Faith Builder Dailies

Do As I Say...

2009-06-03T12:25:00.000-07:00

Today's Reading Acts 16:1-5 - A short one!

Text:

1He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. 2The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

The fact that Timothy had not been circumcised tells us a lot about how he grew up. His father was obviously the head of the household and ruled in matters of key religious rituals or his mother would have insisted that he be circumcised on the eighth day as required by her faith. She may have continued to follow the laws of Moses as best as she could, and may have passed on her faith to her children when possible, but it can be presumed that Timothy was also well versed in whatever religion his father professed. The text doesn't tell us that his father was a believer in Christ, so it is logical to presume that he wasn't.

We have just read about a major meeting of the elders and apostles where they determined that circumcision was not necessary for Gentile believers. Why would Paul, who was the primary speaker against circumcision, require that Timothy undergo this painful ritual? Wouldn't it have been a good example to show that it wasn't necessary since the purpose of their trips at this point was still to deliver the decisions of the council in Jerusalem? Besides, how would they know?

It is encouraging to see that the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew daily in numbers. Do you believe the church is still doing that?

First Letter of the New Testament

2009-06-02T17:50:00.000-07:00

Today's Reading Acts 15:22-41

Text: Acts 15:22-23

22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, two men who were leaders among the brothers. 23With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

This is the first evidence of a letter sent from any of the apostles or church elders to a group of believers in the early church. It is interesting that they sent both a written letter and two men to confirm what was written about the issue of what was to be required of Gentile believers. No mention was made of circumcision, the key issue that caused the uproar in the first place.

It says the people were glad for its encouraging message. I'm sure they were encouraged that there were very few rules to follow in the message, but if you look at the message itself, it doesn't give very much information about how to live as a Christian -- not nearly as much as we have today from all the later letters of Paul. Here's the text of the letter:

24We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. 25So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— 26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.

I think I'd be asking for more...so what do we need to do to be closer to Christ, to be more like him? How do we get closer to God? How do we go deeper in our faith? Could it be that those weren't the most important things to discuss?

How Come He Doesn't Have To Follow The Rules?

2009-06-01T09:04:00.000-07:00

Today's Reading Acts 15:1-21

Context:
In Antioch some men were teaching that people could not be saved if they were not circumcised and were not following the laws of Moses. Paul and Barnabas began a sharp debate with them, causing several people to go up to Jerusalem to meet with the apostles and elders about the issue. After much discussion, Peter got up and talked about how God had given the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles and had purified them by their faith alone, not by having them follow the law.

Today's Text Acts 15:12-21

12The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13When they finished, James spoke up: "Brothers, listen to me. 14Simon[a] has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. 15The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
16" 'After this I will return
and rebuild David's fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
and I will restore it,
17that the remnant of men may seek the Lord,
and all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things'[b]
18that have been known for ages.[c]

19"It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath." (NIV)
Footnotes:

1. Acts 15:14 Greek Simeon, a variant of Simon; that is, Peter
2. Acts 15:17 Amos 9:11,12
3. Acts 15:18 Some manuscripts things'— / 18 known to the Lord for ages is his work

taken from www.biblegateway.com

It is interesting to see how the early church leaders decided what should and what should not be a 'rule' in the church. Since they only had the Old Testament law, which was now superseded by the sacrifice of Jesus, it was hard to know for sure what must be followed and what was covered by grace. Jesus himself said that the law was important, yet God had given the gift of the Spirit to those who where totally ignorant of the law. So what did that mean?

The elders looked first at what actions God had taken, then they verified them with scripture to be sure they were consistent with God's character. Then they chose to ensure that they weren't applying anything additional to the new Gentile Christians that God wasn't requiring. It is interesting to see the things that they thought were still important for the Gentiles to remember -- food polluted by idols, sexual immorality, strangled animals, and blood.

Why would they choose these things and not the myriad of other things that were listed in Leviticus? Later Paul himself would say that eating food dedicated to idols was ok if you believed God said it was ok for you. Other times they would say to remember the widows and the poor.

What would we say were the most important things for new Christians to remember today? Do we make it too hard for them to become believers?

Sticks and Stones

2009-05-29T07:53:00.000-07:00

Today's Reading Acts 14

Context:
Paul and Barnabas went to Iconium and preached so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. But again the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the crowds and they were chased out of the city. They preached in the surrounding countryside. In Lystra they healed a man who was lame since birth, and the crowd believed Paul and Barnabas were the gods Zeus and Hermes in the flesh. They tried to offer sacrifices to them but Paul and Barnabas shouted back at them the truth about the only living God, barely keeping the crowd contained.

Today's Text Acts 14:19-23

¹⁹Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. ²⁰But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.
²¹They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, ²²strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said. ²³Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

The first time we ever hear about Paul/Saul is in Acts 8:1, when he is watching over the cloaks of those who are stoning Stephen. During that episode, Stephen fell to his knees in prayer and vocally forgave his persecutors. I imagine that scene was heavily imprinted in his mind as each stone hit his body. Do you think he felt that he deserved this punishment? I wonder if he knew that he would live through this or if he was hoping he would die sooner rather than later. Was he able to muster up forgiveness for his tormentors?

Just a few days later he is again preaching the Good News. As he revisits the very city where he was stoned, maybe even before all the cuts and bruises have faded, he tells the believers of Jesus' words that there will be trouble in this world. I'm not able to find any information in my reference books about Paul's statement that "we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God." It almost sounds like there is a need for us to be persecuted and complete difficult tasks to accomplish entrance, although there are many passages that convince me that salvation is attained at the moment of repentance/surrender.

I know that entire religions have been formed to address passages like this, and I won't pretend to have theological wisdom for this argument. I do know that we in America are pretty clueless about the realities of persecution the folks suffered in the early days of the church. I've never been purposely hit with stones for what I believe, have you? Regardless, Paul was a very credible witness. I think I would have gone far out of my way to avoid revisiting a city that had caused so much physical pain and I would have let someone else strengthen the members of that church. How about you?

Shake off the dust

2009-05-28T08:07:00.000-07:00

Today's Reading Acts 13:13-52
NOTE: While we are in Acts, I'll add a link for daily reading in case you want to read both chapters before we have class. Just click on the text reference above and it will take you directly to http://biblegateway.com and the verses for the day.

Context:
Paul and his companions sailed to Pisidian Antioch (please note this is not the Antioch where they started this first missionary journey) and they went to the synagogue on the Sabbath. Upon the request of the rulers, Paul told how Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament and many of the Jews followed him to hear more. The following week almost the whole city gathered to hear Paul preach and the Jewish leaders were jealous and began speaking abusively against Paul and Barnabas.

Today's verses -- Acts 13:46-52

⁴⁶Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
" 'I have made you^a]">[a] a light for the Gentiles,
that you^b]">[b] may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'^c]">[c]"
⁴⁸When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
⁴⁹The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. ⁵⁰But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. ⁵¹So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. ⁵²And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. (NIV)

Footnotes:

Acts 13:47 The Greek is singular.
Acts 13:47 The Greek is singular.
Acts 13:47 Isaiah 49:6

I wonder what it must have felt like to be a Gentile in those days. The Good News had always been preached first to the Jews and most likely not many had heard of the few times Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit up to this point. I imagine they stood outside the synagogue (because they weren't allowed in) or on the edges of the crowd anxious to understand what all the excitement was about.

If they heard the message and believed, did they think that they first had to become a Jew to receive the gifts of Christ and the Holy Spirit? Were they facing the pain of circumcision and significant life changes due to all of those rules? It says that they were glad when they heard that Paul and Barnabas were commanded to turn to the Gentiles -- what a relief that must have been! They honored the word of the Lord and they believed.

I do find Paul's words interesting in verse 46. Instead of berating the Jews for their disbelief, he instead lays full blame for their decision at their feet, "Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life . . .." I wonder how that technique would work today for some of the folks we witness to? I imagine we'd have to use those words carefully.

It would have been easy for Paul and Barnabas to be discouraged as they left Pisidian Antioch since they were expelled from the region amidst great persecution, however the text tells us they were filled with joy as they shook the dust from their feet (verse 52). Aren't you discouraged when you give others good news and advice that can change their lives forever but they refuse to listen -- they even go so far as to tell you to butt out of their lives? We've had several situations in our lives where we have had direct experience and training in the very thing others are struggling with, but even when they requested our help they refused to believe our recommendations were better than the way they had always done it. And to be honest, we were never filled with joy as we watched them continue to struggle.

Maybe we need to shake the dust off of our feet and admit that they have rejected the advice and they don't consider themselves worthy of what it is they seek. Let them take the responsibility for their choices and move on to other areas, allowing ourselves to be filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and work in areas where His light can shine more brightly.

I wish it were as easy to do as it is to type. . .

Following Blindly?

2009-05-27T08:14:00.000-07:00

After a long 'vacation', I am starting up the daily devotions again since we are once more on a regular study schedule with our Sunday School lessons. We are back in the book of Acts, and this week we are studying chapters 13 and 14.

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Today's Verses: Acts 13:6-12

Context:
There was a meeting of prophets and teachers at the church in Antioch, and the Holy Spirit requested that Barnabas and Saul be set aside for special work. After fasting and prayer, they went to preach the word of God in Jewish synagogues in Cyprus, and John (probably John Mark) was there to help.

Text:

⁶They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, ⁷who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. ⁸But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. ⁹Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, ¹⁰"You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? ¹¹Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun."
Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. ¹²When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Verse 9 is the first time that Saul's new name, Paul, is referenced. Saul is a Hebrew name meaning "asked (of God)", and Paul is a Roman name which means "little". From this point on, he is called Paul in Acts. We don't know if Paul chose his new name himself or if someone else gave it to him. Some believe that he earned this new name at the time of this particular passage -- from preaching so successfully to Sergius Paulus. I've also heard (but can't quickly find a valid reference) that when people got baptized in Bible times they often took on a new name to reflect their new life in Christ. Kind of a neat concept! What does your given name mean and what new name would you take on to reflect your life in Christ?

As we read a little further, we see that Paul chastises Bar-Jesus, a false prophet and Jewish sorcerer, the same person whom is also called Elymas later in the passage, for being a "child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right!" Then Paul performs his first recorded miracle -- to cause someone else to be blind as a way for him to see the true light. It is interesting that he uses this treatment on someone who is "perverting the right ways of the Lord" just as he was (maybe not with exactly the same intent, but with the same end result -- anything against the will of God takes people further away from God), most likely with the hope that it will turn Elymas around just as significantly as it did himself.

We see in this situation it had a significant effect on Sergius Paulus, the proconsul, but we don't know what happened to Elymas. Did he convert? Did he get his sight back? Did he become an advocate for Christ? His name means 'sorcerer' in Hebrew, so I imagine he changed it if he converted to Christianity, so he could well be referenced in future texts, but we may never know. And we don't hear any more information about Cyprus, although Barnabas and Mark spent time there after they separated from Paul's ministry for a time.

I wonder if any of the people who were with Saul at the time of his conversion were also amazed at the work of the Lord?

More Thoughts from Robert Jeffress' Clutter Free Christianity

2009-04-01T08:51:00.000-07:00

On Forgiveness

Two of the greatest examples of forgiveness in the Bible are Jesus on the cross saying, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34 NIV), and Steven crying out "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" as he is stoned to death. (Acts 7:59-60 NIV) Both of those are amazing situations where truly godly witnesses were able to overcome severe pain to remember to request good for their tormentors. We aspire to be that holy. I think I would have instead cried out something like "God, why is this happening to me? I've been good....please make it stop."

But in reality, how do we feel others people who forgive. Do we truly believe it is possible for a child to forgive a molester? For a parent to forgive the one who murders his child? For an Auschwitz survivor to forgive her captors? For someone like Jeffrey Daumer to be forgiven by God?

And what about those who are forgiven? Will those who are forgiven for heinous crimes think that it's ok to kill or mutilate again -- especially in those cultures where forgiveness is expected? Would that make groups like the Amish, who forgave the man who killed ten school children, or Christians, who forgave the man who killed their preacher, targets?

And when we feel like the wrongs against us are just too big to forgive...do we lose the forgiveness of God? Look at the following verse:

Mark 11:25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your transgressions.

And how about the servant who had a huge debt forgiven, only to demand payment of a small debt owed to him. When this was discovered, the man to whom he owed a fortune threw him into prison and tortured him until he could pay (essentially for the rest of his life).

Our salvation is secure, but will God withhold our forgiveness for sins perpetrated after we refuse forgiveness for others?

You may want to do some Bible study on that one -- I'm not going to profess to know the answer.

We've all heard that unforgiveness hurts us more than the one against whom we hold a grudge. Writer Anne Lamott suggests it is like drinking rat poison and expecting the rat to die!

We are not capable of truly forgiving on our own. It takes the assistance of Jesus. But do you truly want to forgive? Do you think the things done to you are worse than the things done to Jesus or to Stephen?

Where do you really stand?

Daily Devotions for the week of Mar 30 - Apr 3

2009-03-31T08:03:00.000-07:00

I'm reading a new book, Clutter-Free Christianity by Robert Jeffress, that is really causing me to think. So much that my brain is filled with so many questions about where I am in my faith that I'm having trouble coming up with devotions that seem worthwhile.

So for the rest of the week, I'll just send some of these questions to you. I think they are really valid and valuable for us to chew on for a while.

Verse:

2 Corinthians 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.(NIV)

Tuesday's Question:
Do you really want to be like Jesus?

My first response is "Of course I do!" But if I'm really honest, there are several difficult things that I have to do in order to make this happen, and I don't know that I want to do them. I have to commit to daily, intense time with God. I must seek him first in everything I do, then obey immediately. It's okay to question once, but then I must do his will, not mine. I must be willing to give up all creature comforts, talk to everyone I see about the gospel, pray for the good of my enemies, forgive anyone who does me wrong, treat my body like a temple of God with appropriate food and exercise, and be willing to accept humiliation, pain, and even death that I don't deserve. If I really wanted to be like Jesus, I'd be doing these things.

God, help me want to want to be like Jesus!

God in a Box

2009-03-27T09:14:00.001-07:00

Today's Verses Luke 20:27-40

Context:
Continuation of Jesus' activities the week of his crucifixion.

Text:
27Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. 28"Teacher," they said, "Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and have children for his brother. 29Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. 30The second 31and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. 32Finally, the woman died too. 33Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?"
34Jesus replied, "The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection. 37But in the account of the bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord 'the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'[a] 38He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive."
39Some of the teachers of the law responded, "Well said, teacher!" 40And no one dared to ask him any more questions. (NIV)
Footnotes:
Luke 20:37 Exodus 3:6
taken from www.biblegateway.com

The Bible doesn't really tell us much about the Sadducees, so I checked out the Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary. It says that the Sadducees came from the most powerful families in Israel -- merchants, priests, and aristocrats. The most powerful members of the priesthood were usually Sadducees.

The key difference between them and the Pharisees was the basis of their beliefs. Sadducees believed only the Pentateuch, the five books of the Law written by Moses. If something wasn't clearly stated there, they didn't believe it. Over time, others had created 'traditions' by trying to explain what the laws meant in specific situations, and the Sadducees vehemently disagreed with this practice. In addition, if something wasn't covered in the Pentateuch (like Heaven or Hell), they didn't believe it existed. They put God in a very tight box.

Apparently they enjoyed trying to lock others into a box, too. They liked to make fun of their opponents by showing how others beliefs led to ridiculous conclusions through such 'what if' questions as we see in this text.

To us, well at least to me, Jesus' answer seems pretty confusing. But when taken in context with the culture and the beliefs of the Sadducees, his response made them look more foolish than they'd intended to make him look! He spoke knowingly about several Biblical concepts, resurrection and angels, in which the Sadducees did not believe.

So, if we look at the text in chapter 20, Jesus has summarily made the Pharisees, Sadducess, teachers of the law, and priests all look foolish for trying to trap him. And since they had tried to do this in public, all of Jerusalem was buzzing with the public humiliation of the self-revered leaders of the people.

Do we ever use scripture to put God in a box like the Sadducees did? They picked and chose which books to believe and how to interpret them -- any one who interpreted a passage differently than they did was wrong. I think we do the same thing today when we try to apply passages that were specific to the culture of Biblical times to our current world -- AND when we write a passage off because of cultural differences by saying that the world was so different then that it surely must not apply today. Yes, I know that sounds like I'm on both sides of the fence, but we have to be careful not to blindly apply everything or to do the opposite and blindly write everything off because of such cultural differences. How can we maintain the proper balance?

Questions

2009-03-26T07:52:00.000-07:00

Today's Verses -- Luke 20:20-26

Context:
Jesus' final days before the crucifixion. He's been regularly showing the Pharisees how ungodly they were in subtle and not so subtle ways.

Text:
20Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be honest. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. 21So the spies questioned him: "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 22Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
23He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24"Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?"
25"Caesar's," they replied. He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
26They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

It is so clear to me that the Pharisees had no idea who Jesus really was -- sending spies who pretended to be honest? Come on -- the Son of God could easily see through that! I wonder if he just shook his head, or even smiled a little when he saw these poor fools sauntering up to him. Did he wonder, "Is that the best they've got? They just don't get it!"

Can't you see it now -- the chief priests and teachers of the law meeting in a secret place trying to come up with questions that would trap Jesus? I'm sure they thought there was no possible answer for this one that didn't break either the Roman law or cause his faithful followers to be disappointed by his agreement to continue paying tax to extortioners.

But God always has a right answer -- and it's usually beyond the foresight of mere humans.

How often do we ask God questions, especially tough ones that we can't possibly comprehend the answers to? Such as 'why do good people have to suffer?' 'why didn't you make me ....(rich, beautiful, smart, whole, taller, talented, you fill in the blank)?', and 'how come I can't have ..... (again, fill in the blank)...so and so does and he doesn't appreciate it'.

I imagine he smiles a little and shakes his head at our ignorance. He may see these questions in the same manner as he saw the questions of those trying to trap him. No matter what he answers, we won't think it's fair. We can't begin to comprehend the big picture from Heaven's side of the universe, and until we walk through those pearly gates we will just have to trust that he is right.

Do you trust him when life doesn't make any sense?

Parable of the Tenants

2009-03-24T12:44:00.001-07:00

Today's Verses -- Luke 20:9-19

Context:
Continuation from yesterday -- the Pharisees had questioned Jesus' authority and he asked them a question in return that they chose not to answer.

Text:
9He went on to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. 10At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. 12He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.
13"Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.'
14"But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. 'This is the heir,' they said. 'Let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' 15So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
"What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others." When the people heard this, they said, "May this never be!"
17Jesus looked directly at them and asked, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written: " 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone[a]'[b]?
18Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."
19The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people. (NIV)
Footnotes:
Luke 20:17 Or cornerstone
Luke 20:17 Psalm 118:22
I've heard this parable several times, but I guess I never paid attention to the context before. Jesus just finished telling the chief priests and teachers of the law that he would not tell them by whose authority he was teaching and performing miracles. The parable is a very slightly camouflaged story of himself, his authority, and the sins of the Pharisees!

Based on the response of the people (see the blue writing, above), it seems like the meaning of this parable was pretty clear to them. They seemed to feel fearful for themselves that the parable was to become truth!

Were they, like us, indicating that they would never make the choices that the tenants made in the story? How many times have we scoffed at the Jews because of their regular pattern of disobedience despite the miracles they had personally witnessed? Or were they, like the teachers of the law and the chief priests, realizing that Jesus had spoken this parable against them?

This would probably be a good text to study using Mark Moore's methodology. Just reading it over brought lots of questions to my mind. I wanted to understand what the people who were listening actually heard and thought about the parable. Were the different servants who were sent to collect fruit from the farm treated with increasing violence? Why was the second one shamed, and in what way? Why is the response of the people to the parable interpreted so differently in the NIV and King James versions (in King James the people responded with "God forbid", which seems so much stronger to me)?

I don't really understand Jesus' use of Psalm 118 here, either. I can guess at it's meaning, but obviously the teachers of the law and the chief priests took this very personally. What was it about the culture of the time that made them so sure it was directed at them?

Sorry -- more questions than thoughts today, but I think Steve's overview of the methodology is really helping it to sink in!

The Unanswerable Question

2009-03-23T08:36:00.001-07:00

Today's Verses -- Luke 20:1-8

Context:
We are still looking at the days prior to Jesus' crucifixion. We don't know exactly what day this is, but it is most likely Tuesday or Wednesday of Passover Week.

Text:
1One day as he was teaching the people in the temple courts and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. 2"Tell us by what authority you are doing these things," they said. "Who gave you this authority?"
3He replied, "I will also ask you a question. Tell me, 4John's baptism—was it from heaven, or from men?"
5They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Why didn't you believe him?' 6But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet."
7So they answered, "We don't know where it was from."
8Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things." (NIV)

taken from http://www.biblegateway.com/

When you think of someone 'preaching the gospel', what message do you expect? I expect something similar to Peter's speech on Pentecost when he talks about how Jesus came to be the ultimate sacrifice for us on the cross then rose again three days later. What do you think Jesus himself was telling the people the very week this was to happen?

Since we have been watching Mark Moore's lessons on how to study the Bible, I thought I'd try out some of the tools. I went to BlueLetterBible.org and clicked on the 'lexicon' button. I typed in 'gospel' and looked at the New Testament uses of that word. I saw that there were three words used in the the New Testament that were translated as 'gospel'. I clicked on the first one (euaggeizo) and it showed all the places where it was used, and Luke 20:1 was listed. That was quick!

So, according to this site, this particular use of the word means:
1) to bring good news, to announce glad tidings
a) used in the OT of any kind of good news
1) of the joyful tidings of God's kindness, in particular, of the Messianic blessings
b) in the NT used especially of the glad tidings of the coming kingdom of God, and of the salvation to be obtained in it through Christ, and of what relates to this salvation
c) glad tidings are brought to one, one has glad tidings proclaimed to him
d) to proclaim glad tidings
1) instruct (men) concerning the things that pertain to Christian salvation

So without trying to take anything out of context, I think it's safe to say that Jesus was talking about the coming kingdom of God, and possibly even hinting at how he was the one who would provide salvation to all. I wonder if it was harder to believe him when he spoke about coming events than it was for people to believe Peter when he talked about what had happened in the past?

I also especially like those texts where he stumps the Rabbis! How much trouble do we get into when we try to come up with answers that will be politically correct, as they did, instead of just speaking what we truly believe?

Righteous Anger

2009-03-20T08:03:00.000-07:00

Today's Verses -- Luke 19:45-48

Context:
Continuation of Jesus' last days. He's just entered Jerusalem and wept for its future.

