Today’s Reading: Joshua 21; Joshua 22; Psalm 47; 1 Corinthians 10
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:1-6
1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. 6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.
Observation: The story of the Israelites in the wilderness always amazes me! Here are people who have been freed from slavery at the hand of the most powerful empire on earth. They have been delivered by God having walked through the middle of the Red Sea and have witnessed the army of Egypt destroyed as the seas came crashing in on them. They have the pillar of cloud by night and the pillar of fire by day. They have seen God’s presence on Mount Sinai as fire, smoke, and lightning. They have eaten manna that God provided six days a week (with a break on the sabbath). And yet, most of them were insufferable: complaining, grumbling, rebelling again and again and again. Here, Paul writes to the Corinthians and makes this same point. The Israelites were full participants in the spiritual miracle provision of God. They were baptized (vs. 2) and participated in a type of “communion” by eating the bread and drinking the cup. The drink they received was like the cup of communion in that it even flowed from Christ Himself as Paul says He was the rock from which God supplied their water (vs. 4). (By the way, this is the definition of the word “fountainhead”: a stream that flows from out of a rock.) But the truly sobering fact is that even though they had fully participated in all these spiritual wonders and provisions by God, they were not right with God. And most of them, because they didn’t please God, ended up dead in the desert.
Application: Paul is calling us to serious thinking — for you and me to consider carefully our walk before God. Don’t be casual about it. If these people who had experienced all those wonders and blessings could end up apart from God, we better not take God’s blessing for granted! Notice the conclusion that Paul delivers: “Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.” (vs. 6). So there it is. Don’t set your heart on evil things. As I think about what they did and the warning of danger that Paul gives, the most evil thing that one can set his heart on is self — prideful self. Those who ended up dead were selfish, prideful, and rebellious grumblers and complainers who always found fault with everything. They were instant in their criticisms and complaints and very vocal about it all. They found others who, like them, saw the flaw in every situation and they banded together to resist the leaders. But it all was rooted in pride and self-centeredness. So I must work to not set my heart on me and my own interests. I must set my heart on God and His Kingdom. There is an acrostic that I remember from Sunday School as a kid. It spelled JOY and it was Jesus - Others - You. Put Jesus first. Then think of others. And put yourself last. That makes sense to me. And it works not only to bring joy to me, but also to God Who will look upon such a life with a smile and great blessing.
Prayer: Father, I want my life to be pleasing to You. I want to follow You and Your ways and turn away from self-centeredness and self-determination. My pride is strong and ugly. I renounce it now and ask You to help me to crucify my sinful nature and to walk in the power of Your Spirit. May my life be an example of Your blessing. Thank You for the lessons of those who lived apart from You and may I pay attention to them. I am not my own — I belong to You and I thank You for paying the price to redeem me. May I always live for You.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Friday, March 24, 2006
Title: The Athlete / Topic: Spiritual Life
Today’s Reading: Joshua 18; Joshua 19; Joshua 20; 1 Corinthians 9
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:26-27
Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Observation: Sounds like a fight is going on! Notice the action words: run, running, fight, beating. Here is a picture of some intense action. Paul speaks of the Christian life as an athletic event. So things we relate to athletic activity, we can apply to the Christian life: training, discipline, hard work, preparation, injury and healing, weight training, cardio workouts, competition, etc. In this passage, Paul emphasizes goal setting and purposeful training. He is not “like a man running aimlessly.” In other words, he has a goal he is pursuing. And he’s not “like a man beating the air,” so he’s not shadow boxing. No, he has a real opponent. So he tells us of his dedicated and difficult training regimen: “I beat my body.” He is hard on himself. And the purpose is so that his body serves his goal rather than his goal being subject to his body. “I beat my body and make it my slave” is how he puts it. The last part of this passage is startling because in it he indicates that he does not consider himself guaranteed into the winners’ circle. And I don’t think he’s worried about not winning first place. He says “disqualified for the prize.” I take that to mean that he's concerned he may be disallowed from the reward ceremony which is heaven! And it shocks me that Paul would think that. But, apparently, this possibility is a big part of what motivated Paul to stay in shape spiritually and to not give up his training.
