Posting from our nation's capital, Washington D.C., from May 22 through June 3.
Today's Reading: Proverbs 4; Proverbs 5; Proverbs 6; Romans 8
Scripture: Proverbs 4:19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
Observation: It is a sad truth. People who reject Jesus think that they are choosing a more open and enlightened life. But the truth is that to move away from Jesus is to move into darkness -- "deep darkness" as it says here. How ironic that those who think that they are moving away from restriction and limitation are entering the twilight zone of personal spiritual blindness. They stumble and do not know why. It is so sad.
Application: We need to live thankful for the light that we have in Christ. How blessed we truly are to live by the light of life! Those who do not have the blessing of this light need us to gently shine hope to them. Whatever their stumbles may be (and sometimes they may not even know that they are stumbling), we must shine light upon them. We can do this with words of love, acts of kindness -- these are gifts of light. Some may still reject the light, but they will at least have had the opportunity to come out of the darkness. And some will come.
Prayer: Lord, show us how to lead the lost out of darkness. We want to make our lights shine so distinctly and so unmistakably that we cannot be missed by those who are away from You. Lord, I know You love lost people so much -- help us to love them too, and to do everything we can to show them Your light.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Friday, May 26, 2006
Title: Shameful Lives / Topic: Justice
Posting from our nation's capital, Washington D.C., from May 22 through June 3.
Today's Reading: Proverbs 1; Proverbs 2; Proverbs 3; Romans 7
Scripture: Proverbs 1:3, 10-12, 13
3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair...
10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.
11 If they say, "Come along with us; let's lie in wait for someone's blood, let's waylay some harmless soul;
12 let's swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit...
15 my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths...
Observation/Application: Today Cynthia and I spent 6-1/2 hours going through the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum just off the Capitol Mall near the Washington Monument. It was a sobering experience. What struck me over and over was that so many German people either turned a blind eye to the increasingly menacing maltreatment of the Jews or actually cooperated with it. There are thousands of grainy photographs showing German soldiers and/or ordinary German citizens smiling and laughing while either watching or participating in some abuse of Jewish persons or property. I thought that something like this could happen anywhere because people can easily be turned into a mob given the wrong leadership. And I thought how important it is to teach nobility to our children. Teaching our young people to stand up for the right is not something that is done much today. We have a hard time even teaching children that there is "right and wrong!"
Now to the scripture: Solomon urges study of the Proverbs for learning and "acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair." Truly understanding justice is so important for living in a challenging moral environment. As Solomon wrote, there are always those who will plot evil against the innocent and invite others to join them. But training in righteousness and the impartation of character can prevent those others from going along. I believe we need to think hard and long about how we can better prepare our young people with moral training to impart excellence of character as much as possible. Our world, our nation, our city, our neighborhoods, our schools are at risk because of the preponderance of young people without a strong sense of moral obligation and social connectedness and responsibility.
Bottom Line: It starts with me and you. Are you willing to stand against injustice, even to your own peril? We must be. The future of humankind depends on it.
Prayer: Lord, You were telling the truth when You said, "there is none righteous, no not one." We need Your help to imbue Your justice, truth, and selflessness into the lives of those under our care. Help us to train true honor and character into lives and to demonstrate it in our own lives as well.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
Today's Reading: Proverbs 1; Proverbs 2; Proverbs 3; Romans 7
Scripture: Proverbs 1:3, 10-12, 13
3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair...
10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.
11 If they say, "Come along with us; let's lie in wait for someone's blood, let's waylay some harmless soul;
12 let's swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit...
15 my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths...
Observation/Application: Today Cynthia and I spent 6-1/2 hours going through the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum just off the Capitol Mall near the Washington Monument. It was a sobering experience. What struck me over and over was that so many German people either turned a blind eye to the increasingly menacing maltreatment of the Jews or actually cooperated with it. There are thousands of grainy photographs showing German soldiers and/or ordinary German citizens smiling and laughing while either watching or participating in some abuse of Jewish persons or property. I thought that something like this could happen anywhere because people can easily be turned into a mob given the wrong leadership. And I thought how important it is to teach nobility to our children. Teaching our young people to stand up for the right is not something that is done much today. We have a hard time even teaching children that there is "right and wrong!"
