Saturday, October 28, 2006

Title: "We Have Never Seen..." Topic: Miracles

Today’s Reading: Job 19; Mark 1; Mark 2

Scripture: Mark 2:10-12
10 ...He said to the paralytic, 11 "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

Observation: "We have never seen anything like this!" And neither have I. Isn't it a shame that those people of God in that day knew nothing of the healing power of God until Jesus healed this paralyzed man? Isn't it a shame that we, the people of God today, really know practically the same nothing of the healing power of God right now? I mean, really -- isn't it a shame?

Application: I believe in the power of God to heal. And I have prayed for many people to be healed in Jesus' name. But I have never seen even one truly amazing miraculous healing. I have heard of amazing healings. I have read about amazing healings. I have seen testimonies of amazing healings. But I haven't seen one.

Prayer: Lord, I don't understand why Your power to heal is so unknown in the place where I live. I believe that You are the all-powerful creator God who caused all things to exist. You said, "Let there be..." and there was, just as You said. Lord, I know You have the power so I ask You, Father, to release healings -- dramatic, amazing healings to us here and now. I am grateful for the headaches relieved and the colds shortened, but, Lord, I want to see with my own eyes, paralyzed people get up out of wheelchairs and walk. I want to see blind people seeing, and deaf people hearing. Lord, release miracles of healings to us hear and now. I humbly ask it, Father.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Friday, October 27, 2006

Title: Get Paul To Rome! / Topic: God's Will

Today’s Reading: Job 18; Psalm 114; Acts 27; Acts 28

Scripture: Acts 28:30-31
30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Observation: These two verses, the last of today's reading give a simple account of what happened when Paul got to Rome. How he got there was another story, with a brutal storm, a ship wreck, treacherous sailors, over-zealous soldiers, a merciful centurion, a snake bite, multiple healings, and finally arrival at Rome. The Lord had spoken to Paul and told him that Rome was his destination and that he would testify there. I find it amazing how God got Paul to Rome.

Application: Nothing can stand in the way of God's will. When the order went out to get Paul to Rome, the angelic travel agency sprang into action to plan his itinerary. Just imagine the planning for this trip!

Bottom line: God has plans for me. He can use everything from a storm to a snake as He chooses. I get the privilege of being along for a most interesting ride.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You, Lord, that my life and times and places are in Your hands. I make my plans, but You direct my steps. My feet have fallen in pleasant places. Thank You that You use everything to bring about Your perfect will for my life. Help me to make the most of it.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Title: The Relentless Witness / Topic: Evangelism

Today’s Reading: Job 17; Acts 24; Acts 25; Acts 26

Scripture: Acts 26:22-23
22 But I have had God's help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23 that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles."

Observation: Paul is standing before a king, a queen, a governor, and other influential people. He is on trial for his life. Yet, his defense is not designed to get him off -- it is designed to share the Gospel. Notice that Paul states, "so I stand here and testify to small and great alike... that the Christ would suffer and... would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles." Paul is the witness, not for the defense, but for the offense. He is not testifying for Paul. He is testifying for Christ. Paul is the consummate evangelist. King Agrippa recognized it, asking Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" (vs. 28) And Paul's response in verse 29 clearly shows his evangelistic intent: Paul replied, "Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."

Application: No matter what we are doing, there should be an awareness that we are sharing the Gospel. Our words, actions, and attitudes must convey the truth of the message of Jesus. And we can't just leave it to vague impressions. Like Paul, we need to explicitly share the Gospel, giving a real opportunity for people to respond and come into the light.

Prayer: Lord, give us the courage and conviction of Paul. May we view every encounter as an opportunity to preach the Gospel. Give us success in drawing many into relationship with You.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Title: True Lies / Topic: Life In Two Realms

Today’s Reading: Job 16; Acts 21; Acts 22; Acts 23

Scripture: Job 16:17-18
17 yet my hands have been free of violence
and my prayer is pure.
18 "O earth, do not cover my blood;
may my cry never be laid to rest!

Observation: Job is in misery, not only due to his circumstances, but also because of his friends who have shifted their words of comfort to words of challenge and even condemnation. He is lamenting his pain and asserting his innocence against his accusers who have told him that he must have done some great evils for this calamity to come upon him. In verse 17 (above), he states his innocence -- "my hands have been free of violence" and "my prayer is pure" -- thus showing his maintaining righteousness in his relationship with man and with God. (This corresponds to the greatest commandments as indicated by Jesus.) However, even though Job was a very righteous man, no one is truly pure and without fault. Every person, by virtue of the sin nature, has blind spots where he acts in self interest to the hurt of others. "There is none righteous, no not one," the Bible tells us. So while Job is one of the best among a race of sinners, and is even commended by God, he is still a sinner.

But note that while my contention is true, Job's prayer in verse 18 is nonetheless answered. He asks, "may my cry never be laid to rest!" And the book of Job in the Bible today is an answer to that prayer. Job's cry is still read and studied, thousands of years after his death. I don't think God would have answered this prayer had Job been a thoroughly wicked man. So Job's statement had a mixture of truth and lies.

