Scripture:
John 20:24 “Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.”
Obervation:
Jesus has been tried and crucified. John and Peter have raced to the tomb to find it empty. Mary has stayed at the tomb long enough see Jesus (there is an entire study opportunity on that alone). The body of Jesus is missing and arguably the disciples are the prime suspects. It’s been a few days and the disciples are all gathered behind locked doors in fear of the Jews. They have gathered together for mutual encouragement, protection, and fellowship. They know Jesus has risen, but they don’t really know the next step. So, they are all hiding out together. All but Thomas, he seems to be missing. He's off on his own somewhere. Why is he gone? Is it because his faith is shattered and he no longer believes? We do see evidence of this a couple verses down. Has he just decided to move on and get on with his life? Was he busy at work? Did he have a date? I don't know. What I do know is that by not being with the others, he missed seeing Jesus and missed the opportunity to have his faith restored. He needlessly continued languishing in doubt until he finally did meet with Jesus.
Application:
I relate to Thomas. Many times in my life when I have had a crisis of faith, or have simply allowed other things to take dominant importance, I have avoided the gathering of my fellow believers. This has been to my detriment every time. Yes, the Holy Spirit is with us always, yes the Lord seeks us out; but Jesus also says “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” I learned a long time ago that the times I don't want to be in church; maybe I'm hiding a sin, maybe I have an issue with someone, maybe I think something else seems more fun; these are the exact times I need to be in the fellowship. Jesus shows up in the gatherings of believers, and I don't want to miss that.
Prayer:
Father, I want to be where you are. May it not be said of me that when you showed up, I was off somewhere else. I love you Jesus, Amen.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
looking good to go to the feast
Scripture:
John 18:28, 29
28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate came out to them and asked,…”
Observation:
Jesus has just been arrested and the Jewish leaders have spent the night interrogating him. Knowing their laws did not allow for them to execute anyone, they took him to the Roman governor to have him try Jesus and sentence him to death. They knew Jesus didn’t deserve death, they knew that they were creating a false case against him for political reasons. And that’s why this verse sticks out to me today. Here they are in the middle of a contrived trial attempting to take an innocent man’s life, and their concern is being ceremonially clean enough to be able to eat the Passover. They are apparently unconcerned about the deeper issue of sending a man to his execution; instead it’s all about the appearance of entering the palace and therefore not being able to partake of the religious ceremony.
Application:
I am forced to ask myself how often I do this. Am I more concerned about keeping up the religious appearance than I am of following the heart of Jesus? Do I avoid certain movies, activities or establishments because of what people would think all the while engaging in gossip, treating others poorly, and not watching my thought processes? It is relatively easy to keep up the religious appearance; don’t do that, don’t go there, don’t talk like that around those people. But the Lord cares about my heart more than my rules list. If I am truly following after His heart, I naturally won’t do those things or go those places. My heart will yearn to bring Him glory. I need to be more aware of the condition of my heart to ensure I am not busy killing a man while trying to still look good enough to be able to attend the church service.
Prayer
Father I ask you to search my heart and reveal anything that needs work on. I pray that you strengthen my so that my relationship with you continues to grow in earnest and that I don’t just look busy “doing church” in order to impress people here. May the attitudes of my heart and the work of my hands bring you glory. Amen
Monday, August 15, 2011
freedom in being clay
Scripture:
Jeremiah 18:3-6 “3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. 5 Then the word of the LORD came to me. 6 He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.
Observation:
Jeremiah has been proclaiming the Lord’s words against the sins of Judah. Here He uses the image of a potter to show His absolute sovereignty. Like the potter, the kingdoms of the world are simply clay in His hands. The Lord can do as He pleases to fulfill His will. The next few verses discuss how if He promises blessing, but the people sin, the Lord doesn’t have to bless. If He promises destruction, and the people repent, the Lord doesn’t have to destroy. He is sovereign, and He can do as He pleases. Although this passage of scripture talks specifically about His reaction to sin and repentance, the fact is the same in any situation; the Lord is sovereign and He is in control.
Application:
This verse hits me in an interesting way today. Just over a week ago I completely blew out my knee and I am facing the prospect of potentially never walking unassisted again. This injury is a life changing injury and I have honestly spent some time questioning the Lord. What He is doing in this? How could He allow this to happen? What did I do to deserve this? This injury is not a sin related punishment, and the Lord did not cause it. It just happened. And in the middle of it, God is still on His throne and He is still sovereign. In the midst of my pain and disability, the Lord can do whatever He wants. I am simply clay. If He wants to heal me overnight, He can. If He wants to leave me in a wheel chair for the remainder of my life, He can. I am simply the clay in His hands. There is great comfort in that to me today. It means that I don’t have to force an outcome and I don’t need to invent reasons for why it happened. I need to simply rest in His sovereignty and seek to glorify Him in the midst of these circumstances. I am finding it incredibly freeing to be clay.
