What does this small amount of light reveal? The hands, the faces, the pages of the book.
What reflects the light? The faces of the beholders. And so we should reflect the light of the Word as we look upon it.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
The light of God's Word
One match illuminates a room. One candle illuminates a house.
What does this small amount of light reveal? The hands, the faces, the pages of the book.
What reflects the light? The faces of the beholders. And so we should reflect the light of the Word as we look upon it.
What does this small amount of light reveal? The hands, the faces, the pages of the book.
What reflects the light? The faces of the beholders. And so we should reflect the light of the Word as we look upon it.
Friday, September 29, 2006
Sorrow and Trouble
Through our darkest times, though our saddest times, God is with us. He sees our sorrows, our troubles; He always is ready to listen. “There is no new thing under the sun” (Ecc 1:9). Our problems may seem huge and unique to each of us, but they are not new to God. He understands - always. Who else can understand, no matter what? And yet, he will not let us feel sorry for ourselves. He will not let us be less than He has made us. He will not let us be less than a conqueror. “We are more than conquerors, through Christ that loved us”.
Being a conqueror on God’s terms is not the same as being a conqueror on the world’s terms. When you are a conqueror on the world’s terms, everyone knows about it. You are put on a high place, like an Olympic athlete, for all to see. When you are a conqueror on God’s terms, the world does not recognize you; it does not see your triumph. But you know that you have triumphed, because you are at peace; the world has not won, because you are resting in the sure knowledge of God’s mercy and grace.
Do not hide your light under a bushel.
Being a conqueror on God’s terms is not the same as being a conqueror on the world’s terms. When you are a conqueror on the world’s terms, everyone knows about it. You are put on a high place, like an Olympic athlete, for all to see. When you are a conqueror on God’s terms, the world does not recognize you; it does not see your triumph. But you know that you have triumphed, because you are at peace; the world has not won, because you are resting in the sure knowledge of God’s mercy and grace.
Do not hide your light under a bushel.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
A Leader
Children know what a leader is. In the game of “Follow-the-leader”, one child goes first, and the others follow, doing everything that the leader does. Alexander the Great was a wonderful secular leader. He never asked his troops to do anything that he wouldn’t do. If there was a dangerous river crossing, or steep terrain to scale, Alexander went first, to show the troops how to reach the goal. His men would follow him no matter what, and he conquered the world.
A supervisor is not the same as a leader. A supervisor sits back and directs the work crew. A leader goes first, to show the way. This is why Jesus Christ was a great leader. Men looked at him, and said to themselves: “I want to do what he does. I want to be like him.” And they followed his example.
Being a leader doesn’t come by ordering people around, or even by being in charge. A leader has to go first, and starts out alone. After setting an example that others can see, the first person is followed, and becomes a leader.
A supervisor is not the same as a leader. A supervisor sits back and directs the work crew. A leader goes first, to show the way. This is why Jesus Christ was a great leader. Men looked at him, and said to themselves: “I want to do what he does. I want to be like him.” And they followed his example.
Being a leader doesn’t come by ordering people around, or even by being in charge. A leader has to go first, and starts out alone. After setting an example that others can see, the first person is followed, and becomes a leader.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
God Speaks
God has spoken to his people in many times and in many ways. Sometimes it is with information, sometimes it is with direction, sometimes it is with power. When God’s Word goes out with the power to establish a new order, it is established and made final by being spoken twice.
Gen 41:32 And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
So when God speaks something twice we should pay attention. When He speaks something more than twice, we should really pay attention. God tells Abraham twice that He will bless all the nations of the earth in his seed (Gen 12:3 and Gen 22:18). He repeated the same to Isaac (Gen 26:4) and to Jacob (Gen 28:14). And Solomon repeated the promise (Ps 72:17), as did Peter (Ac 3:25) and Paul (Gal 3:8). And the seed is Christ:
Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Gen 41:32 And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
So when God speaks something twice we should pay attention. When He speaks something more than twice, we should really pay attention. God tells Abraham twice that He will bless all the nations of the earth in his seed (Gen 12:3 and Gen 22:18). He repeated the same to Isaac (Gen 26:4) and to Jacob (Gen 28:14). And Solomon repeated the promise (Ps 72:17), as did Peter (Ac 3:25) and Paul (Gal 3:8). And the seed is Christ:
Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Monday, September 25, 2006
Two Kinds of Death
Deut. 18:18-20
But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?
