Background Passage: Acts 2:1-47; Hebrews 10:19-25
Today’s Focal Passage: Hebrews 10:23-25
23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, 25 not staying away from our meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
As we grow and mature in our faith, our life should become increasingly shaped by and through our identity as followers of Jesus. It would be great if this kind of life and priority transformation would happen at our moment of salvation, but it is a life-long process.
Imagine two images that might represent our faith commitment: the first a pizza pie cut into slices and the second an old-fashion wagon wheel with numerous spokes.
In the first image, if our faith commitment is represented by a single slice of pizza, at most it touches two other slices – at their edges – representing a faith that minimally impacts the pizza as a whole.
In the second image, if our faith commitment is represented by the cog in the middle of the wheel – which touches every other part of the wheel, then we see how a faith commitment that is central to who we are and therefore touches every area of our life will have a much more profound impact on our life and the lives of those we connect with.
Central to having a wagon-wheel faith, as opposed to a pizza pie kind of faith, is a strong commitment to a body of believers. Worshiping, serving and giving in a local church setting.
Regardless of whether the current culture says that being committed to the Church is cool or not, the call of the author of Hebrews is to “never give up meeting together,” know full well that our ongoing spiritual formation and health is tied directly to this!
Father, in a noncommittal world, help me to be a person who is committed to You and Your Church!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Life In Community Part Two: Experience the Church
Background Passage: Acts 2:1-47; Hebrews 10:19-25
Today’s Focal Passage: Acts 2:43-47
43 Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. 44 Now all the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 So they sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need. 46 And every day they devoted themselves [to meeting] together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved.
The church is meant to be a place where we both give and receive. Too often, however, we relegate our “giving” simply to money and expect to “receive” a full cup or blessing every time we show up… and when we don’t, we leave feeling let down and as if somehow the church did not own up to its end of the bargain.
I think our consumer culture has warped our sense of what the church experience is supposed to be! On the giving side of the equation, money was only ever intended to be a small part of what we give… The Bible talks about gifts, talents, skills and passions that God has uniquely designed each of us with – to be used both within the church and out in the world. These gifts, talents, skills and passions are meant to be used to bless others and contribute to the overall ministry of the church.
On the receiving side of the equation, we’ll find that what we receive is often tied directly to the breadth and depth of our giving. The more we invest of our time, money, gifts, talents, skills and passions, the more God will fill us – but this can’t be the motivation behind the giving!
God will not be forced into blessing us because we have figured out some spiritual formula between giving and receiving. That’s not how He works. But as we give sacrificially – without expectations about what we will receive as a “reward” – we will find ourselves blessed beyond our wildest imagination – often in ways we never would have guessed.
God, help us to experience you in many ways this week – but especially through active engagement in Your church!
Today’s Focal Passage: Acts 2:43-47
43 Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. 44 Now all the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 So they sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need. 46 And every day they devoted themselves [to meeting] together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved.
The church is meant to be a place where we both give and receive. Too often, however, we relegate our “giving” simply to money and expect to “receive” a full cup or blessing every time we show up… and when we don’t, we leave feeling let down and as if somehow the church did not own up to its end of the bargain.
I think our consumer culture has warped our sense of what the church experience is supposed to be! On the giving side of the equation, money was only ever intended to be a small part of what we give… The Bible talks about gifts, talents, skills and passions that God has uniquely designed each of us with – to be used both within the church and out in the world. These gifts, talents, skills and passions are meant to be used to bless others and contribute to the overall ministry of the church.
On the receiving side of the equation, we’ll find that what we receive is often tied directly to the breadth and depth of our giving. The more we invest of our time, money, gifts, talents, skills and passions, the more God will fill us – but this can’t be the motivation behind the giving!
God will not be forced into blessing us because we have figured out some spiritual formula between giving and receiving. That’s not how He works. But as we give sacrificially – without expectations about what we will receive as a “reward” – we will find ourselves blessed beyond our wildest imagination – often in ways we never would have guessed.
God, help us to experience you in many ways this week – but especially through active engagement in Your church!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Life In Community Part One: Identify With the Church
Background Passage: Acts 2:1-47; Hebrews 10:19-25
Today’s Focal Passage: Acts 2:41-42
41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayers.
Have you ever found yourself struggling with the church? Struggling to identify with the church? Struggling with whether or not you want to be a part of the church? If so, you’re not alone!
But as Christians, identifying with, and actively participating in, the church is not an option.
The church is described throughout the New Testament as the body or bride of Christ. How can we then separate ourselves from the church? How can we say that we love and follow Jesus – yet reject or ignore His body or bride?
Think about this in terms of human relationship you have. Can you think of a great friendship you have with someone, but yet you dislike his or her spouse? Is that really OK? Is there a limit to how strong your friendship can be with that person? If you don’t also love the person into which he has invested his life, will you ever be really close?
A part of following Jesus as a committed disciple is learning how to love the body of Christ – the bride of Christ – with all its (or even better – our) imperfections. The Church was never intended to be a place for perfect people (especially because they’re aren’t any), but instead, a place for the sick, needy and imperfect.
It is in our coming together as a blemished, imperfect people in need, that Jesus power is made perfect!
And isn’t that what we all really want: for God to show up in power and glory in our midst?
What kind of commitment(s) do you need to make today to Christ in the form of His bride and body?
Today’s Focal Passage: Acts 2:41-42
41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayers.
Have you ever found yourself struggling with the church? Struggling to identify with the church? Struggling with whether or not you want to be a part of the church? If so, you’re not alone!
But as Christians, identifying with, and actively participating in, the church is not an option.
The church is described throughout the New Testament as the body or bride of Christ. How can we then separate ourselves from the church? How can we say that we love and follow Jesus – yet reject or ignore His body or bride?
Think about this in terms of human relationship you have. Can you think of a great friendship you have with someone, but yet you dislike his or her spouse? Is that really OK? Is there a limit to how strong your friendship can be with that person? If you don’t also love the person into which he has invested his life, will you ever be really close?
A part of following Jesus as a committed disciple is learning how to love the body of Christ – the bride of Christ – with all its (or even better – our) imperfections. The Church was never intended to be a place for perfect people (especially because they’re aren’t any), but instead, a place for the sick, needy and imperfect.
It is in our coming together as a blemished, imperfect people in need, that Jesus power is made perfect!
And isn’t that what we all really want: for God to show up in power and glory in our midst?
What kind of commitment(s) do you need to make today to Christ in the form of His bride and body?
Sunday, November 7, 2010
More Than This Life Part One: What Life Is Not
Background Passage: Luke 12:13-21; Philippians 1:12-26
Today’s Focal Passage: Luke 12:13-15
13 Someone from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." 14 "Friend," He said to him, "who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?" 15 He then told them, "Watch out and be on guard against all greed because one's life is not in the abundance of his possessions."
Adventures in Missing the Point
Have you ever stopped to think about the kind of legacy you are creating for yourself?
Do you ever wonder if the example you are setting for your kids are setting them up for success or struggle?
There’s an old song by Harry Chapin entitled, “Cat’s in the Cradle,” and it portrays the progression of a relationship between a father and son. In the first two verses of the song Harry sings about a father who was so consumed with the distractions of life that he couldn’t find time for his son. In the final two verses, Harry sings of a father and son who have aged, and while the father now has time for his son, the son has assumed other priorities and has no time to give to his father.
It is a tragic song about a relationship lost.
As I look at our world today, and the consumeristic culture that we live within, I wonder how many of us are unknowingly living out this same tragedy?
We have been sold an “American Dream” that tells us we are the sum total of the toys we possess… or that “the person with the most toys when they die wins!”
What good will all the toys in the world do us if, in our attempt to amass all of these things, we have given up precious time spent with those we love most?
We only get one shot at life. We only get one legacy to leave behind. We only get on season of influence on our children – the next generation of leaders in the Church and world.
God, help us to choose well!
Today’s Focal Passage: Luke 12:13-15
13 Someone from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." 14 "Friend," He said to him, "who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?" 15 He then told them, "Watch out and be on guard against all greed because one's life is not in the abundance of his possessions."
Adventures in Missing the Point
Have you ever stopped to think about the kind of legacy you are creating for yourself?
Do you ever wonder if the example you are setting for your kids are setting them up for success or struggle?
There’s an old song by Harry Chapin entitled, “Cat’s in the Cradle,” and it portrays the progression of a relationship between a father and son. In the first two verses of the song Harry sings about a father who was so consumed with the distractions of life that he couldn’t find time for his son. In the final two verses, Harry sings of a father and son who have aged, and while the father now has time for his son, the son has assumed other priorities and has no time to give to his father.
It is a tragic song about a relationship lost.
As I look at our world today, and the consumeristic culture that we live within, I wonder how many of us are unknowingly living out this same tragedy?
We have been sold an “American Dream” that tells us we are the sum total of the toys we possess… or that “the person with the most toys when they die wins!”
What good will all the toys in the world do us if, in our attempt to amass all of these things, we have given up precious time spent with those we love most?
We only get one shot at life. We only get one legacy to leave behind. We only get on season of influence on our children – the next generation of leaders in the Church and world.
God, help us to choose well!
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Life Worth Living Part Three: The Purpose
Background Passage: John 15:11-16
Today’s Focal Passage: John 15:11-16
11 "I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. 12 This is My command: love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn't know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you. I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
Do you ever catch yourself asking questions like, “Why am I doing this?” or, “What’s it all for anyway?” Do you ever wonder if life is supposed to be about more – so much more – than what you’re experiencing right now? I think we’ve all been there from time to time.
The world tries to tell us that the “why” and the “what” behind all that we’re doing is meant to be about fulfilling our own pleasure quotas… having as much fun as can possibly be had. And when we’ve exhausted all of the fun that can be had in that situation it must be time to move on to the next option or opportunity. If you’ve ever chased one of these “fun” trails to its end then you probably know how expensive and defeating such attempts can be. Sure, there may be some memorable moments had, but in the end there is still an emptiness that remains unfulfilled.