Now to the scripture: Solomon urges study of the Proverbs for learning and "acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair." Truly understanding justice is so important for living in a challenging moral environment. As Solomon wrote, there are always those who will plot evil against the innocent and invite others to join them. But training in righteousness and the impartation of character can prevent those others from going along. I believe we need to think hard and long about how we can better prepare our young people with moral training to impart excellence of character as much as possible. Our world, our nation, our city, our neighborhoods, our schools are at risk because of the preponderance of young people without a strong sense of moral obligation and social connectedness and responsibility.
Bottom Line: It starts with me and you. Are you willing to stand against injustice, even to your own peril? We must be. The future of humankind depends on it.
Prayer: Lord, You were telling the truth when You said, "there is none righteous, no not one." We need Your help to imbue Your justice, truth, and selflessness into the lives of those under our care. Help us to train true honor and character into lives and to demonstrate it in our own lives as well.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Title: Freedom! / Topic: Surrender
Posting from our nation's capital, Washington D.C., from May 22 through June 3.
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 10; 1 Kings 11; 2 Chronicles 9; Romans 6
Scripture: Romans 6:17-18
17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted.
18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
Observation: Slaves. Paul tells us that we are all slaves to something. And we get to choose our master. We choose between sin and righteousness. What I love about these verses is that Paul indicates that when I really choose with my whole heart to serve righteousness, I can experience freedom from sin. That is great news! Sin can be like a line hooked into us that gradually wears us down. But we can cut the line -- we can be free. To do so, I must decide once and for all that I will choose righteousness. Not that I will never again face temptation or never need to renew my choice. On the contrary, I must renew my choice daily, taking up my cross and following Jesus. But once the fundamental decision to live for God is made, subsequent decisions become stronger and stronger. Freedom is a beautiful thing.
Application: Make the choice to be a person who fully follows God. Put an end to half-measures. Give the Lord all of you and begin the journey on the path of freedom, righteousness, holiness and eternal life.
Prayer: Lord, I pray for myself and every person reading my message today that we would each decide to lay it all on the line for You. I pray that we would put aside anything we are holding back and surrender to You. Lord, complete freedom is what we seek -- may we fully walk in Your path of righteousness so that the issue of our choice is settled -- and we can walk in the fullness of freedom You provide.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 10; 1 Kings 11; 2 Chronicles 9; Romans 6
Scripture: Romans 6:17-18
17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted.
18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
Observation: Slaves. Paul tells us that we are all slaves to something. And we get to choose our master. We choose between sin and righteousness. What I love about these verses is that Paul indicates that when I really choose with my whole heart to serve righteousness, I can experience freedom from sin. That is great news! Sin can be like a line hooked into us that gradually wears us down. But we can cut the line -- we can be free. To do so, I must decide once and for all that I will choose righteousness. Not that I will never again face temptation or never need to renew my choice. On the contrary, I must renew my choice daily, taking up my cross and following Jesus. But once the fundamental decision to live for God is made, subsequent decisions become stronger and stronger. Freedom is a beautiful thing.
Application: Make the choice to be a person who fully follows God. Put an end to half-measures. Give the Lord all of you and begin the journey on the path of freedom, righteousness, holiness and eternal life.
Prayer: Lord, I pray for myself and every person reading my message today that we would each decide to lay it all on the line for You. I pray that we would put aside anything we are holding back and surrender to You. Lord, complete freedom is what we seek -- may we fully walk in Your path of righteousness so that the issue of our choice is settled -- and we can walk in the fullness of freedom You provide.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Title: Stupid Superstition / Topic: Beliefs
I am again posting from our nation's capital, Washinton D.C.
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 9; 2 Chronicles 8; Psalm 136; Romans 5
Scripture: 2 Chronicles 8:11 Solomon brought Pharaoh's daughter up from the City of David to the palace he had built for her, for he said, "My wife must not live in the palace of David king of Israel, because the places the ark of the LORD has entered are holy."
Obervation: What a strange belief Solomon had. Apparently he was convinced that the ark of the Lord was so holy that anyplace it had passed through also holy and was no place for an Egyptian. But Solomon had no such idea about himself, even though he was the Lord's annointed. Solomon moved Pharoah's daughter to his palace away from Jerusalem to keep her from the alleys through which the ark had passed, but was willing to marry her and have intimate relations with her. Strange.
