ESV 1 Thessalonians 2:1 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. 3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed- God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
Meditation
Literal: Paul’s goal as he entered a city was to form a “gospel community” of people. This “gospel community” would be the long term center for the ongoing work of making disciples and teaching them to observe all things that the Messiah Jesus had taught. In this “gospel community” those who believe in Jesus would have there spiritual family, center of worship, and school of discipleship. If Paul did not build a “gospel community” then his ministry in a city was a failure.
The first step in building such a community the first thing that Paul did was to present the gospel in boldness before God and men in presenting the gospel without fear. The Greek word for boldness is parrhsia,zomai parresiazomai and means to speak freely or boldly (Acts 9:27; 13:46; 14:; 18:26; 19:8; 26:26; Eph. 6:20; 1 Thess. 2:2) This word reflects the Greco-Roman philosophical concept of "bold speech." “This expression was used in antiquity to indicate freedom of speech and courage to speak in the face of opposition. It is used with political connotations of not allowing civic authorities to stem protests or the cry of the mob from preventing the proclamation of what is right.”[1] Although what Paul declared was unpopular, he declared it boldly. Even when such bold presentation of the gospel lead to being shamefully treated, it did not silence Paul.
The next step in building community was that Paul and his “gospel community” planting team lived lives of personal integrity. Paul and his team have been tested by God to make sure that they are involved in the ministry only to present the truth and not to manipulate the people. Their goal, as true lovers of the divine wisdom, is not to make human beings happy with their message, to teach and practice the truth. Those we minister to must know that we are not there to flatter them, take their money, or seek fame. While having a true spiritual authority there is great care not to be religiously abusive. To some extent the gospel could be trusted because the messengers of the gospel were trust worthy people. A healthy “gospel community” must have integrity as one of its core values.
The final step in building community was emotional commitment and bonding. Here we see Paul using the illustration of a nursing mother to describe how open, transparent, dedicated, steadfast, and caring he was with those who had come to faith. He shared his soul with the people he discipled. He had real empathy for them. He was not cold, professional, or distant. A healthy community must be one where the disciples are real and open with each other. There must be a dedication to giving to each other from the heart.
So this passage tells us what we need to encourage, pray for, and work towards in order for us to see our churches become healthy “gospel communities”. Every believer has a role to play in boldly declaring the gospel, living a life worthy of the gospel, and emotionally embracing the other disciples even as Christ has embraced us. As these three core values dominate our churches we will see them become fruitful “gospel communities” in the midst of our culture.
Christocentric: Jesus the Christ was the incarnation of the Gospel and came boldly into a rebellious world, living a perfect life of grace and truth, and totally giving His life in sacrifice for us that we might live. Messiah Jesus is the ultimate builder of “gospel communities” for He is the one building His Church in every nation.
Moral: To preach the gospel without living the gospel is hypocrisy. To live the gospel without preaching the gospel is cowardice. To preach and live the gospel without compassion is slander to the heart of God.
Eternal: There will be a day when we will see the wonder and glory of the eternal “gospel community” which will be made up of a great multitude of every people group, language, culture, skin color, nation, tribe, and group. We will know an eternal fellowship with our gospel brothers and our gospel sisters for all eternity before the accepting and loving face of our Lord Jesus forever and ever. Amen
Prayer
Lord, help me be a builder of your “gospel community” and not one that would tear it down or do it harm. Help me love your people as much as you love your people. Help me to believe in the gospel’s power to save as much as you believe in the gospel’s power to save. Give me boldness, integrity, and compassion for your glory and my good.
Contemplation
I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it.
Action
Where could I present the gospel boldly today? How could I live the gospel boldly today? How could I boldly open my heart to another believer today?
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[1] 1 Thessalonians 2:1–8 Commentary by Richard Ascough
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Almost Daily Devotional
Almost Daily Devotional
Reading
NLT Deuteronomy 34:1 Then Moses went to Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab and climbed Pisgah Peak, which is across from Jericho. And the LORD showed him the whole land, from Gilead as far as Dan; 2 all the land of Naphtali; the land of Ephraim and Manasseh; all the land of Judah, extending to the Mediterranean Sea; 3 the Negev; the Jordan Valley with Jericho-- the city of palms-- as far as Zoar. 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I told them I would give it to their descendants. I have now allowed you to see it, but you will not enter the land." 5 So Moses, the servant of the LORD, died there in the land of Moab, just as the LORD had said. 6 He was buried in a valley near Beth-peor in Moab, but to this day no one knows the exact place. 7 Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever. 8 The people of Israel mourned thirty days for Moses on the plains of Moab, until the customary period of mourning was over. 9 Now Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses. 10 There has never been another prophet like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face. 11 The LORD sent Moses to perform all the miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants, and his entire land. 12 And it was through Moses that the LORD demonstrated his mighty power and terrifying acts in the sight of all Israel.
Meditation
Moses was informed in advance of his upcoming death (Numbers 27:12, Deuteronomy 31:14, 16, and 32:49-50), thus giving him some time to reflect upon it. Why would God have to tell Moses on numerous occasions that he would die and not enter the Promised Land? Would not a single time have sufficed? It is very possible that Moses was having a hard time accepting this reality. He hoped against hope that perhaps God would relent and allow him to enter the land. He had sinned by striking the rock and claiming credit for giving water but he hoped perhaps the consequences of that action would be taken away (Num. 20:11). However this was not to be the case for teachers of the law are held to a stricter judgment.
Was Moses Afraid to Die? In Deuteronomy 3:24-25, Moses recalls a time when he said, "O Lord God, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your might; what god in heaven or on earth can perform deeds and mighty acts like yours! Let me cross over to see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and the Lebanon. It is hard to tell whether it was death or not reaching His life time goal of brining the people into the Promised Land that Moses feared. It seems most likely that it was not reaching the Promised Land and bringing the people into that land that was what caused the heartache in Moses rather than a fear of death itself.
When Moses is ready to obey God's instruction to ascend the mountain, he takes one last opportunity to speak to his community, the Israelites, offering a generous and stunning blessing upon them. Some of Moses' best leadership skills and characteristics reveal themselves as he offers a very faith filled, optimistic prayer.
"There is none like God, O Jeshurun," says Moses, "who rides through the heavens to your help, majestic through the skies (Deuteronomy 33:26)," and then, "Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, the shield of your help, and the sword of your triumph! (33:29)."
The desire of Moses to encourage the people is demonstrated by his calling them “Jeshurun” which most likely means “supremely happy. It is used four times in the Old Testament as a symbolical name for Israel in (32:15; 33:5,26; Isaiah 44:2) It is most probably derived from a root signifying "to be blessed." With the intensive termination Jeshurun would then denote Israel as supremely happy or prosperous, and to this signification the context in (32:15) points. Though most blessed, Israel sinned, yet the LORD did not forsake them. This is amazing grace.
How Much Could Moses See from the Mountain? "Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah..., and the Lord showed him the whole land...: Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the Negeb, and the Plain...as far as Zoar (34:1-3)." This is quite a view! This is not just a natural looking out that Moses has here but a divine vision of the Promised Land. Some have suggested that Moses did not just see the land but God showed him the whole future of Israel and the final fulfillment of every promise in the final Kingdom of God. This we cannot know. But what God did do was allow him to see what His heart so desired to claim. This was an act of kindness by God as He brought His servant home.
The Bible's Final Tribute to Moses is one that sees him as the greatest prophet of the Hebrew era. The proposal that God himself would take be concerned about Moses' burial is astounding The reason, then, that no one knows where Moses is buried is explained by the fact that God took care of it and didn't tell anyone. God was Moses pallbearer since He was Moses friend.
The Bible's final acknowledgment to Moses in Deuteronomy 34:10 is remarkable: "Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face." What an epitaph! Moses, was by the grace of God a prophet, a lawgiver, a teacher, a philosopher, a general, a king, a sage, and most important a friend of God. Moses finished well. Not perfect but well.
Christological - NLT John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. Jesus was the prophet like himself that Moses prophesied would come in Deuteronomy 18:15. Jesus is the second and greater Moses. He is the final and ultimate prophet, priest, and king.
Moral: Be aware that sin can cost you even when it is forgiven. There are consequences to sin that remain even when we have been pardoned and accepted by God.
Eternal: We now just see through a mirror dimly the wonderful promised land of the eternal kingdom of God. Like Moses, God has given us a vision of that paradise. But there is coming a day when we will fully experience and be allowed to enter into the glory of the full experience of God’s promises. What total joy that will bring to our hearts.
Prayer
Dear Lord, help me to finish well. Forgive me my acts of rebellion and pride. Allow me to leave a good legacy for my children and your Church. Amen
Action
If God told you the day of your death what changes would you make in your life? Are you living today in such a way that you believe that it will produce the life that you want reported at your funeral? List the things you would change. Begin developing a plan for each of these items that will bring about a healthier and more faithful lifestyle.
Reading
NLT Deuteronomy 34:1 Then Moses went to Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab and climbed Pisgah Peak, which is across from Jericho. And the LORD showed him the whole land, from Gilead as far as Dan; 2 all the land of Naphtali; the land of Ephraim and Manasseh; all the land of Judah, extending to the Mediterranean Sea; 3 the Negev; the Jordan Valley with Jericho-- the city of palms-- as far as Zoar. 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I told them I would give it to their descendants. I have now allowed you to see it, but you will not enter the land." 5 So Moses, the servant of the LORD, died there in the land of Moab, just as the LORD had said. 6 He was buried in a valley near Beth-peor in Moab, but to this day no one knows the exact place. 7 Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever. 8 The people of Israel mourned thirty days for Moses on the plains of Moab, until the customary period of mourning was over. 9 Now Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses. 10 There has never been another prophet like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face. 11 The LORD sent Moses to perform all the miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants, and his entire land. 12 And it was through Moses that the LORD demonstrated his mighty power and terrifying acts in the sight of all Israel.
Meditation
Moses was informed in advance of his upcoming death (Numbers 27:12, Deuteronomy 31:14, 16, and 32:49-50), thus giving him some time to reflect upon it. Why would God have to tell Moses on numerous occasions that he would die and not enter the Promised Land? Would not a single time have sufficed? It is very possible that Moses was having a hard time accepting this reality. He hoped against hope that perhaps God would relent and allow him to enter the land. He had sinned by striking the rock and claiming credit for giving water but he hoped perhaps the consequences of that action would be taken away (Num. 20:11). However this was not to be the case for teachers of the law are held to a stricter judgment.
Was Moses Afraid to Die? In Deuteronomy 3:24-25, Moses recalls a time when he said, "O Lord God, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your might; what god in heaven or on earth can perform deeds and mighty acts like yours! Let me cross over to see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and the Lebanon. It is hard to tell whether it was death or not reaching His life time goal of brining the people into the Promised Land that Moses feared. It seems most likely that it was not reaching the Promised Land and bringing the people into that land that was what caused the heartache in Moses rather than a fear of death itself.
When Moses is ready to obey God's instruction to ascend the mountain, he takes one last opportunity to speak to his community, the Israelites, offering a generous and stunning blessing upon them. Some of Moses' best leadership skills and characteristics reveal themselves as he offers a very faith filled, optimistic prayer.
"There is none like God, O Jeshurun," says Moses, "who rides through the heavens to your help, majestic through the skies (Deuteronomy 33:26)," and then, "Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, the shield of your help, and the sword of your triumph! (33:29)."
The desire of Moses to encourage the people is demonstrated by his calling them “Jeshurun” which most likely means “supremely happy. It is used four times in the Old Testament as a symbolical name for Israel in (32:15; 33:5,26; Isaiah 44:2) It is most probably derived from a root signifying "to be blessed." With the intensive termination Jeshurun would then denote Israel as supremely happy or prosperous, and to this signification the context in (32:15) points. Though most blessed, Israel sinned, yet the LORD did not forsake them. This is amazing grace.
How Much Could Moses See from the Mountain? "Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah..., and the Lord showed him the whole land...: Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the Negeb, and the Plain...as far as Zoar (34:1-3)." This is quite a view! This is not just a natural looking out that Moses has here but a divine vision of the Promised Land. Some have suggested that Moses did not just see the land but God showed him the whole future of Israel and the final fulfillment of every promise in the final Kingdom of God. This we cannot know. But what God did do was allow him to see what His heart so desired to claim. This was an act of kindness by God as He brought His servant home.
The Bible's Final Tribute to Moses is one that sees him as the greatest prophet of the Hebrew era. The proposal that God himself would take be concerned about Moses' burial is astounding The reason, then, that no one knows where Moses is buried is explained by the fact that God took care of it and didn't tell anyone. God was Moses pallbearer since He was Moses friend.
The Bible's final acknowledgment to Moses in Deuteronomy 34:10 is remarkable: "Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face." What an epitaph! Moses, was by the grace of God a prophet, a lawgiver, a teacher, a philosopher, a general, a king, a sage, and most important a friend of God. Moses finished well. Not perfect but well.
Christological - NLT John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. Jesus was the prophet like himself that Moses prophesied would come in Deuteronomy 18:15. Jesus is the second and greater Moses. He is the final and ultimate prophet, priest, and king.
Moral: Be aware that sin can cost you even when it is forgiven. There are consequences to sin that remain even when we have been pardoned and accepted by God.
Eternal: We now just see through a mirror dimly the wonderful promised land of the eternal kingdom of God. Like Moses, God has given us a vision of that paradise. But there is coming a day when we will fully experience and be allowed to enter into the glory of the full experience of God’s promises. What total joy that will bring to our hearts.
Prayer
Dear Lord, help me to finish well. Forgive me my acts of rebellion and pride. Allow me to leave a good legacy for my children and your Church. Amen
Action
If God told you the day of your death what changes would you make in your life? Are you living today in such a way that you believe that it will produce the life that you want reported at your funeral? List the things you would change. Begin developing a plan for each of these items that will bring about a healthier and more faithful lifestyle.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
The Almost Daily Devotional
The Almost Daily Devotional
Reading
NLT Matthew 22:15 Then the Pharisees met together to think of a way to trap Jesus into saying something for which they could accuse him. 16 They decided to send some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to ask him this question: "Teacher, we know how honest you are. You teach about the way of God regardless of the consequences. You are impartial and don't play favorites. 17 Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to the Roman government or not?" 18 But Jesus knew their evil motives. "You hypocrites!" he said. "Whom are you trying to fool with your trick questions? 19 Here, show me the Roman coin used for the tax." When they handed him the coin, 20 he asked, "Whose picture and title are stamped on it?" 21 "Caesar's," they replied. "Well, then," he said, "give to Caesar what belongs to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God." 22 His reply amazed them, and they went away.
Meditation
Who are the Pharisees and the Herodians? The Pharisees were a Jewish religious party in Palestine that emerged about 160 BC in opposition to the Sadducees. The Pharisees held that the Jewish oral tradition was as valid as the Torah. They struggled to democratize the Jewish religion, arguing that the worship of God was not confined to the Temple of Jerusalem and fostering the synagogue as an institution of worship. The Herodians were a Jewish political party who sympathized with the Herodian rulers in their general policy of government, and in the social customs which they introduced from Rome. They were at one with the Sadducees in holding the duty of submission to Rome, and of supporting the Herods on the throne (Mark 3:6; 12:13; Matt, 22:16; Luke 20:20).
Normally the Pharisees were at odds with the Herodians and the Sadducees since they represented those who focused on the temple and supporting Rome while the Pharisees were more about making the Jewish faith less dependent on the temple and were less supportive of Herod and Rome. However, their fear and opposition of Jesus was greater than their opposition to each other. In Jesus they had a common enemy.
In this situation they are putting before Jesus a question that at the time there was no good answer to give in a public setting. If Jesus said that the people should not pay taxes then he would be labeled a “Zealot” which was a Jewish sect in Judea in the first century who fought to the death against the Romans and who killed or persecuted Jews who collaborated with the Romans. This would have led to his arrest and reduced his popularity among the people. If he said they should pay taxes then this would have aligned him with those who supported the Roman rulers and the wealthy elite. This again would cause the masses that followed him to abandon him as Messiah since the Messiah was coming to free them from Rome not support it. To support Rome was to compromise with pagans and to therefore not be a pure lover of God.