Application: We have much to learn from Paul. Do I think of my Christian life as an athletic event? Or is it a leisurely stroll? Do I have a spiritual goal like an athlete who works hard toward weight or time targets? Or do I just go with the flow? Do my activities all work toward one purposeful direction in my life? Or am I often scattered and distracted? Am I disciplined toward a destiny? Or am I satisfied with “whatever”? Does my motivation contain a fearful consequence of failure? Or am I just naively ambling about? I have much to learn from Paul. I need work on: goal setting, my attitude, my work ethic, my focus, my thought process, my training, my motivation, my lack of intensity, my passion.
Prayer: Lord, I have been lax. Thank You for Paul and for his challenging lifestyle. I want to emulate his dedication and relentless pursuit of You and Your kingdom. Help me to implement the disciplines and endure the rigors of training and preparation that I may be the most effective competitor. May I never forget that the stakes are high and that eternity hangs in the balance. I am Yours. Make me the best I can be.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:26-27
Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Observation: Sounds like a fight is going on! Notice the action words: run, running, fight, beating. Here is a picture of some intense action. Paul speaks of the Christian life as an athletic event. So things we relate to athletic activity, we can apply to the Christian life: training, discipline, hard work, preparation, injury and healing, weight training, cardio workouts, competition, etc. In this passage, Paul emphasizes goal setting and purposeful training. He is not “like a man running aimlessly.” In other words, he has a goal he is pursuing. And he’s not “like a man beating the air,” so he’s not shadow boxing. No, he has a real opponent. So he tells us of his dedicated and difficult training regimen: “I beat my body.” He is hard on himself. And the purpose is so that his body serves his goal rather than his goal being subject to his body. “I beat my body and make it my slave” is how he puts it. The last part of this passage is startling because in it he indicates that he does not consider himself guaranteed into the winners’ circle. And I don’t think he’s worried about not winning first place. He says “disqualified for the prize.” I take that to mean that he's concerned he may be disallowed from the reward ceremony which is heaven! And it shocks me that Paul would think that. But, apparently, this possibility is a big part of what motivated Paul to stay in shape spiritually and to not give up his training.
Application: We have much to learn from Paul. Do I think of my Christian life as an athletic event? Or is it a leisurely stroll? Do I have a spiritual goal like an athlete who works hard toward weight or time targets? Or do I just go with the flow? Do my activities all work toward one purposeful direction in my life? Or am I often scattered and distracted? Am I disciplined toward a destiny? Or am I satisfied with “whatever”? Does my motivation contain a fearful consequence of failure? Or am I just naively ambling about? I have much to learn from Paul. I need work on: goal setting, my attitude, my work ethic, my focus, my thought process, my training, my motivation, my lack of intensity, my passion.
Prayer: Lord, I have been lax. Thank You for Paul and for his challenging lifestyle. I want to emulate his dedication and relentless pursuit of You and Your kingdom. Help me to implement the disciplines and endure the rigors of training and preparation that I may be the most effective competitor. May I never forget that the stakes are high and that eternity hangs in the balance. I am Yours. Make me the best I can be.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Title: “Yet For Us” / Topic: The Christian Distinctive
Today’s Reading: Joshua 15; Joshua 16; Joshua 17; 1 Corinthians 8
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
Observation: We as Christians are called to live differently. Here, Paul makes a statement that is easy to breeze past as he makes his main point. Let's stop and pay attention. The first phrase “yet for us” is the preamble which draws our attention to the fact that there is to be a contrast between us and those who possess many “gods and lords” (vs.5). Paul states that in distinction to those who have many, we have “one God” and “one Lord.” What caught my eye were the differences between the words Paul used to describe the Father and Jesus Christ:
one God - vs - one Lord
the Father - vs - Jesus Christ
from whom all things came - vs - through whom all things came
for whom we live - vs - through whom we live
What are we to take from this?