Application: True lies. We believe things about ourselves that are not totally true, yet there is an element of truth in them. That's one of the factors that makes life hard to understand and explain. For example, Like Job, we who know the Lord are righteous, for the word tells us that we have been robed in His righteousness. But we are also sinners. Another example is spiritual blessings. We are told we have been seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realms and have been given all spiritual blessings in Him. But we experience a reality where we often struggle to just understand what's going on. As Paul said, "We see but a poor reflection as in a mirror." How can both of these things be true? It is because we are living in two realms simultaneously. We live in the earthly, immediate realm and in the heavenly, eternal realm. And there are truths from each realm, and sometimes they clash. The good news is that the eternal realm will prevail. The bad news is that will mostly happen when we die (or get raptured). We are "in the world but not of the world."

Prayer: Lord, help us. Help us to understand more and more of how we are to live here as people of eternity. May we lay hold more and more of the blessings, rights, and privileges that are ours through the provision of grace in the Holy Spirit. Show us more. Help us to live on a higher plain.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Title: They Missed It / Topic: Listening

Today’s Reading: Job 15; Acts 19; Acts 20

Scripture: Acts 20:23-31
23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me...
25 "Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again... 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears...
38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

Observation: Today, I listened to the scripture instead of reading it. When I heard verse 38, I thought, "how strange!" Look what Paul had just talked to them about. Paul had shared with them about his own coming imprisonment and hardship, and given them serious warnings concerning outside attacks from savage wolves, and inside attacks from disloyal teachers. He had charged them to be on their guard and reminded them of his tearful warnings over three years. Afterward, they are upset -- even grieved, we are told. But notice that what grieves them most is "that they would never see his face again!" Wow! Of all the things that they should be grieving about, this is the least of their worries. They were going to miss Paul, to be sure, but unfortunately, the had already missed the point of the message he brought to them.

Application: Good listening skills are so important -- especially for leaders. I think we often miss the main point of what God tells us. Look at the history of God's people. God says, keep a day in seven set aside for me. They get so focused on Sabbath rules that when Jesus came, they missed Him and accused Him of breaking the Sabbath that He set up! And you can find a dozen examples of instances where people focused on a small part of what God said and missed the main point altogether. Here's another one.
Bottom line: Listen carefully to what the Lord speaks to You, both from the word and from human sources. Take the whole word and let the Lord give you the big picture.

Prayer: Lord, help us to understand as You do. Our view is so limited, our understanding is so limited -- we need Your perspective and Your enlightenment. Open our hearts and minds to get it. Make Your people good listeners.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Monday, October 23, 2006

Title: Faith In The Fire / Topic: Trusting God

Today’s Reading: Job 13; Job 14; Acts 17; Acts 18

Scripture: Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;
I will surely defend my ways to his face.

Observation: I love Job. He is being put through the wringer, both physically and emotionally. His friends have begun to turn on him, and his wife did so long ago. He must feel abandoned by everyone and smitten by God. Yet, in the middle of his struggle, he makes this statement of faith, "though he slay me, yet will I hope in him." What great faith! And his followup comment shows his confidence in his relationship with God, even though his current situation is confusing to him, "I will surely defend my ways to his face." He knows that God is reasonable and when (not if) he appears before God, he will certainly be given an opportunity to present his case to God.

Application: Let Job be an inspiration to all of us. Job suffered so much more than most of us would ever be subjected to, yet even in the depths of his suffering, he kept his bearings regarding God. God is in charge, I am subject to Him. Job never forgot this -- I must never lose this perspective either.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that Your ways are far beyond my ability to fathom. Help me not to worry about it when I can't figure You out. Help me to accept blessing and calamity from Your hand, with the understanding that You have in mind the bigger picture of what's best in the ultimate sense. May I always trust in You, my Savior and my God.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Title: The Transformation / Topic: Salvation & Joy

Today’s Reading: Job 11; Job 12; Acts 15; Acts 16

Scripture: Acts 16:29-34
29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.

Observation: I just love this story. Paul and Silas singing hymns in the dungeon. God sends an earthquake. The cells spring open. The jailer panics and is going to kill himself. Then we have the story above. What I love about this is the joy of this jailer because he and his whole family "had come to believe in God." This simple change, coming to believe in God, is the most profound transformation that can happen in a person's life. And when it comes, it brings such a joy and light to every life that embraces it.

Application: People need the Lord. There are people all around us who live in dull gray existence -- the daily grind, the rat race, the routine -- who need to see the Light of life, Jesus Christ, and to believe in Him and receive the forgiveness of their sins and everlasting life. Like the little boy in The Sixth Sense, you and I see dead people who don't know that they are dead. And we have the antidote for the moral and spiritual disease that killed them. We have Jesus, Who triumphed over sin and death, and Who led captivity captive into heaven. And He still sets the captives free today. Let's do everything we can to let our light shine so people in darkness and see the light and come out of the darkness.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the amazing transformational joy You bring into the life and home of every person who receives You as Savior and Lord. Help us to be bearers of Your light and to win many souls. We want to see hell empty and heaven full.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.