Prayer:
Father God, I acknowledge that I am simply clay in your Hands. I thank you that you are a skilled potter and that you are shaping me into the vessel you choose. Please help me to remember that no matter what the doctors say, it does not negate your sovereignty and I can bring you glory no matter the diagnosis. Amen
Jeremiah 18:3-6 “3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. 5 Then the word of the LORD came to me. 6 He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.
Observation:
Jeremiah has been proclaiming the Lord’s words against the sins of Judah. Here He uses the image of a potter to show His absolute sovereignty. Like the potter, the kingdoms of the world are simply clay in His hands. The Lord can do as He pleases to fulfill His will. The next few verses discuss how if He promises blessing, but the people sin, the Lord doesn’t have to bless. If He promises destruction, and the people repent, the Lord doesn’t have to destroy. He is sovereign, and He can do as He pleases. Although this passage of scripture talks specifically about His reaction to sin and repentance, the fact is the same in any situation; the Lord is sovereign and He is in control.
Application:
This verse hits me in an interesting way today. Just over a week ago I completely blew out my knee and I am facing the prospect of potentially never walking unassisted again. This injury is a life changing injury and I have honestly spent some time questioning the Lord. What He is doing in this? How could He allow this to happen? What did I do to deserve this? This injury is not a sin related punishment, and the Lord did not cause it. It just happened. And in the middle of it, God is still on His throne and He is still sovereign. In the midst of my pain and disability, the Lord can do whatever He wants. I am simply clay. If He wants to heal me overnight, He can. If He wants to leave me in a wheel chair for the remainder of my life, He can. I am simply the clay in His hands. There is great comfort in that to me today. It means that I don’t have to force an outcome and I don’t need to invent reasons for why it happened. I need to simply rest in His sovereignty and seek to glorify Him in the midst of these circumstances. I am finding it incredibly freeing to be clay.
Prayer:
Father God, I acknowledge that I am simply clay in your Hands. I thank you that you are a skilled potter and that you are shaping me into the vessel you choose. Please help me to remember that no matter what the doctors say, it does not negate your sovereignty and I can bring you glory no matter the diagnosis. Amen
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Are you drunk?
1 Samuel 1:13,14 "Hannah was praying in her heart and her lips were moving but her voice was nit heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her "how long will you keep on getting drink? Gt rid of your wine."
How clueless was the man of God? Here is a woman in distress, who had theoretically appeared at the temple distressed 3x a year for a long time, and I stead of offering compassion, wisdo
, or prayer; the best he can come up with is "quit drinking". Really?
How often do we do that? Maybe we misunderstand. Maybe we are just to calloused. Maybe "quit drinking is today's version of "just get over it."
I don't want to be that way. I don't want to sideline people's pain because I am not sensitive enough to the Spirit. I want to feel compassion. Lord help me to love your children.
How clueless was the man of God? Here is a woman in distress, who had theoretically appeared at the temple distressed 3x a year for a long time, and I stead of offering compassion, wisdo
, or prayer; the best he can come up with is "quit drinking". Really?
How often do we do that? Maybe we misunderstand. Maybe we are just to calloused. Maybe "quit drinking is today's version of "just get over it."
I don't want to be that way. I don't want to sideline people's pain because I am not sensitive enough to the Spirit. I want to feel compassion. Lord help me to love your children.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
For our struggle...
I am not one to typically overly spiritualize every experience. I don't see demons behind every bush. I don't blame my own mistakes and circumstances on the "the Devil made me do it." But there are days and seasons when I can't help but say, "You know what, this goes way beyond just a bad day. What is going on here?" It's days and season's like this that I am reminded that I am in a war, there are in fact demonic influences all around, and the best thing that Satan can do is distract me into forgetting that fact. It's in these seasons and days that he doesn't attack straight on - because then I would fight back. Rather, he is most effective at simply taking me out of the fight, of wearing me down, of making me think that life just sucks.
How does he do this? Not by manifesting huge power, but by distracting us with the little things. Maybe a computer shuts down at work, or a boss goes on a manic rampage. Maybe circumstances crop up that require plan changes. Kids get sick and gas prices rise. Maybe sleep is interrupted by stressful and violent dreams. Maybe meetings with people take the place of meeting with the Lord. Little things, that by themselves have no spiritual impact. But these little things are manipulated to take our eyes off of what's truly important and to focus on the things of this world. These little things cause us to put on the wrong armor and to fight our own battles against worldly things. This is not the way of the Lord.
Paul tells us in Ephesians "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."