You might be surprised to know that the Bible does not speak of fun. The word is never uttered in the Biblical text. Not once. The word joy, however, is referenced over 200 times. What’s the difference, you ask? Well…
o Fun is fleeting. Joy is long-lasting.
o Fun we pay for. Joy cannot be purchased.
o Fun is an experience. Joy is produced within us.
o Fun is a distraction the world tells us will satisfy. Joy is the real deal that comes in knowing Christ and following the plans He has for you.
When we see our lives as an opportunity to fulfill the plans of God, verses the plans we construct based on the pleasures of this world, we will become people who pursue joy through Jesus, because we know that nothing less can satisfy! Pray today that Jesus will show you which path (fun or joy) you are currently traveling on… and how best to make any changes that might be necessary.
Today’s Focal Passage: John 15:11-16
11 "I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. 12 This is My command: love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn't know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you. I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
Do you ever catch yourself asking questions like, “Why am I doing this?” or, “What’s it all for anyway?” Do you ever wonder if life is supposed to be about more – so much more – than what you’re experiencing right now? I think we’ve all been there from time to time.
The world tries to tell us that the “why” and the “what” behind all that we’re doing is meant to be about fulfilling our own pleasure quotas… having as much fun as can possibly be had. And when we’ve exhausted all of the fun that can be had in that situation it must be time to move on to the next option or opportunity. If you’ve ever chased one of these “fun” trails to its end then you probably know how expensive and defeating such attempts can be. Sure, there may be some memorable moments had, but in the end there is still an emptiness that remains unfulfilled.
You might be surprised to know that the Bible does not speak of fun. The word is never uttered in the Biblical text. Not once. The word joy, however, is referenced over 200 times. What’s the difference, you ask? Well…
o Fun is fleeting. Joy is long-lasting.
o Fun we pay for. Joy cannot be purchased.
o Fun is an experience. Joy is produced within us.
o Fun is a distraction the world tells us will satisfy. Joy is the real deal that comes in knowing Christ and following the plans He has for you.
When we see our lives as an opportunity to fulfill the plans of God, verses the plans we construct based on the pleasures of this world, we will become people who pursue joy through Jesus, because we know that nothing less can satisfy! Pray today that Jesus will show you which path (fun or joy) you are currently traveling on… and how best to make any changes that might be necessary.
Life Worth Living Part Two: The Peace
Background Passage: John 14:15-31
Today’s Focal Passage: John 14:27-31a
27 "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful. 28 You have heard Me tell you, 'I am going away and I am coming to you.' If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens so that when it does happen you may believe. 30 I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over Me. 31 On the contrary, [I am going away] so that the world may know that I love the Father. Just as the Father commanded Me, so I do.
Peace in the Midst of Chaos
Jesus promised to leave His followers with peace when He left earth to return to heaven. And yet, if your life is anything like mine, it probably often feels like it is filled with anything but peace.
An evening crammed with driving the kids here, there and everywhere. Sitting down to pay the bills and wondering if there will be enough money to cover all of the month’s expenses. The car breaks down, a child gets sick, and you know it’s only a matter of time before the entire family goes down.
Yes, life often seems to be filled with anything BUT peace. Truthfully, Jesus in no way suggests that the situations of life will be void of stress, or pain, or struggle. For confirmation, just flip over to John 16:33. He doesn’t shield us from trouble; He guarantees it! Instead, what He offers us is peace in the midst of life’s chaos.
Knowing that we would face trials of many kinds during our life, Jesus left for us His peace to rest in when life’s circumstances seem to be on the verge of taking us down.
It’s ours to access. This means there’s a decision for us to make – an action required of us.
When life seems out of control, will you choose to pause long enough to invite the peace of Christ to enter your situation, knowing full well that Jesus has the power to change your heart, mind and circumstances?
Or will you opt to travel the hard road alone?
As always, the choice is ours to make.
Pause now and pray for the peace of Christ to enter the situation the hangs heavy on your heart today.
Today’s Focal Passage: John 14:27-31a
27 "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful. 28 You have heard Me tell you, 'I am going away and I am coming to you.' If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens so that when it does happen you may believe. 30 I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over Me. 31 On the contrary, [I am going away] so that the world may know that I love the Father. Just as the Father commanded Me, so I do.
Peace in the Midst of Chaos
Jesus promised to leave His followers with peace when He left earth to return to heaven. And yet, if your life is anything like mine, it probably often feels like it is filled with anything but peace.
An evening crammed with driving the kids here, there and everywhere. Sitting down to pay the bills and wondering if there will be enough money to cover all of the month’s expenses. The car breaks down, a child gets sick, and you know it’s only a matter of time before the entire family goes down.
Yes, life often seems to be filled with anything BUT peace. Truthfully, Jesus in no way suggests that the situations of life will be void of stress, or pain, or struggle. For confirmation, just flip over to John 16:33. He doesn’t shield us from trouble; He guarantees it! Instead, what He offers us is peace in the midst of life’s chaos.
Knowing that we would face trials of many kinds during our life, Jesus left for us His peace to rest in when life’s circumstances seem to be on the verge of taking us down.
It’s ours to access. This means there’s a decision for us to make – an action required of us.
When life seems out of control, will you choose to pause long enough to invite the peace of Christ to enter your situation, knowing full well that Jesus has the power to change your heart, mind and circumstances?
Or will you opt to travel the hard road alone?
As always, the choice is ours to make.
Pause now and pray for the peace of Christ to enter the situation the hangs heavy on your heart today.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Life Worth Living Part One: The Presence
Background Passage: John 14:15-31
Today’s Focal Passage: John 14:15-18
15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. 17 He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn't see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.
God in the Chaos
It’s dinnertime. You’re tired, and the kids are out of control. You muster up whatever strength is still within you to put forth yet another dinner, only to hear your kids say, “I don’t like this!” You’re not up for a battle tonight, but they seem to be as they turn on each other and begin to pick and poke right there at the table.
Before you blow an internal organ, or lash out at one of your “ungrateful” children, pause just long enough to acknowledge God in your midst.
Pray for the Spirit – the Counselor – to intercede on your behalf with strength, peace, discernment and a good way forward.
For better or worse, we as parents will face what feels like more than our fair share of scenarios like this… be it at the dinner table after a long day, trying to get out the door to church on Sunday morning, or through the grocery store with a less than helpful crew.
God provides us with the resources to make it through these situations with grace, mercy and most of our dignity in tact… but we must call on Him for assistance!
The next time you find yourself on the verge of taking out one of your offspring, pause and pray for God’s Spirit to change you and your scenario. You might be surprised by what He does!
Today’s Focal Passage: John 14:15-18
15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. 17 He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn't see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.
God in the Chaos
It’s dinnertime. You’re tired, and the kids are out of control. You muster up whatever strength is still within you to put forth yet another dinner, only to hear your kids say, “I don’t like this!” You’re not up for a battle tonight, but they seem to be as they turn on each other and begin to pick and poke right there at the table.
Before you blow an internal organ, or lash out at one of your “ungrateful” children, pause just long enough to acknowledge God in your midst.
Pray for the Spirit – the Counselor – to intercede on your behalf with strength, peace, discernment and a good way forward.
For better or worse, we as parents will face what feels like more than our fair share of scenarios like this… be it at the dinner table after a long day, trying to get out the door to church on Sunday morning, or through the grocery store with a less than helpful crew.
God provides us with the resources to make it through these situations with grace, mercy and most of our dignity in tact… but we must call on Him for assistance!
The next time you find yourself on the verge of taking out one of your offspring, pause and pray for God’s Spirit to change you and your scenario. You might be surprised by what He does!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
How Does It All Come Together? Part Three: Hands and Feet
Background Passage: Romans 4:1-25; 10:1-13; Hebrews 11:1-12:2
Today’s Focal Passage: Hebrews 12:1-2
1 Therefore since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God's throne.
In 1983, the world was stunned when Cliff Young, a 61 year old potato farmer, entered Australia’s 875 kilometer (543.7 mile) endurance race from Sydney to Melbourne. They were even more surprised when he won. Not only did Cliff win the race, he changed the way it was run. Previously, runners would run 18 hour days and sleep 6 hour nights for more than 5 days to complete the race. Cliff didn’t know this, so he simply ran all day and all night finishing the race in a record breaking 5 days, 15 hours and 4 minutes, 9 hours shy of the previous race record. Since Cliff’s victory, all subsequent winners have run just like he did, all day and all night.
Racing is an interesting metaphor. A race has a clear starting point and a finishing line. For us, life is that way. For the writer of Hebrews, the spectators weren’t merely men and women who enjoyed a good run, they were those who had gone before us and set the course.
In any race, good runners will tell you not to focus on the other runners or the turns in the track, but to keep your eyes fixed on the finish line and the prize on the other side. For us, the prize is Jesus. He is the both the author and perfecter [read “completion”] of our faith who won the race and enjoyed the prize of his Father’s right hand. Legend says that Cliff Young never kept a prize for any of the races he won, including the 10k awarded to him after winning the Sydney to Melbourne race. Cliff said he never did it for the prizes. It’s as if he had a bigger picture in mind. Keeping our eyes on Jesus not only wins us the race, but it keeps the bigger picture present in our minds of why we run in the first place.
Runners, take your mark. Get set. Go!
(To read more about Cliff Young’s story, visit: http://www.elitefeet.com/the-legend-of-cliff-young-the-61-year-old-farmer-that-won-the-worlds-toughest-race)
Today’s Focal Passage: Hebrews 12:1-2
1 Therefore since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God's throne.
In 1983, the world was stunned when Cliff Young, a 61 year old potato farmer, entered Australia’s 875 kilometer (543.7 mile) endurance race from Sydney to Melbourne. They were even more surprised when he won. Not only did Cliff win the race, he changed the way it was run. Previously, runners would run 18 hour days and sleep 6 hour nights for more than 5 days to complete the race. Cliff didn’t know this, so he simply ran all day and all night finishing the race in a record breaking 5 days, 15 hours and 4 minutes, 9 hours shy of the previous race record. Since Cliff’s victory, all subsequent winners have run just like he did, all day and all night.
