! And what a relief to know that you don't have to do it by your own power (because you never can).
I am looking forward to meeting with you again in the mornings! Tomorrow we will finally wrap up 1 Peter. His mercies are new, and so we will begin again on this Psalm 1 Walk without shame but in His freedom and love. Hallelujah!
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