Text:
45Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. 46"It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be a house of prayer'[a]; but you have made it 'a den of robbers.'[b]"
47Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words. (NIV)

Footnotes:
Luke 19:46 Isaiah 56:7
Luke 19:46 Jer. 7:11
taken from www.biblegateway.com

This specific situation at the beginning of "Passion Week" is covered in both Matthew and Mark. In addition, John tells of a temple cleansing event near the beginning of Jesus' ministry. When you first enter the temple, there is an area called the 'Outer Court of the Gentiles', which was a large area (many acres) where the Gentiles were allowed to enter and worship God. Many Jews arrived in Jerusalem for the week of Passover to be cleansed and to celebrate the holiday. It was difficult for them to bring their sacrifices from long distances, so merchants set up table to sell all kinds of animals and birds necessary for the Jewish rituals. In addition, anyone visiting had to pay their temple tax in the proper currency of Jerusalem, but often they had to exchange their local currency for the appropriate coins. Budding entrepreneurs jumped right in to meet the needs of the people -- charging exorbitant rates for these services. We don't know if the merchants were Jews or Gentiles, but it doesn't really matter -- the priests allowed a marketplace (probably a very noisy one) to invade the spaces reserved for prayer and worship.

Think about the mindset of Jesus at this time. He had been weeping for the people -- distraught by their lack of obedience and the punishment they were facing. Then, to add to that pain he sees people profiting off of those who have sacrificed much to travel long distances to worship. Instead of a quiet, worshipful environment the pilgrims encountered loud vendors trying to lure them to purchase all kinds of animals and other religious tokens. There was no sense of reverence to be found. This must have been a final affront to Jesus' sensibilities.

To be honest, I'm surprised that Jesus didn't call on his full power as God to create an earthquake or lightning storm to wipe the merchants away completely! This is the most angry we see him during his entire three year ministry. I imagine he is thinking of the horrors he will face in the next week and is totally insulted by the fact that people are profiting from the sacrificial ritual -- knowing that he will become the ultimate sacrifice in just a few days.

I appreciate the writers of the Bible showing us the many different facets of Jesus' emotions. Yes, righteous anger is definitely a quality of God, but Jesus shows us that it's ok for us to be angry too. But it's that 'righteous' part that is most important! Jesus doesn't get angry because his meals aren't prepared on time or because someone is discriminating against him, he gets angry when people aren't revering his father and obeying the law.

What makes you angry? How can we as Christians display righteous anger without letting our human pettiness show? What issues today require us to be vocal in our representation of Jesus? How do you respond?

To Feel What He Feels

2009-03-19T07:04:00.001-07:00

Today's Verses -- Luke 19:41-44

Context:
Jesus has just entered the city of Jerusalem. He was welcomed by a crowd of disciples who were loudly praising God for the miracles they had witnessed.

Text:
41As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you." (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

In the entire New Testament we only see Jesus weep twice. The first time was at the death of his friend Lazarus when he saw how distraught Martha and Mary were at their brother's death. This time it is for the children of God, knowing the future they faced because of their disobedience and disbelief.

For centuries Christians have been trying to live their lives in such a way that they could be more Christ-like. We want to see the world with his eyes, love others as he does, and make choices he would make. But can we really feel what he felt? One of the times when I believe we get to experience a small portion of his emotion is when we are witnessing to beloved family members and friends.

When those who are closest to us close their eyes to the truth, it hurts us to the core. We know what the eternal future holds for them, yet they refuse to accept the gifts of grace and salvation. Especially when that loved one is close to death, our efforts become more desperate and we would do anything to help him or her make the right decision. We feel like failures and the pain of our beloveds' eternity weighs on our lives for years. It's at that point that we understand how Jesus felt when the Jews denied his deity.

On the other hand, when our loved ones' eyes are opened and they finally release their own will to accept the help of Jesus, our joy is immeasurable. Again, we get to sense a small portion of what Jesus feels when he knows that he will personally be able to spend eternity with on of his Father's children. For each and every new convert, God runs to the individual and embraces him as if he or she were the only one to return to the truth. And our peace expands knowing that we will get to spend eternity with one more cherished soul.

I guess the key thought today is that we are to strive to be as Jesus is, even to feel what he feels. He would rather we try to open the eyes of others to the truth, risking the pain or the joy that will result with that person's response, than to walk through this world not caring enough to try.

15 Minutes of Fame

2009-03-18T06:05:00.000-07:00

Today's Verses -- Luke 19:28-40

Context:
Continuation of Jesus' final trip to Jerusalem

Text:

28After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29As he
approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent
two of his disciples, saying to them, 30"Go to the village ahead of you, and as
you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden.
Untie it and bring it here. 31If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell
him, 'The Lord needs it.' "
32Those who were sent ahead went and found
it just as he had told them. 33As they were untying the colt, its owners asked
them, "Why are you untying the colt?"
34They replied, "The Lord needs
it."
35They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and
put Jesus on it. 36As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
37When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of
Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices
for all the miracles they had seen: 38"Blessed is the king who comes in
the name of the Lord!"[a]
"Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
39Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke
your disciples!"
40"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the
stones will cry out." (NIV)
Footnotes:
Luke
19:38 Psalm 118:26

taken from www.biblegateway.com

In 1968, famed artist Andy Warhol stated: "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes."

Have you had your moment of fame yet? Due to our widespread technology, people can be world-famous almost immediately with a great YouTube video, a shocking crime, a great athletic feat, or even a moment of sheer stupidity. In many cases, people wish their moment would have ended before it began! Just ask a teenager whose supposed friends posted something cruel on Facebook for the whole school to read.

Jesus' moments of fame seems like a wonderful parade. He rides through the crowd on a donkey as people wave palm branches and then set them down to soften the donkey's steps. All struggle to get a glimpse of the new king, and the cheers are deafening.

But Jesus knew that this worldly fame would soon end in a terrible way. Did he look his fans in the eye, knowing that they would be yelling for his crucifixion in just a few short hours? Did he wish the accolades would continue for just a little longer? Or did he look at each person with love in his heart, knowing that the next few days would allow him to spend eternity with them?

I was quick to judge those who stood in the crowd waving palm branches until I realized that I am no different. I know that my relationship with Christ has held moments of great worship and praise, only to be followed by anger or distrust when something 'bad' happened in my life or the world.

The amazing thing is that Jesus loves us JUST THE SAME whether we are cheering him on or part of a crowd crying for his crucifixion. He can handle both emotions and he remains true to us even when we aren't.

That kind of love is beyond my comprehension.

A Familiar Parable?

2009-03-16T07:04:00.000-07:00

Today's Verses -- Luke 19:11-27

Context:
continuation from last week. Jesus and the apostles are on their final trip to Jerusalem for the Passover, and they've stopped at Zacchaeus's home for dinner.

Text:
11While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. 12He said: "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas.[a]'Put this money to work,' he said, 'until I come back.'
14"But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.'
15"He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.
16"The first one came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned ten more.'
17" 'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.'
18"The second came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned five more.'
19"His master answered, 'You take charge of five cities.'
20"Then another servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.'
22"His master replied, 'I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? 23Why then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?'
24"Then he said to those standing by, 'Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.'
25" 'Sir,' they said, 'he already has ten!'
26"He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. 27But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me." (NIV)
Footnotes:
Luke 19:13 A mina was about three months' wages.
taken from www.biblegateway.com

This story sounds vaguely familiar, yet different. My NIV Study Bible references Matthew 25:14-30, the parable of the talents, as a similar story. There are some significant differences, though. It's Monday morning, so I'll try to wake your brain up with some questions today (since mine is too sleepy to answer them!).

The parable of the talents was told to the apostles in private when Jesus was on the Mount of Olives. The parable of the minas was apparently told to those attending dinner at Zacchaeus's house.

A talent was worth about $1000, a mina worth about 3 month's wages.

The Parable of the Ten Minas raises far more questions for me. The man of noble birth gave one mina each to ten servants (the same amount to each instead of varying amounts in the Parable of the Talents). Yet we only hear the results of three servants' efforts. What happened to the other seven minas? And look at what the two servants who invested the minas received -- not more money to manage, but whole cities! That's quite a jump in stature for a servant. Do you think the two were overwhelmed?

This story has a pretty garish ending, too. The man who would be king has his enemies killed in front of him. Yes, I would agree he is a 'hard man'!

My study Bible has lots of notes related to this story that speculate about Jesus' meaning. Was the man of noble birth Jesus, himself, or was he Herod, who had come in and declared himself king just as the man in the story? Does the death of his enemies refer to the coming destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70? Of course the listeners wouldn't have a clue about that.

The story of the talents leaves us with a pretty clear message -- be a good steward with your Masters' things (including your 'talents'), and you will be rewarded. Do you get the same message from this parable?

Look back at the beginning of this parable. Why did Jesus tell this parable? How does the story fulfill that purpose?

Given our current classwork related to Bible study methods, what research would you like to do to better understand this passage?

A Tree Climbing Adventure

2009-03-13T09:40:00.001-07:00

Today's Verses -- Luke 19:1-9

Context:
Continuation of Wednesday's text (sorry, I didn't post yesterday).

Text:
1Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' "
8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."
9Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

What is the most famous person you have ever met? Have you ever done something that felt kind of foolish (like climbing a tree) in order to see someone? I've had the chance to see George W. Bush and Jamie Farr from across the room, but I didn't feel any obligation to knock other people over to shake their hands. I do admit that I've half dragged, half carried children across a Disney park to get their picture taken with the character Stitch, though!

Did you seek out Jesus with the same energy Zacchaeus did? And it seems that Jesus sought him out with equal fervor! Jesus knew the potential Zacchaeus held. I can't remember any other story in the Bible that showed such a significant voluntary change of heart (Paul changed significantly, but Jesus sought him out first).

I wonder how many people turned to Jesus when they saw Zacchaeus arriving to repay four fold the money he had cheated them out of? Were people able to see the change in your life due to your encounter with Christ?

Got Faith?

2009-03-11T11:03:00.000-07:00

Today's Verses -- Luke 18: 35-43

Context:
Continuation from yesterday -- Jesus is still heading toward Jerusalem for the last time.

Text:
35As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."
38He called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
39Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
40Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41"What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord, I want to see," he replied.
42Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has healed you." 43Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

There are several times when Jesus healed people and specifically commented on their faith. In addition to this blind man, he healed the woman (who had been bleeding for 12 years) that touched his cloak, the daughter of a Gentile woman who begged for a 'crumb' from the Lord's table, the servant of a Roman centurion, and the paralyzed man whose friends lowered him through a hole in the roof. In each case he was moved by the level of faith of the people who came to him.

There are many people who have used these examples to accuse people who have not received healing of being less than faithful enough. This seems to be an abuse of these verses without considering the context or the other verses where Jesus healed, or even raised people from the dead, when faith didn't seem to be an issue. Consider the widow of Nain whose son had just died. Jesus didn't even ask if she wanted him to be resurrected . . . we don't even know if she had a clue who Jesus was. Yet his heart was compassionate and he brought her son back to life. Other times it was obvious that people didn't have much faith in him, for instance the man who believed that he would be healed by being the first one in the pool of Siloam when the 'angels' stirred the water.

No one knows exactly why Jesus chose to heal the ones he did and why he didn't heal everyone he saw. Even today God chooses whom to heal and when. Does our faith make a difference in how our prayers are answered? James, the brother of Jesus, tells us we should ask, believing that God will give it to us. But, he goes on to say that we must not doubt.

What could God accomplish in our lives and at our church if we all were truly full of faith?

Do We Really Hear

2009-03-10T06:24:00.000-07:00

Today's Verses -- Luke 18:31-34

Context:
This follows the text from yesterday. If you remember, Jesus and his followers are on their final journey to Jerusalem. Between yesterday's text and today's, Jesus told the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, people brought their little children to be blessed by him, and a rich young ruler asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. We aren't certain exactly where Jesus is geographically.

Text:
31Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. 32He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. 33On the third day he will rise again."
34The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

This text is also recorded in Matthew 20:17-19 and Mark 10:32-34.

It's hard to comprehend the state of mind of the apostles at this point. They have seen their leader soundly rebuke the Pharisees over and over, and they have seen -- and done -- miraculous things. They had given up their lifestyles and livelihoods to follow Jesus, believing him to be the Son of God. In his shadow, they have received accolades from the crowds and have probably felt some pride in being selected as his closest companions. Now, at the height of his popularity, Jesus is telling them that when they get to Jerusalem he will die a horrible death at the hands of the Gentiles and then he will rise again on the third day.

Was Judas already planning on betraying Jesus? Did he feel any guilt at his plans, or did this speech plant a seed of rebellion in his mind? Did the apostles blow off this news? Did they wonder why he was still heading to Jerusalem instead of going the other way to be safe? Did they even remember this information in the Garden of Gethsemane as the crowd came to take him away? The Pharisees had tried to kill him before, why would this time be any different?

The text says that they didn't know what he was talking about. Often when I don't understand something that seems like a random part of a discussion, I just ignore it and focus on other things. I wonder how many times God tries to tell me what is coming down the road and I blow it off because I don't really understand?

Justice

2009-03-09T05:50:00.001-07:00

Today's Verses -- Matthew 18:1-8

Context:
Jesus is heading toward Jerusalem for the final time. At this point he is somewhere along the border between Samaria and Galilee. He has recently healed the ten lepers of their disease and he's talked to the Pharisees about when the kingdom of God would come. This text occurs approximately a month to six weeks before the crucifixion.

Text:
1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'
4"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' "
6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" (NIV)

taken from http://www.biblegateway.com/

Our world is filled with injustice. Some things we complain about just aren't fair, but others are true injustices. It is hard to understand why people would be so willing to seriously hurt others for their own gain, but we see it happen every day. Stockbrokers create elaborate schemes to make their clients feel rich while they actually steal funds away. Lenders offer deals that seem too good to be true...and they are. People who work the hardest physical jobs often make the least money. Prices increase while salaries stagnate.

God sees true injustice and he cares about those who suffer. We often cry out to God when life gets tough and things seem unjust. Often it seems as if he doesn't care or just won't listen. People lose jobs, their homes, and their health and God seems to be absent. After a time they give up on their prayers and they often give up on God.

God wants us to persist. He wants us to go first to him with our difficult situations, and he will provide answers. The answers, however, may not be the ones we expect. If he would just send down a lightning bolt and zap our adversaries, life would surely be easier! Instead he tells us to be patient, to heap burning coals on their heads by being kind and showing love, and to make sacrifices in our lifestyles to help make ends meet. Often he empowers us to change a situation with his strength instead of creating heavenly fireworks.

Do you truly trust him to take care of your needs and provide justice in your life? Do you persistently bring your needs to him and take action on the instructions he provides? How would your situation appear through his eyes? Don't give up on asking for his help, and keep the faith!

Long-Term Confidence

2009-03-05T06:57:00.000-08:00

Today's Verses -- Romans 10:32 - 11:1

Context:
Paul has been explaining how Christ's sacrifice has freed us from the law once and for all. He admonishes the Romans not to give in to sin, but to stand strong in their faith.

Text:

32Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood
your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. 33Sometimes you were
publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by
side with those who were so treated. 34You sympathized with those in prison and
joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you
yourselves had better and lasting possessions.
35So do not throw away
your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36You need to persevere so that
when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37For
in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and
will not delay. 38But my righteous one will live by
faith. And if he shrinks back,
I will not be pleased with him." 39But we
are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and
are saved.
1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what
we do not see. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

What do you hope for?

It seems no matter where we turn there is terrible news about our economy, even the whole world's economy. It doesn't take long for conversations to turn from the weather to the stimulus package or rising prices. Many in our own congregation have lost jobs or face job loss in the near future, and all have been impacted by the financial situation in our country.

Many are losing hope. They aren't sure where to turn to get help with house payments, credit card debt, or retirement plans that seem to be fading quickly. They just hope that they can scrape together enough money to get them through to the next paycheck. In the early days of the Christian church people were persecuted, fired, and even lost their property because of their faith. While the reasons behind our current difficulties might be different, the end result is unfortunately often the same.

Despite their difficulties, the Roman Christians stood firm in their faith, sympathizing with and supporting each other through their trials and tribulations because they were confident about the value of their faith.

This is a time for us to pull together in the same way. While we may feel that we ourselves are having financial difficulties, by reaching out and helping each other we can turn the focus from our current difficulties to eternal realities. Our parents and grandparents went through much tougher times than these, and God will help us make it through this time, too.

God really wants us to focus on the longer term. He wants us to be confident that our hopes for a heavenly eternity have been answered, and to be certain that he is in control, even when we can't see him.

How can you balance your near-term concerns with God's certainty of long-term hopes? What can you do today to help a neighbor who is struggling?

How Long Would You Survive in the Desert?

2009-03-04T07:03:00.000-08:00

Today's Verses -- Numbers 16:1-14

Context:
The Israelites have been wandering through the desert for two years, and they have arrived near the promised land. Twelve scouts checked out the land and most were certain that the Israelites would not be successful in a fight with the inhabitants. God punished the Israelites for their lack of faith, killing ten of the scouts and refusing to let the disbelievers ever see the land he had promised. They would wander in the desert for forty more years.

Text:

1 Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain
Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became
insolent 2 and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men,
well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. 3
They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, "You have gone
too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with
them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD's assembly?"
4
When Moses heard this, he fell facedown. 5 Then he said to Korah and all his
followers: "In the morning the LORD will show who belongs to him and who is
holy, and he will have that person come near him. The man he chooses he will
cause to come near him. 6 You, Korah, and all your followers are to do this:
Take censers 7 and tomorrow put fire and incense in them before the LORD. The
man the LORD chooses will be the one who is holy. You Levites have gone too
far!"
8 Moses also said to Korah, "Now listen, you Levites! 9 Isn't it
enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the
Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the LORD's
tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them? 10 He has
brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to
get the priesthood too. 11 It is against the LORD that you and all your
followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against
him?"
12 Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. But
they said, "We will not come! 13 Isn't it enough that you have brought us up out
of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert? And now you also
want to lord it over us? 14 Moreover, you haven't brought us into a land flowing
with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you
gouge out the eyes of these men? No, we will not come!" (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

In today's text some of the Levites were jealous of Aaron and his descendants because they had closer contact with God. The Kohath tribe was responsible for carrying the most sacred of the Tabernacle furnishings whenever God told the Israelites to move, but they were not allowed to look at them or touch them directly or they would die. They were so close to the sacred items of God, but they wanted to have more honor by being able to meet with God directly.

I was catching up on my 'Bible in a year' reading this morning, and read about a lot of disobedience and death. Israelites died because they complained about the food, disbelieved the power/protection God would provide, and rebelled against Moses and Aaron. God caused plagues, fires, and earthquakes in retribution. Moses spent a lot of time flat on his face praying for God's forgiveness of his people.

I started wondering -- how long would I'd have made it if I'd been an Israelite? We'd all love to say that we'd be strong and courageous like Caleb and Joshua, the scouts who believed that God would deliver them to the Promised Land as he'd said, but I have a feeling I wouldn't have made it that long. Would I have given up on Moses (and God) and convinced Aaron to create a golden calf that I could worship? Would I have grumbled and complained about the lack of variety in the diet (I know I would have...)? Would I have coveted the relationship Moses had with God and tried to convince the Israelites that I'd make a better leader?

I have a feeling the only way I would have made it through the desert would be if I had been a child, since only those twenty years and older were forbidden from entering the Promised Land!

How would you have fared?

And in what ways are we rebelling against God today?

Daily Instructions

2009-03-03T06:20:00.000-08:00

Today's Verses -- Mt 14:13-25

Context:
Jesus has been teaching in his hometown, but because many people remembered him as a child they had no faith in his sovereignty. He didn't do many miracles there. Herod had arrested John the Baptist and had him beheaded at his daughter's request.

Text:

13When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a
solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.
14When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed
their sick.
15As evening approached, the disciples came to him and
said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds
away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food."
16Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something
to eat."
17"We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they
answered.
18"Bring them here to me," he said. 19And he directed the
people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and
looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to
the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20They all ate and
were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces
that were left over. 21The number of those who ate was about five thousand men,
besides women and children.
22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into
the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.
23After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.
When evening came, he was there alone, 24but the boat was already a considerable
distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking
on the lake. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

I've always wondered if Jesus knew what was in store for him each day. We read that he liked to go away to quiet places in the morning to pray. Did God give him instructions for the day, or did he just strengthen Jesus so that he could handle whatever came up? Can't you just imagine God laying out the agenda for this particular day:

9:00 am -- take off in a boat and thousands of people will follow you along the shore.
9:45 am -- dock the boat and start preaching and healing
5:00 pm -- acknowledge that the crowd is hungry
5:10 pm -- see a little boy with a lunch box. Turn that into enough food to feed the crowd.
9:00 pm -- send everyone home and have the apostles take off in the boat while you pray
4:00 am -- walk on water to catch up with the boat

I have a feeling it wasn't spelled out quite so clearly.

On this day Jesus was discouraged because his closest friends from childhood couldn't see the truth. Did he try to do some miracles but they didn't work because of the lack of faith by the people? It's a terribly frustrating feeling to know that you could help someone if they only wanted help. Add to that the news that his cousin died in a totally wasteful way, and it's easy to imagine that Jesus needed some time with his Father to understand why bad things happen to good people.

All Jesus wanted to do was to get some time alone to grieve and pray. But the crowds had other ideas. Jesus laid aside his desires to meet the needs of others with a compassionate attitude.

When your day gets interrupted, how well do you handle it? Most times I'll deal with the interruption, but not very compassionately. After grumbling and complaining (hopefully silently), I'll do whatever is necessary and then I harp on how I didn't do what I thought I needed to do before being interrupted.

God is trying to tell me that my real work IS the interruptions. There are many lessons he's trying to teach me and I'm apparently a slow learner. He wants me to see that whatever agenda I set for myself is useless -- he wants me to be ready to deal with the needs of others throughout the day. I need to really understand that he is in control of everything, including my schedule. He's also trying to teach me to manage my time better. If I stop putting the important things off until later, I could actually accomplish my agenda AND his! Then there's that attitude problem. If I can't learn to be compassionate in my heart about the interruptions soon, I have a feeling I'm going to be facing a lifetime of foiled plans!

How do you deal with interruptions? Do you see them as an opportunity to join God in his work, or a pesky distraction?

God's Creation

2009-03-02T06:02:00.001-08:00

Today's Verses -- Psalm 139:1-18

Context:
This psalm was written by David.

Text:
1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Our task this week from yesterday's Sunday school lesson is to understand the purpose of the book from which we each get the texts we are studying.