Racing is an interesting metaphor. A race has a clear starting point and a finishing line. For us, life is that way. For the writer of Hebrews, the spectators weren’t merely men and women who enjoyed a good run, they were those who had gone before us and set the course.
In any race, good runners will tell you not to focus on the other runners or the turns in the track, but to keep your eyes fixed on the finish line and the prize on the other side. For us, the prize is Jesus. He is the both the author and perfecter [read “completion”] of our faith who won the race and enjoyed the prize of his Father’s right hand. Legend says that Cliff Young never kept a prize for any of the races he won, including the 10k awarded to him after winning the Sydney to Melbourne race. Cliff said he never did it for the prizes. It’s as if he had a bigger picture in mind. Keeping our eyes on Jesus not only wins us the race, but it keeps the bigger picture present in our minds of why we run in the first place.
Runners, take your mark. Get set. Go!
(To read more about Cliff Young’s story, visit: http://www.elitefeet.com/the-legend-of-cliff-young-the-61-year-old-farmer-that-won-the-worlds-toughest-race)
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
How Does It All Come Together? Part Two: Hearts and Mouths
Background Passage: Romans 4:1-25; 10:1-13; Hebrews 11:1-12:2
Today’s Focal Passage: Romans 10:9-13
9 if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 Now the Scripture says, No one who believes on Him will be put to shame, 12 for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Anyone can repeat words. Kids do it playing Simon Says or reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Actors do it for a living. Christians do it as part of liturgical worship practices. Anyone can say the right things with their lips, but our hearts are a different story. They are a little harder to control. In fact, the words we speak about Christ and life in Him are either evidenced or negated by the attitude of our hearts. It is the heart that influences our behavior, not the head. Salvation is speaking and believing. The kind of belief that provides transformative salvation is the kind of belief only wrought in the heart. Heart-belief changes you from the inside out.
Romans 10:13 says that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But calling on Jesus is more than just “repeat after me?” Paul said that not only do we confess Him as Lord, we believe the truth about His resurrection. With the heart one must believes, and the result is righteousness. Righteousness is two things: justification because of Christ’s atoning sacrifice, and sanctification because of the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit.
Many people doubt their salvation today because of sin in their lives. But since our sin didn’t keep us from being offered it in the first place, our sin won’t be the reason the offer is rescinded. However, if there is persistent and unrepentant lifestyle of sin in the life of one who claims to be a believer, that person should search his heart as to whether he truly believed in the first place.
Has righteousness become the proof of your heart belief? If there is no evidence of transformation, then perhaps you never fully trusted Christ. Remember, it’s not just the words we utter and the confession of Jesus we make that brings us salvation. It’s heart-belief. And when our hearts believe, we’ll know it and others around us will too.
Today’s Focal Passage: Romans 10:9-13
9 if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 Now the Scripture says, No one who believes on Him will be put to shame, 12 for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Anyone can repeat words. Kids do it playing Simon Says or reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Actors do it for a living. Christians do it as part of liturgical worship practices. Anyone can say the right things with their lips, but our hearts are a different story. They are a little harder to control. In fact, the words we speak about Christ and life in Him are either evidenced or negated by the attitude of our hearts. It is the heart that influences our behavior, not the head. Salvation is speaking and believing. The kind of belief that provides transformative salvation is the kind of belief only wrought in the heart. Heart-belief changes you from the inside out.
Romans 10:13 says that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But calling on Jesus is more than just “repeat after me?” Paul said that not only do we confess Him as Lord, we believe the truth about His resurrection. With the heart one must believes, and the result is righteousness. Righteousness is two things: justification because of Christ’s atoning sacrifice, and sanctification because of the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit.
Many people doubt their salvation today because of sin in their lives. But since our sin didn’t keep us from being offered it in the first place, our sin won’t be the reason the offer is rescinded. However, if there is persistent and unrepentant lifestyle of sin in the life of one who claims to be a believer, that person should search his heart as to whether he truly believed in the first place.
Has righteousness become the proof of your heart belief? If there is no evidence of transformation, then perhaps you never fully trusted Christ. Remember, it’s not just the words we utter and the confession of Jesus we make that brings us salvation. It’s heart-belief. And when our hearts believe, we’ll know it and others around us will too.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
How Does It All Come Together? Part One: Not Just Faith, but Faith “In”
Background Passage: Romans 4:1-25; 10:1-13; Hebrews 11:1-12:2
Today’s Focal Passage: Romans 4:1-3, 23-25
1 What then can we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 If Abraham was justified by works, then he has something to brag about—but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.
23 Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone, 24 but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
Just the other day, I passed a “LOTTO” sign that announced the prize was up to $40 million. I didn’t stop and purchase a lottery ticket but I did spend the next 30 minutes thinking about how I would spend $40 million if I won. I thought about the earthquake in Haiti. I thought about the building fund at my church. I would be lying if I didn’t think about college tuition for two kids (who will one day be in school at the same time) and paying for two weddings (because both of those kids are girls). I thought about a new mini-van. I thought about world hunger and clean water. I also thought about Lottie Moon and international missions; about people groups with no Bible in their language who don’t yet know Christ. My mind bounced in many directions thinking about the difference money can make.
Stop and think for a moment about how many losing lottery tickets there must be for every one winner. Those tickets don’t deliver. A lottery ticket is nothing more than a wasted $1 unless it yields a better return. The only lottery ticket that counts is the one that’s worth something and those are few and far between. We can sincerely hope and believe that our Lotto tickets might one day hold the key to wealth and prosperity, but our faith is only as good as the object on which our faith rests.
Hebrews 11:1 explains that faith is “the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.” As the passage for today teaches, Abraham’s faith was not in himself. If it was, a man like Abraham may have had something to brag about. Fortunately for Abraham, and for those of us who like him would put our faith in God, he found something worth believing in. When we place our faith in anything but Christ and Christ alone, we’re playing against the odds with another losing ticket. In Christ, we win.
Today’s Focal Passage: Romans 4:1-3, 23-25
1 What then can we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 If Abraham was justified by works, then he has something to brag about—but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.
23 Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone, 24 but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
Just the other day, I passed a “LOTTO” sign that announced the prize was up to $40 million. I didn’t stop and purchase a lottery ticket but I did spend the next 30 minutes thinking about how I would spend $40 million if I won. I thought about the earthquake in Haiti. I thought about the building fund at my church. I would be lying if I didn’t think about college tuition for two kids (who will one day be in school at the same time) and paying for two weddings (because both of those kids are girls). I thought about a new mini-van. I thought about world hunger and clean water. I also thought about Lottie Moon and international missions; about people groups with no Bible in their language who don’t yet know Christ. My mind bounced in many directions thinking about the difference money can make.
Stop and think for a moment about how many losing lottery tickets there must be for every one winner. Those tickets don’t deliver. A lottery ticket is nothing more than a wasted $1 unless it yields a better return. The only lottery ticket that counts is the one that’s worth something and those are few and far between. We can sincerely hope and believe that our Lotto tickets might one day hold the key to wealth and prosperity, but our faith is only as good as the object on which our faith rests.
Hebrews 11:1 explains that faith is “the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.” As the passage for today teaches, Abraham’s faith was not in himself. If it was, a man like Abraham may have had something to brag about. Fortunately for Abraham, and for those of us who like him would put our faith in God, he found something worth believing in. When we place our faith in anything but Christ and Christ alone, we’re playing against the odds with another losing ticket. In Christ, we win.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Is Jesus The Only Way? Part 3: One Mediator
Background Passage: John 3:16-18; 14:5-11; 1Timothy 2:3-7
Today’s Focal Passage: 1 Timothy 2:3-6
3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, a man, Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself—a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.
Irreconcilable Differences
In divorce proceedings, “irreconcilable differences” are defined as “significant differences between a married couple that are so great and beyond resolution as to make the marriage unworkable.” There is really no better definition for our state of sin than that of irreconcilable differences. In common divorce proceedings today, couples will choose mediation over litigation, the goal being more amicable, mutually agreed upon terms of separation and divorce. There being little the couple could agree on in marriage, mediation attempts to help them agree on the terms of dissolution. Mediation in spiritual matters couldn’t be more different. Christ’s role wasn’t to make the terms of our sin amicable to God. His purpose was not to make it possible for us to go our separate ways from God but to reconcile us to God. His mediation is altogether different. It doesn’t end the already broken relationship, but instead mends the separation.
In modern day mediation, a neutral third party tries to help each side reach commonality. Mediation today banks on compromise and the willingness of those at odds to each give an inch. Not so in Christ’s mediation. He is anything but neutral, and there is one party [God] who gives both nothing and everything. God won’t budge a bit on the holiness requirement. But in when it comes to forgiveness, it’s God who did all the work.
Perhaps there is no better metaphor than that of divorce when talking to our unbelieving friends about God today. You’ll find it difficult to find a family that hasn’t been touched to some degree by divorce. Comparing our condition in sin to a couple whose differences can’t seem to be reconciled is a worthwhile illustration. But be sure to explain Christ’s mediation as more akin to couple’s counseling than divorce proceedings. His aim is to reconcile us to God and His life (and sacrificial death) provided all the compromise necessary to mend the relationship.
Today’s Focal Passage: 1 Timothy 2:3-6
3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, a man, Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself—a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.
Irreconcilable Differences
In divorce proceedings, “irreconcilable differences” are defined as “significant differences between a married couple that are so great and beyond resolution as to make the marriage unworkable.” There is really no better definition for our state of sin than that of irreconcilable differences. In common divorce proceedings today, couples will choose mediation over litigation, the goal being more amicable, mutually agreed upon terms of separation and divorce. There being little the couple could agree on in marriage, mediation attempts to help them agree on the terms of dissolution. Mediation in spiritual matters couldn’t be more different. Christ’s role wasn’t to make the terms of our sin amicable to God. His purpose was not to make it possible for us to go our separate ways from God but to reconcile us to God. His mediation is altogether different. It doesn’t end the already broken relationship, but instead mends the separation.