When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that [is] the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, [but] the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
A false prophet, one who speaks for another god while pretending that the prophecy is from the True God, will die as a consequence of his falseness. The tense used for “die” indicates a completed action, something so sure that it has already happened.
And yet, the next verse asks, how do we know if a prophet is false or not? Obviously, we don’t have a dead prophet on the floor as our proof. The proof is that the prophecy shall not come to pass. The last verse tells us to not fear the false prophet. If the prophet is physically dead, this seems a little silly. Why fear a dead person?
There are two kinds of death. We think of physical death first, but that isn’t the case here. The false prophet becomes spiritually dead. As a prophet of God, the spirit of God was upon him, giving him the words God wanted him to speak. When the prophet speaks for another god, the True God immediately removes His spirit from upon him, resulting in spiritual death. There is no need to fear the spiritually dead prophet.
But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?
When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that [is] the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, [but] the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
A false prophet, one who speaks for another god while pretending that the prophecy is from the True God, will die as a consequence of his falseness. The tense used for “die” indicates a completed action, something so sure that it has already happened.
And yet, the next verse asks, how do we know if a prophet is false or not? Obviously, we don’t have a dead prophet on the floor as our proof. The proof is that the prophecy shall not come to pass. The last verse tells us to not fear the false prophet. If the prophet is physically dead, this seems a little silly. Why fear a dead person?
There are two kinds of death. We think of physical death first, but that isn’t the case here. The false prophet becomes spiritually dead. As a prophet of God, the spirit of God was upon him, giving him the words God wanted him to speak. When the prophet speaks for another god, the True God immediately removes His spirit from upon him, resulting in spiritual death. There is no need to fear the spiritually dead prophet.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
A Wedding Blessing
One section of the Bible contains the story of a young woman’s courtship and marriage. It reads very much like a play, with changing scenes and various characters who come in to say their part. Then the scene changes and another character appears and speaks. The young woman speaks most often, because the story is told from her point of view.
She speaks of her thoughts and feelings as her marriage approaches. This is not the story of an arranged marriage to an unknown person, but of a courtship between a man and a woman that takes place over a significant time span. The woman describes her feelings when she hears the voice of her intended:
The voice of my beloved! behold, he comes leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.
The sound of his voice fills her with joy like skipping across mountains.
And the man describes his feelings when he sees the woman:
Who is she that looks forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun?
This story is full of the love these two have for each other. It talks of the strength of their marriage bond. This couple has eyes only for the other.
Many waters cannot quench love, rivers cannot wash it away: if one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would utterly be scorned.
The young woman sees her intended looking out a window. If you keep the bond of marriage and walk with God’s love and grace, then you will fulfill my prayer for you, which is, that for the rest of your life, you will be able to look out a window to see your beloved and say what she said:
Look, there he is behind the wall! Now he is looking in through the window, gazing into the room. My beloved has answered and said to me, `Rise up, my friend, my fair one, and come away, For, behold, the winter is gone, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard; The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, and come away. Show me your face, let me hear your voice; My beloved is mine, and I am his.
She speaks of her thoughts and feelings as her marriage approaches. This is not the story of an arranged marriage to an unknown person, but of a courtship between a man and a woman that takes place over a significant time span. The woman describes her feelings when she hears the voice of her intended:
The voice of my beloved! behold, he comes leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.
The sound of his voice fills her with joy like skipping across mountains.
And the man describes his feelings when he sees the woman:
Who is she that looks forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun?
This story is full of the love these two have for each other. It talks of the strength of their marriage bond. This couple has eyes only for the other.
Many waters cannot quench love, rivers cannot wash it away: if one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would utterly be scorned.