Do you ever wonder about your purpose? If a book of the Bible were written about you, what would it's purpose be?

God created each of us and he planned in advance our talents and skills. He knows our experiences, our emotions, and our thoughts. He caused each of us to be born into a particular place and time for a reason which we may not know until we get to Heaven. It may be huge -- to evangelize a nation like Billy Graham. Or it may be infinitely small -- to offer a cup of water or a kind word to someone in need.

Many people search desperately for their purpose, feeling less than whole if they don't know why they exist. Others seek opportunities to be purposeful each day, presuming that somewhere along the line they will achieve the objective of existence.

Where are you in the process of discovering your purpose? Does it matter to you? Do you believe God has shown it to you yet? How do you know what it is?

TGIF?

2009-02-27T06:02:00.001-08:00

Today's Verses -- Ephesians 6:4-7

Context:
Paul has been giving the Ephesians instructions for life -- talking about husbands, wives, and children.

Text:
5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. (NIV)

Taken from www.biblegateway.com

Have you ever had to punch a clock? No, not in the morning when the alarm goes off, but at work. There have been several jobs I've worked where I had to clock in and out. I was much more likely to be on time to these jobs since someone would know right away if I was even one minute late. And often people would line up by the clock several minutes before the shift change so they could be sure to clock out at the first moment possible.

Unfortunately, I saw a lot of abuse of the system, too. People would clock in early so they could look good to the boss, then they'd take their daily newspaper and go to the cafeteria for breakfast. Others would leave early but conveniently forget to clock out so no one could prove they weren't at their desk. Some people believed that as long as they were clocked in they deserved to get paid for their time . . . regardless of if they worked or not.

In one tragic incident at a very large company, an employee was involved in a serious motorcycle crash on his way home from work. They found eight of his co-workers badges in his coat. He and his friends had a great gig -- work one day, off nine. They would pass all the badges around and clock in/out for each other!

It's a good thing God doesn't ask us to clock in (well, in reality he doesn't have to, being all-knowing of course). Some days I don't really start 'his' work until several hours into my day. Other days I probably 'clock out' within minutes of clocking in. I might have good intentions, but something in life interrupts my focus and I forget all about the boss of the universe.

God doesn't really want us to have specific times of day when we work for him and other times when we don't. He's a jealous boss who wants all of our time -- weekends, too. That doesn't mean we ignore the world and spend 24 hours a day in Bible study and prayer. He wants us to be connected to him through relationship all day and to see that the things we do are all about him: providing for our families, talking with co-workers, encouraging others, loving/respecting our spouses, and teaching others about him. He does like our one-on-one meetings with him on a regular basis, too.

How is your day going? Have you clocked in yet? Have you clocked out already? One good thing about this boss -- he'll be happy that we clock back in whenever we realize we aren't tuned in to his work and he forgets those times when we clock out if we just as his forgiveness! And the pay for this job is out of this world.

More Than You Can Imagine

2009-02-26T06:57:00.000-08:00

Today's Verses -- Ephesians 3:14-21

Context:
Paul writes this letter to the Ephesian church so they can better understand God's purpose. He has just finished explaining his assignment as a preacher to the Gentiles.

Text:

14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in
heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches
he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being
rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints,
to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to
know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of
all the fullness of God.
20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably
more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within
us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all
generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Paul's prayers are amazing. Wouldn't it be great to have someone pray over you like this?

This prayer is so huge. That we experience love that surpasses our knowledge? That God can do immeasurably more than we ask or even imagine? Often when people read these words they think of things like winning the lottery. If he wanted to, God could have me win even if I didn't buy a ticket! We start imagining a list of wonderful things, including salvation of those we've prayed for, healing of illness, paying off debt, being able to give more, being surrounded by admiring friends...our own personal Christmas list of giant things we want God to do.

But if you think about it, God has already done immeasurably more than we can imagine. Who'd have ever thought that people could find peace after a tragedy in their lives, or see that a life threatening illness was actually a blessing to a family? Even those who have lost everything often come back feeling more blessed than they could have imagined they would be before their loss.

Look at your life today. Instead of concerning yourself with the problems and issues in the world and your personal life, think of the times when God has done immeasurably more than you could have asked or expected. Share that with someone and it may give them hope!

And pray this prayer for those who surround you. Know that I have prayed it for you!

Consequences?

2009-02-25T06:11:00.001-08:00

OUT OF CONTEXT DAY -- for a little fun!

Verse for the day....Leviticus 26:14, 17b
"However, if you do not listen to me or obey all these commands, . . . you will run even when no one is chasing you."

So, does that mean that if we are obedient we don't have to exercise????

And a little further down: "They will ration your food by weight, and though you have food to eat, you will not be satisfied." (Lev 26:26b)

So if we are obedient we won't have to diet, either?

These verses are part of a list of the terrible things that will befall the Israelites if they don't obey the rules God has previously set forth. They follow a list of wonderful promises he makes for his people if they DO obey. The text of punishments is twice as long as the list of rewards, and they are very drastic.

Yet at the end of it all God comes back with this statement:
"44But despite all this, I will not utterly reject or despise them (the Israelites) while they are in exile in the land of their enemies. I will not cancel my covenant with them by wiping them out, for I am the Lord their God. 45For their sakes I will remember by ancient covenant with their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of all the nations, that I might be their god. I am the Lord." (NIV)

God was clear to let the people know the rewards and punishments of their actions before hand. But like Eve in the garden, they chose to believe Satan's lies that God's punishments 'surely won't happen'.

We know that the Israelites chose to disobey often, and that God was immensely patient with them before he carried out his punishments. While these verses were specifically written for the Israelites, God chose to keep them in his word so we could learn from them. Despite their disobedience, he still keeps his end of the bargain.

We are no longer under the law as defined in Leviticus and other books. How does God want us to obey under the new covenant brought by Jesus? What are the consequences if we disobey? Whole denominations have been formed around specific verses with debatable understanding of context, such as the concept of 'once saved always saved'. Does God allow us to do whatever we want without consequence once we've agreed to his covenant of salvation? Do God's consequences occur only on Earth, or in Heaven, too? What text to you use to back up your belief?

Sowing Generously

2009-02-23T06:13:00.000-08:00

Today's Verses -- 2 Corinthians 6-14

Context: Paul has spent a large portion of his letter explaining why it is important to be generous in giving to others.

Text:

6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever
sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each man should give what he has
decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves
a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in
all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good
work. 9As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to
the poor; his righteousness endures
forever." 10Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also
supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your
righteousness. 11You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous
on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
12This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs
of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
13Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise
God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ,
and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14And in
their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing
grace God has given you. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

I'm especially convicted by yesterday's lesson about taking verses out of context. I know that I often send out just a couple of verses that were thought provoking for the day . . . I hope that I do not insinuate false meaning to them in these short devotions! Please do not take my interpretations as truth; they are merely the thoughts that I had while prayerfully considering a particular text.

Today's text was part of my regular reading assignment and coincides with an article I read on Yahoo this morning. Beware -- I feel a rant coming on!

There are a lot of people who are having very difficult times right now, and my heart goes out to them. They have lost jobs, had medical conditions that required expensive treatments that weren't covered by insurance, or have had other tragedies befall them. In addition, there are many people who got caught up in the credit frenzy, buying things they wanted but couldn't afford . . . including large homes. Both situations are difficult to be stuck in, but our society is so set on a particular life style that we forget about the rest of the world.

In the article I read today (can be found at http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/106623/Save-Hundreds-on-Your-Favorite-Splurges), a survey reports the number of Americans who insist they would not give up the following things despite their financial problems:
internet service - 81%
cell phones - 64%
cable/satellite - 61%
discount clothing (Kohls/Target) 43%
haircuts/color at a salon - 40%
eating out at fast food restaurants - 37%
eating out at casual sit-down restaurants - 30%

I didn't see tithing or charitable giving on this list -- often it's the first thing to go. It's frustrating to see what we thing are requirements in our lives these days.

God says that he will provide for those in need, and if you notice he says that the way he provides is by asking his people who have to give to those who have not. There are many in our own neighborhoods who HAVE cut back everything and are still unable to buy sufficient food to make it through the month. And many of us say we can't give because we don't have anything left over at the end of the month.

How could we as Christians set an example for others by giving up something in order to give others more? I know our church doesn't celebrate Lent like some others do, by giving up a life pleasure. But what if we did? How much could our church give if we all gave up cable for just two months? Even if 500 families would do this and saved $50/month, that would be $50,000!!!!

Would you give up your cable for two months to give to those who don't have enough to eat?

Peace and Joy Be Yours!

2009-02-20T05:46:00.000-08:00

Today's Verses -- Psalm 16:5-11

Context:
This psalm is a 'miktam of David', which probably means it is a particular type of song. It is a prayer for safekeeping.

Text:

5 LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you have made my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for
me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
7 I will praise the LORD,
who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the LORD always
before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue
rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
10 because you will not abandon me
to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
11 You have made known
to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Do you ever stop to think that you are right where God wants you to be? Even though times are tough, he has put us on this earth for 'such a time as this', and he knows that we can glorify him in our current circumstances. Even though I have made poor decisions in my life and I often have to suffer the consequences of those decisions, his hand of protection is around me and nothing can happen that he can't turn to good. He will not abandon us no matter what.

He gives us instructions for life, and if we just follow them we have the promise of peace and joy (even if the circumstances aren't exactly what we'd hoped for). Nothing we can do will make him love us less, and nothing we do will make him love us more . . . it's just not possible. He is especially fond of each one of us! It's more than I can comprehend.

I pray that God's peace and joy will fill you today regardless of what the world throws at you.

Controversy

2009-02-19T06:43:00.001-08:00

Today's Verses -- Matthew 10:11-16

Context:
Jesus is sending out his apostles to towns of Israel to perform miracles and preach the truth. These words are a part of his advice to them before they leave.

Text:
11"Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. 12As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. 15I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 16I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

We have another controversial book on the Christian radar screen -- The Shack by Wm. Paul Young. This book is touted as pure heresy by some, and as an eye-opening view of our limited human perspectives of God by others.

Have you read it yet? Do you typically read books that are controversial, like The DaVinci Code? There is one school of thought that says we should be innocent as doves and not even open the pages of a book that isn't Biblically correct in it's portrayal of religious beliefs. Others believe we should be as shrewd as snakes, reading the books and making intense comparisons of its claims against what the Bible says.

At different times in my life I have been in both camps, and rightly so based on my level of spiritual maturity. Early on in my Christian life I would have been confused by concepts that sounded Biblical but really weren't. I would never have passed the tests Jesus passed in the desert when Satan tempted him by using scriptural references. I wasn't grounded enough in the truth to know a lie when I saw one.

And while I know I have a long way to go to get to spiritual maturity (if such a thing is even obtainable), now I really enjoy reading books of controversy because it's fun to validate or disprove the concepts! I like to read reviews by famous Christian scholars and try to understand their perspectives of heresies or values displayed in the text. I really enjoyed our classes by Lee Strobel on The DaVinci Code. I find it interesting that few scholars will portray both sides -- the good and the bad -- about a controversial book. They seem to say that if any point is heresy that the whole book is worthless.

I get concerned a bit by that. It makes me think of the Pharisees who saw Jesus himself as a heretic. They knew the Torah (the Old Testament) inside and out, yet they were unable to reconcile their perceptions of God's word with God's own son standing before them.

How often do we do that? We've been so conditioned by whatever religion we participate in that sometimes it's hard to see what God really intended in his word. The things we learned in childhood may have been refuted as adults, but how many of us still picture God in our heads as he is portrayed in the Sistine Chapel : old, wise, bearded, and Caucasian?

I do find value in reading the book and deeply understanding the controversial points so I can have intelligent discussions with non-Christians who may have read the book and actually believe some of the foolishness portrayed within. I also like to explore my own beliefs to see which might be tainted by 'man's religion' instead of Biblical wisdom.

What is your take on controversy?

Hurry up and Wait

2009-02-18T06:18:00.000-08:00

Today's Verses -- Lamentations 3:17-26

Context:
It is believed that this book was written by the prophet Jeremiah and describes the loss the Jews felt at the destruction of Jerusalem and their exile. It consists of five 'laments' or group cries for help from God. This text is from the middle of the book and focuses on the goodness of God despite their suffering.

Text:

17 I have been deprived of peace;
I have forgotten what prosperity is.
18 So I say, "My splendor is gone
and all that I had hoped from the LORD."
19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."
25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

I am not a very patient person. Once I decide that we want or need to make a purchase, it's hard for me to wait until there's a good sale. I tend to obsess about which model we want, where we should buy it, and how much we are willing to spend. The same is true with major spiritual issues or decisions. Once I believe I understand what God wants from me, I want to move forward and get on with it.

But my timing is not God's timing. In fact, I don't think my life has ever been synchronized with God's watch. Sometimes he wants immediate action and I want to think about it for a while. Other times I'm rearing to go, and he wants me to sit and wait...and wait and wait. I act like a six year old on a long trip, continually asking 'are we there yet?'

But no matter how impatient I get or how many times I make false starts, He let's me start over every single morning. Even if he got frustrated with me, he starts each day full of new love and compassion. Each sunrise brings another chance to turn to him and wait for his will to unfold.

This is one of the things I appreciate most about him!

Hot or Cold?

2009-02-17T06:16:00.000-08:00

Today's Verses -- Revelations 3:14-22

Context:
John (the apostle) is in a trance as he hears about Heaven and the End Times directly from Jesus. This is part of an address by Christ to the seven churches.

Text:

14"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

It's hard to say that today's verses are some of my favorites, but I keep returning to them for some reason. I'm afraid that Jesus would find me to be a lukewarm Christian. There are so many areas where I know I fall short -- my prayer life, Bible study, good deeds, living in the Spirit. And I give great excuses -- life is too busy, there are so many expectations related to finances, parenting, home maintenance, work, that I often find myself falling asleep yet again disappointed in the witness I provided during the day.

When I stand before Jesus, I know that he will provide grace and cover my sins, but will he say 'Susan who????' when he sees my name on the list of new citizens of Heaven?

If I look at the way I spend my time, there are weeks when I know an outsider wouldn't see Christ as my top priority. I read, but I don't really study. I pray, but I don't really converse. I give, but not really sacrificially. I worship, but often it's half-hearted. I serve, but I'd rather be somewhere else.

How would you define being a 'hot' Christian? What would it look like? Where do you fall on the thermometer?

Forgave and Forgot

2009-02-16T07:30:00.000-08:00

Read 2 Peter 1:5-9

Context: Peter introduced his book by telling us that God has given us everything we need for life and godliness.

Text:

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to
goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control,
perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly
kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities
in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and
unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not
have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been
cleansed from his past sins. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Do you ever forget that you have been cleansed from your sins? Satan will go out of his way to make you think it isn't true. Late at night, when you can't sleep, he'll whisper into your ear things like, "I can't believe you did THAT!" or, "Surely you are bad to the core, look at all you've done," or even, "How could he forgive you for THAT?"

When we ask for forgiveness with a humble, repentant heart, God has promised that he will forgive and forget...as far as the east is from the west. But he doesn't take our memory away. He doesn't want us to dwell, or even revel, in our misdeeds, but he does want us to remember what we are capable of and how far we'd fallen before we let him pick us up. After all, how can we live and learn if we never remember the life lessons?

He wants us to remember, but not to be haunted by the memory. Next time Satan wants you to wallow in your past, just thank him for reminding you how great God is!

Silence

2009-02-12T06:28:00.001-08:00

Today's Verses -- Amos 8:11-12

Context:
Amos prophesied during the reign of King Uzziah over Judah (792-740 b.c.) and Jeroboam II over Israel (793-753). While both kingdoms were enjoying great prosperity, it was a time of idolatry and extravagant indulgence. Amos's message from God called for social justice and true piety. He declared that God was going to judge his people because of their disobedience.

Text:
11 "The days are coming," declares the Sovereign LORD, "when I will send a famine through the land— not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.
12 Men will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the LORD, but they will not find it." (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

It's scary to compare Israel during this time frame and America today. While as a country we are not God's chosen nation (despite what some may think), we have been and still are full of "extravagant indulgence in luxurious living, immorality, corruption of judicial procedures, and oppression of the poor." Even though we are in recession, our lifestyles are still much more lavish than the lifestyles of many in the world. And despite the claim of almost 90% of Americans that they believe in God or consider themselves Christian, many don't act like it.

Amos's message was that God would be withdrawing his hand and his voice from the Israelites because of their disobedience. In historical Israel, the word of God came through prophets. As we know in retrospect, God fulfilled his message and did not send a prophet for approximately 500 years before the birth of Christ. That is a lot of silence.

What would our society look like if we were unable to read or hear the word of God for that long? If there were no true right and wrong, and people were able to do pretty much as they pleased? Would anyone seek God?

Even when God provided his word through the prophets, most people chose not to believe "those fanatics". Interesting to see how our leaders choose to look at truth-sayers these days as intolerant, right wing, narrow-minded, and hopelessly outdated.

But we have God's word in our hands, on our computers, and hopefully in our hearts. Regardless of it's popularity, it's up to us to be sure there is never a drought of his word again! God has given each of us the ability to proclaim his message. Let's be sure we understand the full message and then let's be heard.

Do You Have Questions?

2009-02-11T13:01:00.000-08:00

Today's Verses -- John 3:1-2

Context:
Jesus is in Jerusalem for the Passover. He entered the temple courts and found men selling all kinds of animals for sacrifice. He overturned their tables and ran them out of the temple courts. The Jews wanted to see miraculous signs to prove he was the Christ.

Text:
1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Have you started listing questions about the verses you have chosen to study? I got started slowly, but I was amazed at how many questions I ended up with. It was actually a somewhat frustrating exercise, because now I want answers to all of them!

I'd love the chance to go meet with Jesus face to face and ask him these things. I'm sure I'd be embarrassed by my ignorance, but I imagine he'd patiently explain everything. Nicodemus visited with him at night. Some surmise because he was embarrassed to be seen asking these questions, but who really knows? Maybe he just had a busy day at the temple and didn't have a chance to meet with him until nighttime. Or maybe he and Jesus set up the meeting in advance.

The important thing isn't when he went or why he went at that time, but that he went at all! How often do we rush through reading a passage, especially a familiar one, and don't really stop to be sure we understand?

This method of Bible study is definitely taking a lot of time, but I already have a much better comprehension of the passage than I did before I started questioning things. I could probably spend the rest of my life trying to find answers to some of the questions I have.

So, do I need to memorize my questions so I can ask Jesus when I get to Heaven? Or will I automatically know the answers to all my questions when I arrive. I imagine, at that point, the questions won't matter anymore.

Seeking The Truth

2009-02-10T06:45:00.001-08:00

Today's Verses -- Acts 17:10-12

Context:
Paul and Silas were imprisoned in Phillipi, then miraculously released by an earthquake. Instead of escaping they converted the jailer and his entire family. They left for Thessalonica, where many Jews heard the Good News and became Christians. But many Jews were jealous of the crowds Paul and Silas drew, so they started a riot. They beat the man who was housing them, and Paul and Silas left town.

Text:

10As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On
arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11Now the Bereans were of
more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with
great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said
was true. 12Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek
women and many Greek men. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

I'm not sure why I think of the Bereans as older. . . maybe because it seems like the longer people live, the more they are likely to be noble and not believe whatever they hear. Anyway, I imagine a group of wise grandpas listening to the morning preaching of Paul and Silas, taking notes and tapping their chins. They turn occasionally to each other and whisper about certain points and ask questions that younger folks wouldn't even think of.

Then they get up, stretch out their legs and grab a bite of lunch. They meet together in the study room of the synagogue and pull out the ancient scrolls. They look up a multitude of verses, reading aloud when they find passages of particular interest. Then they discuss, argue, and look up more verses before deciding that Paul was indeed correct. They wonder at the way God is bringing his word to life and they dream of Heaven. They excitedly head home and tell their families of their discoveries.

Controversy and disbelief related to teaching is actually a good thing if it causes us to dig deeper to really understand what God is trying to relay. I'm excited that this new series will teach us how to challenge our assumptions and validate (or maybe discover) the truth.

I hope everyone has chosen his or her verses to study. Be sure to start preparing a list of questions today. This is a big assignment that won't be very effective if we put it off until the last minute.

Who knows, maybe people will see our class as being of noble character and seekers of the truth (BEFORE we all get gray hair...)

Going Deep

2009-02-09T07:19:00.000-08:00

Today's Verses -- 2 Timothy 3:14-17

Context:
In his second letter to a young missionary, Paul warns Timothy about the godlessness people will face in the last days and gives him advice for standing firm in his faith.

Text:

14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced
of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you
have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation
through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man
of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NIV)

taken from http://www.biblegateway.com/

We have officially started an eight week session that will teach us how to study God's word indepth. For those of you who aren't able to join us on Sundays, you can listen to the sessons at http://www.icrtransform.com/ . Go to Study Resources, then audio resources, and click 'How to Read and Study the Bible by Dr. Mark E. Moore'. This week we went through the complete introduction session.

Our assignment for this week was to choose a Bible passage, about 10 - 20 verses long, which we will use for our study for the entire eight weeks.

This was a really difficult assignment for me. There are so many great stories and great things to learn that I had no idea where to start. I decided that I wanted to focus on the gospels since Dr. Moore gave so many examples from there. Then I thought that maybe I'd choose a story I didn't know much about, something that was covered in at least two of the gospels so I could make comparisons. But did I want a miracle, a teaching session, or maybe an informational passage like Jesus' selection of his disciples? I read through the subtitles and was disappointed to find that many of these sections had ten or fewer verses, which Dr. Moore said would be too short.

I really wanted something that would be incredibly meaningful and pertinent to my life right now...especially if I was going to spend eight weeks on it!

Then I remembered today's verses, advice from Paul to Timothy. It really doesn't matter what I choose...ALL scripture is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training. God has something to teach me from any passage I choose.

In the end, I have chosen John 5:16-30. The chapter subtitle is 'Life Through the Son', and it talks about how Jesus is doing his Father's work, and it is often referenced in a Bible study I'm doing called Experiencing God.

I'd love to hear what passage you have chosen and how you decided on it. Comment below and share your verses with the rest of the class.

I'm excited to find out what we all learn from this experience! I'm sure our Sunday School class will never be the same if we are all able to really worship God through our Bible studies.

However, I'm a little hesitant about that 'rebuking' part...