Application: Christians can have strange ideas too. I see some that I would call "stupid superstitions." Jesus pointed out some that the Pharisees had (like the gold of the temple is sacred while the temple is not). We have ideas that some things are bad sins (like wearing too short of a skirt or getting an extreme hair style) but we gossip about such things and think nothing of it. What's wrong with that is gossip is clearly a sin while what is acceptable in clothing and hair styles is opinion.
Another example is that Christians often think there is a special decorum for what happens at church because it is "the house of the Lord" but allow all manner of wretched talk, and hateful arguing, and unclean media into their own homes and think nothing of it.
Bottom line: What is truly holy and sacred are the people who God lives in. That's us. We must regard ourselves as holy at all times and live with the high standards of God's purity and holiness on everything we think, do, say, and value.
Prayer: Lord, thank You that You have called us to Yourself as a people set apart for a great destiny. Help us not to dilute our lives with unclean things. Father, we live in a morally polluted world. We need Your help to keep our lives holy for Your purposes. Help us to be vessels ready for Your use.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 9; 2 Chronicles 8; Psalm 136; Romans 5
Scripture: 2 Chronicles 8:11 Solomon brought Pharaoh's daughter up from the City of David to the palace he had built for her, for he said, "My wife must not live in the palace of David king of Israel, because the places the ark of the LORD has entered are holy."
Obervation: What a strange belief Solomon had. Apparently he was convinced that the ark of the Lord was so holy that anyplace it had passed through also holy and was no place for an Egyptian. But Solomon had no such idea about himself, even though he was the Lord's annointed. Solomon moved Pharoah's daughter to his palace away from Jerusalem to keep her from the alleys through which the ark had passed, but was willing to marry her and have intimate relations with her. Strange.
Application: Christians can have strange ideas too. I see some that I would call "stupid superstitions." Jesus pointed out some that the Pharisees had (like the gold of the temple is sacred while the temple is not). We have ideas that some things are bad sins (like wearing too short of a skirt or getting an extreme hair style) but we gossip about such things and think nothing of it. What's wrong with that is gossip is clearly a sin while what is acceptable in clothing and hair styles is opinion.
Another example is that Christians often think there is a special decorum for what happens at church because it is "the house of the Lord" but allow all manner of wretched talk, and hateful arguing, and unclean media into their own homes and think nothing of it.
Bottom line: What is truly holy and sacred are the people who God lives in. That's us. We must regard ourselves as holy at all times and live with the high standards of God's purity and holiness on everything we think, do, say, and value.
Prayer: Lord, thank You that You have called us to Yourself as a people set apart for a great destiny. Help us not to dilute our lives with unclean things. Father, we live in a morally polluted world. We need Your help to keep our lives holy for Your purposes. Help us to be vessels ready for Your use.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Title: Fanatics! / Topic: Radical Worship
Hello, I am posting today from our nation's capital, Washinton D.C.
Today's Reading: 2 Chronicles 6-7; Psalm 135; Romans 4
Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:3-9 (excerpts)
1 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple...
3 When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground...
4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD... 5 ...twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats... 6 ...all the Israelites were standing.
7 Solomon consecrated the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the LORD, and there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar he had made could not hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat portions.
8 So Solomon observed the festival at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him—a vast assembly... 9 On the eighth day they held an assembly, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival for seven days more.
Obervation: What an amazing scene! The story of Solomon's dedication of The Temple is off the charts! First, Solomon prays (read my comment in yesterday's post), and then all heaven breaks loose! The fire of God comes down and consumes the burnt offering and a presence (God's Shekinah glory) fills the room so no one can stand. Awesome. But what I note is how these people (including Solomon) are fanatics. Look at what they do: They kneel and worship with their faces on the ground -- that's radical. Then they offer burnt offerings (which has to be a bloody and messy and smelly business -- I'm glad we don't have to do that today). And pay attention in verse 5 to how many animal were sacrificed: 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats! This is a staggering number -- I really cannot comprehend it. And they had to use the ground in front of the altar because the altar couldn't accomodate the large quantity of sacrifices! It is fanatical, radical worship. And apparently according to verse 6, the people were standing up the whole time! If I read it right, the whole process took 14 days! Imagine 14 days of sacrificing! Wow!!!