The young woman sees her intended looking out a window. If you keep the bond of marriage and walk with God’s love and grace, then you will fulfill my prayer for you, which is, that for the rest of your life, you will be able to look out a window to see your beloved and say what she said:
Look, there he is behind the wall! Now he is looking in through the window, gazing into the room. My beloved has answered and said to me, `Rise up, my friend, my fair one, and come away, For, behold, the winter is gone, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard; The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, and come away. Show me your face, let me hear your voice; My beloved is mine, and I am his.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Mercy and Grace
True Mercy and Grace (the Godly kind) are always together. Grace is undeserved favor; Mercy is the release from a deserved consequence or punishment.
Human Mercy is granted on a whim, or comes with conditions. It has no Grace with it. God’s Mercy is always by Grace. It comes with no “strings” or hidden clauses. True Grace, and true Mercy, are only possible with God. Whenever we humans try to grant Mercy without God, it still contains our ego and our pride.
How great and how good God is! That He not only is the only source of true Mercy and Grace, but that He grants it so freely to us! He grants us the Mercy and Grace of forgiveness every time we ask for it. He never withholds, and He never tires of our asking.
1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Human Mercy is granted on a whim, or comes with conditions. It has no Grace with it. God’s Mercy is always by Grace. It comes with no “strings” or hidden clauses. True Grace, and true Mercy, are only possible with God. Whenever we humans try to grant Mercy without God, it still contains our ego and our pride.
How great and how good God is! That He not only is the only source of true Mercy and Grace, but that He grants it so freely to us! He grants us the Mercy and Grace of forgiveness every time we ask for it. He never withholds, and He never tires of our asking.
1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Dinner
A child does not spend the day thinking about dinner. The child knows that an adult will find, prepare and serve the food, and that the time and place will be announced. All the child has to do is answer the call to dinner, and eat.
But when a child becomes a woman, she thinks about dinner, sometimes planning days ahead. What food is at hand, and what needs to be purchased? What is the day’s schedule and how much time will be needed to prepare the food? The subject of dinner is with the woman throughout the day.
So it is with the spiritual life. When we are new Christians, someone else prepares the nourishment of the Word and serves it to us. All we have to do is show up and partake. But as we grow, we begin to take on the responsibility not only for ourselves, but for others. Our goal as mature Christians is to have the things of God as a constant presence in our minds, never far from the surface. We begin to minister the Word to others while maintaining our relationship with God.
Jos 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
But when a child becomes a woman, she thinks about dinner, sometimes planning days ahead. What food is at hand, and what needs to be purchased? What is the day’s schedule and how much time will be needed to prepare the food? The subject of dinner is with the woman throughout the day.
So it is with the spiritual life. When we are new Christians, someone else prepares the nourishment of the Word and serves it to us. All we have to do is show up and partake. But as we grow, we begin to take on the responsibility not only for ourselves, but for others. Our goal as mature Christians is to have the things of God as a constant presence in our minds, never far from the surface. We begin to minister the Word to others while maintaining our relationship with God.
Jos 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Monday, September 18, 2006
The God of Jacob
Jacob wasn’t a very nice person. As a young man, he stole his brother’s inheritance. He stole it by deceiving and lying to his father. The deception wasn’t some accidental mistaken identity, but a well thought out plan of lies. He timed the deception for when his brother would be gone a long time, and wore his brother’s clothes to act the part.
Jacob also had troubles in his life. He had a difficult relationship with his in-law family. He was deceived by his father-in-law in marriage and in business. His daughter lay with a Canaanite and his sons avenged her by massacring the men of a whole city and then looting the city. Jacob had to flee the area to avoid retaliation. Later, those same sons sold their youngest brother into slavery and covered their crime by telling Jacob that his son was killed by a wild beast.
And yet, one of the names that God Himself uses to identify Himself is “the God of Jacob”. Why would God identify Himself as the God of Jacob?
God is not just the God of those who made no mistakes or have no troubles. He is the God that brings you through trouble; He is the God who loves you even when you do wrong. Whenever Jacob did wrong or had a great trouble, he went to God and recommitted himself to God. He went to the source of power and forgiveness with the resolve to change his life and follow God better than before. God calls Himself the God of Jacob as a reminder to us that His salvation is of grace.
Jacob also had troubles in his life. He had a difficult relationship with his in-law family. He was deceived by his father-in-law in marriage and in business. His daughter lay with a Canaanite and his sons avenged her by massacring the men of a whole city and then looting the city. Jacob had to flee the area to avoid retaliation. Later, those same sons sold their youngest brother into slavery and covered their crime by telling Jacob that his son was killed by a wild beast.