Too Busy

2009-02-06T05:53:00.000-08:00

Read Psalm 119:33-40

Context:
More from Psalm 119. Today's letter is 'He'

33 Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.
35 Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.
36 Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.
37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.
38 Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared.
39 Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good.
40 How I long for your precepts! Preserve my life in your righteousness.(NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

This stanza could stand alone as a prayer. If you remember from yesterday, the author started with each letter of the Hebrew alphabet and he wrote eight verses for each. While he has been talking to God in each of the stanzas up to this point in the psalm, he shifts and dedicates this one to a prayerful request.

In your prayer time today, try to include these lines. Verses 36 and 37 really seem to hit home in our era. We have so many distractions that, while they may be worthwhile, take us away from God's word. We have to get to work, clean the house, wash the car, fix meals, entertain, shop, watch the our favorite shows, keep up with the news, and prepare to do it all over again next week.

Can you take time today to 'turn your eyes away' and spend time reading your Bible?

Even as I type that, I am coming up with excuses for why I'm too busy. HA! Why procrastinate in my reading when I can put off cleaning the bathroom for one more day?

The Truth, the Whole Truth...

2009-02-05T06:51:00.000-08:00

Today's Verses -- Psalm 119:89-96

Context:
Psalm 119 is a long devotional on the Word of God. Each stanza starts with a different Hebrew letter...sort of an A-Z on the Bible. Today's text is brought to you by the letter Lamedh!

Text:

89 Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. 90 Your
faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and
it endures. 91 Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you. 92 If
your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. 93 I
will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life. 94 Save
me, for I am yours; I have sought out your precepts. 95 The wicked are waiting
to destroy me, but I will ponder your statutes. 96 To all perfection I see a
limit; but your commands are boundless. (NIV)

taken by www.biblegateway.com

Do you believe that the Bible is God's word? Why? Could you explain why you believe this to others? Try to explain why you believe this to someone in your family and see if you are convincing. It's harder to do that in sounds.

If you aren't really sure, ask someone else in class to tell you their explanation, and discuss your concerns. It will be helpful to both of you!

Just a thought...if you don't believe something that is true, does it make it any less true?

Displaying His Word

2009-02-04T07:42:00.000-08:00

Today's Verses -- Deut 6:4-9

Context: Moses has come down from the mountain the second time (after destroying the tablets of commandments because of the golden calf) and he is giving a long speech outlining God's expectations of the Jewish people.

Text:

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God
with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These
commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on
your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the
road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands
and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the door frames of your houses
and on your gates. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

According to some Internet statistics I found (however valid they may be...), over $13 BILLION dollars get spent on Christian books each year. This doesn't include the spending on other Christian items like music, t-shirts, and home decor.

Many people may think I'm a tightwad, although as Doug knows I can spend with the best of them! But I wonder if these purchases are really bringing us closer to God?

Please don't get me wrong -- I am thrilled with the number of Christian books on the market and I read a lot of them. And how many people have met Christ first through a book or a song? Probably tons. But when I go to a Christian bookstore and see tea sets, statues, and knick-knacks for Christ, I wonder if we have gone too far.

God told us to write his words on our door frames, to keep them in front of us at all times, and to talk about them each day with our children and others. But how many of us really know the verses represented on our t-shirts in context if anyone would ask? I'm not sure he really meant that we should buy stuff with verses engraved on it.

I'm not opposed to purchasing these things, but I wonder how many of us use them as witnessing tools? Do others, including our own families, know what our core beliefs are about Christ? How often do you discuss the Bible in your home in the course of 'normal' conversation?

I know we don't do it very often. Oh, we pray at mealtimes and bedtime and attend church. And some of us do regular devotions or studies, but I have to admit that some days the only real reference to God is the plaque in the corner stating that we serve the Lord in our house. I love the idea of us reading, discussing, and even memorizing scripture together, but somehow life intervenes and it doesn't often happen. His commandments aren't often on our hearts.

When is the last time you discussed God's expectations of His people somewhere other than at church?

What Are You Doing With What You Learn?

2009-02-03T08:09:00.000-08:00

Today's Verses -- James 1:22-25

Context:
James (presumed to be the brother of Jesus, not the apostle) is writing to the Christian Jews who are scattered around the world. They are undergoing a time of serious persecution, and he seeks to encourage them to go beyond belief and take actions that demonstrate Christ.

Text:

22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who
looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and
immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into
the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting
what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com
This year I'm planning to read through the Bible in a year. I'm trying a different approach, hoping it works better than in the past. I've purchased a One Year Chronological Bible in the New Living Translation. The text is rearranged in sequential order and the daily readings are laid out for me.

So far it's been very interesting. Genesis, of course, comes first, but it is interspersed with some of the genealogy from other books which will hopefully keep me from spending a month going through tedious lists of names and numbers. I love the stories of the interactions of God and his chosen leaders such as Abraham and Isaac. I've read about Jacob and Job, and now I'm reading about Moses and the plagues on Egypt.

But James verses about doing what the word says have caused me to step back. I admit I've been reading the daily assignments more as adventure stories and I've not been taking the time to really comprehend what they mean in my daily life. Other than increasing my ability to tell Bible stories, what am I doing with the things that I learn? How do these ancient stories apply to modern life?

What blessings am I missing by not intently studying the words I read?

I'm looking forward to the next few weeks of class to refresh old habits and learn new techniques for really applying God's message in my life.

In the meantime I think I need to look back and see what I've missed so far this year!

How about you? Can you name five life lessons you've learned from your Bible reading so far this year (that's only one per week...)?

The Word

2009-02-02T07:47:00.000-08:00

We are taking a break from Acts for a few weeks to improve our Bible study skills!

Today's Verses -- Proverbs 1:1-7

Text:
1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight;
3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young-
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance-
6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

In Bible times and for much of our history it was almost impossible for a normal person to read God's word. Even if he or she was literate, the only Bibles (or Torahs) that existed were carefully guarded in the temples and cathedrals. Each had to be hand-written and was priceless.

In certain historical times, each king and pope had to hand-write his own copy of the Bible as a means of fully understanding it's content. In some countries today that is still the only way a person can obtain a personal copy because it is against the law or impossible to purchase one.

While I am glad it isn't hidden away any longer, we seem to have lost respect for the word. In our home we have at least nine copies in several versions and we can access more on the Internet with the press of a button. When I do my Bible reading (which isn't as daily as I'd like it to be), I often skim it like a novel then put it away until the next day. It is easy to follow Einstein's logic of not using up precious brain cells to memorize anything we can readily find somewhere else (an aside -- so why is my head so full of Disney songs?)!

I know that I fit into the fool category that Solomon mentioned in his introduction to Proverbs. I dislike discipline and often waste the time that I had set aside for prayer and Bible study with other seemingly important things that don't have eternal consequences.

How would our world be different if every Christian used the Word for the purposes outlined in our text today?

God Doesn't Show Favoritism

2009-01-30T06:45:00.000-08:00

Today's Verses -- Acts 10:44 - 48

Context:
After Cornelius had a vision from God to go seek the man staying at Simon's home in Joppa, Peter had a vision, too. Peter was on Simon's roof when he fell into a trance. Three times God showed him 'unclean' food and told Peter to eat it. When the vision ended, Cornelius's men had arrived to request that Peter go with them to Caesarea. They arrived to see that a crowd had gathered at Cornelius's home and Peter was asked to share the message of Christ.

Text:

44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who
heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were
astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the
Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues[a]
and praising God.
Then Peter said, 47"Can anyone keep
these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit
just as we have." 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days. (NIV)
Footnotes:
Acts
10:46 Or other languages

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Up to this point, only Jews or those who were converted to Judaism had received the Holy Spirit. It was a shock to see Gentiles who had obviously received the Spirit, and had it not been for the vision Peter saw, he probably wouldn't have believed it was possible.

Have you ever felt like someone (or a group of someones) didn't deserve the love of God? It is reported that Jeffrey Daumer, the serial killer who ate his victims, received salvation and spent the last few years of his life as a devout Christian. Many doubt his conversion. And what of men like Saddam Hussein, Adolf Hitler, and Attila the Hun? Would you be shocked to see them in Heaven?

Anyone can have a deathbed conversion...if he or she honestly believes, repents, and seeks salvation, even in the last moments of life, we are told that God will welcome him or her with open arms. Somehow that doesn't always seem fair.

But a sinner is a sinner...there isn't any priority of 'good sins' and 'bad sins'. We don't deserve to be in the presence of God any more than these men do, for all have sinned and fallen short of God's expectation. We are all 'unclean'.

It is up to us to show others that they can receive Christ's salvation...even if they don't consider themselves 'worthy'. Because in reality, none of us is worthy. Praise God that he loves us anyway!

Great Gifts

2009-01-29T07:09:00.001-08:00

Today's Verses -- Acts 10:1 - 8

Context:
After bringing Dorcas back to life, Peter stayed in Joppa for a while with a tanner named Simon.

Text:
1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!"
4Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked.
The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea."
7When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Sometimes it is easy to see God as the Ruler of the Universe, almost like the CEO of some major corporation. He is in charge of making sure everything runs smoothly, but doesn't really pay attention to any specific employee out in the workforce.

These verses throw that 'model' of God out with the trash! God is specifically paying attention to the prayers of a Gentile, a soldier reporting to those who have caused great harm to His son and His people. He pays close attention to our prayers, our gifts, and our service to others.

On the one hand, this is rather scary. God knows the gory details of the times I chose to give hesitantly or not at all. He seeks out those who have been devout and have given generously. Compared with the widow who gave her last penny, I'm sure I don't have a very outstanding giving record.

On the other hand, God loves us and sees us as out children. This morning one of our sons, Kevin, wanted two quarters from his 'spending' jar. It is Popcorn Day at school, and he wanted to take an extra quarter in case one of his friends forgot. It made my heart melt to realize that he is thinking of others and is more than happy to share.

God looks at us the same way. While he does have expectations that we tithe, he smiles when we willingly give to others without thinking much about the impact on our own lives. He isn't counting the pennies we give in an attempt to punish us when we don't give enough...He wants to bless us because we care for others.

I want God to feel good about my giving, just like I felt good about Kevin's. What can you do to make God smile today?

Back Home From Paradise

2009-01-28T08:23:00.000-08:00

Today's Verses -- Acts 9:36-42

Context:
The Church has enjoyed a time of peace and strengthening by the Holy Spirit. Peter has been traveling around the country, healing people and growing the Church.

Text:
36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas[a]), who was always doing good and helping the poor. 37About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!"
39Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
40Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. 42This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon. (NIV)
Footnotes:
Acts 9:36 Both Tabitha (Aramaic) and Dorcas (Greek) mean gazelle.
There has been quite a bit of controversy in the Church about people who claim to have died, gone to Heaven, then been brought back to Earth. I wish Luke (the presumed author of Acts) had interviewed her about the experience and recorded her story in more detail! Likewise we don't hear what happened to Lazarus during his days of death.

When Jesus was on the cross, he told the thief next to him "Today you will be with me in paradise." Before Christ's death a Jew had to be obedient to the laws of God to get into Heaven. Afterwords we are told that only by believing in Christ, repenting and being baptized will provide entrance to Heaven. We know that Dorcas was a disciple, so it makes sense to suppose that she was a resident of Heaven after her death.

It was wonderful for the followers of Christ to have their dear friend back, and we presume she went back to her acts of love and service for others. And many more believed in Christ as a result of this resurrection.

But I really wonder how she felt about the whole incident. After all, she'd been in paradise! I'm not sure I'd be thrilled to come back to earth after an experience like that.

There were many believers who died ...both for their faith and from illness or old age. Why did Peter bring Dorcas back and not Stephen?

Does God bring people back from the dead in our time?

Standing Firm

2009-01-27T07:23:00.000-08:00

Today's Verses -- Acts 9:23-29

Context: Saul has been obedient to Christ, and he is able to see again. He has been baptized and after spending several days with the disciples in Damascus, he has begun preaching the Good News in the synagogues.

Text:
23After many days had gone by, the Jews conspired to kill him, 24but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
26When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

God didn't give Saul much time to perfect his sermon before throwing him in to the fray! He went from persecuting to being persecuted in approximately one week.

It would be one thing if the people just ignored him, taunted him, or labeled him a fool. But they were so upset with his teaching that they were ready to kill just to silence him. In just a few days Saul's message was so powerful that devout Jews knew they had to eliminate him or their way of life was endangered.

Why was the message of Christ such a threat? Even today, people are at risk of death in certain countries for preaching, or even living, the Gospel.

We live in a country where all religions are supposedly tolerated, which in essence makes the Christian message (or any other message) meaningless. It's ok for people to believe whatever they want, our society says, because in the end it doesn't really make any difference. Religion is seen as a crutch and there isn't any true right or wrong, or all would be flocking toward the truth.

Even within our own Protestant faith there are so many denominations that outsiders see us as multiple religions who can't even define right from wrong within specific issues. If there is a strong disagreement within a church, people simply split and go their separate ways. The result is an entire country of lukewarm Christians.

What is truth, and how do we know? What do YOU stand for when it comes to God?

Instructions from God

2009-01-26T07:06:00.001-08:00

Today's Text -- Acts 9:10 - 19

Context: Saul has just met Jesus for the first time on his way to Damascus to imprison the Christians. He's been blinded by the light from Heaven and is being led by his traveling companions into the city.

Text:
10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered.
11The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
13"Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."
15But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
17Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Have you ever been told by God to do something that seemed unusual, dangerous, or even ridiculous? I've heard stories of people who are convinced that God has told them they should send certain amounts of money to particular addresses, without any particular reason. If they obeyed, the recipient was someone who needed that specific amount for a godly purpose!

Others, like Philip and the eunich, were told to go to a certain place or talk to a specific person.

I've had similar experiences, and it's hard to explain how I knew what I was supposed to do, but it was very clear. Sometimes I obeyed, and I am haunted by the times I didn't.

I'm not aware of anyone who claims God has spoke audibly to them (but I know he could if he wanted to), yet we can be certain we are receiving instructions. In today's text, Ananias had a vision, maybe a dream, and the Lord spoke clearly to him. I like that the author of Acts has included Ananias's response. He wanted to be really sure that God wanted him to go to Saul, because if he had misunderstood the message he could have easily ended up in jail.

The Lord didn't seem to be upset with Ananias (as we know, he could have taken any one of many measures to discipline Ananias for disbelief), but he patiently explained why it was important.

He even added in that Saul was going to have to suffer a lot. You notice Ananias didn't report that to Saul...at least not in record of the conversation.

Does God give each of us instructions that cause us discomfort at different times in our lives?

If it has happened to you, think about times when you thought God was asking you to take action. How did you know it was God? Did you act, or did you miss the opportunity? If we hesitate too long, does God bring someone else into the picture so his will is ultimately met?

An Encounter with God

2009-01-23T07:39:00.000-08:00

Today's Text -- Acts 9:1-6

1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's
disciples. He went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the
synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way,
whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3As he
neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you
persecute me?"
5"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6"Now
get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." NIV

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Frequently people will seem to be on a mission from God. They have decided, maybe they even believe they have heard from God himself, that they should take up a cause in the name of the Lord. Saul firmly believed he was doing God's work when he set out to make prisoners out of the followers of Jesus. He even had the blessing of the head honchos of the Synagogue. He wanted to be sure that the religion was not sullied by people who were promoting irreverent ideas.

I found an interesting twist in the King James Version. There, verses 5 and 6 read:

5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I
am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he
trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord
said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou
must do.

I don't know which version is 'correct' from an original text perspective, but the Strongs Reference has the translation of these words from the Greek. When it talks about the pricks, it is referring to a large stick that had spikes or nails sticking out of it, often called a goad. It was used to prod oxen forward when they worked. To kick against it meant significant pain!

Jesus himself was telling this devout member of the Jewish race that he was not only doing something counter to God's wishes, but he was hurting himself in the process.

I also like the response of Saul to the Lord. He immediately knew that the speaker was God, but in the flash of a moment, when God identified himself as Jesus the son, Saul knew that he was on the wrong mission.

I wonder if he was waiting for that flash of light to turn into lightning or fire, searing him off of the face of the earth? Remember, the God of the Old Testament turned quickly to vengeance.

Saul was savvy enough to know that he needed to change his course. He truly desired to serve the Lord, and he wanted to know exactly what he should be doing instead, so he asked.

Jesus didn't bore him with a long instruction list telling Saul that he must convert to Christianity, leave his home and family to travel the world with the Good News, be shipwrecked, beaten, stoned, ridiculed, imprisoned, and eventually killed. All that would have been too much for Saul to handle.
Instead Jesus just told him the very next instruction...go into the city and you will hear what to do next. Almost like a treasure hunt...take six paces and find your next instruction hiding in the branches of the tallest tree!

I often wish God would let me know why certain things happen. But I can take encouragement from knowing that he only provides the information we need for the very next step. Perhaps we can't comprehend or handle the vision of the future. I just have to trust him enough to follow the clues which will eventually lead to the greatest treasure of all!

Are you on the right path...God's path not the worlds' (even if that worldly path is sanctioned by the church)? What is God telling you to do next?

So Many Questions

2009-01-22T06:15:00.000-08:00

Today's Text -- Acts 8:14-17

14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of
God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15When they arrived, they prayed for them
that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16because the Holy Spirit had not yet
come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord
Jesus. 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the
Holy Spirit. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Today we back up a few verses to one of the more controversial scriptures. I don't have any answers for you, but hopefully the questions this raises will cause you to think about what you believe!

If we look back to the beginning of this chapter, Philip had gone to Samaria and proclaimed Christ. He did a lot of miraculous signs, healing many and exorcising demons. The Samaritans paid close attention and there was great joy in the city.

It doesn't tell us how Philip baptized them, or even if he did, but our text for today tells us that the Samaritans had only been baptized into the name of Jesus. Therefore they hadn't received the Holy Spirit.

If we go back a little further, in chapter 2 Peter tells us to "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit".

So what had been done incorrectly? In our Sunday morning baptisms, we say something to the effect of 'I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins and to walk in the newness of life' (amazing how I hear it every Sunday and can't remember it word for word....). Does that mean that we did it correctly?

Do you know that you have received the Holy Spirit? How do you know?

Then there are the issues of those who died without baptism, like the man on the cross next to Jesus. He was going to Heaven that same day. But because he hadn't been baptized was he going to see Heaven and then be sent to Hell on the first available elevator?

This is one of the major controversies of the modern church -- is baptism required? Do you receive salvation only when you are baptized? Is sprinkling ok, or do you have to be immersed? When do you receive the Holy Spirit? Do you have to prove that you have the Holy Spirit by demonstrating a gift such as tongues?

What is the difference between legalism and obedience?

Not of Our Own Power

2009-01-21T06:24:00.000-08:00

Today's Verses -- Acts 8:17-24
17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money 19and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."
20Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."
24Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me." (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

When you first heard about Christ, did you make any rash comments or wrong assumptions about religion? Simon really missed the point here, but I still felt sorry for him the first time I read this. After all, he saw something that he wanted and he was willing to pay anything to get it. And boy, did Peter ream him!

It is really hard to understand the fact that salvation is free. God doesn't require us to pay large sums of money to buy our forgiveness (and some religions actually offer this with a payment plan!). He doesn't request that we spend 40 hours each week in a job that forces us to serve others. We don't even have a daily quota of Bible chapters to read. We are no more saved if we sell all we have and give it to the poor than we are if we don't tithe or read the Bible.

Yet, somehow, when we truly look to Christ as an example for our lives, we want to give, read, pray, and serve. And when new Christians see the faithful doing these things, they might think that the actions are requirements for walking through those pearly gates.

If you, like Peter, see someone who is struggling to attain salvation based on his or her own capabilities, help them understand the Good News that it has already been granted through Christ's sacrifice and God's grace.

But please, be a little more gentle than Peter was!

Go Tell It!

2009-01-20T05:58:00.000-08:00

Today's Verses -- Deuteronomy 4:9-14

9 Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the
things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live.
Teach them to your children and to their children after them. 10 Remember the
day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when he said to me, "Assemble
the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as
long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children." 11 You came
near and stood at the foot of the mountain while it blazed with fire to the very
heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness. 12 Then the LORD spoke to you out
of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a
voice. 13 He declared to you his covenant, the Ten Commandments, which he
commanded you to follow and then wrote them on two stone tablets. 14 And the
LORD directed me at that time to teach you the decrees and laws you are to
follow in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

In the Old Testament, God commanded Moses to teach the Israelites about his laws and promises. They in turn were expected to teach these things to their children and their children's children. People were expected to read, memorize, and obey a long list of rules and regulations so that they might see the fulfillment of promises God had made to their forefathers.

I was unable to find any reference to a time in the Old Testament where God told His chosen people to go out and preach or teach those in surrounding communities about His promises and laws. The message was for the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob alone.

There were times when others chose to become Jewish -- Ruth had been a Moabite who converted to Judaism so that she could live with her mother-in-law. She was received by the community (or at least by Boaz) as one of them.

But when Jesus came, He preached to anyone who would listen. There are several examples of times when He healed Gentiles, showing us that his message was for all -- Hebrew or not. As He ascended to Heaven, He told the followers to be his witnesses to Judea and Samaria (Hebrew communities) and to the ends of the earth. This fulfilled the prophecies of Isaiah about the Savior:

Isaiah 49:6 "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the
tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you
a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the
earth."

It really isn't fair. The Hebrews struggled for years to obey complex laws about what to eat, what to wear, even how to clean their homes. Millions of cute little lambs and doves were offered as sacrifices to God, showing the failure of His people to follow the rules. No matter what they did, they seemed unable to live up to His expectations.

And then we come along, the Gentiles. All we have to do is to believe, repent, and be baptized! After Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, He opened up the gates of Heaven to anyone and everyone. If we stick closely to Him, He will give us daily instructions that will result in a life that is full of peace and joy. This is the amazing Good News He wants us to share with the world.

Who will you tell today?

Share the Message

2009-01-19T07:11:00.001-08:00

Today's Verses -- Acts 8:1b-4
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. 4Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. (NIV)

Have you ever thought about what it must be like to be a Christian in a country where Jesus was illegal? I believe God doesn't give us more than we can handle, and that's probably why I live in a country that just makes fun of Christians, doesn't persecute them.

These people packed up what little they could carry with them and left jobs, extended family, and the communities they had grown up in to start a new life somewhere else to avoid persecution. They had seen Stephen stoned to death and many of their friends put in jail just because they knew the truth about Jesus.

Yet, despite that fear of persecution, they were still so convinced that Jesus was the Savior and that he was the only way to salvation that they continued to tell everyone they saw the Good News! No amount of persecution has EVER wiped Christians off the face of the Earth for more than 2000 years!