Jesus is aware of what they are doing. So are most of the people in the crowd. Like the question; “Have you stopped beating your child?, just answer yes or no” There is no good answer. The crowd is most likely smiling but also interested in which one of the two “wrong” answers that Jesus will choose.
Instead Jesus, points out this is not an honest question looking for an honest answer. This is a game and not a seeking after truth. Questions can be either way. They can be real questions looking for real answers or they can just be spiritual games aimed at avoiding the truth. Then he responds with his own question.
Whose head is on the coins with which you pay your taxes? This seemed silly. Every child knew whose head was on the coin with which they paid their taxes. Just like our coins and bills, that have on our coins normally the head of some former president, the coins in the Roman empire had stamped upon them the likeness of one of the emperors of Rome. So they answered with a smirk, well of course it is Caesar.
Then Jesus turns everything around. Well the coin must belong to Caesar since it has His likeness on it. Therefore, give it back to him if he wants it. He produced it so it belongs to him. Give to God what bears His image. He produced it so that belongs to Him.
What bears God’s image? Well every Hebrew knew the answer to that question. Humanity was made in God’s image. I was made in God’s image. Therefore, don’t worry about taxes; just make sure that you give God your heart. Then you will know how to handle taxes in a God pleasing way.
This answer did not please the Zealots, the Herodians, the Sadducees, or the Pharisees. It avoided the trap. It also raised the real question. Would they stop playing games and begin seeking God. Life should not be lived as a game. Politics is not a game. Our relationship with God is not a game. We need to face reality and make sure we are sincerely seeking God and truth in every sphere of our lives. This is what Jesus the Messiah confronted them with that day and that is what He is confronting us with today.
Christocentric – Jesus is the Messiah and the wisdom of God in the flesh. He should always be sought out when we have honest answers for He is the wisdom who can answer them.
Moral: God must always come before country or empire.
Eternal: All the nation states and empires of history will perish. They all will become dust. In the end of history there is only on monarchy that reigns supreme over all peoples, tribes, cultures, nations, and empires. That one true eternal monarch is our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no end to His kingdom or to Him. We are citizens of that one eternal kingdom and secure within it. We will enjoy and benefit from the rule of God forever and ever. Amen
Prayer
Dear Lord, help me not be playing games with you. Help me not be making excuses about why I don’t follow you. Help me recognize you have made me and recreated me in the new birth in your image. Your desire is that I be like you. Help me have this as the ultimate desire of my heart. Amen
Contemplation
You are mine!
Action
What games am I playing with God? Where am I using “questions” to avoid truth? Where am I holding back giving myself to God? Does God control my vote?
Reading
NLT Matthew 22:15 Then the Pharisees met together to think of a way to trap Jesus into saying something for which they could accuse him. 16 They decided to send some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to ask him this question: "Teacher, we know how honest you are. You teach about the way of God regardless of the consequences. You are impartial and don't play favorites. 17 Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to the Roman government or not?" 18 But Jesus knew their evil motives. "You hypocrites!" he said. "Whom are you trying to fool with your trick questions? 19 Here, show me the Roman coin used for the tax." When they handed him the coin, 20 he asked, "Whose picture and title are stamped on it?" 21 "Caesar's," they replied. "Well, then," he said, "give to Caesar what belongs to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God." 22 His reply amazed them, and they went away.
Meditation
Who are the Pharisees and the Herodians? The Pharisees were a Jewish religious party in Palestine that emerged about 160 BC in opposition to the Sadducees. The Pharisees held that the Jewish oral tradition was as valid as the Torah. They struggled to democratize the Jewish religion, arguing that the worship of God was not confined to the Temple of Jerusalem and fostering the synagogue as an institution of worship. The Herodians were a Jewish political party who sympathized with the Herodian rulers in their general policy of government, and in the social customs which they introduced from Rome. They were at one with the Sadducees in holding the duty of submission to Rome, and of supporting the Herods on the throne (Mark 3:6; 12:13; Matt, 22:16; Luke 20:20).
Normally the Pharisees were at odds with the Herodians and the Sadducees since they represented those who focused on the temple and supporting Rome while the Pharisees were more about making the Jewish faith less dependent on the temple and were less supportive of Herod and Rome. However, their fear and opposition of Jesus was greater than their opposition to each other. In Jesus they had a common enemy.
In this situation they are putting before Jesus a question that at the time there was no good answer to give in a public setting. If Jesus said that the people should not pay taxes then he would be labeled a “Zealot” which was a Jewish sect in Judea in the first century who fought to the death against the Romans and who killed or persecuted Jews who collaborated with the Romans. This would have led to his arrest and reduced his popularity among the people. If he said they should pay taxes then this would have aligned him with those who supported the Roman rulers and the wealthy elite. This again would cause the masses that followed him to abandon him as Messiah since the Messiah was coming to free them from Rome not support it. To support Rome was to compromise with pagans and to therefore not be a pure lover of God.
Jesus is aware of what they are doing. So are most of the people in the crowd. Like the question; “Have you stopped beating your child?, just answer yes or no” There is no good answer. The crowd is most likely smiling but also interested in which one of the two “wrong” answers that Jesus will choose.
Instead Jesus, points out this is not an honest question looking for an honest answer. This is a game and not a seeking after truth. Questions can be either way. They can be real questions looking for real answers or they can just be spiritual games aimed at avoiding the truth. Then he responds with his own question.
Whose head is on the coins with which you pay your taxes? This seemed silly. Every child knew whose head was on the coin with which they paid their taxes. Just like our coins and bills, that have on our coins normally the head of some former president, the coins in the Roman empire had stamped upon them the likeness of one of the emperors of Rome. So they answered with a smirk, well of course it is Caesar.
Then Jesus turns everything around. Well the coin must belong to Caesar since it has His likeness on it. Therefore, give it back to him if he wants it. He produced it so it belongs to him. Give to God what bears His image. He produced it so that belongs to Him.
What bears God’s image? Well every Hebrew knew the answer to that question. Humanity was made in God’s image. I was made in God’s image. Therefore, don’t worry about taxes; just make sure that you give God your heart. Then you will know how to handle taxes in a God pleasing way.
This answer did not please the Zealots, the Herodians, the Sadducees, or the Pharisees. It avoided the trap. It also raised the real question. Would they stop playing games and begin seeking God. Life should not be lived as a game. Politics is not a game. Our relationship with God is not a game. We need to face reality and make sure we are sincerely seeking God and truth in every sphere of our lives. This is what Jesus the Messiah confronted them with that day and that is what He is confronting us with today.
Christocentric – Jesus is the Messiah and the wisdom of God in the flesh. He should always be sought out when we have honest answers for He is the wisdom who can answer them.
Moral: God must always come before country or empire.
Eternal: All the nation states and empires of history will perish. They all will become dust. In the end of history there is only on monarchy that reigns supreme over all peoples, tribes, cultures, nations, and empires. That one true eternal monarch is our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no end to His kingdom or to Him. We are citizens of that one eternal kingdom and secure within it. We will enjoy and benefit from the rule of God forever and ever. Amen
Prayer
Dear Lord, help me not be playing games with you. Help me not be making excuses about why I don’t follow you. Help me recognize you have made me and recreated me in the new birth in your image. Your desire is that I be like you. Help me have this as the ultimate desire of my heart. Amen
Contemplation
You are mine!
Action
What games am I playing with God? Where am I using “questions” to avoid truth? Where am I holding back giving myself to God? Does God control my vote?
Friday, October 24, 2008
Socrates Cafe at 3:00 PM on Oct 26
So, why should you care about these Socrates Cafés? Well answer these questions first. When was the last time you could discuss your thoughts openly and honestly with others? Have you ever questioned society and it's assumptions or your own? Do you like to have a good, safe discussion without fear of being attacked for having an opinion that is different? This is Socrates Café.Here we are, a group of individuals, who like to talk. We come from all walks of life, all nationalities, all religions, all political views, both genders. We come from North, East, South and West. We get together and discuss what is on our minds, from something on the news that day to the age old questions of "What is ...?" We want to help you learn how to think clearly and to learn from one another.
The Almost Daily Devotional
Almost Daily Devotional
Reading
NLT 1 Thessalonians 1:1 This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. It is written to the church in Thessalonica, you who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May his grace and peace be yours. 2 We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. 3 As we talk to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and your continual anticipation of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 We know that God loves you, dear brothers and sisters, and that he chose you to be his own people. 5 For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know that the way we lived among you was further proof of the truth of our message. 6 So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. 7 As a result, you yourselves became an example to all the Christians in Greece. 8 And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Greece, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don't need to tell them about it, 9 for they themselves keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the true and living God. 10 And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God's Son from heaven-- Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.
Meditation
Thessalonica is a seaport in northeastern Greece on an inlet of the Aegean Sea The original name of this city was Therma; and that part of the Macedonian shore on which it was situated retained through the Roman period the designation of the Thermaic Gulf. Cassander the son of Antipater rebuilt and enlarged Therma, and named it after his wife Thessalonica, the sister of Alexander the Great. St. Paul visited Thessalonica (with Silas and Timothy) during his second missionary journey, and introduced Christianity there. The first scene of the apostle's work at Thessalonica was the synagogue. (Acts 17:2,3) It is stated that the ministrations among the Jews continued for three weeks. Not that we are obliged to limit to this time the whole stay of the apostle at Thessalonica. A flourishing church was certainly formed there; and the epistles show that its elements were more Gentile than Jewish.
Paul seems to have two attitudes that dominate in his relationship with other believers. One he thanks God for them being believers and what they bring to the kingdom of God through their gifts and talents and second he constantly prays for God to help them become more like Christ.
Paul specifically thanks God for the believers in Thessalonica for their activities inspired by their faith, their labors of joyful love, and their patient hope in the return of Christ. Here we see that Paul defines what God is doing in them as a matter of faith, hope, and love. Paul is able to see God at work in the lives of the imperfect believers in Thessalonica. He is able to see the glass half full as well as to call them to fill it more. His optimism is not based on his faith in the believers of Thessalonica but in God who is at work in them.
Paul also affirms his faith that they are truly the objects of God’s eternal love in Jesus Christ. He remembers as he preached to them that there was a true movement of God’s Spirit among them and that they gave a clear profession of faith. The Thessalonians had seen God’s power in miracles performed by the Holy Spirit but also in the lives of love demonstrated by the apostolic missionary team that had brought them the message. This team had become an incarnation of the gospel and its power.
In light of the power of the Holy Spirit in deeds of wonder and in the lives of the missionaries that brought them the gospel of Jesus they had joyfully believed even though it had brought upon them persecution and hardships. Here we see pain and joy combined. There is an ability of human beings to have sorrow and holy glee at the same time. They became like Jesus and the missionaries who had both been blessed by being allowed to suffer persecution for righteousness sake.
Now, the Thessalonians were an example of faith under fire and were providing an example to believers throughout Greece and around the world. Because they were a center of trade and travel, what happened in Thessalonica traveled around the world through the travelers and traders that went through the city.
Their faith is one in which they have not just added Jesus into their religious lives but have allowed the Lord Jesus Christ to totally dominate their thinking. They were willing to turn against the ultimate concerns of their lives before Jesus in order to make the Lord Jesus the ultimate concern of their lives. This reality, lived out in their daily existence, had become the talk of the world and a demonstration of the truth of the gospel.
Christocentric - Christ must become our operating system and not just another program we add into our lives. Our true loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ is measured to the degree we abandon our “idols” that is whatever we value or trust in more than we do the person of Messiah Jesus. Christians who do not abandon their idols lose the opportunity to become world changers because they are worldly.
Moral - Faith determines what tasks we find important enough to do, inspires in us a working faith, and allows our actions to endure disappointments because we optimistically believe that history is governed by Christ. We are called to have faith, love, and hope be the dominate attitudes of our actions.
Eternal - For Christians death and the end of the world do not hold fear. We know that at these great moments in our personal and world history we will be embraced by God and fully accepted in our Lord Jesus Christ. We have joyful anticipation of what the future holds for us in the eternal kingdom of God.
Prayer
Lord Jesus help me to abandon my idols in the way the believers in Thessalonica did when they heard the good news. Let me break my allegiance with the world system of unbelief and give to me a stronger and more fruitful faith.
Contemplation
Abandon all and follow me
Action
Today let me thank God for my brothers and sisters in Christ and take note of their virtues instead of their vices. If I find myself complaining or gossiping about others let me stop and make a compliment about the person. Let me look for and specifically define how God is working in the lives of those around me and praise God for them in this light.
Reading
NLT 1 Thessalonians 1:1 This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. It is written to the church in Thessalonica, you who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May his grace and peace be yours. 2 We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. 3 As we talk to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and your continual anticipation of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 We know that God loves you, dear brothers and sisters, and that he chose you to be his own people. 5 For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know that the way we lived among you was further proof of the truth of our message. 6 So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. 7 As a result, you yourselves became an example to all the Christians in Greece. 8 And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Greece, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don't need to tell them about it, 9 for they themselves keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the true and living God. 10 And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God's Son from heaven-- Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.
Meditation
Thessalonica is a seaport in northeastern Greece on an inlet of the Aegean Sea The original name of this city was Therma; and that part of the Macedonian shore on which it was situated retained through the Roman period the designation of the Thermaic Gulf. Cassander the son of Antipater rebuilt and enlarged Therma, and named it after his wife Thessalonica, the sister of Alexander the Great. St. Paul visited Thessalonica (with Silas and Timothy) during his second missionary journey, and introduced Christianity there. The first scene of the apostle's work at Thessalonica was the synagogue. (Acts 17:2,3) It is stated that the ministrations among the Jews continued for three weeks. Not that we are obliged to limit to this time the whole stay of the apostle at Thessalonica. A flourishing church was certainly formed there; and the epistles show that its elements were more Gentile than Jewish.
Paul seems to have two attitudes that dominate in his relationship with other believers. One he thanks God for them being believers and what they bring to the kingdom of God through their gifts and talents and second he constantly prays for God to help them become more like Christ.
Paul specifically thanks God for the believers in Thessalonica for their activities inspired by their faith, their labors of joyful love, and their patient hope in the return of Christ. Here we see that Paul defines what God is doing in them as a matter of faith, hope, and love. Paul is able to see God at work in the lives of the imperfect believers in Thessalonica. He is able to see the glass half full as well as to call them to fill it more. His optimism is not based on his faith in the believers of Thessalonica but in God who is at work in them.
Paul also affirms his faith that they are truly the objects of God’s eternal love in Jesus Christ. He remembers as he preached to them that there was a true movement of God’s Spirit among them and that they gave a clear profession of faith. The Thessalonians had seen God’s power in miracles performed by the Holy Spirit but also in the lives of love demonstrated by the apostolic missionary team that had brought them the message. This team had become an incarnation of the gospel and its power.
In light of the power of the Holy Spirit in deeds of wonder and in the lives of the missionaries that brought them the gospel of Jesus they had joyfully believed even though it had brought upon them persecution and hardships. Here we see pain and joy combined. There is an ability of human beings to have sorrow and holy glee at the same time. They became like Jesus and the missionaries who had both been blessed by being allowed to suffer persecution for righteousness sake.
Now, the Thessalonians were an example of faith under fire and were providing an example to believers throughout Greece and around the world. Because they were a center of trade and travel, what happened in Thessalonica traveled around the world through the travelers and traders that went through the city.
Their faith is one in which they have not just added Jesus into their religious lives but have allowed the Lord Jesus Christ to totally dominate their thinking. They were willing to turn against the ultimate concerns of their lives before Jesus in order to make the Lord Jesus the ultimate concern of their lives. This reality, lived out in their daily existence, had become the talk of the world and a demonstration of the truth of the gospel.
Christocentric - Christ must become our operating system and not just another program we add into our lives. Our true loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ is measured to the degree we abandon our “idols” that is whatever we value or trust in more than we do the person of Messiah Jesus. Christians who do not abandon their idols lose the opportunity to become world changers because they are worldly.
Moral - Faith determines what tasks we find important enough to do, inspires in us a working faith, and allows our actions to endure disappointments because we optimistically believe that history is governed by Christ. We are called to have faith, love, and hope be the dominate attitudes of our actions.
Eternal - For Christians death and the end of the world do not hold fear. We know that at these great moments in our personal and world history we will be embraced by God and fully accepted in our Lord Jesus Christ. We have joyful anticipation of what the future holds for us in the eternal kingdom of God.