In modern day mediation, a neutral third party tries to help each side reach commonality. Mediation today banks on compromise and the willingness of those at odds to each give an inch. Not so in Christ’s mediation. He is anything but neutral, and there is one party [God] who gives both nothing and everything. God won’t budge a bit on the holiness requirement. But in when it comes to forgiveness, it’s God who did all the work.
Perhaps there is no better metaphor than that of divorce when talking to our unbelieving friends about God today. You’ll find it difficult to find a family that hasn’t been touched to some degree by divorce. Comparing our condition in sin to a couple whose differences can’t seem to be reconciled is a worthwhile illustration. But be sure to explain Christ’s mediation as more akin to couple’s counseling than divorce proceedings. His aim is to reconcile us to God and His life (and sacrificial death) provided all the compromise necessary to mend the relationship.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Is Jesus The Only Way? Part 2: One Way
Background Passage: John 3:16-18; 14:5-11; 1Timothy 2:3-7
Today’s Focal Passage: John 14:6-11
Today’s Focal Passage: John 14:6-11
6 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7 "If you know Me, you will also know My Father. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him." 8 "Lord," said Philip, "show us the Father, and that's enough for us." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been among you all this time without your knowing Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I speak to you I do not speak on My own. The Father who lives in Me does His works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.
Exclusive Rights
In John 14, Jesus asked his disciples to trust in Him. He explained that there was room in heaven for them and promised He was going to prepare a place for them. Jesus told them in verse 4 that they knew the way to the place he is going. To which Thomas responds, “Lord, we don’t know where You’re going. How can we know the way?” Jesus’ famous response is the source of one of the greatest arguments surrounding religion today. The claim that there is just one way tends anger in the champions of “tolerance.” How can Christians be so arrogant to propose the exclusivity of their way to the subsequent exclusion of all other world religions, systems and dogmas?
The answer is simple: because Christ said it! What kind of followers would we be if we didn’t take these words from Jesus seriously? Christ offers Himself as a way for all people to know God our Father. The way is belief. Jesus said, “If you know Me, you will also know My Father.” Other world religions contain lists (sometimes lengthy ones) of things adherents must do to achieve eternal life. If anything, those lists are built to exclude. Following Christ then becomes the only way that’s open to anyone, anywhere, regardless of who you are, what you’ve done or even will do. The next time someone remarks to you how exclusive our relationship with Christ is, make sure you point out that it’s the most inclusive relationship around. Tell them that Christ is for everyone and offer them the chance to know Him too.
o Who can you share that news with today?
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Is Jesus The Only Way? Part 1: One Son
Background Passage: John 3:16-18; 14:5-11; 1 Timothy 2:3-7
Today’s Focal Passage: John 3:16-18
16 "For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Anyone who believes in Him is not judged, but anyone who does not believe is already judged, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.
All for One and One for All
“Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno” is the Latin phrase most commonly associated with French writer Alexandre Dumas’ The Three Musketeers. It’s a motto that might as well be a Scriptural reference. God gave one for all so that all might live for one; as one.
As a youth pastor, I have operated under this principle many a time. “Don’t let the many suffer for the one; let the one suffer for the many.” Not only is it a direct reference to what Christ (the one) did as he suffered for the many it’s also a principle that just works. In large group teaching time when one kid is an overwhelming distraction, why continue to allow the whole group to suffer and miss the message? No one would suggest that. You remove the one so that the many can be blessed. Of course this isn’t a sacrificial substitution as in the case of Christ. The wayward teen is anything but innocent. But discipline here provides a teachable moment that can be explained and used to benefit both the majority and the trouble making minority. The one and only Son of God did indeed suffer for the many, “that the world might be saved through Him.”
“One for all” certainly describes the heart of God and the life of Jesus. Jesus, the One, did much for us. Belief in the One cancels our debt and affords us eternal blessing. But does “all for one” do as well describing us? Is there an “all for one” unified approach to the Christian life within your family? Your church? Your small group? How about in your personal life? Do you really live out the idea of “all for one” as your response to Christ? Does everything you do, everything you say, everything you are, everything you represent indicate a life lived for Christ alone?
o If God gave His one and only Son for us, can’t we live our one and only lives for Him?
Today’s Focal Passage: John 3:16-18
16 "For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Anyone who believes in Him is not judged, but anyone who does not believe is already judged, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.
All for One and One for All
“Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno” is the Latin phrase most commonly associated with French writer Alexandre Dumas’ The Three Musketeers. It’s a motto that might as well be a Scriptural reference. God gave one for all so that all might live for one; as one.
As a youth pastor, I have operated under this principle many a time. “Don’t let the many suffer for the one; let the one suffer for the many.” Not only is it a direct reference to what Christ (the one) did as he suffered for the many it’s also a principle that just works. In large group teaching time when one kid is an overwhelming distraction, why continue to allow the whole group to suffer and miss the message? No one would suggest that. You remove the one so that the many can be blessed. Of course this isn’t a sacrificial substitution as in the case of Christ. The wayward teen is anything but innocent. But discipline here provides a teachable moment that can be explained and used to benefit both the majority and the trouble making minority. The one and only Son of God did indeed suffer for the many, “that the world might be saved through Him.”
“One for all” certainly describes the heart of God and the life of Jesus. Jesus, the One, did much for us. Belief in the One cancels our debt and affords us eternal blessing. But does “all for one” do as well describing us? Is there an “all for one” unified approach to the Christian life within your family? Your church? Your small group? How about in your personal life? Do you really live out the idea of “all for one” as your response to Christ? Does everything you do, everything you say, everything you are, everything you represent indicate a life lived for Christ alone?
o If God gave His one and only Son for us, can’t we live our one and only lives for Him?
Thursday, October 14, 2010
What’s So Different About Jesus? Part 3: Consider Jesus’s Resurrection
Background Passage: John 6:22-71; 9:1-41; 20:1-31
Today’s Focal Passage: John 20:27-29
27 Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Don't be an unbeliever, but a believer." 28 Thomas responded to Him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said, "Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Those who believe without seeing are blessed."
When my daughters were infants, my wife and I would go in to check on them just one last time, before we went to sleep. I always wanted to see (and hear) them breathing, just to make sure they still were! I remember nights when our youngest would finally be sleeping, after a great deal of effort. Thirty minutes or an hour later, I would creep into her room and watch her sleep. I wanted to make sure she was still breathing. There were nights when I couldn’t tell just by looking, so I would lean down to listen. If that didn’t work, I would touch her to feel her breathe. Sometimes, I accidentally woke her up. My wife would be so frustrated after having spent so much time getting her down in the first place. But there are so many fears and anxieties to being a young parent. Sometimes we just have to be sure.
I can’t imagine all the fears and anxieties in the minds of Christ’s disciples following the crucifixion. They had to be putting two and two together regarding the prophecies He gave them before His death. Matthew 16:21 reads, “From then on Jesus began to point out to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day.”
The disciples had seen Christ raise the dead before, even the days-old dead. Remember Lazarus? But could Jesus raise Himself? Seeing their Lord again, there were certainly still questions. Thomas gets a bad rep for needing proof. But if I’m being completely honest, I would have probably done the same.
Jesus said that people who believed without seeing would be blessed. In saying this, He basically blessed all of us today! He knew that there were be generations of believers who would have to believe in His resurrection without seeing.
o When did you come to know Christ?
o How have you dealt with your own doubts about the resurrection?
o How have you been blessed from believing without necessarily seeing?
Today’s Focal Passage: John 20:27-29
27 Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Don't be an unbeliever, but a believer." 28 Thomas responded to Him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said, "Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Those who believe without seeing are blessed."
When my daughters were infants, my wife and I would go in to check on them just one last time, before we went to sleep. I always wanted to see (and hear) them breathing, just to make sure they still were! I remember nights when our youngest would finally be sleeping, after a great deal of effort. Thirty minutes or an hour later, I would creep into her room and watch her sleep. I wanted to make sure she was still breathing. There were nights when I couldn’t tell just by looking, so I would lean down to listen. If that didn’t work, I would touch her to feel her breathe. Sometimes, I accidentally woke her up. My wife would be so frustrated after having spent so much time getting her down in the first place. But there are so many fears and anxieties to being a young parent. Sometimes we just have to be sure.
I can’t imagine all the fears and anxieties in the minds of Christ’s disciples following the crucifixion. They had to be putting two and two together regarding the prophecies He gave them before His death. Matthew 16:21 reads, “From then on Jesus began to point out to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day.”
The disciples had seen Christ raise the dead before, even the days-old dead. Remember Lazarus? But could Jesus raise Himself? Seeing their Lord again, there were certainly still questions. Thomas gets a bad rep for needing proof. But if I’m being completely honest, I would have probably done the same.
Jesus said that people who believed without seeing would be blessed. In saying this, He basically blessed all of us today! He knew that there were be generations of believers who would have to believe in His resurrection without seeing.
o When did you come to know Christ?
o How have you dealt with your own doubts about the resurrection?
o How have you been blessed from believing without necessarily seeing?
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
What’s So Different About Jesus? Part 2: Consider Jesus’ Miracles
Background Passage: John 6:22-71; 9:1-41; 20:1-31
Today’s Focal Passage: John 9:17, 24-25, 31-33, 35-38
17 Again they asked the blind man, "What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?" "He's a prophet," he said.
24 So a second time they summoned the man who had been blind and told him, "Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner!" 25 He answered, "Whether or not He's a sinner, I don't know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I can see!"
31 We know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He listens to him. 32 Throughout history no one has ever heard of someone opening the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, He wouldn't be able to do anything."
35 When Jesus heard that they had thrown the man out, He found him and asked, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" 36 "Who is He, Sir, that I may believe in Him?" he asked. 37 Jesus answered, "You have seen Him; in fact, He is the One speaking with you." 38 "I believe, Lord!" he said, and he worshiped Him.
