Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 23; 2 Chronicles 35; John 7
Scripture: 2 Kings 23:13 The king also desecrated the high places that were east of Jerusalem on the south of the Hill of Corruption—the ones Solomon king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the vile goddess of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the vile god of Moab, and for Molech the detestable god of the people of Ammon.
Observation: Wow! This really got my attention. Josiah, as he turns the nation of Judah back to God gets rid of all kinds of pagan altars and idols. But notice here that he is destroying high places which were built by Solomon. I looked it up on Wikipedia and discovered Solomon's reign started about 1037 BC and Josiah's around 640 BC. That's nearly 400 years that have elapsed since Solomon. These pagan shrines were constructed by Solomon to accommodate one of his pagan wives as we are told in 1 Kings 11. He made this little compromise to please one of the 700 wives he had. I wonder did he know that this decision would plague his nation for the next 400 years!
Application: Small compromises can seem like a little ripple in the pond, but as the wave travels outward, the effect can become much greater than we could possibly imagine. It is so important to do the right things because when we give in and violate God's principles, we might be sentencing those who follow to struggles and battles that will set them back years, or decades, or even centuries.
Prayer: Lord, help us to realize the connectedness we have to those who follow, whether they be our children or just the people who take our place when we are gone. Help us to remember that what we do has unforeseen long-term consequences so that we stand and do what is right no matter what.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Friday, August 04, 2006
Title: Harsh? You Bet / Topic: God's Word
Today’s Reading: Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 34; John 6
Scripture: 2 Chronicles 34:20-21, John 6:60-61
2 Chronicles 34:19 When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes. 20 He gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king's attendant: 21 "Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the LORD's anger that is poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book."
John 6:60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" 61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you?
Observation: Here is a study in contrasts:
Application: Jesus gave us the application in verse 65: "no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." People make up their mind and if they close themselves off to God, there is no way they can receive, for it is God alone who enables a person to receive the word. If a person is open to God, then He enables them to hear, receive, and apply the word, even when it hurts. Were these words harsh? You bet they were! But Josiah took them to heart and turned his nation toward God -- unlike Jesus followers who didn't even stop to ask Jesus what He meant by what He said -- they rejected it in their ignorance.
Bottom line: You can bring God's word faithfully and still be rejected. A person has to be open to God and humble to receive or it won't get through to their heart. And we must be sure we keep our hearts open to God's word, harsh or gentle, and stay teachable and moldable through it all.
Prayer: Lord, we want to be like Josiah, who heard Your words and responded with instant repentance and obedience. Help us to be able to receive even the harshest of words when it will help us to become more like Jesus.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: 2 Chronicles 34:20-21, John 6:60-61
2 Chronicles 34:19 When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes. 20 He gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king's attendant: 21 "Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the LORD's anger that is poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book."
John 6:60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" 61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you?
Observation: Here is a study in contrasts:
First, Josiah is confronted with his first exposure to the Law being read to him after the High Priest found the scrolls in the Temple. He responds by tearing his robes and calls for sweeping changes in the nation. There is great sorrow for their violations of God's word.One person hears the word and it pierces his heart and brings repentance. Another person hears the word and takes offense and rejects both the word and the One who brought it.
Then we see some of Jesus followers who heard Him say that He was the bread from heaven and, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you." Those who heard these words grumbled and complained and many turned away and did not follow Jesus any longer.
Application: Jesus gave us the application in verse 65: "no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." People make up their mind and if they close themselves off to God, there is no way they can receive, for it is God alone who enables a person to receive the word. If a person is open to God, then He enables them to hear, receive, and apply the word, even when it hurts. Were these words harsh? You bet they were! But Josiah took them to heart and turned his nation toward God -- unlike Jesus followers who didn't even stop to ask Jesus what He meant by what He said -- they rejected it in their ignorance.
Bottom line: You can bring God's word faithfully and still be rejected. A person has to be open to God and humble to receive or it won't get through to their heart. And we must be sure we keep our hearts open to God's word, harsh or gentle, and stay teachable and moldable through it all.