And yet, one of the names that God Himself uses to identify Himself is “the God of Jacob”. Why would God identify Himself as the God of Jacob?
God is not just the God of those who made no mistakes or have no troubles. He is the God that brings you through trouble; He is the God who loves you even when you do wrong. Whenever Jacob did wrong or had a great trouble, he went to God and recommitted himself to God. He went to the source of power and forgiveness with the resolve to change his life and follow God better than before. God calls Himself the God of Jacob as a reminder to us that His salvation is of grace.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Perceptions
We have two dogs. Demi is a medium-size, blonde dog who runs in circles and is somewhat frantic. Regent is larger and calmer, but likes to annoy Demi. Demi often leaves part of her dinner so that she can growl at Regent when he walks by. One evening after dinner Regent and Demi both lay down. After a few minutes, Demi got up and moved to a spot further away. Suddenly she realized that Regent was now closer to her food! He hadn’t moved, but now he was closer than Demi and she was very upset.
Perceptions are as important as expectations. When Demi was closer than Regent to the food, everything was fine. But when she moved, he became a threat. But he did nothing. The difference was in Demi’s perceptions. She perceived him as a threat because she was in a different place.
Dogs are wonderful. They can teach us so much about who we are as people. Their feelings and motivations are right on the surface where we can see them. How many conflicts or misunderstandings exist because of altered perceptions? How often do we misunderstand another person, not because they have done something, but because we have changed?
Mal 3:6 For I [am] the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren.
Perceptions are as important as expectations. When Demi was closer than Regent to the food, everything was fine. But when she moved, he became a threat. But he did nothing. The difference was in Demi’s perceptions. She perceived him as a threat because she was in a different place.
Dogs are wonderful. They can teach us so much about who we are as people. Their feelings and motivations are right on the surface where we can see them. How many conflicts or misunderstandings exist because of altered perceptions? How often do we misunderstand another person, not because they have done something, but because we have changed?
Mal 3:6 For I [am] the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren.
Friday, September 15, 2006
An Exclusive Relationship
The marriage relationship is contractual, and the relationship between Christ and the Church mirrors that contractual relationship.
An example from modern life:
A loan contract for purchase of a vehicle: the lender (the bank) offers a contract. It is accepted by the borrower, and memorialized by the signing of a contract. The contract has conditions. What happens if the borrower stops paying? What happens if the vehicle is sold? What happens if one party wants to end the contract?
Marriage is a contract. The contract is offered (Will you marry me?). The contract is accepted (Yes, I will). The contract is formalized before witnesses (I do. I do, too).
And so Christ offers a contractual relationship to his church (Will you be my followers?) Many of us have accepted the contract (I believe, I accept Christ as Lord in my life). The contract is formalized (We receive spirit within, and are born again).
Jesus is described as the Bridegroom, his church is described as the Bride. A contract relationship. Jesus’ relationship is with his church, not with a denomination, not with just one group, not with just one sect. His church is the entirety, all of us, no denominations, all are accepted by him.
And there is an exclusivity inherent in the relationship. When we marry, it is to one person “till death do us part”. When Christ beholds his church, he sees no other. There is only one church for Jesus. If we are unfaithful, he is not. If we see divisions, he does not. If we abandon him, he does not abandon us. For Jesus, there is no end to the contract, no end to the relationship with his church. Just as the marriage relationship is exclusive (one man, one wife) so is the relationship between Jesus Christ (the Bridegroom) and his church (the Bride) exclusive. Jesus does not see denominations. He does not see divisions, disagreements in doctrine. He sees his church, the Bride, one entity. For him, there is no other possible relationship. The church should see only Christ.
The marriage contract is supposed to be exclusive, just as the relationship between Christ and his church is exclusive. In real life, marriage is often flawed, for we are frail, and our frame is dust. But the relationship between Christ and his church is absolute. For Christ, there is only his church. If we fail to live up to His calling, we still are his.