Many people today face humiliation, being thrown out of their families or societies, imprisonment or death, yet they still tell the Good News. And I hesitate to tell others because I'm concerned about what they may think or that I might get the message wrong.

Shame on me.

Putting our Money Where Our Mouths Are...

2009-01-16T07:15:00.000-08:00

Today's Verses -- Acts 4:32-37
32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
36Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

If I'm totally honest, I really don't like these verses. I think it's really cool that the believers did this, but I don't want to have to do the same. I unfortunately hold on pretty tightly to lots of things...some of them are totally worthless and only take up space. Some of them I don't even like, but someone special gave them to me so I cling to them. I know that if a disaster occurred I'd get over this stuff, but in the meantime it's mine and I hold on to it.

Things that may come in handy some day, like business books. I might want to use them if I consult or write an article about that topic. In reality, I could get these books from the library with just a day or two notice. Or, worst case, I could purchase them again.

Or children's toys. They have been sitting unused for months, cluttering up the boys bedroom. The aren't played with anymore, but we spent money on them and I hate to see that wasted. Is it better to look at the pile of waste each day than to pass it on to someone who might enjoy them because they don't have any toys?

Unfortunately I could go on...clothes I hope to fit into again, furniture that doesn't get used much, extra cans of food because it was on sale, hobby supplies that I plan to use 'someday' (that one hurts...).

God will supply our every need (and lots of our wants, too). Sometimes it is truly miraculous, like the feast Jesus provided for the 5000. Othertimes is is simply an act of obedience as we give up our stuff so others can have their basic needs met.

It is easy to give a little spare money or a meal here and there...and it is greatly appreciated by others. But what have I done lately that was sacrificial? We've given away things that were in the way or unused, but we seldom change our lifestyle in order to help someone else.

I have a challenge for you...and we'll take it too. During the month of February, see if you can adjust your eating habits so you spend no more than $100 on food during the month...that is at the grocery store AND eating out! Use your grocery money for the rest of this month to stock up on basics, and in February only buy fresh produce, bread, and dairy products. For the rest of your needs, clean out your pantries and freezers! Donate your savings to a needy family or TEAM (The Emergency Assistance Ministry).

We did this last year, so I know it's possible. You can see what lessons we learned on my blog. Click on 'frugal February' in the list on the left. Hopefully we'll do better this year.

If that doesn't work for you, see what you could give up for the month...your morning Starbucks, eating out, going to the movies, soda...you name it. Let's see how much we could collect in just one month! Leave a comment below and share your plans!

Giving When it Hurts

2009-01-15T05:34:00.000-08:00

Today's Verses -- Luke 21:1-4
1As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.[a] 3"I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." (NIV)
Footnotes:
Luke 21:2 Greek two lepta
taken from www.biblegateway.com

Have you ever had to really trust God for your daily bread? I read a book about Brother Lawrence, a man who decided to put his full trust in God (sorry, I can't remember the name of the book). He left his home in the same manner as the disciples -- with nothing but his cloak -- and he put full faith in God's provision. God never failed to deliver.

Compared with those who put their lives and livelihoods on the line in missionary roles, my level of trust is almost non-existent. I know that God has blessed us immeasurably and that everything we have is his, but I didn't have to consciously rely on him last night to keep our home warm.

As financial counselors, Doug and I see a lot of difficult, seemingly impossible situations. Unfortunately one of the first things people 'give up' is tithing or any level of giving...even before giving up cable, internet, or fancy cars.

I wonder if Jesus watched those in fancy robes cut back on their giving because they needed extra money that month to buy gifts for their family? Or so they could keep their membership at the local baths? It is so easy to justify that we'll get back to giving as soon as our financial situation improves. In Malachi 3:8, God calls this robbery.

God asks us to give regardless of our situation, and he never fails to return by "throwing open the floodgates of heaven and pouring out so much blessing that we will not have room enough for it." Have you committed to let him bless you this year, regardless of your situation?

Good Reminder

2009-01-14T11:23:00.001-08:00

Today's Verses -- Matthew 25:34-46

34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by
my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the
creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I
was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited
me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after
me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous
will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and
give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in,
or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and
go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth,
whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for
me.'
41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you
who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me
nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed
clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look
after me.'
44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry
or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not
help you?'
45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did
not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46"Then
they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
(NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

What have you done for Jesus lately? What has he done for you?

The Early Church

2009-01-13T10:50:00.001-08:00

Today's Text -- Acts 2:42-47

42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to
the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many
wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were
together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods,
they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together
in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad
and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And
the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (NIV)

Taken from www.biblegateway.com

When is the last time you talked with your neighbors? Really talked -- about how life was going and what issues and occasions they were facing. To be honest, I have to think hard to remember the first and last names of all of our neighbors. We wave as we pass and shout out an occasional "Hello", but for the most part we are all busy with our own lives.

It wasn't always like this. When we first moved onto our court, all the families were new to the neighborhood and we all had young children. The kids would ride their Big Wheels around the court at breakneck speed while we sat on the curb and talked. We knew each others birthdays, extended family members, backgrounds, hopes, and dreams. Often one of us would pull our barbeque pit out to the street, everyone would bring meat and a side dish, and we played, ate, and talked the night away.

As the kids grew large enough not to need immediate supervision and some of our neighbors moved away, we grew apart. We waved and pushed our garage door openers, talked occasionally about how the grass and weeds were doing, and we slowly turned our lives inward. As new families moved into the court, we didn't really have any reason to get together and now we are polite, but we aren't even aware when someone is ill or grieved.

The same thing seems to be happening in our churches. Our busy lifestyles, technology, and stresses cause us to keep to ourselves. We say we will pray for each other, but often we don't really even remember to do that.

The early church members were initimately involved in each others lives. They ate together, worshipped together daily, and compared spiritual growth. They discussed the difficulties in their lives and they helped each other make it through physically, emotionally, and financially.

How can we as a class regain the spirit of the early church? How can we not only carve time out of our busy schedules, but dedicate ourselves to loving each other as much as we love ourselves (and our stuff...)? Who can you help today?

In case you were wondering...

2008-11-21T18:54:00.001-08:00

Our Sunday School class is studying Ephesians right now...verse by verse. It's really difficult to create devotions without either repeating or stealing the thunder of the instructor, so we'll take a break until January.

Please check back then!

2 Corinthians -- Comparisons

2008-09-12T06:06:00.000-07:00

Read 2 Corinthians 12-13

Today's Devotion-- 2 Cor 13:5-7
5Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? 6And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. 7Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com

When I was a teenager I was a member of a local church where many of my friends attended. As with many new believers, I was devout and fervent in my faith. But on a church-sponsored senior trip with my friends, I found out that many of the people I looked up to as Christians often made poor choices. Some of the 'most Christian' kids in the youth group were talking about life one way in class and living another way in their daily lives. Even some of the adult sponsors weren't being as perfect as I presumed they were (and expected them to be). I became frustrated with this 'Christian' thing and and pretty much gave up on religion for more than 15 years.

This passage is convicting to me. Instead of looking into my own heart and examining my faith (which was obviously pretty weak), I judged others and used their examples as an excuse to stop doing what was hard (maintaining faith in a self-centered world) and to go along with the crowd. Don't get me wrong, compared to most I was still a 'good girl' (although I don't know why I feel obligated to say that...maybe because my Mom reads this!), but I didn't make choices that glorified God.

Over the years I realized that Christians are far from perfect, and that I shouldn't be judging their faith. Most importantly, I shouldn't be evaluating my faith by looking at others. God has expectations for me alone, and I need to be living up to those...nothing else.

It's still really easy to judge myself and see my failures more than my successes, but I know that God loves me no matter what I do....which makes me want to do his will even more! I won't be a 'perfect' Christian until the day I stand in front of the King and Jesus himself steps in front of me to cover my failures.

It's scary to think, though, that there may be new Christians out there, just like I was, watching my actions to see if I stand up to the 'perfect' example they expect. I know that I will fail. I pray that God gives them the grace and the wisdom to not use my failures as an excuse to step away from the faith.

2 Corinthians -- Sharing the Gospel

2008-09-11T05:17:00.000-07:00

Read 2 Corinthians 10-11

Today's Devotion 2 Cor 10:10-11
10For some say, "His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing." 11Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present. (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com

When you think of Paul, what kind of speaker to do you imagine he was? I presumed he was all 'fire and brimstone', powerfully admonishing sinners and proclaiming the salvation of Christ. He may be reflecting his modesty in this passage, but I imagine he's repeating things that he's heard others say about him. What if his speaking was monotone, unimaginative, and, well, downright boring? Hard to imagine, but even if it is true, he had an amazing impact on the people who heard him speak.

The real value we are able to gain, though, is from his letters. They are pretty clear and to the point with truths from the Gospel. If we have trouble understanding his meaning, we are able to go back again and again to learn more.

Do you have difficulty sharing the gospel with others? Maybe Paul's idea here would work for us, too. If we took the time to think through the message we want to share with a specific person, we could write it down. That way we wouldn't be distracted or deterred from completing our thoughts. In addition, the person who receives the letter will have the opportunity to go back to it again and again, allowing him or her to reflect on the message and ask questions for clarification. Yes, it's possible that the letter may get thrown away, but in the process of writing you may have the chance to solidify the message in your own head so you are better prepared to speak it in the future!

Who in your life who would benefit from a heartfelt letter about Jesus? I challenge you to write it...and send it!

2 Corinthians -- God's Blessing

2008-09-10T05:55:00.000-07:00

Read 2 Corinthians 8-9 (yes, we skipped 6-7, you can go back and read them if you want!).
Today's Devotion -- 2 Cor 9:6-11
6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."
10Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com

In the news this morning I saw that the OPEC countries have decided to reduce production amounts, which will lead to more increases in the cost of gasoline (NOTE: Remember yesterday's devotion? Don't take my word for it or panic over this info...check it out for yourself to be sure I'm reporting correctly!). Of course this may lead to additional increases in the cost of other things we buy, like food and household supplies. Unfortunately, no ones' income is rising at the same rate.

When your expenses increase and your income doesn't, how do you balance your household budget? Do you cut back on extras like eating out, cable/satellite, and fun things like entertainment, gifts, and vacation? Do you increase the amount you charge on credit cards? Or do you cut back on your saving and giving?

It sounds like people in the Macedonian churches and the one in Corinth were dealing with difficult financial situations, too. In fact, Paul talks about the Macedonian churches giving out of their extreme poverty and they saw it as a privilege to share.

God doesn't intend for us to go into debt to pay our tithes, but he does intend for us to live within the income level he's provided. Sometimes that means we have to make tough decisions about what and where we eat, what we drive, and even where we live. Often our choices define our circumstances, but we continue our costly habits while we hurt our future by not saving anything and increasing our debt. And we stop giving God back a portion of what he's given us.

God promises that he will give us what we need (but not necessarily what we want). However, we have to be responsible with what he gives so we can honor him with the way we live. This passage gives us two promises we can count on
-- he will make all grace abound in us so that in ALL things at ALL times we have ALL we need so we can abound in every good work (presuming we use it wisely), and
-- We will be made rich in every way so we can be generous on every occasion.

That doesn't mean we get increased income (although he can do that if he wants), but it means we will always have enough to share. How is he asking you to share today?

SHAMELESS PLUG: If you are having difficulty making ends meet or would like to find ways to give what you would really like to give, a new Financial Peace University class will be starting this Sunday. Send me a note and I can give you more information. This class isn't just for folks who are in debt (although it helps immensely if you are), it can help you plan ways to give, save, and prepare for the future while enjoying what you make today. More information is available at www.daveramsey.com.

2 Corinthians 4-5 -- Highly Illogical

2008-09-09T05:08:00.000-07:00

Read 2 Corinthians 4-5

Today's Devotion -- 2 Cor 4:3-4
3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com

There have been several situations lately where we've seen news accounts of people standing firmly for what they believe is right. There are boycotts, letters to the editor, and even occasional sit-ins sponsored by groups who have heard about situations and are voicing their displeasure. The sad thing is, many of these responses to situations are really responses to only one side of the story. People hear some news, are outraged, and respond without looking into the situation to understand the truth behind the story.

One example is the boycott of the Oprah show by a group of women in Florida. They are upset that she will not have Sarah Palin as a guest, presuming that Oprah is so much in favor of Obama that she refuses to promote the Republicans. What the women have failed to acknowledge is Oprah's commitment to not host any of the current candidates. Yes, she had Obama on the show, but back in 2006, before he was an official candidate. She has stated that she'd love to talk with Sarah on the show...after the election regardless of the results.

Other examples are the scary e-mail notes you receive that talk about terrible crimes, poison in our sodas or food, bug eggs on our lick and stick envelopes, etcetera. Stories with just enough logic in them that we get nervous and spread this 'truth' to everyone in our mailbox without first checking www.snopes.com to find out if the story has any reality.

The god of this age has blinded us to truth. We see something on the news, get a story forwarded to us in an e-mail sent by trustworthy friends, or even have someone we respect tell us of a situation. We jump right in and respond without checking it out.

The truth has been so maligned by rumor and one-sided newscasting that we no longer know how to find out what the real situation is/was. It's gotten so bad that the real truth of God's word gets lost or viewed as a fable because it doesn't fit into the logic of the world (which isn't very logical!).

God doesn't want us to make a choice to follow him based on logic alone. He's a jealous God, and he wants our minds AND our hearts. He needs us to trust that his way is the right way, then he removes the veil of confusion from our minds so we can logically see the reality behind his purpose. This makes it difficult for us to effectively witness to others, because we cannot possibly explain God's logic to others who are only capable of seeing the logic of the world.

The challenge, then, is for us to find ways to appeal to the hearts and souls of others. How do you help others see the illogical truth? Who helped you to see it, and what strategies did they use?

2 Corinthians -- Letters of Reference

2008-09-08T05:54:00.001-07:00

We are going to finish up our trip through the Bible for a while after this next lesson on 2 Corinthians. In case you weren't there, the class decided that we would like to have more time to dive into the Scripture -- one book per week (and in some cases as many as three!) was just too fast to capture all the lessons we have to learn.

The chapters in 2 Corinthians are short, so today read chapters 1-3.

Today's devotion -- 2Corinthian 3:1-3
1Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. 3You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com

The first three chapters of 2 Corinthians have some fun analogies. Did you find a parade? A new perfume? An escrow deposit?

In today's text, Paul addresses apparent doubts about his authority and dedication. Instead of letters of reference, he relies on the changed lives of those he ministers to.

If we take that same reference forward to current times, each of us is actually a referral for those who have shown us the truth of the Gospel -- everyone who had had a hand in the development of our faith since we first heard of God!

So what is your letter of reference saying today?
Junk mail -- tired and crabby from too much weekend and not very full of joy?
Unwanted bill -- letting others know how they must work harder to meet expectations?
Form letter -- a cookie-cutter Christian who shows a slick brochure to the world but who hides his or her 'real' life in the small print?
Handwritten card -- delivering the encouragement of God's love in a personal way to each individual?

What will those you meet today think about they type of mail you are delivering?

2 Maccabees -- History?

2008-09-05T05:54:00.000-07:00

Read 2 Maccabbees 14 and 15

Today's Devotion - 2 Maccabees 15:27-39
27Fighting with their hands and praying to God with their hearts, they laid low at least thirty-five thousand, and rejoiced greatly over this manifestation of God's power. 28When the battle was over and they were joyfully departing, they discovered Nicanor lying there in all his armor; 29so they raised tumultuous shouts in their native tongue in praise of the divine Sovereign. 30Then Judas, who was ever in body and soul the chief defender of his fellow citizens, and had maintained from youth his affection for his countrymen, ordered Nicanor's head and whole right arm to be cut off and taken to Jerusalem.
31When he arrived there, he assembled his countrymen, stationed the priests before the altar, and sent for those in the citadel. 32He showed them the vile Nicanor's head and the wretched blasphemer's arm that had been boastfully stretched out against the holy dwelling of the Almighty. 33He cut out the tongue of the godless Nicanor, saying he would feed it piecemeal to the birds and would hang up the other wages of his folly opposite the temple.
34At this, everyone looked toward heaven and praised the Lord who manifests his divine power, saying, "Blessed be he who has kept his own Place undefiled!" 35Judas hung up Nicanor's head on the wall of the citadel, a clear and evident proof to all of the Lord's help.
36 By public vote it was unanimously decreed never to let this day pass unobserved, but to celebrate it on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, called Adar in Aramaic, the eve of Mordecai's Day.
37Since Nicanor's doings ended in this way, with the city remaining in possession of the Hebrews from that time on, I will bring my own story to an end here too. 38If it is well written and to the point, that is what I wanted; if it is poorly done and mediocre, that is the best I could do. 39Just as it is harmful to drink wine alone or water alone, whereas mixing wine with water makes a more pleasant drink that increases delight, so a skillfully composed story delights the ears of those who read the work. Let this, then, be the end. (NAB)
taken from http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible

We have spent a week looking at the text of a book that was not officially placed into the canon of scripture that is used by protestant churches. 1 and 2 Maccabees are two of six books included in the Catholic Bible but not in protestant ones.

The Maccabees are obviously books of history (instead of books of wisdom or prophecy). Presuming they are a true historical report, why do you think they aren't included in our Bibles?

Have you received any new insights into God as a result of your reading this week?

2 Maccabbees -- Persecution

2008-09-04T05:42:00.000-07:00

WARNING: Today's reading is pretty graphic...
Read 2 Maccabbees 5, 6, and 7

Today's Devotion -- 2 Mac 6:18-28
18Eleazar, one of the foremost scribes, a man of advanced age and noble appearance, was being forced to open his mouth to eat pork. 19 But preferring a glorious death to a life of defilement, he spat out the meat, and went forward of his own accord to the instrument of torture, 20as men ought to do who have the courage to reject the food which it is unlawful to taste even for love of life.

21Those in charge of that unlawful ritual meal took the man aside privately, because of their long acquaintance with him, and urged him to bring meat of his own providing, such as he could legitimately eat, and to pretend to be eating some of the meat of the sacrifice prescribed by the king; 22in this way he would escape the death penalty, and be treated kindly because of their old friendship with him.

23But he made up his mind in a noble manner, worthy of his years, the dignity of his advanced age, the merited distinction of his gray hair, and of the admirable life he had lived from childhood; and so he declared that above all he would be loyal to the holy laws given by God. He told them to send him at once to the abode of the dead, explaining: 24"At our age it would be unbecoming to make such a pretense; many young men would think the ninety-year-old Eleazar had gone over to an alien religion. 25Should I thus dissimulate for the sake of a brief moment of life, they would be led astray by me, while I would bring shame and dishonor on my old age. 26Even if, for the time being, I avoid the punishment of men, I shall never, whether alive or dead, escape the hands of the Almighty.

27Therefore, by manfully giving up my life now, I will prove myself worthy of my old age, 28and I will leave to the young a noble example of how to die willingly and generously for the revered and holy laws." He spoke thus, and went immediately to the instrument of torture. (NAB)
taken from http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible

It is so easy to forget that there are thousands of Christians around the world who are persecuted in painful ways, often killed, for their faith. Voice of the Martyrs (at http://persecution.com) tells of current day persecution:
A Saudi member of the religious police cut his daughter’s tongue off and burned her to death for converting to Christianity.
Hindu militants have launched attacks on Christians throughout the state, setting buildings on fire and beating and killing believers in at least 12 districts.
On August 5, Eritrean authorities locked eight high school students in metal a shipping container and burned hundreds of Bibles at Sawa Defense Training Centre. According to Compass Direct News, the students were imprisoned in the container after they objected to authorities confiscating and burning 1,500 Bibles taken from new students who arrived at the training center for the new 2008-2009 school year.
In America we wonder why God allows us to lose jobs, get sick, or die before we think it's time. In other countries, people are praising God because he gives them strength to stand strong while unthinkable things happen simply because they are believers.

Please don't forget to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

2 Maccabees -- An Historical Account

2008-09-03T05:28:00.000-07:00

Read 2 Maccabees 1 and 2
Today's Devotion -- 2 Maccabees 2:19-31
19This is the story of Judas Maccabeus and his brothers, of the purification of the great temple, the dedication of the altar, 20 the campaigns against Antiochus Epiphanes and his son Eupator, 21and of the heavenly manifestations accorded to the heroes who fought bravely for Judaism, so that, few as they were, they seized the whole land, put to flight the barbarian hordes, 22regained possession of the world-famous temple, liberated the city, and reestablished the laws that were in danger of being abolished, while the Lord favored them with all his generous assistance.
23All this, which Jason of Cyrene set forth in detail in five volumes, we will try to condense into a single book.
24In view of the flood of statistics, and the difficulties encountered by those who wish to plunge into historical narratives where the material is abundant, 25we have aimed to please those who prefer simple reading, as well as to make it easy for the studious who wish to commit things to memory, and to be helpful to all.
26For us who have taken upon ourselves the labor of making this digest, the task, far from being easy, is one of sweat and of sleepless nights, 27just as the preparation of a festive banquet is no light matter for one who thus seeks to give enjoyment to others. Similarly, to win the gratitude of many we will gladly endure these inconveniences, 28while we leave the responsibility for exact details to the original author, and confine our efforts to giving only a summary outline. 29As the architect of a new house must give his attention to the whole structure, while the man who undertakes the decoration and the frescoes has only to concern himself with what is needed for ornamentation, so I think it is with us.
30To enter into questions and examine them thoroughly from all sides is the task of the professional historian;
31but the man who is making an adaptation should be allowed to aim at brevity of expression and to omit detailed treatment of the matter. 32Here, then, we shall begin our account without further ado; it would be nonsense to write a long preface to a story and then abbreviate the story itself. (NAB)
taken from http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible

I don't have too much of a devotional thought to go along with this today, but I thought this portion of text was important so we would have a good understanding of the purpose for 2 Maccabees.

If you were to write a Biblical-style account of the Church and faith today, what key points would you include?

1 Maccabees -- The Underdog in the Fight

2008-09-02T05:17:00.000-07:00

Today's Reading -- 1 Maccabees 3 and 4
Devotion -- 1 Maccabees 3:17-23
17 But when they saw the army coming against them, they said to Judas: "How can we, few as we are, fight such a mighty host as this? Besides, we are weak today from fasting."
18 But Judas said: "It is easy for many to be overcome by a few; in the sight of Heaven there is no difference between deliverance by many or by few; 19 for victory in war does not depend upon the size of the army, but on strength that comes from Heaven. 20 With great presumption and lawlessness they come against us to destroy us and our wives and children and to despoil us; 21 but we are fighting for our lives and our laws. 22 He himself will crush them before us; so do not be afraid of them." 23 When he finished speaking, he rushed suddenly upon Seron and his army, who were crushed before him. (NAB)
taken from http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible

At the end of yesterday's reading, Matthias, leader of the Jewish rebellion against the evil politics reigning in Israel, died and named his son, Judas (also called Maccabee), as the new leader of the Jewish army. He and his many brothers took on the challenge of war 'joyfully'.