“CTU, this is Bauer.”
I watched my first episode of 24 on a flight from JFK to Istanbul in 2007. I had heard of the show and knew of its fan base, but I hadn’t watched. But since I knew I don’t sleep well on airplanes, I bought the entire first season on iTunes. I’ve now seen every season of 24, all chronicles of just one 24-hour period where you can guarantee two things. First, Jack Bauer will be mistrusted, reprimanded, and maybe even arrested in an effort to stop him from doing what he deems necessary to save the world. And second, Jack Bauer will eventually save the world. My beef for those characters who would question Bauer is simply this: Look at his track record. He is never wrong and always gets the job done. His record speaks for itself. How much more true of Christ! His record and those affected are all the proof we need to believe.
This miracle of Jesus was performed on the Sabbath. The question for the Pharisees regarded whether Jesus could be from God if He didn’t observe the Sabbath and that being true, how a sinner could perform such a wonder (9:16). A man was blind. Of that fact, the scoffers that day could be certain. He was given sight. Of that fact, the scoffers that day could also be certain. What additional proof did they need? Of his divinity, they still had questions. Of his ability, there could be no doubt.
The man who was healed had no reservations. He knew that Jesus was from God or else he would not see. He encountered Christ and he worshipped. You and I have encountered the miracles of Christ. Not just those recorded in scripture but those in our own lives and in the lives of others around us. We have seen with certainty prayers answered and revelation given.
In one of those all-too-familiar urgent 24 moments, Jack’s loyalty and ability came into question again in Season 7. He simply responds, “With all due respect, Madam President, ask around.” Jack Bauer is no more than a fictional character on TV and certainly not a Christ-figure. But as the storyline goes, his reputation precedes him. So does the reputation of Christ. He can be more than trusted. When you have moments of doubt, ask around. The bible if full of examples and our churches are full of testimonies of the power of Christ and His miracles.
o Where in your life is the proof of Christ’s power?
o In what ways have you seen Him work miracles?
o Can others look at your life and gain the proof they need?
Today’s Focal Passage: John 9:17, 24-25, 31-33, 35-38
17 Again they asked the blind man, "What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?" "He's a prophet," he said.
24 So a second time they summoned the man who had been blind and told him, "Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner!" 25 He answered, "Whether or not He's a sinner, I don't know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I can see!"
31 We know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He listens to him. 32 Throughout history no one has ever heard of someone opening the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, He wouldn't be able to do anything."
35 When Jesus heard that they had thrown the man out, He found him and asked, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" 36 "Who is He, Sir, that I may believe in Him?" he asked. 37 Jesus answered, "You have seen Him; in fact, He is the One speaking with you." 38 "I believe, Lord!" he said, and he worshiped Him.
“CTU, this is Bauer.”
I watched my first episode of 24 on a flight from JFK to Istanbul in 2007. I had heard of the show and knew of its fan base, but I hadn’t watched. But since I knew I don’t sleep well on airplanes, I bought the entire first season on iTunes. I’ve now seen every season of 24, all chronicles of just one 24-hour period where you can guarantee two things. First, Jack Bauer will be mistrusted, reprimanded, and maybe even arrested in an effort to stop him from doing what he deems necessary to save the world. And second, Jack Bauer will eventually save the world. My beef for those characters who would question Bauer is simply this: Look at his track record. He is never wrong and always gets the job done. His record speaks for itself. How much more true of Christ! His record and those affected are all the proof we need to believe.
This miracle of Jesus was performed on the Sabbath. The question for the Pharisees regarded whether Jesus could be from God if He didn’t observe the Sabbath and that being true, how a sinner could perform such a wonder (9:16). A man was blind. Of that fact, the scoffers that day could be certain. He was given sight. Of that fact, the scoffers that day could also be certain. What additional proof did they need? Of his divinity, they still had questions. Of his ability, there could be no doubt.
The man who was healed had no reservations. He knew that Jesus was from God or else he would not see. He encountered Christ and he worshipped. You and I have encountered the miracles of Christ. Not just those recorded in scripture but those in our own lives and in the lives of others around us. We have seen with certainty prayers answered and revelation given.
In one of those all-too-familiar urgent 24 moments, Jack’s loyalty and ability came into question again in Season 7. He simply responds, “With all due respect, Madam President, ask around.” Jack Bauer is no more than a fictional character on TV and certainly not a Christ-figure. But as the storyline goes, his reputation precedes him. So does the reputation of Christ. He can be more than trusted. When you have moments of doubt, ask around. The bible if full of examples and our churches are full of testimonies of the power of Christ and His miracles.
o Where in your life is the proof of Christ’s power?
o In what ways have you seen Him work miracles?
o Can others look at your life and gain the proof they need?
Monday, October 11, 2010
What’s So Different About Jesus? Part 1: Consider Jesus’ Teachings
Background Passage: John 6:22-71; 9:1-41; 20:1-31
Today’s Focal Passage: John 6:66-69
66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. 68Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
Today’s Focal Passage: John 6:66-69
66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. 68Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
Confucius Say
Obedience to Christ could be summed up in the statement, “I do and I understand.”
Many people want that statement to be different. We’d rather it read, “I understand and I do.” We’d like for the teachings of Christ to be easier to comprehend and simpler to employ. In today’s passage from John, Christ has just finished informing those assembled at the synagogue in Capernaum that they were to eat his flesh and drink his blood, share in His life in order to receive eternal life. Perhaps it isn’t until we have shared in Christ’s life, His suffering, His love that we won’t fully understand his teaching. Maybe it’s not until we reach the eternal afterlife He promised that we’ll comprehend the ways of our Lord. For many, that’s too much to ask; too long to wait. No matter how fine the print, we’d like all the information up front. The real issue lies with the fact that Christ’s teachings weren’t meant to just be pondered and studied. They were intended to be followed and with doing comes understanding.
Paul, in his instruction to Timothy (1 Timothy 4:6), told the young minister that he would be “nourished by the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.” Our faith in Christ and His teaching is only as certain as our willingness to follow. Perhaps understanding Christ and enjoying the life-nurturing benefits of His teaching comes in obedience. When we say to Jesus, “You alone have the words of eternal life” but then spend our time looking for life elsewhere, we’re left empty and confused. But when we acknowledge Christ with our lips and our lives, wisdom and understanding are ours for the taking.
o What parts of Scripture do you find to be particularly difficult?
o How can you experience greater understanding of who Jesus is and who He has called you to be?
o How can your life be a better example to unbelievers of what it’s like to live by faith and understand God because you do what His word says?
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Can I Fix What’s Broken? Part 3: Righteousness Realized
Background Passage: Isaiah 5:8-6:7; Romans 3:9-26
Today’s Focal Passage: Romans 3:21-26
21 But now, apart from the law, God's righteousness has been revealed —attested by the Law and the Prophets 22 —that is, God's righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction. 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 24 They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Him as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. 26 He presented Him to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus.
In the 1999 film Brokedown Palace two young women, Alice and Darlene, find themselves imprisoned in Thailand after being tricked and arrested for smuggling drugs.
The film’s conclusion involves both girls being sentenced to 48 years until Alice begs the court the let her friend Darlene go. Alice promises to serve both sentences. The court agrees and the movie ends with Alice left to serve the rest of her life in a foreign prison while Darlene goes free. It’s an incredibly moving scene where one friend makes atonement for another.
In Brokedown Palace, Alice was not completely innocent. She was the reason Darlene found herself in such circumstances to begin with. The story of atonement in this film is really Alice taking responsibility for the friend she hurt. While Alice was hardly a good girl, both girls were innocent of the smuggling crime. Alice stepped up to pay the price in order to free her friend.
As believers, the story is different. Jesus was not a guilty friend who comes to our rescue because of His own conscience. He is the sinless Savior who offers His life as ransom for ours. He is the propitiation, the atonement, for our sins; the reason we go free. God did this so we could be made righteous and so we could declare Him who saved us righteous.
Righteousness is what we desperately need but can’t create on our own. Christ instead offers us His. He accepted punishment and death so that we might live. Is there anything so moving?
o What does it mean for you to trade prison clothes for a life that’s free?
o What does it mean for you to take on the righteousness of Jesus?
o How can you both live as righteous and declare Him righteous today?
Today’s Focal Passage: Romans 3:21-26
21 But now, apart from the law, God's righteousness has been revealed —attested by the Law and the Prophets 22 —that is, God's righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction. 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 24 They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Him as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. 26 He presented Him to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus.
Brokedown Palace
In the 1999 film Brokedown Palace two young women, Alice and Darlene, find themselves imprisoned in Thailand after being tricked and arrested for smuggling drugs.
The film’s conclusion involves both girls being sentenced to 48 years until Alice begs the court the let her friend Darlene go. Alice promises to serve both sentences. The court agrees and the movie ends with Alice left to serve the rest of her life in a foreign prison while Darlene goes free. It’s an incredibly moving scene where one friend makes atonement for another.
In Brokedown Palace, Alice was not completely innocent. She was the reason Darlene found herself in such circumstances to begin with. The story of atonement in this film is really Alice taking responsibility for the friend she hurt. While Alice was hardly a good girl, both girls were innocent of the smuggling crime. Alice stepped up to pay the price in order to free her friend.
As believers, the story is different. Jesus was not a guilty friend who comes to our rescue because of His own conscience. He is the sinless Savior who offers His life as ransom for ours. He is the propitiation, the atonement, for our sins; the reason we go free. God did this so we could be made righteous and so we could declare Him who saved us righteous.
Righteousness is what we desperately need but can’t create on our own. Christ instead offers us His. He accepted punishment and death so that we might live. Is there anything so moving?
o What does it mean for you to trade prison clothes for a life that’s free?
o What does it mean for you to take on the righteousness of Jesus?
o How can you both live as righteous and declare Him righteous today?