Application: “Yet for us…” We are to live with focus. Let me list the points and comment on them phrase by phrase:
1) “one God” [not a multitude of gods to distract],
2) “the Father” [a paternal and loving relationship],
3) “from whom all things came” [the Source of all being],
4) “for whom we live” [this follows as a natural conclusion to 1, 2, and 3 above. It only makes sense to live for this one loving and exclusive Source.],
5) “one Lord” [the one to serve and submit to as my Leader],
6) “Jesus Christ” [the Savior, the Name above all names, the only Name by which anyone can be saved],
7) “through whom all things came” [He was the vehicle of creation. "Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." John 1:3],
8) “through whom we live” [While we live for the Father, we live through Jesus Christ. It is He who took our sin, guilt, and shame, and Who imparts to us His righteousness and standing as the Heir to the Father by the new covenant. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20]
I must reckon myself holy (that is, set apart) from the rest of the world with a single focus based on Whose I am — I belong to the one true God: Father, Creator, Source, Reason for living, and the one true Lord: Jesus, Savior, Word of God, and Power for life. My life must be distinctive and that distinctiveness should be obvious to all who observe.
Prayer: Lord, help me to keep my focus sharp. I confess that I can be easily distracted by the many voices and messages clamoring for my attention. But I ask You to be my one exclusive Source and Focus. I need Your help and reminders to stay on the bulls eye. I want to and I will walk in Your strength to please You — and to become all You want me to be.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
Observation: We as Christians are called to live differently. Here, Paul makes a statement that is easy to breeze past as he makes his main point. Let's stop and pay attention. The first phrase “yet for us” is the preamble which draws our attention to the fact that there is to be a contrast between us and those who possess many “gods and lords” (vs.5). Paul states that in distinction to those who have many, we have “one God” and “one Lord.” What caught my eye were the differences between the words Paul used to describe the Father and Jesus Christ:
the Father - vs - Jesus Christ
from whom all things came - vs - through whom all things came
for whom we live - vs - through whom we live
What are we to take from this?
Application: “Yet for us…” We are to live with focus. Let me list the points and comment on them phrase by phrase:
1) “one God” [not a multitude of gods to distract],
2) “the Father” [a paternal and loving relationship],
3) “from whom all things came” [the Source of all being],
4) “for whom we live” [this follows as a natural conclusion to 1, 2, and 3 above. It only makes sense to live for this one loving and exclusive Source.],
5) “one Lord” [the one to serve and submit to as my Leader],
6) “Jesus Christ” [the Savior, the Name above all names, the only Name by which anyone can be saved],
7) “through whom all things came” [He was the vehicle of creation. "Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." John 1:3],
8) “through whom we live” [While we live for the Father, we live through Jesus Christ. It is He who took our sin, guilt, and shame, and Who imparts to us His righteousness and standing as the Heir to the Father by the new covenant. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20]
I must reckon myself holy (that is, set apart) from the rest of the world with a single focus based on Whose I am — I belong to the one true God: Father, Creator, Source, Reason for living, and the one true Lord: Jesus, Savior, Word of God, and Power for life. My life must be distinctive and that distinctiveness should be obvious to all who observe.
Prayer: Lord, help me to keep my focus sharp. I confess that I can be easily distracted by the many voices and messages clamoring for my attention. But I ask You to be my one exclusive Source and Focus. I need Your help and reminders to stay on the bulls eye. I want to and I will walk in Your strength to please You — and to become all You want me to be.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Title: The Best Inheritance / Topic: Materialism
Today’s Reading: Joshua 12; Joshua 13; Joshua 14; 1 Corinthians 7
Scripture: Joshua 13:14, 33; Joshua 14:6-14
14 But to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance, since the offerings made by fire to the LORD, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he promised them…
33 But to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance; the LORD, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he promised them.
Observation: [Today’s reading is tough! Sometimes the reading is rich and filled with great truths. Today is the other end of the spectrum with some awfully dry passages.] However, something did catch my attention. It was what the Levites got. While all the other tribes receive allotments of land, they get none. Their inheritance is listed in verse 14 as the “the offerings made by fire to the LORD”. In other words, they don’t get land, they get meat! This verse makes it seem like they get cheated to me. But there is another mention of the Levite’s inheritance in verse 33: “…the LORD, the God of Israel, is their inheritance”! Now there’s a great inheritance! That’s a lot better than land. Isn’t it? I pose that question because we do focus on material possessions and property. Even as Christians, we are materialistic people.