At this point they have successfully killed many of the Samaritans who had attacked them, and now they are facing an immense army of Syrians, led by Seron. Their small band of men was dwarfed by the giant army of Syria and needless to say most were terrified of the fight they were facing.

As in the past, the leaders faith was greater than that of the followers. Judas knew that God was on his side and that they would prevail despite the way the situation looked.

The challenges we face usually aren't as drastic as death by mutilation, as these men faced. But in the midst of our daily lives, the difficulties that come at us seem just as scary. It doesn't take long for our imaginations to turn life challenges into giant armies waiting to attack. We find an unusual lump on our bodies and all of a sudden we are imagining how well we'd handle chemotherapy and hair loss. We lose a job and our minds immediately show us a stark picture of life in a homeless shelter. We fall once again into that sin we try so hard to avoid, and we can't comprehend how God would be willing to forgive us one more time.

Life can turn on us in a moment, and sometimes the worst things we can imagine actually come to pass. But if we face them alone we will be more terrified and less able to cope. Like Judas Maccabee, we must remember that God is on our side -- regardless of whether we win or lose the battle, He is in control. While that doesn't always make the battle easier to understand or to fight, there is peace in knowing that God will win in the end.

God helped the Israelites to victory in their battle, but they still had to go through the fight. As often as we wish he would just wipe our foes, our troubles, off the face of the earth, that isn't how he works. If you are in a difficult situation, turn to others who will join in your fight. If you aren't able to see God in the situation, find someone who can show him to you and who will take on the role of the faithful leader. If we stand firm in him and stay strong in our faith, he will help us to be victorious, too.

Maccabees

2008-09-01T11:24:00.000-07:00

This week we are taking a little departure from our typical study. Next Sunday we will study the time frame between the Old and New Testaments. To prepare, we are reading 1 and 2 Maccabees our of the New American Bible version (used primarily by those in the Catholic Church). You can find the full text here. There are 31 chapters total in both books of Maccabees, so I'll just pull out a chapter or two per day.

Today, Read 1 Maccabees 1 and 2 (note -- two separate links to click).

Devotion -- 1 Maccabees 2:61-64
61 And so, consider this from generation to generation, that none who hope in him shall fail in strength. 62 Do not fear the words of a sinful man, for his glory ends in corruption and worms.
63 Today he is exalted, and tomorrow he is not to be found, because he has returned to his dust, and his schemes have perished. 64 Children! be courageous and strong in keeping the law, for by it you shall be glorified. (NAB)
taken from http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/

The first two chapters of this book detail a rebellion by the Jews, an alliance with the Gentiles, and an overthrow of Jerusalem by others who had formed a fake alliance with Israel. There are Jews who visibly throw away their heritage, joining up with Gentiles and killing any who cling to their faith. Others fight violently to maintain their heritage, going so far as to forcefully circumcize any boys or men in Jerusalem who had not yet been circumcized.

Those who would remain faithful move out of the city and form a camp in the desert. After a massacre on the Sabbath (because they refused to 'work' on the Holy Day), the remaining faithful Jews vow to fight for their rights.

Despite the fact that they are over 2000 years old, these words in today's text hold true today. Regardless of how powerful our role models, President, world leaders, or talk show hosts may be, any glory they seek for themselves will fade away. Same goes for us...even if none of us achieve power or fame, any thing we do that does not glorify God will turn to dust. Only those things that give him glory and implement his will shall remain for eternity.

So be courageous and strong! Stand firm to the end, and God will lift us up.

1 Corinthians -- A True Reflection

2008-08-29T06:45:00.001-07:00

Read 1 Corinthians 13 and 15

Today's Devotion -- 1 Cor 13:11-12
11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com

If a police sketch artist would call you on the phone right now, could you describe your face (without looking in a mirror) well enough for your family to recognize the picture? Even if you saw the first attempt, could you tell the artist what to change?

When we are looking in a mirror, we really don't see what the world sees (if we did, why would Tammy Fay have worn so much makeup?!?!?). We may notice all of our flaws and none of the attractive features, like the anorexic who thinks she is fat. Or we may only see the good stuff and ignore the things that are unflattering (I'm thinking about 80's hair...how could we think that looked good?).

But even if we have a good realistic handle on how we look, we still only see a partial image. And in reality, God sees right through that image to view our hearts and minds. He can view our intentions, our aspirations, our deep dark secrets, and our most fervent desires --- often things we aren't even aware of.

As Christians, do you realize that God doesn't really look at the true picture, either? If we have turned our heart over to Jesus, God looks at us through a magnifying glass that has a picture of Christ imbedded in it. The closer our relationship to Christ, the more we look like him to God! The true ugliness of our sins are erased, just like a photographer erases blemishes from a photo on the computer. All he sees is the perfection of Christ.

Amazing! And we have the confidence of knowing that when we come face-to-face with Christ, we will see the true image in which God created us.

1 Corinthians -- Selective Obedience

2008-08-28T05:23:00.001-07:00

Read 1 Corinthians 11-12

Today's Devotion -- We'll use it all today! Click on the link above to read it.

Today's text contains some of the most controversial information in the Bible from the perspective of our current society. These verses are disputed heavily when theologians try to decide if we should follow the entire Bible as written, or instead if we should 'allow' some departure due to cultural standards of the time. Entire denominations have been formed because people either agreed legalistically or vehemently disagreed that Paul's directives should be followed.

These are good verses to test your own convictions. How would you answer these questions?

1. Should we selectively follow the advice given in the Bible because our culture is different?
2. If your answer is yes, at what level does this ability to choose stop? For instance, our culture says it's ok for women to go without head coverings or to cut their hair short, so we don't follow Paul's advice. But what if our culture says it's ok for gay couples to marry? Is it then ok to differentiate?
3. Does God give different spiritual gifts now than he did back in Bible days? How do you know? And if you say 'yes', what does it mean if someone claims to have a gift you believe isn't given any more? Who is wrong?
4. Must we follow advice given by disciples/apostles, or only the advice of Christ? How do you decide?
5 Are these issues worthy of the vast number of denominations we have today? How can we co-exist as Christians with significantly differing beliefs about issues such as these?

1 Corinthians 9-10 -- The Object of My Devotion

2008-08-27T05:39:00.000-07:00

NOTE: If you are interested, I'm giving away a copy of a book called Wild Goose Chase -- Reclaim the Adventure of Pursuing God, by Mark Batterson. You can read more about it and sign up for the drawing at http://hisreadinglist.blogspot.com/

Read 1 Corinthians 9-10

Today's Devotion -- 1 Cor 9:24-27
24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (NIV)
taken from http://www.biblegateway.com/

Can you name five U.S. Olympians who won medals in the 1996 Olympics? How about the 2004 Olympics? Honestly, I couldn't name five who won in the 2008 Olympics! For some reason we really weren't into watching them this year. We tuned in a couple of times and saw some amazing trampoline action and the 'exciting' marathon run, but I couldn't even tell you the names of the medal winners in those events.

It often costs tens of thousands of dollars per YEAR to train at levels that will get you into the Olympics. In addition, it costs thousands of hours of painful training, injuries, and lost family time. Hundreds of people are paying these costs, yet few get the opportunity to represent our country in the international games. And only 302, out of all 10,500 the participants, went home with medals. Depending on the country you represent and the sport in which you compete, a gold medal could be worth millions of dollars in endorsements. Coming in fourth isn't worth much.

Why do people put themselves through the pain and the cost to participate? Thousands will never leave their native country to compete in the games despite years of training. One sprained ankle could cause all your efforts to be for naught. And even if you break a world record when you win, some young punk will beat you out in a few years...or even a few minutes! I'm sure it's an amazing honor to know that they are the very best at what they do in the whole world for a moment in time, but do they regret all the aches and pains that result when they are senior citizens?

In comparison to their devotion to a sport for a moment of glory, I'm embarrassed by the way I train for my eternal crown. I cut corners by skimming the Bible and not digging to find answers. I let other priorities, like phone calls, television, or wasted time, get in the way of learning. And I even fall asleep in the middle of sessions with my coach (prayer). My spiritual diet often leaves me anorexic, not well nourished.

It would be easy to see how an Olympic athlete's devotion plays out in his daily life by looking at how he spends his time. What does your life say about the object of your devotion?

1 Corinthians -- Permission Granted

2008-08-26T05:26:00.001-07:00

Read 1 Corinthians 5-6
Today's Devotion -- 1 Cor 6:12
12"Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything. (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com

In context, this verse relates to instructions from Paul about avoiding sexual immorality. However, unfortunately, it really concerns everything we do to or for our bodies, the temples of God. I have to say that this is one of my least favorite verses in the Bible!

Christ's sacrifice has allowed us to participate in the glory of God without having to follow the extensive laws that were established for the Israelites in the desert. They were told specifically what they could and couldn't eat, touch, and do, and they were given specific consequences that would follow if they disobeyed. Because of Jesus, we are able to agree with Paul that 'everything is permissible'.

If the verse ended there, it would be fine! I could do whatever I wanted to this temple I live in -- eat tons of fried foods and sweets, sit around watching television all day, listen to whatever sounds good to me, and never sit through a dentist's wicked tools again.

But even our society tells us daily that not everything is beneficial. I know pretty specifically what will happen to me if I do whatever I want...weight gain, heart and lung problems, distraction from God's priorities, and tooth decay, to say the least.

Even though I know these things, I struggle with them like Paul did (remember his "why do I do what I don't want to do, and what I want to do I don't do" confession in Romans?). Why do I eat all the great, unhealthy snacks that are put before me? Why do I find excuses not to exercise?

Sometimes I think it might be easier to live under the law...the consequences occur pretty quickly once you break one. But left on my own, the consequences of my actions often won't show up for decades, and then they may be irreversable. Surely one buttery little cookie (ok, so it looks like a frisbee) won't hurt in the long run, right? Even one each day....

If we're honest, we know how we should treat our bodies. And we know that we shouldn't be too legalistic (in eating, exercising, or any other effort) or our humanness will rebel. But God wants the best for us, and he wants us to make the best choices for our lives -- whether they relate to health, sexual morality, finances, or our time alone with him.

What ways do you struggle with God's permissiveness? What can you do today to make the right choice?

1 Corinthians -- Foolishness

2008-08-25T05:18:00.000-07:00

We are moving on to the book of 1 Corinthians. Today, read 1 Cor 1-2

Today's Devotion -- 1 Cor 1:18-25 18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
20Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. (NIV)
www.biblegateway.com

Why did God make knowledge of him and his ways look like foolishness to the world? Wouldn't more people believe if it seemed logical?

Do you remember the foolishness of religion before you believed? Creation, virgin birth, resurrection, Jesus taking on MY sins and thinking of ME on the cross? Being born again, having to pay 10% of our hard earned money, flooding the whole world, getting kicked out of paradise for eating an apple? The foolish examples could go on and on.

There are still many things that are difficult for me to understand based on the worldly perspective we are all raised with, but it is so freeing to realize that God doesn't want us to understand -- he just wants us to believe and trust.

The world thinks that belief in God is a crutch for those of us who are too weak to make it in this world on our own. Many people take pride in their ability to survive and (they think) thrive in a world full of sin, refusing to admit that there might be a bigger purpose to life or that they will be held accountable for their actions.

If knowing the truth and believing in things that don't logically make sense makes me weak, I'm proud to say that I need God's help to make it through the day. Call me foolish, but I choose to believe in the one power that will make a difference for all eternity! That belief opens my eyes to the true foolishness of the world.

Romans - A Debt-Free Life

2008-08-21T05:43:00.000-07:00

Read Romans 5-6

Today's Devotion -- Romans 5:6-8
6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com

The North County region of St. Louis County reportedly has the highest foreclosure rate per capita in all of Missouri. Drive down almost any street and you will see several For Sale signs, often with 'price reduced' plackards and unmown grass. Many people have lost jobs or had medical issues that put them into debt, many more just got in over their heads. As a result many families are dealing with the devastating consequences.

How would your life be different if you were totally debt free? If you didn't own anything to any body? If your home and car were fully paid for, there were no credit card bills racking up high levels of interest, and no one else was laying claim to your earnings? If you were able to pay cash for everything? If you had enough savings to take care of almost any emergency that could occur?

If, if, if! Most of us can't imagine the peace and security of knowing that all debts are paid off and all of our belongings are secure from creditors.

Imagine someone coming in, a stranger who pays all of your bills and deposits enough in your accounts to provide a lifetime of security! He doesn't reduce or eliminate your debts like credit consolidators or bankruptcy courts do, he pays it off in full! Happy creditors and a fabulous credit rating . . . what an amazing blessing that would be!

Would you jump right back in and start charging new cars, televisions, vacations, and other fun things? Or would you vow to start anew, working to ensure that you lived on less than you made and maybe saving up so you could help others in financial need?

It may be a weak analogy, but this is what Christ does for us. We were buried in the debt of sin, and while we weren't even a twinkle in some remote ancestors' eye he paid off our sins so that we would be able to live in peace, secure about our eternal future. We owe our very lives to his loving sacrifice. How, then, should we live?

Romans -- God Uses Nobodies

2008-08-20T05:50:00.000-07:00

Today's reading, Romans 4, is difficult for me to follow and understand, so I decided to read it in The Message version. You may chose to do the same! I've put both links for you.
Read in The Message version
Read in NIV
Today's Devotion -- Romans 4:17-18
17-18We call Abraham "father" not because he got God's attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody. Isn't that what we've always read in Scripture, God saying to Abraham, "I set you up as father of many peoples"? Abraham was first named "father" and then became a father because he dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing. When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn't do but on what God said he would do. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

I'm fascinated by the story of Abraham. There is no Biblical evidence that he was a follower of God before he was called to relocate his entire family. He was just one of a crowd of people in the bustling town of Haran, where the majority of people (including Abraham's father) worshipped the moon-god.

But God knew Abraham's heart, and he knew that he could mold Abraham into a man of great faith. Step by step he instructed Abraham in the right way to worship, and God tested his faith with a variety of means -- relocation, circumcision, impossible conception, and sacrificing his own child. Abraham made lots of mistakes, many serious, but God hung in there with him to create a level of faith that will be remembered eternally.

Isn't it amazing to know that God could do the same with us? We, too, are ordinary people, nobodies, even. Yet day by day God tells us how to grow in our faith. We will make tons of mistakes, serious ones, yet God will patiently correct us and prod us in the right direction if we will only trust in his love.

We may never be famous here on earth, and we will most likely never be written about in books read around the world, but our tasks are just as significant as Abrahams'. God will develop our faith and use the skills he's given us to make a significant difference in his kingdom -- if we will only trust him.

It is overwhelming to think that he will use a nobody like me to make a difference. I pray that I will be up to his task!

Romans - The Path of Peace

2008-08-19T06:02:00.001-07:00

Read Romans 3

Today's Devotion -- Romans 3:15-17
15"Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16ruin and misery mark their ways, 17and the way of peace they do not know." (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

This is part of a passage of several Bible references that Paul uses to show that all are sinners, whether they are under the law or not. These particular verses come from Isaiah 59, which talks about God's ability to hear and save the Israelites regardless of where they are or the trouble they are in. And of course it refers equally to our lives today.

I don't think my feet are swift to shed blood, but there are definitely times when I do not know the way of peace! It's amazing how peaceful things can be in the morning. I get up, help my teen get off to school, then sit down for an hour of so when I can spend my quiet time with God. I'm encouraged and plan a day full of calm responses to problems as I vow to lean on Him regardless of the situation. Today I'd been thinking about how to write a devotion about staying on the path to peace.

Then our twin 8-year old boys wake up. One of them almost always wakes up grumpy. Today he went into a tyrade because he couldn't find his white uniform shirt. As usual, it was clean and in the laundry basket, but that wasn't where he wanted it to be. He cried and got angry, mumbling things under his breath. He hollered "why don't you ever put them away?"

Well, I could go into lots of explanations about how the shirts I get for him were out of stock, so we only have two that have to get washed frequently until I can buy more. I could have simply apologized and gone downstairs to get it for him. Instead I jumped right off that path of peace and maturely retorted, "why don't you put them away yourself?" After all, he's big enough!

Luckily God gently grabbed my by the neck and pushed me back onto that path of peace. I realized that he's 8 and he's always grumpy in the morning. My grumpy responses aren't going to help the situation. I told him I'd get the shirt, brought both of them up and put the second one where he will find it in the morning (maybe...). In the meantime he was yelling at his brother to get out of the room (the brother wakes up cheerful...and was only trying to change his clothes). I herded the brother (whose feelings were now hurt) out to go eat his breakfast, reminding him to stay away from grumpy until he was happier.

With a few minutes of quiet time, grumpy came out of the room all ready for the day and he stood in front of the mirror for about five minutes fixing his hair (I get a kick out of watching little boys primp!). Grumpiness has passed and he's now eating breakfast, laughing about some silly word his brother said.

I have a choice. I can continue to steam about his behavior and beat myself up for not putting the clothes away, or I can laugh it off as God's timely example for today's lesson.

How often do I let other people or situations pull me off the peaceful path God wants me to travel? And once off, how long do I stay on that other path (be it anger, frustration, insecurity, or selfishness)? I will probably always be involved in situations that try to steal my peace, and I'll most likely run right off that path with a human response. Hopefully, as I mature in Christ, I'll have less triggers that set me off and once they do I'll spend much less time exploring those non-peaceful paths!

Ok - I'm firmly on that path of peace...until the next incident occurs?

Acts -- Seeing the Future

2008-08-15T06:29:00.001-07:00

Today's Devotion -- Acts 21:10-14

Context: Paul and his traveling buddies left Ephesus and spent several days sailing to Ptolemais, where they are staying in a Christian household with Philip, one of the seven men chosen in the early days of the church for his strong convictions and servants heart.

Text:
10After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, "The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.' "
12When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." 14When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done." (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Have you ever wished God would give you a glimpse of the future? That he would show you the outcomes of your decisions and let you know the results of your efforts to serve him?

I think we want to peek through the pearly gates of Heaven to see what eternity holds in store, but I often wish God would just send me a post card telling me what choices to make...or at least the outcome of each option so I know what I'm up against.

Paul frequently shares that he was given several premonitions about his future -- that it would involve "prison and hardships". But imagine how he must have felt when a total stranger walked up to him, grabbed his belt (I'm presuming he didn't remove it from Paul's robe, but we don't really know), and ties himself up while prophesying that this will be Paul's future.

Hearing this, the people surrounding Paul try to talk him out of finishing his trip to Jerusalem. As if avoiding that city would save Paul from his destiny! The reaction of the people 'broke his heart', but Paul responded bravely that he was ready to be tied, even die, for Christ.

With such a graphic view of his future, I imagine whenever Paul was confronted by a centurion or soldier he wondered if this would be the time he would be tied up like Agabus prophesied. Did he picture his reaction to this event? Did he worry about what might happen next, and if he would be strong enough to pray his way through it?

If your future holds something painful or scary, would you want to know?

Acts -- Saying Goodbye

2008-08-14T05:23:00.000-07:00

Today's Devotion -- Acts 20:25-35

Context: Paul is taking what will be his final journey through Macedonia and Greece before he heads to Jerusalem. He is in Ephesus, and he is talking to the elders of the church. He knows that the Spirit is compelling him to go to Jerusalem, and has warned him that he will face prison and hardships. He wants to be sure to finish the life task Jesus has given him.

Text:

25"Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the
kingdom will ever see me again. 26Therefore, I declare to you today that I
am
innocent of the blood of all men. 27For I have not hesitated to proclaim
to you
the whole will of God. 28Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock
of which
the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church
of God, which
he bought with his own blood. 29I know that after I leave,
savage wolves will
come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30Even
from your own number men
will arise and distort the truth in order to draw
away disciples after them.
31So be on your guard! Remember that for three
years I never stopped warning
each of you night and day with tears.
32"Now I commit you to God and
to the word of his grace, which can
build you up and give you an inheritance
among all those who are sanctified.
33I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold
or clothing. 34You yourselves
know that these hands of mine have supplied my own
needs and the needs of my
companions. 35In everything I did, I showed you that
by this kind of hard
work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord
Jesus himself
said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' " (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Have you ever had to say goodbye to someone you knew you would never see again? What words of wisdom or advice did you share with them? Are there any things you wish you had said?

Acts -- Receiving Glory Intended for God

2008-08-13T05:53:00.001-07:00

Today's devotion compares two texts from Acts:

Acts 12:21-23
21On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man." 23Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. (NIV)

Acts 14:11-15
11When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!" 12Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. 13The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.
14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15"Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com

The first story takes place in Cesarea, where Herod was staying for a while. The second story occurs in the city of Iconium, about 550 miles away. We don't know the timeline between the two events, but it is pretty safe to say that Paul was not present when Herod died. He was most likely on the island of Cyprus, so we don't know if he even heard of the event.

We don't know the topic of Herod's speech, but it was apparently planned and eagerly awaited by the people. On 'the appointed day' Herod wore his royal robes and sat on his throne to give his public address. He was speaking to people from Tye and Sidon, who had previously been fighting but were now seeking peace so they could receive food from Herod's country. Herod was well aware of their backgrounds, since they had been working with his trusted personal servant, Blastus, to arrange for Herod's visit.

As people will often do, they heaped praises upon Herod for the encouraging words he spoke. He may have announced a new program to deliver even more food to these people than before. They fed his ego by saying that he was more than a mere man, he was a God. And Herod ate it up, accepting their accolades.

By this point, God was pretty fed up with Herod and he had an angel strike him down. We learn that he was first eaten by worms, then he died. Sounds like a pretty awful way to go, doesn't it?

On the other hand, when the people of Iconium proclaimed Paul and Barnabas to be gods, they tore their clothes, extremely frustrated that the people had completely missed the point of their message. Even with convincing speeches, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from making sacrifices to them. The story continues with some Jews coming in and winning the crowd over. They go from wanting to worship Paul as a god to stoning him, leaving him for dead! I'm sure this experience wasn't much more pleasant than being eaten by worms...

But the disciples gathered around them, helped them up, and they continued on their missionary journey. Not much later, they returned to Iconium strengthening the disciples and winning more to Christ. They said, "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God."