Prayer: Lord, we want to be like Josiah, who heard Your words and responded with instant repentance and obedience. Help us to be able to receive even the harshest of words when it will help us to become more like Jesus.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Title: The Blame Game / Topic: Dealing With People
Today’s Reading: Nahum 1; Nahum 2; Nahum 3; John 5
Scripture: John 5:2-9
2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"
7 "Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."
8 Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
Observation: "Do you want to get well?" That is Jesus' startling question to this man who has been paralyzed for 38 years. "Of course I want to get well! What do you think? You think I like lying here on the ground?!" That's how I would have expected the man to reply -- but he does not reply anything like this. Read again the man's response in verse 7. It sounds like blame and excuses. "I don't have someone to get me in the water when it is stirred -- and then somebody else is able to get in ahead of me. So I can't get healed! It's not my fault!"
[One of my tongue-in-cheek "famous" quotations is: "Happiness is having someone to blame." I think that for many people, this saying is unfortunately a part of their philosophy of life.]
Application: I am actually surprised that Jesus healed him. (But Jesus does warn him later to stop sinning -- which could be the blaming and failing to take responsibility.) Jesus just tells the man directly, "get up!" In other words, "Enough with your excuses!" The great thing is that the man does it! And he is healed! I have seen people get all offended when I tried to help them get beyond their excuses and other self-imposed limitations on their own deliverance. There's nothing anyone can do for a person who is unwilling or unable to take action to help themselves.
Bottom line: let's listen to the Lord and others when they challenge us to make bold changes and stop blaming others for the difficult situations in our lives. Think of what would have happened to the paralyzed man if he had chosen to focus on his excuses. "Well, Jesus, you just don't understand my circumstances..." He would have missed the experience of walking!
Prayer: Lord, help us to listen to You and to others and to lay aside our excuses and our blaming and to "get up and walk!" May we respond to the voice of challenge, even if it seems insensitive or harsh. May we hear the love of others when they spur us on to grow beyond our limitations.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: John 5:2-9
2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"
7 "Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."
8 Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
Observation: "Do you want to get well?" That is Jesus' startling question to this man who has been paralyzed for 38 years. "Of course I want to get well! What do you think? You think I like lying here on the ground?!" That's how I would have expected the man to reply -- but he does not reply anything like this. Read again the man's response in verse 7. It sounds like blame and excuses. "I don't have someone to get me in the water when it is stirred -- and then somebody else is able to get in ahead of me. So I can't get healed! It's not my fault!"
[One of my tongue-in-cheek "famous" quotations is: "Happiness is having someone to blame." I think that for many people, this saying is unfortunately a part of their philosophy of life.]
Application: I am actually surprised that Jesus healed him. (But Jesus does warn him later to stop sinning -- which could be the blaming and failing to take responsibility.) Jesus just tells the man directly, "get up!" In other words, "Enough with your excuses!" The great thing is that the man does it! And he is healed! I have seen people get all offended when I tried to help them get beyond their excuses and other self-imposed limitations on their own deliverance. There's nothing anyone can do for a person who is unwilling or unable to take action to help themselves.
Bottom line: let's listen to the Lord and others when they challenge us to make bold changes and stop blaming others for the difficult situations in our lives. Think of what would have happened to the paralyzed man if he had chosen to focus on his excuses. "Well, Jesus, you just don't understand my circumstances..." He would have missed the experience of walking!
Prayer: Lord, help us to listen to You and to others and to lay aside our excuses and our blaming and to "get up and walk!" May we respond to the voice of challenge, even if it seems insensitive or harsh. May we hear the love of others when they spur us on to grow beyond our limitations.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Title: Deep Fulfillment / Topic: Ministry
Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 21; 2 Chronicles 33; John 4
Scripture: John 4:31-34
31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something."
32 But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."
33 Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?"