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Can I Fix What’s Broken? Part 2: Holiness Recognized
Background Passage: Isaiah 5:8-6:7; Romans 3:9-26
Today’s Focal Passage: Isaiah 6:1-5
Today’s Focal Passage: Isaiah 6:1-5
1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and His robe filled the temple. 2 Seraphim were standing above Him; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; His glory fills the whole earth. 4 The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 Then I said: Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, [and] because my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.
How Big is God?
According to 1 Kings 6:2, Solomon’s Temple was 90 feet long and 30 feet wide. That is 2700 square feet…not that big when you consider the size of most houses in suburban America. However, 1 Kings 6:2 also tells us that the Temple was 45 feet high. When you think about your own 9 to 12 foot ceilings, 45 feet becomes the grandeur we imagine when reading about the temple of the Lord. Isaiah said that the Lord’s robe filled the temple. If just his garment filled a room 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet high, how big must the God who wears that robe be!
As we encounter the God of this universe and the Lord of our very lives, the only proper response is utter awe. He is so big and so holy; so worthy of worship and adoration and “awe” the attention we can give Him. Our first response to the recognition of a holy God is worship. Our second is all together related but also very different. It is very simply to see ourselves in light of who He is. When we think about who we are against the holiness of God, the only fitting response is that of Isaiah in verse 5. “Woe is me!”
Today, I invite you to do something a little different. Grab a sheet of paper sometime today and a pen or marker. Sketch your interpretation of Isaiah 6:1-4. Beside your representation of God and His winged creatures, write words to describe the holiness of God. Close your artistic endeavor by praying a prayer of adoration to God for being the Holy creator that He is. Close your prayer by thanking God for loving you even though you are who you are. Recognize your imperfection in light of His perfection and thank Him for loving you anyway!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Can I Fix What’s Broken? Part 1: Evil Rationalized
Background Passage: Isaiah 5:8-6:7; Romans 3:9-26
Today’s Focal Passage: Isaiah 5:20-23
20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own opinion and clever in their own sight. 22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, who are fearless at mixing beer, 23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe and deprive the innocent of justice.
2 + 2 = 5
Today’s Focal Passage: Isaiah 5:20-23
20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own opinion and clever in their own sight. 22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, who are fearless at mixing beer, 23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe and deprive the innocent of justice.
2 + 2 = 5
George Orwell’s classic Nineteen Eighty-Four used the phrase “two plus two equals five” to make us wonder whether absolute truth can actually exist or if lies themselves are truth simply because the majority of people believe them.
1984 is long past. My favorite TV shows were Kids Incorporated and The Cosby Show. I got to see Ghostbusters and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom in theaters. Hard to believe that much time has passed. I spent the fall of 1984 in 1st grade learning that 2+2=4. I am quite certain that if I ever put the number five down for that math problem, I would have gotten it wrong. To the equation 2+2, there is one right answer!
The evil one has an agenda. He uses popular culture and promotes a false sense of tolerance to make us lower our guard and question whether the worldly way can be as wrong as biblical wisdom would have us believe. His techniques are nothing short of propaganda. He would have us live in a world and be a people who call evil behavior good, or at least acceptable. He would have us so accustomed to darkness that light bothers our senses. He would have us think ourselves wise and clever in our own opinion. He would have us be heroes at self-indulgence and more concerned with ourselves than injustice in the world.
To the tactics of the evil one and those of us who buy the lie, the prophet Isaiah says, “Woe!” That is the cry of God’s kingdom when God’s people begin to waiver between right and wrong, truth and lies.
We live in a world where all kinds of evil can be rationalized. The problem is that trusting God and His truth is the only rational thing worth believing. Everything else is a lie and lies are harmful. Woe to us when we exchange the truth of God for the lies of the world; godly living for ungodly beliefs.
o What are the evil actions and attitudes that you have rationalized in your own life?
o What are the lies the evil one is using to capture your attention and the attentions of your children?
o Make a list of those today and develop action plans for helping your family trust in God’s truth. It may not be the popular answer, but it’s the right one. 2+2 is indeed 4 even if you’re the only one out there who believes it.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Is Sin Really a Big Deal? Part 3: Everyone Sins
Background Passage: Genesis 3:1-24
Today’s Focal Passage: Romans 5:12-14
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned. 13 In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to one's account when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam's transgression. He is a prototype of the Coming One.Today’s Focal Passage: Romans 5:12-14
Punnett Squares
Only one thing stuck out to enough to be retained in all my years of high school and collegiate level biology: the Punnett Square. I remember being so fascinated with trying to determine traits like eye and hair color based on dominant and recessive gene theories.
Eye Color b b
B Bb Bb
b bb bb
Looks like a mom with blue eyes and a heterozygous dad with brown eyes have a 50/50 chance of having kids with either blue or brown eyes. It all depends on the presence of the dominant brown-eyed gene.
Punnett squares became even more important to me when my wife was pregnant. I knew that I was a carrier for the cystic fibrosis gene, so naturally we had her tested. For me, the disease ran in my family. Turns out she was also a carrier, for the same gene mutation. The coincidence was mindboggling. That meant we had a 25% chance of having a child that displayed cystic fibrosis and a 50% chance of having a child that was simply a gene carrier. Both of our daughters are carriers but neither display the disease.
Sin entered the world through one man and was passed on to all men. Sin is the dominant gene and it is always present. We all inherited sin from Adam and there isn’t one life in any of our family trees who didn’t display sin and pass a sinful nature on to their kids and their kids’ kids.
Fortunately for us, Romans 5 also contains verses 18 and 19:
So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is life-giving justification for everyone. 19 For just as through one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.
Our sin nature is a very real condition we all live with. Our sin’s forgiveness is a very real option we can’t live without. Sin entered the world through man. Salvation entered the world through Christ and that salvation starts with acknowledging the fact that we are indeed sinners and in need of forgiveness.
o Who in your life needs to know what the Bible teaches about sin and forgiveness?
o Today, pray that God will author conversations with those friends and family members who need to hear the truth about sin’s consequences and also Christ’s gift of eternal life and freedom from sin.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Is Sin Really a Big Deal? Part 2: Sin’s Consequences
Background Passage: Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 5:12-14
Today’s Focal Passage: Genesis 3:16-19, 24
16 He said to the woman: I will intensify your labor pains; you will bear children in anguish. Your desire will be for your husband, yet he will dominate you. 17 And He said to Adam, "Because you listened to your wife's voice and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'Do not eat from it': The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground, since you were taken from it. For you are dust, and you will return to dust." 24 He drove man out, and east of the garden of Eden He stationed cherubim with a flaming, whirling sword to guard the way to the tree of life.
I Don’t Want To Deal With That
When Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, their first instinct was to run and hide. They said it was because they knew they were naked. Their eyes had been opened. They were sinners now and they knew it. They were ashamed so they hid. Maybe it was in part because they knew they had let God down. Maybe it was in part because they knew there would be consequences for their disobedience and they didn’t want to face Him.
Reliant K sings,
And I so hate consequences
And running from you is what my best defense is
Consequences, Oh God, don't make me face up to this
Cause I know that I let you down, And I don't want to deal with that
What do we do when we’re confronted with our own sin? Do we run and hide? Why? Do we try to come up with excuses or alibis? Do we hate our sin or just the trouble it gets us into? God eventually found Adam and Eve. He finds us too. We’re never far from reach and no matter how much we loathe them, consequences are a reality when it comes to sin. If we know this, then why not respond to our sin in ways we know to be healthy. Rather than run, we should confess. Rather than hide, we should admit our mistake and accept the consequences that accompany our actions. After all, consequences are a good thing. They serve as the lessons and reminders not to make the same mistakes again and again.
What have been the consequences of sin in your life? How have you accepted those and learned from your own mistakes?
Today’s Focal Passage: Genesis 3:16-19, 24
16 He said to the woman: I will intensify your labor pains; you will bear children in anguish. Your desire will be for your husband, yet he will dominate you. 17 And He said to Adam, "Because you listened to your wife's voice and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'Do not eat from it': The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground, since you were taken from it. For you are dust, and you will return to dust." 24 He drove man out, and east of the garden of Eden He stationed cherubim with a flaming, whirling sword to guard the way to the tree of life.
I Don’t Want To Deal With That
When Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, their first instinct was to run and hide. They said it was because they knew they were naked. Their eyes had been opened. They were sinners now and they knew it. They were ashamed so they hid. Maybe it was in part because they knew they had let God down. Maybe it was in part because they knew there would be consequences for their disobedience and they didn’t want to face Him.
Reliant K sings,
And I so hate consequences
And running from you is what my best defense is
Consequences, Oh God, don't make me face up to this
Cause I know that I let you down, And I don't want to deal with that
What do we do when we’re confronted with our own sin? Do we run and hide? Why? Do we try to come up with excuses or alibis? Do we hate our sin or just the trouble it gets us into? God eventually found Adam and Eve. He finds us too. We’re never far from reach and no matter how much we loathe them, consequences are a reality when it comes to sin. If we know this, then why not respond to our sin in ways we know to be healthy. Rather than run, we should confess. Rather than hide, we should admit our mistake and accept the consequences that accompany our actions. After all, consequences are a good thing. They serve as the lessons and reminders not to make the same mistakes again and again.
What have been the consequences of sin in your life? How have you accepted those and learned from your own mistakes?
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Is Sin Really a Big Deal? Part 1: Sin Defined
Background Passage: Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 5:12-14
Today’s Focal Passage: Genesis 3:1-6
1 Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You can't eat from any tree in the garden '?" 2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. 3 But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, 'You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die. ' " 4 "No! You will not die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6 Then the woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate [it]; she also gave [some] to her husband, [who was] with her, and he ate [it].