So what is the point of these two stories? Why did we hear graphic details of Herod's death? Why didn't God reward Paul for clearly showing the people that he was only a man, not a god? Instead he allowed him to suffer through a stoning. Think about that today, and think about how you respond when someone gives you glory for something that should reflect God's efforts more than yours.

Acts - Radical Change

2008-08-12T05:39:00.001-07:00

Today's Devotion -- Acts 10:10-16
9About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."
14"Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."
15The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."
16This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com
There are several times when God asks people to do things that are totally against everything they had previously believed: Abraham was told to sacrifice his son, Isaac; a young shepherd boy was told he would become king; a teenage girl was told she would bear a son although she was a virgin; and the Jewish community was told that their long awaited savior was a baby in a manger.

For hundreds of years, the laws that God himself decreed had been followed (more or less). In Leviticus 11, God clearly tells his people which animals are to be eaten and which are unclean. If you touch a pig, for example, you are unclean until evening and you must wash your clothes. If pork touched a cooking pot, the pot must be broken and discarded. These laws about eating were so ingrained in the lives of the Jews that they are still followed by the devout today.

But now Peter is told that he should not call anything that the Lord has made pure 'unclean'. Did he think this was a test? I'm sure it crossed his mind that he had been so hungry that he imagined it. If he followed the directions by eating some sausage, surely he would be struck down in a magnificent display of God's fireworks.

God knew Peter would have some doubts. After all, this was a radical change in the rules. So he immediately sent Gentiles to help verify (and expand upon) the lesson. The same will happen today. If you believe God is telling you to do something that is a radical change to the life you've been living, he will provide additional evidence of his message. It's hard to tell the difference between 'wild hair' ideas we have and assignments from God's will that will stretch our lives and spirits. His word, his people, circumstances, and prayer will usually verify the direction you are to go if the message is truly from him.

What is he telling you to do today?

Acts -- Waiting

2008-08-11T05:34:00.000-07:00

If you missed class yesterday, you missed a great chance to learn more about the others in the class and an opportunity to reflect deeply upon how God is actively working in your life. Go to the class website, www.faithbuildersclass.org, to look at the handout and answer the questions for your life.

We have another week to read Acts. Please finish what you weren't able to read last week. I won't provide daily reading assignments this week.

Today's Devotion - Acts 1:3-5
3After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

A little while back our daughter ordered a new laptop computer for her first year in college. She agonized over all the options and finally chose one that met her needs. Then she waited.

While she knew she wouldn't wait too long for her new toy, each day seemed to stretch longer as she watched for the UPS truck. If she heard a truck drive through our quiet court, she would rush to the window to see if her delivery had arrived. Any time she was away from home for a few hours she would call to see if we had received her package.

It reminded me of Christmas Eve -- the anxious excitement of children who know something wonderful will be here soon, but not soon enough.

As Jesus spent his last few days on Earth before ascending to Heaven, he
promised that a great gift would be delivered -- baptism by the Holy Spirit. He mentions that he's talked about this before, but I wonder if the disciples had really listened and if they had any idea what they were about to receive? I'm sure some of them, probably Peter at least, wished that Jesus had just given them the gift before he left instead of making them wait for it. Every time someone knocked on the door of that little upper room in Jerusalem, I imagine they jumped with anticipation as they expected the promised gift had finally arrived.

God timed his delivery perfectly. After several days of prayer, when they were all together and the appropriate crowd had gathered for the Jewish feast of Pentecost, they were each filled with the Holy Spirit. And the blessings of this gift were made apparent to all who were present -- over 3000 people were baptized.

We are each awaiting for something from God; an answer to prayer, a call to action, understanding of a difficult Biblical concept. Let's wait with eager expectation, just like a child awaits a much desired gift. As did the baptism of the Holy Spirit, it will arrive at just the right time, and it will probably be much better than we ever expected!

Acts - Paul's Story

2008-08-08T06:46:00.001-07:00

Read Acts 22-28
Today's Devotion - Acts 26:12-18

12"On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and
commission of the chief priests. 13About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I
saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my
companions. 14We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in
Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick
against the goads.'
15"Then I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?'
" 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord
replied. 16'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint
you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will
show you. 17I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am
sending you to them 18to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light,
and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins
and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

What is your story? In our text today, and through much of Acts, Paul tells his conversion story to anyone who will listen. He talks about his life before Christ, how his eyes were literally opened to the truth, and how his life has changed since then. Many saw the level of conviction and passion that Paul had and they accepted Christ immediately. Others, like the governor of Cesarea and many Jewish elders, thought he was insane or even tried to kill him because of what they believed was a blasphemous message.

Does your conversion story have lots of drama like Paul's, or is it more simple and straightforward? Does it inspire others to look at their own lives and contemplate the truth of Christ? When is the last time you shared it?

Acts - Faith

2008-08-07T05:43:00.000-07:00

Today's Reading Acts 15 - 21
Today's Devotion -- Acts 14: 8 - 10
8In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked. 9He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed 10and called out, "Stand up on your feet!" At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Ok - I know this devotion is really coming from yesterday's reading, but these are the verses that popped out at me today!

The more I learn about God, the more I realize how little faith I have. I can really empathize with the man in Mark 9:24 who said, "I believe, please help me in my unbelief." I want so badly to hear God's direction and to just go forth and follow Him. But instead I question whether it is really Him, if the instruction is really meant for me, and I struggle to figure out all the angles and 'how to's' before I take action. I also want to understand they why's and I want to know the end result before I start. My heart knows that He is in control and that He knows what is best for each of us, but my head seems to take a little (ok, a LOT) longer to get on board.

What was it about this crippled man that Paul saw? The Bible says that he "saw that he had faith to be healed." Was it something about the way he listened to the message that day? Could Paul see his faith in his eyes? If we would stop and look around us in a crowded room, could we tell who had faith and who didn't?

Hebrew 11:1 tells us that "faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." The chapter goes on to give us examples of faith by the early believers -- Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Rahab, and many others. In the gospels, we see many examples of people who were commended by Jesus for their faith -- the woman who knew she could be healed by touching his robe, the four men who tore through a roof so their friend could be healed, the man who knew his servant would be healed by Jesus's words alone.

I want that kind of faith! Lord, please help me in my unfaithfulness!

Acts - Believing

2008-08-06T15:07:00.001-07:00

Read Acts 8 - 14

Today's Devotion - Acts 12:11-15

Context: James, the apostle, has been killed. When Herod saw that the death pleased the Jews, he arrested Peter and put him in prison with the intent to try and kill him after the Passover feast. The night before his trial, Peter was waken and released from his chains by an angel who escorted him out of the prison.

Text: 11Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating."
12When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!"
15"You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel." (NIV)

taken from http://www.biblegateway.com/

It has been at least a year since Jesus died and rose again. Christians are being persecuted, but we don't have a record of any of the apostles or leaders being hurt (since Stephen was stoned) until now. There has been a great celebration, apparently, that James was killed, and Herod sees Peter's impending death as a way to tie his political agenda more closely to that of the Jews.

The text tells us that the believers were together praying, but what exactly were they praying for? They were so shocked that Peter was released that I imagine they were only praying half-heartedly for his release. Most likely they prayed for Peter, then spent more time praying that they, as Christians, would be spared from death and further persecution. Herod was so bent on a public execution that they presumed it was a done deal.

Have you ever prayed for something even though you really didn't believe God would give you the answer that you prayed for? A minister friend of mine from another church told a story about his prayers for an elderly woman who had fallen very ill. He prayed that God would spare her life if it was his will, then he spent much more effort praying that she would have a peaceful, painless transition to heaven and that her family would receive strength during their time of sadness.

To everyone's surprise, the woman made a miraculous recovery. My friend was reminded that God has the power to do whatever He wants, and that we should never presume His will. He says that he will never minimize his efforts to pray for healing again!

When you pray, do you really believe that God will respond? I know there are many times when he doesn't grant our requests -- even for significant things like healing. However, I wonder what he thinks when we pray as if we don't believe he wants to give us what we request?

If we ABSOLUTELY knew God would answer our prayers for healing, salvation for others, financial help through a tough time, or for a prodigal, would our prayers sound different?

Acts Day 1 - The Believer's Prayer

2008-08-05T06:31:00.000-07:00

Whoa, guess I'm not in the swing of things yet -- I forgot to do the devotion yesterday!

This week we are in the book of Acts. There are a lot of chapters but if you read every day you can make it through without too much trouble. If you want to make it through on the weekdays, though, we have to read 7 chapters a day!

Today's reading Acts 1-7

Today's devotion -- Acts 4:23-31

23On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported
all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24When they heard this,
they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said,
"you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25You
spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:
" 'Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain? 26The
kings of the earth take their stand and the
rulers gather together against the Lord
and against his Anointed One. 27Indeed Herod
and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in
this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28They
did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29Now, Lord,
consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great
boldness. 30Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and
wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
31After they
prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled
with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

This section of text is called the 'Believer's Prayer'. It occurs right after Peter and John healed a crippled man and had to justify their actions in front of the Sanhedrin. They had been jailed over night and were told not to preach in the name of Jesus again. Instead of giving in to the authorities, they pray that they can speak God's word with great boldness!

How often do we actually speak about God's love and Christ's salvation to others who are not Christians? I know that I don't do that often. There is a time to be silent, but I know that I'm silent probably 99% of the time. It probably ought to be the other way around! I want others to know that God is good, and that he is responsible for all good things. That he loves each of us more than we can imagine and that he holds the only promise of an eternal life of glory.

Why don't we talk about Christ more? I know that I am really hesitant to push people away -- for years before I became a Christian I was very put off by those who pushed their religion (and I didn't realize the difference between religion and relationship). I'm also concerned about how I might answer tough questions that come up about God -- those like "Why would a loving God allow bad things to happen to good people?"

I want my life to reflect God's love, but if I don't let my words also speak about it, will others realize what I'm trying to reflect? I'm sure Satan is thrilled when others think that Christians are 'good people' who do nice things for others...without a link to God's love and power.

Pray with me today that God will 'enable his servants to speak his word with great boldness.' If all the Christians in the world today would pray that (and act upon it) for just one month, imagine how the world could change!

Warning!

2008-07-17T13:05:00.000-07:00

by Brad Kibler

If you haven't finished Joel, go ahead and do that today, otherwise you can read Obadiah.

Joel and Obadiah both gave warnings to the people they were sent to. How well do you respond when someone tries to give you a warning? If you're like me, it can depend on who is giving the warning, and how it is being delivered. If it is someone I know and trust then I am usually more receptive. Or if someone takes me aside to talk to me about something, I usually respond to that better than if someone is aggressive in their communication style.

How many warnings do we get everyday? If you watch the news or read the paper with any regularity, journalists barrage us with warning messages about what foods to not eat, what not to waste our money on, and what we need to do to avoid or prepare for a possible calamity. You get warning labels on food, medicine, toys, electronics, and other items we use everyday. When you drive, you are warned to stop, to yield, that there may be pedestrians crossing, children playing, bicyclists, upcoming traffic or construction.

But, how often do we get warnings about our relationships?

Warning: You are making this decision without considering what God would have you do.

Caution: This may distract you from spending quality time with your family.

Beware: You may think you can handle this, but you won't be able to on your own.

Watch Out: Your friend has something that is eating away at them that they are scared to share with anyone, be extra-attentive and pray for the right words to say.

U-Turn Ahead: You may be making plans right now to go a certain direction with your life, but you need to focus on what's of eternal importance since your present plans will soon come to an end.

Yield: Your quiet time is about to be interrupted by your child wanting to ask a seemingly unimportant question. Take the time for the latter without neglecting the former.

The Spirit that indwells us can tweak our conscience to not do something or it can prompt us to consider doing something we wouldn't normally do. The more we commune with God the better we get attuned to his warnings and prodding. Sometimes we get a prophet screaming of upcoming doom, sometimes we get a still small voice. Let's pay attention to God's warnings in whatever form they take today.

Harvest Time in Context (Joel 3)

2008-07-16T12:50:00.000-07:00

by Brad Kibler

Before jumping in to today's devotion, let me remind you that this week's lesson will be about Joel and Obadiah. Monday's devotion mentioned Joel 2:13 and Tuesday's mentioned Joel 2:28-32, but I didn't spell out a specific section to read. If you haven't read Joel yet, go ahead and read at least chapters 1 & 2 today. Obadiah is only one chapter, so you can read that either Thursday or Friday depending on whether you choose to finish Joel today (it is only 3 chapters) or split it up and do chapter 3 tomorrow.

Harvest Time in Context (Joel 3)

In Joel 3, we see a picture of the last days: "In those days and at that time when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat" (1-2a). That leads me to ask, what is the Valley of Jehoshaphat?

There was a king of Judah named Jehoshaphat who was being threatened by Moab, Ammon, and Mount Seir in 2nd Chronicles 20. He prayed "O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but out eyes are upon you" (12). God answered Jehoshaphat's prayer by having the enemy armies slaughter each other and leave the people of Judah unharmed. Not only did Judah not lose lives, but it took them three days to collect all the plunder left in the valley of the battlefield. Jehoshaphat's prayer for judgment on God's enemies got answered in a mighty way in a specific valley, and his name literally means "the Lord judges", so any way you look at it the Valley of Jehoshaphat it appears to be a reference to God's judgment.

Joel 3:2, goes on to say, "There [in the Valley of Jehoshaphat] I will enter into judgment against them..." If we skip down to verse 12, he comes back around to that point: "Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side. Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow – so great is their wickedness." We don't swing sickles very often in our society, so that reference may be lost on us as well. We see the sickle occasionally as the implement held by the grim reaper in pop culture, but we don't actually see it used to harvest grain. That leads me to ask, what does this harvesting symbolism mean?

Jesus gives us a similar picture in the parable of the Weeds in Matthew 13:24-30. He says that a man sowed seed in his field but that his enemy sowed weed seeds among his good seeds. The servants came to the man and asked if the man wanted them to pull up the weeds, but he said no, "because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest" (29-30). Jesus later explains the symbolism to his disciples: "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are the angels. As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age" (37-40)" This brings more clarity as to what exactly is being referred to with the harvesting symbolism. If Joel and Jesus both use this, that leads me to ask, is this symbolism used elsewhere that I might have missed?

John alludes back to the Joel 3 passage in Revelation 14:14-20: "I looked, and there before me... was one 'like a son of man' with... a sharp sickle in his hand. Then [an] angel came out of the temple and called... to him... 'Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.' So he... swung his sickle over the earth and the earth was harvested.... Another angel came out... and he too had a sharp sickle Still another angel... called... to him who had the sharp sickle, 'Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth's vine, because its grapes are ripe.' The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God's wrath. They were trampled in the winepress outside the city and blood flowed out of the press..." To a reader unfamiliar with the harvest symbolism used by Joel of the sickle and the winepress, this could easily be misunderstood. Indeed, there are other times when Jesus spoke of a plentiful harvest, and the workers were too few, and this usually meant an evangelistic harvest rather than one of judgment (Mat 9:27, Luke 10:2, John 4:35). Still other Biblical writers; Paul, the Hebrew writer and James, all speak of a "harvest of righteousness" (2 Co 9:10, Heb 12:11, Jas 3:18) which is also unrelated to the harvest of judgment.

Can you get a full grasp of Joel's meaning without familiarizing yourself with the story of Jehoshaphat? Does Jesus' explanation of his use of symbolism bring clarity to how Joel used similar symbols? Can you get the full import of John's meaning without knowing that he is making a reference to the symbolism used by Joel? God's Word is woven together like a beautiful quilt. There are things we can see close up in the fine details that become better understood as we step back and look at the context.

Now when you read Joel 3, today or tomorrow, I hope you'll have a head start as to some more of the extended context.

What's the best way to spread the Word?

2008-07-15T08:24:00.000-07:00

by Brad Kibler

What is your first thought when someone mentions the Holy Spirit? This third member of the trinity definitely doesn't always get the publicity that the Father and the Son get, but His work should not be overlooked. Often, when you do hear about the Spirit, there are folks who swing the pendulum far to the other side and focus so much on speaking in tongues or healing that they can cause us in the 'mainstream' to steer away from any discussion of Him at all for fear of being associated with snake handlers and give-to-get televangelists.

Jesus, upon his departure promised "power from on high" (Luke 24:49) and earlier spoke about the promise of the "Counselor, the Holy Spirit," who will "teach you all things and and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26) We may not be able to walk in the garden of Eden with the Creator, but to have his power and wisdom always with us is amazing, and something I too often take for granted.

The Holy Spirit came upon people in the Old Testament, but not everyone, and not in a 'permanent' presence. Moses even remarked to Joshua at one point, when the Spirit came upon the elders for a time, "I wish that all the Lord's people were prophets and the Lord would put his Spirit on them!" (Nu 11:29) Not until Acts 2 do we see the permanent coming of the Spirit. We're told it came with "a sound like the blowing of a violent wind and filled the whole house" (2) and they saw "what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and cam to rest on each of them" (3) Just in case the disciples had any doubt this was Him, they were treated to a little audio-visual stimulation to mark this historic event. The sound of the spirit coming was loud enough that a crowd gathered outside to see what the commotion was about (6). The crowd was from at least 15 different regions, but they could all hear the Galilean disciples in their native tongues (6-12).

With the crowd gathering, Peter gives his first Spirit-filled sermon and about 3000 people converted that day. To start off his sermon, Peter chooses to quote Joel 2:28-32 where the prophet foretold "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people... and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" The Spirit was no longer going to be reserved for special prophetic words or tasks, it was no longer a select few for a temporary time, and it wasn't just going to be for the Jews. Just think, Joshua would be jealous of you! How much more can God work in our lives than that of the Old Testament icons? The sky is the limit! It all rests on our willingness to give God control. Jesus taught in the parable of the Talents, that if we use the gifts He's given us wisely and to the Master's glory that the Master is faithful to provide us even more to use in His service.

Stepping back for a moment, I am sometimes tempted to second guess God's methods for reaching the world. Jesus was active as a carpenter for more years than he was active as a traveling teacher. In that time, if I were God, I think I would have had Jesus invent the printing press. Couldn't the word have been spread farther and quicker had this invention hit the scene a few centuries earlier? It's not like it was way outside their technological grasp. Even going further along those lines, couldn't Jesus just as easily been raised by a metalsmith and then invented the techniques that would allow for the steam engine or the combustion engine? Wouldn't those have provided the means to reach the world so much faster? And if the Holy Spirit can instantly grant us knowledge of languages we never learned, why do missionaries have to struggle for years with tedious and difficult translation work?

I think the answer to my postulation is found in Romans 1:19-20: "...what may be known about God has been made plain to [godless men], because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." God doesn't need documentation or advanced technology to prove His existence or tell of His glory. He has all of creation. If we respond to the light of truth we are given in creation, then God is faithful to provide us more truth, and He is more than able to do so in whatever means possible, and is not hindered by the limitations of mankind's advancement. God does all He can do to draw all men into a relationship with Himself. He doesn't have to use you and me, but He wants to. Don't take this blessing of the presence of the Holy Spirit for granted. Be still and listen to the Spirit's promptings as you walk through today.

Going Through the Motions?

2008-07-14T07:47:00.000-07:00

by Brad Kibler

What do you remember from yesterday morning? It's only been about 24 hours, so it should still be fairly fresh. I remember running late, and being disappointed that I missed the songs at the beginning of worship, and walked in right at the close of the prayer. I could probably name several of the ministries that Dennis and the round table discussed, but probably not all of them. I could give you examples of themes from Luke's writing and supporting passages, but to be honest, that probably sunk in more because I was being more attentive to my mid-week readings in preparation for these devotionals.

How about the week before this? Or last month? Ideally, I've been able to involve the principles and truths into my ever-maturing world view, but if I'm pressed for specifics, I'd have to refer to my notes to have any hope of a good response. I've gone to church hundreds of times in my life, and pulling out specific examples is difficult. It's like a tradition: you do something in almost the same way time after time and the details of one specific time can fade.

The good thing about traditions is that as you keep doing the same things over and over, the message can become more deeply rooted. On the flip side, once you've participated in a tradition a number of times, the temptation is there to 'tune out' and just go through the motions.

Let's look at songs as an example: When you first hear a song, it can be difficult to focus on the meaning of the words, since you're focusing on remembering the tune, rhythm, and the words themselves. There comes a point at which you've sung a song enough times that remembering the words and tune are no longer your focus, and you can sing the words from your heart like a prayer. You can recall the words and apply their truths even when you're not in corporate worship. It is at this juncture that you can also 'coast'. If we sing that song in worship that you've sung so many times in the past, you may get off-focus onto a new harmony you haven't tried, or the person singing next to you, or even to your mental to-do list.

In Joel, we're not given much specificity as to what they were doing wrong to deserve the punishment they were getting. The only hint we get is "Wake up, you drunkards, and weep!" (1:5a) where it refers to drunkenness. Of course, the prophet started that lyrical pattern with "Hear this, you elders..." (1:2) and it goes on in that pattern to say "Despair, you farmers..." (1:11a) "Put on sackcloth, O priests..." (1:13a). Since not all in the audience were elders, farmers, or priests, I think it is safe to say they weren't all drunkards either. Perhaps it was obvious to them what their sin was. Perhaps Joel told them, but it's just not recorded. In any case, how many times do we read stories of Israel intermarrying with the heathen and then worshiping the pagan gods, and God calling his wrath on them. That sounds so foreign to us. Not too many of us have a daily struggle with our spouse wanting us to pray to Allah or Vishnu. But when the sin is unspecified, it is easier for me to apply the principles involved to today.

One powerful principle God tells his people through Joel is found in 2:13: "Rend your heart and not your garments..." 'Rending your garments' is just a fancy way of saying 'tearing your clothes', which is what the Jews did to show their mourning and repentance. Another way to say it would be: "I want you to follow me with your heart, not just your outward actions." Or, "Don't just go through the motions." Or, "Don't coast." Perhaps the people of Joel's day got lukewarm. Maybe it wasn't some huge outward sin that caused God's army of locusts, drought, and fire to be called forth as punishment. Maybe they had simply tuned out and got distracted with their daily lives.

Whatever you do today, put your heart into it. Don't let your to-do-list run your life today, decide to be passionate in pursuit of God's will today. His will may indeed be that you get through your to-do-list, but it will be to his glory if we are doing it out of a heart of worship.