34 "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
Observation: Jesus has been left alone for awhile as the disciples went into town to get food. While they were gone, Jesus took the opportunity to minister to a Samaritan woman who came to the well for water. As the disciples return with the food, they offer some to Jesus and the discussion recorded in the verses above ensues.
What I love about this is that Jesus tries to tell them that what happened while they were gone has been particularly fulfilling to Him, similar to eating a good meal. It has been so meaningful that He has a level of satisfaction comparable to being full after eating. They don't quite get it.
Application: Doing what God wants -- being in the right place at the right time and saying the right words to someone -- is a tremendously fulfilling experience. It doesn't fill your stomach, but it can give such a feeling of contentment and satisfaction, that eating doesn't seem so important at the moment. It is a wonderful experience.
Today I long for this experience of deeply fulfilling ministry. Lately, my own ministry has been one that has left that longing almost completely unmet. (And in my conversations with other pastors, most say the same.) It is not as though my labors have been totally unfruitful, but the sparseness of significant fruit and the sense of little or no perceptible momentum has contributed to a dearth of satisfaction on the order of what Jesus expressed.
I know that we are in a season of spiritual difficulty and warfare. May we remain faithful to the Lord's call and to continue to press on with endurance.
Prayer: Lord, I ask You to bring fruitfulness and the sense of Your touch that brings satisfaction. I want to be pleasing to You and You alone, and I ask You for the awareness that Your blessing and approval is upon me. I need a touch of Your grace. Lord, give us endurance and strength to continue regardless of the difficulties. And give us Your joy and peace and presence to make the journey not only tolerable but truly wonderful. May we walk close to You in the midst of our labors, sharing in the sense of Your presence even as we would share in the fellowship of Your sufferings. Give us Your power and perspective to continue and finish well.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: John 4:31-34
31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something."
32 But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."
33 Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?"
34 "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
Observation: Jesus has been left alone for awhile as the disciples went into town to get food. While they were gone, Jesus took the opportunity to minister to a Samaritan woman who came to the well for water. As the disciples return with the food, they offer some to Jesus and the discussion recorded in the verses above ensues.
What I love about this is that Jesus tries to tell them that what happened while they were gone has been particularly fulfilling to Him, similar to eating a good meal. It has been so meaningful that He has a level of satisfaction comparable to being full after eating. They don't quite get it.
Application: Doing what God wants -- being in the right place at the right time and saying the right words to someone -- is a tremendously fulfilling experience. It doesn't fill your stomach, but it can give such a feeling of contentment and satisfaction, that eating doesn't seem so important at the moment. It is a wonderful experience.
Today I long for this experience of deeply fulfilling ministry. Lately, my own ministry has been one that has left that longing almost completely unmet. (And in my conversations with other pastors, most say the same.) It is not as though my labors have been totally unfruitful, but the sparseness of significant fruit and the sense of little or no perceptible momentum has contributed to a dearth of satisfaction on the order of what Jesus expressed.
I know that we are in a season of spiritual difficulty and warfare. May we remain faithful to the Lord's call and to continue to press on with endurance.
Prayer: Lord, I ask You to bring fruitfulness and the sense of Your touch that brings satisfaction. I want to be pleasing to You and You alone, and I ask You for the awareness that Your blessing and approval is upon me. I need a touch of Your grace. Lord, give us endurance and strength to continue regardless of the difficulties. And give us Your joy and peace and presence to make the journey not only tolerable but truly wonderful. May we walk close to You in the midst of our labors, sharing in the sense of Your presence even as we would share in the fellowship of Your sufferings. Give us Your power and perspective to continue and finish well.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Title: It's Simple / Topic: Think!
Today’s Reading: Isaiah 65; Isaiah 66; Psalm 62; John 3
Scripture: John 3:23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized.
Observation: A fictional conversation between John the Baptist and one of his disciples:
Application: Pray and think. God wants us to seek Him for the times when we need His wisdom. But He also wants us to think -- to use our brains and the reasoning power He has given us. (Some Christians are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good as this parody illustrates.) Christian people should have the greatest common sense of anybody. We have the mind of Christ. We have the Spirit's wisdom. We have the constant renewing of the mind. Jesus said to be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves." We should be good and smart.