An example from modern life:
A loan contract for purchase of a vehicle: the lender (the bank) offers a contract. It is accepted by the borrower, and memorialized by the signing of a contract. The contract has conditions. What happens if the borrower stops paying? What happens if the vehicle is sold? What happens if one party wants to end the contract?
Marriage is a contract. The contract is offered (Will you marry me?). The contract is accepted (Yes, I will). The contract is formalized before witnesses (I do. I do, too).
And so Christ offers a contractual relationship to his church (Will you be my followers?) Many of us have accepted the contract (I believe, I accept Christ as Lord in my life). The contract is formalized (We receive spirit within, and are born again).
Jesus is described as the Bridegroom, his church is described as the Bride. A contract relationship. Jesus’ relationship is with his church, not with a denomination, not with just one group, not with just one sect. His church is the entirety, all of us, no denominations, all are accepted by him.
And there is an exclusivity inherent in the relationship. When we marry, it is to one person “till death do us part”. When Christ beholds his church, he sees no other. There is only one church for Jesus. If we are unfaithful, he is not. If we see divisions, he does not. If we abandon him, he does not abandon us. For Jesus, there is no end to the contract, no end to the relationship with his church. Just as the marriage relationship is exclusive (one man, one wife) so is the relationship between Jesus Christ (the Bridegroom) and his church (the Bride) exclusive. Jesus does not see denominations. He does not see divisions, disagreements in doctrine. He sees his church, the Bride, one entity. For him, there is no other possible relationship. The church should see only Christ.
The marriage contract is supposed to be exclusive, just as the relationship between Christ and his church is exclusive. In real life, marriage is often flawed, for we are frail, and our frame is dust. But the relationship between Christ and his church is absolute. For Christ, there is only his church. If we fail to live up to His calling, we still are his.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
“Male and female created He them…” (Gen. 1:27)
For far too long, people have assigned value to other humans based on gender. This value assignment has resulted in a world-wide patriarchy, which, although filtered differently through different cultures, serves to demean and disempower people based on their gender. Many endeavor to utilize the Word of God to prove their positions. These people “do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.” (Matt. 22:29) Our American culture contains many variations resulting from this patriarchy. One end of the spectrum denies female worth even as it attempts to worship God. The other end of the spectrum denies God as it attempts to champion gender equality. Meanwhile, families are fractured, marriages fail at a crescendoing rate and everywhere are hurting people. In all such variations, God’s Will and power and love are diluted and misunderstood and downright ignored. Even among Christians, there is a major schism over female equality.
God is no respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34) There is no need or place for power hierarchy in human relationship, for we are all “one in Christ Jesus”. (Gal. 3:28) While there are different roles for men and women and children and husbands and wives and masters and servants spelled out in the Word, the currency and determinants of these interactions are of loving service, not of power application. Natural man does not understand this system, (1Cor. 2:14) and unschooled Christians need discipling to grow into understanding.
God has given us a love-based system of human relationship. The fallen world wants to re-assign these relationships into systems of power. We assist in this counterfeit when we are ignorant, unstudied, prideful and unwilling to see the error.
One of the greatest of these errors is cultural and individual gender contempt, otherwise known as patriarchy or misogyny. No human relationship can be Godly when it is founded upon any assumption of female inequality.
God is no respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34) There is no need or place for power hierarchy in human relationship, for we are all “one in Christ Jesus”. (Gal. 3:28) While there are different roles for men and women and children and husbands and wives and masters and servants spelled out in the Word, the currency and determinants of these interactions are of loving service, not of power application. Natural man does not understand this system, (1Cor. 2:14) and unschooled Christians need discipling to grow into understanding.
God has given us a love-based system of human relationship. The fallen world wants to re-assign these relationships into systems of power. We assist in this counterfeit when we are ignorant, unstudied, prideful and unwilling to see the error.
One of the greatest of these errors is cultural and individual gender contempt, otherwise known as patriarchy or misogyny. No human relationship can be Godly when it is founded upon any assumption of female inequality.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Expectations
Act 3:5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
Expectations are powerful. We have expectations of what a situation will be like; of what a new food will taste like; of who we will get along with. But our expectations are often wrong. We discover that we really do like brussel sprouts; we find that the roller coaster isn’t so scary. And having expectations that are wrong are not always a big deal. If we never try, or learn to like brussel sprouts, there are other things to eat. If we never ride a roller coaster, the amusement park still has plenty of fun rides. But false expectations about people can be hurtful. If we expect a new acquaintance to be a trusted friend, and they don’t live up to our standards, we are hurt.