Smoking Kills
I’ve only been to Germany one time and it doesn’t really count. Sitting in the Frankfurt airport for six hours doesn’t really give one bragging rights to time spent in grand Deutschland. The Frankfurt airport, like any good international airport, provides globe-trotting jet setters with many a shopping opportunity. I found myself there in the international terminal browsing Duty Free passing time until my flight home. I noticed bulk cases of cigarettes in sizes I had never seen before. Let me say here that I am not a smoker and don’t really encounter retail cigarettes very often, meaning that these cases may be as common as a cold, but nonetheless new to me. It was only a moment before I noticed the special labeling on the outside of each of the bulk boxes. In large print, these words were scribed:
This labeling was different than any Surgeon General warning you would find on individual packaging in the US. While the size and font did catch my eye, I was more caught up in the content. It was certainly of no shock to me to realize that smoking kills and is harmful to you and others around you. The surprise came and continues to come in the form of the following: How can we as people know something is bad for us and do it anyway? That’s a question we can ask about all sin. “Believers, why do we continue marring our life with things we know full well to be harmful, not only to us, but to others around us?”
Maybe it’s because we, like Adam and Eve, choose to believe some of the lies the evil one tells us about sin. (We won’t die; our eyes will be opened; we will be like God.) He is after all as scripture describes, very cunning. Maybe it’s because sin (like smoking) is habit forming. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 7:19, “For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do.” Sin is an attitude of rebellion towards God and we do it even though we know it’s harmful to us and others around us. We do it even though we don’t want to. We do it because we want to believe the evil one’s lies and because we can’t help ourselves. Thank goodness we have a Savior who forgives our rebellious nature and connects us to God in spite of our sin.
What are the areas of sin where you struggle most? What truths about your own behavior do you need to believe? How can you rely on God’s power to kick nasty sin habits?
Today’s Focal Passage: Genesis 3:1-6
1 Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You can't eat from any tree in the garden '?" 2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. 3 But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, 'You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die. ' " 4 "No! You will not die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6 Then the woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate [it]; she also gave [some] to her husband, [who was] with her, and he ate [it].
Smoking Kills
I’ve only been to Germany one time and it doesn’t really count. Sitting in the Frankfurt airport for six hours doesn’t really give one bragging rights to time spent in grand Deutschland. The Frankfurt airport, like any good international airport, provides globe-trotting jet setters with many a shopping opportunity. I found myself there in the international terminal browsing Duty Free passing time until my flight home. I noticed bulk cases of cigarettes in sizes I had never seen before. Let me say here that I am not a smoker and don’t really encounter retail cigarettes very often, meaning that these cases may be as common as a cold, but nonetheless new to me. It was only a moment before I noticed the special labeling on the outside of each of the bulk boxes. In large print, these words were scribed:
SMOKING KILLS.
SMOKING IS HARMFUL TO YOU AND OTHERS AROUND YOU.
SMOKING IS HARMFUL TO YOU AND OTHERS AROUND YOU.
This labeling was different than any Surgeon General warning you would find on individual packaging in the US. While the size and font did catch my eye, I was more caught up in the content. It was certainly of no shock to me to realize that smoking kills and is harmful to you and others around you. The surprise came and continues to come in the form of the following: How can we as people know something is bad for us and do it anyway? That’s a question we can ask about all sin. “Believers, why do we continue marring our life with things we know full well to be harmful, not only to us, but to others around us?”
Maybe it’s because we, like Adam and Eve, choose to believe some of the lies the evil one tells us about sin. (We won’t die; our eyes will be opened; we will be like God.) He is after all as scripture describes, very cunning. Maybe it’s because sin (like smoking) is habit forming. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 7:19, “For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do.” Sin is an attitude of rebellion towards God and we do it even though we know it’s harmful to us and others around us. We do it even though we don’t want to. We do it because we want to believe the evil one’s lies and because we can’t help ourselves. Thank goodness we have a Savior who forgives our rebellious nature and connects us to God in spite of our sin.
What are the areas of sin where you struggle most? What truths about your own behavior do you need to believe? How can you rely on God’s power to kick nasty sin habits?
Friday, September 24, 2010
The Case for God’s Involvement Part Three: God Incarnate
Background Passage: Philippians 2:5-11
Today’s Focal Passage: Philippians 2:5-11
5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. 7 Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, 8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God also highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow— of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Attitude Adjustment
One of the great things about having kids (and I am convinced that God has designed it like this) is that we learn some incredible spiritual lessons from our kids. When we, as parents, interact with our kids we often see much that is similar in our relationship as kids to our Heavenly Father.
Has this situation every occurred at your house (if not, that’s OK, I’ll own it): your son is running rampant around the house in a complete tear and just completely bent out of shape. He is going off on everyone and is just acting (dare we say it)…poopy!
So, what do you do? You sit him down and say something to the effect of: Young man, you need an attitude adjustment! (and then sometimes it was necessary to bring out the ‘attitude adjuster.’) But, what exactly does that mean? It means that currently your attitude is really bad. It is not something that I, as your parent, want to see exhibited in and through you. I want you to stop for a few minutes, think about how you are acting and feeling, and then change that attitude to something that is more pleasant.
In Philippians 2, Paul challenged us to have our own attitude adjustment. We are challenged to have the same type of attitude that Christ exhibited. So, what does that mean to you?
o What difference would it make in various parts of your work day if you were to have the mind of Christ?
o What difference would it make in your family if you were to have the mind of Christ?
o So, does God need to sit you down in order to help you change your attitude?
Today’s Focal Passage: Philippians 2:5-11
5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. 7 Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, 8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God also highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow— of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Attitude Adjustment
One of the great things about having kids (and I am convinced that God has designed it like this) is that we learn some incredible spiritual lessons from our kids. When we, as parents, interact with our kids we often see much that is similar in our relationship as kids to our Heavenly Father.
Has this situation every occurred at your house (if not, that’s OK, I’ll own it): your son is running rampant around the house in a complete tear and just completely bent out of shape. He is going off on everyone and is just acting (dare we say it)…poopy!
So, what do you do? You sit him down and say something to the effect of: Young man, you need an attitude adjustment! (and then sometimes it was necessary to bring out the ‘attitude adjuster.’) But, what exactly does that mean? It means that currently your attitude is really bad. It is not something that I, as your parent, want to see exhibited in and through you. I want you to stop for a few minutes, think about how you are acting and feeling, and then change that attitude to something that is more pleasant.
In Philippians 2, Paul challenged us to have our own attitude adjustment. We are challenged to have the same type of attitude that Christ exhibited. So, what does that mean to you?
o What difference would it make in various parts of your work day if you were to have the mind of Christ?
o What difference would it make in your family if you were to have the mind of Christ?
o So, does God need to sit you down in order to help you change your attitude?
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
The Case for God’s Involvement Part Two: Personally Involved
Background Passage: Deuteronomy 8:2-5
Today’s Focal Passage: Deuteronomy 8:2-5
Today’s Focal Passage: Deuteronomy 8:2-5
2 Remember that the Lord your God led you on the entire journey these 40 years in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands. 3 He humbled you by letting you go hungry; then He gave you manna to eat, which you and your fathers had not known, so that you might learn that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 4 Your clothing did not wear out, and your feet did not swell these 40 years. 5 Keep in mind that the Lord your God has been disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son.
GPS
Personal GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) systems have been one of the hottest gift items for the past several years. Chances are you probably have at least one in your family right now.
GPS units are available as personal, portable units, battery-operated units (especially useful for geocaching), built-in units in new cars, and applications on your cellular phone. All of this technology is an incredible help for us men who would rather drive around lost for 30 minutes than stop and ask for directions. Now, thanks to GPS, we no longer have to stop to ask directions. There is absolutely nothing wrong with punching a few buttons in order to find your way!
Some folks just can’t imagine what it would be like to go back to the days without GPS. We become very accustomed to the guidance and direction that our little GPS unit provides to get us from point A to point B.
Long before Garmin®, TomTom®, Magellan®, and Google Maps, the Israelites found their own source of guidance in their very own GPS—God’s Positioning System. God faithfully led His people through all sorts of difficulties and experiences. Just as He did for them He wants to do for you.
Trust God this week to guide you. Pray and seek His guidance.
GPS
Personal GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) systems have been one of the hottest gift items for the past several years. Chances are you probably have at least one in your family right now.
GPS units are available as personal, portable units, battery-operated units (especially useful for geocaching), built-in units in new cars, and applications on your cellular phone. All of this technology is an incredible help for us men who would rather drive around lost for 30 minutes than stop and ask for directions. Now, thanks to GPS, we no longer have to stop to ask directions. There is absolutely nothing wrong with punching a few buttons in order to find your way!
Some folks just can’t imagine what it would be like to go back to the days without GPS. We become very accustomed to the guidance and direction that our little GPS unit provides to get us from point A to point B.
Long before Garmin®, TomTom®, Magellan®, and Google Maps, the Israelites found their own source of guidance in their very own GPS—God’s Positioning System. God faithfully led His people through all sorts of difficulties and experiences. Just as He did for them He wants to do for you.
Trust God this week to guide you. Pray and seek His guidance.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
The Case for God’s Involvement Part One: Always with Us
Background Passage: Psalm 139:7-10
Today’s Focal Passage: Psalm 139:7-10
7 Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.
9 If I live at the eastern horizon or settle at the western limits,
10 even there Your hand will lead me; Your right hand will hold on to me.
Hide and Seek
Playing Hide and Seek with your kids is one of the great joys in life. First of all, it is just fun to play with your kids. What makes the game so much fun, though, is when your kids try to hide in a place that is so obvious. They think you can’t see them and you play along as if you can’t see them—while all along you know exactly where they are at. In reality, especially when your kids are young, there is not any place they can hide that you can’t find them.
I remember one special occasion in which my son and I were playing Hide and Seek. When it was his turn to hide, he took off like a flash. I must admit, he really did have a good hiding place—except for the fact that his feet were sticking out from under the drapes! After looking for him for several minutes, I came about the corner and saw his feet. I burst out laughing and found myself rolling on the floor—all the while my son maintained his hiding place.
There is a spiritual analogy there too. We often think we can find a place where we can “hide” from God. The reality, however, is that there is no place that we can ever go that will be outside of the presence of God. He is everywhere we go, every where we might go, and everywhere we would even think of going. That is what it means when we say God is omnipresent—He is everywhere. God is also omniscient, which means He knows everything, so we can’t go anyplace that He would not know that we are there—and since He is omnipresent, He is already there anyway. (OK—that will make your head hurt.)