Application: Sometimes I get weary in worship. Church services can wear you out. And I see it in others. They get too tired to stand during the singing so they sit down. Their arms are tired so they don't raise them. They don't sing out loudly because, well, I don't know why but they don't -- they seem tired out. Every now and then, I get a look from someone that tells me they think I'm a little overly-fanatical about worship and they would like me to tone it down a little. But when I read what Solomon and the Israelites did here it makes me realize that I don't know what radical worship truly is. We have it so easy in comparison to what these worshipers did. I think we need to buck up and toughen up and get more open to real travail and real worship. There were two statements I heard on Sunday that come to mind on this subject: first, Becki said that God was calling us to "wail" (and we all listened and nodded but no one wailed). Second, Robert said to me privately, "What if my blessings from God were on a par with my worship of Him?" Hmmm. What do you think about this? I think that God wants more from us. I think that we have a lot to learn, a lot to give, and much room to grow.
Prayer: Father, forgive us for being wimpy worshipers. Help us to grow greater spiritual strength and toughness. Give us real endurance and determination to break through in our worship and service to You. May we lay aside our excuses and weaknesses and allow You to take us up to the next level. May we truly learn to love You with all of our heart, all of our mind, all of our soul, and all of our strength.
This I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Today's Reading: 2 Chronicles 6-7; Psalm 135; Romans 4
Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:3-9 (excerpts)
1 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple...
3 When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground...
4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD... 5 ...twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats... 6 ...all the Israelites were standing.
7 Solomon consecrated the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the LORD, and there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar he had made could not hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat portions.
8 So Solomon observed the festival at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him—a vast assembly... 9 On the eighth day they held an assembly, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival for seven days more.
Obervation: What an amazing scene! The story of Solomon's dedication of The Temple is off the charts! First, Solomon prays (read my comment in yesterday's post), and then all heaven breaks loose! The fire of God comes down and consumes the burnt offering and a presence (God's Shekinah glory) fills the room so no one can stand. Awesome. But what I note is how these people (including Solomon) are fanatics. Look at what they do: They kneel and worship with their faces on the ground -- that's radical. Then they offer burnt offerings (which has to be a bloody and messy and smelly business -- I'm glad we don't have to do that today). And pay attention in verse 5 to how many animal were sacrificed: 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats! This is a staggering number -- I really cannot comprehend it. And they had to use the ground in front of the altar because the altar couldn't accomodate the large quantity of sacrifices! It is fanatical, radical worship. And apparently according to verse 6, the people were standing up the whole time! If I read it right, the whole process took 14 days! Imagine 14 days of sacrificing! Wow!!!
Application: Sometimes I get weary in worship. Church services can wear you out. And I see it in others. They get too tired to stand during the singing so they sit down. Their arms are tired so they don't raise them. They don't sing out loudly because, well, I don't know why but they don't -- they seem tired out. Every now and then, I get a look from someone that tells me they think I'm a little overly-fanatical about worship and they would like me to tone it down a little. But when I read what Solomon and the Israelites did here it makes me realize that I don't know what radical worship truly is. We have it so easy in comparison to what these worshipers did. I think we need to buck up and toughen up and get more open to real travail and real worship. There were two statements I heard on Sunday that come to mind on this subject: first, Becki said that God was calling us to "wail" (and we all listened and nodded but no one wailed). Second, Robert said to me privately, "What if my blessings from God were on a par with my worship of Him?" Hmmm. What do you think about this? I think that God wants more from us. I think that we have a lot to learn, a lot to give, and much room to grow.
Prayer: Father, forgive us for being wimpy worshipers. Help us to grow greater spiritual strength and toughness. Give us real endurance and determination to break through in our worship and service to You. May we lay aside our excuses and weaknesses and allow You to take us up to the next level. May we truly learn to love You with all of our heart, all of our mind, all of our soul, and all of our strength.
This I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Monday, May 22, 2006
Title: Before The Lord & The People / Topic: Postures of Prayer & Worship
Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 8; 2 Chronicles 5; Psalm 99; Romans 3
Scripture: 1 Kings 8:54-55
54 When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the LORD, he rose from before the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven. 55 He stood and blessed the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice
Observation: The position of Solomon's posture is described here. Solomon had prayed a long prayer out loud for all to hear at the dedication of the Temple. (We read this insightful prayer in verses 23-53.) At the end of his prayer he rises from his knees: "he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven." Solomon's willingness to publicly demonstrate humility and passion in prayer -- humbly kneeling before God, raising his hands, praying out in a loud voice -- is a great example of spiritual leadership. Solomon is demonstrative in his prayer -- all those in attendance can hear and see him as he cries out to God. His kneeling shows humility. Lifting hands shows a passionate seeking. Praying out loud draws the whole community into the experience.