Prayer
Lord Jesus help me to abandon my idols in the way the believers in Thessalonica did when they heard the good news. Let me break my allegiance with the world system of unbelief and give to me a stronger and more fruitful faith.
Contemplation
Abandon all and follow me
Action
Today let me thank God for my brothers and sisters in Christ and take note of their virtues instead of their vices. If I find myself complaining or gossiping about others let me stop and make a compliment about the person. Let me look for and specifically define how God is working in the lives of those around me and praise God for them in this light.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Don't waste your time judging!
Devotions
Friday, September 19, 2008
Reading
NLT Romans 14:1 Accept Christians who are weak in faith, and don't argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it is all right to eat anything. But another believer who has a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 3 Those who think it is all right to eat anything must not look down on those who won't. And those who won't eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to condemn God's servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him tell them whether they are right or wrong. The Lord's power will help them do as they should. 5 In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. Each person should have a personal conviction about this matter. 6 Those who have a special day for worshiping the Lord are trying to honor him. Those who eat all kinds of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who won't eat everything also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. 7 For we are not our own masters when we live or when we die. 8 While we live, we live to please the Lord. And when we die, we go to be with the Lord. So in life and in death, we belong to the Lord. 9 Christ died and rose again for this very purpose, so that he might be Lord of those who are alive and of those who have died. 10 So why do you condemn another Christian? Why do you look down on another Christian? Remember, each of us will stand personally before the judgment seat of God. 11 For the Scriptures say, " 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow to me and every tongue will confess allegiance to God.' " 12 Yes, each of us will have to give a personal account to God.
Meditation:
Literal - Paul is attempting to get Christians to accept one another instead of judging each other concerning areas in which God has not provided an authoritative word. The very fact that Paul could write this seems to indicate that he was not assuming absolute divine revelation on every single aspect of Christian conduct. Paul shows his practice of this principle in that he did not use his apostolic position to bind the conscience of other Christians where God had allowed there to be freedom. Where God has clearly spoken we can clearly speak and where God has not clearly spoken we must allow freedom of personal conscience.
Christian fellowship is to be one where we accept each other even when we differ about how we should honor God in areas of eating, drinking, and what days of the calendar should be celebrated as “holy”. These issues had to do with the conflicts between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians and how they felt it was best to honor the Lord in these areas. The condemnation towards each other would quickly turn into the idea that one group was being “legalistic” and the other “lawless”. Self righteousness would be in both camps as they perceived themselves as the more enlightened or faithful.
Paul says let Christ be the one that every Christian has to answer to on such matters and just focus on accepting and loving each other. Each Christian belongs to Christ and is attempting to honor Christ in what they do on such matters. So why bother condemning and judging your brother or sister? Cannot Christ handle that? Why must every believer conform to your way of following Jesus? God is more concerned about our attitude of love and acceptance of each other than He is about our conformity to some particular cultural expression of devotion to Him.
One of the key points here is that the one thing that all Christians agree upon is that life is all about pleasing the Lord in what we do. It is all about living for His glory and in gratitude. Keep the main thing the main thing. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
Christocentric perspective: Paul’s understanding of who we are is very simple. We have been bought by Christ’s blood and belong to Him body and soul. We are the servants of Christ and of no other person. Every action we take we take to please Christ. We will have to give an account of every action to Christ. We are lead by the Lord in discerning the best path for us to take to please and empowered to do this. Christ is our life.
Moral perspective: Stop judging other Christians. We will not be judged on how well we judged others. We will be judged for judging. So it seems wise to stop judging and condemning and strive towards loving and accepting.
Eternal perspective: The church in the eternal kingdom will finally be free of all our party spirit, divisions, self righteousness, self centeredness, politics, and condemning spirits. We will be fully in love with the LORD and with each other. We will be accepting of our different cultures and background. We will be one in Jesus!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me not judge my brothers and sisters. Free me on majoring in the minors. Show me how to show love with those who disagree with me.
Contemplation: Love one another!
Action: Who have I spent time judging and condemning in the last week? Last month? Last year? Why am I tempted to focus my condemnation on this person? How could I release my condemnation and open my heart to accept them as they are?
Friday, September 19, 2008
Reading
NLT Romans 14:1 Accept Christians who are weak in faith, and don't argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it is all right to eat anything. But another believer who has a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 3 Those who think it is all right to eat anything must not look down on those who won't. And those who won't eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to condemn God's servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him tell them whether they are right or wrong. The Lord's power will help them do as they should. 5 In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. Each person should have a personal conviction about this matter. 6 Those who have a special day for worshiping the Lord are trying to honor him. Those who eat all kinds of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who won't eat everything also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. 7 For we are not our own masters when we live or when we die. 8 While we live, we live to please the Lord. And when we die, we go to be with the Lord. So in life and in death, we belong to the Lord. 9 Christ died and rose again for this very purpose, so that he might be Lord of those who are alive and of those who have died. 10 So why do you condemn another Christian? Why do you look down on another Christian? Remember, each of us will stand personally before the judgment seat of God. 11 For the Scriptures say, " 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow to me and every tongue will confess allegiance to God.' " 12 Yes, each of us will have to give a personal account to God.
Meditation:
Literal - Paul is attempting to get Christians to accept one another instead of judging each other concerning areas in which God has not provided an authoritative word. The very fact that Paul could write this seems to indicate that he was not assuming absolute divine revelation on every single aspect of Christian conduct. Paul shows his practice of this principle in that he did not use his apostolic position to bind the conscience of other Christians where God had allowed there to be freedom. Where God has clearly spoken we can clearly speak and where God has not clearly spoken we must allow freedom of personal conscience.
Christian fellowship is to be one where we accept each other even when we differ about how we should honor God in areas of eating, drinking, and what days of the calendar should be celebrated as “holy”. These issues had to do with the conflicts between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians and how they felt it was best to honor the Lord in these areas. The condemnation towards each other would quickly turn into the idea that one group was being “legalistic” and the other “lawless”. Self righteousness would be in both camps as they perceived themselves as the more enlightened or faithful.
Paul says let Christ be the one that every Christian has to answer to on such matters and just focus on accepting and loving each other. Each Christian belongs to Christ and is attempting to honor Christ in what they do on such matters. So why bother condemning and judging your brother or sister? Cannot Christ handle that? Why must every believer conform to your way of following Jesus? God is more concerned about our attitude of love and acceptance of each other than He is about our conformity to some particular cultural expression of devotion to Him.
One of the key points here is that the one thing that all Christians agree upon is that life is all about pleasing the Lord in what we do. It is all about living for His glory and in gratitude. Keep the main thing the main thing. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
Christocentric perspective: Paul’s understanding of who we are is very simple. We have been bought by Christ’s blood and belong to Him body and soul. We are the servants of Christ and of no other person. Every action we take we take to please Christ. We will have to give an account of every action to Christ. We are lead by the Lord in discerning the best path for us to take to please and empowered to do this. Christ is our life.
Moral perspective: Stop judging other Christians. We will not be judged on how well we judged others. We will be judged for judging. So it seems wise to stop judging and condemning and strive towards loving and accepting.
Eternal perspective: The church in the eternal kingdom will finally be free of all our party spirit, divisions, self righteousness, self centeredness, politics, and condemning spirits. We will be fully in love with the LORD and with each other. We will be accepting of our different cultures and background. We will be one in Jesus!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me not judge my brothers and sisters. Free me on majoring in the minors. Show me how to show love with those who disagree with me.
Contemplation: Love one another!
Action: Who have I spent time judging and condemning in the last week? Last month? Last year? Why am I tempted to focus my condemnation on this person? How could I release my condemnation and open my heart to accept them as they are?
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Remember How God Came To You!
Devotions
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Reading
NLT Psalm 114:1 When the Israelites escaped from Egypt-- when the family of Jacob left that foreign land-- 2 the land of Judah became God's sanctuary, and Israel became his kingdom. 3 The Red Sea saw them coming and hurried out of their way! The water of the Jordan River turned away. 4 The mountains skipped like rams, the little hills like lambs! 5 What's wrong, Red Sea, that made you hurry out of their way? What happened, Jordan River, that you turned away? 6 Why, mountains, did you skip like rams? Why, little hills, like lambs? 7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Israel. 8 He turned the rock into pools of water; yes, springs of water came from solid rock.
Meditation
Literal - What Psalm 114 means
This portion of scripture is a part of the Psalms that is called “The "Egyptian Hallel" (Psalms 113-18) has been a significant component of Jewish festival liturgy since the before the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. A “Hallel” is a song of praise. This group of psalms is read during Passover.
What happened when the people of Israel left Egypt? Several things happened:
· God led them to the Promised Land, (verse 2).
· God led them through the Red Sea, which became dry for them, (verse 3).
· God led them over the River Jordan. It also became dry for them, (verse 3).
· Mountains and hills like Sinai seemed to jump like animals, (verse 4).
· God gave them water from the rocks in dry places, (verse 8).
What caused the waters to retreat, the mountains to shake, the animals to flee, and the rocks to give forth fresh water to drink? It was the presence of the Lord God of Israel who cleared a path for His chosen people to reach their chosen destiny. It is God in the midst of His people that gives them salvation, hope, and victory.
Christological: The Exodus took place because the Passover lamb had been slain and the people redeemed from the curse of death that fell upon Egypt due to their sins. Jesus is the ultimate Passover lamb. Jesus has said that His presence is in His church now today so just as God walked with Israel through the wilderness so Jesus the Christ is walking with us today to give us salvation, hope, and victory as well.
Moral: We must tell ourselves the grand narrative of God’s acts of redemption so that we will be led to praise. One of our main ethical duties is to “remember” the wonderful grace of God which is found in the history of redemption. To forget will cripple our faith and limit our vision.
Eternal: The presence of the Lord is the main treasure of heaven. Then in that place of eternal peace and rest we will rehearse in praise and joy the wonderful deeds of God in history as we experience the fullness of His presence on every side. We will rejoice in the wonderful deeds of God for all time and never forget His love for us.
Prayer Dear Lord, keep my heart from becoming hard and my memory faint. Allow me to see clearly the wonder of your deeds of redemption, both in the Passover and even more in the sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross.
Contemplation Remember!
Action: Take time today to remember the redemptive acts of God in Jesus Christ to save you. Preach to yourself the gospel. Look to your own life journey. Where has God’s presence been most real in your life? Remember all that God has done for you and rejoice over it today!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Reading
NLT Psalm 114:1 When the Israelites escaped from Egypt-- when the family of Jacob left that foreign land-- 2 the land of Judah became God's sanctuary, and Israel became his kingdom. 3 The Red Sea saw them coming and hurried out of their way! The water of the Jordan River turned away. 4 The mountains skipped like rams, the little hills like lambs! 5 What's wrong, Red Sea, that made you hurry out of their way? What happened, Jordan River, that you turned away? 6 Why, mountains, did you skip like rams? Why, little hills, like lambs? 7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Israel. 8 He turned the rock into pools of water; yes, springs of water came from solid rock.
Meditation
Literal - What Psalm 114 means
This portion of scripture is a part of the Psalms that is called “The "Egyptian Hallel" (Psalms 113-18) has been a significant component of Jewish festival liturgy since the before the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. A “Hallel” is a song of praise. This group of psalms is read during Passover.
What happened when the people of Israel left Egypt? Several things happened:
· God led them to the Promised Land, (verse 2).
· God led them through the Red Sea, which became dry for them, (verse 3).
· God led them over the River Jordan. It also became dry for them, (verse 3).
· Mountains and hills like Sinai seemed to jump like animals, (verse 4).
· God gave them water from the rocks in dry places, (verse 8).
What caused the waters to retreat, the mountains to shake, the animals to flee, and the rocks to give forth fresh water to drink? It was the presence of the Lord God of Israel who cleared a path for His chosen people to reach their chosen destiny. It is God in the midst of His people that gives them salvation, hope, and victory.
Christological: The Exodus took place because the Passover lamb had been slain and the people redeemed from the curse of death that fell upon Egypt due to their sins. Jesus is the ultimate Passover lamb. Jesus has said that His presence is in His church now today so just as God walked with Israel through the wilderness so Jesus the Christ is walking with us today to give us salvation, hope, and victory as well.
Moral: We must tell ourselves the grand narrative of God’s acts of redemption so that we will be led to praise. One of our main ethical duties is to “remember” the wonderful grace of God which is found in the history of redemption. To forget will cripple our faith and limit our vision.
Eternal: The presence of the Lord is the main treasure of heaven. Then in that place of eternal peace and rest we will rehearse in praise and joy the wonderful deeds of God in history as we experience the fullness of His presence on every side. We will rejoice in the wonderful deeds of God for all time and never forget His love for us.
Prayer Dear Lord, keep my heart from becoming hard and my memory faint. Allow me to see clearly the wonder of your deeds of redemption, both in the Passover and even more in the sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross.
Contemplation Remember!
Action: Take time today to remember the redemptive acts of God in Jesus Christ to save you. Preach to yourself the gospel. Look to your own life journey. Where has God’s presence been most real in your life? Remember all that God has done for you and rejoice over it today!
Friday, September 12, 2008
Life of Love
Devotions
Friday, September 12, 2008
Reading:
NLT Romans 13:8 Pay all your debts, except the debt of love for others. You can never finish paying that! If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill all the requirements of God's law. 9 For the commandments against adultery and murder and stealing and coveting-- and any other commandment-- are all summed up in this one commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God's requirements.
11 Another reason for right living is that you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So don't live in darkness. Get rid of your evil deeds. Shed them like dirty clothes. Clothe yourselves with the armor of right living, as those who live in the light. 13 We should be decent and true in everything we do, so that everyone can approve of our behavior. Don't participate in wild parties and getting drunk, or in adultery and immoral living, or in fighting and jealousy. 14 But let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you, and don't think of ways to indulge your evil desires.
Meditation
Literal: Paul is outlining two main motivations for living a godly life. The first is the best. That is love. We love in response to God’s love. The Holy Spirit pours out the love of God in our hearts by speaking to us of the work and person of Jesus Christ. As we see Him and His sacrifice for our sins then we love Him in light of how much He has loved us. The more we recognize the magnitude of our own forgiveness the more we love and the more we love the more we consistently keep the commandments of God. As we become love incarnate like Jesus we do no wrong to anyone.
The second motivation for living a godly life is that either Jesus is coming to us soon or we are going to Jesus soon. We live in the light that the second coming could come any day or we could die any day. Every day takes us closer to our ultimate encounter with God. We are only a breath away from judgment day. It is appointed for every person to die and then comes the judgment. We should be concerned about the people who might be brought in as witnesses of our behavior on judgment day and therefore live consistently before all people. Every decision we make we should make in the light of explaining it on the Day of Judgment. While our justification on that day relies totally on Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, our ability to give God glory and be rewarded for eternity depends on being able to give a good report before the judge on that day. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and Paul calls us not to take judgment day lightly. Our goal should be to be controlled by the Spirit of Jesus the righteous one and not the spirit of sinful Adam.
Christological: Our love for God depends on our understanding of how great our salvation is in Jesus Christ. Paul has spent eleven chapters pointing to the grace of God found in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection before he calls upon us to love. Those who know they have been given abundant grace and huge forgiveness will love Jesus freely and spontaneously. Jesus is our prophet, priest, and king. We are accountable to Him. We must give a report of our life to Him. If we value that relationship then we will strive to please Him in all we do.
Moral: Augustine said: “Love God and live as you please”. He could have added that if you love God you will live as God pleases.
Eternal: Standing before the judgment seat of Christ should rule every attitude, thought, word, and deed that we produce during this life. Only those who are heavenly minded are any earthly good.
“It may be that the day of judgment will dawn tomorrow; in that case we will gladly stop working toward a better future. But not before.”
– Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Prayer: Holy Spirit show me Jesus more and more today. In the light of His love make fill me with love. Amen.
Contemplation: Prepare yourself!
Action: Let me find ways to help the victims in Haiti due to the hurricane and attempt to show the love of Christ in all my actions this day.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Reading:
NLT Romans 13:8 Pay all your debts, except the debt of love for others. You can never finish paying that! If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill all the requirements of God's law. 9 For the commandments against adultery and murder and stealing and coveting-- and any other commandment-- are all summed up in this one commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God's requirements.
