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?
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Do We Really Hear
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?
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?
Monday, March 9, 2009
Justice
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!
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!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Long-Term Confidence
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:
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?
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?
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
How Long Would You Survive in the Desert?
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:
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?
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?
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Daily Instructions
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:
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?
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?
Monday, March 2, 2009
God's Creation
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?
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?
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