Incorrect expectations of God are downright dangerous. If we expect God to be distant, we will never become close to Him. If we expect God to be uncaring, we will never receive from Him. The lame man expected something good from Peter and John. And yet, how many times had they passed this same man, who was laid at the main gate of the temple every day? Peter and John had walked past him many times. But this day was different. It was different because the lame man had different expectations. This day he expected something good, not just alms.
We receive from God when we expect something good from Him. Look for His blessing. Expect it.
Expectations are powerful. We have expectations of what a situation will be like; of what a new food will taste like; of who we will get along with. But our expectations are often wrong. We discover that we really do like brussel sprouts; we find that the roller coaster isn’t so scary. And having expectations that are wrong are not always a big deal. If we never try, or learn to like brussel sprouts, there are other things to eat. If we never ride a roller coaster, the amusement park still has plenty of fun rides. But false expectations about people can be hurtful. If we expect a new acquaintance to be a trusted friend, and they don’t live up to our standards, we are hurt.
Incorrect expectations of God are downright dangerous. If we expect God to be distant, we will never become close to Him. If we expect God to be uncaring, we will never receive from Him. The lame man expected something good from Peter and John. And yet, how many times had they passed this same man, who was laid at the main gate of the temple every day? Peter and John had walked past him many times. But this day was different. It was different because the lame man had different expectations. This day he expected something good, not just alms.
We receive from God when we expect something good from Him. Look for His blessing. Expect it.
Monday, September 11, 2006
The Elevated Word
God elevated His Word above His name. This shows how important God’s Word is. It reveals to us the heart of God. God also says that His Word is like silver tried (purified) seven times. He wrote His Word in the stars, so that He would be revealed to all mankind. There is no place where His Word is not evident.
God created the heavens and the earth, fitting together the air and sky and clouds. He formed our bodies down to the smallest cell and piece of DNA. He formulated quantum mechanics and put springs in the deepest part of the ocean. He made mathematics to be reliable, so that two plus two always equals four. Could God put less reliability and consistency into His Word than into the created world?
There is beauty in His Word, like a sparkling jewel. The same verse has many facets, new ones are revealed as we examine and study.
Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
God created the heavens and the earth, fitting together the air and sky and clouds. He formed our bodies down to the smallest cell and piece of DNA. He formulated quantum mechanics and put springs in the deepest part of the ocean. He made mathematics to be reliable, so that two plus two always equals four. Could God put less reliability and consistency into His Word than into the created world?
There is beauty in His Word, like a sparkling jewel. The same verse has many facets, new ones are revealed as we examine and study.
Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Alone in Egypt
Things didn’t get better in
Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life...So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God...
Gen 45:5, 7
Saturday, September 09, 2006
More Alone
When Joseph was with his family, he experienced loneliness because he was the son of his father’s favorite wife, and his father gave him a special coat, marking him as favored over his ten older brothers. But what happened next put Joseph even more by himself. Joseph had a prophetic dream in which his family all bowed down to him. Now the brothers really hated Joseph.
Help me, O Lord my God: O save me according to Thy mercy. Psalm 109: 26
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Song in the Night
Job 35.10 …Where is God my Creator, the one who gives songs in the night?
Ps 42.8 Through each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.
77.2, 6 When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I pray, with hands lifted toward heaven, pleading. There can be no joy for me until he acts…. I remember when my nights were filled with joyful songs. I search my soul and think about the difference now.
Ps 19.1-4 The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard, yet their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to all the world. The sun lives in the heavens where God placed it.
Je 31.35 It is the Lord who provides the sun to light the day and the moon and stars to light the night.
All verses from the New Living Translation
Ps 42.8 Through each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.
77.2, 6 When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I pray, with hands lifted toward heaven, pleading. There can be no joy for me until he acts…. I remember when my nights were filled with joyful songs. I search my soul and think about the difference now.