Application: Would I be happy to receive no land but only the Lord as my inheritance? I would hope so. But I have to check my heart. I love the Lord and I have followed Him for forty-five years, but I also love the stuff of this life: my house, tools, money, toys, etc. And the truth is that Jesus does call us to be willing to give it all up and follow Him. That is, after all, what being crucified means. “If anyone would be my disciple he must take up his cross daily and follow me.” So I have to be on guard to keep my heart attached to the Lord and cut the attachments to the stuff. We need to think about what things we can do to strengthen the connection to the Lord and weaken the connection to the stuff. The spiritual connection is strengthened by spiritual activity (prayer, scripture reading, fasting, sacrificial giving, serving, sharing). The material connection is weakened by shunning material activity (indulgence, selfishness, hoarding, prideful displays, preening, strutting, scheming). I need to consider the things I give myself to so that I may “lay up treasures in heaven, which are not decayed by moth or rust and where thieves do not break in and steal.” What is my treasure? What is my inheritance? What do I demonstrate to others in these matters? What do my kids think is true of me in this area?
Prayer: Lord, I want to value You above all other things. And I want to live in such a way as others clearly see You as the primary objective of my life. Help me to not be attached to the stuff of this world. I want to use the material things You give me here to advance Your Kingdom and not my own. I thank You that You have given Yourself to Your people as a lasting inheritance. I love You because You have first loved me. I give myself to You because You gave Yourself first to me. May I always live like a man who belongs to God.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Joshua 13:14, 33; Joshua 14:6-14
14 But to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance, since the offerings made by fire to the LORD, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he promised them…
33 But to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance; the LORD, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he promised them.
Observation: [Today’s reading is tough! Sometimes the reading is rich and filled with great truths. Today is the other end of the spectrum with some awfully dry passages.] However, something did catch my attention. It was what the Levites got. While all the other tribes receive allotments of land, they get none. Their inheritance is listed in verse 14 as the “the offerings made by fire to the LORD”. In other words, they don’t get land, they get meat! This verse makes it seem like they get cheated to me. But there is another mention of the Levite’s inheritance in verse 33: “…the LORD, the God of Israel, is their inheritance”! Now there’s a great inheritance! That’s a lot better than land. Isn’t it? I pose that question because we do focus on material possessions and property. Even as Christians, we are materialistic people.
Application: Would I be happy to receive no land but only the Lord as my inheritance? I would hope so. But I have to check my heart. I love the Lord and I have followed Him for forty-five years, but I also love the stuff of this life: my house, tools, money, toys, etc. And the truth is that Jesus does call us to be willing to give it all up and follow Him. That is, after all, what being crucified means. “If anyone would be my disciple he must take up his cross daily and follow me.” So I have to be on guard to keep my heart attached to the Lord and cut the attachments to the stuff. We need to think about what things we can do to strengthen the connection to the Lord and weaken the connection to the stuff. The spiritual connection is strengthened by spiritual activity (prayer, scripture reading, fasting, sacrificial giving, serving, sharing). The material connection is weakened by shunning material activity (indulgence, selfishness, hoarding, prideful displays, preening, strutting, scheming). I need to consider the things I give myself to so that I may “lay up treasures in heaven, which are not decayed by moth or rust and where thieves do not break in and steal.” What is my treasure? What is my inheritance? What do I demonstrate to others in these matters? What do my kids think is true of me in this area?