Prayer: Lord, give us wisdom and smarts to live in a way that makes good sense and shows others that we know what we are doing. Help us to put aside foolishness and the silly psuedo-spirituality that makes so many Christians look like idiots. Lord, thank You for the gift us intelligence. Help us to develop it use it to Your glory.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: John 3:23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized.
Observation: A fictional conversation between John the Baptist and one of his disciples:
"Master John, have you prayed about where we should go to baptize?"While there are many things that we need to pray about, there are many for which we just need to use our brains. I love this simple verse that tells us the reason that John chose that particular location to baptize: plenty of water. And there were people there too -- another important requirement for baptizing! : )
"What?"
"Should we fast and pray to seek God's will about where He would have us to go to baptize the people?"
"I don't think we need to do all that -- I think we should go to Aenon."
"Did the Spirit speak to you or did the Lord lead you to that idea."
"No, I just think it's a good spot because there is plenty of water at Aenon."
(sheepishly) "ok"
Application: Pray and think. God wants us to seek Him for the times when we need His wisdom. But He also wants us to think -- to use our brains and the reasoning power He has given us. (Some Christians are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good as this parody illustrates.) Christian people should have the greatest common sense of anybody. We have the mind of Christ. We have the Spirit's wisdom. We have the constant renewing of the mind. Jesus said to be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves." We should be good and smart.
Prayer: Lord, give us wisdom and smarts to live in a way that makes good sense and shows others that we know what we are doing. Help us to put aside foolishness and the silly psuedo-spirituality that makes so many Christians look like idiots. Lord, thank You for the gift us intelligence. Help us to develop it use it to Your glory.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Title: Where's The Party? / Topic: Jesus
Today’s Reading: Isaiah 63; Isaiah 64; Psalm 107; John 2
Scripture: John 2:1-11
1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."
4 "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come."
5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.
8 Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."
They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."
11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
Observation: The little wine maker, Jesus! I have always found it so fascinating that Jesus' first miracle was to make wine for a party. And notice how much He made. Verse six tells us there were "six stone water jars… each holding from twenty to thirty gallons." That's 120 to 180 gallons of wine! (That perks up a party!)
[Note that this event occurred in Cana of Galilee. According to information I have received, this is the same city (Qana) in which an Israeli bomb reportedly killed more than 50 people including over 30 children Sunday after Hezbollah rockets apparently were fired at Israel from the same area. Cana could use another miracle now.]
Application: Jesus was not a stick in the mud. He was a wonderful person to be around. He loved a party. And He loved (and loves) people. The church has done an absolutely horrible job in presenting Jesus as boring, rigid, aloof, religious, etc. We're talking about someone who made over 120 gallons of wine for a party! That should attract a crowd! Wow -- do we have work to do! We have to figure out how to shed our religious straight jackets and find the joy and celebration that truly represents Jesus.
Prayer: Lord, help us to do a better job representing You. I know that Jesus got in trouble with the religious people and yet many of His followers have gotten religious. Help us to find the living joy and vibrancy that expresses what it should mean to be people of God, those redeemed by a Savior who made wine and compared His interaction with His disciples to a bachelor party.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: John 2:1-11
1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."
4 "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come."
5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.
8 Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."
They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."
11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
Observation: The little wine maker, Jesus! I have always found it so fascinating that Jesus' first miracle was to make wine for a party. And notice how much He made. Verse six tells us there were "six stone water jars… each holding from twenty to thirty gallons." That's 120 to 180 gallons of wine! (That perks up a party!)
[Note that this event occurred in Cana of Galilee. According to information I have received, this is the same city (Qana) in which an Israeli bomb reportedly killed more than 50 people including over 30 children Sunday after Hezbollah rockets apparently were fired at Israel from the same area. Cana could use another miracle now.]