One of the things that we like about the game Hide and Seek is that we will always be found. (Think about it—would you enjoy the game if nobody ever found you or if they gave up looking for you?)
Today’s Focal Passage: Psalm 139:7-10
7 Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.
9 If I live at the eastern horizon or settle at the western limits,
10 even there Your hand will lead me; Your right hand will hold on to me.
Hide and Seek
Playing Hide and Seek with your kids is one of the great joys in life. First of all, it is just fun to play with your kids. What makes the game so much fun, though, is when your kids try to hide in a place that is so obvious. They think you can’t see them and you play along as if you can’t see them—while all along you know exactly where they are at. In reality, especially when your kids are young, there is not any place they can hide that you can’t find them.
I remember one special occasion in which my son and I were playing Hide and Seek. When it was his turn to hide, he took off like a flash. I must admit, he really did have a good hiding place—except for the fact that his feet were sticking out from under the drapes! After looking for him for several minutes, I came about the corner and saw his feet. I burst out laughing and found myself rolling on the floor—all the while my son maintained his hiding place.
There is a spiritual analogy there too. We often think we can find a place where we can “hide” from God. The reality, however, is that there is no place that we can ever go that will be outside of the presence of God. He is everywhere we go, every where we might go, and everywhere we would even think of going. That is what it means when we say God is omnipresent—He is everywhere. God is also omniscient, which means He knows everything, so we can’t go anyplace that He would not know that we are there—and since He is omnipresent, He is already there anyway. (OK—that will make your head hurt.)
One of the things that we like about the game Hide and Seek is that we will always be found. (Think about it—would you enjoy the game if nobody ever found you or if they gave up looking for you?)
Thursday, September 16, 2010
The Case for God’s Love Part Three: Good from Suffering
Background Passage: Romans 8:28-30
Today’s Focal Passage: Romans 8:28-30
28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.
More Than You Know
I have some good friends whom I have known for almost 10 years. My first encounter with the family was with their older daughter who was on the soccer team I was coaching when my son was 8 years old. I got to know the mother and then recognized her when she started coming to church.
About two years after that first meeting, another daughter, 5 years old at the time, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Understandably, the family was devastated by the news. The mother, a Christian, expressed confident hope and trust in the Lord. The father, who was not a Christian, tried to cover the situation with alcohol.
I was able to be there, with our pastor, to pray for the family and to share the hope that is only found in Jesus Christ. For a year, the family struggled with medical issues, surgery, and chemical therapy. In the midst of it all, the father fell helpless before the God who loved Him and sacrificed His only Son for him.
The tumor was removed and the cancer went into remission. The young girl developed and expressed a passion in worship. The family, as a whole, freely worshipped, served, and ministered in and through our church.
Near the young lady’s 13th birthday, the cancer reappeared and began to wreak havoc in her young body. The family made the decision to move to another city closer to the hospital treating her. Over the next 18 months, countless treatments and hospital visits were made. The family remained faithful to God and trusting Him and His plan.
Eight months after her 14th birthday, and after several strokes, the Lord took the young lady home to heaven. How many lives has this young lady already touched and changed (in addition to her father), and how many more will continue to be changed because of her faithfulness and passion for Jesus? More than we will ever know.
God doesn’t promise that everything we go through will be pleasant or that we will consider it “good.” What He does promise is that He will work all things—and work through all things—for His good and for His glory. I know one man whose eternal destiny is changed because of this young lady…make that two, if you count me.
Today’s Focal Passage: Romans 8:28-30
28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.
More Than You Know
I have some good friends whom I have known for almost 10 years. My first encounter with the family was with their older daughter who was on the soccer team I was coaching when my son was 8 years old. I got to know the mother and then recognized her when she started coming to church.
About two years after that first meeting, another daughter, 5 years old at the time, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Understandably, the family was devastated by the news. The mother, a Christian, expressed confident hope and trust in the Lord. The father, who was not a Christian, tried to cover the situation with alcohol.
I was able to be there, with our pastor, to pray for the family and to share the hope that is only found in Jesus Christ. For a year, the family struggled with medical issues, surgery, and chemical therapy. In the midst of it all, the father fell helpless before the God who loved Him and sacrificed His only Son for him.
The tumor was removed and the cancer went into remission. The young girl developed and expressed a passion in worship. The family, as a whole, freely worshipped, served, and ministered in and through our church.
Near the young lady’s 13th birthday, the cancer reappeared and began to wreak havoc in her young body. The family made the decision to move to another city closer to the hospital treating her. Over the next 18 months, countless treatments and hospital visits were made. The family remained faithful to God and trusting Him and His plan.
Eight months after her 14th birthday, and after several strokes, the Lord took the young lady home to heaven. How many lives has this young lady already touched and changed (in addition to her father), and how many more will continue to be changed because of her faithfulness and passion for Jesus? More than we will ever know.
God doesn’t promise that everything we go through will be pleasant or that we will consider it “good.” What He does promise is that He will work all things—and work through all things—for His good and for His glory. I know one man whose eternal destiny is changed because of this young lady…make that two, if you count me.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
The Case for God’s Love Part Two: Living for Eternity
Background Passage: Romans 8:18-21
Today’s Focal Passage: Romans 8:18-21
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it—in the hope 21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children
Dessert is Coming
I enjoy baking cakes. I don’t necessarily like the messy bowls, the flour on the counter, the eggs on my hands, or the dirty mixer, but I certainly like the end result. Who can resist a piece of warm chocolate cake with melty sour-cream icing dripping down the sides. (Got you drooling now, right?)
To get to the cake you have to endure the mess and the time it takes to get the batter mixed, cooked, cooled, and out of the pan.
Life right now is kind of like the getting-the-cake-ready stage. It can be enjoyable and it can be messy, but the end result is so worth it.
You may have heard the story about the old lady who wanted to be placed in her casket while holding a fork. She told the pastor to tell people who asked about the fork that she remembered all the church socials when the people would clear the main dinner plates and say, “Keep your fork.” That was her favorite part because she knew something better—dessert—was on its way. The pastor was to tell people that this life was only ushering in something better for the old lady—that is why she had a fork in her hands. (You can Google the entire story by searching for “fork in the casket”)
This present life is not worth comparing to the great eternity in heaven that God has planned for us. Live today with eternity in mind. Get your fork ready.
Today’s Focal Passage: Romans 8:18-21
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it—in the hope 21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children
Dessert is Coming
I enjoy baking cakes. I don’t necessarily like the messy bowls, the flour on the counter, the eggs on my hands, or the dirty mixer, but I certainly like the end result. Who can resist a piece of warm chocolate cake with melty sour-cream icing dripping down the sides. (Got you drooling now, right?)
To get to the cake you have to endure the mess and the time it takes to get the batter mixed, cooked, cooled, and out of the pan.
Life right now is kind of like the getting-the-cake-ready stage. It can be enjoyable and it can be messy, but the end result is so worth it.
You may have heard the story about the old lady who wanted to be placed in her casket while holding a fork. She told the pastor to tell people who asked about the fork that she remembered all the church socials when the people would clear the main dinner plates and say, “Keep your fork.” That was her favorite part because she knew something better—dessert—was on its way. The pastor was to tell people that this life was only ushering in something better for the old lady—that is why she had a fork in her hands. (You can Google the entire story by searching for “fork in the casket”)
This present life is not worth comparing to the great eternity in heaven that God has planned for us. Live today with eternity in mind. Get your fork ready.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
The Case for God's Love Part One: The Big Picture
Even in this world of suffering and evil, you can trust in God and his love for you. Commit this week to trust God to work in all situations for your good and for His glory.
Over the course of the week you will find the scripture and a brief devotion that goes along with next Sunday's lesson posted on this blog. I will try to keep them brief since most of us don't need another task to add to our to do list. I hope that each of you finds this to be helpful and useful as we prepare for next Sunday morning and life in general. Feel free to comment, give suggestions, and add any insight God lays on your heart.
Scripture For Today
Background Passage: Job 40:1-9
Today’s Focal Passage: Job 40:1-9
1 The Lord answered Job: 2 Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? Let him who argues with God give an answer.
3 Then Job answered the Lord: 4 I am so insignificant. How can I answer You? I place my hand over my mouth. 5 I have spoken once, and I will not reply; twice, but now I can add nothing.
6 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind: 7 Get ready to answer Me like a man; When I question you, you will inform Me. 8 Would you really challenge My justice? Would you declare Me guilty to justify yourself? 9 Do you have an arm like God’s? Can you thunder with a voice like His?
Because I’m the Daddy (or Momma), That’s Why
I know you have been there—after all, don’t all kids do this. You know, the constant “Why” questions. Eventually, we get to the point—even though we are trying to be accommodating and patient with our kids—when we just blurt out, “Because I’m the daddy, that’s why!” What we typically mean is that “I know more about this situation and my decision and you will just have to accept my decision.” We generally are not trying to be mean—we are just trying to put an end to the questioning.
It would seem logical to view this passage in the Book of Job from the same standpoint. Certainly, God would be within His right to say that. These verses, however, are more about pointing out the holy, unique, unequalled nature of God. All of the things in these verses and chapters of Job highlight the greatness and glory of God. (God’s reply to Job begins in chapter 38 and runs through chapter 41 with Job speaking only four sentences in 40:4-5.)
Way back in Job 31, Job questioned why he was in the situation in which he found himself. He had come to the point, as most of us would have, to begin to wonder, “Does God really love me? If so, why am I having to go through all of this?”
Natural questions. Really. God’s response, however, is a complete revelation to Job—and should be to us—of God’s great love for all people. When we look at the big picture, God is everything. Like Job, we really are insignificant in the grand scale of things.
In times of pain and suffering (like the disaster in Haiti below), we need to stop and realize that we don’t have the full picture. But we can rest in the assurance that God does. He is in control. He is sovereign. We can rest in that.
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