This verse tells me a couple of things. First, my battle has been against the wrong enemy. I have been struggling against flesh and blood. Second, if I am to take my stand against the devil's schemes, that means the devil actually is scheming. My idea that he is not involved in any of this is false. And lastly, the battle is not mine, it is the Lord's. It is His armor. He fights. My job is simply to clothe myself in Him and to stand my ground. I have to admit, lately, I've not been able doing a lot of standing.
How are you doing? Are you having trouble standing your ground? Are you involved in the wrong battle? It's time to Armor up, Saints of God. Dive into God, surround yourself with some fellow soldiers, and lets hold the line. How can I be fighting with you?
How does he do this? Not by manifesting huge power, but by distracting us with the little things. Maybe a computer shuts down at work, or a boss goes on a manic rampage. Maybe circumstances crop up that require plan changes. Kids get sick and gas prices rise. Maybe sleep is interrupted by stressful and violent dreams. Maybe meetings with people take the place of meeting with the Lord. Little things, that by themselves have no spiritual impact. But these little things are manipulated to take our eyes off of what's truly important and to focus on the things of this world. These little things cause us to put on the wrong armor and to fight our own battles against worldly things. This is not the way of the Lord.
Paul tells us in Ephesians "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."
This verse tells me a couple of things. First, my battle has been against the wrong enemy. I have been struggling against flesh and blood. Second, if I am to take my stand against the devil's schemes, that means the devil actually is scheming. My idea that he is not involved in any of this is false. And lastly, the battle is not mine, it is the Lord's. It is His armor. He fights. My job is simply to clothe myself in Him and to stand my ground. I have to admit, lately, I've not been able doing a lot of standing.
How are you doing? Are you having trouble standing your ground? Are you involved in the wrong battle? It's time to Armor up, Saints of God. Dive into God, surround yourself with some fellow soldiers, and lets hold the line. How can I be fighting with you?
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Look at Me!
Acts 3:4 "Peter looked straight a him, as did John. Then Peter said "look at us!".
This is a well read story of Peter healing a beggar by the side of the road. I'm not quite sure why this strikes me so hard this morning. Perhaps I just find it odd. After all, the beggar had just asked for money, wasn't he already looking at them? It occurs to me that he probably wasn't really looking at them. I imagine him sitting there, eyes downcast, begging ashamedly. Not really looking up, just reaching out his hand. I don't see this as a posture of humility, but rather as desperation and dejection. I see this daily in the beggars in my own town, sitting on a street corner holding a sign, not really looking up at the people they are asking money from.
How often do I approach God this way? If I am honest, it is often. Just this morning I am feeling extremely beat up by the world. I don't approach God this morning humble yet confident, rather I am approaching him broken and tired. My head is hung low, and I am just begging for any scrap from his table. I am reminded of the Psalm "why so downcast O my soul?"
Then comes the amazing part of the story, Peer commands "look at us!". The message version says Peter looked him straight in the eye. This had to be unusual. I can't imagine that many people looked this beggar in the eye, or allowed him to look them in the eye for that matter. But that's what Peter does. He wants the man's full attention, and he causes the man to lift his eyes. Then, instead of giving the man what he thinks he needs, he gives him Jesus.
In my heart this morning, this story resonates. It's as if I hear God commanding me "look at Me!". He is making me lift up my eyes. He is raising my countenance. And what I see is Him looking back at me, not shunning me because of my downtrodden state. And instead of offering me my grocery list of whines, He is offering me what I need; Jesus.
My response? To look up at Him, look into His loving eyes, and accept His love. I choose to finish the psalm; "why so downcast o my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my savior and God".
Psalm 121: "I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?"
This is a well read story of Peter healing a beggar by the side of the road. I'm not quite sure why this strikes me so hard this morning. Perhaps I just find it odd. After all, the beggar had just asked for money, wasn't he already looking at them? It occurs to me that he probably wasn't really looking at them. I imagine him sitting there, eyes downcast, begging ashamedly. Not really looking up, just reaching out his hand. I don't see this as a posture of humility, but rather as desperation and dejection. I see this daily in the beggars in my own town, sitting on a street corner holding a sign, not really looking up at the people they are asking money from.
How often do I approach God this way? If I am honest, it is often. Just this morning I am feeling extremely beat up by the world. I don't approach God this morning humble yet confident, rather I am approaching him broken and tired. My head is hung low, and I am just begging for any scrap from his table. I am reminded of the Psalm "why so downcast O my soul?"
Then comes the amazing part of the story, Peer commands "look at us!". The message version says Peter looked him straight in the eye. This had to be unusual. I can't imagine that many people looked this beggar in the eye, or allowed him to look them in the eye for that matter. But that's what Peter does. He wants the man's full attention, and he causes the man to lift his eyes. Then, instead of giving the man what he thinks he needs, he gives him Jesus.