Prayer: Lord, I want to value You above all other things. And I want to live in such a way as others clearly see You as the primary objective of my life. Help me to not be attached to the stuff of this world. I want to use the material things You give me here to advance Your Kingdom and not my own. I thank You that You have given Yourself to Your people as a lasting inheritance. I love You because You have first loved me. I give myself to You because You gave Yourself first to me. May I always live like a man who belongs to God.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Title: Brutal But Beautiful / Topic: Discipleship
Today’s Reading: Joshua 9; Joshua 10; Joshua 11; 1 Corinthians 6
Scripture: Joshua 10:22-26
Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me." So they brought the five kings out of the cave — the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon. When they had brought these kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, "Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings." So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks. Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you are going to fight." Then Joshua struck and killed the kings and hung them on five trees, and they were left hanging on the trees until evening.
Observation: This is a brutal scene — but there is a beautiful principle demonstrated here. Joshua and the Israeli army are in the process of wiping out a force of five combined armies and have captured in a cave the kings of the five cities that joined together against Israel. Right here we see Joshua in the role of not just the leader or commander, but we see Joshua as the discipler and teacher. It was not long ago that Moses was the great leader and Joshua was his assistant and student. And it was Joshua who needed to be told “do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.” Well, Joshua got the message. He learned the lesson. And more than just the personal lesson of walking and trusting in God’s strength, he learned the modeled lesson of discipleship. He was trained not only to lead, but to train leaders. And here we see the proof. Rather than just having the five kings put to death, he has them sealed in a cave until the battle is over and then brought out to teach his leaders. He brings his leaders and has each of them stand with his boot on the neck of one of the enemy kings and in that intense setting, he schools them. This is a moment that they will need to remember. There will be a time when they are facing an enemy that will make them shake in their boots and they will be able to recall the time that those very boots were on the necks of five kings that had attacked them. This image will be burned into their memories and will serve to remind them of God’s help in the past so they will trust in His help for their future trials.
Application: We need to follow this pattern. We need to receive lessons from those who are going before us and give lessons to those who are coming after us. This means that there needs to be ongoing relationship in our lives. Moses took Joshua along with him in many situations (up to Mount Sinai, fighting the Amalekites, etc.) so Joshua saw firsthand what was involved and he learned by sharing those experiences. Joshua, of course, had his commanders along in the battle, but he also made sure that they were brought to him for the judgment on these attacking kings. We need to take those whom God has called us to train and include them in the stuff of life. Let them see what it means to be a man of God (or woman of God), a servant leader, etc. I think of all the times my own sons were with me when I would rescue someone whose car had quit in the middle of the road. As we are together pushing the car to the side of the road, I would tell them, “I always think of what I would want someone else to do if your mom was stuck.” They learned by example. This type of training requires intentionality and commitment because often it is easier to do it yourself. But in the long run, we will be far ahead if we use our lives as the training grounds for those we are leading.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for all the help You have given to me over many years — Your faithfulness is so great. And thank You for calling me to the privilege of leadership. Help me to consistently remember to use the opportunities You bring to me in training those who are the next generation of leaders. And may all of those who lead, be teachers and trainers, as well as leaders.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Joshua 10:22-26
Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me." So they brought the five kings out of the cave — the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon. When they had brought these kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, "Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings." So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks. Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you are going to fight." Then Joshua struck and killed the kings and hung them on five trees, and they were left hanging on the trees until evening.
Observation: This is a brutal scene — but there is a beautiful principle demonstrated here. Joshua and the Israeli army are in the process of wiping out a force of five combined armies and have captured in a cave the kings of the five cities that joined together against Israel. Right here we see Joshua in the role of not just the leader or commander, but we see Joshua as the discipler and teacher. It was not long ago that Moses was the great leader and Joshua was his assistant and student. And it was Joshua who needed to be told “do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.” Well, Joshua got the message. He learned the lesson. And more than just the personal lesson of walking and trusting in God’s strength, he learned the modeled lesson of discipleship. He was trained not only to lead, but to train leaders. And here we see the proof. Rather than just having the five kings put to death, he has them sealed in a cave until the battle is over and then brought out to teach his leaders. He brings his leaders and has each of them stand with his boot on the neck of one of the enemy kings and in that intense setting, he schools them. This is a moment that they will need to remember. There will be a time when they are facing an enemy that will make them shake in their boots and they will be able to recall the time that those very boots were on the necks of five kings that had attacked them. This image will be burned into their memories and will serve to remind them of God’s help in the past so they will trust in His help for their future trials.