Ps 19.1-4 The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard, yet their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to all the world. The sun lives in the heavens where God placed it.
Je 31.35 It is the Lord who provides the sun to light the day and the moon and stars to light the night.
All verses from the New Living Translation
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Praying for Your Enemy
We are told to pray for our enemies (Matt 5:44). Many people don’t see how they can do this. It’s hard to pray for an enemy to receive a good new thing. This feeling stems from a distorted understanding of what prayer is. Many people see prayer as a way to get something from God. “I need a new dress (car, toy, etc). So God, please give it to me.” I can see God’s reaction to this kind of prayer. “So, you only pray when you want something. What am I, just a cookie jar?”
Prayer should be a conversation with God. Discuss your troubles and joys. Ask for guidance, not gifts. If you have an enemy, ask for guidance for you both. Ask for understanding for you both. If your enemy is someone close to you - an estranged sister, a former friend, a boss or co-worker, wouldn’t it be nice to get along better? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a little better understanding of each other? And wouldn’t that be something you could pray for?
Prayer should be a conversation with God. Discuss your troubles and joys. Ask for guidance, not gifts. If you have an enemy, ask for guidance for you both. Ask for understanding for you both. If your enemy is someone close to you - an estranged sister, a former friend, a boss or co-worker, wouldn’t it be nice to get along better? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a little better understanding of each other? And wouldn’t that be something you could pray for?
Monday, September 04, 2006
Sisters
The Bible is full of stories. The stories are about people, and people don’t change. These people have lives, troubles and sorrows, triumphs and victories. They have families, people they meet and people they work with. Just like us. We can see how godly people deal with life, and how the ungodly deal with life. The Bible doesn’t portray a sanitized world. It tells about people who live their lives God’s way and about the mistakes they make.
Mary and Martha are sisters. They live with their brother Lazarus in Bethany, a town close to Jerusalem. Through the stories in the gospels, we have the chance to see how they interact, and how they react to Jesus’ ministry. One time, Jesus was teaching in their house. Martha was preparing food, but Mary was sitting and listening, and Martha became angry with her sister. (Luke 10:38-42) After Lazarus died, Martha went out on the road to meet Jesus, while Mary stayed in the house to mourn. (John 11) But after speaking to Jesus, Martha went back to the house to call Mary out to speak with Jesus.
Two sisters, different in personality. Martha more outgoing, with words and actions quickly following her feelings; Mary quieter, with her feelings hidden from others. When tragedy occurred, they supported each other. And both loved Jesus, and believed he was the Messiah.
Mary and Martha are sisters. They live with their brother Lazarus in Bethany, a town close to Jerusalem. Through the stories in the gospels, we have the chance to see how they interact, and how they react to Jesus’ ministry. One time, Jesus was teaching in their house. Martha was preparing food, but Mary was sitting and listening, and Martha became angry with her sister. (Luke 10:38-42) After Lazarus died, Martha went out on the road to meet Jesus, while Mary stayed in the house to mourn. (John 11) But after speaking to Jesus, Martha went back to the house to call Mary out to speak with Jesus.
Two sisters, different in personality. Martha more outgoing, with words and actions quickly following her feelings; Mary quieter, with her feelings hidden from others. When tragedy occurred, they supported each other. And both loved Jesus, and believed he was the Messiah.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
A Certain Disciple
One of my favorite people in the Bible is Ananias. (Ac 22:12). Although not a leader or a remarkable believer, he was chosen to minister to Saul.
Soon after the beginning of the new first century church, the Pharisees in power became aware of the growing group of followers of Jesus. Saul was a Pharisee with great zeal to stamp out this heresy, which he did by imprisoning and executing these followers. He must have been a powerful and fearsome figure to the new Christians. While on a journey to the city of Damascus to find and imprison more Christians, Jesus spoke to him, and Saul was rendered blind. His companions led him into Damascus, where Ananias came to him.
And why Ananias? There must have been many believers at Damascus, so why this man? Ananias goes to Saul as God directs, even though ministering to Saul was such a dangerous prospect. God gives Ananias reassurance: Saul is praying, Saul is blind, Saul has been shown Ananias coming to heal, Saul has been chosen by God. And so Ananias goes.