In my heart this morning, this story resonates. It's as if I hear God commanding me "look at Me!". He is making me lift up my eyes. He is raising my countenance. And what I see is Him looking back at me, not shunning me because of my downtrodden state. And instead of offering me my grocery list of whines, He is offering me what I need; Jesus.
My response? To look up at Him, look into His loving eyes, and accept His love. I choose to finish the psalm; "why so downcast o my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my savior and God".
Psalm 121: "I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?"
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Marked
Nehemiah 12 and Acts 3
There is so much in these chapters that is hard to break down each nugget, but I will try.
The first nugget is the way Nehemiah describes David. He talks about David as "the man of God". What a legacy. Was David called that because he had essentially been the last king to follow God? Or did following God mark his life so much that even generations later that is how they remembered him? I think it was the latter. I want to live my life like that, not for my glory, but that God's faithfulness would be evident.
The second nugget is the response of Peter to the beggar in Acts 3. The beggar was asking for money but Peter saw past that to the real need, to the spiritual need. Instead of giving him spare change, Peter healed the man in the Name of Jesus. What would have happened if Peter had had money to give the beggar? Would he have done what we do and just handed money to the problem and hoped it fixed itself? I don't think so. Again, I think his life was so marked by following Jesus that this was his natural response. I again want to live such a life.
The third nugget is the way the two chapters talk about being clean before the Lord. Nehemiah talks how they dedicated the wall and themselves to God. The choirs came and sang and marched. The priest purified themselves and the people. Sacrifices were slaughtered. Everyone rejoiced. But it took the acts of the priests, and the sacrifices and the choirs to dedicate them. Acts talks about being dedicated to the Lord as well. Vs 19; "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord," The difference is; now it is our responsibility; and it is surprisingly simple. (Note: I did not say easy) Repent and turn to God. That's it. Believe in Jesus who was killed. It is no longer up to the priests and the sacrificers and the choirs to dedicate us. The work has been done and is completed. Now it is up to us. Repent and turn to God, so that our sins may be wiped out and the times of refreshing will come. Too often I rely on others for my salvation. I figure if I go to church and clap along with the worship I good. If I have the pastors pray over me, I must be ok. But I don't take the responsibility upon myself to repent and turn to God himself rather than some earthly expression of Him. I think the biggest nugget of this morning is that when I do just do the simple thing of repenting and turning to God, in every moment of my life, then my life too will be marked in such a way that I will see past immediate needs into the true needs of people, I will be able to offer physical and spiritual healing through Jesus, and I will be known as a man of God. And then, God will get the glory.
There is so much in these chapters that is hard to break down each nugget, but I will try.
The first nugget is the way Nehemiah describes David. He talks about David as "the man of God". What a legacy. Was David called that because he had essentially been the last king to follow God? Or did following God mark his life so much that even generations later that is how they remembered him? I think it was the latter. I want to live my life like that, not for my glory, but that God's faithfulness would be evident.
The second nugget is the response of Peter to the beggar in Acts 3. The beggar was asking for money but Peter saw past that to the real need, to the spiritual need. Instead of giving him spare change, Peter healed the man in the Name of Jesus. What would have happened if Peter had had money to give the beggar? Would he have done what we do and just handed money to the problem and hoped it fixed itself? I don't think so. Again, I think his life was so marked by following Jesus that this was his natural response. I again want to live such a life.
The third nugget is the way the two chapters talk about being clean before the Lord. Nehemiah talks how they dedicated the wall and themselves to God. The choirs came and sang and marched. The priest purified themselves and the people. Sacrifices were slaughtered. Everyone rejoiced. But it took the acts of the priests, and the sacrifices and the choirs to dedicate them. Acts talks about being dedicated to the Lord as well. Vs 19; "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord," The difference is; now it is our responsibility; and it is surprisingly simple. (Note: I did not say easy) Repent and turn to God. That's it. Believe in Jesus who was killed. It is no longer up to the priests and the sacrificers and the choirs to dedicate us. The work has been done and is completed. Now it is up to us. Repent and turn to God, so that our sins may be wiped out and the times of refreshing will come. Too often I rely on others for my salvation. I figure if I go to church and clap along with the worship I good. If I have the pastors pray over me, I must be ok. But I don't take the responsibility upon myself to repent and turn to God himself rather than some earthly expression of Him. I think the biggest nugget of this morning is that when I do just do the simple thing of repenting and turning to God, in every moment of my life, then my life too will be marked in such a way that I will see past immediate needs into the true needs of people, I will be able to offer physical and spiritual healing through Jesus, and I will be known as a man of God. And then, God will get the glory.
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