Application: We need to follow this pattern. We need to receive lessons from those who are going before us and give lessons to those who are coming after us. This means that there needs to be ongoing relationship in our lives. Moses took Joshua along with him in many situations (up to Mount Sinai, fighting the Amalekites, etc.) so Joshua saw firsthand what was involved and he learned by sharing those experiences. Joshua, of course, had his commanders along in the battle, but he also made sure that they were brought to him for the judgment on these attacking kings. We need to take those whom God has called us to train and include them in the stuff of life. Let them see what it means to be a man of God (or woman of God), a servant leader, etc. I think of all the times my own sons were with me when I would rescue someone whose car had quit in the middle of the road. As we are together pushing the car to the side of the road, I would tell them, “I always think of what I would want someone else to do if your mom was stuck.” They learned by example. This type of training requires intentionality and commitment because often it is easier to do it yourself. But in the long run, we will be far ahead if we use our lives as the training grounds for those we are leading.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for all the help You have given to me over many years — Your faithfulness is so great. And thank You for calling me to the privilege of leadership. Help me to consistently remember to use the opportunities You bring to me in training those who are the next generation of leaders. And may all of those who lead, be teachers and trainers, as well as leaders.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Monday, March 20, 2006
Title: The Tragic Link / Topic: Community Responsibility
Today’s Reading: Joshua 7; Joshua 8; Psalm 69; 1 Corinthians 5
Scripture: Joshua 7:1, Psalm 69, 1 Corinthians 5:6-7
Joshua 7:1 But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the LORD's anger burned against Israel.
Psalm 69:5 You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you.
1 Corinthians 5:6-7 …Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast…
Observation: It’s quite striking: one person acting alone, Achan, makes a bad choice and God says “the Israelites acted unfaithfully…” and we are told “the LORD's anger burned against Israel.” This plainly illustrates the responsibility every person has to the larger community to which he is connected. The result for Israel was that some in the fighting force were killed in battle because Achan took some of the booty for himself. There is no such thing as a “private sin”. I may think that what I do when no one is watching will have no effect on anyone but me, but that is not true. God knows everything. Even sin which may be concealed to others (see Psalm 69:5 above) is clearly still sin. And Paul explains that sin, like yeast, cannot be contained or isolated.
Application: So the conclusion is inescapable: What I do absolutely affects those to whom I am connected. There is an invisible spiritual link between me and the greater community around me. I cannot escape it. And this link brings a responsibility. I can introduce invisible pollution into my community through any sinful action, whether public or private. My actions and attitudes have an impact far beyond my own personal consequences. So I must keep in mind, those around me who will be affected by my life. In Achan’s case, his sin resulted not only in the deaths of the soldiers in the battle of Ai, but his whole family was killed as well. What a sad and tragic result from a single, impulsive, “hidden” sinful choice. Had Achan been aware of the horrible scope and depth what would happen, no doubt he would have resisted his greedy urge. Well, I want to get that message into my head and heart so that I may make good and Godly choices and thus bring no harm, but only blessing to those I am connected to.
Prayer: Lord, help me to live uprightly for the sake of Your love for me. But I ask You, Heavenly Father, that You would also help me to keep in mind all those who would be hurt by my sin so that I will have extra motivation to walk in purity. I want to live to bless You and to bring Your blessing to others. May I always live out the character of Jesus Christ in my life.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Joshua 7:1, Psalm 69, 1 Corinthians 5:6-7
Joshua 7:1 But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the LORD's anger burned against Israel.
Psalm 69:5 You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you.
1 Corinthians 5:6-7 …Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast…
Observation: It’s quite striking: one person acting alone, Achan, makes a bad choice and God says “the Israelites acted unfaithfully…” and we are told “the LORD's anger burned against Israel.” This plainly illustrates the responsibility every person has to the larger community to which he is connected. The result for Israel was that some in the fighting force were killed in battle because Achan took some of the booty for himself. There is no such thing as a “private sin”. I may think that what I do when no one is watching will have no effect on anyone but me, but that is not true. God knows everything. Even sin which may be concealed to others (see Psalm 69:5 above) is clearly still sin. And Paul explains that sin, like yeast, cannot be contained or isolated.