11 Another reason for right living is that you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So don't live in darkness. Get rid of your evil deeds. Shed them like dirty clothes. Clothe yourselves with the armor of right living, as those who live in the light. 13 We should be decent and true in everything we do, so that everyone can approve of our behavior. Don't participate in wild parties and getting drunk, or in adultery and immoral living, or in fighting and jealousy. 14 But let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you, and don't think of ways to indulge your evil desires.
Meditation
Literal: Paul is outlining two main motivations for living a godly life. The first is the best. That is love. We love in response to God’s love. The Holy Spirit pours out the love of God in our hearts by speaking to us of the work and person of Jesus Christ. As we see Him and His sacrifice for our sins then we love Him in light of how much He has loved us. The more we recognize the magnitude of our own forgiveness the more we love and the more we love the more we consistently keep the commandments of God. As we become love incarnate like Jesus we do no wrong to anyone.
The second motivation for living a godly life is that either Jesus is coming to us soon or we are going to Jesus soon. We live in the light that the second coming could come any day or we could die any day. Every day takes us closer to our ultimate encounter with God. We are only a breath away from judgment day. It is appointed for every person to die and then comes the judgment. We should be concerned about the people who might be brought in as witnesses of our behavior on judgment day and therefore live consistently before all people. Every decision we make we should make in the light of explaining it on the Day of Judgment. While our justification on that day relies totally on Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, our ability to give God glory and be rewarded for eternity depends on being able to give a good report before the judge on that day. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and Paul calls us not to take judgment day lightly. Our goal should be to be controlled by the Spirit of Jesus the righteous one and not the spirit of sinful Adam.
Christological: Our love for God depends on our understanding of how great our salvation is in Jesus Christ. Paul has spent eleven chapters pointing to the grace of God found in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection before he calls upon us to love. Those who know they have been given abundant grace and huge forgiveness will love Jesus freely and spontaneously. Jesus is our prophet, priest, and king. We are accountable to Him. We must give a report of our life to Him. If we value that relationship then we will strive to please Him in all we do.
Moral: Augustine said: “Love God and live as you please”. He could have added that if you love God you will live as God pleases.
Eternal: Standing before the judgment seat of Christ should rule every attitude, thought, word, and deed that we produce during this life. Only those who are heavenly minded are any earthly good.
“It may be that the day of judgment will dawn tomorrow; in that case we will gladly stop working toward a better future. But not before.”
– Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Prayer: Holy Spirit show me Jesus more and more today. In the light of His love make fill me with love. Amen.
Contemplation: Prepare yourself!
Action: Let me find ways to help the victims in Haiti due to the hurricane and attempt to show the love of Christ in all my actions this day.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Take joy in the Lord's acceptance of you!
Devotions
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Reading
NLT Psalm 149:1 Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song. Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful. 2 O Israel, rejoice in your Maker. O people of Jerusalem, exult in your King. 3 Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp. 4 For the LORD delights in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation. 5 Let the faithful rejoice in this honor. Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds. 6 Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands-- 7 to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, 8 to bind their kings with shackles and their leaders with iron chains, 9 to execute the judgment written against them. This is the glory of his faithful ones. Praise the LORD!
Meditation:
Literal: Outline
Vs. 1 – Command to vocalize the wonder of the Lord’s great character and deeds in the assembly of those with faith.
Vs. 2. – Command for the people of God to rejoice in their redemptive creator and Sovereign ruler
Vs. 3. – Command to vocalize with passion about the LORD’s authority and character with celebration, dancing, tambourine, and lyre (which was not a “harp” as we think about it but a hand held musical instrument).
Vs. 4 – The reason for this praise is that the LORD delights ( hc'r' ratsah (953a) Meaning: to be pleased with, accept favorably) His people. He glorifies, exults, and gives them beauty for they are weak and afflicted. He gives to them “salvation” which is the word h['Wvy> (yeshuah)
The name Yehoshua has the form of a compound of "Yeho-" and "shua": Yeho- יְהוֹ is another form of יָהוּ Yahu, a theophoric element standing for the personal name of God YHWH, and שׁוּעַ shua is a noun meaning "a cry for help", "a saving cry", that is, a shout given when in need of rescue. Together the name would then literally mean, "'God' is a saving-cry," that is, shout to God when in need of help.
Vs. 5 – In light of being so highly honored and favored by the LORD those with faith are to be full of joy at all times, even when they lay down after a long day of work.
Vs. 6 - The psalm at this point turns from worship to war. They are to be praising the LORD for their salvation and ready to fight His battles.
Vs. 7 - The purpose of this war is to bring God’s judgment against those nations who have rebelled and sinned against the LORD. Israel at times was used to literally be engaged in holy wars in the Old Testament and this was seen as part of the duty that God required.
Vs. 8 – The purpose of the war is to bring heathen kings into captivity and under the rule of the LORD.
Vs. 9. – The glory of the people of faith is that God will use them to bring judgment upon the rulers of an apostate world.
The first five verses of this Psalm focus on the need and reason for God’s people to be filled with praise and wonder in the LORD. The fifth verse is the center of the psalm and the main point. We are to be filled with JOY for the LORD has taken pleasure in us and given us the gift of salvation.
The hard part of the psalm is found in vs. 6-9 for the focus there is upon God’s judgment on those who are outside of grace and a call for His people to join Him in His judgment of the nations. In the New Testament we know that our battle is not with flesh and blood and that the kingdom of God is not now to be established with literal swords. Instead our warfare is now spiritual.
ESV Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Christological – It is interesting to not that when this psalm says that the LORD gives them salvation it is a word related to the Hebrew name for Jesus – Yeshua. God gives His people Jesus because He favors them and wants to exalt them out of sin and the rebellious world.
Moral: We have a duty to be passionate in our worship. The LORD deserves our very best praise. Our faith should lead us to positive emotions of joy and faithful loyalty to God in the midst of a rebellious world.
Eternal: The Kingdom of Heaven will be full of joy, thankfulness, praise, and passionate worship. The worship we have on earth is just a shadow of an eternity we will spend soaked in the pleasure, favor, acceptance, and embrace of our LORD.
Prayer: Lord, when I face the difficulties of my life, the disappointments of my failures, and the hardship of my circumstances, let me not lose my joy in my salvation.
Contemplation: Rejoice and again I say rejoice
Action: Take time to remember that God is for me today because He has sent Jesus to me to save me. Remember my salvation and take joy in it.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Reading
NLT Psalm 149:1 Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song. Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful. 2 O Israel, rejoice in your Maker. O people of Jerusalem, exult in your King. 3 Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp. 4 For the LORD delights in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation. 5 Let the faithful rejoice in this honor. Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds. 6 Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands-- 7 to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, 8 to bind their kings with shackles and their leaders with iron chains, 9 to execute the judgment written against them. This is the glory of his faithful ones. Praise the LORD!
Meditation:
Literal: Outline
Vs. 1 – Command to vocalize the wonder of the Lord’s great character and deeds in the assembly of those with faith.
Vs. 2. – Command for the people of God to rejoice in their redemptive creator and Sovereign ruler
Vs. 3. – Command to vocalize with passion about the LORD’s authority and character with celebration, dancing, tambourine, and lyre (which was not a “harp” as we think about it but a hand held musical instrument).
Vs. 4 – The reason for this praise is that the LORD delights ( hc'r' ratsah (953a) Meaning: to be pleased with, accept favorably) His people. He glorifies, exults, and gives them beauty for they are weak and afflicted. He gives to them “salvation” which is the word h['Wvy> (yeshuah)
The name Yehoshua has the form of a compound of "Yeho-" and "shua": Yeho- יְהוֹ is another form of יָהוּ Yahu, a theophoric element standing for the personal name of God YHWH, and שׁוּעַ shua is a noun meaning "a cry for help", "a saving cry", that is, a shout given when in need of rescue. Together the name would then literally mean, "'God' is a saving-cry," that is, shout to God when in need of help.
Vs. 5 – In light of being so highly honored and favored by the LORD those with faith are to be full of joy at all times, even when they lay down after a long day of work.
Vs. 6 - The psalm at this point turns from worship to war. They are to be praising the LORD for their salvation and ready to fight His battles.
Vs. 7 - The purpose of this war is to bring God’s judgment against those nations who have rebelled and sinned against the LORD. Israel at times was used to literally be engaged in holy wars in the Old Testament and this was seen as part of the duty that God required.
Vs. 8 – The purpose of the war is to bring heathen kings into captivity and under the rule of the LORD.
Vs. 9. – The glory of the people of faith is that God will use them to bring judgment upon the rulers of an apostate world.
The first five verses of this Psalm focus on the need and reason for God’s people to be filled with praise and wonder in the LORD. The fifth verse is the center of the psalm and the main point. We are to be filled with JOY for the LORD has taken pleasure in us and given us the gift of salvation.
The hard part of the psalm is found in vs. 6-9 for the focus there is upon God’s judgment on those who are outside of grace and a call for His people to join Him in His judgment of the nations. In the New Testament we know that our battle is not with flesh and blood and that the kingdom of God is not now to be established with literal swords. Instead our warfare is now spiritual.
ESV Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Christological – It is interesting to not that when this psalm says that the LORD gives them salvation it is a word related to the Hebrew name for Jesus – Yeshua. God gives His people Jesus because He favors them and wants to exalt them out of sin and the rebellious world.
Moral: We have a duty to be passionate in our worship. The LORD deserves our very best praise. Our faith should lead us to positive emotions of joy and faithful loyalty to God in the midst of a rebellious world.
Eternal: The Kingdom of Heaven will be full of joy, thankfulness, praise, and passionate worship. The worship we have on earth is just a shadow of an eternity we will spend soaked in the pleasure, favor, acceptance, and embrace of our LORD.
Prayer: Lord, when I face the difficulties of my life, the disappointments of my failures, and the hardship of my circumstances, let me not lose my joy in my salvation.
Contemplation: Rejoice and again I say rejoice
Action: Take time to remember that God is for me today because He has sent Jesus to me to save me. Remember my salvation and take joy in it.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Remember God's Love
Devotion
Reading
NLT Exodus 12:1 Now the LORD gave the following instructions to Moses and Aaron while they were still in the land of Egypt: 2 "From now on, this month will be the first month of the year for you. 3 Announce to the whole community that on the tenth day of this month each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice. 4 If a family is too small to eat an entire lamb, let them share the lamb with another family in the neighborhood. Whether or not they share in this way depends on the size of each family and how much they can eat. 5 This animal must be a one-year-old male, either a sheep or a goat, with no physical defects. 6 "Take special care of these lambs until the evening of the fourteenth day of this first month. Then each family in the community must slaughter its lamb. 7 They are to take some of the lamb's blood and smear it on the top and sides of the doorframe of the house where the lamb will be eaten. 8 That evening everyone must eat roast lamb with bitter herbs and bread made without yeast. 9 The meat must never be eaten raw or boiled; roast it all, including the head, legs, and internal organs. 10 Do not leave any of it until the next day. Whatever is not eaten that night must be burned before morning. 11 "Wear your traveling clothes as you eat this meal, as though prepared for a long journey. Wear your sandals, and carry your walking sticks in your hands. Eat the food quickly, for this is the LORD's Passover. 12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and kill all the firstborn sons and firstborn male animals in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the LORD! 13 The blood you have smeared on your doorposts will serve as a sign. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt. 14 "You must remember this day forever. Each year you will celebrate it as a special festival to the LORD.
Meditation
Literal
The Passover was the key miracle and event that would free Israel from slavery in Egypt and release them to become the nation of God under the direct rule of God. God wanted His people to recognize the great significance of this event. He altered their calendars and said that they must now make this the beginning of everything. The Jews were most likely living under an Egyptian Calendar at the time which would have made their new year normally begin in July. God’s command here moves their New Year to March/April and it is done that they might recognize that this redemptive event is central to their birth as a nation.
God has been showing that He is sovereign over Egypt and their “gods”. In this battle over “who owns Israel” Yahweh has demonstrated that He has the power to humble Egypt and bring His people to Himself. Now in this final plague upon Egypt God is telling His people something very profound. Every household is under the sentence of death. Only the blood of the covenant can keep anyone alive. Here is the reality. All have sinned and come short of God’s glory. All deserve death. Only a God ordained sacrifice can cause this judgment to “Passover” a person and leave them alive.
Our 21st century reaction to this is how unfair it seems. We see most people as innocent. We see no reason for God to condemn us to death. Surely, we are not so sinful as to deserve devastation and tragedy. Weren’t the Egyptians doing the best they could? Why is God so angry with them? These perspectives are due to our lack of taking sin and rebellion against God seriously. The idolatry of Egypt seems primitive to us but not necessary evil. Yet, in the eyes of God it is an abomination and worthy of plagues. The passage challenges us to have a greater love for holiness and of the serious nature of sin.
Here we find a call for Israel to remember. They exist only because the blood has been shed. Death passed over them because of the blood of the lamb. They were a nation born out of the blood of God’s chosen sacrifice. This remains true for the people of God today.
Chrstocentic: ESV 1 Corinthians 5:7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
The Church is to see the fulfillment of Passover in the Lord Jesus Christ. All the Passover lambs of all the centuries were really only shadows of Jesus. His blood is the real ordained sacrifice the causes the just condemnation of God to pass over our heads and leave us safe. He is our one hope of life, deliverance, and salvation.
Moral: In light of Christ being our Passover we must be ready to leave our “Egypt”, which is that pagan culture in which we were born with all of its idols. We must be ready to walk with Jesus and leave the unbelieving world system in the same way that the Jews had to be ready to leave with God to worship in the wilderness. We must say no to our culture of origin and yes to God’s kingdom culture ruled by Jesus Christ.
Eternal: We will worship the Passover Lamb on the throne. In heaven we will always be filled with joy that God’s just wrath has not touched us because of the blood of the lamb. This will be the center of heavenly worship forever and ever.
Prayer: Lord, help me remember your sacrifice for my sins and help me see the magnitude of my forgiveness.
Contemplation: Remember my Sacrifice!
Action: Identify a attitude, habit, belief, practice, or activity that reflects part of American pagan culture that is still part of my life. Then purge this out in honor of Christ being my Passover.
Reading
NLT Exodus 12:1 Now the LORD gave the following instructions to Moses and Aaron while they were still in the land of Egypt: 2 "From now on, this month will be the first month of the year for you. 3 Announce to the whole community that on the tenth day of this month each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice. 4 If a family is too small to eat an entire lamb, let them share the lamb with another family in the neighborhood. Whether or not they share in this way depends on the size of each family and how much they can eat. 5 This animal must be a one-year-old male, either a sheep or a goat, with no physical defects. 6 "Take special care of these lambs until the evening of the fourteenth day of this first month. Then each family in the community must slaughter its lamb. 7 They are to take some of the lamb's blood and smear it on the top and sides of the doorframe of the house where the lamb will be eaten. 8 That evening everyone must eat roast lamb with bitter herbs and bread made without yeast. 9 The meat must never be eaten raw or boiled; roast it all, including the head, legs, and internal organs. 10 Do not leave any of it until the next day. Whatever is not eaten that night must be burned before morning. 11 "Wear your traveling clothes as you eat this meal, as though prepared for a long journey. Wear your sandals, and carry your walking sticks in your hands. Eat the food quickly, for this is the LORD's Passover. 12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and kill all the firstborn sons and firstborn male animals in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the LORD! 13 The blood you have smeared on your doorposts will serve as a sign. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt. 14 "You must remember this day forever. Each year you will celebrate it as a special festival to the LORD.
Meditation
Literal
The Passover was the key miracle and event that would free Israel from slavery in Egypt and release them to become the nation of God under the direct rule of God. God wanted His people to recognize the great significance of this event. He altered their calendars and said that they must now make this the beginning of everything. The Jews were most likely living under an Egyptian Calendar at the time which would have made their new year normally begin in July. God’s command here moves their New Year to March/April and it is done that they might recognize that this redemptive event is central to their birth as a nation.
God has been showing that He is sovereign over Egypt and their “gods”. In this battle over “who owns Israel” Yahweh has demonstrated that He has the power to humble Egypt and bring His people to Himself. Now in this final plague upon Egypt God is telling His people something very profound. Every household is under the sentence of death. Only the blood of the covenant can keep anyone alive. Here is the reality. All have sinned and come short of God’s glory. All deserve death. Only a God ordained sacrifice can cause this judgment to “Passover” a person and leave them alive.