When Ananias meets Saul, he speaks gently and lovingly to the man who has authority to kill or imprison Christians. Ananias calls him “Brother Saul”. He ministers healing in the name of Jesus. And he takes Saul to meet the other Christians in the city.
The Bible doesn’t say what happened during the next few days, when Saul stayed with the Christians he so recently persecuted, but what conversations Ananias and Saul must have enjoyed, speaking about God and the new way revealed by Jesus! Ananias was a gentle man, but also a strong and confident believer. Who else would have dared to go to Saul the persecutor? Who else could teach a man as educated as Saul? Who else had the believing to heal a blind man? Who else would have the confidence in God’s assurance that Saul was a chosen vessel?
Soon after the beginning of the new first century church, the Pharisees in power became aware of the growing group of followers of Jesus. Saul was a Pharisee with great zeal to stamp out this heresy, which he did by imprisoning and executing these followers. He must have been a powerful and fearsome figure to the new Christians. While on a journey to the city of Damascus to find and imprison more Christians, Jesus spoke to him, and Saul was rendered blind. His companions led him into Damascus, where Ananias came to him.
And why Ananias? There must have been many believers at Damascus, so why this man? Ananias goes to Saul as God directs, even though ministering to Saul was such a dangerous prospect. God gives Ananias reassurance: Saul is praying, Saul is blind, Saul has been shown Ananias coming to heal, Saul has been chosen by God. And so Ananias goes.
When Ananias meets Saul, he speaks gently and lovingly to the man who has authority to kill or imprison Christians. Ananias calls him “Brother Saul”. He ministers healing in the name of Jesus. And he takes Saul to meet the other Christians in the city.
The Bible doesn’t say what happened during the next few days, when Saul stayed with the Christians he so recently persecuted, but what conversations Ananias and Saul must have enjoyed, speaking about God and the new way revealed by Jesus! Ananias was a gentle man, but also a strong and confident believer. Who else would have dared to go to Saul the persecutor? Who else could teach a man as educated as Saul? Who else had the believing to heal a blind man? Who else would have the confidence in God’s assurance that Saul was a chosen vessel?
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Aloneness
There is a difference between aloneness and being lonely. Often the loneliest times in our lives are when we are with others. Many examples of aloneness and loneliness are recorded in the Bible.
Joseph was the son of Jacob and his favorite wife, Rachel. He had several older brothers, who knew that Joseph was his father's favorite son. Imagine Joseph following his brothers around, wanting to be accepted by them, friends with them; but they were disappointed not to have greater favor with their father. Being older, grown men when Joseph was still a child, they had worked for the benefit of the family. They had spent years tending the animals, caring for their parents, and working. And yet the child Joseph was their father's favorite.
So when Jacob gave Joseph the coat of many colors, a visible sign of his special favor, the older brothers were angry. They had worked and been good sons, but the child received the favor. Joseph, being young, didn't understand that when he showed the coat to his brothers, that would make them dislike him all the more. He just wanted to be with his brothers, a part of their group and partaking of their camaraderie.
Joseph must have felt so alone among his brothers, so alone in his own family. He was inexperienced in hearing from God, but came to know that his strength and his fellowship was with God.
O give thanks to the Lord; call upon His name. Psalm 105.1
Joseph was the son of Jacob and his favorite wife, Rachel. He had several older brothers, who knew that Joseph was his father's favorite son. Imagine Joseph following his brothers around, wanting to be accepted by them, friends with them; but they were disappointed not to have greater favor with their father. Being older, grown men when Joseph was still a child, they had worked for the benefit of the family. They had spent years tending the animals, caring for their parents, and working. And yet the child Joseph was their father's favorite.
So when Jacob gave Joseph the coat of many colors, a visible sign of his special favor, the older brothers were angry. They had worked and been good sons, but the child received the favor. Joseph, being young, didn't understand that when he showed the coat to his brothers, that would make them dislike him all the more. He just wanted to be with his brothers, a part of their group and partaking of their camaraderie.
Joseph must have felt so alone among his brothers, so alone in his own family. He was inexperienced in hearing from God, but came to know that his strength and his fellowship was with God.
O give thanks to the Lord; call upon His name. Psalm 105.1
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