Application: So the conclusion is inescapable: What I do absolutely affects those to whom I am connected. There is an invisible spiritual link between me and the greater community around me. I cannot escape it. And this link brings a responsibility. I can introduce invisible pollution into my community through any sinful action, whether public or private. My actions and attitudes have an impact far beyond my own personal consequences. So I must keep in mind, those around me who will be affected by my life. In Achan’s case, his sin resulted not only in the deaths of the soldiers in the battle of Ai, but his whole family was killed as well. What a sad and tragic result from a single, impulsive, “hidden” sinful choice. Had Achan been aware of the horrible scope and depth what would happen, no doubt he would have resisted his greedy urge. Well, I want to get that message into my head and heart so that I may make good and Godly choices and thus bring no harm, but only blessing to those I am connected to.
Prayer: Lord, help me to live uprightly for the sake of Your love for me. But I ask You, Heavenly Father, that You would also help me to keep in mind all those who would be hurt by my sin so that I will have extra motivation to walk in purity. I want to live to bless You and to bring Your blessing to others. May I always live out the character of Jesus Christ in my life.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Title: Flawed Conscience / Topic: Wise Living
Today’s Reading: Joshua 3; Joshua 4; Joshua 5; Joshua 6; 1 Corinthians 4
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:4-5
4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
Observation: The truth that Paul expresses here is so important. The human conscience, as important as it is, is flawed. I can be totally convinced of my innocence and be totally wrong. My conscience is not infallible — it can and does lie to me. So the fact that I am OK with my life doesn’t mean much. God’s opinion is the only one that really matters. Time will tell — lots of folks can look good in cameos and short vignettes but you really can’t tell what’s actually going on in their lives over the long haul. There will be a time when truth will be revealed. The Lord will come and shine His amazing truth detecting light on our lives and what’s really been going on in our hearts will be seen. I think that it could be a real surprise or even a shock because we lie to ourselves a lot.
Application: Keep clear on who and what you are. Sin is a fundamental element of our human condition and is one that we can never fully rid ourselves of in this life. Because of that, I must be careful not to fully trust my perceptions. I need to account for the possibility of self-deception that could, if I allowed it, justify some marginal living. Step back and let God be God — seek His approval, and (to make it truly practical) get some others who share your values to speak into your life which can help you get a true and reliable evaluation of how you are doing.
Prayer: Lord, help me to never forget my fallibility. I want to live a truly righteous life and I know that I can not do that without Your light shining on me. Bring me into truth and thank You for those who help me by speaking Your truth into my life.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:4-5
4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
Observation: The truth that Paul expresses here is so important. The human conscience, as important as it is, is flawed. I can be totally convinced of my innocence and be totally wrong. My conscience is not infallible — it can and does lie to me. So the fact that I am OK with my life doesn’t mean much. God’s opinion is the only one that really matters. Time will tell — lots of folks can look good in cameos and short vignettes but you really can’t tell what’s actually going on in their lives over the long haul. There will be a time when truth will be revealed. The Lord will come and shine His amazing truth detecting light on our lives and what’s really been going on in our hearts will be seen. I think that it could be a real surprise or even a shock because we lie to ourselves a lot.
Application: Keep clear on who and what you are. Sin is a fundamental element of our human condition and is one that we can never fully rid ourselves of in this life. Because of that, I must be careful not to fully trust my perceptions. I need to account for the possibility of self-deception that could, if I allowed it, justify some marginal living. Step back and let God be God — seek His approval, and (to make it truly practical) get some others who share your values to speak into your life which can help you get a true and reliable evaluation of how you are doing.
Prayer: Lord, help me to never forget my fallibility. I want to live a truly righteous life and I know that I can not do that without Your light shining on me. Bring me into truth and thank You for those who help me by speaking Your truth into my life.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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