Our 21st century reaction to this is how unfair it seems. We see most people as innocent. We see no reason for God to condemn us to death. Surely, we are not so sinful as to deserve devastation and tragedy. Weren’t the Egyptians doing the best they could? Why is God so angry with them? These perspectives are due to our lack of taking sin and rebellion against God seriously. The idolatry of Egypt seems primitive to us but not necessary evil. Yet, in the eyes of God it is an abomination and worthy of plagues. The passage challenges us to have a greater love for holiness and of the serious nature of sin.
Here we find a call for Israel to remember. They exist only because the blood has been shed. Death passed over them because of the blood of the lamb. They were a nation born out of the blood of God’s chosen sacrifice. This remains true for the people of God today.
Chrstocentic: ESV 1 Corinthians 5:7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
The Church is to see the fulfillment of Passover in the Lord Jesus Christ. All the Passover lambs of all the centuries were really only shadows of Jesus. His blood is the real ordained sacrifice the causes the just condemnation of God to pass over our heads and leave us safe. He is our one hope of life, deliverance, and salvation.
Moral: In light of Christ being our Passover we must be ready to leave our “Egypt”, which is that pagan culture in which we were born with all of its idols. We must be ready to walk with Jesus and leave the unbelieving world system in the same way that the Jews had to be ready to leave with God to worship in the wilderness. We must say no to our culture of origin and yes to God’s kingdom culture ruled by Jesus Christ.
Eternal: We will worship the Passover Lamb on the throne. In heaven we will always be filled with joy that God’s just wrath has not touched us because of the blood of the lamb. This will be the center of heavenly worship forever and ever.
Prayer: Lord, help me remember your sacrifice for my sins and help me see the magnitude of my forgiveness.
Contemplation: Remember my Sacrifice!
Action: Identify a attitude, habit, belief, practice, or activity that reflects part of American pagan culture that is still part of my life. Then purge this out in honor of Christ being my Passover.
Saturday, September 06, 2008
The importance of sacrifice
Devotions
Reading: NLT Matthew 16:21 From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that he had to go to Jerusalem, and he told them what would happen to him there. He would suffer at the hands of the leaders and the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, and he would be raised on the third day. 22 But Peter took him aside and corrected him. "Heaven forbid, Lord," he said. "This will never happen to you!" 23 Jesus turned to Peter and said, "Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, and not from God's." 24 Then Jesus said to the disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life. 26 And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? Is anything worth more than your soul? 27 For I, the Son of Man, will come in the glory of my Father with his angels and will judge all people according to their deeds.
Meditation:
Literal: The Holy Spirit has just revealed to Peter that Jesus is the Christ the son of the living God. Jesus has assured the disciples that the Messianic community that he called “the Church” would be victorious in smashing the gates of hell and that they had true spiritual authority to bind or loose on earth.
Then in the midst of this optimistic and upbeat message, Jesus puts forward a dark cloud. He will go to Jerusalem and be killed. He adds that he will be raised on the third day but this seems to not be heard by Peter or the others. They get emotionally stuck on the fact that Jesus just said that he would be killed which seems to wipe out all the optimistic dreams which had just be spoken.
Peter, then takes Jesus aside privately to correct his theology. “Lord, you are the Messiah, the Messiah cannot die!” Jesus strongly rebukes Peter for this. He calls him an adversary or “Satan” since at this point he is speaking merely from the perspective of a friend and human wisdom, not inspired by the Holy Spirit. Jesus knows that suffering is part of the price of establishing God’s kingdom. Suffering is part of God’s plan.
Jesus then warns the disciples to understand that even though the gates of hell will not stand against them, this does not mean they will not suffer. No instead they must understand that their victory will come through suffering, sacrifice, and pain. Only where people are willing to suffer for the sake of God’s kingdom will the will of God be done on the earth as in heaven. The defeat of hell depends upon the sacrifice of heaven. Only by dying to earthly perspectives, pleasures, and purposes can the disciple become a source of life.
Jesus stresses that the eternal must be valued more than the temporal. The soul must be seen of greater value than the body. While His sacrifice for our sins alone the basis of our acceptance by God we must never believe that “faith” does not include turning away form immoral pleasures and purposes. To believe means to take up one’s cross and follow Jesus. We must never think to use grace and promise as an excuse for not striving to follow. Jesus will judge everything one day and He will not be mocked by people who try to “spiritually con” their way into heaven. The sincerity and reality of our faith will be tested on that day. It is therefore important that we have a faith that accepts sacrifice.
Christocentric: Jesus is Lord. He will be the final judge. He is 100% God and 100% man. His evaluation of our lives is all that matters. He will be the one that ultimately determines our eternal fate and evaluates the validity of our faith. This one person is the most important person in the entire universe. All authority and power rests in Him.
Moral: Jesus urges us to deny ourselves the comfort of false beliefs, immoral passions and uncontrolled appetites by abstinence and the acceptance of pain or discomfort from persecution and loss of ungodly pleasures as necessary elements of our discipleship.
Eternal: Every decision we make should be one that we will be proud of on the Day of Judgment when Jesus examines all our deeds. Judge everything in light of judgment day.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me have the grace and strength to take up my cross today and follow you.
Contemplation: Follow me!
Action: Let me look for ways to die to worldly perspectives and pleasures today. Help me seek the “my cross” where my will has to die in order to do the will of God. Lord, give me the grace to take up my cross today!
Reading: NLT Matthew 16:21 From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that he had to go to Jerusalem, and he told them what would happen to him there. He would suffer at the hands of the leaders and the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, and he would be raised on the third day. 22 But Peter took him aside and corrected him. "Heaven forbid, Lord," he said. "This will never happen to you!" 23 Jesus turned to Peter and said, "Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, and not from God's." 24 Then Jesus said to the disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life. 26 And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? Is anything worth more than your soul? 27 For I, the Son of Man, will come in the glory of my Father with his angels and will judge all people according to their deeds.
Meditation:
Literal: The Holy Spirit has just revealed to Peter that Jesus is the Christ the son of the living God. Jesus has assured the disciples that the Messianic community that he called “the Church” would be victorious in smashing the gates of hell and that they had true spiritual authority to bind or loose on earth.
Then in the midst of this optimistic and upbeat message, Jesus puts forward a dark cloud. He will go to Jerusalem and be killed. He adds that he will be raised on the third day but this seems to not be heard by Peter or the others. They get emotionally stuck on the fact that Jesus just said that he would be killed which seems to wipe out all the optimistic dreams which had just be spoken.
Peter, then takes Jesus aside privately to correct his theology. “Lord, you are the Messiah, the Messiah cannot die!” Jesus strongly rebukes Peter for this. He calls him an adversary or “Satan” since at this point he is speaking merely from the perspective of a friend and human wisdom, not inspired by the Holy Spirit. Jesus knows that suffering is part of the price of establishing God’s kingdom. Suffering is part of God’s plan.
Jesus then warns the disciples to understand that even though the gates of hell will not stand against them, this does not mean they will not suffer. No instead they must understand that their victory will come through suffering, sacrifice, and pain. Only where people are willing to suffer for the sake of God’s kingdom will the will of God be done on the earth as in heaven. The defeat of hell depends upon the sacrifice of heaven. Only by dying to earthly perspectives, pleasures, and purposes can the disciple become a source of life.
Jesus stresses that the eternal must be valued more than the temporal. The soul must be seen of greater value than the body. While His sacrifice for our sins alone the basis of our acceptance by God we must never believe that “faith” does not include turning away form immoral pleasures and purposes. To believe means to take up one’s cross and follow Jesus. We must never think to use grace and promise as an excuse for not striving to follow. Jesus will judge everything one day and He will not be mocked by people who try to “spiritually con” their way into heaven. The sincerity and reality of our faith will be tested on that day. It is therefore important that we have a faith that accepts sacrifice.
Christocentric: Jesus is Lord. He will be the final judge. He is 100% God and 100% man. His evaluation of our lives is all that matters. He will be the one that ultimately determines our eternal fate and evaluates the validity of our faith. This one person is the most important person in the entire universe. All authority and power rests in Him.
Moral: Jesus urges us to deny ourselves the comfort of false beliefs, immoral passions and uncontrolled appetites by abstinence and the acceptance of pain or discomfort from persecution and loss of ungodly pleasures as necessary elements of our discipleship.
Eternal: Every decision we make should be one that we will be proud of on the Day of Judgment when Jesus examines all our deeds. Judge everything in light of judgment day.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me have the grace and strength to take up my cross today and follow you.
Contemplation: Follow me!
Action: Let me look for ways to die to worldly perspectives and pleasures today. Help me seek the “my cross” where my will has to die in order to do the will of God. Lord, give me the grace to take up my cross today!
Friday, September 05, 2008
Love is the answer
Devotions
Reading
NLT Romans 12:9 Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful. 13 When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night. 14 If people persecute you because you are a Christian, don't curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don't try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all! 17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible. 19 Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, "I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it," says the Lord. 20 Instead, do what the Scriptures say: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you." 21 Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.
Meditation
Paul here defines what a life of genuine love would be like. He compares and contrasts the actions and attitudes that would reflect a sincere love. This love comes from a sincere faith that Jesus has died for our sins, was buried, and now is raised to glory to seal our forgiveness and redemption. Faith and hope in the true gospel creates love for God and others in our hearts.
Paul calls on to have an inward reality where we are sincere in our love and not pretending to be nice. He wants us to really hate what is evil and be passionate for taking the side of good. He wants our love to be an emotional experience and an intellectual value. We are to be enthusiastic in our lives. We are to actually feel delight in lifting others up and speaking well of them. We are to have gladness for God’s plans for our lives regardless of our circumstances as we patiently wait and pray in the midst of trouble. We are to be able to rejoice in when others are happy and weep when they are sad. Our hearts are open to have real and healthy empathy with what others are feeling. We are to be humble and aware of our ignorance. We are to guard our hearts from the attitude of revenge and vengeance which come from unresolved anger. We are to nurture a attitude of seeking and desiring peace and harmony in all our relationships as we seek to love our enemies.
This inward reality which is a fruit of faith in the gospel is to have practical application to specific activities. We are to be hard workers in whatever we do. We are to be ready to meet the needs of others with practical help to meet those needs. Our homes are to be open to having guests and we need to be ready to share our table with others. We are not to act better than others and put on airs of importance. We are to take actions that will lead to peace and harmony instead of conflict. Our actions are to be above reproach and we are not to do evil for good reasons. We are to give to our enemies what they need and to have a strategy of defeating evil by overwhelming it with acts of kindness and mercy.
Our modern world often asks what relevance faith has to modern life. Here we see that if every Christian sought to live this type of life on a daily basis that no one would ask that question. Paul has outlined a dynamic lifestyle of faith which would be powerful in its impact in the world. May God give us the faith to live such a life.
Christocentric: This life Paul has outlines is really a blue print of what it means to be like Jesus. Jesus was the one who was the incarnation of sincere love. While hating evil he loved His enemies. He was the ultimate peace maker and conquered ultimate evil by doing the ultimate good on the cross. This passage not only tells us what we should be like it tells us what Jesus is like.
Moral: Love is the ultimate moral demand. We are to love God sincerely with all our hearts and love others without hypocrisy. Love produces a moral life. Immorality at its core is a failure to love God or others as we ought to love them. The greatest moral responsibility we have is to love.
Eternal: Heave will be where we feel and experience only love. We will love God and God will love us. We will love everyone and everyone will love us. The true joy of heaven is that we will be swimming in love, acceptance, harmony, and peace.
Prayer: Lord pour out your love into my heart by having the Holy Spirit increase my faith in the gospel. Lord let my faith grow that my love might grow. Give me the gift of a loving heart.
Contemplation: I am love
Action: Let me seek an opportunity to take positive and practical action which reflects Christ like love today. Let me overcome evil today by an act of sacrificial love in my daily life. Lord give me an opportunity to show your love today in a concrete and real way.
Reading
NLT Romans 12:9 Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful. 13 When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night. 14 If people persecute you because you are a Christian, don't curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don't try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all! 17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible. 19 Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, "I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it," says the Lord. 20 Instead, do what the Scriptures say: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you." 21 Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.
Meditation
Paul here defines what a life of genuine love would be like. He compares and contrasts the actions and attitudes that would reflect a sincere love. This love comes from a sincere faith that Jesus has died for our sins, was buried, and now is raised to glory to seal our forgiveness and redemption. Faith and hope in the true gospel creates love for God and others in our hearts.
Paul calls on to have an inward reality where we are sincere in our love and not pretending to be nice. He wants us to really hate what is evil and be passionate for taking the side of good. He wants our love to be an emotional experience and an intellectual value. We are to be enthusiastic in our lives. We are to actually feel delight in lifting others up and speaking well of them. We are to have gladness for God’s plans for our lives regardless of our circumstances as we patiently wait and pray in the midst of trouble. We are to be able to rejoice in when others are happy and weep when they are sad. Our hearts are open to have real and healthy empathy with what others are feeling. We are to be humble and aware of our ignorance. We are to guard our hearts from the attitude of revenge and vengeance which come from unresolved anger. We are to nurture a attitude of seeking and desiring peace and harmony in all our relationships as we seek to love our enemies.
This inward reality which is a fruit of faith in the gospel is to have practical application to specific activities. We are to be hard workers in whatever we do. We are to be ready to meet the needs of others with practical help to meet those needs. Our homes are to be open to having guests and we need to be ready to share our table with others. We are not to act better than others and put on airs of importance. We are to take actions that will lead to peace and harmony instead of conflict. Our actions are to be above reproach and we are not to do evil for good reasons. We are to give to our enemies what they need and to have a strategy of defeating evil by overwhelming it with acts of kindness and mercy.
Our modern world often asks what relevance faith has to modern life. Here we see that if every Christian sought to live this type of life on a daily basis that no one would ask that question. Paul has outlined a dynamic lifestyle of faith which would be powerful in its impact in the world. May God give us the faith to live such a life.
Christocentric: This life Paul has outlines is really a blue print of what it means to be like Jesus. Jesus was the one who was the incarnation of sincere love. While hating evil he loved His enemies. He was the ultimate peace maker and conquered ultimate evil by doing the ultimate good on the cross. This passage not only tells us what we should be like it tells us what Jesus is like.
Moral: Love is the ultimate moral demand. We are to love God sincerely with all our hearts and love others without hypocrisy. Love produces a moral life. Immorality at its core is a failure to love God or others as we ought to love them. The greatest moral responsibility we have is to love.
Eternal: Heave will be where we feel and experience only love. We will love God and God will love us. We will love everyone and everyone will love us. The true joy of heaven is that we will be swimming in love, acceptance, harmony, and peace.
Prayer: Lord pour out your love into my heart by having the Holy Spirit increase my faith in the gospel. Lord let my faith grow that my love might grow. Give me the gift of a loving heart.
Contemplation: I am love
Action: Let me seek an opportunity to take positive and practical action which reflects Christ like love today. Let me overcome evil today by an act of sacrificial love in my daily life. Lord give me an opportunity to show your love today in a concrete and real way.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Beware Bad Company
Devotions
Reading
NLT Psalm 26:1 A psalm of David. Declare me innocent, O LORD, for I have acted with integrity; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. 2 Put me on trial, LORD, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and affections. 3 For I am constantly aware of your unfailing love, and I have lived according to your truth. 4 I do not spend time with liars or go along with hypocrites. 5 I hate the gatherings of those who do evil, and I refuse to join in with the wicked. 6 I wash my hands to declare my innocence. I come to your altar, O LORD, 7 singing a song of thanksgiving and telling of all your miracles. 8 I love your sanctuary, LORD, the place where your glory shines.
Meditation
Literal: Here we have the Psalmist declaring that he has had sincere faith in the LORD without wavering from his reliance on God’s promises. This is what he means by being “innocent”. He is innocent of lacking trust or losing faith in God’s promises of redemption through the Messiah. Now part of all sincere faith would be the confession of sins and dependence on the blood which was shed on the altar for sin.
He is so sure of his unwavering faith that he asks the LORD to put him on trial and cross examine his inner motivations and passions. He believes that he is pure of heart. He has no doubt in his sincerity.