Application: Jesus was not a stick in the mud. He was a wonderful person to be around. He loved a party. And He loved (and loves) people. The church has done an absolutely horrible job in presenting Jesus as boring, rigid, aloof, religious, etc. We're talking about someone who made over 120 gallons of wine for a party! That should attract a crowd! Wow -- do we have work to do! We have to figure out how to shed our religious straight jackets and find the joy and celebration that truly represents Jesus.
Prayer: Lord, help us to do a better job representing You. I know that Jesus got in trouble with the religious people and yet many of His followers have gotten religious. Help us to find the living joy and vibrancy that expresses what it should mean to be people of God, those redeemed by a Savior who made wine and compared His interaction with His disciples to a bachelor party.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Title: Hangin' With Jesus / Topic: Relationship
Today’s Reading: Isaiah 60; Isaiah 61; Isaiah 62; John 1
Scripture: John 1:35-39
35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" 37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" 39 "Come," he replied, "and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.
Observation: Two of John's disciples catch the hint that John gives them and turn to follow Jesus. Jesus sees them and asks them question. Notice His tone: "What do you want?" It seems almost rude. And their answer is not an answer at all, but it is another question: "Where are you staying?" But their answer is there in that question. They are saying, "we want to hang out with you." And Jesus gets the message, "come and you will see" or in other words, "come on and check it out." They spent the day together and that was the beginning of a beautiful relationship.
Application: This is how relationships grow. We have to hang out with people, spending time at their place, having them over to our place. This kind of interaction must happen if we are to grow a relationship with any depth of staying power. This is the reason I am such a maniac about getting people together. Unfortunately, our culture is trending more and more toward isolating people from each other with super-busy schedules, TV, the Internet, etc. So I am working against the culture tide. But that won't stop me, (although it is a bit discouraging). So hey, throw me a bone and spend some time with someone new this week. Expand your circle of relationship by inviting someone to your home (or do what I do and invite yourself over to their place!) and take the opportunity to plant the seeds of relationship. The eventual harvest will be worth the effort. Trust me, you will thank me.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for sending Jesus to live as a friend among us. Thank You for the example of a man who opened His life to others to spend time and share Himself with them. Because of this, we have the Gospels, and the Disciples, all of whom were trained through the process of a close personal relationship with Jesus with much time spent together. Lord, help us to open our lives to new people who need to receive our love and give love in return. Help us to be those who take the example of Jesus and live it ongoingly and increasingly.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: John 1:35-39
35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" 37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" 39 "Come," he replied, "and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.
Observation: Two of John's disciples catch the hint that John gives them and turn to follow Jesus. Jesus sees them and asks them question. Notice His tone: "What do you want?" It seems almost rude. And their answer is not an answer at all, but it is another question: "Where are you staying?" But their answer is there in that question. They are saying, "we want to hang out with you." And Jesus gets the message, "come and you will see" or in other words, "come on and check it out." They spent the day together and that was the beginning of a beautiful relationship.
Application: This is how relationships grow. We have to hang out with people, spending time at their place, having them over to our place. This kind of interaction must happen if we are to grow a relationship with any depth of staying power. This is the reason I am such a maniac about getting people together. Unfortunately, our culture is trending more and more toward isolating people from each other with super-busy schedules, TV, the Internet, etc. So I am working against the culture tide. But that won't stop me, (although it is a bit discouraging). So hey, throw me a bone and spend some time with someone new this week. Expand your circle of relationship by inviting someone to your home (or do what I do and invite yourself over to their place!) and take the opportunity to plant the seeds of relationship. The eventual harvest will be worth the effort. Trust me, you will thank me.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for sending Jesus to live as a friend among us. Thank You for the example of a man who opened His life to others to spend time and share Himself with them. Because of this, we have the Gospels, and the Disciples, all of whom were trained through the process of a close personal relationship with Jesus with much time spent together. Lord, help us to open our lives to new people who need to receive our love and give love in return. Help us to be those who take the example of Jesus and live it ongoingly and increasingly.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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