Roadside Assistance (Luke 24:13-35)

2008-07-11T08:20:00.000-07:00

by Brad Kibler

What about those fuel prices? And how long is that construction going to last? And where did all those bad drivers come from? When you're driving as part of your daily routine, these are likely some of the thoughts that come to mind. Our society has grown in such a way that we can now travel in seclusion, each of us in our own compartment. We may have passengers with us, but they are the ones we started our trip with, we don't usually pick up folks along our route. It wasn't always that way. When you walked or rode from place to place, it was much safer to travel in a group. Even as recently as America's westward expansion, you would have been considered a risk taker to go out too far with a lone stagecoach. You can't circle a single wagon.

So, the afternoon of our story, Cleopas and his friend go out for a trip that will take them more than an hour, maybe two depending on their pace. As they were going along they were discussing the latest news about Jesus' recent crucifixion. A stranger comes up and asks what they're talking about. "You must not be from around here!" was basically their response (Luke 24:18). They then explained to the stranger about Jesus' power and how they'd hoped he was the redeemer, but that he had been killed. "But, the strange thing was that some of the women said they saw angels that told them he was alive. Some of our friends went to look for themselves, and saw the empty tomb, but no angels." (22-24)

The stranger responds with "Why are you so slow to believe? Isn't that what Jesus said would have to happen?" (25-26). Then the stranger went through and explained to Cleopas and his friend how the scriptures predicted all those things about Jesus. (27) It's around supper time when they get to their destination, but they want to continue the conversation, so they offered the stranger a meal and a place to stay (29-30). After the prayer for the meal, it hit them that the stranger was Jesus! And with that realization, he disappears! (30-31)

Wow! It's one thing to read this when we know how it ends, but can you imagine living through this? Cleopas isn't mentioned by name anywhere else in the Bible. Mark alludes to this story, but doesn't go into the detail that Luke does. It's one thing for Jesus to appear to the women who were close to him that wanted to honor his memory, or for him to his chosen apostles, but why Cleopas? And why appear to Celopas before John, the disciple Jesus loved, or James or Peter who were also among the closest to him? We can only guess, but it sounds like Cleopas was a reliable witness. Luke, ever the historian, gives readers his name so that the story can be verified. Dissenters could say that if Jesus only appeared to those closest to him that it was all made up, that they conspired to steal the body to promote their agenda.

Cleopas had the details of how Jesus fulfilled the various prophesies explained to him by Jesus himself before anyone else 'got it'! Can you imagine that privilege! He apparently didn't have a problem sharing the story of Jesus with strangers, since that is what he tried to do even before he had it all explained to him He immediately went back to Jerusalem to tell the group there. I'm sure his pace was quicker on the way back! Cleopas was still there with the Eleven when Jesus appeared again to that group (35-36), so he got to hear the explanation again. (44-46).

Are we open to conversation with strangers? Would we have allowed Jesus to step into our conversation, or would we have shut him out? Were there others that Jesus appeared to, that never did "get it"?

Let's not miss any opportunities! We don't have to immediately dive into 'religious' topics of conversation, but even just talking about current affairs will allow us to bring our worldview and God's truth in to the mix. I find personally, that folks tend to have a preconceived notion of 'what Christians think' about things. We have Christian organizations that warn us not to let our kids watch certain movies or TV shows, read certain books, listen to certain music. I am all for protecting my kids, and I find those warnings useful to that extent. That being said, I purposefully went out and read the Harry Potter series, watched the Golden Compass, and listen occasionally to controversial popular music. And in each of those cases, I've been able to have conversations with folks at my workplace about those topics. If I had completely shunned these things, would the same doors have been open? I think, too, of Paul's speech in the Areopagus: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: To An Unknown God…." (Acts 17:22-23) Paul 'looked carefully' at the culture and was able to use it as a stepping stone to proclaim the truth (Acts 17:24-31). The church is not to be a cloister, completely separated from all things 'worldly'. What use is light if it never shines into darkness?

See if you can find a way to use current events or cultural media to share God's truth today. Maybe you can start a conversation with someone at the gas station or in the elevator or in line as you wait to transact your business. The easiest place to start is with the world around us.

The Lazarus Who Wasn't Supposed to be Resurrected – Luke 16:19-31

2008-07-10T12:12:00.000-07:00

by Brad Kibler

I think one of the universal philosophical questions asked throughout the ages and almost every recorded culture is: "What happens to us after we die?" How we answer this question leads us each to the root philosophy on which we base our lives. If there is no after-life, then why not live for the moment? If we knew we could 'get away with' something and no one would ever know in this life, then what would stop us? On the other hand, if there are eternal consequences for our actions, our lives should absolutely be lived with that fact constantly in mind.

Even if you agree there is an afterlife with reward and punishment, there are still unanswered questions: Do we immediately 'wake up' in either heaven or Hell? Do we have to go 'toward the light' to reach our final destination? Is it possible to get 'stuck' in Limbo or Purgatory or on this earth as a ghost? What happened to the Jewish believers who died prior to the coming of Christ? Well, Luke 16 seems to give us a glimpse into the answer to that question.

If you're not familiar with the Lazarus that Jesus did not raise from the dead, Luke 16:19-31 tells us his story. You can read the whole thing on-line at http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2016&version=31, but the basics are that Jesus told about a rich man who had a beggar named Lazarus that lived at his gate. Lazarus died and "the angels carried him to Abraham's side". The rich man also died, and was then in torment in Hades. The rich man "looked up and saw Abraham far away... so he called to him... 'have pity on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony...'" (23-24) Abraham says no, because that wouldn't be fair to Lazarus or the rich man (they were both getting what they deserved) but also because "between us and you a great chasm has been fixed" (26) that either side can't cross to get to the other.

Now there are theologians who will call this story a parable, but if it is, it is unique in that it would be the only parable in which Jesus gave a character a name. Luke, the doctor, also uses a specific medical term in describing Lazarus' condition that doesn't appear elsewhere in the New Testament. If this was a theoretical scene, then why use a specific name and a specific diagnosis? Now, if this isn't a parable, then that would infer that this actually occurred, which is amazing in so many ways to me, and raises so many more questions: Is part of the torment that he could see what he was missing? Was Abraham the only one who could communicate across the 'chasm'? Did this occur prior to Jesus' coming to earth when he was present to witness this exchange, or did he have regular insight into afterlife happenings while here on earth? But, I digress.

After getting his hopes for relief dissuaded, the rich man asks that this other Lazarus be raised from the dead to warn the rich man's family. Abraham's reply is "They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them." (29). The rich man persists that a resurrection would be better, and Abraham concludes the narrative with "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not listen be convinced even if someone rises from the dead." Wow. That's a reality check: The biggest obstacle between disbelief and faith is not a lack of evidence. There is more quantity of evidence of God's existence and His love story for us, and more availability to that evidence than ever before in history, yet the case could be made that there is more widespread ridicule of that evidence than at any other time in history.

Who in this country hasn't heard the name of Jesus? Yet organizations pay good money to put just his name on billboards. Is that really changing hearts? People seek God because they see how He changed the lives of those who follow Him. Share your life experiences with those who don't know Him. Make it your mission to be ever present light in the lives of those who are in the dark, and the Spirit will provide the opportunities and the words to say. Don't think that people need a miracle, they just need you.

The Stuff of Life (Luke 12:11-34)

2008-07-09T18:47:00.000-07:00

by Brad Kibler

It often takes a tragedy for us to take a step back and look at our priorities. It is often the tragedy of death that gets us thinking with an 'eternal' perspective and out of our here-and-now perspective. In Luke 12:13, Jesus is confronted by a member of the crowd who said to him "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." In the wake of the death of his father, he and his brother are at odds. Should this be? Shouldn't the death of a loved one help focus our hearts on fostering relationships, and honoring the heritage that was passed down to us?

Earlier this year, my mother's mother passed away. In the wake of her passing, I have communicated more with my cousins and uncles than I have in years. My communication with my cousins has been great, and we're bonding and growing closer together. On the other hand, my communication with my uncles has focused almost all on, you guessed it, the inheritance. I won't bore you with the details of Illinois probate law, but suffice it to say that basically one of my mom's brothers, who is the executor of the estate, thought there should be a 3 way split between himself and his two brothers, but my dad and I thought that my mom's share should pass to her heirs and not be 'absorbed' by her siblings.

I admit that I spent way too much time doing legal research and basically obsessing about this for at least a month or two. I feel like I've resigned myself to let happen what will at this point, but it was a real struggle to get to that point mentally. When Jesus responded to the audience member's query about his inheritance, he told him a parable about a man who encountered prosperity and said to himself

"You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry" (12:19). But, that very night he was to die, and would never enjoy that planned merriment. Jesus followed that parable with this teaching: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, … or about your body, what you will wear… do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well" (12:22,29-31).

If you're like me, it can hard to find that balance between focusing on my work and my responsibility to provide for my family, but not focusing so much on that provision that I try to take the reigns out of God's hands. How many times during the day do I need to hand those reigns back over to Him? The more I focus on the people and relationships in my life, the less that I focus on 'stuff'. And really, aren't the relationships we build here the only thing we take with us?

If you haven't read the full story of the parable of the "Rich Fool" and Jesus' take on worrying about things of this world, you read it online at http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=49&chapter=12&version=31 or you can use your own Bible.

Better Late Than Never

2008-07-09T07:54:00.000-07:00

For the next four weeks or so we have a guest blogger! I'm going to take some time off, and Brad Kibler from the Faith Builders Class will write our devotions. Here is his first installment.

In the first chapter of Luke, we see a detailed record of the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist. Luke, the doctor and historian, decided to include this profile, but the other gospel writers don't have nearly the detail we get here. We're told Zechariah was a priest, and that he and Elizabeth were "upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly." (1:6) They wanted children (1:13), but that blessing hadn't been granted to them, yet, and they were both "well along in years" (1:7).

Do you ever get 'blessing envy'? Does it seem like God isn't granting your heart's desire, but that it seems like almost everyone else you know is getting blessed in that way whether they are followers of Christ or not? Like Zechariah and Elizabeth, I wanted kids, my wife wanted kids, but yet for 5 years, that wasn't to be. No angel came to surprise me to tell me the good news of our first child, and we didn't have to wait as long Zechariah and Elizabeth, but I had a glimpse of their frustration. When you hear about people being upset about having an unplanned preganancy, and a pregnancy is what you want for your family, it can cause some strong emotions.

God may or may not grant our hopes in this world, he is sovereign and knows what's best for us in the long term. If we're not careful we can let our desires build up to become a blockade of resentment that hinders our relationship with Him. How would you react if God answered a prayer you've been praying for year after year? Thanksgiving? Awe? Joy? Praise? Well Zechariah's first reaction was that he didn't believe it, and he questioned God's messenger (1:18-20), and so God made him mute for (at least) a few months. It makes me wonder how often God has wanted to give me a 'yes' answer to a prayer, but that my heart wasn't ready for that 'yes' answer! Take a moment to reflect on your heart's desires. Are your feelings for those potential blessings getting in the way of your feelings for your Lord and Creator?

If you haven't read the rest of Zechariah and Elizabeth's story already, you can read Luke 1 online at: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%201&version=31, or you can of course always use your own Bible.

Mark - Day 5

2008-07-04T08:17:00.000-07:00

Read Mark 13-16

Today's Devotion -- Mark 13:27-31
27"You will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written:
" 'I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.' 28But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."
29Peter declared, "Even if all fall away, I will not."

30"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times."

31But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others said the same. (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

The fourth of July is always a fun day of feasting and celebration. It represents the freedom we have because so many people have willingly put their lives on the line so we could make our own decisions as a country.

For Christians, it is also an opportunity for us to remember that Christ willingly put his life on the line so someday we can celebrate with him in heaven. His sacrifice means that we are free to make our own decisions -- even when he knew we would regret many of the decisions we make.

Just as he knew in advance that all of his disciples would fall away, and that Peter in particular would deny any association with him in a matter of hours, Jesus knows that we too will falter in our faith. In those moments when we make choices that demonstrate our weakness, he still loves us more than we can comprehend. And just like Peter, he doesn't stand by to condemn -- he simply offers us redemption and he hopes that we have learned from our failures.

Tonight when you see fireworks light up the sky, take a moment to think about the men and women who have given their lives so we can live in a free country. Think also of the men and women who have given their lives so all have the opportunity to hear of the love of Jesus -- the martyrs who stood strong to the end. Imagine what the fireworks must look like from Heaven, and consider the magnificent shows the angels might put on to welcome each newcomer to eternity!

Mark Day 4

2008-07-03T08:29:00.001-07:00

Read Mark 10 - 13

Today's Devotion -- Mark 10:35-45

35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said,
"we want you to do for us whatever we ask."
36"What do you want me to
do for you?" he asked.
37They replied, "Let one of us sit at your
right and the other at your left in your glory."
38"You don't know
what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized
with the baptism I am baptized with?"
39"We can," they answered. Jesus
said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I
am baptized with, 40but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These
places belong to those for whom they have been prepared."
41When the
ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42Jesus called
them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the
Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over
them. 43Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must
be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45For
even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his
life as a ransom for many." (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Do you ever regret receiving things that you asked for? Things you thought were going to be wonderful, but ended up requiring much more than you expected?

We learn in Acts 12:2 that Herod, who had beheaded John the Baptist at the request of his daughter, had James put to death by the sword. We don't know what James went through before his death, but it is clear that Herod wanted to persecute those in the church. We know that John was imprisoned on the island of Patmos and probably died in exile there. How many times do you think they wish they had not offered to drink from the same cup as Christ?

Many times we make promises to God that are shallow and tied to a desired result. "If you will just do this for me, I promise I will (fill in the blank) forever!" Yet, when he does as we ask, it doesn't take long for us to come up with excuses and justifications for why we don't keep our end of the bargain. He even knows ahead of time that we will wimp out on him, yet he provides for us anyway.

It's interesting that Jesus gets John and James' commitment before he tells them that he's not the one who decides the seating arrangements in Heaven. They get to fulfill their part of the bargain without any assurance that they will receive what they requested.

Whom do you think will actually hold those seats next to Jesus?

Mark Day 3

2008-07-02T07:56:00.000-07:00

Read Mark 7-9

Today's Devotion -- Mark 8:32-38

34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone
would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life
for me and for the gospel will save it. 36What good is it for a man to gain the
whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange for his
soul? 38If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful
generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's
glory with the holy angels."

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Jesus said a lot of things that didn't make much sense to the people at the time...and I imagine this one confused almost everyone. It almost seems like he said these things for our benefit -- the benefit of those who could look ahead to the events that would occur in Jesus' future.

Today we think about the cross where Jesus died, and we see some burden we bear as our 'cross' -- in almost all cases our crosses are nothing to bear when compared with Christ's cross!

But at that time, no one knew that Jesus would be nailed to the cross like a common criminal. They had all, no doubt, seen murderers and thieves struggling to carry heavy wooden posts on their backs toward the crucifixion site. How awful it must have been to have to carry a huge post on your back, causing deep splinters and cuts with every step, knowing that as soon as you stopped you would be nailed to it. They may have thought they didn't hear him well -- surely that wasn't what he meant!

The closest I can get in today's world to comprehending what people may have thought he said is that if I want to follow Jesus (whom I've seen as a great teacher and miracle worker), I have to ignore anything that I want in life and volunteer to go to the electric chair.

According to tradition, Jesus' disciples did go on to die painful deaths. Very few, if any, of us will suffer that way. But how deep is your faith? What have you given up for Christ's sake? Do you think you could keep trusting God despite severe humiliation and pain leading to death?

Mark - Day 2

2008-07-01T07:48:00.000-07:00

Read Mark 4-6

Today's Devotion -- Mark 6:14-20

14King Herod heard about this, for Jesus' name had become well known. Some were saying,[g] "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him."
15Others said, "He is Elijah."
And still others claimed, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago."

16But when Herod heard this, he said, "John, the man I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!"

17For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married. 18For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." 19So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled[h]; yet he liked to listen to him.(NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

This section of text goes on to tell how John the Baptist got beheaded by Herod despite Herod's admiration for the man.

Herod was afraid of John yet liked to listen to him, even though he (Herod) couldn't quite understand what John was talking about. At least the message seemed to be thought-provoking.

Had Herod not heard of Jesus before this time? We don't know how much time passed since John had baptized Jesus, but John obviously continued preaching and teaching. How did Herod hear John's message? I doubt that John held one-on-one meetings with the King in the palace, but it's also hard to imagine that Herod left his home to go hear John in the wilderness.

There isn't any evidence that Herod went out to hear Jesus or that he confronted him to see if he was indeed John the Baptist brought back from the dead. I'm sure it would have been easy to tell! Was Herod's first experience with Jesus on the night of Jesus' arrest when he attempted to try him and hoped to see a miracle?

It's unfortunate that Herod didn't seek out enough information to find the true answers to the questions that puzzled him. How do you respond to things that don't make much sense to you? Do you ignore them, or do you seek until you understand?

Mark -- Day 1

2008-06-30T07:10:00.000-07:00

This week we are jumping ahead to the New Testament. We will be reading the book of Mark.
Read Mark 1-3

Today's Devotion -- Mark 1:35-39

35Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!"
38Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." 39So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.(NIV)

Taken from www.biblegateway.com

As we have seen before, Jesus often spent time alone early in the morning in prayer. I'm sure this was his way of 'reporting for duty' and learning the specific actions he was to take each day.

On this particular day, crowds were looking for him everywhere. He had been up late the night before at Andrew and Peter's home and the whole town had gathered at the door, brining all their sick and demon-possessed relatives and friends. Jesus healed many of them. Apparently those who had not been able to get close enough were still hoping that he would heal them, too.

Jesus knew they were looking for him and that they were desperate for his help, yet he tells his disciples that they are going somewhere else! Did he not care about the rest of the crowd? Why didn't he just raise his arms and heal them all at once?

Jesus knew that he could be kept busy for the rest of his life healing those who were sick or demon possessed. But God reminded him that it was his message that was key, not the miracles that he did. He wanted us to know God's love and to understand how to be reunited with Him in eternity...even if we weren't made whole here on Earth.

Do you know what your purpose is? Do you keep so busy 'doing' good things that you ignore the task that God really wants you to do? This week in your quiet time, ask God what he thinks about the way you spend your time. Ask for specific areas where you should readjust your priorities...then watch and listen carefully through out the week for his quiet response.

Amos and Jonah - Day 9

2008-06-26T06:35:00.000-07:00

Read Jonah 3

Today's Devotion -- Jonah 3:6-9

6 When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh:
"By the decree of the king and his nobles:
Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish." (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

I don't have any idea how large Ninevah was, but imagine it was the size of Florissant. It's amazing to see the results of Jonah's prophesy. It took three days for Jonah to deliver his message, and everyone responded!

Without newspapers, cell phones, television, or radio, all heard the message. And what's even more amazing, all responded by fasting and wearing sackcloths. These were bag-like garments made of a rough, course cloth (think burlap) -- very uncomfortable and worn as a symbol of mourning or repentance (imagine trying to get your teenage daughter to wear that!).

Ninevah was a pagan city, full of idol worshippers and evil-doers. Yet every one of them turned and repented almost immediately when they heard the message of impending destruction.

How do you think that would work in today's world? Even if we just look at our local population, do you think that ALL people would be willing to fast because they thought the world would end in forty days? How many of us spent a day fasting in response to Steve's request?

I'm not sure we could even get everyone to eat ice cream for dessert on the same day if our mayor, or even the president, insisted it would save us!

Amos and Jonah - Day 8

2008-06-25T07:24:00.000-07:00

Read Jonah 2
Today's Devotion - Jonah 2:8

8 "Those who cling to worthless idols
forfeit the grace that could be theirs. (NIV)

8They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. (King James Version)

8 "People who worship useless idols
give up their loyalty to you. (New Century Version)

8 Those who cling to worthless idols
forsake faithful love, (Holman Christian Standard Version)

Those who worship hollow gods, god-frauds,
walk away from their only true love. (The Message Version)

8 Those who worship false gods
turn their backs on all God’s mercies. (New Living Translation)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

It's amazing to see how different versions of the Bible translate the same passage. The way this verse is interpreted can have a very different impact on us.

For instance, is there a difference between worshipping a false idol and clinging to one? And even the terms idol and god could be perceived differently. Worshipping an idol seems like much less of an attachment than clinging to a god, yet it doesn't matter which way you interpret it, the result is the same.

Let's see if I can put that into terms of today's world. Worship can be seen by the way we spend our time. Think of the pre-teen girls trying to 'be' Hannah Montana, copying her clothing, way of speaking, and activities. They spend a lot of their time thinking about, watching, and emulating her every move. A similar example might be related to sports -- people who spend a lot of time watching the games, memorizing statistics, and arguing about what actions the coaches should take to improve the teams.

On the other hand, clinging to a false god indicates to me that you are placing your hope in something that can't help. Those who desperately try to increase their financial situation through gambling or get rich quick schemes -- they 'know' that just increasing their bank account will resolve all of their problems. Others place their hope in certain people. "If I could just get him (or her) to love me, everything will be ok." They focus all of their attention on that thing they believe will resolve all the problems in their lives.

In the end, though, it doesn't really matter how we interpret this passage -- the result is the same. We voluntarily walk away from the good things (be it love, mercy, or grace depending on the version you choose) that God intends for us to have.

Are there things that are pulling you down to the bottom of the sea, wrapping your head in sea weed just like Jonah? The answer is pretty clear -- if we worship and cling to the true God, he can save us in miraculous ways. And we'll receive the reward of grace, mercy, and love in amounts we can hardly imagine.

Amos and Jonah - Day 7

2008-06-24T06:58:00.000-07:00

Read Jonah 1
Today's devotion - Jonah 1:11-12

11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, "What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?"
12 "Pick me up and throw me into the sea," he replied, "and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you." (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

This is probably one of the best known stories from the Bible -- one we hear early in our lives to warn us against running away from God's will. In fact, it's so familiar that it is difficult for me to read because I want to keep rushing ahead to the end of the story. And it's one of those stories where it's easy to say "I would never do THAT!" instead of trying to see a real relationship to our own lives.

But as I re-read it, I found this passage interesting. If Jonah knew that his actions were the cause of the storm and he knew that the lives of the others on board were at risk, why did he ask them to throw him overboard? Why didn't he just jump?

Even when we know without a doubt how to fix the messes we have created, we still need the support and help of others. Some things are just too scary to do alone. It is important for us to turn to our friends (or even strangers if they are the only ones around) and ask for their help. It may mean having someone who will hold us accountable for staying on the right road, or someone we know will take us to task if we give into temptation.

Left on our own, we will look at the rough sea and seek any other possible way to avoid taking the right, but difficult, action. Who do you have to hold you accountable?