The focus of the psalmist faith is the faithful covenant love of the LORD which is promised to all who live by faith in God’s revelation given to the people of Israel. The content of faith is defined by the scriptures. The psalmist declares he trust in the revelation of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as given through Moses. Faith must always have content.
The psalmist knows that “bad company ruins good morals” and therefore has avoided people who are not sincere in their faith and live by a double standard. He does not make his best friends those who speak about God but whose hearts are far from the LORD. When people get together to plan to get into trouble, the psalmist is sure, to avoid such social gatherings. He does not become part of “the crowd” but keeps himself out of compromising circumstances.
Instead of this the psalmist seeks out those who gather to worship. He ceremonially washes his hands to demonstrate his desire to be pure and focuses on the altar where blood sacrifice is made to pay for sins. He sings praises to the LORD and reminds himself of God’s grand narrative by declaring the mighty and wonderful deeds of the Lord in history to redeem His people. The psalmist knows that only by drawing near to God and seeking a vision of His awesome character, love, and faithful redemption can he avoid becoming part of the rebellious world system.
Christocentric: The one person who would be truly innocent was Jesus. His faithfulness was 100% and while coming to be a friend of sinners never allowed this friendship to lead him away from God. He is the one totally righteous son of David and King of Israel. He is the only one if put on trail would really pass the test of God’s holy judgment. It is because of this total purity that He could die for our sins and pay the price of our transgressions.
Moral: Do not love the world system based on unbelief and rebellion but seek the scriptures and the fellowship of those who sincerely worship God that you might believe and remain faithful.
Eternal: One day we will spend forever free from the presence of evil and face to face with God’s wonderful and awesome glory. We will be filled with a Spirit of worship, praise, and thanksgiving. Then our eyes will see all the wonders that God has performed and we willed be overwhelmed with admiration for the LORD.
Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to your glory and the wonder of all your works. Give to me a spirit of praise and thanksgiving. Teach me to worship you in spirit and truth.
Contemplation: Guard you heart against the influence of the ungodly culture
Action: What relationships draw me away from my love for God? What relationships draw me closer to the LORD? Who encourages me to be less godly? Who encourages me to be godlier? How can I seek the LORD today?
Reading
NLT Psalm 26:1 A psalm of David. Declare me innocent, O LORD, for I have acted with integrity; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. 2 Put me on trial, LORD, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and affections. 3 For I am constantly aware of your unfailing love, and I have lived according to your truth. 4 I do not spend time with liars or go along with hypocrites. 5 I hate the gatherings of those who do evil, and I refuse to join in with the wicked. 6 I wash my hands to declare my innocence. I come to your altar, O LORD, 7 singing a song of thanksgiving and telling of all your miracles. 8 I love your sanctuary, LORD, the place where your glory shines.
Meditation
Literal: Here we have the Psalmist declaring that he has had sincere faith in the LORD without wavering from his reliance on God’s promises. This is what he means by being “innocent”. He is innocent of lacking trust or losing faith in God’s promises of redemption through the Messiah. Now part of all sincere faith would be the confession of sins and dependence on the blood which was shed on the altar for sin.
He is so sure of his unwavering faith that he asks the LORD to put him on trial and cross examine his inner motivations and passions. He believes that he is pure of heart. He has no doubt in his sincerity.
The focus of the psalmist faith is the faithful covenant love of the LORD which is promised to all who live by faith in God’s revelation given to the people of Israel. The content of faith is defined by the scriptures. The psalmist declares he trust in the revelation of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as given through Moses. Faith must always have content.
The psalmist knows that “bad company ruins good morals” and therefore has avoided people who are not sincere in their faith and live by a double standard. He does not make his best friends those who speak about God but whose hearts are far from the LORD. When people get together to plan to get into trouble, the psalmist is sure, to avoid such social gatherings. He does not become part of “the crowd” but keeps himself out of compromising circumstances.
Instead of this the psalmist seeks out those who gather to worship. He ceremonially washes his hands to demonstrate his desire to be pure and focuses on the altar where blood sacrifice is made to pay for sins. He sings praises to the LORD and reminds himself of God’s grand narrative by declaring the mighty and wonderful deeds of the Lord in history to redeem His people. The psalmist knows that only by drawing near to God and seeking a vision of His awesome character, love, and faithful redemption can he avoid becoming part of the rebellious world system.
Christocentric: The one person who would be truly innocent was Jesus. His faithfulness was 100% and while coming to be a friend of sinners never allowed this friendship to lead him away from God. He is the one totally righteous son of David and King of Israel. He is the only one if put on trail would really pass the test of God’s holy judgment. It is because of this total purity that He could die for our sins and pay the price of our transgressions.
Moral: Do not love the world system based on unbelief and rebellion but seek the scriptures and the fellowship of those who sincerely worship God that you might believe and remain faithful.
Eternal: One day we will spend forever free from the presence of evil and face to face with God’s wonderful and awesome glory. We will be filled with a Spirit of worship, praise, and thanksgiving. Then our eyes will see all the wonders that God has performed and we willed be overwhelmed with admiration for the LORD.
Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to your glory and the wonder of all your works. Give to me a spirit of praise and thanksgiving. Teach me to worship you in spirit and truth.
Contemplation: Guard you heart against the influence of the ungodly culture
Action: What relationships draw me away from my love for God? What relationships draw me closer to the LORD? Who encourages me to be less godly? Who encourages me to be godlier? How can I seek the LORD today?
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Don't let the fear of people keep you from doing right!
Devotions
Reading
NLT Jeremiah 15:15 Then I said, "LORD, you know I am suffering for your sake. Punish my persecutors! Don't let them kill me! Be merciful to me and give them what they deserve! 16 Your words are what sustain me. They bring me great joy and are my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty. 17 I never joined the people in their merry feasts. I sat alone because your hand was on me. I burst with indignation at their sins. 18 Why then does my suffering continue? Why is my wound so incurable? Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook. It is like a spring that has gone dry." 19 The LORD replied, "If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak words that are worthy, you will be my spokesman. You are to influence them; do not let them influence you! 20 They will fight against you like an attacking army, but I will make you as secure as a fortified wall. They will not conquer you, for I will protect and deliver you. I, the LORD, have spoken! 21 Yes, I will certainly keep you safe from these wicked men. I will rescue you from their cruel hands."
Meditation
Literal:
We have more psychological insight into Jeremiah than any biblical character outside of Job or Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes. Jeremiah will suffer abuse. He will be abandoned and rejected by everyone. He will be verbally, emotionally, and physically abused for answering God’s call to be a prophet and give an unpopular message. He will have to say “Israel will lose” to be faithful to God. His great love for His nation and people will be questioned because he dares question their national morality and piety. In the midst of this abuse, it does not seem to him that God is protecting him by brining his worst persecutors to judgment.
Jeremiah loved God’s word and this was his strength. He hated sin and this was his grief. His hatred of sin led to isolation from the “parties” of his time which were prone to abuse of alcohol and sex as “parties” in all generations are prone. He also felt that the people were ignoring the real crisis they were in. He alone was mourning over the nation’s fall into idolatry and immorality. His heart was broken. How could they not all be weeping? In the midst of this Jeremiah is feeling God’s presence and help is distant. He is the servant of the LORD, yet he feels abandoned even by God.
The LORD speaks to him in this time of intense prayer and struggle. He tells him that he need to turn back to receive the LORD’s embrace. It is not God who has moved but him. The LORD encourages him to keep faithful to the words he has been given to speak. Do not abandon his divine mission. He will be attacked but God will be a fortress to him. His life will be preserved. Jeremiah must simply hold on and not give in to the fear of what others might do to him.
This passage points out that the righteous do suffer for doing righteousness. Living a life of faith does not automatically lead to health, wealth, and prosperity. We will lose our popularity and social standing at times if we remain faithful to God. We will feel at times that the presence of the Lord is far from us. Yet, the reality is that He is our fortress and strength. His word provides guidance, challenge, and comfort. Like Jeremiah we must remain faithful even when we are persecuted for righteousness sake.
Christological: Jeremiah is a shadow of Christ. He is the suffering servant. He is rejected by the nation he has come to save. He will suffer great psychological pain even as Jesus did in the garden of Gethsemane. It is thought that Jeremiah was martyred by being cut in two and Christ died for our sins in order to fulfill the redemptive will of God. Here in this man of sorrow we can see our Savior as he weeps over Jerusalem who is addicted to her sins.
Moral: Never abandon doing God’s will due to social pressure or persecution. Do not allow depression to keep you from being faithful.
Eternal: In the fully manifested kingdom of heaven all the wicked and cruel plans of sinful people to hurt us will be forever stopped. We will be in total safety and joy. Our fortress from harm for all eternity will be the eternal LORD himself! We will have 100% security forever. We will not be condemned by God or humanity. Instead we will live in an environment of praise, worship, and acceptance forever and forever. Amen.
Prayer: Lord keep me from being unfaithful due to the fear of other people or failure. Give me a stronger faith and an enduring spirit.
Contemplation: I am with you always
Action; Where do I need to speak boldly God’s word into my world today?
Reading
NLT Jeremiah 15:15 Then I said, "LORD, you know I am suffering for your sake. Punish my persecutors! Don't let them kill me! Be merciful to me and give them what they deserve! 16 Your words are what sustain me. They bring me great joy and are my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty. 17 I never joined the people in their merry feasts. I sat alone because your hand was on me. I burst with indignation at their sins. 18 Why then does my suffering continue? Why is my wound so incurable? Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook. It is like a spring that has gone dry." 19 The LORD replied, "If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak words that are worthy, you will be my spokesman. You are to influence them; do not let them influence you! 20 They will fight against you like an attacking army, but I will make you as secure as a fortified wall. They will not conquer you, for I will protect and deliver you. I, the LORD, have spoken! 21 Yes, I will certainly keep you safe from these wicked men. I will rescue you from their cruel hands."
Meditation
Literal:
We have more psychological insight into Jeremiah than any biblical character outside of Job or Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes. Jeremiah will suffer abuse. He will be abandoned and rejected by everyone. He will be verbally, emotionally, and physically abused for answering God’s call to be a prophet and give an unpopular message. He will have to say “Israel will lose” to be faithful to God. His great love for His nation and people will be questioned because he dares question their national morality and piety. In the midst of this abuse, it does not seem to him that God is protecting him by brining his worst persecutors to judgment.
Jeremiah loved God’s word and this was his strength. He hated sin and this was his grief. His hatred of sin led to isolation from the “parties” of his time which were prone to abuse of alcohol and sex as “parties” in all generations are prone. He also felt that the people were ignoring the real crisis they were in. He alone was mourning over the nation’s fall into idolatry and immorality. His heart was broken. How could they not all be weeping? In the midst of this Jeremiah is feeling God’s presence and help is distant. He is the servant of the LORD, yet he feels abandoned even by God.
The LORD speaks to him in this time of intense prayer and struggle. He tells him that he need to turn back to receive the LORD’s embrace. It is not God who has moved but him. The LORD encourages him to keep faithful to the words he has been given to speak. Do not abandon his divine mission. He will be attacked but God will be a fortress to him. His life will be preserved. Jeremiah must simply hold on and not give in to the fear of what others might do to him.
This passage points out that the righteous do suffer for doing righteousness. Living a life of faith does not automatically lead to health, wealth, and prosperity. We will lose our popularity and social standing at times if we remain faithful to God. We will feel at times that the presence of the Lord is far from us. Yet, the reality is that He is our fortress and strength. His word provides guidance, challenge, and comfort. Like Jeremiah we must remain faithful even when we are persecuted for righteousness sake.
Christological: Jeremiah is a shadow of Christ. He is the suffering servant. He is rejected by the nation he has come to save. He will suffer great psychological pain even as Jesus did in the garden of Gethsemane. It is thought that Jeremiah was martyred by being cut in two and Christ died for our sins in order to fulfill the redemptive will of God. Here in this man of sorrow we can see our Savior as he weeps over Jerusalem who is addicted to her sins.
Moral: Never abandon doing God’s will due to social pressure or persecution. Do not allow depression to keep you from being faithful.
Eternal: In the fully manifested kingdom of heaven all the wicked and cruel plans of sinful people to hurt us will be forever stopped. We will be in total safety and joy. Our fortress from harm for all eternity will be the eternal LORD himself! We will have 100% security forever. We will not be condemned by God or humanity. Instead we will live in an environment of praise, worship, and acceptance forever and forever. Amen.
Prayer: Lord keep me from being unfaithful due to the fear of other people or failure. Give me a stronger faith and an enduring spirit.
Contemplation: I am with you always
Action; Where do I need to speak boldly God’s word into my world today?
Monday, September 01, 2008
Exodus 3:1-15 - God working in unexpected ways
Devotions
Reading
NLT Exodus 3:1 One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he went deep into the wilderness near Sinai, the mountain of God. 2 Suddenly, the angel of the LORD appeared to him as a blazing fire in a bush. Moses was amazed because the bush was engulfed in flames, but it didn't burn up. 3 "Amazing!" Moses said to himself. "Why isn't that bush burning up? I must go over to see this." 4 When the LORD saw that he had caught Moses' attention, God called to him from the bush, "Moses! Moses!" "Here I am!" Moses replied. 5 "Do not come any closer," God told him. "Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground." 6 Then he said, "I am the God of your ancestors-- the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." When Moses heard this, he hid his face in his hands because he was afraid to look at God. 7 Then the LORD told him, "You can be sure I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries for deliverance from their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8 So I have come to rescue them from the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own good and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey-- the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites live. 9 The cries of the people of Israel have reached me, and I have seen how the Egyptians have oppressed them with heavy tasks. 10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You will lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt." 11 "But who am I to appear before Pharaoh?" Moses asked God. "How can you expect me to lead the Israelites out of Egypt?" 12 Then God told him, "I will be with you. And this will serve as proof that I have sent you: When you have brought the Israelites out of Egypt, you will return here to worship God at this very mountain." 13 But Moses protested, "If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' they won't believe me. They will ask, 'Which god are you talking about? What is his name?' Then what should I tell them?" 14 God replied, "I AM THE ONE WHO ALWAYS IS. Just tell them, 'I AM has sent me to you.' " 15 God also said, "Tell them, 'The LORD, the God of your ancestors-- the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob-- has sent me to you.' This will be my name forever; it has always been my name, and it will be used throughout all generations.
Meditation
Literal
Moses was about 80 years old when God encountered him in the burning bush. Up to this time Moses has had a life that had no real miracles and a lot of lost dreams. Saved by his mother, sister, and Pharaoh’s daughter he had become a prince of Egypt. He believed at the age of 40 that he would lead his people into a revolt against Egypt but they rejected his leadership and he ran into the desert to avoid being convicted of murder. He became the son-in-law of a Jethro, a priest of Midian, and had lived as a part of that shepherding community for 40 years feeling exiled from his people. At the age of 80 he had lost any dreams of being a great man or doing great things. There had been no miraculous intervention by God in his life. His dream of being God’s deliverer of His people had died long ago. He had become a old man who did not feel that he had gained wisdom but felt despair over the outcome of his life. At this point of despair and weakness, God comes and calls Him.
God comes to Him as the Eternal one who has made a promise to Abraham. The one who is outside of time is found in time because of His promise to Abraham. The people are to know that the God who Moses will represent is the same God that by a miracle brought Isaac to be born because He had promised Abraham that the one who would remove the curse would come through Him. God is reminding Moses and Israel of their historic faith. The name that God will forever be known by is “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” This is the covenant name of God. The God who is committed to keeping His promises of His chosen ones is the one true God.
Why does God act now? He responds to the prayers and cries of His people. God the eternal one hears His people and has compassion on them in their pain.
This passage clearly tells us that God’s ways are not our ways. His timing is not our timing. Rev. Pummel had been pastor of the First Baptist Church of Kingsville for thirty years. In that thirty years he had never seen a revival. The church had remained plateaued at about 300 people as one generation of farm and factory workers replaced another generation of farm and factory workers in the small Ohio town. Now in His sixties he did not really expect anything different. Then in a unexpected turn of events a small meeting of seven teenagers at his house explodes into 70. Dozens are getting saved. A core group want to go into full time Christian ministry. The local paper is putting the group on the front page since in a world of drugs, sex, and rock and roll there are now a group of young people turning to Jesus. No one would have guessed that at the end of the school year Rev Pummel will die having had the last year of his life be the most fruitful of over 30 years of ministry. God’s timing and our timing are never the same.