Application: Postures of prayer are important, especially among leaders. Those in leadership (whether accompanied by recognized positions and titles or not) have a responsibility and an opportunity to lead by example in the way they pray. Others are watching -- let them see your passion and learn. I want to challenge you to think about what anyone watching your posture and demeanor in prayer would learn. Can we do better?
Prayer: Lord, help us to learn from the example of Solomon and demonstrate our passion and humility in the way we pray. May we not hold back because of pride or be reserved because of decorum, but may we do everything in such a way as to demonstrate our great need of and dependency on You. Thank You for loving us and giving us the opportunity to seek You. May we lead others well as we seek You.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: 1 Kings 8:54-55
54 When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the LORD, he rose from before the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven. 55 He stood and blessed the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice
Observation: The position of Solomon's posture is described here. Solomon had prayed a long prayer out loud for all to hear at the dedication of the Temple. (We read this insightful prayer in verses 23-53.) At the end of his prayer he rises from his knees: "he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven." Solomon's willingness to publicly demonstrate humility and passion in prayer -- humbly kneeling before God, raising his hands, praying out in a loud voice -- is a great example of spiritual leadership. Solomon is demonstrative in his prayer -- all those in attendance can hear and see him as he cries out to God. His kneeling shows humility. Lifting hands shows a passionate seeking. Praying out loud draws the whole community into the experience.
Application: Postures of prayer are important, especially among leaders. Those in leadership (whether accompanied by recognized positions and titles or not) have a responsibility and an opportunity to lead by example in the way they pray. Others are watching -- let them see your passion and learn. I want to challenge you to think about what anyone watching your posture and demeanor in prayer would learn. Can we do better?
Prayer: Lord, help us to learn from the example of Solomon and demonstrate our passion and humility in the way we pray. May we not hold back because of pride or be reserved because of decorum, but may we do everything in such a way as to demonstrate our great need of and dependency on You. Thank You for loving us and giving us the opportunity to seek You. May we lead others well as we seek You.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Title: Hang In There / Topic: Persistence
Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 7; 2 Chronicles 4; Psalm 98; Romans 2
Scripture: Romans 2:7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.
Observation: I like the phrase "persistence in doing good." It is a practical key to a Christian's continued growth. Paul here says that to persist in doing good is a way to "seek glory, honor and immortality" and to obtain eternal life. I have found that many new believers start off with excitement and eagerness, but when things don't go smoothly, or when challenges appear and make it hard to stay on the path, they lose their initial zeal and they bale. Then there are the few that hang in there and keep on doing what is right regardless of the opposition. These people demonstrate spiritual stability and long-term steady spiritual growth.
Application: Hang in there. Don't give up but persist. That means to refuse to stop, to keep going. Even when positive results are hard to find and it seems like it is not making any difference, keep doing the right thing no matter what. God is watching and He will reward. Plus you are participating in the law of sowing and reaping. Don't give up. Persist in doing good and good will result.
Prayer: Lord, help us to remember to keep our eye on the ultimate and not on the immediate. We want to serve You well for the long haul so assist us to keep in mind these truths that we may stay on the path of obedience, blessing, and growth.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Romans 2:7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.
Observation: I like the phrase "persistence in doing good." It is a practical key to a Christian's continued growth. Paul here says that to persist in doing good is a way to "seek glory, honor and immortality" and to obtain eternal life. I have found that many new believers start off with excitement and eagerness, but when things don't go smoothly, or when challenges appear and make it hard to stay on the path, they lose their initial zeal and they bale. Then there are the few that hang in there and keep on doing what is right regardless of the opposition. These people demonstrate spiritual stability and long-term steady spiritual growth.
Application: Hang in there. Don't give up but persist. That means to refuse to stop, to keep going. Even when positive results are hard to find and it seems like it is not making any difference, keep doing the right thing no matter what. God is watching and He will reward. Plus you are participating in the law of sowing and reaping. Don't give up. Persist in doing good and good will result.
Prayer: Lord, help us to remember to keep our eye on the ultimate and not on the immediate. We want to serve You well for the long haul so assist us to keep in mind these truths that we may stay on the path of obedience, blessing, and growth.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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