Christocentric: - Christ will be called into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tested after living a largely normal life after a miraculous birth. For thirty years he had been a faithful son and carpenter. Then he goes to be baptized by John and the heavens open and He is marked off as the anointed one of God and sent into the wilderness to be tested. It was God’s time.
Moral: Do not doubt that God has a plan just because even decades go by without a revival or reformation. God calls us to be faithful in the quiet times. We are not to doubt in the dark what God has revealed to us in the light. Cry out to God for revival and reformation and He will in time bring us seasons of awakening like we would never dream could happen.
Eternal: One day we will see the eternal one and fully experience the eternal life He has given us.
Prayer: Lord help me not fail to cry out to you and seek you for days of revival and reformation. Give me a heart of prayer. Lord, send us days of awakening and power!
Contemplation: I Am that I am
Action: Examine your life and look for the working of God that is there in the everyday events. At point in my life did I have a “burning bush” experience? How did it change me? Pray for revival without ceasing and do not be discouraged by the “quiet times”.
Reading
NLT Exodus 3:1 One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he went deep into the wilderness near Sinai, the mountain of God. 2 Suddenly, the angel of the LORD appeared to him as a blazing fire in a bush. Moses was amazed because the bush was engulfed in flames, but it didn't burn up. 3 "Amazing!" Moses said to himself. "Why isn't that bush burning up? I must go over to see this." 4 When the LORD saw that he had caught Moses' attention, God called to him from the bush, "Moses! Moses!" "Here I am!" Moses replied. 5 "Do not come any closer," God told him. "Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground." 6 Then he said, "I am the God of your ancestors-- the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." When Moses heard this, he hid his face in his hands because he was afraid to look at God. 7 Then the LORD told him, "You can be sure I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries for deliverance from their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8 So I have come to rescue them from the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own good and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey-- the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites live. 9 The cries of the people of Israel have reached me, and I have seen how the Egyptians have oppressed them with heavy tasks. 10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You will lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt." 11 "But who am I to appear before Pharaoh?" Moses asked God. "How can you expect me to lead the Israelites out of Egypt?" 12 Then God told him, "I will be with you. And this will serve as proof that I have sent you: When you have brought the Israelites out of Egypt, you will return here to worship God at this very mountain." 13 But Moses protested, "If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' they won't believe me. They will ask, 'Which god are you talking about? What is his name?' Then what should I tell them?" 14 God replied, "I AM THE ONE WHO ALWAYS IS. Just tell them, 'I AM has sent me to you.' " 15 God also said, "Tell them, 'The LORD, the God of your ancestors-- the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob-- has sent me to you.' This will be my name forever; it has always been my name, and it will be used throughout all generations.
Meditation
Literal
Moses was about 80 years old when God encountered him in the burning bush. Up to this time Moses has had a life that had no real miracles and a lot of lost dreams. Saved by his mother, sister, and Pharaoh’s daughter he had become a prince of Egypt. He believed at the age of 40 that he would lead his people into a revolt against Egypt but they rejected his leadership and he ran into the desert to avoid being convicted of murder. He became the son-in-law of a Jethro, a priest of Midian, and had lived as a part of that shepherding community for 40 years feeling exiled from his people. At the age of 80 he had lost any dreams of being a great man or doing great things. There had been no miraculous intervention by God in his life. His dream of being God’s deliverer of His people had died long ago. He had become a old man who did not feel that he had gained wisdom but felt despair over the outcome of his life. At this point of despair and weakness, God comes and calls Him.
God comes to Him as the Eternal one who has made a promise to Abraham. The one who is outside of time is found in time because of His promise to Abraham. The people are to know that the God who Moses will represent is the same God that by a miracle brought Isaac to be born because He had promised Abraham that the one who would remove the curse would come through Him. God is reminding Moses and Israel of their historic faith. The name that God will forever be known by is “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” This is the covenant name of God. The God who is committed to keeping His promises of His chosen ones is the one true God.
Why does God act now? He responds to the prayers and cries of His people. God the eternal one hears His people and has compassion on them in their pain.
This passage clearly tells us that God’s ways are not our ways. His timing is not our timing. Rev. Pummel had been pastor of the First Baptist Church of Kingsville for thirty years. In that thirty years he had never seen a revival. The church had remained plateaued at about 300 people as one generation of farm and factory workers replaced another generation of farm and factory workers in the small Ohio town. Now in His sixties he did not really expect anything different. Then in a unexpected turn of events a small meeting of seven teenagers at his house explodes into 70. Dozens are getting saved. A core group want to go into full time Christian ministry. The local paper is putting the group on the front page since in a world of drugs, sex, and rock and roll there are now a group of young people turning to Jesus. No one would have guessed that at the end of the school year Rev Pummel will die having had the last year of his life be the most fruitful of over 30 years of ministry. God’s timing and our timing are never the same.
Christocentric: - Christ will be called into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tested after living a largely normal life after a miraculous birth. For thirty years he had been a faithful son and carpenter. Then he goes to be baptized by John and the heavens open and He is marked off as the anointed one of God and sent into the wilderness to be tested. It was God’s time.
Moral: Do not doubt that God has a plan just because even decades go by without a revival or reformation. God calls us to be faithful in the quiet times. We are not to doubt in the dark what God has revealed to us in the light. Cry out to God for revival and reformation and He will in time bring us seasons of awakening like we would never dream could happen.
Eternal: One day we will see the eternal one and fully experience the eternal life He has given us.
Prayer: Lord help me not fail to cry out to you and seek you for days of revival and reformation. Give me a heart of prayer. Lord, send us days of awakening and power!
Contemplation: I Am that I am
Action: Examine your life and look for the working of God that is there in the everyday events. At point in my life did I have a “burning bush” experience? How did it change me? Pray for revival without ceasing and do not be discouraged by the “quiet times”.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Union and Communion with Jesus
Devotions
Reading
NLT 1 Corinthians 11:23 For this is what the Lord himself said, and I pass it on to you just as I received it. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took a loaf of bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant between God and you, sealed by the shedding of my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it." 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord's death until he comes again.
Meditation:
Literal: Paul was rebuking the believers in Corinth because the love feasts at which their celebration of communion took place had become very much like a pagan party. People were getting drunk and the rich had nothing to do with the poor. The ugliness of pagan life had been “baptized” and now was part of their worship services.
Paul now reminds them of the simplicity and sincerity that should be part of our keeping the Lord’s supper by taking them back to the words of Jesus himself on that night. On a night of betrayal He gave thanks. Facing His own sacrifice for sins. He worshiped at the Passover meal.
The bread is my body – remember my incarnation and physical suffering. The cup is represents the shedding of my blood – remember my spiritual suffering. It is this maximum suffering that has brought you into union and communion with God. Every spiritual blessing we have has been given to us as a gift from Jesus the Christ. It is this faith that must endure until He comes again. Therefore, remember His love and sacrifice, and be filled with joy and gratitude.
In this vision of our Lord, suffering for us and risen again we can then escape from the insanity of our pagan culture just as the Corinthians were being asked to remember the real meaning of the Lord’s supper so that they could be free from the ways of their pagan culture. May the Lord grant us such a vision as we take the Lord’s supper.
Christocentric: The Lord’s supper makes it clear. All of our salvation depends on Jesus alone. He is the one who has given us a covenant with God. His blood has reconciled us. He alone is our Savior. He wants us to remember the wonder of His sacrifice and the reality of His return.
Moral: Turn from the ways and thinking of the world. Do not just “baptize” the world and bring its principles and spirit into the church. Seek to remember the sacrifice of Jesus and make this the center of all you live.
Eternal: The Lord ’s Supper is only the beginning of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb where we will eat of heavenly manna and know face to face communion with Jesus our Lord. Come quickly Lord Jesus!
Prayer: Help me take your supper in a worthy way. Give me the faith today to remember you. Help your people remember you. Give us a fresh vision of you today.
Contemplation: Remember me!
Action: Lord, help me remember your love every day this week and in every relationship.
Reading
NLT 1 Corinthians 11:23 For this is what the Lord himself said, and I pass it on to you just as I received it. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took a loaf of bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant between God and you, sealed by the shedding of my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it." 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord's death until he comes again.
Meditation:
Literal: Paul was rebuking the believers in Corinth because the love feasts at which their celebration of communion took place had become very much like a pagan party. People were getting drunk and the rich had nothing to do with the poor. The ugliness of pagan life had been “baptized” and now was part of their worship services.
Paul now reminds them of the simplicity and sincerity that should be part of our keeping the Lord’s supper by taking them back to the words of Jesus himself on that night. On a night of betrayal He gave thanks. Facing His own sacrifice for sins. He worshiped at the Passover meal.
The bread is my body – remember my incarnation and physical suffering. The cup is represents the shedding of my blood – remember my spiritual suffering. It is this maximum suffering that has brought you into union and communion with God. Every spiritual blessing we have has been given to us as a gift from Jesus the Christ. It is this faith that must endure until He comes again. Therefore, remember His love and sacrifice, and be filled with joy and gratitude.
In this vision of our Lord, suffering for us and risen again we can then escape from the insanity of our pagan culture just as the Corinthians were being asked to remember the real meaning of the Lord’s supper so that they could be free from the ways of their pagan culture. May the Lord grant us such a vision as we take the Lord’s supper.
Christocentric: The Lord’s supper makes it clear. All of our salvation depends on Jesus alone. He is the one who has given us a covenant with God. His blood has reconciled us. He alone is our Savior. He wants us to remember the wonder of His sacrifice and the reality of His return.
Moral: Turn from the ways and thinking of the world. Do not just “baptize” the world and bring its principles and spirit into the church. Seek to remember the sacrifice of Jesus and make this the center of all you live.
Eternal: The Lord ’s Supper is only the beginning of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb where we will eat of heavenly manna and know face to face communion with Jesus our Lord. Come quickly Lord Jesus!
Prayer: Help me take your supper in a worthy way. Give me the faith today to remember you. Help your people remember you. Give us a fresh vision of you today.
Contemplation: Remember me!
Action: Lord, help me remember your love every day this week and in every relationship.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Matthew 16 - The Darkness will lose!
Devotions
Reading: NLT Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" 14 "Well," they replied, "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets." 15 Then he asked them, "Who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus replied, "You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
Meditation
When Herod the Great died in 4 B.C., his kingdom was divided, with his son Archelaeus inheriting Judea and Samaria, Herod Antipas receiving Galilee and Perea (Transjordan), and Philip taking over Gaulanitis, the territory on the Golan, east of the Jordan River and north of the Sea of Galilee. Following the example of his father, Philip built the first city at Panias, naming it Caesarea Philippi to honor the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus and to distinguish it from Caesarea Maritima on the Mediterranean coast.
Caesarea Philippi became a center of Greek-Roman culture, a city known for its pagan worship, its prestigious status as the capital city of Herod Philip’s domain, and its significant Gentile population. References to "the district of Caesarea Philippi" (Matt 16:13) and "the villages of Caesarea Philippi" (Mark 8:27) reflect the city’s status as the power center of Philip’s territory.
These factors, together with the sheer rock cliff at the worship site, made this an ideal place for Jesus to make His historic announcements. Peter’s declaration, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God," challenged the gods in the niches of the cliff and their devotees who worshiped these gods as though they actually existed. I was impressed when I was in Israel that it was here that Jesus declared that the “gates of hell” would not prevail against His church.
If Jesus were standing with His disciples in front of this sheer cliff, it would explain His use of the metaphor "rock" used in His conversation with Peter. The word He used was petra, a term that would be used to describe such a bluff. (Cf. Matt 7:24,25, ". . .who built his house upon the rock petra.") It was Jesus’ practice to teach in metaphors and parables that related to the physical context in which He was ministering, for example, "fishers of men" and "a sower went out to sow" spoken on the shore of the Sea of Galilee where fishing and sowing could readily be observed. It is likely, therefore, that on this occasion, as they stood before this rock bluff, Jesus’ choice of the metaphor, petra, reflected this practice.[1]
What is this passage teaching. First that there will be many view of concerning the identity of Jesus. Perhaps a prophet, a resurrected spirit from another time, or the second coming of Elijah. We should not be surprised when people try to make Jesus fit into their world views.
Second, that the true understanding of Jesus is that He is the promised Messiah, the anointed prophet, priest, and king and promised divine Son of God found in Psalm 2 who is worshipped by the kings of the earth. Only when we see Jesus in this light do we really understand Him.
The third teaching is that this true understanding of Jesus comes only thru divine revelation. It is the Father who must reveal this to us thru the work of the Holy Spirit in our heart. We cannot see this without divine help.
The fourth teaching is that Peter’s profession of faith will be used like a rock catapulted against the walls of a fortress and smash the “gates of hell” and lay the foundation for Christ’s Church. We see this as Peter is used to preach the gospel to the Jews, the Samaritans, and the Gentiles.
The fifth teaching is that Christ has promised His Church that they will be victorious in their struggle with unbelief in the world. The commission to make disciples of all nations will be a success. The Church is asked to minister in a very optimistic attitude.
We should be encouraged by this passage to see Jesus as the true Messiah, thank God for being able to see Him in that light, and have courage to press on in discipling the nations due to the promise of ultimate success.
Christocentric: This who passage screams at us that Jesus is the promised Messiah and assures us that though His coming did not bring in world peace and harmony as expected that the real plan of discipling the nations and overcoming the spiritual strong holds of the enemy is being accomplished. The first step towards world peace and harmony is to build the Church.
Moral: Have faith in Christ and in His plan!
Eternal: In eternity we will fully understand the greatness of how Christ planned to build His Church and overcome spiritual strongholds through the preaching of the gospel. We will see the grand design and be awed and inspired by the Wisdom of our God.
Prayer: Lord, let me see you more clearly, that I might love you more dearly, and follow you more dearly this day.
Contemplation: Take courage: I have won!
Action: What can I do to join the Christ in building His Church? Do it now!
[1] http://www.ancientsandals.com/overviews/caesarea_philippi.htm
Reading: NLT Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" 14 "Well," they replied, "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets." 15 Then he asked them, "Who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus replied, "You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
Meditation
When Herod the Great died in 4 B.C., his kingdom was divided, with his son Archelaeus inheriting Judea and Samaria, Herod Antipas receiving Galilee and Perea (Transjordan), and Philip taking over Gaulanitis, the territory on the Golan, east of the Jordan River and north of the Sea of Galilee. Following the example of his father, Philip built the first city at Panias, naming it Caesarea Philippi to honor the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus and to distinguish it from Caesarea Maritima on the Mediterranean coast.
Caesarea Philippi became a center of Greek-Roman culture, a city known for its pagan worship, its prestigious status as the capital city of Herod Philip’s domain, and its significant Gentile population. References to "the district of Caesarea Philippi" (Matt 16:13) and "the villages of Caesarea Philippi" (Mark 8:27) reflect the city’s status as the power center of Philip’s territory.
These factors, together with the sheer rock cliff at the worship site, made this an ideal place for Jesus to make His historic announcements. Peter’s declaration, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God," challenged the gods in the niches of the cliff and their devotees who worshiped these gods as though they actually existed. I was impressed when I was in Israel that it was here that Jesus declared that the “gates of hell” would not prevail against His church.
If Jesus were standing with His disciples in front of this sheer cliff, it would explain His use of the metaphor "rock" used in His conversation with Peter. The word He used was petra, a term that would be used to describe such a bluff. (Cf. Matt 7:24,25, ". . .who built his house upon the rock petra.") It was Jesus’ practice to teach in metaphors and parables that related to the physical context in which He was ministering, for example, "fishers of men" and "a sower went out to sow" spoken on the shore of the Sea of Galilee where fishing and sowing could readily be observed. It is likely, therefore, that on this occasion, as they stood before this rock bluff, Jesus’ choice of the metaphor, petra, reflected this practice.[1]
What is this passage teaching. First that there will be many view of concerning the identity of Jesus. Perhaps a prophet, a resurrected spirit from another time, or the second coming of Elijah. We should not be surprised when people try to make Jesus fit into their world views.
Second, that the true understanding of Jesus is that He is the promised Messiah, the anointed prophet, priest, and king and promised divine Son of God found in Psalm 2 who is worshipped by the kings of the earth. Only when we see Jesus in this light do we really understand Him.
The third teaching is that this true understanding of Jesus comes only thru divine revelation. It is the Father who must reveal this to us thru the work of the Holy Spirit in our heart. We cannot see this without divine help.
The fourth teaching is that Peter’s profession of faith will be used like a rock catapulted against the walls of a fortress and smash the “gates of hell” and lay the foundation for Christ’s Church. We see this as Peter is used to preach the gospel to the Jews, the Samaritans, and the Gentiles.
The fifth teaching is that Christ has promised His Church that they will be victorious in their struggle with unbelief in the world. The commission to make disciples of all nations will be a success. The Church is asked to minister in a very optimistic attitude.
We should be encouraged by this passage to see Jesus as the true Messiah, thank God for being able to see Him in that light, and have courage to press on in discipling the nations due to the promise of ultimate success.
Christocentric: This who passage screams at us that Jesus is the promised Messiah and assures us that though His coming did not bring in world peace and harmony as expected that the real plan of discipling the nations and overcoming the spiritual strong holds of the enemy is being accomplished. The first step towards world peace and harmony is to build the Church.
Moral: Have faith in Christ and in His plan!
Eternal: In eternity we will fully understand the greatness of how Christ planned to build His Church and overcome spiritual strongholds through the preaching of the gospel. We will see the grand design and be awed and inspired by the Wisdom of our God.
Prayer: Lord, let me see you more clearly, that I might love you more dearly, and follow you more dearly this day.
Contemplation: Take courage: I have won!
Action: What can I do to join the Christ in building His Church? Do it now!
[1] http://www.ancientsandals.com/overviews/caesarea_philippi.htm
Friday, August 29, 2008
Psalm 138 - You give me strength and give me success!
Devotions
Reading: NLT Psalm 138:1 A psalm of David. I give you thanks, O LORD, with all my heart; I will sing your praises before the gods. 2 I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I will give thanks to your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness, because your promises are backed by all the honor of your name. 3 When I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me the strength I need. 4 Every king in all the earth will give you thanks, O LORD, for all of them will hear your words. 5 Yes, they will sing about the LORD's ways, for the glory of the LORD is very great. 6 Though the LORD is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud. 7 Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will preserve me against the anger of my enemies. You will clench your fist against my angry enemies! Your power will save me. 8 The LORD will work out his plans for my life-- for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don't abandon me, for you made me.
Meditation
Literal
Verse 1. The false gods were the gods of other countries, like Babylon and Assyria. These “gods” could also be the pagan political rulers who claimed many times to be gods or sons of gods. "*Praises" are words that say how great somebody is. So the psalmist is saying that in the presence of idols that the pagans depend to give them power and the great men who claim to be walking demi-gods, he will sing the greatness of The LORD.
In these circumstances the *psalmist writes about the *LORD. The *LORD is a special name for God. It is the "*covenant" name for God. A *covenant is when there is a promise given between two people. This promise can be conditional or unconditional. The LORD has unconditionally promised to love and give help to the people He has chosen. "With all my *heart" is a Hebrew (and English) way to say, "as well as I possibly can".
Verse 2. "Your name" means more than just "God" or "*LORD". It means everything that God is. The "unfailing and faithful love" is a special Bible word. It means the love that God has for his people:
· will never finish;
· will always send help.
These promises are fully guaranteed by God. He will keep His word.
Verse 3. God gave David strength. This is what David would write. Often, when he wanted help, he prayed to the *LORD. The *LORD always answered him. Not by keeping him from having problems but by giving him the strength to get through the problem. David knew that this strength to endure was not his strength but the LORD’s strength given him.
Verses 4 and 5. The day is coming when every leader of every land will hear the word of the LORD. They:
· thanked him (verse 4); and
· sang about it (verse 5).
God has *glory because he is infinite in greatness both in character and in deeds. He is very, very great. So spiritually speaking the greatness and wonder of the LORD shines as the sun shines! That is what "*glory" means.
Verse 6. This is about two groups of people. One group is people that need help. God is high above us in eternity. But he can still see who needs help. He also sees the *proud people. These people think that they are so good that they do not need help and reject God’s word concerning their need.
Verse 7. "The right hand of God" is a Hebrew way to say "what God does on the earth". We could translate it, "by the power of God". God will ultimately protect us from our enemies and give us victory over the satanic forces of darkness. The pagan kings and their gods will not have the ultimate victory in my life. This belongs to the LORD.
Verse 8. This great LORD will accomplish His plan for my life. He will cause every one of his people to know true eternal success.
--------------------------------------------------
Christocentric Perspective – Christ is the fulfilment of all the promises of God. It is through Him that the ultimate enemy Satan has been defeated. His death on the cross, burial, and resurrection has brought the power of God into history through the Holy Spirit in the lives of the Church. The great commission will take the message of Christ and disciple every nation. The gates of hell will not prevail against Christ’s church and the His purpose for us will be totally fulfilled.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moral Perspective - I should trust in and give praise for the faithful love of the LORD.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eternal: In the eternal kingdom we will dwell before the Lord and see His Glory face to face. We will be filled with thankfulness and see every enemy of our soul totally crushed and powerless. We will give praise to the LORD out of the fullness of our heart and with every atom of our being. This intense and total worship will fulfil us more than anything else we have ever experienced. This is our ultimate destiny as believers in Jesus Christ.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prayer: Lord let me see your greatness, express wonder and praise for your greatness, and give to me the strength I need to get through all the struggles I face today. Let me know this is your strength and not mine.
---------------------------------------------------
Contemplation: In Christ is the victory!
---------------------------------------------------
Action: I will not fear what I read in the paper about politics but I will rejoice in the promises of God to me in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Reading: NLT Psalm 138:1 A psalm of David. I give you thanks, O LORD, with all my heart; I will sing your praises before the gods. 2 I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I will give thanks to your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness, because your promises are backed by all the honor of your name. 3 When I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me the strength I need. 4 Every king in all the earth will give you thanks, O LORD, for all of them will hear your words. 5 Yes, they will sing about the LORD's ways, for the glory of the LORD is very great. 6 Though the LORD is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud. 7 Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will preserve me against the anger of my enemies. You will clench your fist against my angry enemies! Your power will save me. 8 The LORD will work out his plans for my life-- for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don't abandon me, for you made me.
Meditation
Literal
Verse 1. The false gods were the gods of other countries, like Babylon and Assyria. These “gods” could also be the pagan political rulers who claimed many times to be gods or sons of gods. "*Praises" are words that say how great somebody is. So the psalmist is saying that in the presence of idols that the pagans depend to give them power and the great men who claim to be walking demi-gods, he will sing the greatness of The LORD.
In these circumstances the *psalmist writes about the *LORD. The *LORD is a special name for God. It is the "*covenant" name for God. A *covenant is when there is a promise given between two people. This promise can be conditional or unconditional. The LORD has unconditionally promised to love and give help to the people He has chosen. "With all my *heart" is a Hebrew (and English) way to say, "as well as I possibly can".
Verse 2. "Your name" means more than just "God" or "*LORD". It means everything that God is. The "unfailing and faithful love" is a special Bible word. It means the love that God has for his people:
· will never finish;
· will always send help.
These promises are fully guaranteed by God. He will keep His word.
Verse 3. God gave David strength. This is what David would write. Often, when he wanted help, he prayed to the *LORD. The *LORD always answered him. Not by keeping him from having problems but by giving him the strength to get through the problem. David knew that this strength to endure was not his strength but the LORD’s strength given him.
Verses 4 and 5. The day is coming when every leader of every land will hear the word of the LORD. They:
· thanked him (verse 4); and
· sang about it (verse 5).
God has *glory because he is infinite in greatness both in character and in deeds. He is very, very great. So spiritually speaking the greatness and wonder of the LORD shines as the sun shines! That is what "*glory" means.
Verse 6. This is about two groups of people. One group is people that need help. God is high above us in eternity. But he can still see who needs help. He also sees the *proud people. These people think that they are so good that they do not need help and reject God’s word concerning their need.
Verse 7. "The right hand of God" is a Hebrew way to say "what God does on the earth". We could translate it, "by the power of God". God will ultimately protect us from our enemies and give us victory over the satanic forces of darkness. The pagan kings and their gods will not have the ultimate victory in my life. This belongs to the LORD.
Verse 8. This great LORD will accomplish His plan for my life. He will cause every one of his people to know true eternal success.
--------------------------------------------------
Christocentric Perspective – Christ is the fulfilment of all the promises of God. It is through Him that the ultimate enemy Satan has been defeated. His death on the cross, burial, and resurrection has brought the power of God into history through the Holy Spirit in the lives of the Church. The great commission will take the message of Christ and disciple every nation. The gates of hell will not prevail against Christ’s church and the His purpose for us will be totally fulfilled.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moral Perspective - I should trust in and give praise for the faithful love of the LORD.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eternal: In the eternal kingdom we will dwell before the Lord and see His Glory face to face. We will be filled with thankfulness and see every enemy of our soul totally crushed and powerless. We will give praise to the LORD out of the fullness of our heart and with every atom of our being. This intense and total worship will fulfil us more than anything else we have ever experienced. This is our ultimate destiny as believers in Jesus Christ.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prayer: Lord let me see your greatness, express wonder and praise for your greatness, and give to me the strength I need to get through all the struggles I face today. Let me know this is your strength and not mine.
---------------------------------------------------
Contemplation: In Christ is the victory!
---------------------------------------------------
Action: I will not fear what I read in the paper about politics but I will rejoice in the promises of God to me in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Isaiah 51 - Hope in the middle of trouble
Reading
NLT Isaiah 51:1 "Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance-- all who seek the LORD! Consider the quarry from which you were mined, the rock from which you were cut! 2 Yes, think about your ancestors Abraham and Sarah, from whom you came. Abraham was alone when I called him. But when I blessed him, he became a great nation." 3 The LORD will comfort Israel again and make her deserts blossom. Her barren wilderness will become as beautiful as Eden-- the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found there. Lovely songs of thanksgiving will fill the air. 4 "Listen to me, my people. Hear me, Israel, for my law will be proclaimed, and my justice will become a light to the nations. 5 My mercy and justice are coming soon. Your salvation is on the way. I will rule the nations. They will wait for me and long for my power. 6 Look up to the skies above, and gaze down on the earth beneath. For the skies will disappear like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a piece of clothing. The people of the earth will die like flies, but my salvation lasts forever. My righteous rule will never end!
Meditation:
Literal Interpretation:
This was written to give Israel hope of a future redemption even though in the present they were faced with devastation and judgment because of their sins. The LORD is assuring his people that the promises given to Abraham that his descendents would be inherit the world would yet be kept. The Kingdom of God will be established and fill the earth.
This passage breaks into the following parts
I. Listen and Consider (1)
II. Abraham began without hope of family and ended up with a great nation (2)
III. Therefore: Israel who now seems without hope with become great again (3)
IV. Listen & Hear – (4a)
V. I will bless all nations thru Abraham’s children (4b)
VI. The Kingdom of God is coming soon! (5)
VII. Look! Creation will wear out but my Kingdom will never end! (6)
The point God is making is this. Prophecy has a practical purpose. To keep us from getting discouraged or defeated! Rough times come but God’s purposes cannot fail! You and I are part of something huge. We are part of the LORD’s kingdom which cannot fail will never end! Remember you are part of the kingdom that cannot be defeated! Use that to help you have courage to face the battles of today!
Christocentric perspective: This passage is soaked in promises of the Messiah and the extension of the gospel throughout the world. Christ is the fulfillment of all the promises given to Abraham (Romans 4). The word for “law” here can also be translated “teaching” and could easily refer to the spread of the gospel to all nations. Clearly, the purpose of the LORD was to bless all nations thru Jesus even in the Old Testament. The fact that such bold affirmation of the great commission was proclaimed in Isaiah’s day should give us confidence of the reality of all that Christ Jesus claims to be! It also tells us the importance of seeking to fulfill the great commission in our lives today!
Moral perspective: This passage would tell us to “Listen, Consider, Hear, and Look” at the promises of God found in the gospel. We are to fight the discouragement we feel when trouble and trial come by focusing on the good news of God assurances that evil, error, abuse, and attacks will not be the final word of human history. We are to find courage to live a faithful life by reminding ourselves that God is faithful!
Eternal perspective: This passage gives us a vision of a perfect kingdom of justice, order, paradise, Eden, prosperity, joy, happiness, lovely songs, and thanksgiving. This is our future and destiny because Christ has died for our sins. A perfect kingdom of peace, righteousness, and joy! The struggles of this life will seem small in light of the glory found in this final and eternal kingdom of the LORD.
Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, may your name be glorified! Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven! LORD, encourage my heart today by reminding me of your kingdom promises!
Contemplation: Come unto me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest!
Action: Preach the gospel to myself today! Seek to preach the gospel to others today! Seek to know joy in the gospel today!
NLT Isaiah 51:1 "Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance-- all who seek the LORD! Consider the quarry from which you were mined, the rock from which you were cut! 2 Yes, think about your ancestors Abraham and Sarah, from whom you came. Abraham was alone when I called him. But when I blessed him, he became a great nation." 3 The LORD will comfort Israel again and make her deserts blossom. Her barren wilderness will become as beautiful as Eden-- the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found there. Lovely songs of thanksgiving will fill the air. 4 "Listen to me, my people. Hear me, Israel, for my law will be proclaimed, and my justice will become a light to the nations. 5 My mercy and justice are coming soon. Your salvation is on the way. I will rule the nations. They will wait for me and long for my power. 6 Look up to the skies above, and gaze down on the earth beneath. For the skies will disappear like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a piece of clothing. The people of the earth will die like flies, but my salvation lasts forever. My righteous rule will never end!
Meditation:
Literal Interpretation:
This was written to give Israel hope of a future redemption even though in the present they were faced with devastation and judgment because of their sins. The LORD is assuring his people that the promises given to Abraham that his descendents would be inherit the world would yet be kept. The Kingdom of God will be established and fill the earth.
This passage breaks into the following parts
I. Listen and Consider (1)
II. Abraham began without hope of family and ended up with a great nation (2)
III. Therefore: Israel who now seems without hope with become great again (3)
IV. Listen & Hear – (4a)
V. I will bless all nations thru Abraham’s children (4b)
VI. The Kingdom of God is coming soon! (5)
VII. Look! Creation will wear out but my Kingdom will never end! (6)
The point God is making is this. Prophecy has a practical purpose. To keep us from getting discouraged or defeated! Rough times come but God’s purposes cannot fail! You and I are part of something huge. We are part of the LORD’s kingdom which cannot fail will never end! Remember you are part of the kingdom that cannot be defeated! Use that to help you have courage to face the battles of today!
Christocentric perspective: This passage is soaked in promises of the Messiah and the extension of the gospel throughout the world. Christ is the fulfillment of all the promises given to Abraham (Romans 4). The word for “law” here can also be translated “teaching” and could easily refer to the spread of the gospel to all nations. Clearly, the purpose of the LORD was to bless all nations thru Jesus even in the Old Testament. The fact that such bold affirmation of the great commission was proclaimed in Isaiah’s day should give us confidence of the reality of all that Christ Jesus claims to be! It also tells us the importance of seeking to fulfill the great commission in our lives today!
Moral perspective: This passage would tell us to “Listen, Consider, Hear, and Look” at the promises of God found in the gospel. We are to fight the discouragement we feel when trouble and trial come by focusing on the good news of God assurances that evil, error, abuse, and attacks will not be the final word of human history. We are to find courage to live a faithful life by reminding ourselves that God is faithful!
Eternal perspective: This passage gives us a vision of a perfect kingdom of justice, order, paradise, Eden, prosperity, joy, happiness, lovely songs, and thanksgiving. This is our future and destiny because Christ has died for our sins. A perfect kingdom of peace, righteousness, and joy! The struggles of this life will seem small in light of the glory found in this final and eternal kingdom of the LORD.
Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, may your name be glorified! Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven! LORD, encourage my heart today by reminding me of your kingdom promises!
Contemplation: Come unto me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest!
Action: Preach the gospel to myself today! Seek to preach the gospel to others today! Seek to know joy in the gospel today!
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